Andi Fischer

xcms in Peak Form: Now Anchoring a Complete Metabolomics Data Preprocessing and Analysis Software Ecosystem High-quality data preprocessing is essential for untargeted metabolomics experiments, where increasing data set scale and complexity demand adaptable, robust, and reproducible software solutions. Modern preprocessing tools must evolve to integrate seamlessly with downstream analysis platforms, ensuring efficient and streamlined workflows. Since its introduction in 2005, the xcms R package has become one of the most widely used tools for LC-MS data preprocessing. Developed through an open-source, community-driven approach, xcms maintains long-term stability while continuously expanding its capabilities and accessibility. We present recent advancements that position xcms as a central component of a modular and interoperable software ecosystem for metabolomics data analysis. Key improvements include enhanced scalability, enabling the processing of large-scale experiments with thousands of samples on standard computing hardware. These developments empower users to build comprehensive, customizable, and reproducible workflows tailored to diverse experimental designs and analytical needs. An expanding collection of tutorials, documentation, and teaching materials further supports both new and experienced users in leveraging broader R and Bioconductor ecosystems. These resources facilitate the integration of statistical modeling, visualization tools, and domain-specific packages, extending the reach and impact of xcms workflows. Together, these enhancements solidify xcms as a cornerstone of modern metabolomics research.

Out now! xcms in Peak Form: Now Anchoring a Complete Metabolomics Data Preprocessing and Analysis Software Ecosystem doi.org/10.1021/acs....
with Phillipine and @jorainer.bsky.social (EURAC), @metabomichael.bsky.social, Hendrik and Norman from @ipbhalle.bsky.social, @janstanstrup.bsky.social, et al.

🕷️🥬The discovery of chemosensory sensilla with different distributions on the body appendages and between the sexes of a cursorial spider, combined with evidence of olfactory mate attraction, provides insights into chemical communication in spiders. @uhl-lab.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s42...

Experimental setup for testing the effect of different winter temperatures on survival, physiology and gene expression in the wasp spider.

Here comes Carolina's first paper on the effects of winter temperatures on survival, physiology and gene expression in wasp spiders. Thanks go to all coauthors for their various contribution that made this work possible!🧪🕷
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
#climatechange

Zwei Männer pflanzen einen Baum in einer sehr trockenen Region. Im Hintergrund ist die Fahne von MV zu sehen.

Die Antisemitismusbeauftragten der Universitäten Greifswald und Rostock pflanzten mit weiteren Teilnehmenden aus den 16 deutschen Bundesländern im Kibbuz Nahal Oz 16 Bäume. Die Bäume sollen an die Opfer des Angriffs auf Israel am 7. Oktober 2023 erinnern. 🌳
#Antisemitismus #Israel #Baumpflanzung

Come and work with us in our new home @bristolbiosci.bsky.social ! This fully funded PhD opportunity is open to anyone interested in spiders/eyes/light pollution/evolution/development! 🕷️👀

⏰Deadline 15th December, online info event TODAY @2pm! Link in the PhD advert👉 www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Net-casting spider stretching it net

enlarged forward facing eyes of Asianopis subrufa

🚨Good news, everyone!
1) I'm thrilled to be joining the behavior powerhouse that is Indiana University!! So stoked, starting Jan 2026.
2) I'm recruiting grad students! Are you (or your trainee) interested in sensory ecology? behavior? evolution? fieldwork? spiders? Drop me a line Jstafstr(at)iu.edu

🚨 Uh-oh!!! A suuuper hot #PhD opportunity just dropped! My friend and collaborator Massimo De Agrò is looking for someone to explore jumping spider vision and neurophysiology! #psychophysics #jumpingspiders #greatPI - apply!!!! (Deadline December 17th) 🚨

Socially parasitic ant queens chemically induce queen-matricide in host workers Taku Shimada and colleagues show that socially parasitic queens of two ant species spray their respective host queens with chemical signals that trigger host workers to kill the resident queen.

Very cool study: matricide in ants as a maniputing behaviour favouring social parasitism! 🤯🤯

->Socially parasitic ant queens chemically induce queen-matricide in host workers. Current Biology. www.cell.com/current-biol...

Photo of Maitry Jani in the lab, smiling, showing a large live spider sitting on her hand.

@maitryjani.bsky.social from my lab @evoimec.bsky.social talks about her scientific journey and newest paper in @jexpbiol.bsky.social ERC Spotlight:
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...

Parental care liberates juvenile growth: a common-garden test of the evolutionary benefits of care Abstract. Effects on juvenile growth have long been considered an important benefit of parental care, but they have rarely been tested empirically. Protect

After some years in the making, I’m happy to share our new paper on the benefits of care. By breeding 17 carrion beetle species, we show that parental protection and feeding both promote faster offspring growth. Thanks to Anne, Madlen, and all the fantastic coauthors academic.oup.com/evolut/artic...

If your porch lights are on this spooky season, you may be attracting spiders! 🕷️🕸️🎃 Grad student extraordinaire Wes Walsh just published his work in @animbehsociety.bsky.social . Check it out!

nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

Reposting for the Monday morning scrollers! Funded PhD opportunity with me @multipleye-lab.bsky.social @bristolbiosci.bsky.social - spiders, their eyes, and their babies under long- and short-term light pollution!

