Graeme Cumming
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gscumming.bsky.social
Graeme Cumming
@gscumming.bsky.social
5.5K followers 1.4K following 310 posts

Ecologist of the frontiers... Prof at University of Western Australia & posting on ecology, conservation, academic life.

Videos
Environmental science 60%
Geography 15%
Posts Replies Media Videos

gscumming.bsky.social
Graeme Cumming @gscumming.bsky.social · 3d
Very sad news, and a big loss to our community.
biancanogrady.bsky.social Bianca Nogrady @biancanogrady.bsky.social · 3d
Devastating news that marine biologist, science communicator, and UniMelb VC Professor Emma Johnston has died after a short illness.
She really was an extraordinary and visionary leader, and I have no doubt she would have made a fine Chief Scientist one day.
theconversation.com/emma-johnsto...
Emma Johnston was a visionary scientist, environmentalist and leader, with an abiding hope for humanity
The University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor, who has died aged 52, was driven by a deep love of science and a desire to safeguard the planet’s future.
theconversation.com

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming, Rachael H. Nolan

biancanogrady.bsky.social
Bianca Nogrady @biancanogrady.bsky.social · 3d
Devastating news that marine biologist, science communicator, and UniMelb VC Professor Emma Johnston has died after a short illness.
She really was an extraordinary and visionary leader, and I have no doubt she would have made a fine Chief Scientist one day.
theconversation.com/emma-johnsto...
Emma Johnston was a visionary scientist, environmentalist and leader, with an abiding hope for humanity
The University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor, who has died aged 52, was driven by a deep love of science and a desire to safeguard the planet’s future.
theconversation.com

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming, Arthur Geßler, Juan Rocha

robertfinger.bsky.social
Robert Finger @robertfinger.bsky.social · 3d
Percentage of self-sufficiency for specific food groups*

From Stehl et al. Nature Food 2025 www.nature.com/articles/s43...

*National food availability from domestic production as proportion from recommended intake by the Livewell diet. 100% means that all recommendations of a food group are met.

Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, Graeme S. Cumming, John R. Hutchinson

c0nc0rdance.bsky.social
c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 11d
So reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can't fly, but they are VERY MAGICAL.

For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.

Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
Paddy Kalish OD shared this photo of reindeer eyes, showing a dramatic difference in eye color, probably dramatized, because the real effect is a eye-shine color, which is hard to represent.

Reposted by Tobias Kuemmerle, Stephen D. Murphy

gscumming.bsky.social
Graeme Cumming @gscumming.bsky.social · 11d
Our new review lays out a framework for understanding the social-ecological benefits of protected areas to their surroundings - just published in One Earth:
www.cell.com/one-earth/ab...
doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101462
Figure 2. Picture showing a geographic visualization of the seven categories of spillover from protected areas They include (1) physical spillovers, (2) ecological spillovers, (3) societal and sociocultural spillovers, (4) economic spillovers, (5) political and/or legislative spillovers, (6) management spillovers, and (7) spillovers to physical infrastructure. These categories are explained in more detail in the text.

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming

dapperdondharshi.bsky.social
DAPPER DON DHARSHI @dapperdondharshi.bsky.social · 12d
Tiger Shark * Boop *

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming, Julie L. Lockwood

ontopunk.bsky.social
◉●○•° @ontopunk.bsky.social · 13d
“Solar-powered slug.” Photo by Giancarlo Mazarese

The sheep nudibranch Costasiella kuroshimae can feed on algae and sequester the chloroplasts into its own cells, where they capture sunlight and produce energy through photosynthesis.

Reposted by Trevor A. Branch

gscumming.bsky.social
Graeme Cumming @gscumming.bsky.social · 14d
Seems like unlucky timing for Rudolph…
science.org Science Magazine @science.org · 14d
It's the first video evidence of polar bears hunting and eating reindeer—something that had long been assumed, but never clearly seen.

Learn more: https://scim.ag/4s0hU6P #ScienceMagArchives

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming, Trevor A. Branch

science.org
Science Magazine @science.org · 14d
It's the first video evidence of polar bears hunting and eating reindeer—something that had long been assumed, but never clearly seen.

