Kirsten M. Prior
@kirstenmprior.bsky.social
Community ecologist - biodiversity, species interactions, insects (ants & wasps). Associate Prof. @Binghamton University SUNY - http://priorecologylab.com
#EntSoc2025 Aly Milks is presenting on host-parasitoid interactions in oak gall wasps, and Sarah Groh - a Beckman Scholar - on the effect of diet and season on CHCs in ants!
November 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM
#EntSoc2025 Aly Milks is presenting on host-parasitoid interactions in oak gall wasps, and Sarah Groh - a Beckman Scholar - on the effect of diet and season on CHCs in ants!
Check out two #ant presentations today at #EntSoc2025! Rosebelle Ines presents on task partitioning and Chris DeAngelis on drivers of variation in CHCs - both in the Aphaenogaster seed disperser complex!
November 9, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Check out two #ant presentations today at #EntSoc2025! Rosebelle Ines presents on task partitioning and Chris DeAngelis on drivers of variation in CHCs - both in the Aphaenogaster seed disperser complex!
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
'Tis the season to search for lumps on plants, aka galls! These growths are created in response to other organisms — often insects, fungi, or bacteria — injecting their chemicals into the plant. 🧵⤵️
Join the gall celebrations: tr.ee/ziMCEH
Join the gall celebrations: tr.ee/ziMCEH
September 10, 2025 at 7:05 PM
'Tis the season to search for lumps on plants, aka galls! These growths are created in response to other organisms — often insects, fungi, or bacteria — injecting their chemicals into the plant. 🧵⤵️
Join the gall celebrations: tr.ee/ziMCEH
Join the gall celebrations: tr.ee/ziMCEH
Amazing undergradute, Andrew Desso, made a video game #myrmecochory quest! It has journal posts about organisms - native plants, Aphaenogaster #ants, an invasive slug, and obstacles to successful seed dispersal. @binghamtonu.bsky.social @harpurcollege.bsky.social priorlab.itch.io/myrmecochory...
Myrmecochory Quest by PriorLab
Play in your browser
priorlab.itch.io
September 9, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Amazing undergradute, Andrew Desso, made a video game #myrmecochory quest! It has journal posts about organisms - native plants, Aphaenogaster #ants, an invasive slug, and obstacles to successful seed dispersal. @binghamtonu.bsky.social @harpurcollege.bsky.social priorlab.itch.io/myrmecochory...
This was a fun collaboration, led by Guerin Brown @guerin-brown.bsky.social in the Forbes Lab @lordforbington.bsky.social - our teams found European parasitoids emerged from North American oak gall wasp species in western and eastern North America, which were likely separate introductions.
August 28, 2025 at 3:08 AM
This was a fun collaboration, led by Guerin Brown @guerin-brown.bsky.social in the Forbes Lab @lordforbington.bsky.social - our teams found European parasitoids emerged from North American oak gall wasp species in western and eastern North America, which were likely separate introductions.
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
My latest for American Scientist Magazine helps give scientists the tools to fight back against politicized charges that our research is silly or pointless- tools that will work whether you’re asked “why are we funding this” from your asshole uncle at Thanksgiving or an asshole US Senator.
🧪🌎
🧪🌎
“Why Are We Funding This?”
Long-standing myths about “silly science” have contributed to the reckless slashing of government-supported research.
www.americanscientist.org
June 17, 2025 at 9:47 PM
My latest for American Scientist Magazine helps give scientists the tools to fight back against politicized charges that our research is silly or pointless- tools that will work whether you’re asked “why are we funding this” from your asshole uncle at Thanksgiving or an asshole US Senator.
🧪🌎
🧪🌎
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
A study to document two separate introductions of European parasitoids of oak gall wasps into North America.
#wasps #alienspecies #parasitoids @lordforbington.bsky.social @kirstenmprior.bsky.social
doi.org/10.3897/jhr....
#wasps #alienspecies #parasitoids @lordforbington.bsky.social @kirstenmprior.bsky.social
doi.org/10.3897/jhr....
Discovery of two Palearctic Bootanomyia Girault (Hymenoptera, Megastigmidae) parasitic wasp species introduced to North America
Invasive species are among the greatest threats to ecosystems, but our ability to detect species introductions varies across taxa. Parasitoid wasps, though one of the most species-rich groups of all a...
doi.org
July 22, 2025 at 7:30 AM
A study to document two separate introductions of European parasitoids of oak gall wasps into North America.
#wasps #alienspecies #parasitoids @lordforbington.bsky.social @kirstenmprior.bsky.social
doi.org/10.3897/jhr....
#wasps #alienspecies #parasitoids @lordforbington.bsky.social @kirstenmprior.bsky.social
doi.org/10.3897/jhr....
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
HAPPY 75th, NSF!
We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.
Read on 🧵(1/11):
We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.
Read on 🧵(1/11):
May 10, 2025 at 8:19 PM
HAPPY 75th, NSF!
We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.
Read on 🧵(1/11):
We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.
Read on 🧵(1/11):
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
We stand for science. ESA has signed on to an amicus brief filed by @ASBMB & other scientific societies in support of a lawsuit to restore cut research funding: esa.org/wp-content/u...
Read ASBMB's announcement: www.asbmb.org/advocacy/pos...
Read ASBMB's announcement: www.asbmb.org/advocacy/pos...
May 5, 2025 at 6:58 PM
We stand for science. ESA has signed on to an amicus brief filed by @ASBMB & other scientific societies in support of a lawsuit to restore cut research funding: esa.org/wp-content/u...
Read ASBMB's announcement: www.asbmb.org/advocacy/pos...
Read ASBMB's announcement: www.asbmb.org/advocacy/pos...
Julian defended his honors thesis in my lab—"Uncovering handling and nest benefits in an ant-mediated seed dispersal mutualism"—with interesting results suggesting that different mutualistic ant species may be "high-quality dispersers" but employ different strategies.
The Nature Preserve lies at the hub of Julian Marshall's Binghamton experience, shaping his choice of major, his research and even his social life. Learn more about this '25 grad: tinyurl.com/46yvwmb6
Biology major’s Binghamton experience roots in the natural world - Binghamton News
From his first visit, the campus Nature Preserve has shaped Julian Marshall’s research and more
tinyurl.com
May 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Julian defended his honors thesis in my lab—"Uncovering handling and nest benefits in an ant-mediated seed dispersal mutualism"—with interesting results suggesting that different mutualistic ant species may be "high-quality dispersers" but employ different strategies.
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
SaveNSF is a coalition of concerned scientists and allies who are working to save funding for scientific grants through the NSF.
The mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation.
Join: www.savensf.com
The mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation.
Join: www.savensf.com
Home | Savensf
www.savensf.com
May 3, 2025 at 1:03 AM
SaveNSF is a coalition of concerned scientists and allies who are working to save funding for scientific grants through the NSF.
The mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation.
Join: www.savensf.com
The mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation.
Join: www.savensf.com
Rosebelle Ines leads a wildflower restoration project at Binghamton University and New York State Parks! - winning a fellowship from the Phipps Conservatory and a Provost's Sustainability Grant for this project www.binghamton.edu/news/story/5... @binghamtonu.bsky.social @harpurcollege.bsky.social
Project to restore native wildflowers in the forest understory - Binghamton News
Researchers are working in partnership with the NYS Parks Department
www.binghamton.edu
May 1, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Rosebelle Ines leads a wildflower restoration project at Binghamton University and New York State Parks! - winning a fellowship from the Phipps Conservatory and a Provost's Sustainability Grant for this project www.binghamton.edu/news/story/5... @binghamtonu.bsky.social @harpurcollege.bsky.social
Congratulations to Catherine Farrell on her successful MS defense — on land use change impacts on forest arthropod communities! 🐜🌱🪲🕷️
April 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Congratulations to Catherine Farrell on her successful MS defense — on land use change impacts on forest arthropod communities! 🐜🌱🪲🕷️
Binghamton University students in the local news! Engaging the community in citizen science at the Ross Park Zoo! @binghamtonu.bsky.social @harpurcollege.bsky.social
www.wicz.com/news/bu-chal...
www.wicz.com/news/bu-chal...
BU Challenges the Community to Document Local Wildlife
The "EcoBlitz" is an annual project at Binghamton University, hoping to gather information on the bio-diversity of the area's wildlife.
www.wicz.com
April 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Binghamton University students in the local news! Engaging the community in citizen science at the Ross Park Zoo! @binghamtonu.bsky.social @harpurcollege.bsky.social
www.wicz.com/news/bu-chal...
www.wicz.com/news/bu-chal...
