Nat Duffus
@natduffus.bsky.social
PhD student at University of Oxford investigating the ecological outcomes of Biodiversity Net Gain in England
she/her 🏳️🌈🏴
she/her 🏳️🌈🏴
Reposted by Nat Duffus
LGBTQ+ Journal Club is turning 1! 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈To celebrate, here's a bit about what we've been up to over the past year: a thread of interesting papers in queer biology (1/n) ⬇️🧵
November 11, 2025 at 11:54 AM
LGBTQ+ Journal Club is turning 1! 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈To celebrate, here's a bit about what we've been up to over the past year: a thread of interesting papers in queer biology (1/n) ⬇️🧵
Reposted by Nat Duffus
In our session this week, we will be joined by the amazing @penguinacho.bsky.social for a discussion on penguin sexuality and the documentary Animal Pride: Nature's Coming Out Story! 🐧💬 #QueerStem #QueerAcademia #GayPenguins
October 14, 2025 at 3:10 PM
In our session this week, we will be joined by the amazing @penguinacho.bsky.social for a discussion on penguin sexuality and the documentary Animal Pride: Nature's Coming Out Story! 🐧💬 #QueerStem #QueerAcademia #GayPenguins
Reposted by Nat Duffus
Hello bluesky! We are an LGBTQ+ Biology Journal Club at Uni of Oxford 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️. We are interested in topics relevant to queer ecology and amplifying queer voices in academia 🪲🌱.
For those in Oxford, we meet every 2 weeks - get in touch for more details! 🥳
For those in Oxford, we meet every 2 weeks - get in touch for more details! 🥳
October 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Hello bluesky! We are an LGBTQ+ Biology Journal Club at Uni of Oxford 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️. We are interested in topics relevant to queer ecology and amplifying queer voices in academia 🪲🌱.
For those in Oxford, we meet every 2 weeks - get in touch for more details! 🥳
For those in Oxford, we meet every 2 weeks - get in touch for more details! 🥳
Reposted by Nat Duffus
Wish I could say I was shocked, but here's the Labour government constraining the right to peaceful protest again...
'You can protest but only according to our rules. The rules are: you're not allowed to use any of the tactics that make protest effective.'
'You can protest but only according to our rules. The rules are: you're not allowed to use any of the tactics that make protest effective.'
NEW: Home Office announces planned new anti-protest powers, mainly aimed at pro-Gaza protests like those for Palestine Action. Police will be able to consider the "cumulative impact" of repeated protests and potentially order that they be relocated.
October 5, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Wish I could say I was shocked, but here's the Labour government constraining the right to peaceful protest again...
'You can protest but only according to our rules. The rules are: you're not allowed to use any of the tactics that make protest effective.'
'You can protest but only according to our rules. The rules are: you're not allowed to use any of the tactics that make protest effective.'
Reposted by Nat Duffus
New preprint alert! We DNA barcoded 95 thousand Ghanaian arthropods, more than doubling the number of BINs (a species proxy) available online from West Africa. In doing so we’ve released a huge amount of new data to scientists studying the region 🧪 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Characterising a species-rich and understudied tropical insect fauna using DNA barcoding
Background: West Africa has high biodiversity that is relatively understudied, especially for insects. Studies of West African arthropod diversity can therefore help address important questions regard...
www.biorxiv.org
October 2, 2025 at 7:47 AM
New preprint alert! We DNA barcoded 95 thousand Ghanaian arthropods, more than doubling the number of BINs (a species proxy) available online from West Africa. In doing so we’ve released a huge amount of new data to scientists studying the region 🧪 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Nat Duffus
Big Doughnutty News.
Just out in Nature: the all-new 2025 Doughnut. Transformed from a single-year snapshot to an annual global monitor of 21st century social & ecological thriving. Available to all in an open-access paper by @andrewlfanning.bsky.social and me. 🧵 1/
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Just out in Nature: the all-new 2025 Doughnut. Transformed from a single-year snapshot to an annual global monitor of 21st century social & ecological thriving. Available to all in an open-access paper by @andrewlfanning.bsky.social and me. 🧵 1/
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
October 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Big Doughnutty News.
Just out in Nature: the all-new 2025 Doughnut. Transformed from a single-year snapshot to an annual global monitor of 21st century social & ecological thriving. Available to all in an open-access paper by @andrewlfanning.bsky.social and me. 🧵 1/
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Just out in Nature: the all-new 2025 Doughnut. Transformed from a single-year snapshot to an annual global monitor of 21st century social & ecological thriving. Available to all in an open-access paper by @andrewlfanning.bsky.social and me. 🧵 1/
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Nat Duffus
🚨Women are central to tropical wild meat systems, yet too often overlooked🚨
A new paper led by @jasminwillis.bsky.social, Dr Lauren Coad, @orchiddelirium.bsky.social & @ejmilnergulland.bsky.social reviewed 334 studies across 54 countries, finding women occupy 36 roles, from harvesting to trade.
