@connor-morozumi.bsky.social
Community and Network Ecologist studying how plants and fungi interact
I might learn gen z speak after all
07.11.2025 04:07 — 👍 7 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Amy Angert and I are recruiting a #postdoc to participate in a collaborative NSF-funded study of demographic responses to climate across the geographic range of the scarlet monkeyflower. Please repost! jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/224...
07.11.2025 15:10 — 👍 79 🔁 86 💬 1 📌 3
A cartoon/ digital drawing summarising the findings of the paper "Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs" by T. Nishino et al published in 2025. On the top left, a female Megymenum gracilicorne bug shows off symbiotic organs on the hind legs where she carries Ascomycota fungi. These were previously assumed to be Tympanal organs in these bugs but only females had them?; that didnt make a whole lot of sense to the authors...To the right of the bug is a row of eggs lying side by side. The paper shows that the bugs deposit the symbiotic fungi on the egg surface after egg-laying. Next on the image, fungal conidia grow on the egg surface. The eggs are pinkish in colour. A few fungi wear sunglasses like they are body guards. The paper shows that they protect the eggs from Trissolcus brevinotaulus, a parasitoid wasp, that likes to lay its eggs inside the developing bug's eggs. There are two wasps in this cartoon "eyeing" the fungi and looking frustrated. Eggs turn from whitish to pinkish within 10-days because they are reflecting the body colour of the nymph within the eggs.
Had to draw a cartoon for this fascinating finding!
Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#SymbioSky
Can you #FindThatLizard and that scholarship?!
I am incredibly excited to announce that the 2nd annual #FindThatLizard Scholarship is now open! You can find the application at earynmcgee.com/findthatliza...
Drawing of a researcher looking out thoughtfully at mountains, grasslands and intertidal study systems
New paper out today in Ecology Letters! In this synthesis we dive into the equilibrium assumption in ecology - why it's everywhere in ecological theory, the evidence for it in nature, when meeting the assumption is important, how to achieve it in empirical research, and more! tinyurl.com/yh6kyysm
03.11.2025 13:31 — 👍 100 🔁 40 💬 3 📌 3This picture is phenomenal
03.11.2025 19:27 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Carnivorous birds eat seed dispersers and in the process effectively become seed dispersers themselves. Ecology is endlessly complex!
31.10.2025 18:24 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Day One of #NDiSTEM2025 delivered! ✨ Opening Ceremony, Expo, Posters, and STEM symposia brought the energy. Plus—marketplace, mentoring, and networking moments that connect our community. @aaberhe.com
#STEMCommunity #SACNAS #STEM #STEMWorkforce #STEMLeadership
How the job cycle is going
29.10.2025 16:33 — 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
🌷New Research highlight showcases Arrowsmith et al. (2025), which shows that temperature alone can shift pollinators’ floral choices in diverse plant–pollinator communities. Such thermally-driven species interaction rewiring may have important consequences. ➡️ buff.ly/i5QrFjd
@blancaac.bsky.social
ICYMI: The 2026 #DisabledInSTEM Mentorship applications are now open!
I look forward to seeing your applications soon! 💜
The cover of the Cleaning Biodiversity Data in R book. It has an illustration of an Pacific Cleaner Shrimp in the middle of a navy background. The shrimp has a bright red-orange shell, pale-yellow body and white whiskers.
Still want to make cleaning biodiversity data shrimp-ler? 🦐
Good news: We just updated our Cleaning Biodiversity Data in R book, so you still can! We've updated data for 2025, added new content & fixed lots of silly typos 😀
Live the shrimp-le life:
cleaning-data-r.ala.org.au
#rstats #ecology 🧪🌏
New paper out! @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social
We test whether optical fibres can be used to measure microclimate temperatures in the forest, and investigate what we can learn from it. 🧵👇
The full article is published Open Access: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Just over 24 hours to go! 🎉 Join us for an exciting R-Ladies+ panel on The People, Purpose & Power of R-Ladies+. See thread below to be part of it!
13.10.2025 00:22 — 👍 11 🔁 6 💬 0 📌 0
Soil microbial life history strategies covary with ecosystem multifunctionality across aridity gradients www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... #jcampubs
10.10.2025 21:09 — 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
THAMES mnemonic for reading science: T Theory •What BIG IDEA is the focus? H Hypothesis •What SMALLER IDEA is actually getting tested? A Assumptions & Alternatives •What needs to be true to connect T:H? •What else could explain results/predictions? M Methods: Measures & Manipulations •Were methodological tools validated? •Evidence that we’re measuring/manip what’s claimed? E Evidence & Ethics •Are claims calibrated to EVIDENCE? Is EVIDENCE appropriate? •ETHICALLY sound in practice/intent/implication/application? S Sampling Statistical Model •Who was studied? Who are claims about? •Do stat results match verbal ideas?
Teaching a fun science & critical thinking course this semester.
Trying out THAMES as a handy mnemonic for what to look for in evaluating science papers & such (obvs not all are as relevant for every paper)...
A remote-controlled badger is helping scientists study bird behavior. Yes, you heard that right. In Montana, researchers used a taxidermied badger on wheels to see how curlews respond to danger. Turns out, they eavesdrop on prairie dog alarm calls to stay safe.
10.10.2025 21:40 — 👍 31 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
“Exploring Careers in Ecology” webinar tomorrow!
Join me, Rese Cloyd, and host Aaron Stoler, to duscuss finding jobs, navigating new careers, and defining success as a professional ecologist.
Webinar is part of a series by @ecologicalsociety.bsky.social.
Register: esa.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
