ASSAB
@animbehav.bsky.social
The objective of the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASSAB) is:
to promote the scientific study of Animal Behaviour and provide opportunities for discussion among its members
Account run by @kamyabio.bsky.social
to promote the scientific study of Animal Behaviour and provide opportunities for discussion among its members
Account run by @kamyabio.bsky.social
Reposted by ASSAB
Formatted version out at last! “Defensive colouration is not a reliable indicator of 🍄 infection in aposematic poison 🐸” academic.oup.com/beheco/artic... @klivvvienna.bsky.social @behavecol.bsky.social
👩🏻🔬🧪
👩🏻🔬🧪
January 8, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Formatted version out at last! “Defensive colouration is not a reliable indicator of 🍄 infection in aposematic poison 🐸” academic.oup.com/beheco/artic... @klivvvienna.bsky.social @behavecol.bsky.social
👩🏻🔬🧪
👩🏻🔬🧪
Reposted by ASSAB
If you need something positive in your life right now, then how about nominating one of your favorite researchers for an award??
The Animal Behavior Society's Career Award nominations are due January 15th! Find more info here:
www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-c...
The Animal Behavior Society's Career Award nominations are due January 15th! Find more info here:
www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-c...
January 8, 2026 at 7:34 PM
If you need something positive in your life right now, then how about nominating one of your favorite researchers for an award??
The Animal Behavior Society's Career Award nominations are due January 15th! Find more info here:
www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-c...
The Animal Behavior Society's Career Award nominations are due January 15th! Find more info here:
www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-c...
Happy 2026 ASSABers!
We hope you had a stunning holiday break and a very happy New Year.
A reminder that our conference is a little over 5 months away!
We hope you had a stunning holiday break and a very happy New Year.
A reminder that our conference is a little over 5 months away!
January 8, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Happy 2026 ASSABers!
We hope you had a stunning holiday break and a very happy New Year.
A reminder that our conference is a little over 5 months away!
We hope you had a stunning holiday break and a very happy New Year.
A reminder that our conference is a little over 5 months away!
Reposted by ASSAB
Our Summer 2025 magazine is now online featuring:
🐧 New research on kiwi + long-tailed cuckoo koekoeā
🦆 Tips on finding unusual terns
🐥 Good news for pukunui southern NZ dotterels
🦉 News on new species of extinct penguins + shelduck & much more!
www.birdsnz.org.nz/wp-content/u...
🐧 New research on kiwi + long-tailed cuckoo koekoeā
🦆 Tips on finding unusual terns
🐥 Good news for pukunui southern NZ dotterels
🦉 News on new species of extinct penguins + shelduck & much more!
www.birdsnz.org.nz/wp-content/u...
www.birdsnz.org.nz
December 27, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Our Summer 2025 magazine is now online featuring:
🐧 New research on kiwi + long-tailed cuckoo koekoeā
🦆 Tips on finding unusual terns
🐥 Good news for pukunui southern NZ dotterels
🦉 News on new species of extinct penguins + shelduck & much more!
www.birdsnz.org.nz/wp-content/u...
🐧 New research on kiwi + long-tailed cuckoo koekoeā
🦆 Tips on finding unusual terns
🐥 Good news for pukunui southern NZ dotterels
🦉 News on new species of extinct penguins + shelduck & much more!
www.birdsnz.org.nz/wp-content/u...
A new PhD opportunity in Melbourne!
December 12, 2025 at 2:30 AM
A new PhD opportunity in Melbourne!
Reposted by ASSAB
Did you publish with researchers outside your lab during grad school? Or published as faculty with a student not under your supervision?
I’m collecting examples of cross-lab collaboration in graduate training.
Please share your experience & this post!
Repository: bit.ly/4pT66BE
I’m collecting examples of cross-lab collaboration in graduate training.
Please share your experience & this post!
Repository: bit.ly/4pT66BE
December 6, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Did you publish with researchers outside your lab during grad school? Or published as faculty with a student not under your supervision?
I’m collecting examples of cross-lab collaboration in graduate training.
Please share your experience & this post!
Repository: bit.ly/4pT66BE
I’m collecting examples of cross-lab collaboration in graduate training.
Please share your experience & this post!
