Theo Bakker

We are hiring - PDRA position exploring how information access shapes social dynamics in killer whales. Collaboration with @samellisq.bsky.social @drwhale.bsky.social Prof Dan Franks (York) start 1st Nov (or ASAP) end 31st Oct 2028. Apps close on 19th Oct.

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOT336/p...

Awesome faculty position alert! Tenure-track assistant professor position in Evolutionary Biology, with a focus on organismal responses to environmental change.

Please help spread the word!
apply.interfolio.com/173889

🔴 PFAS ('forever chemicals') found in wild fish across multiple EU countries!

New EEB report shows that:

🧪 Most samples exceed proposed safety limits
⚠️ Some exceed by 10,000x
🕰️ Member States want to delay action until 2051

Link in comments ⬇️

#PFAS #Environment #PublicHealth #ForeverChemicals

Evolutionary age correlates with range size across plants and animals - Nature Communications Why are some species widespread while others are found only in small, isolated areas? This study shows that species with narrow ranges, and thus higher extinction risk, are often island-restricted, poor dispersers, and have evolved relatively recently.

Why are some species widespread while others are found only in small, isolated areas? A study in Nature Communications shows that species with narrow ranges, and thus higher extinction risk, are often island-restricted, poor dispersers, and have evolved relatively recently. #evosky 🧪

Why would anyone want to be a scientist?

"Doing good science requires the utmost exertion of body, mind and spirit, yet is consistently filled with failure and rejection."

journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

🧪 ETHOLOGY: Biases in animal behaviour research are inevitable—but can be identified & mitigated 👀🐒
Winder et al. propose a “knowns & unknowns” framework to help researchers reflect on overlooked assumptions & strengthen science. It's #OpenAccess: 🔗 doi.org/10.1111/eth....

Join us tomorrow for the first FINE of the Fall 2025:

2nd September, Andrew Bass, Cornell University (USA)

Title: Crystal Clear Brains: Benefits & Tradeoffs of Miniaturization in Danionella Fishes

When: 2nd September, presentation starts at 11:00 NYC / 17:00 Paris.

New preprint: Bakker, T. C. M., Müller, B., Mehlis-Rick, M. "Sexually attractive males produce relatively more sons in a fish with external fertilisation": see www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-7...

Adaptive variation in opsin expression of sticklebacks from different photic habitats - Hydrobiologia We studied phenotypic and genetic adaptation of the visual system of three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, from North Uist, Scotland. We quantified differences in opsin gene expression of...

Our paper Bakker TCM, Hiermes M, Müller B, Martin S, Rennison DJ, Rick IP: "Adaptive variation in opsin expression of sticklebacks from different photic habitats" has now been printed: see link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Bamfield Stickleback 2025

On my way home from the 11th triennial Stickleback conference, which was at Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island. Had a great time, with lots of fascinating science talks and great conversations with colleagues. Some photos:
adobe.ly/4fieJBD

Groen en betaalbaar treinreizen 🚄 Oproep: maak duurzaam treinreizen betaalbaar Treinreizen in Nederland en Europa moet betaalbaar, toegankelijk en klimaatvriendelijk zijn. Op dit moment worden treintickets elk jaar duurder, terwijl vl...

Doe eventjes wat nodig is, teken 'm die oproep: doemee.greenpeace.nl/actie/groen-...

Postdoctoral researcher: avian microbiomes and reproduction We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join our team working on avian reproductive microbiomes at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) in the group of Dr. Melissah Rowe. The postd...

We are looking for a postdoc to join our group to work on an ERC funded project on avian reproductive microbiomes. nioo.knaw.nl/en/vacancies...
Please RT! #microbes #microbiomes #sparrows #postdoc

The Local Organizing Commitee welcomes behavioral ecologists from across the world and of all career stages to enjoy a five-day meeting rich in top-notch science and ample networking opportunities in Turin (Italy), 20-24 July 2026.

New cover image for Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Writer: tbakker1
tbakker1
49 minutes ago
1 min read

Starting with the May issue, BES has a new cover image.

See Szala K, Tobolka M, Surmacki A (2025) Behav Ecol Sociobiol 79:66.

