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simondheyes.bsky.social
Simon Heyes
@simondheyes.bsky.social
1.6K followers 540 following 190 posts
Rare plants | drought and climate change | soil specialist plants | grassy ecosystems

PhD student @ La Trobe, Australia
He/Him

Fedi: https://ecoevo.social/@SimonDHeyes

Blog: https://sdheyes.wixsite.com/ecologyblog
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simondheyes.bsky.social
Simon Heyes @simondheyes.bsky.social · Oct 20
A few species I work on are very rare localised endemics numbering a few thousand. The marble daisy-bush grows on Silurian limestone and marble outcrops near the Nunniong plateau in East Gippsland, Vic. Grevillea iaspicula is only found around caves in Devonian limestone karst in at Wee Jasper, NSW.
Silurian limestone escarpment in the background forms distinct open vegetation. These are dominated by Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) and Limestone Pomaderris (Pomaderris oraria ssp. calcicola) Marble Daisy-bush (Olearia astroloba). The ray florets are purple with yellow disk florets. Leaves are lobed with dense stellate hairs that give them a grey appearance. Devonian limestone karst landscape around Wee Jasper and Tumut are dominated by sinkholes and caves. They support open woodland of Brachychiton. Grevillea iaspicula grows at only a few locations around Wee Jasper often on steep slopes near sinkholes and caves. It's threatened by overgrazing and hybridization with the widespread Grevillea rosmarinifolia. Flowers are cream and pink with a pink pollen presenter. Leaves are spathulate with a pungent (sharp) tip.
simondheyes.bsky.social
I've spent the last few weekends at an incredibly diverse grassland here in central Victoria looking at species richness in the long absence of fire (probably 20 yrs in some cases). It's a cracking grassland with a wonderful diversity of annuals we don't usually see anymore 🌱🌏
Grassland in the foreground with purple flowered chocolate lilies and trees and shrubs in the background Large spreading tree in a grassland. The tree is a very large and old male dropping sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) My hand holding a small annual (Aphelia pumilio) while we're surveying some permanent plots A volunteer holding an annual (Centrolepis strigosa) as we're wrapping up one of our last plots for the day
November 9, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
luiza-aparecido.bsky.social
Check out our new pub led by lab postdoc, Dr. Brad Posch! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
November 5, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
rgleadow.bsky.social
#AusPol
yungenchee.bsky.social Yung En Chee @yungenchee.bsky.social · 14d
Biodiversity Council's 2024-25 Biodiversity Concerns Survey of >3,500 Australians found that a majority
😟 are very/extremely concerned about biodiversity issues
☹️ think gov performance at Federal & State/Territory level is terrible/poor/average
💪 want action (96%)
💪 support pro-biodiversity policies
Horizontal stacked bar chart of Concern about biodiversity issues From top to bottom, the issues are: Potential impacts of bird flu on Australian wildlife Impact of renewable energy developments on the environment Native forest logging Taking water from rivers to water crops Land clearing for urban development Land clearing for agriculture Impacts of climate change on native wildlife Decline / extinction of insects and pollinators Impact ofweeds and feral animals on the environment Increasing levels of waste and pollution Loss of natural places Possible extinction of native animals Figure 3. This graph shows how concerned participants were about a range of biodiversity issues. A majority of people were very concerned or extremely concerned (blue groups) about all issues presented. Horizontal stacked bar chart of Government performance for Australia State/Territory Figure 7. This graph shows how participants have rated the federal (top) and their state/territory (bottom) government's performance in protecting nature. The majority of participants rated both as 'terrible', 'poor or 'average' (red and yellow colours). Vertical bar chart of Do Australians want action for nature? x-axis lists the categories (left to right): 'No more', 'A little more', 'Some more', 'A lot more' & 'A great deal more' Figure 5. This graph shows how much more action participants think needs to be taken for nature protection and recovery. Results show that the vast majority (96%) believe at least some action is needed, with only 4% Horizontal stacked bar chart on What pro-biodiversity policies do Australians support? From top to bottom, they are: Strengthen environmental laws to protect nature Establish national standards for the protection of the environment from developments Require native forest logging to be regulated by national environmental law Establish a network of marine sanctuaries that protect at least 30% of different habitat types in Australia's.... Protect native species' habitat from developments such as mines and urban expansion Establish new national parks to protect natural and cultural values Investing in science to understand nature Require businesses to report their impacts on nature Require cat owners to keep their cat contained to their property Remove taxpayer subsidies for industries or projects that damage nature Humanely kill non-native (invasive) species that threaten wildlife and natural places Increase investment for managing Indigenous Protected Areas in line with National Parks Protect and conserve dingo populations as an important part of natural ecosystems Figure 12. This graph shows levels of community support for a range of policies aimed at helping biodiversity. For each policy, a strong majority support the policy (blue bars), while some Australians neither support nor oppose (yellow bars), and a small percentage oppose the policies (red bars).
October 31, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
timcurran.bsky.social
I'm so very proud of Niger Sultana and the first chapter of her PhD thesis!!!

