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Alexis Heckley

@alexisheckley.bsky.social

NSERC postdoctoral fellow at The University of Oklahoma, studying Neotropical bat behaviour and parasites. PhD from McGill University, studying intraspecific variation in guppies and stickleback. alexisheckley.wixsite.com/mysite

352 Followers  |  191 Following  |  11 Posts  |  Joined: 06.09.2023  |  2.1809

Latest posts by alexisheckley.bsky.social on Bluesky

Just created a stickleback feed so it’s easy to see what other Bluesky users are saying about stickleback in one feed. The post just needs to include the word stickleback in it, even if it’s just in image alt text.
ehttps://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:rtgmt535jxnnvolguctkalcy/feed/aaacekwe4gzdk

30.05.2025 17:18 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 2
This figure highlights the diversity of avoidance across different species in response to pathogens and parasites. (A) Rainbow trout avoid waters with high concentrations of trematode cercariae, reducing exposure to these parasites. (B) Healthy Caribbean spiny lobsters avoid sharing dens with those infected by viruses, preventing the spread of infection within their communities. (C,D) Avoidance underlies many human public health measures such as social distancing, to minimize the risk of infectious disease contagion. (E) Oystercatchers avoid eating the largest cockles, which are likely to be infested with parasitic helminths. (F,G) Bees and ants (eusocial insects) exhibit complex social behaviours to minimize infection risks. Bees isolate or remove infected individuals from the colony, while ants restructure their social networks to reduce contact with fungal-infected foragers. (H) Sheep avoid food and water sources contaminated with feces, reducing the risk of ingesting parasites that may be present in such environments. (I,J) Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. These model organisms illustrate how detected pathogenic cues can modify behaviour and provide insights into the neurological integration of sensory perception and behavioural response to pathogens. Plants, like Saline latifolia (K), can avoid infection too, for example by flowering for shorter periods to reduce contact with fungal spores transmitted by pollinators. Root compounds of some sorghum (L) lines are associated with reduced germination of parasitic Striga seeds, demonstrating chemical avoidance strategies. (M) Crickets avoid detection by parasitic flies through the selection of variants that cannot sing, disrupting the ability of parasites to locate hosts acoustically. (N) Spongy moths show variability in larval behaviour to avoid virus-contaminated foliage. (O) Lemurs avoid water sources that have an elevated risk of fecal contamination.

This figure highlights the diversity of avoidance across different species in response to pathogens and parasites. (A) Rainbow trout avoid waters with high concentrations of trematode cercariae, reducing exposure to these parasites. (B) Healthy Caribbean spiny lobsters avoid sharing dens with those infected by viruses, preventing the spread of infection within their communities. (C,D) Avoidance underlies many human public health measures such as social distancing, to minimize the risk of infectious disease contagion. (E) Oystercatchers avoid eating the largest cockles, which are likely to be infested with parasitic helminths. (F,G) Bees and ants (eusocial insects) exhibit complex social behaviours to minimize infection risks. Bees isolate or remove infected individuals from the colony, while ants restructure their social networks to reduce contact with fungal-infected foragers. (H) Sheep avoid food and water sources contaminated with feces, reducing the risk of ingesting parasites that may be present in such environments. (I,J) Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. These model organisms illustrate how detected pathogenic cues can modify behaviour and provide insights into the neurological integration of sensory perception and behavioural response to pathogens. Plants, like Saline latifolia (K), can avoid infection too, for example by flowering for shorter periods to reduce contact with fungal spores transmitted by pollinators. Root compounds of some sorghum (L) lines are associated with reduced germination of parasitic Striga seeds, demonstrating chemical avoidance strategies. (M) Crickets avoid detection by parasitic flies through the selection of variants that cannot sing, disrupting the ability of parasites to locate hosts acoustically. (N) Spongy moths show variability in larval behaviour to avoid virus-contaminated foliage. (O) Lemurs avoid water sources that have an elevated risk of fecal contamination.

