Mark A Davis

You like to squeeze fish? Come squeeze fish with us! blogs.illinois.edu/view/7426/33...

A four panel figure showing (a) a biologist wading in a turbid river with a water sample, (b) a real-time or quantitative PCR amplification plot with a positive environmental DNA detection, (c) a biologist searching concrete riprap on a river bank, and (d) two freshwater mussels that have been marked for future monitoring and recapture.

Another example of the power of environmental DNA (eDNA): a positive eDNA detection led to the rediscovery of a freshwater mussel not found live in Illinois for over a century. New student-led, open access paper in Ecology with @markdavis79.bsky.social at doi.org/10.1002/ecy....

Environmental DNA reveals the Salamander Mussel Simpsonaias ambigua alive in Illinois, USA, after a century in obscurity Click on the article title to read more.

esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

A systematic review evaluating the performance of eDNA methods relative to conventional methods for biodiversity monitoring The rapid adoption of environmental DNA (eDNA) methods has drastically changed biodiversity monitoring efforts. It is often claimed that eDNA methods are more sensitive and efficient than conventiona...

Comparing innovative #eDNA technology with traditional ecology methods 🌍

#Ecology #Surveys #Biodiversity #Monitoring

nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...

Warming Increases Environmental DNA (eDNA) Removal Rates in Flowing Waters This study experimentally investigated how warmer water temperatures impact eDNA removal rates in flowing waters. Using recirculating mesocosms with varying water temperatures (20°C, 23°C, and 26°C) ...

New paper out today!!

We know warming speeds up eDNA removal in lakes and ponds, but what about streams and rivers where physical removal may obscure the impact of decay?
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Join us to discuss #eDNA opportunities and needs with @markdavis79.bsky.social at #TWT2025 on May 8th! Registration is open (and free)! together.taxonworks.org

YouTube video by NPR Music Waxahatchee: Tiny Desk Concert

The snow is falling in the Greater Chambana Metropolitan Area, I’m writing about Eastern Indigo Snakes, and listening Waxahatchee. It’s a good day.

youtu.be/ps1f7p720FA?...

Persistence of Reptile DNA in a Terrestrial Substrate: A Case Study Using the Eastern Indigo Snake We use eastern indigo snakes to study eDNA deposition and persistence in terrestrial substrates to inform the application of terrestrial eDNA sampling at broader landscape scales. We used a species-s....

It IS the Year of the Snake, after all…

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Nothing like a little NYE eDNA sampling with @jhhartman.bsky.social
Training in some new “techs,” to boot! #eDNA

The MIEM guidelines: Minimum information for reporting of environmental metabarcoding data Environmental DNA (eDNA) and RNA (eRNA) metabarcoding has become a popular tool for assessing biodiversity from environmental samples, but inconsistent documentation of methods, data and metadata make...

Check out our latest paper on #eDNA and metabarcoding data reporting standards 🤓🧬🧪

These minimum reporting guidelines for metabarcoding workflows extend from the physical layout of laboratories through to data archiving enhance trust and reliability in data

mbmg.pensoft.net/article/1286...

Toad discovery brings together Syrian, Illinois scientists

blogs.illinois.edu/view/7447/54...

Nominate your favorite Great Lakes hero for an @iaglr.bsky.social award!

Due February 1, 2025

Help recognize excellence in large lake research.

• IAGLR Lifetime Achievement Award
• John R. (Jack) Vallentyne Award
• IAGLR Large Lake Champion Award

iaglr.org/awards-schol...

Two manuscripts accepted within 15 minutes of one another. I’ll take all of that you got!!!

Cool eDNA tech gig at Auburn.

www.auemployment.com/postings/50282

Global decoupling of functional and phylogenetic diversity in plant communities - Nature Ecology & Evolution Functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity are expected to be positively correlated. Here the authors show that the covariation between these metrics in vascular plant communities around the worl...

