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lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell
@lrendell.bsky.social
2.1K followers 940 following 150 posts

Reader in Biology @_SMRU_ @SchoolofBiology @univofstandrews. Ocean Yachtmaster for hire! Marine conservation, cetacean & fish behaviour, cultural evolution. He/him. Thalassophile. Sailor. #Fife


https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/biology/people/ler4 .. more

Videos
Environmental science 34%
Biology 22%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Márk E. Hauber, Luke Rendell

isbe2026.bsky.social
ISBE2026 @isbe2026.bsky.social · 5d
Meet our plenary speaker Felicity Muth!

Assistant professor at the University of California Davis, her lab group are broadly interested in cognition, especially aspects of learning and memory that have a clear function in the natural world, focusing on captive and wild bumblebees.

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · 11d
Great albeit exhausting fun representing @seamammalresearch.bsky.social on the Developing Young Workforce/Hope the Whale roadshow this with colleagues from WDC. 3 days, 3 schools, ~900 students ... aaaaand breath...🤣🐳
me talking about SMRU research to a class of high school pupils me standing in front of a life sized inflatable humpback whale called Hope

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · 20d
Super chuffed that @mikemwebster.bsky.social @ellengarland.bsky.social @nakedprimate.bsky.social and I had our course 'The question of culture in animals' among this list! 🐳🧪
culturalevolsoc.bsky.social Cultural Evolution Society @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social · Oct 10
We're pleased to announce and congratulate the winners of the Advancing Cultural Evolution Course Design Awards! This competition recognises leading educators in the field of cultural evolution and their existing efforts to advance its teaching.

We have 7 winners and 2 runners up (listed below):

Reposted by Luke Rendell

anaeg.bsky.social
anaeg.bsky.social @anaeg.bsky.social · 20d
Super happy to share our new preprint on inferring Galapagos sperm whale sex and age-class using drone photogrammetry 🐳 📏 along with the wonderful @cmk-clarke.bsky.social, David Gaspard, and Hal Whitehead www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Inferring sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) sex and developmental stage using aerial photogrammetry
Demographic data (i.e. sex and age) are fundamental for analyzing behaviour patterns and evaluating the reproductive potential of a population. However, determining these traits in the wild can be cha...
www.biorxiv.org

Reposted by Rebecca Sear, Paul E. Smaldino, Alex Mesoudi , and 1 more

culturalevolsoc.bsky.social
Cultural Evolution Society @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social · Oct 10
We're pleased to announce and congratulate the winners of the Advancing Cultural Evolution Course Design Awards! This competition recognises leading educators in the field of cultural evolution and their existing efforts to advance its teaching.

We have 7 winners and 2 runners up (listed below):

Reposted by Luke Rendell

melissa-e-ramsay.bsky.social
Melissa Ramsay @melissa-e-ramsay.bsky.social · Aug 28
After almost a year(!!) of my PhD, I am excited to start my 3-month placement at @rothamsted.bsky.social 🌱 I shall miss this lovely group at St Andrews @animalsdoingstuff.bsky.social @mikemwebster.bsky.social @lrendell.bsky.social but I'm sure I'll be back to the sea before I know it! 🌊🐟🦀
Five members of "team fish" in our waders and woolly hats in front of the main rockpool, with a grey sky behind us. Selfie on a sailboat Three members of "team fish" wading into a large rockpool carrying rigs and floats for data collection, with a blue sky and fluffy white clouds

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · Aug 27
File under "no s**t Sherlock" 🙄
resprofnews.bsky.social Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · Aug 26
University efficiency drives may have opposite effect, study finds.

The administrative burden in Australian universities is most keenly felt by teaching and research staff, according to a study from the University of Melbourne’s faculty of education.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-aust...
University efficiency drives may have opposite effect, study finds - Research Professional News
Teaching and research staff say reforms mean more red tape for them, Australian survey reports
www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Reposted by Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Naomi Priest, Luke Rendell , and 11 more

resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · Aug 26
University efficiency drives may have opposite effect, study finds.

The administrative burden in Australian universities is most keenly felt by teaching and research staff, according to a study from the University of Melbourne’s faculty of education.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-aust...
University efficiency drives may have opposite effect, study finds - Research Professional News
Teaching and research staff say reforms mean more red tape for them, Australian survey reports
www.researchprofessionalnews.com

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · Aug 19
And always with r/v Balaena a bit of pure sailing...⛵ #sailing

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · Aug 19
Prima facie evidence of lobtailing as a mobbing/gathering/social signal in this species 🤔🐋🦑🧪

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · Aug 19
Northern bottlenose are such a charming cetacean, vaguely absurd looking, but consistently showing a bold curiosity toward our vessel (and it's towed hydrophone!)

