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jamesaorr.bsky.social
James Orr
@jamesaorr.bsky.social
1.3K followers 870 following 23 posts
Ecologist interested in community dynamics and multiple stressors | DECRA fellow at University of Queensland | Research: https://jamesaorr.github.io | Nature photography: jamesorrphoto.com
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jamesaorr.bsky.social
James Orr @jamesaorr.bsky.social · Dec 2
New paper that may be of interest to ecologists studying global change, disturbances, biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, or response diversity: doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Variability of functional and biodiversity responses to perturbations is predictable and informative - Nature Communications
Measures of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning show variable responses to perturbations, complicating the prediction of responses to global change. This study shows that the variability of communi...
doi.org
Reposted by James Orr
jeremyjbarr.bsky.social
Very excited to share the latest work from our lab, which was published today in Nature!
nature.com/articles/s41...

PhD graduate and now post-doc Sofia Dahlman, along with co-senior author Sam Forster from The Hudson and other researchers from our lab and others.
Isolation, engineering and ecology of temperate phages from the human gut - Nature
Human host-associated cellular products may act as induction agents for bacteriophages.
nature.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Reposted by James Orr
markuseichhorn.bsky.social
This is a real loss. Few people did as much as Manchán Magan to connect the Irish landscape to its language and culture. His books are impressive works of accessible scholarship and will hopefully be read for many years to come. #SpeirGorm
Broadcaster and scríbhneoir Manchán Magan dies aged 55
The writer, broadcaster and documentary maker Manchán Magan has died at the age of 55, his family has confirmed.
www.rte.ie
October 3, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Reposted by James Orr
padpadpadpad.bsky.social
I have an MRC-funded PhD project available (www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...) on how warming will change the problem of AMR. Join a small and friendly group (padpadpadpad.netlify.app/about) in (sometimes) sunny Cornwall. 🧪🦠 #microsky

Please share the ad below with anyone who may be interested.
A teal flyer for a PhD opportunity to investigate how warming may change antimicrobial resistance. The project will use experiments on Klebsiella bacteria to answer questions about how temperature affects their response to antibiotics, plasmid transfer, and fitness costs. The research involves microbiology lab work, bioinformatics, and mathematical modeling. The flyer includes contact details for Dr. Daniel Padfield and the logos of the sponsoring institutions.
September 16, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Reposted by James Orr
ecotox.bsky.social
Check out this new article on null model selection for multiple stressor research. Fantastic work by Iris Pimentel from @leeselab.bsky.social within the @crc-resist.bsky.social.
Freely available at: dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
August 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by James Orr
nigelmonaghan-nh.bsky.social
Wolves were treated as a threat to livestock and hunted to extinction in Ireland, aided by bounties. Portrait of John Watson with hound at his side and skin of ‘last wolf in Ireland’ 1786 under their feet. Royal Dublin Society collection #InternationalWolfDay
Man seated, in red coat, white trousers and black boots. Dog sitting to left with head on man’s knee. Skin of wolf on floor under their feet
August 13, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by James Orr
ecotox.bsky.social
Was great to attend a Summer Academy of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes. Really creative and clever students - enjoyed the seminar with the students and felt honored to give an evening talk in such a nice location on trends in insect populations. #Neubeuern #Studienstiftung #Insectdecline
August 12, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Reposted by James Orr
mcastd.bsky.social
Want to name a real virus? I have recently discovered 9 new phages which now need names! To enter, you simply need to donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust on my JustGiving page (£2 = 1 entry) and share your email with me on donation (see link info). Please share 💚 www.justgiving.com/page/meaghan-c-1
August 5, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by James Orr
bes-quantitative.bsky.social
Thrilled to announce our webinar series:

🌱📈 Quantifying Ecology 📈🌱

We are collaborating with our SIG friends to bring you quantitative methods in different ecological contexts.

