Oxford Biology
@biology.ox.ac.uk
Exploring the breadth and diversity of life on Earth 🌍 Updates on research & teaching at @ox.ac.uk. Merged from Departments of Plant Sciences and Zoology August 2022
www.biology.ox.ac.uk
www.biology.ox.ac.uk
Weakening the soy moratorium: a political choice that ignores the science 🌱
New article from Aline Soterroni @naturebasedsols.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com 👇
theconversation.com/weakening-th...
New article from Aline Soterroni @naturebasedsols.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com 👇
theconversation.com/weakening-th...
Weakening the soy moratorium: a political choice that ignores the science
In light of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, voluntary commitments between companies, governments and civil society to avoid purchasing soy from deforested areas in the Amazon should be expan...
theconversation.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Weakening the soy moratorium: a political choice that ignores the science 🌱
New article from Aline Soterroni @naturebasedsols.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com 👇
theconversation.com/weakening-th...
New article from Aline Soterroni @naturebasedsols.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com 👇
theconversation.com/weakening-th...
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Yesterday, @erikaberenguer.bsky.social chaired a panel with six members of the Oxford delegation to COP30. The debrief shared insights and reflections on Net Zero and biodiversity targets following the world’s largest climate conference. Watch it here: www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/videos/cop30...
Panel Discussion: 'COP30 Debrief: Insights and reflections from the…
The Oxford Climate Research Network and the Oxford Martin School hosted a debrief panel unpacking the key outcomes and implications of COP30, with…
www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk
January 28, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Yesterday, @erikaberenguer.bsky.social chaired a panel with six members of the Oxford delegation to COP30. The debrief shared insights and reflections on Net Zero and biodiversity targets following the world’s largest climate conference. Watch it here: www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/videos/cop30...
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Pleased to see our research team's work on the @erc.europa.eu funded PALVIREVOL project feature on this ERC report into frontier research for one health @biology.ox.ac.uk.
erc.europa.eu/sites/defaul...
erc.europa.eu/sites/defaul...
erc.europa.eu
January 27, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Pleased to see our research team's work on the @erc.europa.eu funded PALVIREVOL project feature on this ERC report into frontier research for one health @biology.ox.ac.uk.
erc.europa.eu/sites/defaul...
erc.europa.eu/sites/defaul...
In theory, nature markets allow governments to attract more private investment and diversify funds that help restore nature. The reality is much more complicated.
New from Sophus zu Ermgassen @iccs.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com 👇
theconversation.com/how-to-make-...
New from Sophus zu Ermgassen @iccs.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com 👇
theconversation.com/how-to-make-...
How to make sure the nature credits you buy are real – new research
Four essentials are crucial for establishing scientifically credible nature markets.
theconversation.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:59 PM
In theory, nature markets allow governments to attract more private investment and diversify funds that help restore nature. The reality is much more complicated.
New from Sophus zu Ermgassen @iccs.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com 👇
theconversation.com/how-to-make-...
New from Sophus zu Ermgassen @iccs.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com 👇
theconversation.com/how-to-make-...
Reposted by Oxford Biology
On Friday 6th Feb our guest speaker will be Keith Kirby from @wythamwoods.bsky.social, speaking about finding the answer to tomorrow's ecological questions by looking into the past.
Don't forget to register to join online- or in-person followed by a drinks reception. bookwhen.com/oxfordbiodiv...
Don't forget to register to join online- or in-person followed by a drinks reception. bookwhen.com/oxfordbiodiv...
January 27, 2026 at 10:13 AM
On Friday 6th Feb our guest speaker will be Keith Kirby from @wythamwoods.bsky.social, speaking about finding the answer to tomorrow's ecological questions by looking into the past.
Don't forget to register to join online- or in-person followed by a drinks reception. bookwhen.com/oxfordbiodiv...
Don't forget to register to join online- or in-person followed by a drinks reception. bookwhen.com/oxfordbiodiv...