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · Aug 19
our operating area...

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · Aug 19
Better late than never but had such a great time last month helping Whitehead lab collect body condition and photo id on northern bottlenose whales in the Gully MPA - see 🧵 for cool whale videos!🐳🦑⛵
Me at the navigation/science station on r/v Balaena with galley also in view Me in r/v Baleana's cockpit with sunset and field crew behind Me and whole crew for 2 weeks in cockpit of r/v Balaena Two fieldworkers on the bow of r/v Balaena can no longer take ID shorts because northern bottlenose whales are too close!

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · Aug 17
TACO Don is selling Ukraine down the river. Time for UK/EU and it's citizens to step up, good to see this effort! Please consider donating to Come Back Alive savelife.in.ua/en/donate-en...

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
UK and EU at Zelenskyy’s side in Washington for meeting with Trump
Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and others will aim to push back against ceding of Ukraine territory in ‘peace plan’
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Luke Rendell

ellengarland.bsky.social
Ellen Garland @ellengarland.bsky.social · Aug 14
Spotting whales for the boat team at the lighthouse in the Southern Lagoon, New Caledonia 🐳 🎶 @solenederville.bsky.social @francae.bsky.social @seamammalresearch.bsky.social @uniofstandrews.bsky.social @entropie-marinelab.bsky.social

Reposted by Luke Rendell

ellengarland.bsky.social
Ellen Garland @ellengarland.bsky.social · Aug 11
Humpback whale fieldwork 2025: the season is well underway in the Southern Lagoon, New Caledonia @solenederville.bsky.social @seamammalresearch.bsky.social @uniofstandrews.bsky.social @entropie-marinelab.bsky.social @francae.bsky.social
Sitting on the side of our research boat

Reposted by Luke Rendell

clairenea.bsky.social
clairenea.bsky.social @clairenea.bsky.social · Jan 21

Schémas de paternité chez les baleines à bosse: compétition sexuelle et flux génique
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241424
@francae.bsky.social @emma-carroll.bsky.social @ellengarland.bsky.social @lrendell.bsky.social @entropie-marinelab.bsky.social
@seamammalresearch.bsky.social
1/7

Reposted by Luke Rendell, Pavel Pipek

ellengarland.bsky.social
Ellen Garland @ellengarland.bsky.social · Feb 6
We uncovered the same statistical structure that is a hallmark of human language in whale song, published today in Science. @inbalarnon.bsky.social @simonkirby.bsky.social @jennyallen13.bsky.social @clairenea.bsky.social @emma-carroll.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Reposted by Luke Rendell

adamrutherford.bsky.social
Adam Rutherford @adamrutherford.bsky.social · Mar 4
In other swearing news, j made @vizcomic.bsky.social again. These occasional appearances are by far my proudest achievements.

Reposted by Luke Rendell

asociaciontursiops.bsky.social
Asociación Tursiops @asociaciontursiops.bsky.social · Nov 25
Finalmente, la zona de cría de #cachalote del Norte del #Menorca, y su falta de protección, están sobre la mesa de la comunidad científica.

Gracias a todos los que de una forma u otra estáis detrás de esta importante iniciativa 💙

Reposted by Luke Rendell

seamammalresearch.bsky.social
SMRU @seamammalresearch.bsky.social · Mar 21
Ever wondered why seals don't drown? New groundbreaking research from @smruecophys.bsky.social led by @chrismcknight.bsky.social published in @science.org reveals that, unlike other mammals, seals can sense blood oxygen levels.
Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Grey seal in the water

Reposted by Luke Rendell, Sarah L. Dobney

jaclynaubin.bsky.social
Jaclyn Aubin @jaclynaubin.bsky.social · Apr 17
Very pleased to announce that I have successfully defended my doctoral dissertation! Huge thanks to my supervisory committee, @dmennill.bsky.social, @marine-valeria.bsky.social, @lrendell.bsky.social, Robert Michaud, Christina Semeniuk, Nigel Hussey, and Aaron Fisk! @uwindsor.bsky.social

Reposted by Luke Rendell

ellengarland.bsky.social
Ellen Garland @ellengarland.bsky.social · May 1
New paper:
Culture and conservation in baleen whales

