School of Biological Sciences, Monash @MonashBiol

Vulnerability of marine megafauna to global at‐sea anthropogenic threats Marine megafauna species are affected by a wide range of anthropogenic threats. To evaluate the risk of such threats, species’ vulnerability to each threat must first be determined. We build on the e...

70 species of marine megafauna found to have high vulnerability to anthropogenic threats. Overall, temperature extremes and plastics and other solid waste were rated as affecting the largest proportion of populations. doi.org/10.1111/cobi...

Tuning the C4 supercharger: improving photosynthesis and yield in C4 crops C4 crops such as maize and sorghum are vital to global food and bioenergy systems due to their high productivity and resource use efficiency, underpinned by a CO2 concentrating mechanism. Despite thi....

Can we improve the efficiency of photosynthesis in C4 plants such as sorghum and maize?
Maria Ermakov, Robert Sharwood and Robert Furbank review and highlight future possibilities. doi.org/10.1111/nph....

Till Ramm and colleagues analyse next-generation data in a transdisciplinary framework, and demonstrate the benefits of integrating a paleontological perspective into conservation-oriented studies. Current Biology cell.com/current-biol...

As your car tyres wear down, they leave microscopic particles that can end up in waterways and are toxic to a range of aquatic species. María Angeles Gonzalez-Vazquez and co. review current knowledge on the ecotoxicity of selected tyre-related chemicals. doi.org/10.1016/j.aq...

Uncovering the role of chemical pollutants in shaping biological invasions | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Ecosystems around the globe are under unprecedented pressure from human activities. Chemical pollution and biological invasions are two leading drivers of environmental change, each of which causes substantial harm to wildlife and the ecosystems they ...

How can pollutants affect the success of non-native species? Isaac Ligocki & colleagues find the potential influence of chemical pollution on invasion success remains largely unexplored and recommend its inclusion in conservation and restoration
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...

Faculty of Science Awards 2025 graphic for “Researcher of the Year Award.” Includes name Associate Professor Kathryn Hodgins, School of Biological Sciences, with a colourful abstract design and large letter M.

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to A/Prof Kay Hodgins @shaky-dingo.bsky.social (@monashbiol.bsky.social), recipient of the Researcher of the Year Award. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards

Faculty of Science Awards 2025 graphic for “Research Team of the Year Award – Commendation.” Features GATC/SKB Labs for work on temperature responses to human genetic diseases. Led by Professor Sureshkumar Balasubramanian and Dr Sridevi Sureshkumar, School of Biological Sciences. Includes a colourful abstract design and large letter M.

#MonashScienceAwards Congratulations to the GATC Lab and @‪skblab.bsky.social‬ (@monashbiol.bsky.social), who received a Commendation for Research Team of the Year Award. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards

Faculty of Science Awards 2025 graphic for “Dean’s Award for Excellence in Honours Supervision.” Includes name Professor Anne Peters, School of Biological Sciences, with a colourful abstract design and large letter M.

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to Prof @annempeters.bsky.social (@monashbiol.bsky.social), recipient of the Dean's Award for Excellence in Honours Supervision. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards.

Faculty of Science Awards 2025 graphic for “Dean’s Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Education.” Includes name Dr Hendrika Duivenvoorden, School of Biological Sciences, with a colourful abstract design and large letter M.

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to Dr Hendrika Duivenvoorden (@monashbiol.bsky.social), recipient of the Dean's Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Education. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards.

Faculty of Science Awards 2025 graphic for “Excellence in Postgraduate Research Supervision.” Includes name Associate Professor Kathryn Hodgin, School of Biological Sciences, with a colourful abstract design and large letter M.

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to A/Prof Kay Hodgins @shaky-dingo.bsky.social (@monashbiol.bsky.social), recipient of the Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Research Supervision. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards.

Faculty of Science Awards 2025 graphic for “Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Graduate Research Student to the Life of the Faculty/School Community.” Includes names Storme de Scally and Christopher Blake, School of Biological Sciences, with a colourful abstract design and large letter M.

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to @monashbiol.bsky.social PhD candidates Storme De Scally and Christopher Blake, joint winners of the Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Graduate Research Student to the Life of the Faculty/School Community. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards.

Faculty of Science Awards 2025 graphic for “Award for Research Impact by a Graduate Research Student – Commendation.” Includes name Peter Allen, School of Biological Sciences, with a colourful abstract design and large letter M.

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to @monashbiol.bsky.social PhD candidate Peter Allen, who has received a Commendation for the Award for Research Impact by a Graduate Research Student. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards.

Faculty of Science Awards 2025 graphic for “VC’s Commendation for Thesis Excellence.” Includes name Dr Samuel Ginther, School of Biological Sciences, thesis title “Metazoan reproduction: Knowledge gaps and syntheses,” with a colourful abstract design and large letter M.

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to Dr Sam Ginther, recipient of the Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for Thesis Excellence. @monashbiol.bsky.social Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards.