Reposted by Oxford Biology
This week's EGI seminar will be given by Prof Jon Slate @jon-slate.bsky.social of @sheffielduni.bsky.social at 3.30 on Fri 30 Jan in LT1 in LaMB @biology.ox.ac.uk. OK, it's not quite birds, but our colleagues' work on @soaysheep.bsky.social has much in common with what we do. All welcome: details ⬇️
January 26, 2026 at 4:56 PM
This week's EGI seminar will be given by Prof Jon Slate @jon-slate.bsky.social of @sheffielduni.bsky.social at 3.30 on Fri 30 Jan in LT1 in LaMB @biology.ox.ac.uk. OK, it's not quite birds, but our colleagues' work on @soaysheep.bsky.social has much in common with what we do. All welcome: details ⬇️
Reposted by Oxford Biology
The next Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife Conservation will run from October 2026 until May 2027 in Oxford's new Life and Mind Building.
Application deadline: Tuesday 3rd March 2026.
Please first share your CV with us: wildcru.diploma@biology.ox.ac.uk
wildcru.org/study/diploma/
@biology.ox.ac.uk
Application deadline: Tuesday 3rd March 2026.
Please first share your CV with us: wildcru.diploma@biology.ox.ac.uk
wildcru.org/study/diploma/
@biology.ox.ac.uk
January 23, 2026 at 11:43 AM
The next Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife Conservation will run from October 2026 until May 2027 in Oxford's new Life and Mind Building.
Application deadline: Tuesday 3rd March 2026.
Please first share your CV with us: wildcru.diploma@biology.ox.ac.uk
wildcru.org/study/diploma/
@biology.ox.ac.uk
Application deadline: Tuesday 3rd March 2026.
Please first share your CV with us: wildcru.diploma@biology.ox.ac.uk
wildcru.org/study/diploma/
@biology.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Oxford Biology
The UK Government has just released a report that, if taken seriously, should transform how we think about climate, nature and security
🚨 Its main conclusion is stark: global ecosystem degradation and collapse is a national emergency 🚨
➡️ www.naturebasedsolutionsinitiative.org/news/nationa...
🚨 Its main conclusion is stark: global ecosystem degradation and collapse is a national emergency 🚨
➡️ www.naturebasedsolutionsinitiative.org/news/nationa...
January 21, 2026 at 12:43 PM
The UK Government has just released a report that, if taken seriously, should transform how we think about climate, nature and security
🚨 Its main conclusion is stark: global ecosystem degradation and collapse is a national emergency 🚨
➡️ www.naturebasedsolutionsinitiative.org/news/nationa...
🚨 Its main conclusion is stark: global ecosystem degradation and collapse is a national emergency 🚨
➡️ www.naturebasedsolutionsinitiative.org/news/nationa...
We were proud to feature on BBC’s Inside the Factory this week 🎥
In the latest episode, viewers get a behind-the-scenes look inside our bee lab at Wytham Field Station, where science and nature come together.
You can catch us from 6:23: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
In the latest episode, viewers get a behind-the-scenes look inside our bee lab at Wytham Field Station, where science and nature come together.
You can catch us from 6:23: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
January 21, 2026 at 10:41 AM
We were proud to feature on BBC’s Inside the Factory this week 🎥
In the latest episode, viewers get a behind-the-scenes look inside our bee lab at Wytham Field Station, where science and nature come together.
You can catch us from 6:23: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
In the latest episode, viewers get a behind-the-scenes look inside our bee lab at Wytham Field Station, where science and nature come together.
You can catch us from 6:23: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
There's been a record shift in the breeding season of Antarctic penguins 🐧
Gentoos are advancing breeding by an average of 13 days per decade, and Adélies and Chinstraps by an average of 10 days, likely in response to climate change.
Led by @penguinacho.bsky.social 👇
https://bit.ly/4svQWnX
Gentoos are advancing breeding by an average of 13 days per decade, and Adélies and Chinstraps by an average of 10 days, likely in response to climate change.
Led by @penguinacho.bsky.social 👇
https://bit.ly/4svQWnX
January 20, 2026 at 10:11 AM
There's been a record shift in the breeding season of Antarctic penguins 🐧
Gentoos are advancing breeding by an average of 13 days per decade, and Adélies and Chinstraps by an average of 10 days, likely in response to climate change.
