School of Biological Sciences, Monash @MonashBiol
@monashbiol.bsky.social
The School of Biological Sciences has research strengths in Ecology and Ecosystems; Evolution; Form and Function of Life; Genetic, Genomics and Health
If a community has a long history of co-evolution, is it more resistant to invasion?
@storme_zaviar
and
@MikeJayMcD
use a simple 2 species microbial community to test this idea doi.org/10.1007/s002...
@storme_zaviar
and
@MikeJayMcD
use a simple 2 species microbial community to test this idea doi.org/10.1007/s002...
Evolution of One Species Increases Resistance to Invasion in a Simple Synthetic Community - Microbial Ecology
The species that make up a microbial community determine its potential function. A major goal of microbial ecology is to make assemblages of microbes — synthetic communities — with targeted applicatio...
doi.org
October 27, 2025 at 9:36 AM
If a community has a long history of co-evolution, is it more resistant to invasion?
@storme_zaviar
and
@MikeJayMcD
use a simple 2 species microbial community to test this idea doi.org/10.1007/s002...
@storme_zaviar
and
@MikeJayMcD
use a simple 2 species microbial community to test this idea doi.org/10.1007/s002...
A recent study by Ekta Kochar, Damian Dowling and co-authors adds to the growing evidence that mtDNA variation contributes to thermal plasticity in longevity but does not provide clear insight into whether this variation is adaptive or maladaptive. doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Mitochondrial genotypes affect thermal plasticity of longevity in Drosophila melanogaster
Abstract. Sequence variation in mitochondrial DNA was once considered neutral, but growing evidence indicates it can influence metabolic, physiological and
doi.org
October 27, 2025 at 9:14 AM
A recent study by Ekta Kochar, Damian Dowling and co-authors adds to the growing evidence that mtDNA variation contributes to thermal plasticity in longevity but does not provide clear insight into whether this variation is adaptive or maladaptive. doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Can we improve the way we carry out Green Status of Species assessments? Maiko Lutz, David Chapple, Jessica Walsh and co-authors propose a 'best practice' approach using a formalized group setting. Read about their case studies here doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
Assessing recovery and conservation of Australian freshwater fishes with the IUCN Green Status of Species and structured expert elicitation
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green Status of Species (GSS), introduced in 2021, is a global standard of measurement used to assess the level to which a species has recove...
doi.org
October 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Can we improve the way we carry out Green Status of Species assessments? Maiko Lutz, David Chapple, Jessica Walsh and co-authors propose a 'best practice' approach using a formalized group setting. Read about their case studies here doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
How do how early-life conditions and genetic compatibility between mitochondria and the genome shape complex phenotypes? Stefano Bettinnazzi and co-authors found mitonuclear mismatch and early diet affected developmental time, body size and adult diet. doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
October 27, 2025 at 8:18 AM
How do how early-life conditions and genetic compatibility between mitochondria and the genome shape complex phenotypes? Stefano Bettinnazzi and co-authors found mitonuclear mismatch and early diet affected developmental time, body size and adult diet. doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
How does exposure to a pathogen affect our understanding of the risk of climate change to the host? Jared Lush and co-authors explore this question in a new paper out in
Thermal Biology
doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...
Thermal Biology
doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...
October 27, 2025 at 5:41 AM
How does exposure to a pathogen affect our understanding of the risk of climate change to the host? Jared Lush and co-authors explore this question in a new paper out in
Thermal Biology
doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...
Thermal Biology
doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...
Rodolfo Anderson and David Chapple find that Protected Areas mitigate the effects of heat stress in ectotherms, particularly in tropical regions. doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
October 27, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Rodolfo Anderson and David Chapple find that Protected Areas mitigate the effects of heat stress in ectotherms, particularly in tropical regions. doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
M. polymorpha's low genetic redundancy makes it an attractive model to investigate cell wall biosynthesis. Hee Sung Kang, John Bowman and co-authors add to the growing knowledge of the cell wall structure of Marchantia across different life stages. doi.org/10.1111/tpj....
