Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
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biojlinnsoc.bsky.social
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
@biojlinnsoc.bsky.social
Highlighting ground-breaking science, news and key papers from the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, the world's oldest scientific journal dedicated to biological science.

Blog: https://www.linnean.org/news/categories/the-paper-trail
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📣Call for Papers! Why are some individuals and taxa more resilient than others? Our latest Special Issue on Organismal Resilience aims to answers this question! Submit your research or register for our one-day symposium below 👇🌍🧪 academic.oup.com/biolinnean/p... @linneansociety.bsky.social
Reposted by Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
This #FossilFriday marvel at the presence of Astropanax leaves & pollen in Ethiopia 21.73 million years ago, found in the Mush Valley, providing the earliest evidence for Araliaceae on the African continent! (around the time when ancient rhinos & horses began to evolve)🌍🧪
doi.org/10.1093/botl...
November 14, 2025 at 8:30 AM
India is one of the most biodiverse & unique countries on Earth, with high levels of endemism & evolutionary distinctiveness, yet its biodiversity is still poorly understood. It is important to make biodiversity research available to all, starting with collections 👇 🌍
Linking eras and data: natural history collections as the foundation of India’s biodiversity science
Abstract. India, one of the world’s most biodiverse countries and now the most populous, stands at a critical intersection of ecological wealth and intense
doi.org
November 13, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Reposted by Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
Interested in the biogeography of lizards?🦎

We studied the historical biogeography of Sceloporus lizards and the link between their dispersal and climatic niches 🌎🌦️ @fabrovillalobos.bsky.social @ndimhypervol.bsky.social @biojlinnsoc.bsky.social

Learn more here 👇:
academic.oup.com/biolinnean/a...
Historical biogeography and climatic niche dynamics in spiny lizards of the genus Sceloporus (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae)
Abstract. Although we now have extensive biogeographical datasets for tetrapods, unravelling the drivers of species’ distributions remains challenging, esp
academic.oup.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Can museum collections help identify a species conservation status? Through a systematic survey of primate specimens at MZUSP, 85 species were identified, with 12 classified as #Endangered & 6 #CriticallyEndangered, highlighting the importance of collections in research! 🌍👇
Mammalian diversity and conservation status of Brazilian primates: insights from a museum collection
Abstract. Brazil harbours one of the highest levels of primate species richness and endemism globally, with its taxonomic diversity extensively documented
doi.org
November 10, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Incy wincy spider, didn't help the Bromeliad out?

Little is known about the interactions between spiders & bromeliads in the Caatinga, until now! Looking at 41 plants, the presence of spiders led to reduced leaf & fruit growth, suggesting a parasitic interaction!🌍🧪

doi.org/10.1093/biol...
November 7, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
New Blog Day! 📣👻

Ghosts of the past come back to haunt the genetic record of island colonisation events, revealing silent extinctions! Written by guest blogger Adam Brachtl, this blog explores how molecular genetics can uncover these hidden stories...(1/6) 🌍🧪👇

www.linnean.org/news/2025/11...
November 6, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
Two birds of a feather, yet they don't grow together...

By comparing Afrotropical & European temperate species, distinct latitudinal differences in feather growth rates were found, with tropical passerines growing wing feathers faster! Why? Take a beak to find out...
Afrotropical passerines grow wing feathers faster than their European counterparts
Abstract. Latitudinal gradients in environmental conditions shape avian life-history strategies by influencing resource allocation among growth, survival,
doi.org
November 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
If you’re a PhD student in zoology with a paper in @zoojlinnsoc.bsky.social‬, you could be recognised with the John C. Marsden Medal.

Awarded annually in memory of Dr John C. Marsden, the prize celebrates outstanding doctoral theses in biology (excluding botany): oxford.ly/3Jnp0B9
November 1, 2025 at 3:15 PM
With the clocks going back & the nights drawing in, this can mean but one thing...you're all excited for our one-day symposium on organismal resilience in a time of rapid change! Haven't nabbed a ticket yet? Follow the link below 🌍 🧪 👇
buff.ly/WTlIxLm

Want to submit? Do so by the 20 May 2026!
Hybrid Day Meeting | Organismal Resilience in a Rapidly Changing World
Join us at the Linnean Society for a one-day symposium focused on the mechanisms and consequences of variation in organismal resilience
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
It's #WombatDay! Famed for their cubed poop, these guys have surprisingly similar forelimb myology to koalas...helping to unravel their evolutionary past! Read about it below 👇🌍🧪
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
Darwin's Darwin finches (the island is called Darwin, that's not a typo) have been variably described as either two species, or combined into just one. But what's right? As part of our #SpecialIssue on Evolution on Islands, Peter & Rosemary Grant took to answering this...(1/2) 🌍🧪
October 17, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Ahh, Drosophila suzukii, a global pest...and best dressed? Whilst fashion week is over, these guys really put the fly in fruit fly! Known for their body colour plasticity, the role of sexual vs natural selection on their colour diversity was investigated...check it out 👇🧪🌍🦟
Natural selection, rather than sexual selection, plays a dominant role in the formation of body coloration in Drosophila suzukii
Abstract. Drosophila suzukii is a globally distributed pest, and its body colour exhibits notable plasticity. Given the important roles of natural and sexu
doi.org
October 16, 2025 at 9:30 AM
New Blog Day! 🐜📣

The acacia fruit doesn't fall far from the evolutionary tree in this new blog, written by guest blogger Josie Cooper! Ever wondered how plants defend themselves from plant-eating predators? In the case of swollen-thorn acacias, the answer is ants...a 🧵 (1/6) 🌍🧪

buff.ly/Sm4NQsQ
Ants, Acacias, and Breaking the Mould of Niche Conservatism
Discover the latest news from The Linnean Society of London.
www.linnean.org
October 14, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Are you a PhD student ready to publish a paper? Submit your research to our journal today & enter one of our new journal prizes, celebrating PhD student work in #Botany or #Biology !🧪🌍👇
academic.oup.com/biolinnean/p...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
September 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Looking to the past to predict the future...

