Ken Welch
LightNews LightNews
banner
kcwelch.bsky.social
Ken Welch
@kcwelch.bsky.social
620 followers 410 following 170 posts
Associate Professor-Zoologist at U Toronto Scarborough. Interested in things with high-sugar diets like hummingbirds, bats, bees, and my two daughters. Ecophysiology, ecotoxicology, science communication.
Posts Replies Media Videos
kcwelch.bsky.social
January 21, 2026 at 12:41 AM
kcwelch.bsky.social
🤣🤣🤣 Not related to the current news, thankfully!
theonion.com The Onion @theonion.com · 22d
Steph Curry Finally Finishes Eating Mouthguard
Steph Curry Finally Finishes Eating Mouthguard
January 6, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
msteudeman.bsky.social
Universities embracing generative AI be like:
jjvincent.bsky.social James Vincent @jjvincent.bsky.social · Dec 27
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
bobsmyusername.bsky.social
Who has made this 🤣
Buster from the tv show ‘Arrested Development’ holding an arm full of plushies while he looks at his mother Lucille, saying, “these are my awards, mother, from FIFA.“
December 7, 2025 at 1:49 PM
kcwelch.bsky.social
Cripes?! How did this get through the review process in the first place?
reeserichardson.bsky.social Reese Richardson @reeserichardson.bsky.social · Dec 5
The Scientifc Reports autism cycle article has been retracted: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
AI generated figure about autism
December 5, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
canjzoology.bsky.social
Join our wonderful #PeerReview team! We’re looking for a Scientific Editor to help uphold rigorous peer review and support our editors, reviewers, and authors. Applications are now open.

Apply now 📚▶️ https://ow.ly/1ziL50XulU8

#ScienceJobs #NowHiring
Close-up of a fly resting on a green leaf with text announcing a Scientific Editor job opening at Canadian Science Publishing.
December 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
mehran-plantsci.bsky.social
In 1996, almost thirty years ago, Stephan Clemens & Wolfgang Barz described a methylenedioxy bridge formation reaction, converting calycosin to pseudobaptigenin. Today, we have identified the enzyme catalyst from red clover! 🍀 @UTSC @UtscBiology
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
November 19, 2025 at 1:46 PM
kcwelch.bsky.social
@utoronto.ca announces funding for 100 new PDFs across the university. @utsc.utoronto.ca get 3/year. CAD$80K/year + CAD$10K/year in research funds. Read more here: www.utsc.utoronto.ca/grad-edu/res...
Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program | Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
The Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program is a centrally supported program to fund 100 new two-year postdoctoral appointments over two cohorts. Cost-shared with divisions, the initiative ai...
www.utsc.utoronto.ca
November 14, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
danvec.bsky.social
Regular registration ENDS on November 12th for the
@cspbscbv.bsky.social Eastern Regional Meeting to be held at Wilfrid Laurier University later this month! @laurierbiology.bsky.social @wilfridlaurieruni.bsky.social

#CSPB_ERM CONFERENCE WEBSITE: event.fourwaves.com/erm2025
November 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
cosimaporteus.bsky.social
Check out our latest research on how ocean acidification affects marine sticklebacks from former postdoc Dr. Rex Yoon.
doi.org/10.1002/jez....
@utscbiology.bsky.social @utscresearch.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 1:48 PM
kcwelch.bsky.social
Didn't get to see the broadcast premier of "Empire of Bats'?! Well, you're in luck! See it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhWK...

@utsc.utoronto.ca @utscbiology.bsky.social
You’ve never seen bats like this
YouTube video by The Nature of Things
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
profbatgirl.bsky.social
A fantastic experience working with the CBC as they produced a documentary for "The Nature of Things" on our annual large field research trip to study #bats. Now available to stream on CBC Gem or YouTube. Tune in for "Empire of bats" #WomeninSTEM, #academicSky 🧪 youtu.be/GhWKT2gUcks?...
You’ve never seen bats like this
YouTube video by The Nature of Things
youtu.be
October 31, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
apsphysiology.bsky.social
🦇How do vampire bats get the energy to find their next meal? One lab set out to find the answer. Read more in The New York Times: https://ow.ly/6nmr50X4AI3 #ISpyPhysiology #ComparativePhysiology #Halloween #FridayPhysiologyFact #HalloweenCountdown CC: Ken Welch 🧪
📷: iStock
October 31, 2025 at 4:00 PM
kcwelch.bsky.social
Very proud of the work done by former PhD student Natalia Sandoval-Herrera!
sicbjournals.bsky.social SICB journals @sicbjournals.bsky.social · Oct 31
ICB #BatWeek finishes up with
#Systemic Effects of Pesticides on #Insectivorous #Bats: A #Proteomics Approach

Sandoval-Herrera, Welch, et al

doi.org/10.1093/icb/...

see more on Sandoval-Herrera , Welch jr

www.slu.se/profilsidor/...

youtu.be/Mt6uLNkxnus?...

www.welchbiology.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:01 PM
kcwelch.bsky.social
Happy Halloween! My treat is a conditionally accepted manuscript! Can't wait to share more!