Check out new paper led by @jackmanera.bsky.social on impacts of noise pollution. @monashscience.bsky.social @monashbiol.bsky.social #BobWongLab

Welcome to this week's EGI seminar in @biology.ox.ac.uk when Prof Craig White @craig-white.bsky.social from @monashbiol.bsky.social will talk on The Evolution of Metabolic Rate and Life History: 3.30pm Fri 14 Nov in Lecture Theatre 2 in the Life & Mind Building. Also live-streamed: instructions ⬇️

Congrats to Nicole De Rycke, who received a Special Commendation for the VC's Award for Professional Staff - Individual Strategic Excellence 👏👏 Learn more: monash.edu/vc-excellenc... @monashbiol.bsky.social

Evolution of One Species Increases Resistance to Invasion in a Simple Synthetic Community - Microbial Ecology The species that make up a microbial community determine its potential function. A major goal of microbial ecology is to make assemblages of microbes — synthetic communities — with targeted applicatio...

If a community has a long history of co-evolution, is it more resistant to invasion?
@storme_zaviar
and
@MikeJayMcD
use a simple 2 species microbial community to test this idea doi.org/10.1007/s002...

Mitochondrial genotypes affect thermal plasticity of longevity in Drosophila melanogaster Abstract. Sequence variation in mitochondrial DNA was once considered neutral, but growing evidence indicates it can influence metabolic, physiological and

A recent study by Ekta Kochar, Damian Dowling and co-authors adds to the growing evidence that mtDNA variation contributes to thermal plasticity in longevity but does not provide clear insight into whether this variation is adaptive or maladaptive. doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...

Assessing recovery and conservation of Australian freshwater fishes with the IUCN Green Status of Species and structured expert elicitation The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green Status of Species (GSS), introduced in 2021, is a global standard of measurement used to assess the level to which a species has recove...

Can we improve the way we carry out Green Status of Species assessments? Maiko Lutz, David Chapple, Jessica Walsh and co-authors propose a 'best practice' approach using a formalized group setting. Read about their case studies here doi.org/10.1111/cobi...

How do how early-life conditions and genetic compatibility between mitochondria and the genome shape complex phenotypes? Stefano Bettinnazzi and co-authors found mitonuclear mismatch and early diet affected developmental time, body size and adult diet. doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...

How does exposure to a pathogen affect our understanding of the risk of climate change to the host? Jared Lush and co-authors explore this question in a new paper out in
Thermal Biology

doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...

Rodolfo Anderson and David Chapple find that Protected Areas mitigate the effects of heat stress in ectotherms, particularly in tropical regions. doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...

Cell wall‐related glycosyltransferases and wall architecture in the model liverwort Marchantia polymorpha M. polymorpha's low genetic redundancy makes it an attractive model to unravel the complex processes of cell wall biosynthesis. This study adds to the growing knowledge of the cell wall structure of ...

M. polymorpha's low genetic redundancy makes it an attractive model to investigate cell wall biosynthesis. Hee Sung Kang, John Bowman and co-authors add to the growing knowledge of the cell wall structure of Marchantia across different life stages. doi.org/10.1111/tpj....

Good habitat and group living mitigate nest failure from predation and flooding in a riparian bird Riparian ecosystems in tropical Savannas are important biodiversity refuges from current and future hot and dry conditions. Poor management of fire and grazing reduce habitat quality and we show that...

What influences nest failure in purple crowned fairy wrens in riparian habitat in tropical savannahs? Ian Hoppe,
@AP_BirdBehavEco and co-authors find good habitat and group living important doi.org/10.1111/1365...

Kinematics of strikes in venomous snakes Highlighted Article: Comparison of prey strikes of 36 venomous snake species using high-speed 3D kinematical analysis shows vipers are often faster than elapid snakes, with highest strike velocities i...

Speedy snakes! Our new study on high-speed kinematics of strikes in venomous snakes url: journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/... @monashbiol.bsky.social

Full speed snake strikes - faster than the blink of an eye! From our new paper in @jexpbiol.bsky.social @monashbiol.bsky.social

How do we capture fast and furious snake bites? High-speed video with 3D reconstruction, all at 1000 frames per second! @monashbiol.bsky.social @jexpbiol.bsky.social

Learned use of an innate sound-meaning association in birds Nature Ecology & Evolution - Over 20 species of geographically and phylogenetically diverse bird species produce convergent whining vocalizations towards their respective brood parasites. Model...

How similar are the vocalizations produced by birds that host brood parasites to communicate threat? William Feeney,
Niki Teunissen and coauthors found sound production in the correct context is learned but hearing it elicits an innate response. rdcu.be/eMPjE

Other Effective Based Conservation Measures are important contributors to our global conservation targets, but how are they assessed?
@Carly_N_Cook and co-authors have uncovered some significant issues. doi.org/10.1111/conl...

Russell Woodford and co-authors find an essential role of PGR5 in enabling efficient C4 photosynthesis under fluctuating light by regulating photosynthetic control and energy-dependent non-photochemical quenching. doi.org/10.1093/plph...