Jonny Behrens
@jonnybehrens.bsky.social
Urban + freshwater + ecosystem scientist, science policy enthusiast. Post doc at Oak Ridge, alum of #dukerivercenter. Opinions are own. tinyurl.com/jbehrens
A fascinating read that everyone should check out! “By looking more closely at the locust, the enterprise can begin to examine how power people, powerful interest, and ideologies affect the landscape of science”
@issuesinst.bsky.social issues.org/locusts-fede...
@issuesinst.bsky.social issues.org/locusts-fede...
The “Terrible Engine of Destruction” That Inspired Federal Science Funding
What can we learn about the relationship between science and the American public from the story of plagues of locusts in the 1870s?
issues.org
January 23, 2026 at 3:00 PM
A fascinating read that everyone should check out! “By looking more closely at the locust, the enterprise can begin to examine how power people, powerful interest, and ideologies affect the landscape of science”
@issuesinst.bsky.social issues.org/locusts-fede...
@issuesinst.bsky.social issues.org/locusts-fede...
Reposted by Jonny Behrens
The fact that air pollution protections save lives (and thus dollars) has long been an inconvenient fact for those who want polluting industries unfettered.
This move is indefensible and dangerous.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
This move is indefensible and dangerous.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 10:49 PM
The fact that air pollution protections save lives (and thus dollars) has long been an inconvenient fact for those who want polluting industries unfettered.
This move is indefensible and dangerous.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
This move is indefensible and dangerous.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
Honored to volunteer today with #HourOfCode teaching code to 3rd graders! They were excited to learn coding and how I use it daily to study our environment (e.g., monitoring oxygen in rivers for fish)! Thx UT-Battelle for the opportunity
@battelleactual.bsky.social
@departmentofenergy.bsky.social
@battelleactual.bsky.social
@departmentofenergy.bsky.social
December 11, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Honored to volunteer today with #HourOfCode teaching code to 3rd graders! They were excited to learn coding and how I use it daily to study our environment (e.g., monitoring oxygen in rivers for fish)! Thx UT-Battelle for the opportunity
@battelleactual.bsky.social
@departmentofenergy.bsky.social
@battelleactual.bsky.social
@departmentofenergy.bsky.social
Reposted by Jonny Behrens
Exciting collaboration with colleagues from the US and Frederik de Laender - lead by S. Rumschlag and Mike Mahon - on how climate change has lead to alterations in US fish diversity over the last decades. Paper just out: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Diverging fish biodiversity trends in cold and warm rivers and streams - Nature
In the past three decades, fish abundance, richness and uniqueness have diverged across cold and warm streams, and the effects on native fish communities of stream warming and increases in introduced fishes have magnified each other.
www.nature.com
September 24, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Exciting collaboration with colleagues from the US and Frederik de Laender - lead by S. Rumschlag and Mike Mahon - on how climate change has lead to alterations in US fish diversity over the last decades. Paper just out: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jonny Behrens
Our new report explores the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the U.S. health and welfare. Read more: nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2923...
September 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Our new report explores the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the U.S. health and welfare. Read more: nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2923...
Excited to share our new article w/ @drbiogc.bsky.social published in @freshwaterscience.bsky.social on the gravity defying act aquatic insects 🦟 undertake moving themselves and heavy metals from urban stream ecosystems into the waiting mouths of terrestrial predators 🐸🕷️!
Community structure and metals concentration together determine aquatic-to-terrestrial metal subsidies in urban and forested streams | Freshwater Science
Abstract Watershed urbanization leads to a characteristic set of physical, biological, and chemical stressors that reduce the biological diversity of aquatic insect communities. We examined how aquati...
www.journals.uchicago.edu
June 16, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Excited to share our new article w/ @drbiogc.bsky.social published in @freshwaterscience.bsky.social on the gravity defying act aquatic insects 🦟 undertake moving themselves and heavy metals from urban stream ecosystems into the waiting mouths of terrestrial predators 🐸🕷️!
