Robyn Grant

Winter ASAB 2025 December 15th-16th Edinburgh ASABwinter.github.io/2025/ How sensory information affects behaviour Logo of a moth

Join us for #ASABWinter2025 in Edinburgh Dec 15-16 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Abstracts for posters/talks due Aug 29

More details here: asabwinter.github.io/2025/

‘Walk on the wild side’ with Harry Gill Evolution Education Trust PhD Scholar Harry Gill, PhD researcher and Evolution Education Trust Scholar, is leading the project ‘Walk on the Wild Side: Investigating human perception of biological motion’ which explores how well dog owners...

You can read more about Harry's PhD work here:
www.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

Harry Gill first PhD paper is out, applying @deeplabcut.bsky.social to dog gait analyses ... and it worked pretty well :)
You can access the paper here:
authors.elsevier.com/c/1lXNEcF2Ow...
@cbrassey.bsky.social

New Comparative Anatomy Textbook! Completely free to read and open access!

doi.org/10.59319/YHF...

Kaikoura seal colonies, NZ, are just fantastic, there is just so much going on there! The behaviour is astounding and the whiskers are fabulous!

I had an amazing day with the Kaikoura NZ Department of Conservation Team learning about their seal conservation work. What great work they do!

The Development of Facial Bristles in Tawny Frogmouths (Podargus strigoides) Facial bristles are present in many avian species, although their morphology and function are still not well understood. Previous studies have suggested that rictal bristles are tactile and may play ...

We have a new paper on rictal bristle development in Tawny Frogmouths:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@isdp.org

Can we study whisker movements to gain insights into the natural sensory behaviours of mammals? Abstract figure legend The recommended future of whisker science research is integrating findings from the laboratory with studies from other captive institutions (such as zoos, rehabilitation centre...

Excited to share my review @jphysiol.bsky.social :
Can we study whisker movements to gain insights into the natural sensory behaviours of mammals?
doi.org/10.1113/JP28...
I recommend developing more social and active foraging tasks and including a wider variety of species in lab studies

Adaptive landscapes unveil the complex evolutionary path from sprawling to upright forelimb function and posture in mammals The ‘sprawling-to-parasagittal’ postural transition is a key part of mammalian evolution from non-mammalian synapsids. This study uses evolutionary adaptive landscapes to reveal parasagittal postures ...

I'm so excited to share my latest paper out now! How did the ancestors of mammals make the switch from sprawling to upright, taking over the world in the process? Spoiler alert; it's complicated! journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

We are looking for a Research Assistant to contribute to our ongoing analysis of dolphin acoustic data from West Wales - collaboration between @wtsww.bsky.social @bristolbiosci.bsky.social 🐬
Deadline is 29th June - please share widely!
www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...

🦭🔥Hot off the press! 🔥🦭 Check out this exciting work from @robyngrant.bsky.social and colleagues looking at the wonderful world of whiskers! #anatomy #comparative #whiskers

Determining modulus of elasticity using finite element analysis and non‐destructive testing: Are aquatic animal whiskers stiffer? The values of the modulus of elasticity (E) for each species whiskers were obtained when the FE model was aligned to the maximum displacement values of the experiment. Grey seal E values were larger ...

Check out our new paper in @journalofanatomy.bsky.social with @cbrassey.bsky.social using FEA and bend tests to show that seal whiskers are stiffer - in both shape and material - than terrestrial species.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Mammal Review Call for Papers - Surveying and Monitoring Mammals in a Changing World: Lessons Learned Across Ecological and Spatial Scales We are upgrading Wiley Online Library over the weekend of May 17th–18th. All content will continue to be available, but some functionality may not work as expected. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Have you seen our new #MammalReview call for papers on Surveying and monitoring mammals in a changing world?
If you have an idea for a suitable review, do submit :)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal... @mammalsociety.bsky.social

Mammal Review Call for Papers - Surveying and Monitoring Mammals in a Changing World: Lessons Learned Across Ecological and Spatial Scales We are upgrading Wiley Online Library over the weekend of May 17th–18th. All content will continue to be available, but some functionality may not work as expected. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Have you seen our new #MammalReview call for papers on Surveying and monitoring mammals in a changing world?
If you have an idea for a suitable review, do submit :)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal... @mammalsociety.bsky.social

Morphology and development of the baculum in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) This study examines the ontogenetic changes in the morphology of the penis bone in the harbour seal, focusing on the implications for sexual maturity and reproductive function. A large comparative da...

Our latest paper on harbour seals is out. We draw from a vast collection of harbour seal skeletons at the University of Kiel—hundreds of specimens lost to a phocine distemper virus outbreak. Now fully sexed, weighed, and aged in the collection, we begin with... the penis bone
doi.org/10.1111/jzo....

We have just published our first #PracticeInsights article. A brand new article type in #MammalReview and an exciting way to publish your review articles that have direct practical implications for Mammal conservation or ecology. Do have a read to find out more 😸😺🐈

Apply now for a four year Research Fellowship at Kew. £41,020 per annum Closing Date 20/04/2025 opportunity to become an independent researcher with some startup funds for research and travel. careers.kew.org/internal/vac...

⏰ DEADLINE IS TOMORROW (15 April) ⏰

Submit your abstract now! 🚨

#BOUasm25 | A day at the museum: collections-based ornithological research in a changing world

📅 18 Nov 2025 | Natural History Museum, London

🔗 bou.org.uk/event/a-d...

#ornithology 🪶🧪

This week I am running a workshop with the Mammal Society on how to act as a reviewer for scientific articles. Do join if you want to learn more.

Porcupine whiskers are amazing!!! We are starting off some fun whisker enrichment studies as part of an MSc student project.

Finally on route home after a 6 day data collection trip and 6 day conference stint, at 2 conferences... And check out that amazing whiskered print from the mammal society conference photo comp i got 😃

MMU PhD student is presenting today @mammalsociety.bsky.social conference on whether you can use whisker spot patterns for individual ID in pinnipeds

We worked with the Science Journal for kids to adapt our research article for young people. Check out the summary and resources for teachers! 👇🏼

The otters went crazy for their whisker enrichment today at #FlamingoLand! This is all part of an MSc project for our ace #ZooConservationBiology course.

We’re really excited to have Dani start her PhD with us. And wonderful to have the @dogstrust.bsky.social as partners!

Group of people sitting outside eating lunch, and the text Summer Internship Programme 2025 Apply Now!

Reminder! ✨ Paid 6-week summer internships with UKCEH!

➡️ Are you a student looking for hands-on research experience?
➡️ Work on topics relevant to global environmental challenges
📅 30 June – 8 August 2025
📍Bangor, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Wallingford

Deadline 2 April: www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/...

Hippo whiskers are amazing! Looking at them for the first time at #FlamingoLand #WhiskerScience

The wheely suitcase of science is on its travels again... It should be an exciting week at #FlamingoLand 🦦🦭

I had such a fun #WhiskerScience day at Stroud Green Primary. The students have been learning all about different scientists, animals and the environment. Today was very much a whisker day! Amazing questions and fabulous posters from the pupils!