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Squamate reptiles are amongst the most successful terrestrial vertebrate lineages, with over 10,000 species across a broad range of ecosystems. Despite their success, squamates are also amongst the least studied lineages immunologically. Recently, a universal lack of γδ T cells in squamates due to deletions of the genes encoding the T cell receptor (TCR) γ and δ chains was discovered. Here, we begin to address how the loss of γδ T cells may have impacted the evolution of the squamate immune system. Using the skinkTiliqua rugosa, we found that squamates have not significantly increased the complexity of conventional T cell receptor beta (TCRβ orTRB) chain V regions compared to that of the nearest living squamate relative, the tuatara,Sphenodon punctatusor other amniotes. Our analyses include a putative new TCR locus. This novel locus contains V, D, and J gene segments that undergo V(D)J recombination, albeit with a limited number of gene segments in most squamate species. Based on conserved residues, the predicted protein chain would be expected to form a heterodimer with TCRα. This new TCR locus appears to be derived from an ancient duplication of theTRBlocus and is homologous to the recently described T cell receptor epsilon (TRE).TREis absent from the genomes of the tuatara and all Archosaurs examined and appears squamate specific. 

In Fall of 2024, central Florida was impacted by Hurricane Helene (landfall in Perry, FL as a Cat 4 hurricane on Sept 27) and by Hurricane Milton (landfall in Siesta Key, FL as Cat 3 on Oct 9). The hurricanes led to damages of an estimated value > $200billion. The Nearshore Extreme Events Reconnaissance Association (NEER) and the Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance Association (GEER) represented by their members from more than 10 academic institutions, federal agencies, and industry and supported by technical staff from the NHERI RAPID facility and the UF Center for Coastal Solutions initiated on Sept 23 a data collection effort that included pre-, during-, and post-storm multi-disciplinary data collections efforts. The field data collection effort was concluded on Nov 22. Data includes hydraulic information on storm surge, waves, and currents, topographic and bathymetric data sets, terrestrial and seabed mapping, and geotechnical site characterization including in-situ testing, sediment sampling, and seismic testing. Data was collected in four focus areas in Florida (Cedar Key; Horseshoe Beach; Midnight Pass and Milton Pass, both near Venice) and observational data and limited data products were collected in other areas in Florida including Orchid, Ponte Vedra, Suwannee, Panama City, and others. Data is organized by site (four primary sites and others); data collection phase with respect to the two hurricanes; and instruments or data collection method. This work included support from both the UF Center for Coastal Solutions and the NHERI RAPID facility. 

This project documents flood-induced geo-structural damage and geomorphological change due to the flooding in the Ahr Valley in Germany during the 2021 Western European floods. It contains detailed, multi-instrument measurements both within the river channel and along the river banks at five carefully selected sites.