Led by @penguinacho.bsky.social 👇
https://bit.ly/4svQWnX
Gentoos are advancing breeding by an average of 13 days per decade, and Adélies and Chinstraps by an average of 10 days, likely in response to climate change.
Led by @penguinacho.bsky.social 👇
https://bit.ly/4svQWnX
📢Executive Education Course
Dive into Green Economy & Nature-Positive Finance -
5 days of expert training on why nature matters in financial markets 🌿
Oxford | 16–20 Mar 2026
bit.ly/greeneconomy...
Dive into Green Economy & Nature-Positive Finance -
5 days of expert training on why nature matters in financial markets 🌿
Oxford | 16–20 Mar 2026
bit.ly/greeneconomy...
January 20, 2026 at 9:48 AM
📢Executive Education Course
Dive into Green Economy & Nature-Positive Finance -
5 days of expert training on why nature matters in financial markets 🌿
Oxford | 16–20 Mar 2026
bit.ly/greeneconomy...
Dive into Green Economy & Nature-Positive Finance -
5 days of expert training on why nature matters in financial markets 🌿
Oxford | 16–20 Mar 2026
bit.ly/greeneconomy...
Congratulations to Prof @robsalgo.bsky.social and Dr Keith Kirby MBE on being awarded Fellowship of the @britishecologicalsociety.org!
Their outstanding contributions to ecology from evolutionary demography to long-term ecosystem change have earned them this prestigious recognition.
bit.ly/4k746Ep
Their outstanding contributions to ecology from evolutionary demography to long-term ecosystem change have earned them this prestigious recognition.
bit.ly/4k746Ep
Oxford biologists awarded Fellowship of the British Ecological Society
bit.ly
January 19, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Congratulations to Prof @robsalgo.bsky.social and Dr Keith Kirby MBE on being awarded Fellowship of the @britishecologicalsociety.org!
Their outstanding contributions to ecology from evolutionary demography to long-term ecosystem change have earned them this prestigious recognition.
bit.ly/4k746Ep
Their outstanding contributions to ecology from evolutionary demography to long-term ecosystem change have earned them this prestigious recognition.
bit.ly/4k746Ep
Reposted by Oxford Biology
'The nation is divided.'
How an ancient evolutionary bond between street dogs and humans has become a modern urban crisis in India.
Read more from @biology.ox.ac.uk’s Dr Nishant Kumar ⬇️
How an ancient evolutionary bond between street dogs and humans has become a modern urban crisis in India.
Read more from @biology.ox.ac.uk’s Dr Nishant Kumar ⬇️
India’s 60 million street dogs are turning from village scavengers to city territory defenders
How an ancient evolutionary bond morphed into a modern urban crisis.
theconversation.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:05 PM
'The nation is divided.'
How an ancient evolutionary bond between street dogs and humans has become a modern urban crisis in India.
Read more from @biology.ox.ac.uk’s Dr Nishant Kumar ⬇️
How an ancient evolutionary bond between street dogs and humans has become a modern urban crisis in India.
Read more from @biology.ox.ac.uk’s Dr Nishant Kumar ⬇️
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Apply now for the first in-person Masterclass on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade! The application deadline is 30th January 2026 at 23.59pm UK time.
@danchallender.bsky.social @orchiddelirium.bsky.social
#IllegalWildlifeTrade #Ghana #WestAfrica
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/mas...
@danchallender.bsky.social @orchiddelirium.bsky.social
#IllegalWildlifeTrade #Ghana #WestAfrica
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/mas...
January 12, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Apply now for the first in-person Masterclass on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade! The application deadline is 30th January 2026 at 23.59pm UK time.
@danchallender.bsky.social @orchiddelirium.bsky.social
#IllegalWildlifeTrade #Ghana #WestAfrica
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/mas...
@danchallender.bsky.social @orchiddelirium.bsky.social
#IllegalWildlifeTrade #Ghana #WestAfrica
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/mas...
