Amanda Bretman
@amandabretman.bsky.social
Professor of Behavioural Ecology, University of Leeds, UK. The biology of sex and social environments, and Thermal Fertility Limits, mainly of fruit flies.
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
Who really lives fast and dies young? In Drosophila, females show faster ageing and reproductive senescence than males across social environments, overturning sexual selection predictions and highlighting social effects on ageing. academic.oup.com/evlett/advan...
@laurenmharrison.bsky.social
@laurenmharrison.bsky.social
Fast females, slow males: accelerated ageing and reproductive senescence in Drosophila melanogaster females across diverse social environments
Abstract. Females and males typically differ in lifespan, patterns of ageing, and reproduction. General explanations for variation in the magnitude of this
academic.oup.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Who really lives fast and dies young? In Drosophila, females show faster ageing and reproductive senescence than males across social environments, overturning sexual selection predictions and highlighting social effects on ageing. academic.oup.com/evlett/advan...
@laurenmharrison.bsky.social
@laurenmharrison.bsky.social
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
Happy to share our Current Opinion on the 'Neural basis of sexually dimorphic decision-making', written with Megan Day.
Many thanks to @jefferis.bsky.social for the invite to be part of this special issue on Sexual Dimorphism in the Brain.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Many thanks to @jefferis.bsky.social for the invite to be part of this special issue on Sexual Dimorphism in the Brain.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Neural basis of sexually dimorphic decision-making
Animals continually arbitrate between incompatible behaviors: whether to feed or flee, mate or fight, sleep or explore. The brain must select, suppres…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Happy to share our Current Opinion on the 'Neural basis of sexually dimorphic decision-making', written with Megan Day.
Many thanks to @jefferis.bsky.social for the invite to be part of this special issue on Sexual Dimorphism in the Brain.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Many thanks to @jefferis.bsky.social for the invite to be part of this special issue on Sexual Dimorphism in the Brain.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
UK to rejoin Erasmus student mobility programme from 2027.
The UK will rejoin the European Union’s flagship mobility programme for students in the 2027-28 academic year, the Cabinet Office has announced.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
The UK will rejoin the European Union’s flagship mobility programme for students in the 2027-28 academic year, the Cabinet Office has announced.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
UK to rejoin Erasmus+ student mobility programme from 2027 - Research Professional News
Fee for EU programme lowered as part of deal, as sector celebrates re-entry
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:33 PM
UK to rejoin Erasmus student mobility programme from 2027.
The UK will rejoin the European Union’s flagship mobility programme for students in the 2027-28 academic year, the Cabinet Office has announced.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
The UK will rejoin the European Union’s flagship mobility programme for students in the 2027-28 academic year, the Cabinet Office has announced.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
Every year #ESEB distinguishes a young evolutionary biologist with the John Maynard Smith Prize!
📣Nominations for the 2026 prize are due by January 15th!📣
Find out more here: eseb.org/prizes-fundi...
📣Nominations for the 2026 prize are due by January 15th!📣
Find out more here: eseb.org/prizes-fundi...
December 16, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Every year #ESEB distinguishes a young evolutionary biologist with the John Maynard Smith Prize!
📣Nominations for the 2026 prize are due by January 15th!📣
Find out more here: eseb.org/prizes-fundi...
📣Nominations for the 2026 prize are due by January 15th!📣
Find out more here: eseb.org/prizes-fundi...
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
Please share 📢
We have a Postdoc position available here @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social to develop innovative genetic control strategies for insect agricultural pests in collaboration with @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social
vacancies.uea.ac.uk/vacancies/19...
We have a Postdoc position available here @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social to develop innovative genetic control strategies for insect agricultural pests in collaboration with @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social
vacancies.uea.ac.uk/vacancies/19...
December 15, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Please share 📢
We have a Postdoc position available here @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social to develop innovative genetic control strategies for insect agricultural pests in collaboration with @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social
vacancies.uea.ac.uk/vacancies/19...
We have a Postdoc position available here @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social to develop innovative genetic control strategies for insect agricultural pests in collaboration with @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social
vacancies.uea.ac.uk/vacancies/19...
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
Delighted to see our work picked up by @theguardian.com this is a real window of opportunity for us to reduce carbon emissions to give the bears a hope at survival before it really is too late.
Changes to polar bear DNA could help them adapt to global heating, study finds
Changes to polar bear DNA could help them adapt to global heating, study finds
Scientists say bears in southern Greenland differ genetically to those in the north, suggesting they could adjust
Changes in polar bear DNA that could help the animals adapt to warmer climates have been detected by researchers, in a study thought to be the first time a statistically significant link has been found between rising temperatures and changing DNA in a wild mammal species.
Climate breakdown is threatening the survival of polar bears. Two-thirds of them are expected to have disappeared by 2050 as their icy habitat melts and the weather becomes hotter. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 13, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Delighted to see our work picked up by @theguardian.com this is a real window of opportunity for us to reduce carbon emissions to give the bears a hope at survival before it really is too late.
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
Dr Alice Godden from @biouea.bsky.social has been the lead researcher on a study that has found that polar bears may be adapting to climate change.
Read more: https://bit.ly/3YmeMVg
#PolarBears #ClimateChange #ResearchMatters #ThisIsUEA
Read more: https://bit.ly/3YmeMVg
#PolarBears #ClimateChange #ResearchMatters #ThisIsUEA
December 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Dr Alice Godden from @biouea.bsky.social has been the lead researcher on a study that has found that polar bears may be adapting to climate change.
Read more: https://bit.ly/3YmeMVg
#PolarBears #ClimateChange #ResearchMatters #ThisIsUEA
Read more: https://bit.ly/3YmeMVg
#PolarBears #ClimateChange #ResearchMatters #ThisIsUEA
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
POSTDOC recruitment! We’re looking for a post-doc to join us to work on the (epi)genetic basis of inbreeding depression as part of the ANR-funded project FRIDA
macrostomum.wordpress.com/the-genetic-...
Please share!
macrostomum.wordpress.com/the-genetic-...
Please share!
December 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM
POSTDOC recruitment! We’re looking for a post-doc to join us to work on the (epi)genetic basis of inbreeding depression as part of the ANR-funded project FRIDA
macrostomum.wordpress.com/the-genetic-...
Please share!
macrostomum.wordpress.com/the-genetic-...
Please share!
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
BREAKING: Four major publishers agree deals with UK university sector
Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis and Wiley meet “sector-agreed thresholds” in long-running talks
Free to read
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis and Wiley meet “sector-agreed thresholds” in long-running talks
Free to read
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Four major publishers agree deals with UK university sector - Research Professional News
Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis and Wiley meet “sector-agreed thresholds” in long-running talks
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:30 PM
BREAKING: Four major publishers agree deals with UK university sector
Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis and Wiley meet “sector-agreed thresholds” in long-running talks
Free to read
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis and Wiley meet “sector-agreed thresholds” in long-running talks
Free to read
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
New paper out from our lab today in Biology Letters! This work, led by our former lab tech @avigayillev.bsky.social and lab alum Isabella Martinez, used hemiclonal analysis to show that longer matings with previously mated females are advantageous to males!
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
Longer matings increase male competitive fertilization success in Drosophila melanogaster
Abstract. Copulation duration is a variable behaviour that is often extended by males beyond the time needed for sperm transfer. In many insect species, th
doi.org
December 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
New paper out from our lab today in Biology Letters! This work, led by our former lab tech @avigayillev.bsky.social and lab alum Isabella Martinez, used hemiclonal analysis to show that longer matings with previously mated females are advantageous to males!
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
The UK has regained the top spot for winning European Research Council consolidator grants, with the country taking more mid-career awards than any other country for the first time since Brexit. @jgro-the.bsky.social reports #academicsky
https://ow.ly/Trfm50XG7pu
https://ow.ly/Trfm50XG7pu
December 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The UK has regained the top spot for winning European Research Council consolidator grants, with the country taking more mid-career awards than any other country for the first time since Brexit. @jgro-the.bsky.social reports #academicsky
https://ow.ly/Trfm50XG7pu
https://ow.ly/Trfm50XG7pu
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
Delighted to publish Forum Article by @nicolasgaltier.bsky.social et al:
"Journals run by learned societies or universities have more ethical policies while being cheaper and similarly cited"
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Thank you for choosing JEB - we encourage the support of #societyjournals
"Journals run by learned societies or universities have more ethical policies while being cheaper and similarly cited"
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Thank you for choosing JEB - we encourage the support of #societyjournals
Time to publish responsibly: DAFNEE, a database of academia-friendly journals in ecology and evolutionary biology
Abstract. The current economics of scientific publishing reveal a profound imbalance: academia pays prices far exceeding the actual costs of publication. R
doi.org
December 9, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Delighted to publish Forum Article by @nicolasgaltier.bsky.social et al:
"Journals run by learned societies or universities have more ethical policies while being cheaper and similarly cited"
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Thank you for choosing JEB - we encourage the support of #societyjournals
"Journals run by learned societies or universities have more ethical policies while being cheaper and similarly cited"
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Thank you for choosing JEB - we encourage the support of #societyjournals
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
We know good research can take time, and that’s why we’re proud to invest for the long term.
After 20 years of public investment, BIOMASS, a satellite mission designed to track the health of Earth’s forests, is in space🚀
Find out more: www.ukri.org/who-we-are/h...
After 20 years of public investment, BIOMASS, a satellite mission designed to track the health of Earth’s forests, is in space🚀
Find out more: www.ukri.org/who-we-are/h...
Funding delivers satellite to monitor climate regulating forests
A space satellite developed through international collaboration to track the health of Earth's forests will address climate change and improve lives.
www.ukri.org
December 2, 2025 at 8:52 AM
We know good research can take time, and that’s why we’re proud to invest for the long term.
After 20 years of public investment, BIOMASS, a satellite mission designed to track the health of Earth’s forests, is in space🚀
Find out more: www.ukri.org/who-we-are/h...
After 20 years of public investment, BIOMASS, a satellite mission designed to track the health of Earth’s forests, is in space🚀
Find out more: www.ukri.org/who-we-are/h...
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
New study from @michellebeyer.bsky.social published in Animal Behaviour: Silk of females performing maternal care elicits reduced courtship responses in male spiders.
November 26, 2025 at 9:46 PM
New study from @michellebeyer.bsky.social published in Animal Behaviour: Silk of females performing maternal care elicits reduced courtship responses in male spiders.
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
ESEB's Global Evolutionary Biology Initiative invites project applications supporting local evolutionary research networks. Deadline: March 1, 2026. Max funding: €10,000. Apply: office@eseb.org. More … https://eseb.org/prizes-funding/global-evolutionary-biology-initiative/events-supported-by-gebi/.
Events supported by GEBI - ESEB | European Society for Evolutionary Biology
Events supported by GEBI - ESEB | European Society for Evolutionary Biology
eseb.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:23 PM
ESEB's Global Evolutionary Biology Initiative invites project applications supporting local evolutionary research networks. Deadline: March 1, 2026. Max funding: €10,000. Apply: office@eseb.org. More … https://eseb.org/prizes-funding/global-evolutionary-biology-initiative/events-supported-by-gebi/.
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
The prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education – part of the UK national Honours system – recognises Leeds’ outstanding, 150-years of textile research.
We delve into the history and explore the innovation driving the next chapter 👇 https://www.leeds.ac.uk/qep
We delve into the history and explore the innovation driving the next chapter 👇 https://www.leeds.ac.uk/qep
November 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education – part of the UK national Honours system – recognises Leeds’ outstanding, 150-years of textile research.
We delve into the history and explore the innovation driving the next chapter 👇 https://www.leeds.ac.uk/qep
We delve into the history and explore the innovation driving the next chapter 👇 https://www.leeds.ac.uk/qep
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
Honored to announce the Hamilton Lecture 2026!
Leigh Simmons, Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Western Australia has made an outstanding contribution to the field of sexual selection acting from the whole organism to its gametes, and to our Society.
Leigh Simmons, Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Western Australia has made an outstanding contribution to the field of sexual selection acting from the whole organism to its gametes, and to our Society.
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Honored to announce the Hamilton Lecture 2026!
Leigh Simmons, Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Western Australia has made an outstanding contribution to the field of sexual selection acting from the whole organism to its gametes, and to our Society.
Leigh Simmons, Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Western Australia has made an outstanding contribution to the field of sexual selection acting from the whole organism to its gametes, and to our Society.
🪰🧪 now out in @evolletters.bsky.social, social environmental effects on Drosophila lifespan and reproductive senescence mean females not males "live fast, die young"! Work led by Lauren Harrison and Tracey Chapman, with @alexeimaklakov.bsky.social, funded by BBSRC @ukri.org doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Validate User
doi.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:49 AM
🪰🧪 now out in @evolletters.bsky.social, social environmental effects on Drosophila lifespan and reproductive senescence mean females not males "live fast, die young"! Work led by Lauren Harrison and Tracey Chapman, with @alexeimaklakov.bsky.social, funded by BBSRC @ukri.org doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
My lab at Indiana University is searching for a *postdoc* and *technician* to contribute to our work studying the evolution of social behavior using fruit flies as a model system. Details below, feel free to email me with any questions! More info on our research: saltzlab.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:56 PM
My lab at Indiana University is searching for a *postdoc* and *technician* to contribute to our work studying the evolution of social behavior using fruit flies as a model system. Details below, feel free to email me with any questions! More info on our research: saltzlab.com
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
Interested in thermal biology? Please join our new and growing grass roots initiative, the Thermal Ecology Alliance, initiated by @patricepottier.bsky.social. 🧪🐟🦑🌡️
Sign up here: www.thermalecologyalliance.org#participation
Check who already signed up:
www.thermalecologyalliance.org#community
Sign up here: www.thermalecologyalliance.org#participation
Check who already signed up:
www.thermalecologyalliance.org#community
November 3, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Interested in thermal biology? Please join our new and growing grass roots initiative, the Thermal Ecology Alliance, initiated by @patricepottier.bsky.social. 🧪🐟🦑🌡️
Sign up here: www.thermalecologyalliance.org#participation
Check who already signed up:
www.thermalecologyalliance.org#community
Sign up here: www.thermalecologyalliance.org#participation
Check who already signed up:
www.thermalecologyalliance.org#community
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The value of public R&D
www.gov.uk
October 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
We had two papers out in Science and Scientific Reports in the past week - I couldn't be happier!
Science paper on architectural immunity:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Scientific Reports paper on the synergistic interaction between new-generation pesticide and disease:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Science paper on architectural immunity:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Scientific Reports paper on the synergistic interaction between new-generation pesticide and disease:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Architectural immunity: Ants alter their nest networks to prevent epidemics
In animal groups, spatial structure shapes social interaction patterns, thereby influencing the transmission of infectious diseases. Active modifications to the spatial environment could therefore be ...
www.science.org
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
We had two papers out in Science and Scientific Reports in the past week - I couldn't be happier!
Science paper on architectural immunity:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Scientific Reports paper on the synergistic interaction between new-generation pesticide and disease:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Science paper on architectural immunity:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Scientific Reports paper on the synergistic interaction between new-generation pesticide and disease:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
Have your say on BBSRC’s applicant-led mode funding.
The consultation will assess its effectiveness, reach and impact - your views will help shape how we support world-class bioscience.
Find out more and get involved: www.ukri.org/news/bbsrc-s...
#BBSRC
The consultation will assess its effectiveness, reach and impact - your views will help shape how we support world-class bioscience.
Find out more and get involved: www.ukri.org/news/bbsrc-s...
#BBSRC
BBSRC seeks views on its flagship funding programme
BBSRC is inviting the UK bioscience community to take part in a consultation on its applicant-led mode (formerly responsive mode) funding.
www.ukri.org
October 21, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Have your say on BBSRC’s applicant-led mode funding.
The consultation will assess its effectiveness, reach and impact - your views will help shape how we support world-class bioscience.
Find out more and get involved: www.ukri.org/news/bbsrc-s...
#BBSRC
The consultation will assess its effectiveness, reach and impact - your views will help shape how we support world-class bioscience.
Find out more and get involved: www.ukri.org/news/bbsrc-s...
#BBSRC
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
This seems rad: overexpressing FruM in a set of proboscis-motorneuron-projecting neurons makes melanogaster males add food-sharing to their courtship repertoire.
It is fascinating to see evolutionary shifts in behavior be tied so concretely to shifts in brain development!
This seems rad: overexpressing FruM in a set of proboscis-motorneuron-projecting neurons makes melanogaster males add food-sharing to their courtship repertoire.
It is fascinating to see evolutionary shifts in behavior be tied so concretely to shifts in brain development!
Cross-species implementation of an innate courtship behavior by manipulation of the sex-determinant gene
In accepting a courting male, Drosophila subobscura females require nuptial gift giving in which a male gives regurgitated crop contents to her mouth to mouth. No similar behavior is found in D. melan...
doi.org
October 20, 2025 at 2:39 AM
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
This seems rad: overexpressing FruM in a set of proboscis-motorneuron-projecting neurons makes melanogaster males add food-sharing to their courtship repertoire.
It is fascinating to see evolutionary shifts in behavior be tied so concretely to shifts in brain development!
This seems rad: overexpressing FruM in a set of proboscis-motorneuron-projecting neurons makes melanogaster males add food-sharing to their courtship repertoire.
It is fascinating to see evolutionary shifts in behavior be tied so concretely to shifts in brain development!
Reposted by Amanda Bretman
Social relationships are powerful predictors of fitness across social animals. But *why*?
In our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper, we outline testable predictions for why relationship quality and quantity adaptively vary across socio-ecological contexts.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
In our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper, we outline testable predictions for why relationship quality and quantity adaptively vary across socio-ecological contexts.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
October 16, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Social relationships are powerful predictors of fitness across social animals. But *why*?
In our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper, we outline testable predictions for why relationship quality and quantity adaptively vary across socio-ecological contexts.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
In our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper, we outline testable predictions for why relationship quality and quantity adaptively vary across socio-ecological contexts.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7