Keller Kopf
@kellerfish.bsky.social
Ecology - Conservation - Rivers - Fish and Fisheries
Senior Lecturer Charles Darwin University
Senior Lecturer Charles Darwin University
Pinned
Keller Kopf
@kellerfish.bsky.social
· Nov 24
Loss of Earth’s old, wise, and large animals
Earth’s old animals are in decline. Despite this, emerging research is revealing the vital contributions of older individuals to cultural transmission, population dynamics, and ecosystem processes and...
www.science.org
First post here.
I’ll unpack our new paper @science.org highlighting the loss of old animals and calling for ‘longevity conservation’
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
I’ll unpack our new paper @science.org highlighting the loss of old animals and calling for ‘longevity conservation’
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Keller Kopf
Newish paper (i.e. it was out last summer and just now seeing it) out on Alicella gigantea, the world’s largest amphipod. Long thought to be rare because we almost never see it. Turns out it may occupy ~59% of the global ocean.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
January 5, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Newish paper (i.e. it was out last summer and just now seeing it) out on Alicella gigantea, the world’s largest amphipod. Long thought to be rare because we almost never see it. Turns out it may occupy ~59% of the global ocean.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
Reposted by Keller Kopf
The deepest confirmed fish observation occurred at ~8,300 m. I know the shape behind it is another fish’s tail, but my brain insists it looks like the foreground fish is wearing a party hat. #deepsea #marinelife
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
January 5, 2026 at 2:49 PM
The deepest confirmed fish observation occurred at ~8,300 m. I know the shape behind it is another fish’s tail, but my brain insists it looks like the foreground fish is wearing a party hat. #deepsea #marinelife
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
Reposted by Keller Kopf
Reposted by Keller Kopf
For context, I watched him leave his family at 16 (late) and his first musth in his 20s. A very successful male.
news.mongabay.com/2026/01/what...
news.mongabay.com/2026/01/what...
What Craig’s long life reveals about elephant conservation
The death of a well-known wild animal is an odd kind of news. It is intimate, because so many people feel they have met the creature through photographs and video. It is also impersonal, because the a...
news.mongabay.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:51 PM
For context, I watched him leave his family at 16 (late) and his first musth in his 20s. A very successful male.
news.mongabay.com/2026/01/what...
news.mongabay.com/2026/01/what...
Reposted by Keller Kopf
Reposted by Keller Kopf
There’s a species of jellyfish that can restart its life cycle. 🪼🔁
Turritopsis dohrnii can revert from an adult back into a juvenile state when stressed or injured, essentially starting life over again.
It’s one of the only animals known to biologically reset itself.
Turritopsis dohrnii can revert from an adult back into a juvenile state when stressed or injured, essentially starting life over again.
It’s one of the only animals known to biologically reset itself.
December 31, 2025 at 5:48 PM
There’s a species of jellyfish that can restart its life cycle. 🪼🔁
Turritopsis dohrnii can revert from an adult back into a juvenile state when stressed or injured, essentially starting life over again.
It’s one of the only animals known to biologically reset itself.
Turritopsis dohrnii can revert from an adult back into a juvenile state when stressed or injured, essentially starting life over again.
It’s one of the only animals known to biologically reset itself.
Reposted by Keller Kopf
Most illegal activity in the ocean takes place on licensed vessels. This is the context in which a new agreement to protect the high seas has emerged. It has three broad legs
A half-planet-size gap in global governance is about to get plugged
A new treaty offers hope of curbing the destruction of the oceans
econ.st
December 31, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Most illegal activity in the ocean takes place on licensed vessels. This is the context in which a new agreement to protect the high seas has emerged. It has three broad legs
Reposted by Keller Kopf
Very sad to hear of this. I met Emma at conference I organized in Montreal in 2019. She had a stellar reputation, so I invited her as a keynote speaker. She was charismatic & inspirational. Students in particular told me they enjoyed meeting her. Wonderful person. theconversation.com/emma-johnsto...
Emma Johnston was a visionary scientist, environmentalist and leader, with an abiding hope for humanity
The University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor, who has died aged 52, was driven by a deep love of science and a desire to safeguard the planet’s future.
theconversation.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Very sad to hear of this. I met Emma at conference I organized in Montreal in 2019. She had a stellar reputation, so I invited her as a keynote speaker. She was charismatic & inspirational. Students in particular told me they enjoyed meeting her. Wonderful person. theconversation.com/emma-johnsto...
Very sad news. The world needs more people like Emma. Her death is a tragic loss for science, education, and society . I wish Emma’s family and friends peace at this time.