One week away from Durham’s BeaverQueen Pagent! Celebrate the diversity of our human and wildlife communities during 🏳️🌈 month (& support an awesome watershed association). I’ll be voting (early & often!) from a distance 🦦🏞️
Who is in the running to be this year's Beaver Queen? Check out beaverqueen.org
Beaver Queen Pageant
beaverqueen.org
June 1, 2025 at 1:54 PM
One week away from Durham’s BeaverQueen Pagent! Celebrate the diversity of our human and wildlife communities during 🏳️🌈 month (& support an awesome watershed association). I’ll be voting (early & often!) from a distance 🦦🏞️
Reposted by Jonny Behrens
USGS’ biological research arm could vanish next week www.hcn.org/articles/usg... via @highcountrynews.org
USGS’ biological research arm could vanish next week - High Country News
Trump is on a multipronged mission to eliminate a science agency that conservationists, toxicologists, universities and more call irreplaceable.
www.hcn.org
May 22, 2025 at 4:28 PM
USGS’ biological research arm could vanish next week www.hcn.org/articles/usg... via @highcountrynews.org
Excited to share today at @freshwaterscience.bsky.social #SUSE7 the amazing collaborative effort we undertook at/after SUSE6 to develop a framework of tools and principles to help communities preserve headwater streams!
May 14, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Excited to share today at @freshwaterscience.bsky.social #SUSE7 the amazing collaborative effort we undertook at/after SUSE6 to develop a framework of tools and principles to help communities preserve headwater streams!
I’m devastated to hear from EPA researchers that they expect to loose their jobs in the coming weeks as EPA ORD is closed. PLEASE spend a minute today to call your elected officials to share why this research is so important (article below overviews the importance of EPA’s research arm)
Research funded by EPA ORD gives water managers across the nation the data + knowledge they need to provide safe drinking water to every resident, regardless of zip code.
Thanks @newrepublic.com for spending time to talk and for this well written article! newrepublic.com/article/1936...
Thanks @newrepublic.com for spending time to talk and for this well written article! newrepublic.com/article/1936...
Trump’s EPA Cuts Are
Going to Poison His Own Voters
“It’s practically inevitable” that people will get sick, a current EPA employee said.
newrepublic.com
May 9, 2025 at 1:28 PM
I’m devastated to hear from EPA researchers that they expect to loose their jobs in the coming weeks as EPA ORD is closed. PLEASE spend a minute today to call your elected officials to share why this research is so important (article below overviews the importance of EPA’s research arm)
Research funded by EPA ORD gives water managers across the nation the data + knowledge they need to provide safe drinking water to every resident, regardless of zip code.
Thanks @newrepublic.com for spending time to talk and for this well written article! newrepublic.com/article/1936...
Thanks @newrepublic.com for spending time to talk and for this well written article! newrepublic.com/article/1936...
Trump’s EPA Cuts Are
Going to Poison His Own Voters
“It’s practically inevitable” that people will get sick, a current EPA employee said.
newrepublic.com
April 10, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Research funded by EPA ORD gives water managers across the nation the data + knowledge they need to provide safe drinking water to every resident, regardless of zip code.
Thanks @newrepublic.com for spending time to talk and for this well written article! newrepublic.com/article/1936...
Thanks @newrepublic.com for spending time to talk and for this well written article! newrepublic.com/article/1936...
Research at EPA ORD inspired me to pursue a career to study/protect our drinking water resources so that every city, regardless of if they vote blue or red, has access to safe drinking water. EPA ORD is one of few agencies that fund research to ensure air is safe to breath + water safe to drink. 💔
This is terrible news & just one part of a bigger picture.
Prepare yourself for ongoing updates about the “reduction in force” this month and more again in April.
Talk to your community about it. They may not believe it at first - it sounds unbelievable! But we must bear witness & explain.
Prepare yourself for ongoing updates about the “reduction in force” this month and more again in April.
Talk to your community about it. They may not believe it at first - it sounds unbelievable! But we must bear witness & explain.
Breaking News: The EPA plans to eliminate its scientific research arm, firing as many as 1,155 chemists, biologists, toxicologists and other scientists.