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Delighted to begin this term's seminars with Malcolm Burgess @piedflynet.bsky.social from @rspb.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social on Migration behaviour, demography & phenology of declining migratory birds. Seminar at 3.30 on 16 Jan in LT1 in the LaMB @biology.ox.ac.uk: all welcome - see details ⬇️
January 12, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Delighted to begin this term's seminars with Malcolm Burgess @piedflynet.bsky.social from @rspb.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social on Migration behaviour, demography & phenology of declining migratory birds. Seminar at 3.30 on 16 Jan in LT1 in the LaMB @biology.ox.ac.uk: all welcome - see details ⬇️
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Call for activities for our inaugural Oxford Nature Festival on June 27th. Join us and celebrate nature!
@ecioxford.bsky.social @oxfordgeography.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk @morethanadodo.bsky.social
@ecioxford.bsky.social @oxfordgeography.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk @morethanadodo.bsky.social
Call for activities for our inaugural Oxford Nature Festival
naturerecovery.ox.ac.uk
January 8, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Call for activities for our inaugural Oxford Nature Festival on June 27th. Join us and celebrate nature!
@ecioxford.bsky.social @oxfordgeography.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk @morethanadodo.bsky.social
@ecioxford.bsky.social @oxfordgeography.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk @morethanadodo.bsky.social
Reposted by Oxford Biology
New paper published! 🧬🐥🦠
Host WGS data can be repurposed to uncover endoparasite diversity at low cost, without destructive sampling, and outperform 18S metabarcoding. We test it in silvereyes.
This work was led by PhD student Sarah Nichols @biology.ox.ac.uk
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Host WGS data can be repurposed to uncover endoparasite diversity at low cost, without destructive sampling, and outperform 18S metabarcoding. We test it in silvereyes.
This work was led by PhD student Sarah Nichols @biology.ox.ac.uk
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Host whole genome sequence data represent an untapped resource for characterising affiliated parasite diversity
Parasites are ubiquitous and exert varied ecological and evolutionary pressures on their hosts. Yet, characterising parasite diversity and distributio…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:05 PM
New paper published! 🧬🐥🦠
Host WGS data can be repurposed to uncover endoparasite diversity at low cost, without destructive sampling, and outperform 18S metabarcoding. We test it in silvereyes.
This work was led by PhD student Sarah Nichols @biology.ox.ac.uk
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Host WGS data can be repurposed to uncover endoparasite diversity at low cost, without destructive sampling, and outperform 18S metabarcoding. We test it in silvereyes.
This work was led by PhD student Sarah Nichols @biology.ox.ac.uk
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Following the Black Lives Matter movement, researchers found that systemic racism and exclusion shape conservation, disproportionately impacting BIPOC communities, especially in the Global South.
Discover the framework for more inclusive conservation👉
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
@biology.ox.ac.uk
Discover the framework for more inclusive conservation👉
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
@biology.ox.ac.uk
January 8, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Following the Black Lives Matter movement, researchers found that systemic racism and exclusion shape conservation, disproportionately impacting BIPOC communities, especially in the Global South.
Discover the framework for more inclusive conservation👉
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
@biology.ox.ac.uk
Discover the framework for more inclusive conservation👉
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
@biology.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Wanting to do some paleovirology of your own? We recently published HI-FEVER, enabling users to run their own fast searches for endogenous viral elements.
Huge thanks to @humanceae.bsky.social, @emma-harding.bsky.social, José Gabriel and Cormac.
@biology.ox.ac.uk
academic.oup.com/bioinformati...
Huge thanks to @humanceae.bsky.social, @emma-harding.bsky.social, José Gabriel and Cormac.
@biology.ox.ac.uk
academic.oup.com/bioinformati...
HI-FEVER: a Nextflow pipeline for the high-throughput discovery and annotation of endogenous viral elements
AbstractSummary. Endogenous viral elements (EVEs) offer valuable insights into virus and host evolution, but their detection remains computationally and bi
academic.oup.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Wanting to do some paleovirology of your own? We recently published HI-FEVER, enabling users to run their own fast searches for endogenous viral elements.
Huge thanks to @humanceae.bsky.social, @emma-harding.bsky.social, José Gabriel and Cormac.
@biology.ox.ac.uk
academic.oup.com/bioinformati...
Huge thanks to @humanceae.bsky.social, @emma-harding.bsky.social, José Gabriel and Cormac.