Learn more: https://scim.ag/4s0hU6P #ScienceMagArchives

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming, Martin J. Attrill, Jessica A. Gephart

timlamont.bsky.social
Tim Lamont @timlamont.bsky.social · 15d
🚨 Two funded PhDs (one int'l, one UK) - study coral restoration & corporate sustainability with us in Lancaster! Enquiries welcome, January 30, please share widely! 🚨

🪸🐠 Coral restoration (int'l): www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

🌴📊 Corporate sustainability (UK): www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming, Halley E. Froehlich, Tommaso Jucker , and 1 more

jappliedecology.bsky.social
Journal of Applied Ecology @jappliedecology.bsky.social · 15d
Published!📖

This study shows that choosing the most effective restoration strategy for tropical forests at scale depends equally if not more on economic and logistical than ecological constraints.

Read more:https://buff.ly/MTipuln

gscumming.bsky.social
Graeme Cumming @gscumming.bsky.social · 16d
Dogfish, I think! A kind of small shark - that's not a baby.

Reposted by Rob Marchant, Graeme S. Cumming, Keith C. Hamer

ukceh.bsky.social
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) @ukceh.bsky.social · 16d
Warming oceans are having widespread and often negative effects on migratory seabirds, new research involving UKCEH shows.

The study compared seasonal sea surface temperatures with seabird numbers to quantify effects on reproduction, survival & population trends. doi.org/10.1073/pnas...

🧪1/
Demographic responses of North Atlantic seabirds to seasonal ocean warming | PNAS
Climate-driven ocean warming is profoundly reshaping marine ecosystems, with cascading effects on biodiversity and trophic interactions. For migrat...
doi.org

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming

snarkysillysad.bsky.social
Michelle says: Be kind. Always. ❤️ @snarkysillysad.bsky.social · 16d
Octopus scuffles: #AGoodPlace

Source: www.reddit.com/r/NatureIsFu...

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming, David N. Thomas

ambio-journal.bsky.social
Ambio - A Journal of Environment and Society @ambio-journal.bsky.social · 16d
New publication

Activities undertaken by Indigenous Australians as “caring for Country”: A systematic review

Link: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Activities undertaken by Indigenous Australians as “caring for Country”: A systematic review - Ambio
Senior Aboriginal leaders have stated that all decent Australians should be encouraged to take on the responsibility of caring for Country. There is much to be learned from caring for Country, particu...
link.springer.com

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming, Stephen D. Murphy

resiliencesci.bsky.social
Garry Peterson @resiliencesci.bsky.social · 16d
A history of Stommel diagrams (from 2011)
rs.resalliance.org/2010/02/24/a...

showing how nature is dynamic across space & time

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming

moltenart.bsky.social
Molten.Art @moltenart.bsky.social · 19d
Who said flying is limited to the sky?

This footage shows the largest known migration of mobula rays, captured in the waters of Baja California Sur.

Filmed by freediver and photographer Aidan Bedford.
A quiet reminder that art often begins with attention.

#NatureAsArt #VisualWonder #Observation

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming

spwells.bsky.social
Spencer Wells @spwells.bsky.social · 20d
“The scientists do not know exactly what has caused this pandemic, but Cano said humans were ‘probably involved’ in the distribution of the disease. Current theories about its transmission include shipping, changes to currents and abnormal wave activity.” 🦠🪸 www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Sea urchin species on brink of extinction after marine pandemic
Ecologically important Diadema africanum almost eliminated by unknown disease in Canary Islands
www.theguardian.com

gscumming.bsky.social
Graeme Cumming @gscumming.bsky.social · 21d
Also I am very grateful to UWA and my bosses for giving me the space and support to develop and run this massive analysis. I started my current fellowship very drained from the admin battles of trying to land an ARC Centre of Excellence gently, and getting back to science has been fantastic.