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Beautiful addiction: art meets taxidermy in new Amsterdam museum - DutchNews.nl Before Ferry van Tongeren saw the insides of wild animals, he thought nature was beautiful. Then this former ad man retrained as a taxidermist, hooked up with artistic partner Jaap Sinke, took…

In a converted canal building in Amsterdam, they are showing off a collection of truly original and decidedly macabre preserved animal artworks in the new Art Zoo Museum. www.dutchnews.nl/2025/06/beau...

Highway to heaven: Happy 750th birthday, Amsterdam!

Highway to heaven: Happy 750th birthday, Amsterdam! www.dutchnews.nl?p=253574

AI in Scientific Writing

Researchers in ANZ: Explore how Generative AI is transforming academic writing & publishing! Join our webinar to learn about AI tools, ethics, editorial policies & strategies to protect research integrity. bit.ly/4jRq24i #Webinar #AcademicSky

New cover image for Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Writer: tbakker1
tbakker1
49 minutes ago
1 min read

Starting with the May issue, BES has a new cover image.

See Szala K, Tobolka M, Surmacki A (2025) Behav Ecol Sociobiol 79:66.

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Male mice can grow female organs — if their mothers lack iron Nature - Hear the biggest stories from the world of science | 04 June 2025

Latest from the Nature Podcast 🔊 Male mice can grow female organs — if their mothers lack iron

https://go.nature.com/3SY8I2V

🌧️📱 rain calls 📱🌧️

Cool study in @behavecol.bsky.social from Framond et al. (Brumm lab, @mpiforbi.bsky.social) of a poorly understood chaffinch call type

Based on playbacks + field studies they conclude these are female-directed alarm calls

academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...

#prattle 💬
#bioacoustics

All eggs welcome - From so simple a beginning Males of the Japanese giant water bug take care of eggs - even of eggs that have been fertilized by other males.

Male Japanese giant water bugs exhibit exceptional paternal care.

blog.willyvanstrien.nl/2025/05/27/a...

Obszön: Reichste Prozent der Weltbevölkerung besitzt nicht nur 45 % des weltweiten Vermögens, sondern trug im Vergleich zum Durchschnitt 26-mal mehr zu Jahrhundert-Hitzewellen bei. Wer die #Klimakrise befeuert, sollte auch für die Folgen aufkommen. #Vermögenssteuer jetzt! #TaxTheRich

Work!
www.naturalis.nl/en/about-us/...

“Alchemy” In Action As CERN Detects Lead Atoms Turning Into Gold You don’t need a philosopher's stone, just a really good particle accelerator.

“Alchemy” In Action As CERN Detects Lead Atoms Turning Into Gold

Tuesday, May 6th 2025, 11 AM NYC / 5 PM Paris
Eli Strauss, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Germany

Title: Exploring nepotistic societies with spotted hyenas

Live on zoom for subscribers.
YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/channel/UClX...

Natural History Museum Denmark

We are hiring. The Natural History Museum Denmark seeks a Tenure-track Assistant Professor and Curator in Vertebrate Paleontology.

Duties are collection-based research, curation of collections, teaching and public engagement.

Deadline: 18 May 2025. View full job posting: bit.ly/3XPIQcg

What an incredible talk 👏

YouTube video by Seminar on Frontiers in Social Evolution 15th April 2025, Mike Webster: Sexual signals & divergence in Australian fairywrens

Watch here last weeks FINE by Mike Webster about

Sexual signals & divergence in Australian fairywrens: From genes to behavior to speciation

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNMD...

YouTube video by Animal Behaviour Live Seminar Series 2025: 1. Dr. Damien Farine

📣 SEMINAR SERIES 2025 – 1 week to go!📣

Join us Tuesday 29 April at 2pm GMT for the first seminar of 2025!
🐦 Dr. Damien Farine (ANU) on The Costs of Collective Behaviour
📍 Live on YouTube → www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc9z...
✅ Free & open to all!
#AnimalBehaviour #OnlineSeminar #CollectiveBehaviour

THE URBAN NATURALIST is on sale! Enjoy 25% to 50% off your order! Just visit Tertulia and enter code URBAN.

tertulia.com/book/the-urb...

#urbannature #urbanecology #naturalhistory #nerdystuff #citizenscience #GiftsForGeeks #citynature #biology #animals #floraandfauna #fungi