This primer on infection avoidance was incredibly fun to write with @cr-amo.bsky.social and Mandy Gibson. We cover its taxonomic breadth, mechanisms and evolution, and its importance across fields as diverse as public health, conservation, and agriculture. πŸ§ͺ
www.cell.com/current-biol...

#SymbioSky

20.05.2025 09:18 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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Opportunities We are currently recruiting graduate student(s) interested inΒ seasonal pathogen dynamics and bat health throughout various field sites and/or highway culverts throughout Alabama. You can find out...

I am recruiting graduate students for Spring 2026 in my Lab at Auburn University. Please share broadlyπŸ¦‡

simonislab.weebly.com/opportunitie...

linking to πŸ§ͺ and 🦊

20.05.2025 22:54 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 11    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
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STICKLEBACK 2025: 11th International Congress on Stickleback Behaviour and Evolution Fourwaves - STICKLEBACK 2025: 11th International Congress on Stickleback Behaviour and Evolution

The upcoming International Stickleback Conference (at Bamfield Marine Science Center in late July) still has some openings, but register soon! Stickleback-curious researchers are welcome too!
event.fourwaves.com/stickleback-...

18.05.2025 23:56 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
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Rapid Neural DNA Methylation Responses to Predation Stress in Trinidadian Guppies DNA methylation (DNAm) is a well-studied epigenetic mechanism implicated in environmentally induced phenotypes and phenotypic plasticity. However, few studies investigate the timescale of DNAm shifts...

How fast can brains epigenetically respond to predation stress?

We found that brain DNA methylation in guppies can shift within 30 minutes of predator exposure β€” with different time courses between males and females.

New paper from my PhD now out! 🧠🐟
doi.org/10.1111/mec....

29.04.2025 17:11 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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πŸŽ‰ Congratulations @janayf.bsky.social on winning our 2025 Bruce Cattanach Prize!

Janay's talk is on the epigenetic plasticity in response to environmental stress: insights from an evolutionary fish model #Epigenetics2025

24.04.2025 15:50 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Check out our latest paper on phenotypic variation in guppies - led by Alexis Heckley.

"Abiotic environmental factors contribute to spatial variation in boldness and exploration in guppies (Poecilia reticulata)"

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1095...

17.04.2025 03:25 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Live near New Haven, CT, and looking for something interesting to do April 23?

I am giving the Bass Distinguished Lecture, titled β€œThe World Without Evolution?” taking place Wednesday, April 23 at 5 pm in O.C. Marsh Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

peabody.yale.edu/news/hendry_...

30.03.2025 17:17 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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NEW MSc POSITION! We're starting a new study system on eastern small footed bats in Ontario. Please share widely and/or apply if you're interested in foraging ecology, bats, and conservation! Link to application is here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

11.02.2025 16:42 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 33    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 4
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I usually reserve this account for my personal views; but today I want to represent my position as President of @asn-amnat.bsky.social to post a message that will shortly go out to the membership of the American Society of Naturalists from the ASN Executive Council

06.02.2025 16:28 β€” πŸ‘ 798    πŸ” 317    πŸ’¬ 35    πŸ“Œ 58
Here's a photo of my favorite grass host, Dactylis glomerata, infected with ergot and stem rust in the beautiful Swiss Alps

Here's a photo of my favorite grass host, Dactylis glomerata, infected with ergot and stem rust in the beautiful Swiss Alps

Please spread the word - I am looking for a postdoc to join my lab at @osubpp.bsky.social to study diversity and interactions of plants and pathogens in wild and working landscapes!

More information here: agsci-labs.oregonstate.edu/diseaseecolo...

04.02.2025 00:55 β€” πŸ‘ 32    πŸ” 23    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 7
Diverse hosts, diverse immune systems: evolutionary variation in bat immunology

bats are immunologically "special", but bat species also differ in their immune response. we gather evidence for interspecific variation in bat immunity, propose hypotheses, and outline future comparative directions. i've really enjoyed working with this ECR team.
ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...