She had so many challenges and came through them all with flying colours.

With @loraxcate.bsky.social @azhar06.bsky.social et al.

in @botsocamerica.bsky.social

bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Testing key tenets of pyro‐ecophysiology: Indicators of drought response in relation to shoot flammability
Premise Relationships between flammability and drought tolerance influence vegetation dynamics during fires. A goal of the emerging subdiscipline of pyro-ecophysiology is to identify ecophysiologica.....
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 29, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
timcurran.bsky.social
Pyro-ecophysiology of 11 woody Karst species: Leaf flammability analysis reveals fire-safe species for green firebreaks development

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Pyro-ecophysiology of 11 woody Karst species: Leaf flammability analysis reveals fire-safe species for green firebreaks development
Climate change is intensifying wildfire frequency and severity in Mediterranean ecosystems, creating urgent needs for effective fire management strate…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
aurelmondon.bsky.social
Amazing to see so many people protest against Trump and the rise of fascism

What will be crucial though will be to avoid exceptionalising him and understand what has created a fertile soil for these politics

There can be no return to the "normal" that paved the way for the far right
October 18, 2025 at 6:56 PM
simondheyes.bsky.social
PhD opportunity in my co-supervisors lab for a keen domestic student to work on a CSIRO industry scholarship. Follow the link for more information.

research.csiro.au/iphd-opportu...
Genomic assessment of early signatures of adaptation from a provenance trial - CSIRO Industry PhD Program opportunities
This project performs genomic analyses of juvenile eucalyptus trees from the Collaborator’s climate-adapted provenance trial at Nardoo Hills. The expected outcome is to identify genetic variation asso...
research.csiro.au
October 17, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
jordigpausas.bsky.social
After some days visiting a few burnt areas in northern Argentinian Patagonia, here are some species that resprout from the base after a wildfire: Lomatia hirsuta (Proteaceae), Aristotelia chilensis (Elaeocarpaceae), Schinus patagonica (Anacardiaceae), Nothofagus antarctica (Nothofagaceae)
Sprouts of Lomatia hirsuta Aristotelia chilensis resprouting after fire Schinus patagonica resprouting after fire Nothofagus antarctica resprouting after fire
October 15, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
lost-in-botany.bsky.social
Tiny Daisy Island in a sea of yellow sand! The Mossy Sunray #Hyalosperma demissum, part Gnaphalieae tribe, many of this genera looks like a showy everlasting but some like this one dont scream Aster at first glance! Up close tho they are a really cute species worthy of getting down to ground level!
September 29, 2025 at 10:44 PM
simondheyes.bsky.social
I spent last week demonstrating in Natimuk with over 80 second year botany students. Inch flora galore and a new one for me was Centrolepis cephaloformis (new favourite? Maybe). By far the highlight was watching the green veil come down for the students and watching them become budding botanists 🌏
A small green plant surrounded by white sand grains. Centrolepis cephaloformis is a tiny annual plant in the Restionaceae family. Found in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Small red succulents growing amongst leaves and twigs on a fine sandy substrate. This small annual is Crassula colorata A small flower head surrounded by green leafy bracts. This is Actinobole uliginosa an annual in the Asteraceae (daisy) family Centrolepis strigosa an annual in the Restionaceae family
September 29, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
innaosmol.bsky.social
🌎 My first paper is out in @globalchangebio.bsky.social ! We propose the Interaction Opportunists Hypothesis: changes in biotic interactions may drive species downhill, equatorward, or to shallower waters under #ClimateChange. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #RangeShifts #Ecology
Counterintuitive Range Shifts May Be Explained by Climate Induced Changes in Biotic Interactions
Climate change is expected to drive species uphill, poleward or into deeper waters. Yet many are shifting in toward the equator, downhill or to shallower waters, which is opposite to the expected dir...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
July 8, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
ausjbotany.bsky.social
Riverbank erosion in SW Australia exposed previously undocumented root clusters in Kingia australis. Research by Lamont et al. suggests these novel 'kingioid roots' enhance water and nutrient uptake rather than storage, linking with seasonal root-cluster types🫚