Cell wall‐related glycosyltransferases and wall architecture in the model liverwort Marchantia polymorpha
M. polymorpha's low genetic redundancy makes it an attractive model to unravel the complex processes of cell wall biosynthesis. This study adds to the growing knowledge of the cell wall structure of ...
doi.org
October 27, 2025 at 3:17 AM
M. polymorpha's low genetic redundancy makes it an attractive model to investigate cell wall biosynthesis. Hee Sung Kang, John Bowman and co-authors add to the growing knowledge of the cell wall structure of Marchantia across different life stages. doi.org/10.1111/tpj....
What influences nest failure in purple crowned fairy wrens in riparian habitat in tropical savannahs? Ian Hoppe,
@AP_BirdBehavEco and co-authors find good habitat and group living important doi.org/10.1111/1365...
@AP_BirdBehavEco and co-authors find good habitat and group living important doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Good habitat and group living mitigate nest failure from predation and flooding in a riparian bird
Riparian ecosystems in tropical Savannas are important biodiversity refuges from current and future hot and dry conditions. Poor management of fire and grazing reduce habitat quality and we show that...
doi.org
October 27, 2025 at 3:01 AM
What influences nest failure in purple crowned fairy wrens in riparian habitat in tropical savannahs? Ian Hoppe,
@AP_BirdBehavEco and co-authors find good habitat and group living important doi.org/10.1111/1365...
@AP_BirdBehavEco and co-authors find good habitat and group living important doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Reposted by School of Biological Sciences, Monash @MonashBiol
Speedy snakes! Our new study on high-speed kinematics of strikes in venomous snakes url: journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/... @monashbiol.bsky.social
Kinematics of strikes in venomous snakes
Highlighted Article: Comparison of prey strikes of 36 venomous snake species using high-speed 3D kinematical analysis shows vipers are often faster than elapid snakes, with highest strike velocities i...
journals.biologists.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Speedy snakes! Our new study on high-speed kinematics of strikes in venomous snakes url: journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/... @monashbiol.bsky.social
Reposted by School of Biological Sciences, Monash @MonashBiol
Full speed snake strikes - faster than the blink of an eye! From our new paper in @jexpbiol.bsky.social @monashbiol.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Full speed snake strikes - faster than the blink of an eye! From our new paper in @jexpbiol.bsky.social @monashbiol.bsky.social
Reposted by School of Biological Sciences, Monash @MonashBiol
How do we capture fast and furious snake bites? High-speed video with 3D reconstruction, all at 1000 frames per second! @monashbiol.bsky.social @jexpbiol.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 10:50 PM
How do we capture fast and furious snake bites? High-speed video with 3D reconstruction, all at 1000 frames per second! @monashbiol.bsky.social @jexpbiol.bsky.social
How similar are the vocalizations produced by birds that host brood parasites to communicate threat? William Feeney,
Niki Teunissen and coauthors found sound production in the correct context is learned but hearing it elicits an innate response. rdcu.be/eMPjE
Niki Teunissen and coauthors found sound production in the correct context is learned but hearing it elicits an innate response. rdcu.be/eMPjE
Learned use of an innate sound-meaning association in birds
Nature Ecology & Evolution - Over 20 species of geographically and phylogenetically diverse bird species produce convergent whining vocalizations towards their respective brood parasites. Model...
rdcu.be
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 AM
How similar are the vocalizations produced by birds that host brood parasites to communicate threat? William Feeney,
Niki Teunissen and coauthors found sound production in the correct context is learned but hearing it elicits an innate response. rdcu.be/eMPjE
Niki Teunissen and coauthors found sound production in the correct context is learned but hearing it elicits an innate response. rdcu.be/eMPjE
Other Effective Based Conservation Measures are important contributors to our global conservation targets, but how are they assessed?
@Carly_N_Cook and co-authors have uncovered some significant issues. doi.org/10.1111/conl...
@Carly_N_Cook and co-authors have uncovered some significant issues. doi.org/10.1111/conl...
October 10, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Other Effective Based Conservation Measures are important contributors to our global conservation targets, but how are they assessed?
@Carly_N_Cook and co-authors have uncovered some significant issues. doi.org/10.1111/conl...
@Carly_N_Cook and co-authors have uncovered some significant issues. doi.org/10.1111/conl...
Russell Woodford and co-authors find an essential role of PGR5 in enabling efficient C4 photosynthesis under fluctuating light by regulating photosynthetic control and energy-dependent non-photochemical quenching. doi.org/10.1093/plph...
October 10, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Russell Woodford and co-authors find an essential role of PGR5 in enabling efficient C4 photosynthesis under fluctuating light by regulating photosynthetic control and energy-dependent non-photochemical quenching. doi.org/10.1093/plph...
RNA splicing is a critical gene regulatory process but what mechanisms allow genetic variation to affect RNA splicing and disease? Craig Dent et al. present a basic logical framework that explains most splice-site choice across eukaryotic organisms. rdcu.be/eKn4z
A basic framework to explain splice-site choice in eukaryotes
Nature Communications - RNA splicing is an important mechanism for gene regulation. Here, the authors present a core logic that links sequence variation and splice-site choice across eukaryotes.
rdcu.be
October 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
RNA splicing is a critical gene regulatory process but what mechanisms allow genetic variation to affect RNA splicing and disease? Craig Dent et al. present a basic logical framework that explains most splice-site choice across eukaryotic organisms. rdcu.be/eKn4z
Jack Manera and co-authors investigate the impacts of boat noise pollution on the 5 behavioural interactions between two susceptible marine taxa: fish and crustaceans. They found different boat noises affect the taxa differently. doi.org/10.1093/behe... @bbmwong.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Jack Manera and co-authors investigate the impacts of boat noise pollution on the 5 behavioural interactions between two susceptible marine taxa: fish and crustaceans. They found different boat noises affect the taxa differently. doi.org/10.1093/behe... @bbmwong.bsky.social
Can drones play a role in invasive rodent eradication programs? Donal Smith and co-authors report on six drone-assisted campaigns across five Pacific nations, demonstrating successful rodent eradications despite technical challenges doi.org/10.1111/csp2...
Drones: Emergence of a transformative technology for island rodent eradications
Drones have emerged as a potentially powerful tool to address an ongoing need for alternative rodent eradication solutions on remote islands. This potential has now been demonstrated in a diverse set...
doi.org
October 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Can drones play a role in invasive rodent eradication programs? Donal Smith and co-authors report on six drone-assisted campaigns across five Pacific nations, demonstrating successful rodent eradications despite technical challenges doi.org/10.1111/csp2...
Can phage therapy be a frontline antimicrobial solution for The Alfred Hospital’s ECC outbreak? Dinesh Subedi and co-authors report on the development of a phage cocktail and a therapeutic-grade product, ready for clinical use. rdcu.be/eKnWw
October 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Can phage therapy be a frontline antimicrobial solution for The Alfred Hospital’s ECC outbreak? Dinesh Subedi and co-authors report on the development of a phage cocktail and a therapeutic-grade product, ready for clinical use. rdcu.be/eKnWw
Emily Belcher and co-authors show that embryos achieve robustness by tightly coordinating the relative timing of embryonic events, offering clues to how embryos may withstand contemporary climate change in marine systems. doi.org/10.1098/rsob...
Temperature and the progression of developmental milestones in embryogenesis of a marine ectotherm | Open Biology
Embryos are among the most temperature-sensitive life stages. To survive and produce
juvenile stages, embryos must be robust to changes in temperature that also change
development time profoundly. Yet...
doi.org
October 10, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Emily Belcher and co-authors show that embryos achieve robustness by tightly coordinating the relative timing of embryonic events, offering clues to how embryos may withstand contemporary climate change in marine systems. doi.org/10.1098/rsob...