03.02.2025 17:28 β€” πŸ‘ 46    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
Will Eskridge original painting of three bats and three cinnamon rolls on gold leaf background. We Sold Our Souls For Cinnamon Rolls. acrylic and gold leaf on stretched linen

Will Eskridge original painting of three bats and three cinnamon rolls on gold leaf background. We Sold Our Souls For Cinnamon Rolls. acrylic and gold leaf on stretched linen

Well, I mean come on? #sweet prompt for #JanuArty ? I mean what's next #bats πŸ¦‡ ? Hahahahaha! Here ya go! Love you BlueSky -Happy Friday!

We Sold Our Souls For Cinnamon Rolls
33Γ—72"

#bat #batart #bskyart #painting #art #artwork #wallart #fineart #ArtYear #wildlife #nature #weirdart #cinnamonroll

24.01.2025 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 86    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 4
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Pathogens and planetary change - Nature Reviews Biodiversity This Review explores the relationship between emerging infectious diseases and biodiversity loss, and how both are connected to global environmental changes in the Anthropocene.

Quote: "Ecological and evolutionary principles help to explain why both pandemics and wildlife die-offs are becoming more common; [and] why land-use change and biodiversity loss are often followed by an increase in zoonotic and vector-borne diseases."
www.nature.com/articles/s44...

24.01.2025 03:14 β€” πŸ‘ 37    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Jasper experienced a devastating wild fire. Now they need temporary housing - what’s the hold up? The UCP.

They won’t allow temporary housing unless it is permanent, and only single detached homes, and they have to be sold….

So temporary not temporary housing.

#AbLeg

23.01.2025 15:23 β€” πŸ‘ 83    πŸ” 28    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
Weather and landscape morphology drive thermal regime variation among MΓ½vatn ponds, and implications for resident Arctic charr

If you need a distraction and find reading science about weird ponds relaxing, I have a new preprint up with Joe Phillips, Bjarni KristjΓ‘nsson, and Camille Leblanc about some cave pond limnology. doi.org/10.32942/X2G... πŸ’§πŸŸ

21.01.2025 23:05 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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Pathogens and planetary change - Nature Reviews Biodiversity This Review explores the relationship between emerging infectious diseases and biodiversity loss, and how both are connected to global environmental changes in the Anthropocene.

There's a lot of replies to our new paper talking about how capitalism or overpopulation are the real enemy. Without getting into whether that's true of the climate emergency or the sixth mass extinction (πŸ™ƒ), I want to briefly explain why pandemics are different. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

16.01.2025 18:15 β€” πŸ‘ 55    πŸ” 30    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 4

Check out our new review, 'Pathogens and Planetary Change', in @natrevbiodiv.bsky.social! The paper is nicely summarized in this thread by @ctrlalttim.bsky.social (and another thread I've also re-posted by @colincarlson.bsky.social). Very excited to have been part of this fantastic collaboration!

16.01.2025 17:09 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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🦠 NEW REVIEW 🌑️ What does health have to do with environmental change? Well, a lot, but the way that pop-sci describes these relationships isn't always the case: www.nature.com/articles/s44.... So, what does it all mean? We try to answer this in our new review "Pathogens and planetary change" 🧡

16.01.2025 16:41 β€” πŸ‘ 27    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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Pathogens and planetary change - Nature Reviews Biodiversity This Review explores the relationship between emerging infectious diseases and biodiversity loss, and how both are connected to global environmental changes in the Anthropocene.

Couldn't ask for a better first Bluesky post! Our new paper, "Pathogens and planetary change," is out now in @natrevbiodiv.bsky.social. We discuss the linkages between biodiversity loss + pandemics and how we can address these interconnected crises πŸ§ͺ😷

Give it a read: www.nature.com/articles/s44...

16.01.2025 01:41 β€” πŸ‘ 84    πŸ” 29    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2

🚨New paper out @natrevbiodiv.bsky.social on how pathogens and parasites are responding to global change, and implications for pandemic prevention and biodiversity conservation. Check it out below!

15.01.2025 20:08 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A map of 10 pandemic since 1900. Four (all influenza) were related to agriculture; two (HIV and Covid-19) were related to wildlife use; one (cholera) was related to climate change; and three (cholera, plague, and influenza) were not related to any planetary change drivers.