@ellengarland.bsky.social, @petercorkeron.bsky.social, Mike Noad, Briana Abrahms, @jennyallen13.bsky.social, @rconstantine.bsky.social, @lrendell.bsky.social, Renata Sousa-Lima, Kate Stafford, @emma-carroll.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Culture and conservation in baleen whales | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Culture, defined as information or behaviours shared within a population and acquired from conspecifics through social learning, acts as a second inheritance system which has important implications for species' ecology and evolution. Understanding the ...
doi.org

Reposted by Luke Rendell

anaeg.bsky.social
anaeg.bsky.social @anaeg.bsky.social · May 2
Comparto con mucha emoción nuestro artículo de libre acceso sobre los retos y oportunidades para incorporar la dimensión cultural a la conservación de los cachalotes del Océano Pacífico Este Tropical 🐳🌎! @lrendell.bsky.social @migratoryspecies.bsky.social doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Integrating cultural dimensions in sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) conservation: threats, challenges and solutions | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Culture—socially transmitted behaviours shared within a community—can influence animal populations' structure, vulnerability and resilience. Clans of sperm whales in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP)...
doi.org

Reposted by Luke Rendell

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · May 21
Are they really though? Question before believing the hype, even if it confirms your views. Counterpoint: theconversation.com/are-we-reall...
Are we really about to talk to whales?
It’s certainly an exciting time to study communication in whales and dolphins.
theconversation.com

Reposted by Luke Rendell

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · May 21
Not sure leading with appeal to authority fallacy best choice here. Your appeal is also weak - how many had published on sperm whales before CETI? Undergrad? 🤣 scholar.google.com/citations?hl... Embarrassed for you tbh - why not engage with the actual arguments? eg: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1UH...
scholar.google.com

Reposted by Luke Rendell

petercorkeron.bsky.social
Peter Corkeron @petercorkeron.bsky.social · Jul 9
New paper
Exploring the biodiversity of cetacean communities along the western North Atlantic Ocean shelf-break
led by Samara Haver.

One finding:
"beaked whale species [were] the most significant driver of differences among cetacean communities"
🐳🌍🦑🧪
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
From the figure legend: Figure 4. Conditional inference tree (Ctree) showing the partitioning effect of the presence of certain species (number of days per month) across 10 sites in the North Atlantic. Each Ctree node was restricted to a minimum sum of 60 weights and exceedance of a 0.95 test statistic. The size of the Ctree (depth) was not restricted, but the minimum sum of weights for each terminal node (numbered 1−9) was limited to 15. Each colour-coded site is labelled in the legend and ordered from north to south in order to latitude with a spectrum of colours from cool (blue) to warm (red). Beaked whale species represented all inner nodes except for one fourth tier node, which was sperm whales.

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · Jul 3
🐳

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · Jul 3
And for those understandbly reluctant to click on the Mail, here too (side note I do have a mildly nonstandard surname but two different misspellings in the same article is a new personal best 🤣 Rendell 1-0 Proofreaders) :
Dr Luke Rendel, a marine biologist at the University of St Andrews, calls this a 'poor cover for harassing animals in the wild'. Dr Rendle adds that the researchers also made 'no quantification of this behaviour and little attempt to do the hard work analyses that might give us some better insights as to why they do it.' Instead, Dr Rendle points out that this paper is more concerned with arguing that it is legitimate to keep orcas in captivity and observe them from tourist boats. However, Dr Rendle argues that even genuine scientific observations can 'never be a justification for captivity for a species like this'.   Dr Rendle says: 'Make no mistake, this is a for-profit business trying to obscure the ethical issues with its existence by providing really quite lame studies like this.' 'If animals are in captivity for other reasons, it can be better to learn something from them while they are there, but it can never be a justification for captivity for a species like this – everything we learn about them in captivity tells us more and more that they never should be there.'

lrendell.bsky.social
Luke Rendell @lrendell.bsky.social · Jul 3
Orca snogging?! Wild tongues!? 🤭🙄 Tongue nibbling is a fascinating behaviour, but make no mistake, this paper is a sordid piece of propaganda attempting to sanitise two ethically dubious ways of economically exploiting these animals - spicy opinions here: www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
Orcas spotted SNOGGING for the first time - and they even use tongues
A surprising new study now shows that orcas have a softer, possibly even romantic, side as they are caught kissing on film for the first time.
www.dailymail.co.uk