Atmospheric evening view of Bristol and the Clifton suspension bridge. Adobe Stock c Stephen Davies

🎉 Big news! 🎉

We will be moving to @bristolbiosci.bsky.social @bristoluni.bsky.social in 2026!!

We're so excited to be joining such a dynamic and thriving department, university, and city - thank you to everyone who has already been so welcoming!

📢 But that's not all - come and join us! 👇

🚨🚨Job! 🚨🚨Permanent (75% time) job! We are a pretty awesome research group & seek a manager who deals with everything: personnel tasks, organizing retreats, preparing code for teaching / data structures for research... Fluency in German & English essential. stellenboerse.uni-mainz.de#/jgu/job/51527

A truly impressive photo! Thank you for sharing. I love seeing the silk line on the leg that swings the bolas

How fortunate am I, that not 100ft from my back door this wonder of evolution decided to post up. She—a bolas spider, Mastophora stowei—spent her nights luring in moths from the low branches of a sassafras tree in our yard. Luckily she picked ideal spot to capture her with a bolas at the ready

New Insights into the Evolution of Whip Spider Body Form Our latest study, “The impact of climate and habitat on body shape and size evolution in whip spiders (Amblypygi),” is now available as a preprint. Whip spiders are an ancient group of arachnids...

New preprint out!
We investigated how climate and habitat influenced the evolution of body size and shape in whip spiders (Amblypygi). This is the first large-scale study on their morphology and its evolutionary patterns.

Feedback and comments welcome! tinyurl.com/2jtnaxj5

Eine weibliche schwarze Witwe (Latrodectus hesperus) auf ihrem Netz. - Copyright

Schwarze Witwen locken Männchen mit „Käsefuß“-Geruch
Schwarze Witwen (Latrodectus hesperus) setzen bei der Partnersuche auf eine einzigartige Duftstrategie, so eine neue Forschungsstudie von Greifswalder und kanadischen Forscher*innen. E...
weiterlesen

eine Spinne in einem Netz

🕷️ Schwarze Witwen (Latrodectus hesperus) locken Männchen mit „Käsefuß“-Geruch!

Ein chemisches Pheromon zerfällt auf dem Netz der Weibchen zu einem wochenlang wirkenden Lockstoff, der Männchen anzieht und ihr Balzverhalten steuert.

Mehr Infos: https://bit.ly/47Y57ul 📷️ @andifischer10.bsky.social​

Unravelling Evolutionary Dynamics of Female Sexual Cannibalism and Male Reproductive Strategies in Spiders Sexual cannibalism (SC), where one mating partner consumes the other in the context of mating, is especially prevalent among spiders. However, the evolution of SC in spiders is still not fully unders...

Why do female spiders eat their mates, and how do males fight back? 🕷️ Our new review unpacks the evolutionary dynamics of sexual cannibalism and the astonishing male strategies it has shaped — from nuptial gifts to remote copulation. Open access in Integrative Zoology 👉 doi.org/10.1111/1749...

And that's a wrap - Prof @tomerczaczkes.bsky.social give the final (and among the most fascinating) talk at the @dzg2025berlin.bsky.social. thank you to the organizers and to Berlin for the fantastic conference. Im grateful for the great community and motivated for the next year's research

We buzzing to attend the German Zoological Society Meeting in Berlin this week!
Come and attend our talks and posters @dzg2025berlin.bsky.social @dzg-behaviour.bsky.social

Female burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides feeding a larva

Leptopilina heterotoma parasitc wasp

Hey #DZG2025, if you are interested in family life and/or communication, then come to the talks of J Plate-11:45 BEH, L Müller-12:15 BEH, M Körner-12:30 BEH, E Grubmüller-12:30 ECO (all today), J Sahm-11:30 EVOL (Thursday) and P Huber-12:45 BEH (Friday) and see the poster of M Cavalcanti!

It was an absolute joy sharing this amazing web of brilliant people here in Zadar. Thank you all for coming and making it so special! 🕷️❤️

Confused writing is usually a symptom of confused thinking. As we struggle to clarify writing, we clarify our thoughts. AI writing aids rob us of that struggle, leaving clean-looking text and thoughts still confused for lack of inspection. Writing is not just a product; it is a diagnostic tool.

Moravian University is hiring a Postdoctoral Scholar in Phylogenomics and Biogeography to study Opiliones evolution. Opportunity for teaching and research. Full details: https://ibtsjb.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2/job/147 #postdoc

MACE release 8 is now available. It contains 680 EI- and 50 Orbitrap mass spectra, including terpenoids, pheromones, alkaloids, lipids, etc.
The open-access data can be found at

doi.org/10.24355/dbb...

The MACE website with individual spectra is accessible via🧪

www.oc.tu-bs.de/schulz/html/...

Great Talk by Andy Fischer @35theca2025.bsky.social

Thank you Simona for your kind words

Our plenary talk today: Unraveling Sexual Size Dimorphism in Spiders: Current Insights and Emerging Frontiers by Simona Kralj - Fišer