March 19, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Research at EPA ORD inspired me to pursue a career to study/protect our drinking water resources so that every city, regardless of if they vote blue or red, has access to safe drinking water. EPA ORD is one of few agencies that fund research to ensure air is safe to breath + water safe to drink. 💔
The USGS plays a critical role in monitoring rivers nationally. As scientists we rely on the data to understand, for example, how streams that had historic flooding during Hurricane Helene are recovering (& the people who rely on them). Ask your reps to keep them open! ww2.aip.org/fyi/usgs-fac...
USGS Faces Potential Office Closures
At least 30 USGS buildings appear to be on the Trump administration’s chopping block.
ww2.aip.org
March 12, 2025 at 8:15 PM
The USGS plays a critical role in monitoring rivers nationally. As scientists we rely on the data to understand, for example, how streams that had historic flooding during Hurricane Helene are recovering (& the people who rely on them). Ask your reps to keep them open! ww2.aip.org/fyi/usgs-fac...
Dabble in stream metabolism and attending #SUSE7?
We’d love to see you at the urban stream metabolism workshop/working group! Details forthcoming, but we are excited to collaborate with everyone on a synthesis 😁
We’d love to see you at the urban stream metabolism workshop/working group! Details forthcoming, but we are excited to collaborate with everyone on a synthesis 😁
The Urban Chapter of the SFS invites you to the 7th Symposium on Urbanization and Stream Ecology (#SUSE7) 13-16 May, 2025 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
🗓️Abstracts due: 14 Feb
🗓️Early registration closes: 24 Mar
www.urbanstreamecology.org/suse7.html
(1/5)
🗓️Abstracts due: 14 Feb
🗓️Early registration closes: 24 Mar
www.urbanstreamecology.org/suse7.html
(1/5)
February 4, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Dabble in stream metabolism and attending #SUSE7?
We’d love to see you at the urban stream metabolism workshop/working group! Details forthcoming, but we are excited to collaborate with everyone on a synthesis 😁
We’d love to see you at the urban stream metabolism workshop/working group! Details forthcoming, but we are excited to collaborate with everyone on a synthesis 😁
The NSF postdoc fellowship is one of the most scientifically competitive programs that funds the next generation of scientists…the new administration’s policies left them without pay @statnews.com
National Science Foundation suspends salary payments, leaving researchers unable to pay their bills
An NSF online payment system remained down after the federal funding freeze was lifted, leaving early-career scientists scrambling to pay bills
www.statnews.com
January 31, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The NSF postdoc fellowship is one of the most scientifically competitive programs that funds the next generation of scientists…the new administration’s policies left them without pay @statnews.com
📣Looking for a postdoc in watershed biogeochemistry? Apply to join the WaDE project and explore 🌳 terrestrial/💦 aquatic links + transport of metals and nutrients! Join a diverse team working at the cross-section of field sampling, lab analyses, and process-based models. jobs.ornl.gov/job/Oak-Ridg...
Postdoctoral Research Associate- Watershed Environmental Biogeochemistry
Postdoctoral Research Associate- Watershed Environmental Biogeochemistry
jobs.ornl.gov
January 22, 2025 at 9:58 PM
📣Looking for a postdoc in watershed biogeochemistry? Apply to join the WaDE project and explore 🌳 terrestrial/💦 aquatic links + transport of metals and nutrients! Join a diverse team working at the cross-section of field sampling, lab analyses, and process-based models. jobs.ornl.gov/job/Oak-Ridg...
A heads up that this is today at #AGU24! Looking forward to an awesome conversation at 12:30 in Salon B 😄
Fellow #agu24 NC/VA/GA/TN/etc. watershed scientists (& friends) - check out this late breaking townhall Tuesday (TH23N) @ 12:30 to brainstorm ways to collaborate and study (from field to satellite) how our watersheds/ecosystems are responding after Hurricane Helene
December 10, 2024 at 4:34 PM
A heads up that this is today at #AGU24! Looking forward to an awesome conversation at 12:30 in Salon B 😄
Fellow #agu24 NC/VA/GA/TN/etc. watershed scientists (& friends) - check out this late breaking townhall Tuesday (TH23N) @ 12:30 to brainstorm ways to collaborate and study (from field to satellite) how our watersheds/ecosystems are responding after Hurricane Helene
December 4, 2024 at 8:17 PM
Fellow #agu24 NC/VA/GA/TN/etc. watershed scientists (& friends) - check out this late breaking townhall Tuesday (TH23N) @ 12:30 to brainstorm ways to collaborate and study (from field to satellite) how our watersheds/ecosystems are responding after Hurricane Helene
Reposted by Jonny Behrens
Makeup, floss and hair dye use in pregnancy leads to more PFAS in breast milk – study
Makeup, floss and hair dye use in pregnancy leads to more PFAS in breast milk – study
‘Forever chemicals’ pose health threat to developing children and linked with preterm birth, shorter lactation
Higher usage of personal care products among pregnant or nursing women leads to higher levels of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in their blood…
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2024 at 3:19 PM
Makeup, floss and hair dye use in pregnancy leads to more PFAS in breast milk – study
With Hurricane Helene's devastation to Appalachian communities, we are starting to see how the destruction has changed the landscape, wildlife, and water quality nearby. Satellite images (👀 link) show massive amounts of sediment moved by the flood waters in Erwin, TN. www.planet.com/stories/erwi...
November 15, 2024 at 2:59 PM
With Hurricane Helene's devastation to Appalachian communities, we are starting to see how the destruction has changed the landscape, wildlife, and water quality nearby. Satellite images (👀 link) show massive amounts of sediment moved by the flood waters in Erwin, TN. www.planet.com/stories/erwi...
Reposted by Jonny Behrens
New co-authored article led by Ahmed Monofy & Stan Grant is online today in #AGUAdvances! "Toward a Universal Model of Hyporheic Exchange and Nutrient Cycling in Streams" agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
💧🧪🌎 #hydrology #biogeochemistry #hyporheic #OA #AGU
💧🧪🌎 #hydrology #biogeochemistry #hyporheic #OA #AGU
Toward a Universal Model of Hyporheic Exchange and Nutrient Cycling in Streams
Several ubiquitous hyporheic exchange mechanisms can be represented by an exponentially decaying diffusivity The reference diffusivity and mixing depth can be calculated from a stream's permeabil...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 12, 2024 at 5:52 PM
New co-authored article led by Ahmed Monofy & Stan Grant is online today in #AGUAdvances! "Toward a Universal Model of Hyporheic Exchange and Nutrient Cycling in Streams" agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
💧🧪🌎 #hydrology #biogeochemistry #hyporheic #OA #AGU
💧🧪🌎 #hydrology #biogeochemistry #hyporheic #OA #AGU
Reposted by Jonny Behrens
Reposted by Jonny Behrens
Are you or someone you know looking for a funded MS or PhD position in freshwater ecology starting August 2025? Consider applying to work with me & collaborate on a project linking river oxygen dynamics with freshwater biodiversity. More info/how to apply: www.hotchkisslab.com/opportunitie... 💧🌎👩🔬
August 12, 2024 at 9:44 PM
Are you or someone you know looking for a funded MS or PhD position in freshwater ecology starting August 2025? Consider applying to work with me & collaborate on a project linking river oxygen dynamics with freshwater biodiversity. More info/how to apply: www.hotchkisslab.com/opportunitie... 💧🌎👩🔬
Reposted by Jonny Behrens
A group of rail, transit, and urbanist advocates are organizing a Zoom call this Thursday at 4pm PT in support of the Harris-Walz ticket. Will you join us? RSVP: tinyurl.com/trainlovers4hw
August 13, 2024 at 11:01 PM
A group of rail, transit, and urbanist advocates are organizing a Zoom call this Thursday at 4pm PT in support of the Harris-Walz ticket. Will you join us? RSVP: tinyurl.com/trainlovers4hw