Kicking off with Dr @jamesaorr.bsky.social and @bes-aquaticgroup.bsky.social on 5th August. More details to come!
June 24, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Reposted by James Orr
mrillig.bsky.social
Final version published in @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social

Kong et al.
Ecosystems have multiple interacting processes that buffer against co-occurring stressors

www.cell.com/trends/ecolo...
Ecosystems have multiple interacting processes that buffer against co-occurring stressors
There are multiple processes that buffer the effects of anthropogenic stressors. Much is known about how single buffering processes (e.g., biodiversity, adaptation) mitigate the effects of stressors o...
www.cell.com
June 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by James Orr
cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social
Online now: Making sense of (sublinear) density dependence
Making sense of (sublinear) density dependence
Sublinear density dependence has been reported in numerous empirical studies and yet it is seemingly incompatible with most resource-explicit competition models. Reconciling this disconnect will either necessitate substantive revision of empirical methods or the assumptions of resource competition theory, but it also presents opportunities for original research with wide-ranging implications.
dlvr.it
June 5, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Reposted by James Orr
matthholden.bsky.social
Please share. 2 tenure-track T&R math/stat jobs at the University of Queensland, Australia. Amazing weather, gorgeous campus & lifestyle. 17% employer retirement contribution, lots of leave. Strong global reputation. Supports diversity @stevenstrogatz.com uq.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/uqcare...
May 16, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Reposted by James Orr
maeliskervellec.bsky.social
Honoured to receive the 2024 Robert May prize !! 😊 🎉 Many thanks to the @britishecologicalsociety.org
& @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social
methodsinecoevol.bsky.social Methods in Ecology and Evolution @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social · Apr 17
Congratulations to the winner of our 2024 Robert May prize!! 🏆

Read more about Maëlis’ research on the methods blog 👉https://methodsblog.com/2025/04/17/robert-may-prize-2024-winner-announced-for-early-career-researcher-award/
April 18, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Reposted by James Orr
natmicrobiol.nature.com
🚨Jeremy Barr discusses how he began studying #bacteriophages, the historic use of the T-series #phages, and how they have shaped the field.

#MicroSky #PhageSky

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The T-series bacteriophages are reductionist models that continue to shape the field - Nature Microbiology
Jeremy Barr discusses how he began studying bacteriophages, the historic use of the T-series phages and how they have shaped the field.
www.nature.com
April 14, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Reposted by James Orr
mrillig.bsky.social
Very happy to see this paper out, wonderful collaboration with Gaowen Yang and @jamesaorr.bsky.social & other friends

Kong et al. @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social
Ecosystems have multiple interacting processes that buffer against co-occurring stressors

🧪
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Ecosystems have multiple interacting processes that buffer against co-occurring stressors
There are multiple processes that buffer the effects of anthropogenic stressors. Much is known about how single buffering processes (e.g., biodiversit…
www.sciencedirect.com
March 30, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Reposted by James Orr
methodsinecoevol.bsky.social
We have announced the 2024 Robert May Prize shortlist, our award for early career researchers! 🏆

Follow the link below to see our shortlisted authors and their papers 🌎 🧪 👇
buff.ly
March 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by James Orr
joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Reminder: application deadline upcoming for applications from MS + PhD students + postdocs for a Summer School on

Quantitative Phage-Bacteria Dynamics Across Scales
U of Maryland, College Park, June 23-27, 2025

Apply by 3/21/25:
bit.ly/phageschool2...
Poster for Quantitative Phage-Bacteria Dynamics Across Scales Summer School, June 23-27, 2025, UMD https://bit.ly/phageschool2025-umd
March 15, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Reposted by James Orr
nessocon.bsky.social
We are looking for a #PhD student to work on the impacts of multiple stressors on native #oysters as part of the BRICONS Project co-supervised by @annikaclements.bsky.social - contact me for details on how to apply @tcddublin.bsky.social
March 18, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Reposted by James Orr
giuliaghedini.bsky.social
Happy to share our new paper! We tested how species evolve in response to #competition. We tracked the evolution of 3 #phytoplankton species, evolved alone or together. Our main finding is that #density-dependence weakens through #evolution to increase population production. doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
Evolution Under Competition Increases Population Production by Reducing the Density‐Dependence of Net Energy Fluxes and Growth
Using experimental evolution, we determined the impact of intra- versus interspecific competition on three marine phytoplankton species. We found that the species achieved the same evolutionary outco....
doi.org
March 18, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Reposted by James Orr
benkinsjenkins.bsky.social
Check out our dispatch on apicomplexans that infect corals!

