Robin Heinen
@robinheinennl.bsky.social
Father of two | Husband | Dr | Ecologist | Research Associate @ TUM | Insects, plants and microbes | Artificial Light At Night | Sen. Editor @ Annals of Applied Biology & Assoc. Editor @ Functional Ecology | Reptile & Bird enthusiast
Pinned
www.sciencedirect.com
I will probably be posting about this one a lot in the coming weeks: our special issue on ALAN / light pollution in Biological Conservation is now open for submissions! With @gkalinkat.bsky.social, Jacqueline Degen, and Franz Hölker.
www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
Reposted by Robin Heinen
Good environmental news can happen!
Fishing ban halts seven decades of biodiversity decline in the Yangtze River | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A collaboration with Yushun Chen, Seb Brosse, @sjcfishy.bsky.social and other! @uwenvironment.bsky.social @uwsafs.bsky.social
A collaboration with Yushun Chen, Seb Brosse, @sjcfishy.bsky.social and other! @uwenvironment.bsky.social @uwsafs.bsky.social
Fishing ban halts seven decades of biodiversity decline in the Yangtze River
China’s rapid economic development has triggered an unparalleled freshwater biodiversity crisis since the 1950s. To restore fisheries resources, the Yangtze River Fishing Ban was implemented in 2021 t...
www.science.org
February 15, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Good environmental news can happen!
This morning I went birding with the kids. We didn't see too many birds close by, because my kids were exploring aloud. Nevertheless, a few #birds were shot.
February 14, 2026 at 8:17 PM
This morning I went birding with the kids. We didn't see too many birds close by, because my kids were exploring aloud. Nevertheless, a few #birds were shot.
I recently reviewed a nice paper by Delamore et al on the impact of sequential herbivory, and was asked to write a commentary. Not something I do so often, but sure! Here's some thoughts on that paper. Make sure to read the original work as well, I think it will be well-received.
Eaten alive: how plants cope with sequential herbivory
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#Commentary by Heinen highlighting the recent work by Delamore et al.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@robinheinennl.bsky.social
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#Commentary by Heinen highlighting the recent work by Delamore et al.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@robinheinennl.bsky.social
February 14, 2026 at 8:34 AM
I recently reviewed a nice paper by Delamore et al on the impact of sequential herbivory, and was asked to write a commentary. Not something I do so often, but sure! Here's some thoughts on that paper. Make sure to read the original work as well, I think it will be well-received.
Reposted by Robin Heinen
📣Apply to join us an Associate Editor!📣
We are seeking editors with expertise in:
🌱Below-ground processes
🔥Fire ecology
🐦️Animal ecophysiology
🌊Marine and freshwater ecology
🐝Pollination networks
And more!
See here for more info👇️
buff.ly/MzIXj6U
🧪🌍️
We are seeking editors with expertise in:
🌱Below-ground processes
🔥Fire ecology
🐦️Animal ecophysiology
🌊Marine and freshwater ecology
🐝Pollination networks
And more!
See here for more info👇️
buff.ly/MzIXj6U
🧪🌍️
February 13, 2026 at 2:15 PM
📣Apply to join us an Associate Editor!📣
We are seeking editors with expertise in:
🌱Below-ground processes
🔥Fire ecology
🐦️Animal ecophysiology
🌊Marine and freshwater ecology
🐝Pollination networks
And more!
See here for more info👇️
buff.ly/MzIXj6U
🧪🌍️
We are seeking editors with expertise in:
🌱Below-ground processes
🔥Fire ecology
🐦️Animal ecophysiology
🌊Marine and freshwater ecology
🐝Pollination networks
And more!
See here for more info👇️
buff.ly/MzIXj6U
🧪🌍️
Reposted by Robin Heinen
“I don't see any plan, any strategy, any end game,” says Pat Parenteau, a professor of environmental law at the University of Vermont. “I don't see anything from this administration, just fuck everything up as much as you can. You can print that.”
Sounds accurate to me.
Sounds accurate to me.
The Fight Over US Climate Rules Is Just Beginning
As the EPA moves to roll back the endangerment finding, which allows it to regulate greenhouse gases, experts predict uncertainty for business and a protracted legal fight.
www.wired.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:53 PM
“I don't see any plan, any strategy, any end game,” says Pat Parenteau, a professor of environmental law at the University of Vermont. “I don't see anything from this administration, just fuck everything up as much as you can. You can print that.”
Sounds accurate to me.
Sounds accurate to me.
Reposted by Robin Heinen
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_i...
It's interesting to look at how Epstein directly, via hundreds of thousands of emails with his pedo buddies in academia, made US academia incredibly hostile to women for *decades*.
How many Emma Noethers never were, even before any of it was put into legislation?
It's interesting to look at how Epstein directly, via hundreds of thousands of emails with his pedo buddies in academia, made US academia incredibly hostile to women for *decades*.
How many Emma Noethers never were, even before any of it was put into legislation?
February 13, 2026 at 11:29 AM
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_i...
It's interesting to look at how Epstein directly, via hundreds of thousands of emails with his pedo buddies in academia, made US academia incredibly hostile to women for *decades*.
How many Emma Noethers never were, even before any of it was put into legislation?
It's interesting to look at how Epstein directly, via hundreds of thousands of emails with his pedo buddies in academia, made US academia incredibly hostile to women for *decades*.
How many Emma Noethers never were, even before any of it was put into legislation?
Reposted by Robin Heinen
“I am languid & bedeviled & hate writing & hate everybody.” — Charles Darwin
Same dude, same 😔
Same dude, same 😔
Happy birthday to one of my favourite haters, Charles Darwin
February 12, 2026 at 8:04 PM
“I am languid & bedeviled & hate writing & hate everybody.” — Charles Darwin
Same dude, same 😔
Same dude, same 😔
Reposted by Robin Heinen
We want to change the world but not too much 🥰
Don't ask about Palestine at the Berlinale!
Here's my question to the jury about selective solidarity of the film festival with the people of Iran and Ukraine vs. Palestinians. Wim Wenders (jury president) actually said: "We have to stay out of politics" #Berlinale2026
Here's my question to the jury about selective solidarity of the film festival with the people of Iran and Ukraine vs. Palestinians. Wim Wenders (jury president) actually said: "We have to stay out of politics" #Berlinale2026
February 12, 2026 at 2:04 PM
We want to change the world but not too much 🥰
February 11, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Does anyone have any experience with applications that can 'bulk delete' old posts? I don't really see a need for most posts older than a week to exist on here. But I really don't feel like deleting stuff one by one, so to say...
February 10, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Does anyone have any experience with applications that can 'bulk delete' old posts? I don't really see a need for most posts older than a week to exist on here. But I really don't feel like deleting stuff one by one, so to say...
Reposted by Robin Heinen
A few more days left to apply for our postdoc position on insect community ecology.
We are currently looking for a postdoctoral researcher with expertise in community ecology to work in the Arthropods Core Project of the Biodiversity Exploratories @bexplo.bsky.social
Reposting is much appreciated for widest reach! Thanks.
More information here:
www.lss.ls.tum.de/fileadmin/w0...
Reposting is much appreciated for widest reach! Thanks.
More information here:
www.lss.ls.tum.de/fileadmin/w0...
www.lss.ls.tum.de
February 10, 2026 at 8:29 AM
A few more days left to apply for our postdoc position on insect community ecology.
I am quite sure that thie special issue could be relevant to quite a few in my circles here on BSky.
📣 Call for Papers 📣
RECROP: Plant Adaptations to Extreme Environments
Do you work on:
🌽 Crop stress resilience
🧂 Salinity 💧 Drought 🌡️ Heat
🦠 Plant-microbe interactions in extreme environments
🧪 Molecular, epigenetic & physiological mechanisms
Submit your paper now:
buff.ly/qJqmlaP
#plantscience
RECROP: Plant Adaptations to Extreme Environments
Do you work on:
🌽 Crop stress resilience
🧂 Salinity 💧 Drought 🌡️ Heat
🦠 Plant-microbe interactions in extreme environments
🧪 Molecular, epigenetic & physiological mechanisms
Submit your paper now:
buff.ly/qJqmlaP
#plantscience
February 10, 2026 at 11:09 AM
I am quite sure that thie special issue could be relevant to quite a few in my circles here on BSky.
I have been struggling with a format for my blog, after I killed my ~1000 or so posts a while back. I think I will try some different things, because I miss the writing.
robinheinen.com/2026/02/09/u...
robinheinen.com/2026/02/09/u...
Uncomplicated beauty
I haven’t written a blog post in a long time. There are many excuses for this, none of which have anything to do with how much I love writing. There are various other reasons, and I am not su…
robinheinen.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:02 PM
I have been struggling with a format for my blog, after I killed my ~1000 or so posts a while back. I think I will try some different things, because I miss the writing.
robinheinen.com/2026/02/09/u...
robinheinen.com/2026/02/09/u...
I took a short lunch stroll today in the bird reserve across the street. Cold and gloomy, and aside from a murder of crows, not a lot going on. And then I saw this beauty. Kestrels are of course extremely common. Almost to the extent that you forget to look. But then when you look... Amazing birds!
February 9, 2026 at 6:49 PM
I took a short lunch stroll today in the bird reserve across the street. Cold and gloomy, and aside from a murder of crows, not a lot going on. And then I saw this beauty. Kestrels are of course extremely common. Almost to the extent that you forget to look. But then when you look... Amazing birds!
Reposted by Robin Heinen
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this female peregrine falcon shake
The way she slowly grows in to a falcorb is mesmerizing 🫨
This video is NOT in slow motion!
Peregrine Falcon 📷🌿🪶
The way she slowly grows in to a falcorb is mesmerizing 🫨
This video is NOT in slow motion!
Peregrine Falcon 📷🌿🪶
February 8, 2026 at 3:29 AM
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this female peregrine falcon shake
The way she slowly grows in to a falcorb is mesmerizing 🫨
This video is NOT in slow motion!
Peregrine Falcon 📷🌿🪶
The way she slowly grows in to a falcorb is mesmerizing 🫨
This video is NOT in slow motion!
Peregrine Falcon 📷🌿🪶
Reposted by Robin Heinen
McCoy's elf skink from northeastern Australia. Look at those stubby little arms, likely an adaptation to its burrowing lifestyle.
February 7, 2026 at 6:18 PM
McCoy's elf skink from northeastern Australia. Look at those stubby little arms, likely an adaptation to its burrowing lifestyle.
Some birds seen in the late afternoon today.
February 6, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Some birds seen in the late afternoon today.
A pretty cool app to study (US) bird voices. Having the sonograms and sounds helps. Not having North American birds around me does not. Nevertheless I like it when people make cool things!
Thank you for the explanation! Maybe you already saw it in the ^^ original post (or maybe I buried the lede!)... but did you check out the bird sound learning app I made? chipnotes.app We might be saying the same thing, since I too was struggling 2 learn bird sounds - so I created something 2 help!
ChipNotes!
Your study guide to bird songs - learn to identify birds by their sounds
chipnotes.app
February 5, 2026 at 8:02 PM
A pretty cool app to study (US) bird voices. Having the sonograms and sounds helps. Not having North American birds around me does not. Nevertheless I like it when people make cool things!
Yes to this: please just click the decline link if you don't have time. And if you don't have time to review, perhaps make some time every now and then...? It should be part of your duty if you're a publishing scientist as you relied on others' efforts. Pay it forward!
After four months, the journal has not found a single reviewer for my PhD student's manuscript. The academic peer review system is broken.
I think we all should:
1. Review three papers for every one that we submit.
2. Promptly declined to review a paper when the request arrives.
#AcademicChatter
I think we all should:
1. Review three papers for every one that we submit.
2. Promptly declined to review a paper when the request arrives.
#AcademicChatter
February 5, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Yes to this: please just click the decline link if you don't have time. And if you don't have time to review, perhaps make some time every now and then...? It should be part of your duty if you're a publishing scientist as you relied on others' efforts. Pay it forward!
This is a pretty good start if you're looking for all the legitimate reasons not to use genAI. IMO it's mostly bloody awful.
My main reason is that I think there's value and growth in 'the grind,' and, yes, that includes the stupid things.
Save this one for later and don't say nobody warned you.
My main reason is that I think there's value and growth in 'the grind,' and, yes, that includes the stupid things.
Save this one for later and don't say nobody warned you.
Guess who is once again displaying their ability to hyperfocus on being a hater?
It's me, I spent all evening writing my own compilation of all the reasons I think AI sucks so I can post it under genAI-made FB posts.
Work-in-progress, suggestions welcome!
www.skwinnicki.com/single-post/...
It's me, I spent all evening writing my own compilation of all the reasons I think AI sucks so I can post it under genAI-made FB posts.
Work-in-progress, suggestions welcome!
www.skwinnicki.com/single-post/...
February 5, 2026 at 7:18 PM
This is a pretty good start if you're looking for all the legitimate reasons not to use genAI. IMO it's mostly bloody awful.
My main reason is that I think there's value and growth in 'the grind,' and, yes, that includes the stupid things.
Save this one for later and don't say nobody warned you.
My main reason is that I think there's value and growth in 'the grind,' and, yes, that includes the stupid things.
Save this one for later and don't say nobody warned you.
Yesterday was my last lecture for the winter semester. I used part of my session to have colleagues showcase their Biodiversity work. This is always a fun session to share what we do in our chair, which is all biodiversity oriented, yet quite varied in angle and approach:
February 5, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Yesterday was my last lecture for the winter semester. I used part of my session to have colleagues showcase their Biodiversity work. This is always a fun session to share what we do in our chair, which is all biodiversity oriented, yet quite varied in angle and approach:
Reposted by Robin Heinen
Tuesday, we heard a very nice update on Laura Windorfer's work. She is modeling plant communities on variable building envelopes, in order to provide architects opportunities to select designs that are optimized for human- and biodiversity-oriented key performance indicators. Lovely results, Laura!
February 5, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Tuesday, we heard a very nice update on Laura Windorfer's work. She is modeling plant communities on variable building envelopes, in order to provide architects opportunities to select designs that are optimized for human- and biodiversity-oriented key performance indicators. Lovely results, Laura!
Reposted by Robin Heinen
Last week, Marlene Graf shared a story on how she used insect metabarcoding approaches to investigate the effects of mixing Douglas fir with native tree species on native insect communities. This story is part of her PhD in which she investigates broader biodiversity impacts of admixture.
February 5, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Last week, Marlene Graf shared a story on how she used insect metabarcoding approaches to investigate the effects of mixing Douglas fir with native tree species on native insect communities. This story is part of her PhD in which she investigates broader biodiversity impacts of admixture.