Jennifer Appoo
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jenniferappoo.bsky.social
Jennifer Appoo
@jenniferappoo.bsky.social
110 followers 76 following 2 posts
Ecologist. Interests in island and marine ecosystems, and biodiversity conservation in the tropics.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
steffopp.bsky.social
NEW PAPER in #ornithology shows that some #seabirds are doing very well on tropical #islands - especially when you can count them all with a #drone: buff.ly/4ngJ3ze
November 13, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
dochpjones.bsky.social
I am very excited to share that we have a new paper out today in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com

In it, we summarize the state of knowledge on the Circular Seabird Economy!

1/n 🧪
Link to paper here: rdcu.be/eMOUd
October 27, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
nvogtvincent.co.uk
We're advertising a PhD project to investigate the hydrodynamics of Aldabra Atoll @oxuniearthsci.bsky.social! We are looking for a student with strong quantitative skills and interest in ocean modelling. Competitive funding available through ILESLA. Please share with anybody who may be interested!
October 22, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
ruthedunn.bsky.social
New in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com: our review of the influence of #seabirds, via their nutrient transfer, on islands & adjacent marine ecosystems 🐦🏝️🪸

We highlight knowledge gaps & future directions ✨

"The circular seabird economy is critical for oceans, islands and people": doi.org/10.1038/s443...
Schematic diagram of the influence of seabirds on temperate and tropical near-shore marine systems. Temperatre systems: - Nutrient enrichment and predation on herbivorous invertebrates can lead to increased algal production - Phytoplankton communities change, featuring more large-celled species - Intertidal organisms incorporate seabird-enriched material by grazing on detritus and biofilm in tidepools - Macroalgae biodiversity and primary production are boosted Tropical systems: - Mangrove leaf nutritional quality increases - Corals recover faster after bleaching events - Fish biomass increases across different trophic groups - Pelagic and benthic consumers' foraging behaviour shifts - Parrotfish grazing and bioerosion rates increase - Fish grow larger
October 27, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
alba-costa.bsky.social
Just launched the Island Ecology & Evolution Network 🏝️ Starter Pack!

Discover scientists, conservation managers and local experts exploring and protecting life on islands.

🌋 Follow to connect & bridge science and practice!
#IslandEcology #IslandConservation #IslandEvolution

go.bsky.app/FrLJh4F
October 25, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
currentbiology.bsky.social
"The most forward-thinking investigation might be a rear view."

This, @nytimes.com, should be pun-ishable!
August 18, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
lljeannot.bsky.social
New paper out in Proceedings B! 🔊

Seabirds' impacts on reefs extends even to some of its tiniest inhabitants - cryptobenthic reef fishes 🐠
Near colonies, these fishes assimilate seabird nutrients (💩), grow larger 📈 & more at: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...

@royalsocietypublishing.org
July 11, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
plosbiology.org
Cross-ecosystem nutrient fluxes can influence recipient food webs. @cbenkwitt.bsky.social &co's study of #NutrientSubsidies shows that dynamic metrics better revealed flow & effects of #seabird derived nutrients through #CoralReef food chains @lec-reefs.bsky.social @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/44RFyJk
Left: White-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) flying near an island in the inner Seychelles. Seabirds provide key nutrient inputs to islands and nearby coral reefs, where they boost primary and secondary productivity. Right: Example herbivore exclusion cage used to measure algal turf productivity across a gradient of seabird nutrient inputs on coral reefs. Image credit: Casey Benkwitt.
July 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
plosbiology.org
How do cross-system subsidies shape the functioning of recipient #ecosystems? @sbtebbett.bsky.social explores a @plosbiology.org study revealing that #seabird -derived nutrients fuel primary producers on #CoralReefs, enhancing herbivore productivity 🧪 Paper: plos.io/44RFyJk Primer: plos.io/4lDpvo6
Cross-system connections can mediate the functioning of coral reefs via bottom-up control of productivity flowing through herbivorous trophic pathways. (a) Highly productive turf communities represent major primary producers on coral reefs (photograph: SB Tebbett). (b) Herbivorous fishes such as the turf cropping surgeonfish, Acanthurus lineatus, rely on the primary production of turfs to meet their nutritional needs (photograph: SB Tebbett). (c) A conceptual overview of the results of a new study in PLOS Biology by Benkwitt and colleagues [2] which quantified key ecosystem functions and demonstrated that seabird-derived nutrient supply can underpin strong cross-system connections between island ecosystems and adjacent coral reefs. Benkwitt and colleagues revealed that higher inputs of seabird nutrients fueled turf growth and indirectly enhanced the productivity of herbivorous fishes. (d) An alternative scenario where terrestrial sediment inputs underpin strong cross-system connections. However, in this case, sediments can limit turf growth and constrain herbivorous fish productivity [1,9]. These different scenarios underscore the importance of using a functional approach to quantify the strength of cross-system connections if we are to comprehensively understand how changing environmental conditions can have flow-on consequences for recipient ecosystems.
July 10, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
apriljazb.bsky.social
Small step in tech needed to upscale tropical island eradications!

