Matt Betts

Leveraging long‐term data to improve biodiversity monitoring with species distribution models To our knowledge, this is the first empirical study to demonstrate the benefits of long-term dynamic SDMs with spatially matched predictor variables. If predicting the future of biodiversity under la...

Long-term data result in more reliable species distribution models. Perhaps expected, but nice to see it quantified formally! Thanks @nico-anselmetto.bsky.social for leading this effort at the HJ Andrews LTER. @uslter.bsky.social 🧪
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

A Tiny Seabird Faces Growing Threats in the Forest

Nice article by @jimrobbins.bsky.social in @nytimes.com on one of my favorites - marbled murrelet - and its potential fate given changes to our forests, oceans and the US Endangered Species Act. @coforegonstate.bsky.social 🧪

Thanks to @natecoevo.nature.com for publishing this short essay on our Costa Rica hummingbird/heliconia work!

Old-growth Douglas-fir / western hemlock forest, Pyramids, Oregon

@natecoevo.nature.com

Science is rarely a linear path from hypotheses to published papers. Here, I tell the story of our many ups and downs during the discovery of pollinator recognition. Hope you enjoy it! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Nice article!

Another excellent article by @lyndamapes @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social, this one focused on one of my favorite species - Swainson’s Thrush. So nice to see the HJ Andrews @uslter.bsky.social linked to wintering grounds in Costa Rica. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Trump wants to cut research centers like the one in this PNW forest Congress will take up Trump's proposed budget cuts, which target 26 long-term ecological research centers like the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon.

Always a pleasure to see others recognize the value of our network.

"[The LTER Network] has enabled scientists to get answers that have led to key policy decisions, from amending the Clean Air Act to prevent acid rain to preserving old-growth forests."

Lynda Mapes for the @seattletimes.com

Great to see this @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social by Lynda Mapes on post-fire "reorganization" at the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest and LTER! @uslter.bsky.social

A fire charred this research forest. What happened next dazzled The 2023 Lookout Fire burned most of a forest in Oregon. What's unfolding in the aftermath could inform the future of other forests burned as wildfire becomes fiercer and more frequent.

Today’s @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social features an excellent article by Lynda Mapes on how our research forest HJ Andrews Experimental Forest @uslter has changed following fire www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Simulated soundscapes and transfer learning boost the performance of acoustic classifiers under data scarcity The biodiversity crisis necessitates spatially extensive methods to monitor multiple taxonomic groups for evidence of change in response to evolving environmental conditions. Programs that combine...

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Yes, good question. Alas, no highly resolved plant data in this study. But Graham collected beetle and bee data to address the same questions. Those papers out soon.

Collecting bioacoustics data but terrified of the time required to train auto-ID models? A solution from @mattweldy.bsky.social out today in @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social in the form of transfer learning which minimizes the need for training data. besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

Fledgling black-backed woodpecker @ the HJ Andrews LTER yesterday. Fascinating to see this long-studied ecosystem reorganizing after the 2023 Lookout Fire.

Clearcutting doesn't mimic fire when it comes to biodiversity conservation - in the early stages of forest development at least. Congrats to Graham Frank on the publication of his PhD chapter! esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Rough skinned newt, Oregon Coast Range

Is a photo subversive? NSF staff overcome obstacles to 75th anniversary portrait Management tried to quash outpouring of support for beleaguered agency

For what it's worth, I largely owe my career to NSF. Happy 75th! www.science.org/content/arti...

Unprecedented cuts to the National Science Foundation endanger research that improves economic growth, national security and your life The Trump administration has terminated hundreds of federal grants that support engineering, biology, geology, computer science, STEM education and much more.

Some well articulated arguments for science funding here: theconversation.com/unprecedente...

Benefits of onshoring forestry rely on science

This article came out officially yesterday focused on supporting federal science to inform forest management: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... Thanks to @gcerullo.bsky.social for his efforts on this.

Benefits of onshoring forestry rely on science US Executive Orders to reduce wood imports (1) and ramp up domestic production (2) signal a transformation in forest policy. Portrayed as addressing supply chain and national security concerns, these ...

Here’s our attempt to emphasize the importance of maintaining strong federal research capacity in the face of new executive orders to increase timber production in the US: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Congrats Erin!

Trump Administration Aims to Eliminate E.P.A.’s Scientific Research Arm More than 1,000 chemists, biologists and other scientists could be laid off under a plan to dismantle the Office of Research and Development.

Defunding the research agency that uncovered forever chemicals, measures impacts of air particulate on human health, researches playground safety…what could go wrong? www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/c...

Some scenes from the Corvallis stand up for science protest today. So nice to see this much positivity out there.

48 Scientific Societies Representing Almost 100,000 Scientists Ask Congress to Protect the Future of Science 48 scientific societies representing almost 100,000 scientists signed on to a letter asking Congress to protect the future of science

Today, a broad coalition of scientific professional societies who represent over 92,000 scientists are speaking out against the politicization and demonization of Federally funded science and government scientist jobs.

It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎

Beautiful piece given to me after my talk @uoftmississauga.bsky.social. Drawn by Mark Nadijiwan of the Anishnabek, to show the turtle as a communicator of wisdom to humans.

Outcry as Trump withdraws support for research that mentions ‘climate’ US government stripping funds from domestic and overseas research amid warnings for health and public safety

Don't look up!
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘You screwed people’: Inside the National Science Foundation’s firing of 168 workers At an emotional meeting, foundation officials announced layoffs for about 10 percent of their workforce and warned of more firings to come.

I've always been quite impressed with the US for its investments in science, and use of science in (some) decision making. That era seems to be coming to an end, unless we can do all that we can to stop it. So sorry for my friends and colleagues at NSF: www.politico.com/news/2025/02...

A reminder to stop doom scrolling for a bit, listen to Mozart piano concerto 20 in D minor, then call your representatives.

And now for something completely different: baby Malayan tapir.