Rob Knell
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robknell.bsky.social
Rob Knell
@robknell.bsky.social
1.7K followers 870 following 470 posts
Evolutionary ecologist working on, amongst other things, mating systems and adaptation. Knows enough stats to be dangerous and inflicts R on the innocent. Takes photos of animals. Also running/triathlon/technical diving.
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robknell.bsky.social
Rob Knell @robknell.bsky.social · Dec 15
#Biostatistics R package: interactive learnr tutorials on statistics ranging from frequency distributions to model selection. Videos, text explanations, quizzes and coding exercises. cran.r-project.org/web/packages...
Biostatistics vignette
cran.r-project.org
Reposted by Rob Knell
tetzoo.bsky.social
That sexual selection is one of the primary drivers in evolution is well established. Studies of Mesozoic #dinosaurs and #pterosaurs, however, have been dominated by the view that the variation, extravagance and diversity seen in these animals is not due to the pressures of sexual selection, but...
February 13, 2026 at 10:16 AM
robknell.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #DivingForFood so here are some plunge diving gannets from the North Sea in 2025. Note the upper bird in image 2 has a fishhook embedded in its wing and is trailing fishing line #birds #ukbirds #seabirds
A gannet diving across the frame upper right to lower left. The sea behind is blue-green. The bird has not yet completely folded its wings. Two gannet diving upper left to lower right into a grey sea. The lower bird is mostly in the water, the upper bird is about to enter the water. The upper bird has a fishhook embedded in its wing and fishing line trailing from it. A gannet diving across the frame upper right to lower left. The sea behind is blue-green. The very tip of the bird's beak has just entered the water. A head-on picture of a plunge diving gannet at the moment the tip of its beak touches the water.
February 13, 2026 at 1:32 PM
robknell.bsky.social
Speaking as someone who was involved in the sexual selection argument referred to here, along with @tetzoo.bsky.social and @davehone.bsky.social, I reckon Horner got thoroughly and convincingly panned. One of my main takeaways was how little actual biology some of these senior palaeo guys know... 🧪
nataliajagielska.bsky.social Natalia Jagielska (娜塔莉) @nataliajagielska.bsky.social · 3d
For people outside of paleontology:

This senior paleontologist, who married a 19-year-old, visited a convicted pedophile in 2012 & 2016. Is beefing over a conference argument from 13 years ago, angry because he was banned from a family-friendly event across the Atlantic. The level of petty.
Jack Horner Facebook post from 12 Feb. So, while I'm being investigated by SVP, why don't you outraged paleo-people get back to doing some factual science, using the scientific method. You seem to have forgotten how that works, you know, using actual evidence? For Darren, I think this is essential, as I get the impression from his DinoCon disinvite, he's still cheesed off from Kevin and I pummeling him over the whole Darwin sexual selection argument back in 2013. But, I do thank you Darren, for weeding out the invasive nuisances from my social media platforms, I was curious as to how I was going to do that on my own.
February 12, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Reposted by Rob Knell
tetzoo.bsky.social
Why this new 'spiny dragon' dinosaur found in China is such a huge deal ... a new article at Discover Wildlife www.discoverwildlife.com/dinosaurs/ha... #dinosaurs
Why this new 'spiny dragon' dinosaur found in China is such a huge deal | Discover Wildlife
The Iguanodon-like dinosaur had a covering of hollow spikes, according to new research.
www.discoverwildlife.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:56 AM
robknell.bsky.social
Last week the cliffs were empty. Now the gannets and guillemots are back at @rspb.bsky.social Bempton Cliffs. I declare ornithological spring to have started. #birds #ukbirds #ukwildlife #seabirds
A cliff with many black guillemots lined up on the ledges A gannet sitting on rocks with the sea behind.
February 8, 2026 at 8:25 PM
robknell.bsky.social
Female kestrel with her unfortunate breakfast from @rspb.bsky.social Bempton Cliffs this morning. No gannets on the cliffs yet but quite a few lurking offshore. It feels like the whole place is waiting... #birds #ukbirds #ukwildlife
A female kestrel flying right to left with her wings raised. She is holding an unfortunate vole in her yellow feet A female kestrel flying right to left with her wings roughly horizontal, making the red-brown tops of the wings with black tips visible. She is holding an unfortunate vole in her yellow feet
January 31, 2026 at 4:16 PM
robknell.bsky.social
Have always been a keen user of the em-dash, now I'm using it even more and imagining people being confused as to whether I've used ChatGPT to generate a three line email. #AI #Slop
January 29, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
brucespringsteen.net
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
robknell.bsky.social
Remember when people were saying that preprint servers would make journals irrelevant? 🧪
ArXiv preprint server clamps down on AI slop
First-time posters to venerable platform now need an endorsement from an established author
www.science.org
January 28, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
plashingvole.bsky.social
Sheffield merely the latest university to claim that legally withdrawing your labour should actually be postponing your labour, and punishing people further. Here’s how strikes work:
1. You legally stop working for a period of time. You don’t get paid.
2. Win or lose you go back to work.
markpendleton.bsky.social Mark Pendleton @markpendleton.bsky.social · 26d
Well that’s me locked out. No pay for the foreseeable future, all because I refuse to reschedule lost teaching, for which I have already lost pay as part of the strike. Please donate to support @sheffielducu.bsky.social members like me at www.gofundme.com/f/heubvb-sup...
Screenshot of email that reads: “This status will remain in place until the University receives notification that you are no longer participating in that action. During this period, any work undertaken will be regarded as voluntary.”
January 19, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
patrick-kennedy.bsky.social
POSTDOC ALERT🚨

Two exciting social evolution postdoc positions live today!

We're looking for two excellent field biologists. Join us to explore the evolution of sociality in wasps across Africa. Apply by 11th January.

Collaboration with
@dustinrubenstein.com

@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
December 12, 2025 at 8:58 PM
robknell.bsky.social
Even Springer Nature can get things right on occasion. 🧪 #Dinosaurs #Nanotyrannus

www.instagram.com/reels/DSr-mP...
Nature on Instagram: "Join the Nature Podcast in celebrating some of the biggest stories in science this year through our festive songs.⁠ ⁠ Research uncovered that Nanotyrannus was actually its own sp...
10K likes, 159 comments - nature_the_journal on December 25, 2025: "Join the Nature Podcast in celebrating some of the biggest stories in science this year through our festive songs.⁠ ⁠ Research uncov...
www.instagram.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:05 AM
robknell.bsky.social
Marsh harriers from Blacktoft Sands on Sunday. It was absolutely bloody freezing in the hide. #birds #ukbirds #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography.
Two marsh harriers in the sky, one is flying upwards towards the other with its talons forward as though it wants to grab it. A male and female marsh harrier in the sky with the clouds as background. The male is on its side with wings outstretched. A female marsh harrier dropping into a sea of reeds (Phragmites).
January 6, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
xcsci.bsky.social
In the foothills of the western Alps in southeastern France, horned alpine ibex roam the limestone cliffs ... a region once home to thriving populations of wild horses, bison, roe deer, gray wolves, Eurasian lynx, and four species of vultures

news.mongabay.com/2025/11/fran...

#rewilding
France’s largest rewilding project takes root in the Dauphiné Alps
In the foothills of the western Alps in southeastern France, horned alpine ibex roam the limestone cliffs of a smaller mountain range known as the Dauphiné Alps, a region once home to thriving populat...
news.mongabay.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Reposted by Rob Knell
thomasmacgillavry.bsky.social
As an early Christmas gift, @journal-evo.bsky.social accepted @kenstoyama.bsky.social and my paper on macroevolutionary patterns of ornament evolution in birds of paradise! 🦚

Check it out here:
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
Allometry, sexual dimorphism, and sexual trait elaboration in the birds of paradise
Abstract. Sexually selected traits include not only some of the most elaborate phenotypes in nature, but also some of the most diverse and sexually dimorph
academic.oup.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
jeffdean-uga.bsky.social
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
'After 200 years, we're seeing this species again': The lost birds making a comeback in the Galapagos Islands
Freed from the threat of invasive predators, Galapagos birds are performing astonishing feats of return and innovation – 200 years after Charles Darwin visited the archipelago.
www.bbc.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
robknell.bsky.social
I took a lot of photos in 2025. I tried to get it down to a top 10 but that was a bit too difficult so I have a top 25. All taken in the UK or South Africa. #wildlife #wildlifephotgraphy #birds #ukbirds 1) Some birds from Tophill Low
Male marsh harrier flying with a large branch for nesting material against a blue sky. Female marsh harrier stooping, claws extended. Tawny owl in a tree looking at the viewer through some branches with a blue sky behind
December 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
evolodonata.ecoevo.social.ap.brid.gy
Come and join me and my colleagues at the Department of Biology, #LundUniversity in #sweden! We have am open position as Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Biodiversity.

Apply here no later than February 11 2026:

https://lu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:848749/type:job/where:4/apply:1
Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Biodiversity
The Department of Biology was established in 2010 through the merger of the Departments of Ecology, Cell and Organism Biology, Biological Undergraduate Education, and the Biological Museums. The depar
lu.varbi.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:58 PM
robknell.bsky.social
@qmul.bsky.social I know I’ve previously said I’m grateful for all the times the college has done something egregiously nasty and made me glad I decided to leave, but it’s been a few years now. You can stop, I’ll be fine.
qmucu.bsky.social QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · Dec 17
The Principal has been walking around tearing down Palestine posters and has been instructing managers & security to do so when he can't go on his little tour of campus himself.

This is chilling and discriminatory and must be challenged. Full motion: qmucu.org/2025/12/17/c... 🇵🇸
After weeks of renewed censorship of expression of solidarity with Palestine, the Branch adopted the below motion at a Branch Meeting on 16 December 2025. This branch notes The ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in the form of continuing attacks and the denial of aid, despite the agreement of a formal “ceasefire”; The continuing climate of repression against expressions of solidarity with Palestine, including targeting students and staff on university campuses. We also note the escalating targeting of expressions of solidarity with Palestine at Queen Mary, including the previous break in and forced removal of posters from the UCU branch office. The ongoing refusal of Queen Mary management to divest from complicit companies or to break research ties with Israeli universities and arms companies, as has been widely demanded by both staff and students; The recently announced policy in several academic Schools prohibiting the display of any and all material expressing solidarity with Palestine on academic office doors and windows; That this policy arose following direct pressure from the Principal, acting on unsubstantiated allegations that this material was antisemitic; The frequent ongoing removal of such material from office doors within and beyond those Schools; That this material included posters and stickers produced and circulated by UCU; Implicit and explicit threats of disciplinary action against colleagues who display material expressing solidarity with Palestine;
December 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
robknell.bsky.social
One of the techniques the students learn to use on our #Wildlife #Conservation #MSc field course in #SouthAfrica is camera trapping to estimate mammal biodiversity. Sometimes the videos are more interesting than other times #leopard @uniofhull.bsky.social
December 15, 2025 at 7:03 AM
robknell.bsky.social
Students on our ur #MSc #Wildlife #Conservation fieldcourse in the #KrugerNationalPark met these two fine fellows within about 10 minutes of each other @uniofhull.bsky.social #Wilddog #Lion #WildlifePhotography
An African Wild Dog looking left of the camera, background is green vegetation The head of a young male lion seen through some grass. It is raining and the lion's mane has a lot of water beaded up on it.
December 13, 2025 at 4:49 AM
robknell.bsky.social
A bit of scorpion hunting with a UV torch is always a good way to spend an evening. #HullWildlifeConservation #MSc #Wildlife #Conservation #Arachnid
A photo of a scorpion taken under UV light. The background is dark blue but the scorpion is flourescing bright turquiose
December 13, 2025 at 4:44 AM
robknell.bsky.social
Onthophagus rangifer, one of the most extraordinary horned dung beetles you might ever see. From a baited pitfall trap near Skukuza on our #MSc #Wildlife #Conservation field course in the #Kruger park. #HullWildlifeConservation #insects #coleoptera #wildlifephotography @uniofhull.bsky.social
A photo of a beetle standing in front of a green background. The beetle's head and thorax are bright metallic green and he has two horns, almost as long as his body, arising from his head and sloping backwards.
December 10, 2025 at 5:10 AM
robknell.bsky.social
Students on our #Msc #Wildlife #Conservation learning how elephants alter biodiversity and tree cover in the #krugernationalpark #HullWildlifeConservation. Exclusion experiments tell us how herbivores affect ecological comunities. When the herbivores are 🐘 you need serious gear to keep 'em out.
A group of students standing in front of a large electrified fence. A SANParks scientist holding a rifle is talking to them. The vegetation behind the fence is visibly higher than that in front.
December 9, 2025 at 5:20 AM