Repository: bit.ly/4pT66BE
Reposted by ASSAB
🚨 New study by #SPEmembers 🚨
#AnimalBehaviour #Ethology #Evolution
"Morphological Evolution in Island Birds Is Associated With More Terrestrial Lifestyles and a Lower Number of Raptors and Intra-Family Competitors"
#AnimalBehaviour #Ethology #Evolution
"Morphological Evolution in Island Birds Is Associated With More Terrestrial Lifestyles and a Lower Number of Raptors and Intra-Family Competitors"
December 5, 2025 at 5:54 PM
🚨 New study by #SPEmembers 🚨
#AnimalBehaviour #Ethology #Evolution
"Morphological Evolution in Island Birds Is Associated With More Terrestrial Lifestyles and a Lower Number of Raptors and Intra-Family Competitors"
#AnimalBehaviour #Ethology #Evolution
"Morphological Evolution in Island Birds Is Associated With More Terrestrial Lifestyles and a Lower Number of Raptors and Intra-Family Competitors"
Reposted by ASSAB
I’m recruiting a PhD and MSC student for fall 2026 working on the movement ecology and conservation of Mexican spotted owls in SW forests and rocky canyonlands. Exciting partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory. Great vibrant lab group, high impact research! 🦉
gavinmjones.com/opportunities/
gavinmjones.com/opportunities/
Opportunities
***PhD and MSc openings – Movement ecology and conservation*** I will periodically support graduate students, postdocs, and other staff through the Biology Department at the University of New…
gavinmjones.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I’m recruiting a PhD and MSC student for fall 2026 working on the movement ecology and conservation of Mexican spotted owls in SW forests and rocky canyonlands. Exciting partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory. Great vibrant lab group, high impact research! 🦉
gavinmjones.com/opportunities/
gavinmjones.com/opportunities/
‼️another PhD opportunity‼️‼️
📢We have a brilliant #PhD opportunity on collective animal behaviour across vertebrates! Deadline early 2026 so plenty of time to prepare, feel free to reach out for more info if you are interested in applying 👀
All details below👇
All details below👇
PhD opportunity: MOVE
Details: blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/c...
Deadline: 12/01/26
Supervisors: @shoalgroup.bsky.social, @inesfuertbauer.bsky.social, @wlallen.bsky.social, @nhcooper123.bsky.social, @marinapapa.bsky.social
Apply: blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/p...
Details: blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/c...
Deadline: 12/01/26
Supervisors: @shoalgroup.bsky.social, @inesfuertbauer.bsky.social, @wlallen.bsky.social, @nhcooper123.bsky.social, @marinapapa.bsky.social
Apply: blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/p...
December 6, 2025 at 4:10 AM
‼️another PhD opportunity‼️‼️
🚨 PhD position 🚨
New PhD position available! For applicants keen to combine evolutionary ecology, neuroscience and animal cognition. Based at UCL with me, @maxreuter.bsky.social, @fcamus.bsky.social and Tamara Boto (Bristol). Directly funded, see here for details and eligibility: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
How Memory Evolves: Integrating Cognitive Ecology, Neuroscience, and Experimental Evolution in Drosophila at University College London on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - How Memory Evolves: Integrating Cognitive Ecology, Neuroscience, and Experimental Evolution in Drosophila at University College London, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:46 PM
🚨 PhD position 🚨
Reposted by ASSAB
In our latest A-Z of the Biosciences video, Dr David Lawson talks about his role as a senior lecturer inc his research into the interactions between flowering plants and their pollinators, particularly bumblebees 🐝.
Watch the full video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QMQ...
Supported by BBSRC
Watch the full video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QMQ...
Supported by BBSRC
Letter P | Pollinator Interaction Researcher Dr Dave Lawson | A to Z of the Biosciences
YouTube video by Royal Society of Biology
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:54 AM
In our latest A-Z of the Biosciences video, Dr David Lawson talks about his role as a senior lecturer inc his research into the interactions between flowering plants and their pollinators, particularly bumblebees 🐝.
Watch the full video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QMQ...
Supported by BBSRC
Watch the full video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QMQ...
Supported by BBSRC
Reposted by ASSAB
🌍🦋 Across 6 continents, 21 sites & 15,000 paper moths, we joined a worldwide experiment led by @wlallen.bsky.social & Iliana Medina, showing how ecological context shapes the evolution of animal colouration.
Proud to be part of this global team effort: doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Proud to be part of this global team effort: doi.org/10.1126/scie...
September 25, 2025 at 6:39 PM
🌍🦋 Across 6 continents, 21 sites & 15,000 paper moths, we joined a worldwide experiment led by @wlallen.bsky.social & Iliana Medina, showing how ecological context shapes the evolution of animal colouration.
Proud to be part of this global team effort: doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Proud to be part of this global team effort: doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Very cool paper on orangutan behaviour 🦧
Our New Paper is out in Nature Human Behaviour: 🚨 Culture is critical in driving orangutan diet development past individual potentials! 🦧 www.nature.com/articles/s41.... See 🧵
Culture is critical in driving orangutan diet development past individual potentials - Nature Human Behaviour
Howard-Spink et al. develop an empirically based model of orangutan diet development, which suggests that social learning is vital for orangutans to acquire varied diets.