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

These parasite-like partners have lost photosynthesis but retained chlorophyll... are they friend or foe?

@currentbiology.bsky.social #protistsonsky #symbiosky #microsky #coralreefs
March 13, 2025 at 12:11 PM
jamesaorr.bsky.social
In our new paper we discuss how modern coexistence theory can help microbial ecologists tackle fundamental & applied questions, and how microbial systems can help to push coexistence theory forward! With Andrew Letten and Dave Armitage (@darmitage.bsky.social). doi.org/10.1111/1462...
Coexistence Theory for Microbial Ecology, and Vice Versa
Classical models from theoretical ecology are seeing increasing uptake in microbial ecology, but there remains rich potential for closer cross-pollination. Here we explore opportunities for stronger ....
doi.org
March 12, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Reposted by James Orr
pop-bio.bsky.social
We are excited to announce our new seminar series highlighting research on population biology and theoretical ecology from academics and post-grads based in the Asia-Pacific. We have a great line up of speakers for the next few months. Stay tuned for more info!
March 7, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Reposted by James Orr
chrissuthy.bsky.social
Now accepting applicants for 25-26 intake of our #StatisticalEcology MSc: bit.ly/3ooHNyc. A unique opportunity to develop skills at the interface of #statistics and #ecology (some partial scholarships available too). Please help me share!
January 29, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Reposted by James Orr
cameratrapsue.bsky.social
Happy Winter Solstice!

These photos were taken with a pinhole camera I made from a beer can and left out from Summer to Winter Solstice - a 6 month exposure.

Bottom line = Winter Solstice. Top line = Summer Solstice.

The lines are the Sun moving across the sky w/some reflections. No line = clouds
A pinhole camera photo taken from Summer to Winter Solstice. It's a bit blurry as the aperture was made with a tiny needle and no focus mechanism. There are yellow to green lines across the photo, that's the Sun moving across the sky over the course of a day. The top line is from the Summer Solstice, the bottom line from the Winter Solstice. Cloudy days don't have any lines or broken lines as the Sun was obscured by clouds. There are some trees on the left, right and in the background. A pinhole camera photo, a 6 month exposure from Summer to Winter solstice. There are trees on the right side and background. A house with two cars in the drive are visible almost in the center of the photo. The lines are made from the Sun moving across the sky with the bottom line being the Winter Solstice and the top line the Summer solstice. On cloudy days the lines are broken or not visible as the sun was obscured by clouds. The lines show some reflections from a tree trunk. The lines are mostly a white color with some hints of blue, green and yellow in places. Some of the colors could be from rain or snow staining the paper I was using.
December 21, 2024 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by James Orr
matthholden.bsky.social
#ESAus2024: alcohol/food didn't affect guesses on the number of species observed in our house (answer 1,168, average ESA guess 200). An excuse to indulge at tonight's dinner. Find Andrew Rogers if you want to chat about our house biodiversity study 👉 doi.org/10.1002/ecy.... 🌍 @ecolsocaus.bsky.social
December 11, 2024 at 2:07 AM
Reposted by James Orr
john-m-dwyer.bsky.social
🔥 in Ecology Letters 🔥
#Traits describing hydraulic strategies and deciduousness explain the occurrence trends of almost 300 #rainforest #tree species across a steep rainfall gradient in Australia. #FunctionalTraits
dx.doi.org/10.1111/ele....
A Functional Basis for the Assembly of Australian Subtropical Rainforest Tree Communities
We surveyed rainforest tree communities across the Australian subtropics (spanning 600 to 2500 mm rainfall year−1) and measured functional traits on 285 (91%) of all recorded species. Hydraulic strat....
dx.doi.org
December 3, 2024 at 9:17 AM