What a massive loss for science in Australia. Emma was a force, and responsible for many of my friends’ careers in biology. Very sad news, my condolences to her friends and family
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
Family, colleagues in 'disbelief' after leading scientist dies aged 52
University of Melbourne vice-chancellor Emma Johnston has died from complications associated with cancer, aged 52.
www.abc.net.au
December 30, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Very sad news. The world needs more people like Emma. Her death is a tragic loss for science, education, and society . I wish Emma’s family and friends peace at this time.
Reposted by Keller Kopf
Current evidence shows:
More invaders in an ecosystem = greater likelihood that one will be disruptive. Invaders can interact synergistically with each other & with external stressors. Rather than generate resistance, higher invasion rates promote more disruption. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
More invaders in an ecosystem = greater likelihood that one will be disruptive. Invaders can interact synergistically with each other & with external stressors. Rather than generate resistance, higher invasion rates promote more disruption. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Do globally increasing invasion rates threaten ecosystem sustainability? - Biological Invasions
Rates of biological invasion are rarely described as a sustainability issue, yet multiple lines of evidence suggest that burgeoning invasion rates cause ecosystems to be less sustainable over time. Fi...
link.springer.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Current evidence shows:
More invaders in an ecosystem = greater likelihood that one will be disruptive. Invaders can interact synergistically with each other & with external stressors. Rather than generate resistance, higher invasion rates promote more disruption. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
More invaders in an ecosystem = greater likelihood that one will be disruptive. Invaders can interact synergistically with each other & with external stressors. Rather than generate resistance, higher invasion rates promote more disruption. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Keller Kopf
Ricefishes of the genus Oryzias always fascinate me. At first glance I at once think it must be a small Percina darter species, a Poeciliid livebearer, or a North American silversides. Here's a newly described species from northern Taiwan. 🧪🌍🐟 #TeamFish
A new freshwater ricefish of genus Oryzias (Teleostei: Adrianichthyidae) from northern Taiwan
| Zootaxa
doi.org
December 30, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Ricefishes of the genus Oryzias always fascinate me. At first glance I at once think it must be a small Percina darter species, a Poeciliid livebearer, or a North American silversides. Here's a newly described species from northern Taiwan. 🧪🌍🐟 #TeamFish
Reposted by Keller Kopf
Awesome article in @science.org on @danielgeldof.bsky.social Master's thesis on the secret of the rockhead poacher’s (Bothragonus swanii) unusual cranial anatomy. Daniel did some beautiful CT scans on this odd fish's head.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
This fish seems to use its bizarre skull like a drum
The rockhead poacher’s unusual cranial anatomy may help it communicate
www.science.org
December 28, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Awesome article in @science.org on @danielgeldof.bsky.social Master's thesis on the secret of the rockhead poacher’s (Bothragonus swanii) unusual cranial anatomy. Daniel did some beautiful CT scans on this odd fish's head.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Keller Kopf
A global estimator of C and N isotope baselines for fresh waters. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 00, 1–15. doi.org/10.1111/2041...
A global estimator of C and N isotope baselines for fresh waters
Baselines are the pebbles in the shoes of isotope ecologists. The extreme variability of the isotope composition of resources at the base of food webs governs the spatial differences of consumers'...
doi.org
December 27, 2025 at 4:49 PM
A global estimator of C and N isotope baselines for fresh waters. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 00, 1–15. doi.org/10.1111/2041...
Prep. Finished for a minor (cat. 2; likely 90 km/hr winds) cyclone here in Darwin.
November 21, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Prep. Finished for a minor (cat. 2; likely 90 km/hr winds) cyclone here in Darwin.
Reposted by Keller Kopf
The application deadline for these has been extended (due to them being open an unreasonably short time initially, not b/c we got too few applications). Dust off your CV, friends. 🧪⚒️
🚨FOUR tenure track positions in my dept @ucalgary.bsky.social @ucalgaryscience.bsky.social in applied & computational geophysics, subsurface geochemistry, sedimentary geology, and sustainable soil science. careers.ucalgary.ca/search/jobs?...
(please reskeet widely!) #academicsky 🧪⚒️🇨🇦
(please reskeet widely!) #academicsky 🧪⚒️🇨🇦
Opportunities
matching 'earth'
Search 4 Careers available at University of Calgary.
careers.ucalgary.ca
November 13, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The application deadline for these has been extended (due to them being open an unreasonably short time initially, not b/c we got too few applications). Dust off your CV, friends. 🧪⚒️
Reposted by Keller Kopf
A new special collection, released in the journal Wildlife Research @wildliferesearchj.bsky.social, published by @csiropublishing.bsky.social, showcases some of the amazing Indigenous-led and cross-cultural wildlife research occurring in Australia 🧪
Watch the full interview in the link below.
Watch the full interview in the link below.