A map of 10 pandemic since 1900. Four (all influenza) were related to agriculture; two (HIV and Covid-19) were related to wildlife use; one (cholera) was related to climate change; and three (cholera, plague, and influenza) were not related to any planetary change drivers.

Popular science narratives about pandemics - specifically, that they happen because of disordered relationships with nature - just aren't true. Half of modern pandemics have been one virus (influenza), and only a modest fraction of pandemic pathogens (3 of 10) have jumped from wildlife to humans.

15.01.2025 14:30 β€” πŸ‘ 26    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ§ͺ😷 Biodiversity loss and disease emergence share common drivers - meaning that there are opportunities to create shared solutions for biodiversity and health. Global and national governance efforts to combat disease events must be integrated with environmental protection and sustainable development

15.01.2025 16:00 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 13    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
Biodiversity loss can drive disease emergence, and vice versa; they also share many of the same upstream drivers.

Biodiversity loss can drive disease emergence, and vice versa; they also share many of the same upstream drivers.

Carlson and colleagues explore the relationships between emerging infectious diseases, biodiversity loss, and global environmental change. go.nature.com/4gT0za1

15.01.2025 15:22 β€” πŸ‘ 26    πŸ” 16    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
header of our paper "Pathogens and planetary change"

header of our paper "Pathogens and planetary change"

If you take one thing away from our paper, I hope it's this: there's no safe path through the Pandemicene without action on environmental protection, sustainable development, and health system strengthening. Single-issue advocacy and siloed solutions put the world at greater risk from pandemics.

15.01.2025 14:42 β€” πŸ‘ 57    πŸ” 23    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 3
Top panels: graphs showing increases in spillover events, extinction rates, and temperature anomalies over the last few centuries. Bottom panel: a map of 10 pandemics since the year 1900. Four were linked to agriculture, two to wildlife use, and one to climate change.

Top panels: graphs showing increases in spillover events, extinction rates, and temperature anomalies over the last few centuries. Bottom panel: a map of 10 pandemics since the year 1900. Four were linked to agriculture, two to wildlife use, and one to climate change.

🚨😷πŸ§ͺ NEW: A growing body of evidence shows that pandemics, biodiversity loss, and climate change are part of a broader polycrisis - but there are no simple solutions. A sweeping overview of "Pathogens and planetary change" for the first issue of @natrevbiodiv.bsky.social, out now πŸ”“ rdcu.be/d6lHl

15.01.2025 14:16 β€” πŸ‘ 544    πŸ” 229    πŸ’¬ 17    πŸ“Œ 19
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Pathogens and planetary change - Nature Reviews Biodiversity This Review explores the relationship between emerging infectious diseases and biodiversity loss, and how both are connected to global environmental changes in the Anthropocene.

How are pathogens and parasites responding to planetary change, what does this mean for people and biodiversity, and what is to be done? New @viralemergence.org synthesis out today in Nature Rev Biodiversity (@natrevbiodiv.bsky.social) with a fantastic author teamπŸ§ͺ😷
www.nature.com/articles/s44...

15.01.2025 14:18 β€” πŸ‘ 86    πŸ” 47    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Francis Dinh also contributed to this work but I don't think Francis is on bluesky!

12.12.2024 16:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Does Motility‐Restricting Fibrosis Influence Dispersal? An Experiment in Nature With Threespine Stickleback Factors that affect dispersal can have important eco-evolutionary implications. Here, we show that an inflammation and tissue repair responseβ€”peritoneal fibrosisβ€”does not influence threespine stickle...

How does fibrosis (an inflammation and tissue repair response) affect dispersal? We investigated this question with stickleback in a mark-recapture experiment in Alaska: dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3... @danielbolnick.bsky.social @nataliesteinel.bsky.social @ecoevoevoeco.bsky.social

12.12.2024 16:09 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Please join our discord so we can make it a vibrant community! Dm me if you want to join 😊

05.12.2024 16:29 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@alexisheckley is following 20 prominent accounts