Paper here 🔗 buff.ly/Hi3BxLE
A dense, intricate cluster of golden-brown roots and rootlets from the grasstree Kingia australis, displayed against a white background. The cluster shows a complex branching structure with a main parent root extending horizontally, from which hundreds of fine secondary roots and rootlets emerge in all directions, creating a dense, bushy appearance. Photo credit: Byron Lamont. The text on the image reads: "An eroding riverbank exposed the hidden root systems of the grasstree, Kingia australis."
September 3, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
csiropublishing.bsky.social
Wattle you know... it's National #WattleDay, so we have three facts that may surprise you.

1/5
September 1, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
simondheyes.bsky.social
New paper looking at hybrid origin of a rare endemic shrub from my co-supervisor, Susan Hoebee's lab. A first publication for many of the authors, represents work completed during Mark Clifton's hons and a collaboration between researchers at La Trobe and community groups 🌏🧪

doi.org/10.1007/s105...
Genomic evidence for a hybrid origin of the critically endangered shrub Callistemon kenmorrisonii (Myrtaceae) and persistence involving extreme clonality - Conservation Genetics
Narrow range endemic species are often threatened by stochastic events due to their localised distribution. Many of these species also have small population sizes where demographic and genetic threats...
doi.org
August 21, 2025 at 4:29 AM
simondheyes.bsky.social
New paper looking at hybrid origin of a rare endemic shrub from my co-supervisor, Susan Hoebee's lab. A first publication for many of the authors, represents work completed during Mark Clifton's hons and a collaboration between researchers at La Trobe and community groups 🌏🧪

doi.org/10.1007/s105...
Genomic evidence for a hybrid origin of the critically endangered shrub Callistemon kenmorrisonii (Myrtaceae) and persistence involving extreme clonality - Conservation Genetics
Narrow range endemic species are often threatened by stochastic events due to their localised distribution. Many of these species also have small population sizes where demographic and genetic threats...
doi.org
August 21, 2025 at 4:29 AM
simondheyes.bsky.social
Back in Australia and on the hunt for cool galls (my new hobby). First two are Uromycladium paradoxae, a gall forming rust fungi in Acacia paradoxa. The second two are rather special. They're Mesostoa kerri, a species of Braconid gall wasp and a major range extension for this species 🧪 #ecology
Uromycladium paradoxae gall are caused by a species of rust fungus. This species is host specific the Kangaroo Thorn (Acacia paradoxa). Old brown woody growth (Uromycladium paradoxae gall) in a shrub (Acacia paradoxa) with small green phyllodes and prominent prickly stipules. This is an old stem gall of Mesostoa kerri. Female wasps oviposit along the stem and these woody galls form. There can be hundreds of wasps in a gall and they generally appear to emerge in September. Galls were first described from a single site in South Australia and not recorded elsewhere until we found them back in 2017. They're host specific in Banksia marginata. Node gall of Mesostoa kerri.
August 16, 2025 at 11:54 PM
simondheyes.bsky.social
I asked the new PhD level ChatGPT a question and can conclude that it is still as dumb as a brick.
August 8, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
lars-brudvig.bsky.social
Today we wrapped up the 10th summer of vegetation surveys in our KBS prairie restoration (reconstruction) experiment, testing how the geographic origin and species diversity of seeds used to initiate restoration affects long-term ecological dynamics