DNA & #Climate models revealed the diversification & dispersal history of the Southern Swallowtail butterfly, as well as predicting an 89% decline in suitable habitat by 2070...highlighting the need for urgent #conservation. 🌍🧪👇
Peering into the past and predicting the future of the threatened southern swallowtail, Papilio alexanor Esper, 1799 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)
Abstract. We investigated the evolutionary history of the threatened southern swallowtail butterfly (Papilio alexanor) using DNA sequences from COI barcode
doi.org
September 24, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
Who you gonna call? EVOLUTIONARY SCIENTISTS!

Ghost species (no, not species of ghost) are extinct, unknown & unsampled taxa...and they vastly outnumber those included in phylogenetics. This hidden diversity can complicate phylogenetic signals of horizontal gene flow, impacting their study...(1/2)🧪
September 19, 2025 at 10:01 AM
It's #PeerReviewWeek and what better opportunity exists to say a huge thank you to our excellent reviewers from across the globe. It is your hard work & commitment that enables us to continue publishing ground-breaking research in Biology, Botany, Evolution and Zoology. (1/2)
September 17, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
Did you know male wasps can get tricked by orchids into thinking they're females?

Pterostylis orchids use sexual deception as a pollination strategy, with fungus gnats (Diptera) falling victim, acting as the main pollinators of these deceptive plants! 🌍🧪👇
academic.oup.com/botlinnean/a...
How widespread is pollination by sexual deception of fungus gnats in Pterostylis (Orchidaceae)?
Abstract. Pollination by sexual deception has evolved multiple times in the Orchidaceae, with most known cases involving male Hymenoptera as pollinators. T
academic.oup.com
September 16, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Speaker Spotlight!

Today we're sharing molecular biologist Glenn Yannic, whose research focuses on the consequences of environmental & anthropogenic changes on the genetic diversity of alpine & arctic species.

Book to see Glenn Nov 20 🌍🧪👇
buff.ly/bLADJcs.?mso...
Hybrid Day Meeting | Organismal Resilience in a Rapidly Changing World
Join us at the Linnean Society for a one-day symposium focused on the mechanisms and consequences of variation in organismal resilience
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 11, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Speaker Spotlight! 📣

Today we're highlighting Chloe Haberkorn, a biologist who specialises in evolutionary genomics, currently in yeast! Her PhD focused on resistance mechanisms in bed bugs (scream).

Come see Chloe on Nov 20 🧪🌍👇
buff.ly/bLADJcsmsock...
@chloehbk.bsky.social
Hybrid Day Meeting | Organismal Resilience in a Rapidly Changing World
Join us at the Linnean Society for a one-day symposium focused on the mechanisms and consequences of variation in organismal resilience
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 9, 2025 at 9:12 AM
New Blog Day! 📣

Who's your daddy? This is the question asked by guest blogger @katyakolesnykova.bsky.social, breaking down Gabriela Bispo & co's paper on leatherback turtle mating systems! A long-time mystery, DNA analysis revealed a surprising truth 🌍🧪👇 A 🧵 (1/6)

buff.ly/iVBnhAO
Fathers Out Of The Blue: Leatherback Turtles Take a DNA Test
Discover the latest news from The Linnean Society of London.
www.linnean.org
September 5, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Speaker Spotlight!

Today we're highlighting Maren Vitousek, whose research focuses on phenotypic flexibility: how organisms respond to challenges in their environment, with a focus on tree swallows!

Book your place to hear from Maren & our other speakers on Nov 20 🌍🧪👇
buff.ly/sWmQ9WZ.
Hybrid Day Meeting | Organismal Resilience in a Rapidly Changing World
Join us at the Linnean Society for a one-day symposium focused on the mechanisms and consequences of variation in organismal resilience
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 3, 2025 at 4:23 PM
SCREEEEAAEEEAAEAEEEEAEAAAAA!!!!
Oop, looks like our resident pipistrelle is BAT at it again (not with white vans)...this time she's pipisTELLING you to come to our Lunchtime Lecture with @irorotanshi.bsky.social ! You BATter not miss out on this one 🧪🌍🦇
Bats love a midnight snack, and our September lunchtime lecture will see how they choose where and what to forage, with @irorotanshi.bsky.social.

Iroro is an ecologist & conservationist, & Editorial Board member for @biojlinnsoc.bsky.social.

Join us online, 24 September, 12:30 BST.
Bat Foraging | Where and How They Do It
Discover just how bats go about nabbing their night time snacks. There's more to it than you think!
buff.ly
August 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
Have you ever wondered who’s safeguarding the Global South’s rich biodiversity?

Their voices and impact shine in the @biojlinnsoc.bsky.social‬’s Special Collection: oxford.ly/472pHJv
August 26, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
Body shape, a key trait in fish (they'd do wonders on Hinge), varies between geographic regions & sexes, reflecting adaptations to local environments. Here, body-shape variation among 3-spine sticklebacks was studied, revealing shape was mostly affected by sexual dimorphism! How? (1/2) 🧪🌍
August 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM