Dr. Thomas Hiller
@drthomashiller.bsky.social
PostDoc @UniHohenheim
ecology of habitat fragmentation | landuse change | biodiversity | tropics | birds, bats & batflies | he/him
ecology of habitat fragmentation | landuse change | biodiversity | tropics | birds, bats & batflies | he/him
Pinned
Enhanced crop diversity but not smaller field size benefit bats in agricultural landscapes - Landscape Ecology
Context Farmland biodiversity continues to decline due to the expansion and intensification of agriculture. Historically, efforts to conserve farmland biodiversity have focused on conserving habitats ...
doi.org
Happy to see this finally out in #landscapeecology
How do more diverse agricultural landscapes and smaller fields affect the forging activity of #bats
🦇
doi.org/10.1007/s109...
How do more diverse agricultural landscapes and smaller fields affect the forging activity of #bats
🦇
doi.org/10.1007/s109...
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
More evidence of bats chasing down and eating migratory birds at night 🦇 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Greater noctule bats prey on and consume passerines in flight
Despite billions of passerines seasonally migrating during the night at high altitudes, only three bat species have been found to consistently tap into this rich prey resource. However, it remains unk...
www.science.org
October 9, 2025 at 7:28 PM
More evidence of bats chasing down and eating migratory birds at night 🦇 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
New paper! We looked at how temperature and humidity affect a fungal parasite on a ladybird in an article in @royentsoc.bsky.social's Ecological Entomology. 🐞🍄
You can find the full journal highlight here:
www.royensoc.co.uk/news/tempera...
You can find the full journal highlight here:
www.royensoc.co.uk/news/tempera...
How temperature and humidity affect a common fungal parasite in an invasive ladybird - Journal Highlight - Royal Entomological Society
The Royal Entomological Society journal Ecological Entomology has recently published an article on which factors influence the growth of a parasitic fungus on an invasive ladybird. The researchers hig...
www.royensoc.co.uk
October 1, 2025 at 3:53 PM
New paper! We looked at how temperature and humidity affect a fungal parasite on a ladybird in an article in @royentsoc.bsky.social's Ecological Entomology. 🐞🍄
You can find the full journal highlight here:
www.royensoc.co.uk/news/tempera...
You can find the full journal highlight here:
www.royensoc.co.uk/news/tempera...
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
Why did we use a hot dog roller for this? Did the ladybirds just enjoy it like a fairground ride? I explain here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=46JW...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=46JW...
Effects of temperature on ladybird - Journal Highlights
YouTube video by Royal Entomological Society
www.youtube.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Why did we use a hot dog roller for this? Did the ladybirds just enjoy it like a fairground ride? I explain here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=46JW...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=46JW...
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
Our latest research highlights the importance of dry grasslands for bats 🦇🦇🦇
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
September 11, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Our latest research highlights the importance of dry grasslands for bats 🦇🦇🦇
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
New paper out!
We found that in pipistrelle bats, social vocalizations carry a stronger phylogenetic signal than echolocation calls, suggesting the former evolve more slowly, while the latter remains flexible and shaped by the environment.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We found that in pipistrelle bats, social vocalizations carry a stronger phylogenetic signal than echolocation calls, suggesting the former evolve more slowly, while the latter remains flexible and shaped by the environment.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
August 10, 2025 at 10:48 PM
New paper out!
We found that in pipistrelle bats, social vocalizations carry a stronger phylogenetic signal than echolocation calls, suggesting the former evolve more slowly, while the latter remains flexible and shaped by the environment.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We found that in pipistrelle bats, social vocalizations carry a stronger phylogenetic signal than echolocation calls, suggesting the former evolve more slowly, while the latter remains flexible and shaped by the environment.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
☀️Our July Issue is out now!☀️
📙On the cover: The purple-throated carib, a large hummingbird endemic to the islands of the Lesser Antilles. Photo credit: Maximilian Vollstädt🐦
Read it here👇
buff.ly/2ohUs7e
🧪🌍
📙On the cover: The purple-throated carib, a large hummingbird endemic to the islands of the Lesser Antilles. Photo credit: Maximilian Vollstädt🐦
Read it here👇
buff.ly/2ohUs7e
🧪🌍
July 2, 2025 at 9:35 AM
☀️Our July Issue is out now!☀️
📙On the cover: The purple-throated carib, a large hummingbird endemic to the islands of the Lesser Antilles. Photo credit: Maximilian Vollstädt🐦
Read it here👇
buff.ly/2ohUs7e
🧪🌍
📙On the cover: The purple-throated carib, a large hummingbird endemic to the islands of the Lesser Antilles. Photo credit: Maximilian Vollstädt🐦
Read it here👇
buff.ly/2ohUs7e
🧪🌍
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
Happy to see this paper led by David Becker about his MSc thesis on the effects of forest fragmentation on bird-fruit networks in Costa Rica published in @biotropica.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/btp....
doi.org/10.1111/btp....
Rainforest Fragmentation Decreases the Robustness of Plant‐Frugivore Interaction Networks
Our study in northern Costa Rica found that larger forest fragments and greater forest cover boost frugivore species richness and strengthen the modularity and robustness of plant–frugivore networks,....
doi.org
July 22, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Happy to see this paper led by David Becker about his MSc thesis on the effects of forest fragmentation on bird-fruit networks in Costa Rica published in @biotropica.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/btp....
doi.org/10.1111/btp....
Happy to see this paper led by David Becker about his MSc thesis on the effects of forest fragmentation on bird-fruit networks in Costa Rica published in @biotropica.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/btp....
doi.org/10.1111/btp....
Rainforest Fragmentation Decreases the Robustness of Plant‐Frugivore Interaction Networks
Our study in northern Costa Rica found that larger forest fragments and greater forest cover boost frugivore species richness and strengthen the modularity and robustness of plant–frugivore networks,....
doi.org
July 22, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Happy to see this paper led by David Becker about his MSc thesis on the effects of forest fragmentation on bird-fruit networks in Costa Rica published in @biotropica.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/btp....
doi.org/10.1111/btp....
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
Behavioral ecology can inform conservation – and male bats must be part of the picture!
Mating roosts are vital for reproduction, so they should receive the same protection as nursery roosts. Plus, males yodel there...😅
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Mating roosts are vital for reproduction, so they should receive the same protection as nursery roosts. Plus, males yodel there...😅
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
June 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Behavioral ecology can inform conservation – and male bats must be part of the picture!
Mating roosts are vital for reproduction, so they should receive the same protection as nursery roosts. Plus, males yodel there...😅
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Mating roosts are vital for reproduction, so they should receive the same protection as nursery roosts. Plus, males yodel there...😅
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
New paper led by Wande Li highlighting the importance of migratory birds as seed disperser in fragmented landscapes.
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
Redirecting
doi.org
June 17, 2025 at 8:23 AM
New paper led by Wande Li highlighting the importance of migratory birds as seed disperser in fragmented landscapes.
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
Pollinator decline has captured global attention, but another plant-animal mutualism is quietly unraveling.
Our new Nature Reviews Biodiversity article synthesizes global evidence on seed disperser decline and what it means for plant biodiversity, ecosystem recovery, and climate adaptation. 🧵
Our new Nature Reviews Biodiversity article synthesizes global evidence on seed disperser decline and what it means for plant biodiversity, ecosystem recovery, and climate adaptation. 🧵
Drivers and impacts of global seed disperser decline
Nature Reviews Biodiversity - Many plants rely on animals to disperse their seeds, but some groups of these seed-dispersing animals are facing severe declines. This Review summarizes evidence of...
rdcu.be
May 19, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Pollinator decline has captured global attention, but another plant-animal mutualism is quietly unraveling.
Our new Nature Reviews Biodiversity article synthesizes global evidence on seed disperser decline and what it means for plant biodiversity, ecosystem recovery, and climate adaptation. 🧵
Our new Nature Reviews Biodiversity article synthesizes global evidence on seed disperser decline and what it means for plant biodiversity, ecosystem recovery, and climate adaptation. 🧵
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
A very successful ladybird gathering with the #VisegradFund citizen science workshop here in Ceske Budejovice - fridged for now, checking them for miceofungi tomorrow!
May 19, 2025 at 1:42 PM
A very successful ladybird gathering with the #VisegradFund citizen science workshop here in Ceske Budejovice - fridged for now, checking them for miceofungi tomorrow!
The role of insularity: plants have few ornithophilous traits but are visited by morphologically more distinct hummingbirds in the Caribbean islands
doi.org/10.1111/1365...
doi.org/10.1111/1365...
doi.org
May 13, 2025 at 8:06 AM
The role of insularity: plants have few ornithophilous traits but are visited by morphologically more distinct hummingbirds in the Caribbean islands
doi.org/10.1111/1365...
doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
📰Published📰 The role of insularity: plants have few ornithophilous traits but are visited by morphologically more distinct hummingbirds in the Caribbean islands🌺
buff.ly/aLG0JDa
🧪🌍
buff.ly/aLG0JDa
🧪🌍
The role of insularity: plants have few ornithophilous traits but are visited by morphologically more distinct hummingbirds in the Caribbean islands
Maximillian G. R. Vollstädt, Rasmus D. Jensen, Pietro K. Maruyama, Matthias Schleuning, Francielle P. Araújo-Hoffmann, Marlies Sazima, Jesper Sonne, Taia S. O. Schrøder, Fredrik Møller-Stranges, St…
buff.ly
May 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM
📰Published📰 The role of insularity: plants have few ornithophilous traits but are visited by morphologically more distinct hummingbirds in the Caribbean islands🌺
buff.ly/aLG0JDa
🧪🌍
buff.ly/aLG0JDa
🧪🌍
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
Host-Parasite Association Dynamics Influence Dispersal and Population Genetics of Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus, Le Conte 1831) Ectoparasites https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40290390/
April 29, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Host-Parasite Association Dynamics Influence Dispersal and Population Genetics of Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus, Le Conte 1831) Ectoparasites https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40290390/
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
How Do Bats Find Artificial Roosts?
Surprisingly, our study found that bats' previous experience with artificial roosts mattered more than enhanced detectability!
Read more in our new paper!
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Photo by Anja Bergmann
Surprisingly, our study found that bats' previous experience with artificial roosts mattered more than enhanced detectability!
Read more in our new paper!
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Photo by Anja Bergmann
April 10, 2025 at 11:09 PM
How Do Bats Find Artificial Roosts?
Surprisingly, our study found that bats' previous experience with artificial roosts mattered more than enhanced detectability!
Read more in our new paper!
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Photo by Anja Bergmann
Surprisingly, our study found that bats' previous experience with artificial roosts mattered more than enhanced detectability!
Read more in our new paper!
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Photo by Anja Bergmann
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
Dan Riskin from The Bat Signal created an awesome video about our latest article on individual recognition in bats. Check it out!
youtu.be/9ihFaauZjIo?...
youtu.be/9ihFaauZjIo?...
The Bat Signal: Bats Are Smart
YouTube video by Dan Riskin
youtu.be
March 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Dan Riskin from The Bat Signal created an awesome video about our latest article on individual recognition in bats. Check it out!
youtu.be/9ihFaauZjIo?...
youtu.be/9ihFaauZjIo?...
Gebrüder Reiner
Krumbacher Silber
Wie eine Zeitreise - die Silbermanufaktur Reiner im schwäbischen Krumbach wurde vor 150 Jahren gegründet und ist bis heute in Familienbesitz. Auch an der Art, wie edles Silberbesteck dort hergestellt wird, hat sich so gut wie nichts verändert.
br.de/s/7D8R8Pq
Krumbacher Silber
Wie eine Zeitreise - die Silbermanufaktur Reiner im schwäbischen Krumbach wurde vor 150 Jahren gegründet und ist bis heute in Familienbesitz. Auch an der Art, wie edles Silberbesteck dort hergestellt wird, hat sich so gut wie nichts verändert.
br.de/s/7D8R8Pq
Gebrüder Reiner: Krumbacher Silber | BR.de
In der Silbermanufaktur Gebrüder Reiner in Krumbach wird seit 150 Jahren Silberbesteck hergestellt. Die Maschinen sind Vintage Originale, es wirkt wie ein Lost Place dort
br.de
March 22, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Gebrüder Reiner
Krumbacher Silber
Wie eine Zeitreise - die Silbermanufaktur Reiner im schwäbischen Krumbach wurde vor 150 Jahren gegründet und ist bis heute in Familienbesitz. Auch an der Art, wie edles Silberbesteck dort hergestellt wird, hat sich so gut wie nichts verändert.
br.de/s/7D8R8Pq
Krumbacher Silber
Wie eine Zeitreise - die Silbermanufaktur Reiner im schwäbischen Krumbach wurde vor 150 Jahren gegründet und ist bis heute in Familienbesitz. Auch an der Art, wie edles Silberbesteck dort hergestellt wird, hat sich so gut wie nichts verändert.
br.de/s/7D8R8Pq
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
Join us in Cairns, Australia, for the 20th International Bat Research Conference #IBRC2025! Check out www.ibrc.org to register, submit abstracts and get more info.
🌏 #bats
🌏 #bats
March 7, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Join us in Cairns, Australia, for the 20th International Bat Research Conference #IBRC2025! Check out www.ibrc.org to register, submit abstracts and get more info.
🌏 #bats
🌏 #bats
Here we go 🦇🐦
February 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Here we go 🦇🐦
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
Size matching between fruits and bill gapes differentially affects gulper and masher frugivorous birds
https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.10978
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xcdhjuzb7t6aqdy5ii5q275y" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky-mention">@nordicoikos.bsky.social #fruittraits #frugivores #mutualisticinteractions #traitmatching #ecosystemfunctioning #seeddispersal
https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.10978
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xcdhjuzb7t6aqdy5ii5q275y" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky-mention">@nordicoikos.bsky.social #fruittraits #frugivores #mutualisticinteractions #traitmatching #ecosystemfunctioning #seeddispersal
February 5, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Size matching between fruits and bill gapes differentially affects gulper and masher frugivorous birds
https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.10978
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xcdhjuzb7t6aqdy5ii5q275y" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky-mention">@nordicoikos.bsky.social #fruittraits #frugivores #mutualisticinteractions #traitmatching #ecosystemfunctioning #seeddispersal
https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.10978
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xcdhjuzb7t6aqdy5ii5q275y" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky-mention">@nordicoikos.bsky.social #fruittraits #frugivores #mutualisticinteractions #traitmatching #ecosystemfunctioning #seeddispersal
Reposted by Dr. Thomas Hiller
🦇 [NEW PAPER]
🔎 The first economic estimate of bat ecosystem services for rice in the American continent was estimated between $3.39/ha and $8.03/ha 💲
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🔎 The first economic estimate of bat ecosystem services for rice in the American continent was estimated between $3.39/ha and $8.03/ha 💲
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Bats over rice: Assessing the contribution of insectivorous bats to pest suppression in Mexican rice fields
Rice is one of the most important crops for humanity since more than half of the world’s population depends on it as their main source of nourishment.…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 5, 2025 at 2:18 PM
🦇 [NEW PAPER]
🔎 The first economic estimate of bat ecosystem services for rice in the American continent was estimated between $3.39/ha and $8.03/ha 💲
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🔎 The first economic estimate of bat ecosystem services for rice in the American continent was estimated between $3.39/ha and $8.03/ha 💲
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...