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drdave.bsky.social
Professor of Ecology, educator, maker | ecology, mistletoe, acoustics, conservation | updates on research, family & other beasts. Living on unceded Wiradjuri country #AwesomeBirds #WildOz
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A monumental taxonomy unification effort has just been published - thanks to all those who've collaborated for years to make this happen! birdsoftheworld.org/bow/news/avi...

Do you have any papers that you keep coming back to, not because they are groundbreaking or revolutionary, but because they are so cool, so well-written and so well-done, basically examples of the kind of science we can all aspire to? I'll start with this one. doi.org/10.1111/1365...

Our paper about the flow of nocturnal bird migration through Colombia is finally out today in #ProcB! Using weather radars operated by the #IDEAM, we found that low variability in wind underlies a pace of migration that is far more gradual than at temperate latitudes. #Ornithology 📡🪶🇨🇴 🧵1/10

NEW SCIENCE! 🚨🚨🚨🧪🪶🌐 Our paper is now online at @natecoevo.nature.com! “Geographic redistributions are insufficient to mitigate exposure to climate change in North American birds”. We know birds are moving north with climate change, but what are the consequences? www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Morning all.

Rutaceae phytochemistry: The interesting numbing sensation of Sichuan pepper (Zanthoxylum spp.) is caused by hydroxy-α-sanshool, a fatty acid amide similar in structure to capsaicin from chili pepper. The chemical is found in the fruits (follicles). 📷: Ibán CCBYNCSA2 #Rutaceae #Botany 🌾🧪🌱

There are only 242 #kakapo today, but they were once one of #NZ's most common birds and lived in all mainland forests. Lessons from fossils in a new study by @manaakiwhenua.bsky.social can help us find new habitat. #conservation www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379125001076 📸 S.Latimer

New species of Mn and Ni hyperaccumulating Virotia (Proteaceae) from New Caledonia's ultramafics. Like xkcd's influence in the taxonomic illustration plate /jk openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/TEL/article/...

What can 🧬 from 👻🦇💩 tell us about this Vulnerable species in the Pilbara? They generally have high gene flow but also show restricted dispersal for females within 10-20 km from the roost. Read the paper to find out more academic.oup.com/jhered/advan...

A day of meetings, but managed to snag an hour here and there to work on the big* paper on the evolution of mistletoe specialist frugivores. Discussion really taking shape—now I know what I want to say, the rest will be easy peasy squeeze the lemon. *not very big, but first treatment since 1991

good morning friends!! #wildoz 🪶🪶👩‍🔬🌿🌏

I never cease to be amazed by the "Queen of the Night" - the Sonoran Desert's night-blooming #cereus (Peniocereus greggii) - and how nearly all the desert's plants orchestrate a synchronous bloom. The whole deserts' worth of naturally growing cacti all bloomed last night!

Morning all.

Heard of "Darwin's paradox"? It refers to Charles Darwin's observation that coral reefs are wildly productive despite occurring in nutrient-poor tropical oceans. Reefs are, so the story goes, oases in marine deserts 🏝️... Turns out that 2/3 of these assertions are very wrong... 🌐 🦑🧪 🧵⬇️

Along with essential oils, limes have furanocoumarins in their rind that cause photodermatitis. When exposed to UV, the chemicals crosslink with the DNA of our skin cells, causing cell death. Occupational hazard of poolside bartenders! 📷: Neil Staeck CCBYNC2 #Citrus #Rutaceae #Botany 🌾🧪🌱

“observed patterns of island biodiversity … demonstrate that neutral models can make accurate predictions of higher-order diversity statistics. “ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1... 🧪🌐

arboreus.earth gives you an opportunity to travel the world without leaving home thanks to the efforts of our amazing field recording contributors. This virtual, global forest now has 22 trees and 2 forests from 8 countries. There's plenty of room for more trees! arboreus.earth/trees/

Gorgeous little superb parrot in a grassland - it’s winter and their flocks are getting ready to migrate out of Canberra 💚💛💚

#Dunnarty #WildOz

"Lose 3 pounds a week easily with this one unexpected ingredient!" Traditional headlines summarize the information in a news story as succinctly as possible. Forward-references headlines drive clicks by teasing but not revealing the key point of the story, Anyway, now in the gray lady.

Our paper shows that most ectomycorrhizal fungal species (83% of OTUs) are "dark taxa": species we detect in DNA, but can't match to known species names. We map global "darkspots" - the parts of the world most in need of more research. @spun.earth @ethz.ch www.cell.com/current-biol...

The exteriors of spider eyes are part of the exoskeleton, so can't move. But in jumping spiders, the internal parts of the large central eyes have muscles that can swivel and twist to help the spider aim its eyes from inside the head. This is a 4-frame.gif showing that internal movement. 🌿🐙🕷️👀

Only today I learned about the shrine in Tokyo to insects killed for science.

Happy to see our new paper published exploring size-based trophic dynamics in Australia’s largest river system besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Morning all.

One of the lesser known joys at Rancho del Watson is ‘checking up on things’ after decent rain. We call it the spring and it’s first in the chain of ponds running through our place. On Saturday it was a grass lined depression, now it has just started flowing. Let me show you the rest…

Take a moment to enjoy this vulture content

What a truly magical experience seeing the Wongari of K’Gari at home in their World Heritage island domain.

One of the lesser known joys at Rancho del Watson is ‘checking up on things’ after decent rain. We call it the spring and it’s first in the chain of ponds running through our place. On Saturday it was a grass lined depression, now it has just started flowing. Let me show you the rest…

Just back from three weeks of eucalypt fieldwork in NSW. The state has 3 subspecies of river red gum (E. camaldulensis), which differ from one another most notably in the bud shape. 🔲⬛⬛ subsp. camaldulensis ⬛🔲⬛ subsp. arida ⬛⬛🔲 subsp. acuta

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

We are offering 2 AOC Student Travel Grants of $700 each to #AoNZ postgrads presenting research at the AOC2025 aoc.org.au, Perth, 18-20 Nov. Grant details available at www.birdsnz.org.nz/awards-and-p.... Applications close 20 June, so get in quick! #NZBirds #ornithology 🪶

In today’s marine gastropod #AtoZ H is for Hexaplex (Muricidae). Looks ordinary, but it's like books & covers... This snail has played an important role in human culture. Yes, it’s not all about us. But today it is actually a bit about us. (1/10) Pic: © Sylvain Le Bris CC BY-NC

Outstanding to see Professor Richard Kingsford honoured with an AM in today’s King’s Birthday Honours - distinguished service to conservation biology, to environmental sustainability research, and to freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems governance

Best thing today- a family group of 6 Grey-crowned babblers in #HolbrookCommon. Last time we did call playback in here only 1 turned up - thought all was lost. Some nests too 😁🥳