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
The Ecoblitz is back! The citizen science event kicks off April 26 here on campus -- and there's an additional Ecoblitz going on at the Ross Park Zoo beginning April 18 and 19. Read more: tinyurl.com/4tevmk6k
The community is invited to study the natural world during the Ecoblitz - Binghamton News
The third annual event has expanded from campus to include the Ross Park Zoo
tinyurl.com
April 16, 2025 at 2:14 PM
The Ecoblitz is back! The citizen science event kicks off April 26 here on campus -- and there's an additional Ecoblitz going on at the Ross Park Zoo beginning April 18 and 19. Read more: tinyurl.com/4tevmk6k
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
Butterflies are disappearing at an alarming rate, according to new research by Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Eliza Grames. Populations in the U.S. fell by more than 20 percent since 2000. Read more: tinyurl.com/2presdd9
20% of butterflies in the U.S. have disappeared since 2000 - Binghamton News
According to new research featuring faculty at Binghamton University, butterflies are disappearing at an alarming rate.
tinyurl.com
March 27, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Butterflies are disappearing at an alarming rate, according to new research by Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Eliza Grames. Populations in the U.S. fell by more than 20 percent since 2000. Read more: tinyurl.com/2presdd9
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
Imagine how much more healthy science would be if we hired and promoted faculty based on their mentorship, instead of merely counting pubs and grant dollars. 🧪
Academic hiring criteria are all wrong
The most important criteria are: mentorship, mentorship, and mentorship
scienceforeveryone.science
March 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Imagine how much more healthy science would be if we hired and promoted faculty based on their mentorship, instead of merely counting pubs and grant dollars. 🧪
What a devastating loss. Thank you to the program officers and others who lost their jobs at NSF for your dedication to the science community and efforts toward advancing science.
I lost my job at the National Science Foundation yesterday, along with 167 of my colleagues, including some dear friends. This was the best job I've ever had, and I thought it would be my last. The PI community has been sympathetic and supportive, without exception. I will miss working for you.
February 19, 2025 at 4:32 PM
What a devastating loss. Thank you to the program officers and others who lost their jobs at NSF for your dedication to the science community and efforts toward advancing science.
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
Professors please pull up a chair.
I’ve been talking to my classes about what has been going on. I explained indirect costs to them. I talked to them about what a probationary employee is in the government.
At the end of class they asked if we could talk about it more. (1/)
I’ve been talking to my classes about what has been going on. I explained indirect costs to them. I talked to them about what a probationary employee is in the government.
At the end of class they asked if we could talk about it more. (1/)
February 18, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Professors please pull up a chair.
I’ve been talking to my classes about what has been going on. I explained indirect costs to them. I talked to them about what a probationary employee is in the government.
At the end of class they asked if we could talk about it more. (1/)
I’ve been talking to my classes about what has been going on. I explained indirect costs to them. I talked to them about what a probationary employee is in the government.
At the end of class they asked if we could talk about it more. (1/)
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
My review of Cooperative Transport in Ants (and Elsewhere) has received it's 100th citation! To celebrate: cooperative transport media!
Oh, and of course a link to the paper:
myrmecologicalnews.org/cms/index.ph...
Oh, and of course a link to the paper:
myrmecologicalnews.org/cms/index.ph...
January 29, 2025 at 7:38 AM
My review of Cooperative Transport in Ants (and Elsewhere) has received it's 100th citation! To celebrate: cooperative transport media!
Oh, and of course a link to the paper:
myrmecologicalnews.org/cms/index.ph...
Oh, and of course a link to the paper:
myrmecologicalnews.org/cms/index.ph...
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
Post the amazing science things you have done with federal funding.
January 28, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Post the amazing science things you have done with federal funding.
Reposted by Kirsten M. Prior
“Dead” plant stuff hold food for birds during winter, when food is scarce. Galls such as this goldenrod gall have insect larvae in them. You can see who knows what to do … 😊. My tiny brush again 🤓.
#birdsinart #botanicalart #naturalhistoryart #SciArt #natureart #conservation #oneearth
#birdsinart #botanicalart #naturalhistoryart #SciArt #natureart #conservation #oneearth
January 7, 2025 at 8:18 PM
“Dead” plant stuff hold food for birds during winter, when food is scarce. Galls such as this goldenrod gall have insect larvae in them. You can see who knows what to do … 😊. My tiny brush again 🤓.
#birdsinart #botanicalart #naturalhistoryart #SciArt #natureart #conservation #oneearth
#birdsinart #botanicalart #naturalhistoryart #SciArt #natureart #conservation #oneearth
Non-native slugs damage forest wildflower seeds, removing fleshy appendages necessary for dispersal by ants. New study led by Rosebelle Ines finds that slugs & ants prefer similar seeds. Yet, differences in foraging phenology dampen effects of slugs on seed dispersal by ants.
tinyurl.com/m86nh3x3
tinyurl.com/m86nh3x3
December 2, 2024 at 1:48 PM
Non-native slugs damage forest wildflower seeds, removing fleshy appendages necessary for dispersal by ants. New study led by Rosebelle Ines finds that slugs & ants prefer similar seeds. Yet, differences in foraging phenology dampen effects of slugs on seed dispersal by ants.
tinyurl.com/m86nh3x3
tinyurl.com/m86nh3x3