Fingers crossed for zero tricks.
October 31, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
johnstinchcombe.bsky.social
Amazing profile of the new facilities at @ksrjokershill.bsky.social designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects.

azuremagazine.com/article/koff...
Outside Toronto, the Koffler Scientific Reserve Finds True North
Montgomery Sisam’s Koffler Scientific Reserve is a surprisingly intimate marriage of building science and agrarian vernacular.
azuremagazine.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
sicbjournals.bsky.social
ICB's #BatWeek spotlight -

more on @aigverte.bsky.social
(co author on #Bat Dentitions: A Model System for Studies at the Interface of Development, #Biomechanics, and #Evolution
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...

Watch Bat Vision Evolution
youtu.be/rnbhtN6Iui0?...
&
www.ted.com/talks/alexa_...
October 30, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Reposted by Ken Welch
primitiveyes.bsky.social
There's bats everywhere this time of year -- but they are not as scary as claimed! Check out our lovely new documentary on CBC Nature of Things. It will make you love bats! gem.cbc.ca/the-nature-o...
Empire of Bats | The Nature of Things | CBC Gem
New hosts Sarika Cullis-Suzuki and Anthony Morgan take on The Nature of Things, the world's longest-running science documentary series.
gem.cbc.ca
October 29, 2025 at 3:46 PM
kcwelch.bsky.social
It's true. 🦇 are sweet.

www.cbc.ca/documentarie...
Vampire bats are ‘little ninjas’ who are actually quite sweet | CBC The Nature of Things
Documentary Empire of Bats nails the coffin shut on vampire bat myths
www.cbc.ca
October 29, 2025 at 3:36 PM
kcwelch.bsky.social
Excited to see the new CBC Nature of Things episode, "Empire of Bats" is now streaming on CBC Gem (singup is free): gem.cbc.ca/the-nature-o...

Episode features Jerrica Jamison flying 🦇 as well as running vampire bats, of course!

@utscbiology.bsky.social @utsc.utoronto.ca
Empire of Bats | The Nature of Things | CBC Gem
New hosts Sarika Cullis-Suzuki and Anthony Morgan take on The Nature of Things, the world's longest-running science documentary series.
gem.cbc.ca
October 29, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
biologists.bsky.social
We thank @giuliarossi.bsky.social for submitting her story. We are delighted this was such a pivotal experience, especially during the early-career stage.

If you would like to share your story, you can send us a message in a bottle at www.biologists.com/100-years/me...
“My visit to Craig Franklin’s lab at the University of Queensland, supported by a Travelling Fellowship from The Company of Biologists, has been pivotal in shaping my early research career. The experience reinforced my appreciation for the power of exchanging ideas across institutions and geographic boundaries. The friendships and connections I built during this time have led to ongoing collaborations and continue to influence my approach to research.”   Giulia Rossi Postdoctoral Researcher
October 27, 2025 at 11:11 AM
kcwelch.bsky.social
It's officially out (in print, if you're feeling nostalgic)! Congrats to Dr. Oelbaum and the whole team!
canjzoology.bsky.social Canadian Journal of Zoology @canjzoology.bsky.social · Oct 21
Now published:

Dietary protein and reproductive condition influence wound healing in the Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis 🦇

✒️ Oelbaum et al.
🔗 doi.org/10.1139/cjz-...
Canadian Science Publishing
Can't sign in? Forgot your username?
doi.org
October 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
jexpbiol.bsky.social
Read the full research at journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
PDF of the Research article, Using physiology to unravel the implications of heatwaves for big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), by Ruvinda K. de Mel and colleagues. The publication information states: © 2025. Published by The Company of Biologists | Journal of Experimental Biology (2025) 228, jeb251228. doi:10.1242/jeb.251228. The first sentence of the Abstract reads: 'Nocturnal endotherms are vulnerable to high ambient temperatures (Ta) during the day when sequestered in retreat sites. Artificial roost design must therefore account for the thermal sensitivity of target species and the potential roost temperatures during heatwave conditions at installation sites'.
October 21, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Ken Welch
sicbjournals.bsky.social
ICB
From the Evan's lab!
Developmental and Functional Interactions Structure Patterns of Variational #Modularity in the Lunar #Wrasse Skull
by
Hugi,& @sternarchella.bsky.social et al

doi.org/10.1093/icb/...

Evans lab
koryevans.weebly.com/people.html
Fig. 3 Modularity hypotheses for cranial bones of Thalassoma lunare. Each color represents a different module. The operculum represents the preopercular/opercular series. See Table 1 for a description of the functional and developmental patterns that underly each hypothesis.
October 15, 2025 at 11:19 AM
kcwelch.bsky.social
I love that in both English and Ojibwe, the word for chickadee is very onomatopoeic.
instbirdpop.bsky.social The Institute for Bird Populations @instbirdpop.bsky.social · Oct 13
🪶 In the Ojibwe language, the word for chickadee is gijigijigaaneshiinh. To hear it pronounced (it sounds really cool) visit ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/m...
Photo of a Black-capped Chickadee by Chad Hordewel. A speech bubble from the bird's mouth says "Hi, I'm gijigijigaaneshiinh"
October 14, 2025 at 3:10 PM