The house sparrow, one of the most ubiquitous birds in the world, is now used extensively in studies across disciplines in the life sciences.

A better understanding of the natural history of model organisms will increase their value as model systems and also keep them at the forefront of research.

To leverage the tools, resources and knowledge that exist for C. elegans so that we can study ecology, evolution and other aspects of biology, we need to understand the natural history of this important model organism.

A better understanding of the remarkable diversity, natural history and complex ecology of E. coli in the wild could shed new light on its biology and role in disease, and further expand its many uses as a model organism.

The natural history of the model fern Ceratopteris richardii provides opportunities for unique studies and makes it an important system to include in comparative work.

Essays on the wild lives of model organisms, from Arabidopsis to the zebrafish.

The turquoise killifish from ephemeral pools in African savannah combines extremely short lifespan with a standard vertebrate body plan – ideal attributes for a laboratory animal.

Research in molecular ecology and evolution is increasingly utilizing the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, placing a spotlight on its natural history.

After decades of intensive research, D. melanogaster and its relatives could provide important tools for investigating future biological questions about human health and environmental change, but only if we better understand their natural history.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has informed our understanding of molecular biology and genetics for decades, and learning more about its natural history could fuel a new era of functional and evolutionary studies of this classic model organism.