A new paper led by @jasminwillis.bsky.social, Dr Lauren Coad, @orchiddelirium.bsky.social & @ejmilnergulland.bsky.social reviewed 334 studies across 54 countries, finding women occupy 36 roles, from harvesting to trade.
September 30, 2025 at 10:21 AM
🚨Women are central to tropical wild meat systems, yet too often overlooked🚨
A new paper led by @jasminwillis.bsky.social, Dr Lauren Coad, @orchiddelirium.bsky.social & @ejmilnergulland.bsky.social reviewed 334 studies across 54 countries, finding women occupy 36 roles, from harvesting to trade.
A new paper led by @jasminwillis.bsky.social, Dr Lauren Coad, @orchiddelirium.bsky.social & @ejmilnergulland.bsky.social reviewed 334 studies across 54 countries, finding women occupy 36 roles, from harvesting to trade.
Reposted by Nat Duffus
"Today, we clear a soccer field’s worth of tropical forest every six seconds, a loss dramatically worsened by humanity’s growing hunger for meat"
Wean ourselves off meat now, or the switch to a Pliocene climate that's locked in will do it for us
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Wean ourselves off meat now, or the switch to a Pliocene climate that's locked in will do it for us
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Meat is a leading emissions source – but few outlets report on it, analysis finds
Sentient Media reveals less than 4% of climate news stories mention animal agriculture as source of carbon emissions
www.theguardian.com
September 27, 2025 at 11:53 AM
"Today, we clear a soccer field’s worth of tropical forest every six seconds, a loss dramatically worsened by humanity’s growing hunger for meat"
Wean ourselves off meat now, or the switch to a Pliocene climate that's locked in will do it for us
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Wean ourselves off meat now, or the switch to a Pliocene climate that's locked in will do it for us
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Nat Duffus
Police continue to mass arrest protestors for opposing genocide and the Palestine Action ban.
The day after the ban came into force, 29 were arrested. Last month, it was 500.
Today, over a thousand people are defying the unjust proscription of a domestic direct action group.
The day after the ban came into force, 29 were arrested. Last month, it was 500.
Today, over a thousand people are defying the unjust proscription of a domestic direct action group.
September 6, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Police continue to mass arrest protestors for opposing genocide and the Palestine Action ban.
The day after the ban came into force, 29 were arrested. Last month, it was 500.
Today, over a thousand people are defying the unjust proscription of a domestic direct action group.
The day after the ban came into force, 29 were arrested. Last month, it was 500.
Today, over a thousand people are defying the unjust proscription of a domestic direct action group.
Reposted by Nat Duffus
Cool new research by @e-ellis1.bsky.social Moths & hoverflies are more sensitive to urbanisation than bees, but urban trees boost moth species richness in UK cities. #teammoth 🌍 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
August 7, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Cool new research by @e-ellis1.bsky.social Moths & hoverflies are more sensitive to urbanisation than bees, but urban trees boost moth species richness in UK cities. #teammoth 🌍 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Reposted by Nat Duffus
Our upcoming Queer Ecology evening will be a real treat, with a special guided tour exploring the diversity of nature and its interpretation by scientists throughout history.
📍 Linnean Society
📆 6pm 25 September
🎟️ £15 (discounts for Members and concessions)
📍 Linnean Society
📆 6pm 25 September
🎟️ £15 (discounts for Members and concessions)
Queer Ecology Evening at the Linnean Society
A special guided tour exploring the diversity of nature and its interpretation by scientists throughout history.
buff.ly
August 4, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Our upcoming Queer Ecology evening will be a real treat, with a special guided tour exploring the diversity of nature and its interpretation by scientists throughout history.
📍 Linnean Society
📆 6pm 25 September
🎟️ £15 (discounts for Members and concessions)
📍 Linnean Society
📆 6pm 25 September
🎟️ £15 (discounts for Members and concessions)
Reposted by Nat Duffus
A romantic meeting of Wasp Spiders, Argiope bruennichi, at Thompson Common yesterday.
The male is much smaller than the big, stripy female.
They ended up going out to lunch afterwards, when he became the main course.
srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p...
#Spiders #UKWildlife
The male is much smaller than the big, stripy female.
They ended up going out to lunch afterwards, when he became the main course.
srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p...
#Spiders #UKWildlife
July 28, 2025 at 1:31 PM
A romantic meeting of Wasp Spiders, Argiope bruennichi, at Thompson Common yesterday.
The male is much smaller than the big, stripy female.
They ended up going out to lunch afterwards, when he became the main course.
srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p...
#Spiders #UKWildlife
The male is much smaller than the big, stripy female.
They ended up going out to lunch afterwards, when he became the main course.
srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p...
#Spiders #UKWildlife
Reposted by Nat Duffus
Congratulations to @natduffus.bsky.social, who has been commended in the @mplsoxford.bsky.social Impact Awards!
Nat has been recognised in the Early Career Policy Impact category for raising awareness of the ecological outcomes of Biodiversity Net Gain 👇
bit.ly/4eSmRZe
Nat has been recognised in the Early Career Policy Impact category for raising awareness of the ecological outcomes of Biodiversity Net Gain 👇
bit.ly/4eSmRZe
Natalie Duffus commended in MPLS Impact Awards 2025
bit.ly
July 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Congratulations to @natduffus.bsky.social, who has been commended in the @mplsoxford.bsky.social Impact Awards!
Nat has been recognised in the Early Career Policy Impact category for raising awareness of the ecological outcomes of Biodiversity Net Gain 👇
bit.ly/4eSmRZe
Nat has been recognised in the Early Career Policy Impact category for raising awareness of the ecological outcomes of Biodiversity Net Gain 👇
bit.ly/4eSmRZe
Having had time to digest the new BNG consultation, I am *astounded* at the proposed changes to the small sites metric (SSM). If the changes are implemented, the SSM could apply to developments up to 49 dwellings/1ha - affecting a lot of developments! 1/ consult.defra.gov.uk/defra-biodiv...
consult.defra.gov.uk
June 3, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Having had time to digest the new BNG consultation, I am *astounded* at the proposed changes to the small sites metric (SSM). If the changes are implemented, the SSM could apply to developments up to 49 dwellings/1ha - affecting a lot of developments! 1/ consult.defra.gov.uk/defra-biodiv...
Reposted by Nat Duffus
When warnings of Insectageddon were issued a few years ago, there was widespread denial. Less so now. It's devastating. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Half the tree of life’: ecologists’ horror as nature reserves are emptied of insects
A new point in history has been reached, entomologists say, as climate-led species’ collapse moves up the food chain even in supposedly protected regions free of pesticides
www.theguardian.com
June 3, 2025 at 9:12 AM
When warnings of Insectageddon were issued a few years ago, there was widespread denial. Less so now. It's devastating. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Very disappointing to see the govt not only cut funding for nature-friendly farming schemes but ALSO lay out a consultation on changes to BNG which would reduce the requirement for the majority of developments to compensate for their impacts on nature.
www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/governm...
www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/governm...
Government digs grave for wildlife | The Wildlife Trusts
New proposals on Biodiversity Net Gain from UK Government will harm whole communities so that a few can profit more.
www.wildlifetrusts.org
May 29, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Very disappointing to see the govt not only cut funding for nature-friendly farming schemes but ALSO lay out a consultation on changes to BNG which would reduce the requirement for the majority of developments to compensate for their impacts on nature.
www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/governm...
www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/governm...
Reposted by Nat Duffus
What part of nature emergency does the government not understand? These attacks on nature keep on coming.
In a biodiversity crisis, the Govt should be expanding the nature friendly farming programme, not cutting it.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
In a biodiversity crisis, the Govt should be expanding the nature friendly farming programme, not cutting it.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Fund for nature-friendly farming to be slashed in UK spending review
Exclusive: Defra sources say scheme, which pays farmers to protect nature, will be targeted at ‘small farms’
www.theguardian.com
May 28, 2025 at 5:05 PM
What part of nature emergency does the government not understand? These attacks on nature keep on coming.
In a biodiversity crisis, the Govt should be expanding the nature friendly farming programme, not cutting it.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
In a biodiversity crisis, the Govt should be expanding the nature friendly farming programme, not cutting it.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Nat Duffus
Labour promised to restore nature. ❌
Instead, their Planning Bill contains a licence to destroy it.
We offered solutions. We’re done waiting.
Part 3 of the Bill would gut the laws protecting our most precious habitats & species.
Without significant change, it must be scrapped.
Instead, their Planning Bill contains a licence to destroy it.
We offered solutions. We’re done waiting.
Part 3 of the Bill would gut the laws protecting our most precious habitats & species.
Without significant change, it must be scrapped.