Bryophytes are small and simple in structure and yet thrive in a large variety of environments. A recent pangenomic analysis revealed the enormous diversity of gene families that bryophytes possess, likely contributing to their success rdcu.be/eKmyb
Bryophytes hold a larger gene family space than vascular plants
Nature Genetics - A super-pangenome analysis incorporating 123 newly sequenced bryophyte genomes reveals that bryophytes exhibit a larger number of unique and lineage-specific gene families than...
rdcu.be
October 10, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Bryophytes are small and simple in structure and yet thrive in a large variety of environments. A recent pangenomic analysis revealed the enormous diversity of gene families that bryophytes possess, likely contributing to their success rdcu.be/eKmyb
How can we support Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs)? Carly Cook and colleagues identified a clear need to resolve what is required for sites to demonstrate they meet the definition of an OECM
DOI: 10.1111/cobi.70148
DOI: 10.1111/cobi.70148
September 25, 2025 at 5:04 AM
How can we support Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs)? Carly Cook and colleagues identified a clear need to resolve what is required for sites to demonstrate they meet the definition of an OECM
DOI: 10.1111/cobi.70148
DOI: 10.1111/cobi.70148
Teck-Phui Chua and colleagues investigate the impact of individual mutations on antibiotic resistance through selection of antibiotic-resistant mutants in vitro.
doi.org/10.1093/jac/...
doi.org/10.1093/jac/...
In vitro evolution provides insights into mechanisms of Mycoplasma genitalium resistance to moxifloxacin
AbstractBackground. Current knowledge of Mycoplasma genitalium fluoroquinolone resistance is based on sequence analyses of clinical samples, an approach wi
doi.org
September 25, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Teck-Phui Chua and colleagues investigate the impact of individual mutations on antibiotic resistance through selection of antibiotic-resistant mutants in vitro.
doi.org/10.1093/jac/...
doi.org/10.1093/jac/...
How does herbivory, with and without nutrient enrichment, influenced litter decomposition of a standard leaf litter substrate? Adrienne Keller et al found no interactive effect of nutrient supply and herbivory on aboveground litter decomposition rates
rdcu.be/eH4r2
rdcu.be/eH4r2
Effects of elevated nutrient supply on litter decomposition are robust to impacts of mammalian herbivores across diverse grasslands
rdcu.be
September 25, 2025 at 4:31 AM
How does herbivory, with and without nutrient enrichment, influenced litter decomposition of a standard leaf litter substrate? Adrienne Keller et al found no interactive effect of nutrient supply and herbivory on aboveground litter decomposition rates
rdcu.be/eH4r2
rdcu.be/eH4r2
Can we predict how Dengue fever will spread as repeated heatwaves become the norm? Suk Lan Sur and colleagues test the response of mosquitoes, dengue virus and the biological control agent Wolbachia to repeated heat exposures.
doi.org/10.1128/msph...
doi.org/10.1128/msph...
September 25, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Can we predict how Dengue fever will spread as repeated heatwaves become the norm? Suk Lan Sur and colleagues test the response of mosquitoes, dengue virus and the biological control agent Wolbachia to repeated heat exposures.
doi.org/10.1128/msph...
doi.org/10.1128/msph...
Reposted by School of Biological Sciences, Monash @MonashBiol
It has been such a joy hosting @odedberger-tal.bsky.social for the past year in our lab here at @monashbiol.bsky.social. Will miss the science discussions, chats about global politics and, of course, eating together.🙏
September 19, 2025 at 12:01 PM
It has been such a joy hosting @odedberger-tal.bsky.social for the past year in our lab here at @monashbiol.bsky.social. Will miss the science discussions, chats about global politics and, of course, eating together.🙏