Mathias Disney
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matdisney.bsky.social
Mathias Disney
@matdisney.bsky.social
440 followers 180 following 61 posts

Scientist, trees, forests, carbon, ecosystem structure and function, in all the ways. One tree at a time. Prof at UCL Geography, and NCEO

Videos
Environmental science 71%
Geography 18%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Mathias Disney

admirablewomen.bsky.social
Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 21h
Valerie Thomas spent 30+ years at NASA helping revolutionize how we see images from space & our own world. #WomenInSTEM

Managed the development of the first image-processing systems for the Landsat program allowing satellites to send the 1st multi-spectral pictures of Earth back to scientists.(1/2)
Portrait of Dr. Valerie L. Thomas, the pioneering Black NASA scientist and inventor, smiling warmly at the camera. She has shoulder-length wavy gray hair, wears thin gold-framed glasses, gold hoop earrings, and a light gray herringbone-patterned blazer over a white top with a small pin on the lapel, standing confidently against a neutral gray background.

matdisney.bsky.social
Mathias Disney @matdisney.bsky.social · 2d
Questions for the editor and review process here!

Reposted by Mathias Disney

tommaso-jucker.bsky.social
Tommaso Jucker @tommaso-jucker.bsky.social · 3d
This is pretty cool! #EDGE
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
NASA Selects Two Earth System Explorers Missions - NASA
These two missions were selected for continued development as part of NASA’s Earth System Explorers Program, which conducts principal investigator-led Earth
www.nasa.gov

Reposted by Mathias Disney

natureportfolio.nature.com
Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · 4d
A Perspective in Nature Reviews Biodiversity argues that environmental data justice can bridge divides between conservation scientists, land system scientists and land systems scientists to help them develop more effective and equitable conservation interventions. 🔒
Environmental data justice is key for developing more effective area-based conservation approaches - Nature Reviews Biodiversity
Scientists disagree about area-based conservation’s role in addressing biodiversity loss. This Perspective examines how conservation scientists, land systems scientists and political ecologists approach these debates differently and argues that environmental data justice frameworks can bridge epistemic divides, helping researchers to develop more effective and equitable conservation interventions.
go.nature.com

Reposted by Mathias Disney

jmbecologist.bsky.social
James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · 4d
The mainstream aim to restore “native reference ecosystems”

Reminds me of people of my age who go to see touring bands from their youth

Trying to recreate something that never quite existed

And has limited relevance in a changing world
doi.org/10.1111/ecog...
Future restoration should enhance ecological complexity and emergent properties at multiple scales
Ecological restoration has a paradigm of re-establishing ‘indigenous reference' communities. One resulting concern is that focussing on target communities may not necessarily create systems which fun...
doi.org

Reposted by Mathias Disney, Stephen D. Murphy

markuseichhorn.bsky.social
Markus Eichhorn @markuseichhorn.bsky.social · 5d
How much temperate rainforest could there be in the UK and Ireland, and where? Despite campaigns calling for restoration in both countries, these questions have been difficult to answer. In our new paper we assess the evidence base 🌏🧪🌐🌳🌲 1/9
Comparison of three temperate rainforest climate envelopes for Britain and Ireland: Where could our rainforest be?
There are multiple methods for creating climate envelopes for temperate rainforest, and these climate envelopes result in different extents across Ireland and Britain. An awareness of these differenc...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Reposted by Mathias Disney, Robert J. Griffin‐Nolan

newphyt.bsky.social
New Phytologist @newphyt.bsky.social · 12d
✨ Paper spotlight ✨

(🧵 1/7) From growth potential to drought survival: a trait- and time-based framework for plant water economics across vascular species
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Fig. 6 Hypothesized trade-offs across vascular species illustrating a water use economics framework.

Reposted by Mathias Disney, Tommaso Jucker, Markus P. Eichhorn

lauraboeschoten.bsky.social
Laura Boeschoten @lauraboeschoten.bsky.social · 14d
Thrilled to share our new paper on restoring tree diversity in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest!🌳

Our findings are encouraging: restoration shows high diversity, though old-growth-like composition needs more time.

Amazing team effort from the Newfor team @ USP & @w-u-r.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
All Reforestation Methods Can Support Tropical Tree Diversity Recovery, but Drivers and Species Composition Vary
We assessed tree diversity recovery across five reforestation methods (white background) and compared them to three reference systems (grey background). In the rainforest, none of the restoration met...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com

matdisney.bsky.social
Mathias Disney @matdisney.bsky.social · 17d
V few if any of the original 1850s giant sequoia are still alive (poss a couple in Scotland). Many were planted in the late 19th to early 20th C and they're v popular now. Coastal redwood (diff species) were much less widely planted. Definitely an interesting place to plant one tho!

Reposted by Brian J. Enquist, Mathias Disney, Pieter A. Zuidema , and 7 more

forestplots.bsky.social
ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · 17d
Tree diversity is changing in the Amazon and Andes.

Belen Fadrique leads our analysis in @natecoevo.nature.com w/ 400 plots + 40 years of RAINFOR records.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Hot, drier, more fragmented forests are losing species. Many in the Andes + western Amazon are gaining them.

Reposted by Mathias Disney, Stephen D. Murphy

markuseichhorn.bsky.social
Markus Eichhorn @markuseichhorn.bsky.social · 17d
Database of ecological restoration projects across Europe compiled from >400 stakeholder surveys by @mndzmery.bsky.social and colleagues 🌏🧪🌐 oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/1611...
Figure 4 from Rubio-Cuadrado et al. (2026) showing number of restorations per European country where reported by respondents.

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips, Simon L. Lewis, Jonathan Lenoir , and 7 more

belenfadrique.bsky.social
Belen Fadrique @belenfadrique.bsky.social · 17d
Very happy to share this new article on Andes-Amazon tree diversity change. We found that over the last 4 decades, tree richness changed differently across the Andes-Amazon regions. Thanks to the many researchers across the world who made this possible!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Keep reading!

Reposted by Yadvinder Malhi, Mathias Disney, Steve Carver

tonyjuniper.bsky.social
Tony Juniper @tonyjuniper.bsky.social · 20d
An across-government technical assessment published today recognises that "nature is the foundation of national security" and that "every critical ecosystem is on a pathway to collapse". A rational response to this would be to get very serious about nature recovery.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security
This strategic assessment explores how global biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity.
www.gov.uk

Reposted by Mathias Disney

thetreecouncil.bsky.social
The Tree Council @thetreecouncil.bsky.social · 20d
Read on to find out more about the issues highlighted after a challenging summer for our treescapes.

treetalk.substack.com/p/new-tree-h...
New tree health forum established
UK experts report on latest developments...
treetalk.substack.com

Reposted by Brian J. Enquist, Ben Bond‐Lamberty, Jonathan Lenoir , and 8 more

tommaso-jucker.bsky.social
Tommaso Jucker @tommaso-jucker.bsky.social · 23d
Massive update to the Global Wood Density Database out today @newphyt.bsky.social led by the brilliant Fabian Fischer. What an amazing community resource!
🧪🍁🌐

nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Reposted by Mathias Disney, Markus P. Eichhorn

jomcinerney.bsky.social
James McInerney @jomcinerney.bsky.social · 25d
Ever wondered if writing a grant proposal was actually worth your time? Presenting....The Grant Portfolio Evaluator - (for entertainment only) mol-evol.github.io/grant-evalua...
Grant Portfolio Evaluator
Rank and prioritize research funding opportunities. Calculate EV/hour and decide which grants are worth your time.
mol-evol.github.io

matdisney.bsky.social
Mathias Disney @matdisney.bsky.social · 29d
NASA wordle technique really needs some work

matdisney.bsky.social
Mathias Disney @matdisney.bsky.social · Jan 9
Really interesting and great use of UAV lidar in mixed woodlands.
juliakoricheva.bsky.social Julia Koricheva @juliakoricheva.bsky.social · Jan 9
New #OA output from @uktreescapes.bsky.social #TreE_PlaNat project: a LiDAR-based comparison of structural complexity of woodlands established through planting, natural colonisation and hybrid approach, led by Sam Hughes and @thisanna.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Reposted by Mathias Disney

juliakoricheva.bsky.social
Julia Koricheva @juliakoricheva.bsky.social · Jan 9
New #OA output from @uktreescapes.bsky.social #TreE_PlaNat project: a LiDAR-based comparison of structural complexity of woodlands established through planting, natural colonisation and hybrid approach, led by Sam Hughes and @thisanna.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Reposted by Mathias Disney

esa.int
European Space Agency @esa.int · Jan 8
🆕 The threat of large-scale deforestation is well known, but this new study reveals a surprising risk factor: small clearings of tropical forest account for more than half of net carbon losses across the Tropics.

📷 These satellite images show how deforestation has expanded in Peru’s Loreto region.
NASA’s Landsat-5 image from 10 July 1995 of the Loreto region in Peru Copernicus Sentinel-2 image from 3 August 2020 of the Loreto region in Peru

matdisney.bsky.social
Mathias Disney @matdisney.bsky.social · Jan 7
Important bit of work! So many interventions that are either anecdotally supported or basically vibes. Partly becaue it takes a long time to see change, even if you are looking for it. Great idea this.
rupertseidl.bsky.social Rupert Seidl @rupertseidl.bsky.social · Jan 7
In C Europe, there is a push to align forest management more closely with natural processes, but is this "closer-to-nature" management able to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services? Great synthesis led by @anastritih.bsky.social with input from many leading experts! doi.org/10.1007/s407...

Reposted by Katharine Hayhoe, Mathias Disney, Stephen D. Murphy , and 3 more

rupertseidl.bsky.social
Rupert Seidl @rupertseidl.bsky.social · Jan 7
In C Europe, there is a push to align forest management more closely with natural processes, but is this "closer-to-nature" management able to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services? Great synthesis led by @anastritih.bsky.social with input from many leading experts! doi.org/10.1007/s407...

matdisney.bsky.social
Mathias Disney @matdisney.bsky.social · Jan 5
no quite, I get that - I'm more wondering about why they are so popular despite little/no evidence as to the ecological benefits - that's always intrigued me. Charismatic microflora?

matdisney.bsky.social
Mathias Disney @matdisney.bsky.social · Jan 5
interesting (I get asked this a lot too). The engagement aspect of the 'tiny' shouldn't be overlooked (see houses, vans etc) & possibly feels more manageable than other interventions. Combined with the 'golden shovel' effect (as per Eisenman et al) it's a heady mix!

Reposted by Dorothy Bishop, Mathias Disney, Peter Stegmaier , and 1 more

carlquintanilla.bsky.social
Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · Jan 3
Jan 1.
Jan 3.

matdisney.bsky.social
Mathias Disney @matdisney.bsky.social · Jan 2
Sad to see this www.foretprimaire-francishalle.org/nos-actualit... . Hallé has
always been an inspiration for how to look at trees and forests with fresh eyes and even fresher ideas. Such a great illustrator too - his work on tropical forests is brilliant and beautiful
Francis Hallé nous a quittés à l’âge de 87 ans – Association Francis Hallé pour la forêt primaire
www.foretprimaire-francishalle.org

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips, Mathias Disney, Kevin J. Anchukaitis , and 3 more

bjenquist.bsky.social
Brian J. Enquist @bjenquist.bsky.social · Dec 19
New postdoctoral fellowship opportunity! Please pass along. Excited to announce the launch of the Tom Lovejoy Fellowship Program at the University of Arizona for innovative research to protect species, sustain ecosystems, and promote a thriving planet lovejoycenter.arizona.edu/lovejoy-fell... 🧪🌐🌾
Application Process Image Woman behind a podium presenting. Jessie Golding, BBCS postdoc, presenting at ICCB 2025. Apply to become a Lovejoy Fellow by submitting your resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references through the University of Arizona Talent Portal (link upcoming) by the first review date of January 30, 2026. Your cover letter should: Identify 1-2 Lovejoy BBCS faculty you would be interested in working with and explain the primary research directions you would want to pursue in collaboration with this faculty member. You are strongly encouraged to reach out to faculty before submitting your application. Describe your experience with or interest in inter- or transdisciplinary research. Explain how this experience will positively impact your career trajectory.

matdisney.bsky.social
Mathias Disney @matdisney.bsky.social · Dec 19
Last fieldwork of the year, lovely day in Epping

Reposted by Mathias Disney

jrthompsonucl.bsky.social
Prof. Julian R. Thompson @jrthompsonucl.bsky.social · Dec 17
Blinked and missed this in the end of term madness but our latest paper on pollution within sediments of Chinese lake and other aquatic ecosystems was recently published...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Heavy metals and PAHs drive ecological and health risks in Chinese water level fluctuation zones
Water-level fluctuation zones (WLFZ) adjacent to rivers, lakes and reservoirs are ecologically sensitive areas, regulating water quality and maintaini…
www.sciencedirect.com

Reposted by Mathias Disney

afreedma.bsky.social
Andrew Freedman @afreedma.bsky.social · Dec 17
Perspective on the news about the Trump administration seeking to break up the NSF NCAR - The National Center for Atmospheric Research from the ground at the AGU meeting. www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/c...
Climate scientists face the loss of a critical research center — and vow to fight back | CNN
The Trump administration announced plans Tuesday to shut down the National Center for Atmospheric Research, an organization responsible for everything from improved weather models to tools that aid hu...
www.cnn.com