Dustin Marshall

Principles of experimental design for ecology and evolution Here I argue that we do not discuss experimental design, often until it is too late. This editorial seeks to begin a conversation about how and where to replicate appropriately.

The principles of experimental design in ecology and evolution has 20k downloads, but unfortunately I still have to reject ~20% of papers without review because they lack replication at the right level. More discussion among mentors and mentees please.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

I agree. I have been thinking that conferences should have sessions where people can get feedback on their plans (rather than executed plans). There could even be ‘clinics’ people could visit to gi e their designs a ‘check-up’. But in the meantime, we just need more conversations about design.

Principles of experimental design for ecology and evolution Here I argue that we do not discuss experimental design, often until it is too late. This editorial seeks to begin a conversation about how and where to replicate appropriately.

The principles of experimental design in ecology and evolution has 20k downloads, but unfortunately I still have to reject ~20% of papers without review because they lack replication at the right level. More discussion among mentors and mentees please.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Just noting that ARC is still on X/Twitter. Despite it now being clear that that platform produces child exploitation materials, they remain active there.

If you interact with ARC staff, I really think they need to answer this question. It's moved being simply "disconnected from researchers" to … 🤢

Hermaphrodites have lower metabolic rates than gonochores Abstract. Hermaphroditism, where an individual can reproduce as both male and female, offers some clear reproductive advantages. Simultaneous hermaphroditi

royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...

Is hermaphrodism less common in animals because it is energetically more costly? George Jarvis and @djmmeeg.bsky.social have analysed 536 species of marine invertebrates and found that hermaphrodites require approximately 27% less energy than gonochores on average.

doi.org/10.1098/rspb...

Hypothesised scaling relationships between body size and population density and energy use (metabolism and energy flux) for predators and secondary consumers

❗New paper alert❗
The 2nd publication from Poppy Romera's Masters is just out in @natcomms.nature.com
We find that adherence of 180 soil food webs to the energy equivalence rule strongly depends on the measure of energy use, trophic level, and food web structure. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Excited to share our study testing competing theories on the energy dynamics of hermaphroditism! Grateful to @djmmeeg.bsky.social for guidance, to Thomas Brey for metabolic rate data, and to Deborah Charlesworth for feedback. Thanks also to the editors and reviewers at Proc B. @royalsociety.org

Re-upping for a different timezone

Hermaphrodites have lower metabolic rates than gonochores Abstract. Hermaphroditism, where an individual can reproduce as both male and female, offers some clear reproductive advantages. Simultaneous hermaphroditi

Darwin speculated that it was energetically costly to be an hermaphrodite. He thought that might explain why they were relatively rare in animals. Our paper out today tested this conjecture for the first time.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...

We suspect that hermaphroditism evolves in low food availability environments, which also select for lower metabolic rates but this remains speculative (and testable?). We’re very grateful to those who provided data, the review team and also the great Deborah Charlesworth for reading earlier drafts.

We find that contrary to Darwin’s prediction, hermaphrodites have lower metabolic rates than gonochores. This difference is not driven by motility or size

While others thought it might be cheaper to be a hermaphrodite because you have to search for compatible mates less. But there have been very few empirical tests until @gc-jarvis.bsky.social compiled lots of data

Darwin said “The sole motive for the separation of the sexes which occurs to me, is that … the same individual should not have its vital powers taxed … by producing both pollen and seeds”.
This conjecture was formalised about a century later as the fixed cost model.

Hermaphrodites have lower metabolic rates than gonochores Abstract. Hermaphroditism, where an individual can reproduce as both male and female, offers some clear reproductive advantages. Simultaneous hermaphroditi

Darwin speculated that it was energetically costly to be an hermaphrodite. He thought that might explain why they were relatively rare in animals. Our paper out today tested this conjecture for the first time.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...

Principles of experimental design for ecology and evolution Here I argue that we do not discuss experimental design, often until it is too late. This editorial seeks to begin a conversation about how and where to replicate appropriately.

Careful. You’re at Stage 1: Exasperation. If you continue down this path, you could end up at Stage 2: publishing rants about the need for replication. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Anyone looking for a Australia-based postdoc? Like animal behaviour / coding / birds? My fantastic collaborator, Iliana Medina, is advertising a position researching bird nests:

unimelb.wd105.myworkdayjobs.com/en-GB/UoM_Ex...

Apply and come be my colleague!

Opportunity!
Anybody knows of young marine ecologists (within 7 years from earned PhD) that would like to come to Gothenburg, Sweden, for a nationally funded Assistant Professorship? It is highly competitive but well funded. (1) of (3)

🌿🍄‍🟫🌱🍄We’re recruiting!!🌿🍄‍🟫🌱🍄

I’m looking for two postdocs and a technician to join my group @sheffielduni.bsky.social @sheffieldpps.bsky.social to work with me on my exciting @royalsociety.org Faraday Discovery Fellowship project, details for each post as follows:

ACCE+ DLA programme: Landscape-scale drivers and limits of endangered species spatial and temporal distribution at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - ACCE+ DLA programme: Landscape-scale drivers and limits of endangered species spatial and temporal distribution at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

🦜 New PhD project with @ACCE_DTP and project partners Macaw Recovery Network and Longleat — using bioacoustics data to help conserve one of the Neotropics’ most charismatic parrots, the Critically Endangered Great Green Macaw.

Find out more about ACCE+ DLA and how to apply 👉 accedtp.ac.uk

The Company of Biologists 100-year anniversary logo

Thank you to everyone for their support over the past 100 years, and for helping us celebrate this year. You can catch up with all our 100-year content on our special anniversary page bit.ly/4naj8Jr

Such a great resource!

ecoevojobs.net 2025-26

The 2025-26 Eco-Evo job list is out. Good luck to those applying!

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Universities such as mine are making poor decisions, and we’re not allowed to know why UTS has announced a “pause” on enrolments in 100 courses. Vacating these critically important areas diminishes not only the brand of UTS but the state it was designed to benefit.

"Australia has the second-lowest public expenditure on tertiary education institutions in the OECD…This has resulted in an endless chase for dollars (international students & “the next big thing”) rather than thinking about what an educated Australia should look like” www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...

Very kind of you to say thanks

That’s great to hear!

I use your paper in a grad course on experimetal design and analysis. The students find it super helpful!

Aha, here it is:
bsky.app/profile/djmm...

Personally, I think we should ditch the term pseudoreplication for a bunch of reasons, some of which I rant about in the paper.