May 23, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Labour promised to restore nature. ❌
Instead, their Planning Bill contains a licence to destroy it.
We offered solutions. We’re done waiting.
Part 3 of the Bill would gut the laws protecting our most precious habitats & species.
Without significant change, it must be scrapped.
Instead, their Planning Bill contains a licence to destroy it.
We offered solutions. We’re done waiting.
Part 3 of the Bill would gut the laws protecting our most precious habitats & species.
Without significant change, it must be scrapped.
Reposted by Nat Duffus
Congratulations to our wonderful colleague @natduffus.bsky.social who has been recognised as an unsung hero on the ENDS POWER LIST 2025 for her work on BNG and invertebrates 🐞 www.biodiversity.ox.ac.uk/research_sto...
May 23, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Congratulations to our wonderful colleague @natduffus.bsky.social who has been recognised as an unsung hero on the ENDS POWER LIST 2025 for her work on BNG and invertebrates 🐞 www.biodiversity.ox.ac.uk/research_sto...
Super honoured to have been recognised by the ENDS Power List 2025 for my work on Biodiversity Net Gain and invertebrates! 🪲🌱
www.endsreport.com/article/1918...
www.endsreport.com/article/1918...
Power List 2025: The UK’s 100 most impactful environmental professionals
www.endsreport.com
May 19, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Super honoured to have been recognised by the ENDS Power List 2025 for my work on Biodiversity Net Gain and invertebrates! 🪲🌱
www.endsreport.com/article/1918...
www.endsreport.com/article/1918...
Reposted by Nat Duffus
Dolphin Orgies, Intersex snails, Gay giraffes... Join award-winning drag king, Bi-Curious George, London’s most loveable nature boy, on a raucous romp through the animal kingdom as he shatters the heteronormative binaries through which we view the natural world.
oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/queer-...
oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/queer-...
Queer Planet
Join award-winning drag king, Bi-Curious George, London’s most loveable nature boy, on a raucous romp through the animal kingdom.
oumnh.ox.ac.uk
May 1, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Dolphin Orgies, Intersex snails, Gay giraffes... Join award-winning drag king, Bi-Curious George, London’s most loveable nature boy, on a raucous romp through the animal kingdom as he shatters the heteronormative binaries through which we view the natural world.
oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/queer-...
oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/queer-...
Reposted by Nat Duffus
This #earthday2025 we are thrilled to share some of the #Naturerecovery projects we have been working on with local partners in #Oxfordshire youtu.be/Yy1wRYRBtto
@ecioxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
@ecioxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
HERO short
YouTube video by Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery
youtu.be
April 22, 2025 at 11:46 AM
This #earthday2025 we are thrilled to share some of the #Naturerecovery projects we have been working on with local partners in #Oxfordshire youtu.be/Yy1wRYRBtto
@ecioxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
@ecioxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Nat Duffus
this was just 10 years ago. the uk was ranked highest on the rainbow europe map for LGBTQI+ rights at 86%. in 2024 the uk had plummeted to just under 52%
April 16, 2025 at 4:23 PM
this was just 10 years ago. the uk was ranked highest on the rainbow europe map for LGBTQI+ rights at 86%. in 2024 the uk had plummeted to just under 52%
Reposted by Nat Duffus
Threats to nature in Labour’s planning bill | Letter
Threats to nature in Labour’s planning bill | Letter
Letter: The government’s proposals lack the safeguards necessary to preserve key ecosystems, including chalk streams and woodlands, warns Prof EJ Milner-Gulland
www.theguardian.com
April 15, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Threats to nature in Labour’s planning bill | Letter
Reposted by Nat Duffus
“It’s like claiming to have brought Napoleon back from the dead by asking a short French man to wear his hat.”
A short piece in The Conversation by me on why “de-extinction” is nothing of the sort, and bad, bad conservation.
theconversation.com/why-de-extin...
A short piece in The Conversation by me on why “de-extinction” is nothing of the sort, and bad, bad conservation.
theconversation.com/why-de-extin...
Why ‘de-extinct’ dire wolves are a Trojan horse to hide humanity’s destruction of nature
Extinction is, for the time being, forever – and a symptom of our global economic system.
theconversation.com
April 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
“It’s like claiming to have brought Napoleon back from the dead by asking a short French man to wear his hat.”
A short piece in The Conversation by me on why “de-extinction” is nothing of the sort, and bad, bad conservation.
theconversation.com/why-de-extin...
A short piece in The Conversation by me on why “de-extinction” is nothing of the sort, and bad, bad conservation.
theconversation.com/why-de-extin...