Reposted by Garry Peterson, Tom Le Breton

gscumming.bsky.social
Graeme Cumming @gscumming.bsky.social · 21d
Happy to share my new publication in #Nature
doi.org/10.1038/s415.... Vegetation spillovers from Aus protected areas are common & widespread; also, management inside the area can affect vegetation outside the area. Spillovers don't factor much into conservation policy, but perhaps they should! 🧪🌍🌐
Protected area management has significant spillover effects on vegetation - Nature
Analysis of effect sizes of vegetation spillovers from protected areas in Australia shows that 71% of over 3,063 analysed protected areas had a positive spillover effect, and that these effects c...
doi.org

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming, Juan Rocha, Benjamin Wildermuth

jappliedecology.bsky.social
Journal of Applied Ecology @jappliedecology.bsky.social · 21d
🏔️ Landscape composition shapes biological control by promoting off-season predator diversity

Our work demonstrates how off-season crop management and landscape structure jointly support overwintering predator populations and sustain their biological control potential🌍

Read more: buff.ly/CpAT3sQ

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming

mooseallain.bsky.social
Moose Allain @mooseallain.bsky.social · 22d
[tracker kneels and examines spoor]
- A herd of twits has passed this way but an hour ago.
- How can you tell?
- Look. Fresh nincompoop.

gscumming.bsky.social
Graeme Cumming @gscumming.bsky.social · 24d
Ah noooo! So I haven’t been to the *proper* source after all 🧐
mongabay.com Mongabay @mongabay.com · 25d
A new study finds the Zambezi River starts not in Zambia but in Angola’s highlands, adding 342 km to its length. Rivers there supply ~70% of the water that feeds Victoria Falls, underscoring the need to protect the Upper Zambezi Basin, where forest loss is rising.
Scientists chart a new source, and length, for Africa’s famous Zambezi River
A new study suggests that the Zambezi River, Africa’s fourth-longest, is 11% longer than previously thought, with its most distant source lying in Angola, not Zambia. While the finding leaves the…
news.mongabay.com

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming

mongabay.com
Mongabay @mongabay.com · 25d
A new study finds the Zambezi River starts not in Zambia but in Angola’s highlands, adding 342 km to its length. Rivers there supply ~70% of the water that feeds Victoria Falls, underscoring the need to protect the Upper Zambezi Basin, where forest loss is rising.
Scientists chart a new source, and length, for Africa’s famous Zambezi River
A new study suggests that the Zambezi River, Africa’s fourth-longest, is 11% longer than previously thought, with its most distant source lying in Angola, not Zambia. While the finding leaves the…
news.mongabay.com

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming

lucagalletti.bsky.social
Luca @lucagalletti.bsky.social · 25d
Spotted Eagle Rays.
They get the eagle part of their name from their snout, or beak, which they use to forage for invertebrates in the sand.

gscumming.bsky.social
Graeme Cumming @gscumming.bsky.social · 25d
Looks like it found the fishosphere
wwf.org.uk WWF UK @wwf.org.uk · 26d
Photo of the day: A blue footed booby diving into the big blue. 📸

Photography by Henley Spiers.
Underwater image of a blue footed booby swimming up to the surface with a sardine in its mouth. The water is clear apart from a trail of bubbles from the blue footed booby’s dive to catch prey. Below is a large shoal of sardines.

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming

drevaplaganyi.bsky.social
Dr Eva Plaganyi @drevaplaganyi.bsky.social · 26d
Some good news 🐳 #BlueWhale
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
Baby blue whale numbers peak at just the right time off WA coast
Researchers are relieved as baby blue whale numbers increase after a slow start to the migration season.
www.abc.net.au

Reposted by Shannon Vallor, Dorothy Bishop, Graeme S. Cumming , and 9 more

jeffyoungblood.bsky.social
Jeff Youngblood @jeffyoungblood.bsky.social · 26d
The Tasselled Wobbegong is a master of disguise that can eat a fish almost as big as itself in one gulp. It's classified as a shark, but when it lays on the sea floor it looks like a harmless rug if you manage to see it. But with powerful jaws and sharp teeth they are no fish to mess with.

Reposted by Graeme S. Cumming

wwf.org.uk
WWF UK @wwf.org.uk · 26d
Photo of the day: A blue footed booby diving into the big blue. 📸

Photography by Henley Spiers.
Underwater image of a blue footed booby swimming up to the surface with a sardine in its mouth. The water is clear apart from a trail of bubbles from the blue footed booby’s dive to catch prey. Below is a large shoal of sardines.

gscumming.bsky.social
Graeme Cumming @gscumming.bsky.social · 27d
Félicitations, Anne! Bien méritées.