Venturelli lab

Do you mean their whiskers/bristles? I believe that it's to taste and feel food in murky water and muck. The bristles are covered in sensory cells. Fish whiskers have evolved independently in numerous families (e.g., fw catfish, marine catfish, sturgeon).

This looks like really good #insect #cosplay

Got invited to this. Walked in not knowing anyone. Walked out with new friends and a few stories. Thanks, @nature.org and @iccb2025.bsky.social!

You can't make this up: a researcher friend just had a paper rejected because the result was statistically non-significant. The editor said to try out different stats to get the p-value <0.05. That's NOT how science works. Non-significance is a legit result that is worth being communicated.

If Hell were real, one of the layers would be “conference app”.

Had a great time in Perth talking fishing apps, survey science with Karina Ryan et al., (DPIRD), and NGO RecFishWest. Sample frames, trust, and the spectrum of engagement. Next up: Western Australia holiday, then Brisbane to prep for an eval of behaviour change efforts on app data quality.

Hire new MSc Rocco Boyd (stat & GIS whiz)! App data suggest invasive #Hydrilla isn’t v. good for #Florida #largemouth bass fishing. H doesn't attract more anglers or make larger bass - native veg is better. H mats do get fished for slightly larger bass, but not enough to justify limiting H control.

Onward & upward (bc #wefly)! @mackensieshears.bsky.social started in ed, switched to aquatics & fisheries, & was an asset to the lab for 20 mo - helping w main projects, side projects, teaching, service, & snacks. Thx for everything, best of luck, you’re missed, & come back any time!

Very proud of Paton Willbanks for successfully defending her thesis on methods for using app data to monitor for changes in marine fish assemblage and species distributions. Except that we now have a Paton-sized hole in the lab. Saying bye to great students is one of the hardest parts of this job.

If making Outlook add #UTF-8 to the start of every downloaded filename is someone's idea of psychological warfare, it’s totally working. 😱

I'm a Ball State University professor. My team explores the ways in which we can use big data from online activity, apps, social media, and connected devices to help recreational fisheries and the environment. Research topics include invasive species, climate change, and fish contamination.

EVERY day is #EarthDay

🤯 Great minds 🤔

You’re always welcome!

I wish that it was so straightforward. What if your student, who is starting a PhD in fall in the same state as spouse, is 3 mo from defending a thesis based on data from a company that now refuses to associate its brand with CC research? Options are to re-frame the work or tank a promising career.

Our lab unwinds by playing bar trivia with friends and family most weeks. We are the Aquaholics. This week’s game was a little sad because it was the last time that this cohort would play together. Even sadder is that we lost…by a lot.

💪

Departments in good working order still have to deal with administrative trickledown, so this also implies that the school is in good working order. That, or everyone has simply given up.

Observation: The US imports 80% of its seafood. As a result, US aquaculture is underdeveloped and many US stocks are recovering.

Prediction: Tariffs on #seafood imports will reduce US seafood consumption, increase pressure on US stocks, and increase #aquaculture development and impacts.

Lab members @mackensieshears.bsky.social, Paton Willbanks, and Rocco Boyd racked up wins at this year's Department of Biology Awards Ceremony. They were recognized for their hard work and dedication to generating knowledge that will help to monitor and manage #recreationalfisheries. ❤️💪🐟

“Dr” Boyd at the FloridaWCC #Invasive #plant Mgmnt review. He applied machine learning to agency & #fishing app data (217 lake-yrs!) & found that native veg spp >> Hydrilla in 3 of 4 categories. Natives make ⬆️ #bass, attract ⬆️ anglers, cause ⬆️ fishing success. But we do find ⬆️ big bass near Hydrilla

Snapped this pic at the start of last week's FWC meeting in Orlando. "Dr" Boyd is a MSc student, but the label is appropriate - he’s an amazing student who is writing up THREE data chapters. Whoever hires him is getting bargain.

The lab's very own @mackensieshears.bsky.social is one of Ball State's Top 50 students for 2025! Super proud of this achievement. Excellent student, excellent researcher. Congratulations! bsu.edu/news/press-c...

Or his wife.

I believe that these sum to “field biologist”

Our lab has had similar experiences in recent years, but AI can’t make up for the fact that the prospectives lack relevant education/experience. Maybe that’s next…

@docspalding.bsky.social @mackensieshears.bsky.social @amuehler.bsky.social

It was an honour & pleasure to be involved in this @nature.org -led, global assessment of app data as a means of identifying impt marine rec fishing areas. The assessment went well, so we're planning follow-up research to help protect these areas from other sectors. oceanwealth.org/wp-content/u...

@docspalding.bsky.social @mackensieshears.bsky.social @amuehler.bsky.social

Indiana @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social is heating up! This is @amuehler.bsky.social‘s famous slide. We know that aquatic #invasivespecies are bad, but his results suggest that we can use app and mobile location data to prioritize management efforts such as monitoring and cleaning stations.