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Very cool paper on orangutan behaviour 🦧
Reposted by ASSAB
I've been pretty agnostic about mantis colour vision given the evidence so far. This new paper makes a convincing case they have the processing to do so. Mantises (probably) see in colour folks!
Praying mantises demontrate remarkable camouflage although they had been thought to be colorblind. A new ERG study reveals that 2 of 3 tested mantises species are trichromatic highlighting a physiological capacity for color vision.
@springernature.com
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
@springernature.com
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Praying mantises possess multiple spectral photoreceptor classes - Journal of Comparative Physiology A
Praying mantises often display elaborate camouflage, disappearing into the shapes, textures, and colors around them. But they have largely been thought to be monochromats, unable to perceive the color...
link.springer.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:48 PM
I've been pretty agnostic about mantis colour vision given the evidence so far. This new paper makes a convincing case they have the processing to do so. Mantises (probably) see in colour folks!
Reposted by ASSAB
📣 New paper out!
We explored how fungal infection 🍄 affects the bright warning colours of wild poison frogs 🐸. Neither melanin nor carotenoid colouration reliably signals infection status. Defensive signals may remain consistent even under pathogen pressure 👩🔬🧪
Thread from @biobiiana.bsky.social 👇
We explored how fungal infection 🍄 affects the bright warning colours of wild poison frogs 🐸. Neither melanin nor carotenoid colouration reliably signals infection status. Defensive signals may remain consistent even under pathogen pressure 👩🔬🧪
Thread from @biobiiana.bsky.social 👇
November 24, 2025 at 2:29 PM
📣 New paper out!
We explored how fungal infection 🍄 affects the bright warning colours of wild poison frogs 🐸. Neither melanin nor carotenoid colouration reliably signals infection status. Defensive signals may remain consistent even under pathogen pressure 👩🔬🧪
Thread from @biobiiana.bsky.social 👇
We explored how fungal infection 🍄 affects the bright warning colours of wild poison frogs 🐸. Neither melanin nor carotenoid colouration reliably signals infection status. Defensive signals may remain consistent even under pathogen pressure 👩🔬🧪
Thread from @biobiiana.bsky.social 👇
Reposted by ASSAB
📢NEW paper out NOW in @asab.org Animal Behaviour on how a novel #call changes subsequent responses to #alarms in #fairywrens
🌟CONGRATULATIONS #NatalieTegtman on #first paper from #PhD
👥With #RobMagrath
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
#animalcommunication #birds #fieldwork #ECR
doi.org/10.1016/j.an...
🌟CONGRATULATIONS #NatalieTegtman on #first paper from #PhD
👥With #RobMagrath
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
#animalcommunication #birds #fieldwork #ECR
doi.org/10.1016/j.an...
November 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
📢NEW paper out NOW in @asab.org Animal Behaviour on how a novel #call changes subsequent responses to #alarms in #fairywrens
🌟CONGRATULATIONS #NatalieTegtman on #first paper from #PhD
👥With #RobMagrath
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
#animalcommunication #birds #fieldwork #ECR
doi.org/10.1016/j.an...
🌟CONGRATULATIONS #NatalieTegtman on #first paper from #PhD
👥With #RobMagrath
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
#animalcommunication #birds #fieldwork #ECR
doi.org/10.1016/j.an...
Reposted by ASSAB
In an increasingly divided world, how do strangers become friends? Parakeets might have something to teach us! New paper on formation of affiliative relationships, led by Dr. Claire O’Connell doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
November 12, 2025 at 1:39 PM
In an increasingly divided world, how do strangers become friends? Parakeets might have something to teach us! New paper on formation of affiliative relationships, led by Dr. Claire O’Connell doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
Reposted by ASSAB
📣Job vacancy!📣
Research Fellow in Global Conservation at Leeds, working with Dave Williams (and me, a bit) to assess the impact of conservation initiatives on biodiversity, carbon, and people: jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
#ConservationScience 🌍
Research Fellow in Global Conservation at Leeds, working with Dave Williams (and me, a bit) to assess the impact of conservation initiatives on biodiversity, carbon, and people: jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
#ConservationScience 🌍
Job Opportunity at University of Leeds: Research Fellow in Global Conservation
Salary: Grade 7 (£41,064 – £48,822 p.a. depending on experience) This role will be based on the university campus, with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing...
jobs.leeds.ac.uk
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
📣Job vacancy!📣
Research Fellow in Global Conservation at Leeds, working with Dave Williams (and me, a bit) to assess the impact of conservation initiatives on biodiversity, carbon, and people: jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
#ConservationScience 🌍
Research Fellow in Global Conservation at Leeds, working with Dave Williams (and me, a bit) to assess the impact of conservation initiatives on biodiversity, carbon, and people: jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
#ConservationScience 🌍
🚨PhD opportunity!🚨
Funded #PhD scholarship- Vocal mimicry in tooth-billed bowerbirds at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment Western Sydney University @animalecolab.bsky.social
@drbackhouse.bsky.social @westsyduhie.bsky.social
Deadline: 30 Sept25 link: tinyurl.com/4uf92t5b
@drbackhouse.bsky.social @westsyduhie.bsky.social
Deadline: 30 Sept25 link: tinyurl.com/4uf92t5b
November 20, 2025 at 9:43 PM
🚨PhD opportunity!🚨
A very cool opportunity!