🌳 New findings 🌳

Phylogenetic diversity cannot be used as a proxy for functional diversity in vascular plant communities 🌲🌳🌴🌵🌱🍀🌾🌼 We used the #sPlot database & found a pronounced decoupling between phylogenetic & functional diversity ⬇️

🧪🌐🌏🍁

@natureecoevo.bsky.social
shorturl.at/Bf5IK

I'm very excited to offer this #PhD on the majestic Atlantic bluefin #tuna in Southwest UK waters using #drones, remote sensing, #ocean profiling & eDNA! Working with #anglers & this fantastic team: @bd-stew.bsky.social @peterimiller.bsky.social @marinemicrobes.bsky.social 🧪🌊🦑 tinyurl.com/mrxyh62t

Call for Papers

Scope of collection

Calling for your paper for the upcoming collection:
Genomics of endangered species
🐬🐒🐸🐍🫎🐧🦉🌴🌿

#consgen
#conservationgenetics
#conservationgenomics

I’m very happy to be serving as Guest Editor and eager to read your submission.

Deadline: 13 August 2025
More info:
bit.ly/48VA9l6
@BioMedCentral

Bees, Barcodes, and Biodiversity Desert Museum Volunteers Build Barcode Reference Library of Native Bees By Kim Franklin Eight years ago I launched a small study of the native bee diversity in Las Mipiltas de Cottonwood, a small u…

For eDNA Metabarcoding, particulary for pollinators, curating robust sequences libraries is essential. Partnerships like ours a providing a roadmap for success. #conservationgenetics

blog.desertmuseum.org/2024/11/01/b...

With snow set to fly later this week, a Sunday Salameander was very necessary.

Add me and @jhhartman.bsky.social

‘The Mountain Wagtail’: How Pollution and Mining Are Destroying Kyrgyzstan • The Revelator As mining operations destroy millennia-old glaciers, director Begaly Nargozu’s film reflects a disappearing landscape and culture.

A new movie on the environmental film circuit provides a rare glimpse into Kyrgyzstan, formerly part of the Soviet Union, where destructive gold #mining threatens centuries-old ways of life. therevelator.org/mountain-wag...

All the Plants We Cannot See • The Revelator Our culture has moved away from a fascination with the greenery around us. Experts warn that “plant blindness” could come with a cost.

All the Plants We Cannot See -- Our culture has moved away from a fascination with the greenery around us. Experts warn that “plant blindness” could come with a cost. therevelator.org/all-the-plan...

And here I thought Nada Surf’s cover of There is a Light That Never Goes Out was the best version. Hot damn!

Not a to be confused with Snow’s “informer” (1992)

If Jack Kerouac Tried to Write On the Road Now I first met Dean after my wife and I had split up—dude, why is everyone freaking out, it was just a small earthquake. We get it. Move on. Look at e...

“…I have work calls at 11, 11:30, 12, 1:30, 3, and 5. At least there are a couple of blocks in there when I might be able to sneak a little more writing in.”

www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/if-...

One of the most terrifying things I ever encountered doing field work was pulling a seine and finding one of those systematically dismantling and consuming a northern leopard frog. It haunts my dreams to this day.

Meet the world's largest, deadliest bug that can suck the life out of fish many times its size - effectively turning its prey into one giant protein smoothie All you need to know about the deadly giant water bug that attacks anything that moves - even humans, hence its nickname 'toe-biter'.

Every summer I get questions about giant water bugs – a different species than this in my neck of the woods.

They’re such big, dramatic creatures!

“…L. maximus grows to nearly 12 cm long and can take down a vertebrate many times its size.”

🧪🌎🪲🪳

www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...

I suspect many researchers have been tempted to send off a letter like this. Below is one that I modified from a published example: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Entomology job alert!!! jobpostings.alberta.ca/job/Brooks-I... Short turn around. Closing date November 19! Position can be based in Edmonton or Brooks. #insects #entomology #job

Throw in some “future considerations?