Sharon Robinson

We are very happy to announce that the next Microclimate Ecology & Biogeography (MEB) conference will happen in Montpellier (FRANCE), 1 - 5 June 2026 ☀️
meb-network.com/meb-2026/
Microclimate scientists: save the date in your agenda!!

Scientists warn of 'abrupt changes' taking place in Antarctica Scientists say there is emerging evidence of abrupt and potentially unstoppable changes in the Antarctic environment, heightening the risk of significant sea level rise and the extinction of species.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

2025: Antarctic ecosystems at risk without urgent, long-term research - University of Wollongong – UOW

www.uow.edu.au/media/2025/a...

Research Bias in Long‐Term Monitoring of Antarctic Nearshore Marine and Terrestrial Biota Antarctic wildlife is under pressure from environmental changes and human activity, but how well is Antarctica's coastal biota being monitored? While over half of the long-term monitoring studies spa....

Antarctica is under pressure from environmental changes and human activity, but how well is its coastal wildlife being monitored?

The team incl. @antarcticmoss.bsky.social & I sifted through the literature to find out.

Here is what we found (out now)
doi.org/10.1111/gcb....

@arcsaef.bsky.social

This matters.

Scientists warn of 'abrupt changes' taking place in Antarctica Scientists say there is emerging evidence of abrupt and potentially unstoppable changes in the Antarctic environment, heightening the risk of significant sea level rise and the extinction of species.

The most iconic species of them all, Emperor penguins, are under substantial threat.
We are on track to lose them.

Like so many scientists before, we call for rapid global decarbonisation for lifes’ sake.

Like these calls before, its evidenced based & to ignore is at our collective peril.

The tipping point for unstoppable ice loss from the West #Antarctic Ice Sheet could be exceeded even under best-case #CO2 emission reduction pathways, potentially initiating global tipping cascades.

Melting ice is slowing down the deep ocean circulation around Antarctica. This system of deep currents, known as the Antarctic Overturning Circulation, plays a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and distributing heat. #climatechange #oceancurrents #oceans #auspol

Scientists warn of 'abrupt changes' taking place in Antarctica Scientists say there is emerging evidence of abrupt and potentially unstoppable changes in the Antarctic environment, heightening the risk of significant sea level rise and the extinction of species.

“Slowdown or collapse of the Antarctic Overturning Circulation would lead to widespread climate and ecosystem impacts”

risk-amid-antarctic-regime-shift/105676324?utm_source=abc_news_app

Scientists warn of 'abrupt changes' taking place in Antarctica Scientists say there is emerging evidence of abrupt and potentially unstoppable changes in the Antarctic environment, heightening the risk of significant sea level rise and the extinction of species.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

2025: Antarctic ecosystems at risk without urgent, long-term research - University of Wollongong – UOW

www.uow.edu.au/media/2025/a...

#Mosses, #lichens #fungi the little things that help the bigger things grow!

Magic mushrooms: how scientists discovered fungi are the secret ingredient for restoring the world’s forests Healthy fungal networks help trees and plants grow, making them key to successful reforestation. The only problem? Almost nothing is known about this subterranean ecology

Magic mushrooms: how scientists discovered fungi are the secret ingredient for restoring the world’s forests
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The 'centre of the world' and the global race for research Lead the research and lead the way on Antarctica but as the US cuts environmental funding questions are raised about the future of science there.

What will happen to Antarctic research with the US pulling back?

With all the rapid change it could have us heading backwards.

So, someone needs to fill the void but we're seeing other Western nations busy with infrastructure not science.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

Top UN court singles out fossil fuels as part of states’ climate duty Landmark opinion says those that fail to prevent climate harm could be liable for compensation and restitution

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Mauna Loa Observatory captured the reality of climate change. The US plans to shut it down Cutting data climate collection – as the Trump administration is now trying to do – is like breaking a thermometer to avoid knowing you’ve got a fever.

Mauna Loa Observatory captured the reality of climate change. The US plans to shut it down
theconversation.com/mauna-loa-ob...

A 10-fold increase in rocket launches would start harming the ozone layer – new research While rocket launches are increasing dramatically every year, it is still possible to mitigate any harmful effects on the ozone layer.

theconversation.com/a-10-fold-in...

Detection and mapping of Antarctic lichen using drones, multispectral cameras, and supervised deep learning The difficulty of accurately detecting lichens in Antarctic landscapes, due to their fine-scale spatial patterns and low spectral contrast, drives the…

Using #drones, multispectral cameras, & supervised #deeplearning for detecting & mapping #Antarctic #lichen. A promising approach for scalable & non-invasive polar vegetation #monitoring #UAV

@uowenvirofutures.bsky.social

@arcsaef.bsky.social

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Postdoc Job offer for Arthropod Ecologists 🪲🕷️

Michael Staab @leuphana.bsky.social offers a 3 year postdoc starting in October latest.
Arthropod diversity, interactions & functions in different research programs, e.g. @bexplo.bsky.social

Apply by June 19th

www.leuphana.de/en/universit...

As Antarctic sea ice shrinks, iconic emperor penguins are in more peril than we thought Emperor penguin populations are falling much faster than expected. Ice is melting beneath their chicks before they’re ready.

As Antarctic sea ice shrinks, iconic emperor penguins are in more peril than we thought
theconversation.com/as-antarctic...

@uowenvirofutures.bsky.social

2025: Glaciers are melting faster than ever. The impact could be devastating - University of Wollongong – UOW

"Glaciers are one of the most valuable tools we have for understanding the health of our planet" says EF member Prof Sharon Robinson. Read more on her paper published in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com

@antarcticmoss.bsky.social

www.uow.edu.au/media/2025/g...

Scientists surprised to discover mayflies and shrimp making their bodies out of ancient gas In a Queensland river where natural gas seeps up through the water, many living creatures have come to depend on it for their carbon.

theconversation.com/scientists-s...

Impacts of deglaciation on biodiversity and ecosystem function - Nature Reviews Biodiversity Glaciers are retreating with global climate warming, which threatens glacier specialists and the functions and stability of glaciers and glacially influenced ecosystems. This Review describes the impa...

New paper on glaciers, who lives, on, in or under them. @ceridwenfraser.bsky.social and Jasmine Lee plus…
@arcsaef.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Thanks for being there Silene, it was great to visit UNSW & engage with so many staff & students.

Always happy to tell amazing moss stories!

Australia urgently needs to get serious about long-term climate policy – but there’s no sign of that in the election campaign The election campaign must prioritise climate policy to ensure the next government drives the transition to a clean economy in a world upended by Donald Trump.

Australia urgently needs to get serious about long-term climate policy – but there’s no sign of that in the election campaign
theconversation.com/australia-ur...

Permanent shifts in the global water cycle Decades of terrestrial water-storage changes reveal an irreversible decline in soil moisture

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

🇦🇶🐧💃

The song’s inspired by a story I shared with our composer, Dugald McLaren. I drove @antarcticmoss.bsky.social crazy during a field season with my dancing rendition of DNC ‘s “ if you want to rock around, rock around the moss, you know it’s tricky. Tricky, Tricky, Tricky, Tricky
It kept me warm 🥶

Heard Island, a world Heritage island inhabited by seals and penguins. I wonder what they are hoping to export to the USA?

I suspect a data glitch, or maybe it was a very clever scam?

🤷‍♀️😵‍💫🐧🐧🐧🦭🦭🦭🦭🦀🦀🦀🐳🐳🐳🐳🐳

‘Nowhere on earth is safe’: Trump imposes tariffs on uninhabited islands near Antarctica