November 5, 2025 at 10:18 PM
A new special collection, released in the journal Wildlife Research @wildliferesearchj.bsky.social, published by @csiropublishing.bsky.social, showcases some of the amazing Indigenous-led and cross-cultural wildlife research occurring in Australia 🧪
Watch the full interview in the link below.
Watch the full interview in the link below.
Reposted by Keller Kopf
The remarkably long lifespan of bowhead whales could be due to an increased ability to repair DNA mutations, according to research in Nature. go.nature.com/4hzvDN7 🌏 🧪
November 4, 2025 at 2:10 AM
The remarkably long lifespan of bowhead whales could be due to an increased ability to repair DNA mutations, according to research in Nature. go.nature.com/4hzvDN7 🌏 🧪
Reposted by Keller Kopf
The not-so-little Murray cod that could: fish tracked swimming 900km along Australia’s biggest river system www.theguardian.com/environment/... 🧪🦑🌎🐠
The not-so-little Murray cod that could: fish tracked swimming 900km along Australia’s biggest river system
Fish named after Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus was most recently tracked at a section of the mid-Murray, near Belsar Island
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The not-so-little Murray cod that could: fish tracked swimming 900km along Australia’s biggest river system www.theguardian.com/environment/... 🧪🦑🌎🐠
Reposted by Keller Kopf
the IUCN have passed the Longevity Conservation motion put forward to them by @kellerfish.bsky.social and @pili-scotland.bsky.social and based on the paper we wrote on the value of older individuals in animal societies.
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
Global body adopts policy to protect Earth’s old, wise and large animals | Charles Darwin University
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recognised Charles Darwin University-led research into the Earth’s oldest animals with the adoption of the ‘Longevity Conservation’ global...
www.cdu.edu.au
October 24, 2025 at 8:28 AM
the IUCN have passed the Longevity Conservation motion put forward to them by @kellerfish.bsky.social and @pili-scotland.bsky.social and based on the paper we wrote on the value of older individuals in animal societies.
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
Reposted by Keller Kopf
The North Atlantic right whale, one of the rarest whales on the planet, now numbers an estimated 384 animals, up 8 whales from the previous year, according to the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium.
Right whales were once hunted to the brink of extinction.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Right whales were once hunted to the brink of extinction.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Scientists say North Atlantic right whale population slowly increasing
Once hunted to the brink of extinction, the most venerable of the leviathans now numbers 384, up eight from past year
www.theguardian.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:15 AM
The North Atlantic right whale, one of the rarest whales on the planet, now numbers an estimated 384 animals, up 8 whales from the previous year, according to the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium.
Right whales were once hunted to the brink of extinction.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Right whales were once hunted to the brink of extinction.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Keller Kopf
The Victorian government’s decisions do a great disservice to expert’s time and carefully considered advice, and most importantly, the health of the places and wildlife we love.
After a 4y delay, @vicgovernment.bsky.social has released a disappointing response to the recommendations of an Expert Advisory Panel which reviewed the 1975 Wildlife Act, rejecting many critical recommendations from the Panel.
See our assessment: biodiversitycouncil....
See our assessment: biodiversitycouncil....
October 22, 2025 at 5:26 AM
The Victorian government’s decisions do a great disservice to expert’s time and carefully considered advice, and most importantly, the health of the places and wildlife we love.
Reposted by Keller Kopf
Proud papa moment: my son J published a letter in the @nytimes.com today (in print tomorrow) on the need to think our definitions of autism.
October 18, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Proud papa moment: my son J published a letter in the @nytimes.com today (in print tomorrow) on the need to think our definitions of autism.
Reposted by Keller Kopf
📑 #NewReview by Boube et al. dives into the scientific literature around the Great Hammerhead Shark. Our understanding of its migratory behaviour and habitat use is changing.
👀 doi.org/10.1007/s111...
👀 doi.org/10.1007/s111...
October 15, 2025 at 11:03 PM
📑 #NewReview by Boube et al. dives into the scientific literature around the Great Hammerhead Shark. Our understanding of its migratory behaviour and habitat use is changing.
👀 doi.org/10.1007/s111...
👀 doi.org/10.1007/s111...
Reposted by Keller Kopf
Extinctions serve as important warning signs that something is very wrong in the environment. Will we finally heed these warnings? Our mental wellbeing and over half our economy depends on it. theconversation.com/and-then-the...
And then there were none: Australia’s only shrew declared extinct
Australia’s only known shrew has been declared extinct. Its loss emphasises the need for national protection of Australia’s rare and unique wildlife.
theconversation.com
October 14, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Extinctions serve as important warning signs that something is very wrong in the environment. Will we finally heed these warnings? Our mental wellbeing and over half our economy depends on it. theconversation.com/and-then-the...