@kelloggbiostn.bsky.social @kbslter.bsky.social
Purple coneflower, big bluestem, etc in a prairie reconstruction at Kellogg Biological Station Yellow coneflower, big bluestem, etc in a prairie reconstruction at Kellogg Biological Station Yellow coneflower, big bluestem, etc in a prairie reconstruction at Kellogg Biological Station
August 8, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
scottzona.bsky.social
This red & black color combo is sure to catch the eyes of birds. The shiny black seeds of Cojoba arborea contrast with the red valves of the legume, but neither is edible. The seeds are hard & indigestible. They’re pure deception. #Fabaceae #dispersal #Botany 🌾🧪🌱
Photo of a dangling, open legume pod. The interior of the pod is bright red and displays shiny black seeds. Photo by Scott Zona CCBYNC2.
August 1, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
scottzona.bsky.social
Here’s a monocarpic rainforest legume tree. This is Tachigali versicolor, which has a spectacular buttressed trunk. After reproducing (& producing wind-dispersed fruits), the whole tree dies. Both photos by Reinaldo Aguilar CCBYNCSA2 #Fabaceae #monocarpy #Botany 🌾🧪🌱
Photo of the base of a rainforest tree and its massive buttress roots. Aerial photo of a single, dead, leafless tree surrounded by green, living trees.
July 26, 2025 at 11:27 AM
simondheyes.bsky.social
The number of different gall forming wasp species on Oak trees blows my mind. They're absolute super hosts for a some wonderful different galls. These are just a few I've run into near my parents place in Wigan, Lancashire.
A cluster of acorns with wrinkled green-brown galls on them. These are surrounded by oak leaves with my hand holding them. The galls belong to the gall forming wasp, Andricus quercuscalicis. In the top left a gall about the size of a thumbnail is growing from a small stem. The gall has green scales with brown margins and resembles an artichoke flower bud. This is Andricus foecundatrix and is easily the most common gall. Most trees appear to host this gall and is easily my favorite so far. Perfectly round marble like galls with a few brown blemishes. Andricus kollari or the Marble wasp gall. An image of the underside of an oak leaf. There are a number of small light brown galls with a raised ring around the outside and a small depression in the middle. I'm not so sure what species this is but I'm pretty sure it's a Neuroterus or the Spangle gall wasps.
July 24, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
deannicolle1.bsky.social
Caught a flock to 20-odd yellow-tailed black cockatoos shredding the large woody fruits of Eucalyptus youngiana and the branches of drooping she-oaks at the arboretum.

They certainly are efficient at shredding fruits and branches in search of seeds and grubs!
July 21, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
deannicolle1.bsky.social
Following on from my earlier post, here are a few more sites, this time from east of Adelaide (Murray Bridge, Monarto, Callington), showing the impacts of the 'green drought'.

And these are all considered to be relatively drought tolerant species - mallee box, sheoaks, Callitris, olive trees...
July 4, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
danlwarren.bsky.social
Posting because I have a lot of friends who might want to reach out but afaik literally none of them use Mastodon.
July 3, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Reposted by Simon Heyes
drsurekhadavies.bsky.social
From Jan 1, 2026, the Smithsonian will no longer host the Biodiversity Heritage Library. If you know institutions that might host (part of) the BHL's activities, do let them know!

Expressions of interest requested by 31 Aug, w/ with rolling consideration thereafter."

#histsci #histmed #libraries
trevorabranch.bsky.social Trevor A. Branch @trevorabranch.bsky.social · Jul 2
Foundations: please step up and take over the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL). This is an absolutely essential scanned archive of all of the old journals and books from the 1500s to about 1920. Has been indispensable for my research.
about.biodiversitylibrary.org/call-for-sup...
Call for Support: – About BHL
about.biodiversitylibrary.org
July 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM