Andrew Abraham
@andrewabraham.bsky.social
Research Associate at @cuny.edu - City University of New York
biodiversity | ecology | global change | rewilding | wildlife management
biodiversity | ecology | global change | rewilding | wildlife management
With many thanks to: @celestemare.bsky.social, @ymalhi.bsky.social, @duvallecology.bsky.social, @jcsvenning.bsky.social, @fonsvanderplas.bsky.social, and many others not on bluesky
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
With many thanks to: @celestemare.bsky.social, @ymalhi.bsky.social, @duvallecology.bsky.social, @jcsvenning.bsky.social, @fonsvanderplas.bsky.social, and many others not on bluesky
So, next time you sit down to dinner and immediately reach for the salt shaker, spare a thought for Africa’s salt-starved megaherbivores.
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
So, next time you sit down to dinner and immediately reach for the salt shaker, spare a thought for Africa’s salt-starved megaherbivores.
From crop raiding by elephants to moose collisions with cars due to road salting, wild animal movements, ecological impacts and conflict with humans are often driven by a desire to satisfy their salt cravings.
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
From crop raiding by elephants to moose collisions with cars due to road salting, wild animal movements, ecological impacts and conflict with humans are often driven by a desire to satisfy their salt cravings.
Where animals can't get enough salt in their diet, they may come into conflict with humans. Many protected areas are located in low-sodium environments; yet humans have artificially increased salt availability through activities like borehole water pumping and crop fertilisation.
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Where animals can't get enough salt in their diet, they may come into conflict with humans. Many protected areas are located in low-sodium environments; yet humans have artificially increased salt availability through activities like borehole water pumping and crop fertilisation.
While rhinos, kudu, springbok and zebra often gather at natural and artificial salt pans from the Kalahari Desert to the Maasai Mara.
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
While rhinos, kudu, springbok and zebra often gather at natural and artificial salt pans from the Kalahari Desert to the Maasai Mara.
Gorillas on the other hand are known to fight for the saltiest foods, in particular decaying wood stumps that accumulate high levels of sodium (photo credit: Jessica Rothman)
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Gorillas on the other hand are known to fight for the saltiest foods, in particular decaying wood stumps that accumulate high levels of sodium (photo credit: Jessica Rothman)
Salt limitation also explains several interesting behaviours exhibited by wild animals. In Kenya, elephants enter caves to consume the sodium-rich rocks, while in the Congo rainforest, they dig for salt in riverbeds
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Salt limitation also explains several interesting behaviours exhibited by wild animals. In Kenya, elephants enter caves to consume the sodium-rich rocks, while in the Congo rainforest, they dig for salt in riverbeds
Together, these results provide a new explanation for the so-called 'missing megaherbivores' in West and Central Africa. There is enough productivity to sustain higher densities of elephants, rhinos and giraffes, but a curious absence of these largest-bodied herbivores.
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Together, these results provide a new explanation for the so-called 'missing megaherbivores' in West and Central Africa. There is enough productivity to sustain higher densities of elephants, rhinos and giraffes, but a curious absence of these largest-bodied herbivores.
Adding plant sodium availability improved statistical models predicting large herbivore density across Africa. We found that the largest species (megaherbivores) were the group most constrained in low-sodium environments, mirroring our previous work on the allometry of sodium requirements
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Adding plant sodium availability improved statistical models predicting large herbivore density across Africa. We found that the largest species (megaherbivores) were the group most constrained in low-sodium environments, mirroring our previous work on the allometry of sodium requirements
Interestingly, we found that in any given place, grasses had approximately 1-2x more sodium than woody plants; a pattern that was reflected by grazers generally having higher dung sodium concentrations that browsers.
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Interestingly, we found that in any given place, grasses had approximately 1-2x more sodium than woody plants; a pattern that was reflected by grazers generally having higher dung sodium concentrations that browsers.
Over 1,300 dung measurements from across 20 different wild herbivore species confirmed our assumption that plant sodium availability is a major determinant of herbivore sodium intake.
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Over 1,300 dung measurements from across 20 different wild herbivore species confirmed our assumption that plant sodium availability is a major determinant of herbivore sodium intake.
We collected a large database of plant sodium concentrations from across Africa and generated high-resolution maps, which revealed multi-scale gradients
arising from sea-salt deposition, hydrology, soil chemistry and plant traits.
arising from sea-salt deposition, hydrology, soil chemistry and plant traits.
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
We collected a large database of plant sodium concentrations from across Africa and generated high-resolution maps, which revealed multi-scale gradients
arising from sea-salt deposition, hydrology, soil chemistry and plant traits.
arising from sea-salt deposition, hydrology, soil chemistry and plant traits.
Humans live in a world abundant in salt. In fact, medical professionals warn most of us against the dangers of consuming too much. Yet, it is far from clear how wild herbivores get enough and if this may limit their abundance.
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Humans live in a world abundant in salt. In fact, medical professionals warn most of us against the dangers of consuming too much. Yet, it is far from clear how wild herbivores get enough and if this may limit their abundance.
Earth's largest land animals are limited by salt.
Sodium availability constrains the density and distribution of elephants, giraffes and rhinos across Africa, and offers a new explanation for the so-called 'missing megaherbivores'.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Free access: rdcu.be/eTPY2
Sodium availability constrains the density and distribution of elephants, giraffes and rhinos across Africa, and offers a new explanation for the so-called 'missing megaherbivores'.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Free access: rdcu.be/eTPY2
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Earth's largest land animals are limited by salt.
Sodium availability constrains the density and distribution of elephants, giraffes and rhinos across Africa, and offers a new explanation for the so-called 'missing megaherbivores'.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Free access: rdcu.be/eTPY2
Sodium availability constrains the density and distribution of elephants, giraffes and rhinos across Africa, and offers a new explanation for the so-called 'missing megaherbivores'.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Free access: rdcu.be/eTPY2
Reposted by Andrew Abraham
🦁Predators have a strong sex-bias when it comes to their favourite prey 🌏
In their new paper @andrewabraham.bsky.social quantify large carnivore sex-biases in Africa and examine how wildlife managers can replicate such effects when natural predators are missing 👇
buff.ly/Q8cB4Qq
In their new paper @andrewabraham.bsky.social quantify large carnivore sex-biases in Africa and examine how wildlife managers can replicate such effects when natural predators are missing 👇
buff.ly/Q8cB4Qq
October 14, 2025 at 11:02 AM
🦁Predators have a strong sex-bias when it comes to their favourite prey 🌏
In their new paper @andrewabraham.bsky.social quantify large carnivore sex-biases in Africa and examine how wildlife managers can replicate such effects when natural predators are missing 👇
buff.ly/Q8cB4Qq
In their new paper @andrewabraham.bsky.social quantify large carnivore sex-biases in Africa and examine how wildlife managers can replicate such effects when natural predators are missing 👇
buff.ly/Q8cB4Qq
Super important work by Tim Kuiper and co!
Still can't believe we got onto the cover of Science! Across 11 reserves and 7 years, we found that dehorning achieved large reductions in poaching, but it's not a magic bullet
Full article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Popular version: www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...
Full article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Popular version: www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...
June 7, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Super important work by Tim Kuiper and co!
Great opportunity to lead discussions in biodiversity conservation for ECRs
Are you an early career researcher (ECR) passionate about #Conservation? See below for an amazing opportunity to work with fellow motivated ECRs to explore and develop important themes around Biodiversity conservation! Deadline is 12 June 2025. www.linkedin.com/posts/celest...
#conservation | Celesté Maré
Are you an early career researcher (ECR) passionate about #Conservation? See below for an amazing opportunity to work with fellow motivated ECRs to explore and develop important themes around Conserva...
www.linkedin.com
May 29, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Great opportunity to lead discussions in biodiversity conservation for ECRs
Great project, with a great team!
Closing tomorrow! Last chance to apply for postdoc to explore the role of animals in savanna ecosystem productivity & nutrient cycling! Link to job: tinyurl.com/53dy4584 #savanna #termites #largemammals
May 20, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Great project, with a great team!
Reposted by Andrew Abraham
Closing tomorrow! Last chance to apply for postdoc to explore the role of animals in savanna ecosystem productivity & nutrient cycling! Link to job: tinyurl.com/53dy4584 #savanna #termites #largemammals
May 20, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Closing tomorrow! Last chance to apply for postdoc to explore the role of animals in savanna ecosystem productivity & nutrient cycling! Link to job: tinyurl.com/53dy4584 #savanna #termites #largemammals
Pretty simple instructions to follow
If you want to reduce the carbon footprint of your diet, less meat is nearly always better than sustainable meat.
May 14, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Pretty simple instructions to follow
Reposted by Andrew Abraham
The "great whale conveyer belt" that transports nitrogen, carbon, and biomass from high latitude feeding grounds to concentrated low latitude breeding grounds in gray, humpback, and right whales.
Lovely figure by A. Boersma
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Lovely figure by A. Boersma
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
April 1, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The "great whale conveyer belt" that transports nitrogen, carbon, and biomass from high latitude feeding grounds to concentrated low latitude breeding grounds in gray, humpback, and right whales.
Lovely figure by A. Boersma
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Lovely figure by A. Boersma
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Sure to be an interesting talk by @andrebellve.bsky.social.. also, be prepared for some excellent graphics! #scicomm
Lecture at 12 PM EST today - sign up if you are interested in a long-term perspective of seabird declines and what it means for nutrient transport!
bsky.app/profile/biog...
bsky.app/profile/biog...
This month's Funk lecture is just one week away! Dr. André Bellvé will be presenting on reconstructing paleo-nutrient fluxes, using seabirds in New Zealand as a fascinating case study. We hope to see you there!
For more information and to register, please visit our website: www.biogeography.org
For more information and to register, please visit our website: www.biogeography.org
March 27, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Sure to be an interesting talk by @andrebellve.bsky.social.. also, be prepared for some excellent graphics! #scicomm
Beautiful sighting of a martial eagle eating a mongoose at iSimangaliso park today
March 13, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Beautiful sighting of a martial eagle eating a mongoose at iSimangaliso park today
Half of British households feed birds.. but should we? Ft our recent study on potential issues of nutrient pollution.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Full paper: esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Full paper: esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Should we stop feeding birds, what happens if we do and does it spread disease?
Half of British households put food out for birds but there is increasing concern it can spread disease
www.theguardian.com
March 13, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Half of British households feed birds.. but should we? Ft our recent study on potential issues of nutrient pollution.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Full paper: esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Full paper: esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Nice coverage by Nat Geo of our new paper quantifying the longest nutrient transport system in the world: whale pee
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
For the full paper, see here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
For the full paper, see here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The stunning power of whale pee
A single whale can produce more than 250 gallons of urine in a day. It helps sustain life across the ocean.
www.nationalgeographic.com
March 12, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Nice coverage by Nat Geo of our new paper quantifying the longest nutrient transport system in the world: whale pee
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
For the full paper, see here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
For the full paper, see here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...