PLEASE SHARE
🚨🚨 6-month RA position available at the Univ. of St Andrews to work with Sue Healy (@cogwild.bsky.social), Simone Meddle (@simonemeddle.bsky.social) and I on the behavioural neuroendocrinology of early reproduction in zebra finches.
tinyurl.com/577cx9tj
Deadline: 03/12/2025
⬇️
🚨🚨 6-month RA position available at the Univ. of St Andrews to work with Sue Healy (@cogwild.bsky.social), Simone Meddle (@simonemeddle.bsky.social) and I on the behavioural neuroendocrinology of early reproduction in zebra finches.
tinyurl.com/577cx9tj
Deadline: 03/12/2025
⬇️
November 19, 2025 at 7:21 PM
A very cool opportunity!
Reposted by ASSAB
Fascinating longitudinal study in @currentbiology.bsky.social by @alicebaniel.bsky.social @jbeehner.bsky.social and colleagues, providing evidence for deceptive fertility in a wild primate (gelada) 🧪
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Evidence for deceptive fertility in a wild primate
Baniel et al. show that female geladas deceptively signal fertility when a new dominant
male arrives. Across 14 years of data, lactating females displayed fertility signals
and mated without conceivin...
www.cell.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Fascinating longitudinal study in @currentbiology.bsky.social by @alicebaniel.bsky.social @jbeehner.bsky.social and colleagues, providing evidence for deceptive fertility in a wild primate (gelada) 🧪
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
🚨SAVE THE DATE ASSAB 2026🚨
The ASSAB 2026 conference will be held in Adelaide in 2026!
Keep an eye out on the ASSAB website and social media for more information! We will see you there!
The ASSAB 2026 conference will be held in Adelaide in 2026!
Keep an eye out on the ASSAB website and social media for more information! We will see you there!
November 19, 2025 at 1:01 AM
🚨SAVE THE DATE ASSAB 2026🚨
The ASSAB 2026 conference will be held in Adelaide in 2026!
Keep an eye out on the ASSAB website and social media for more information! We will see you there!
The ASSAB 2026 conference will be held in Adelaide in 2026!
Keep an eye out on the ASSAB website and social media for more information! We will see you there!
🕷️PhD position: Homemakers; web building behaviour in New Zealand sheet-web spiders 🕷️
Please email Dr Leilani Walker - leilani.walker@aut.ac.nz
Please email Dr Leilani Walker - leilani.walker@aut.ac.nz
September 22, 2025 at 9:38 PM
🕷️PhD position: Homemakers; web building behaviour in New Zealand sheet-web spiders 🕷️
Please email Dr Leilani Walker - leilani.walker@aut.ac.nz
Please email Dr Leilani Walker - leilani.walker@aut.ac.nz
Meet Chrissie Painting the new ASSAB president!
@cpaintingnz.bsky.social is a Senior Lecturer and behavioural ecologist at the University of Waikato. Her research seeks patterns in animal behaviour and morphology, with a particular focus on insect and arachnid mating systems.
🪰🕷️🪳
@cpaintingnz.bsky.social is a Senior Lecturer and behavioural ecologist at the University of Waikato. Her research seeks patterns in animal behaviour and morphology, with a particular focus on insect and arachnid mating systems.
🪰🕷️🪳
September 22, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Meet Chrissie Painting the new ASSAB president!
@cpaintingnz.bsky.social is a Senior Lecturer and behavioural ecologist at the University of Waikato. Her research seeks patterns in animal behaviour and morphology, with a particular focus on insect and arachnid mating systems.
🪰🕷️🪳
@cpaintingnz.bsky.social is a Senior Lecturer and behavioural ecologist at the University of Waikato. Her research seeks patterns in animal behaviour and morphology, with a particular focus on insect and arachnid mating systems.
🪰🕷️🪳
The deadline has been extended! You still have until the 7th of September to apply!
Students of ASSAB! You can now apply for the 2025 student research grants here: www.assab.org/grants-2025
We have two grants available for up to AUD$2500, we will also select two highly commended applications.
Deadline: August 31st 2025
We have two grants available for up to AUD$2500, we will also select two highly commended applications.
Deadline: August 31st 2025
Our 2024 Grants
www.assab.org
September 5, 2025 at 3:21 AM
The deadline has been extended! You still have until the 7th of September to apply!