Our new paper in Biological Invasions outlines the tech needed to eradicate rats from islands with large areas of mangroves - currently a major barrier for tropical island eradications. The paper is available at: rdcu.be/euJjf
July 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
iomarinescience.bsky.social
The Marine Science Programme 2024 Annual Report is now published online! Find out more about our 2024 activities, project updates and programme impact - www.marine.science/2025/05/16/2...
June 6, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
ruthedunn.bsky.social
Out now in Coral Reefs: 'Active and passive pathways of nutrient transfer in coral reef ecosystems'

doi.org/10.1007/s003... 🐚

Thank you to my co-authors and field friends from @lec-reefs.bsky.social and beyond for all their help bringing this piece of work together 🌊
Rucha and Ruth on the research vessel after a day of SCUBA diving and carrying SCUBA tanks backwards and forwards (hence some damp patches on their clothes) Javier, Laura-Li, Ruth, and Casey in the sea in their snorkelling kit during their last day of fieldwork.
May 30, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
indianseabirdgroup.bsky.social
We are starting May with a fascinating talk from @jenniferappoo.bsky.social on the impacts of seabird-derived nutrients on mangrove ecosystems! Follow this link and set a reminder now! www.youtube.com/live/muPejoo... 🌏🪶 #WomenInSTEM #Seabirds #AcademicSky
May 1, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
simonmaddock.bsky.social
There is a symposium happening on Monday 20th Jan, titled "SEYCHELLES ENDEMIC #AMPHIBIANS AND #REPTILES: CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND NEXT STEPS FOR #CONSERVATION". We will be streaming the talks if you can't be here: Link tinyurl.com/Seychelleshe... or use QR code.

Nb. Schedule is Seychelles time.

🧪🐍🐸🔬
09:30 – 10:00 Welcome refreshments 10:00 – 10:15 Introduction from IBC/UniSey - Gérard Rocamora, Jérôme Harlay 10:15 – 11:10 Current research status of amphibians and reptiles from UK IBC affiliates - Jim Labisko, Simon Maddock, Ellen Sharkey, David Gower 11:10 – 11:30 Refreshment break 11:30 – 11:45 EDGE Sooglossids (title TBC) - James Mougal (independant) 11:45 – 12:00 A scientific approach from the field observations to the conservation actions: explicit, transparent, replicable, verifiable and falsifiable - Bruno Senterre (independent consultant) 12:00 – 12:15 Fundraising, facilitating partnerships, collaborations, and investment for Seychelles EDGE amphibians - Rachel Bristol (independant) 12:15 – 12:30 Reptile diversity and bronze gecko research in Seychelles - Markus Roesch (Uni of Porto) 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break 13:30 – 13:45 The Biodiversity Conservation Section - MACCE: Biodiversity Conservation (Kevin Moumou) 13:45 – 14:00 An overview of conservation work on herpetofauna in Vallee de Mai - Seychelles Islands Foundation (Jessica Constance) 13:30 – 14:45 Aldabra giant tortoise conservation, management, and ecological research in Seychelles - Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance (Rich Baxter) 13:30 – 14:45 The population status of freshwater terrapins in the Story Resort wetland - Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (Chris Mason-Parker) 13:30 – 14:45 The work of Gaea Seychelles (title TBC) - Gaea Seychelles (Mersiah Rose) 14:45 – 15:05 Refreshment break 15:05 – 15:20 An introduction to the IUCN Red List - Louise Hobin (IUCN) 15:20 – 15:35 An introduction to the IUCN Green Status of Species - Magdalena Cygan (IUCN) 15:35 – 16:00 Closing remarks QR code for symposium
January 16, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
markusroesch.bsky.social
Gecko🦎 - plant🌿interaction between island endemics in Seychelles 🇸🇨. Read about it in Herpetology Notes:

www.biotaxa.org/hn/article/v...
January 5, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
hannah-eps.bsky.social
🚨New paper alert! With an amazing group of collaborators, we explore potential indicators for assessing the impacts of island restoration on nearshore tropical marine ecosystems (plus it's my first senior author paper - a mini milestone!). Check it out here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Re-connecting ecosystems: Integrating coral reefs into monitoring of island restoration
Ecosystems are intrinsically linked, such that management actions in one ecosystem can influence adjacent ecosystems. However, adequate data, and even…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 3, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
apriljazb.bsky.social
New research from Aldabra atoll in Seychelles: satellite tracking of 21 post-nesting green turtles shows they travel through the waters of 7 different countries! www.int-res.com/abstracts/es...
December 16, 2024 at 10:25 AM
jenniferappoo.bsky.social
A bit late but excited to share our new paper exploring how seabird nutrient inputs influence mangrove food webs! 🐦🌿 @entropie-marinelab.bsky.social @lec-reefs.bsky.social @iomarinescience.bsky.social
Open access: esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
January 5, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Reposted by Jennifer Appoo
nickajgraham.bsky.social
Still hope for coral reefs. Using 28-years of data in Seychelles, we find reefs recovering 4-5 years faster from the 2016 bleaching event, than they did after 1998. Also, a reef that had regime-shifted to macroalgae for over 15 years, is recovering to coral.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Increased resilience and a regime shift reversal through repeat mass coral bleaching
Assessing coral reefs across the inner Seychelles islands, using a 28-year dataset, we document faster coral recovery from the 2016 than the 1998 marine heatwave events. Further, a reef that had regi....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 2, 2025 at 1:04 PM