@biology.ox.ac.uk
academic.oup.com/bioinformati...
If life science research needs fieldwork, it also needs equitable credit 📝
In a new blog, Dan Hending talks about how the contributions of fieldworkers are often overlooked, even though fieldwork can be central to ecology and biodiversity research 👇
In a new blog, Dan Hending talks about how the contributions of fieldworkers are often overlooked, even though fieldwork can be central to ecology and biodiversity research 👇
bit.ly
January 8, 2026 at 10:24 AM
If life science research needs fieldwork, it also needs equitable credit 📝
In a new blog, Dan Hending talks about how the contributions of fieldworkers are often overlooked, even though fieldwork can be central to ecology and biodiversity research 👇
In a new blog, Dan Hending talks about how the contributions of fieldworkers are often overlooked, even though fieldwork can be central to ecology and biodiversity research 👇
A lesson in balance 🌱
Eunyoung Chae studies the complex factors that shape plant immunity, a tentative balancing act to defend against threats whilst still allowing growth.
Read our new spotlight on Eunyoung! 👇
bit.ly/4jNLF7z
Eunyoung Chae studies the complex factors that shape plant immunity, a tentative balancing act to defend against threats whilst still allowing growth.
Read our new spotlight on Eunyoung! 👇
bit.ly/4jNLF7z
January 7, 2026 at 9:42 AM
A lesson in balance 🌱
Eunyoung Chae studies the complex factors that shape plant immunity, a tentative balancing act to defend against threats whilst still allowing growth.
Read our new spotlight on Eunyoung! 👇
bit.ly/4jNLF7z
Eunyoung Chae studies the complex factors that shape plant immunity, a tentative balancing act to defend against threats whilst still allowing growth.
Read our new spotlight on Eunyoung! 👇
bit.ly/4jNLF7z
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Fellow in Biology @biology.ox.ac.uk Prof Steve Portugal's presentation @asab.org conference challenged prevailing assumption that recovery from avian influenza in wild birds is essentially nonexistent - fieldwork evidence shows that some northern gannets survived H5N1 infection bit.ly/4qx2iGo #birds
January 6, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Fellow in Biology @biology.ox.ac.uk Prof Steve Portugal's presentation @asab.org conference challenged prevailing assumption that recovery from avian influenza in wild birds is essentially nonexistent - fieldwork evidence shows that some northern gannets survived H5N1 infection bit.ly/4qx2iGo #birds
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Drawing from established community-based deer hunting practices in Slovenia, the article explores how the development of a similar system in the Scottish Highlands could help to reduce deer impacts and support more inclusive land management.
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
@biology.ox.ac.uk
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
@biology.ox.ac.uk
January 6, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Drawing from established community-based deer hunting practices in Slovenia, the article explores how the development of a similar system in the Scottish Highlands could help to reduce deer impacts and support more inclusive land management.
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
@biology.ox.ac.uk
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
@biology.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Oxford Biology
A new study of camera trap data from Tanzania’s vast Selous–Nyerere ecosystem reveals it’s a leopard stronghold, with 3.8 – 8.1 leopards per 100 km².
Researchers call for strategic, evidence-based monitoring of key sites to guide conservation.
👉 besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Researchers call for strategic, evidence-based monitoring of key sites to guide conservation.
👉 besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
January 5, 2026 at 11:43 AM
A new study of camera trap data from Tanzania’s vast Selous–Nyerere ecosystem reveals it’s a leopard stronghold, with 3.8 – 8.1 leopards per 100 km².
Researchers call for strategic, evidence-based monitoring of key sites to guide conservation.
👉 besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Researchers call for strategic, evidence-based monitoring of key sites to guide conservation.
👉 besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
In case you missed our annual lecture from Dr Beth Mortimer last week on seismic senses, it's now up on our YouTube channel!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8oe...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8oe...
Biology Annual Lecture 2025: Seismic Senses
YouTube video by Oxford Biology
www.youtube.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:32 AM
In case you missed our annual lecture from Dr Beth Mortimer last week on seismic senses, it's now up on our YouTube channel!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8oe...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8oe...