Mike Fowler
@theorecol.bsky.social
Theoretical & Quantitative Ecologist. Dad. Whisky lover. Football coach. Relearning the drums. Not necessarily in that order.
See also @theorecol@ecoevo.social
He/him
See also @theorecol@ecoevo.social
He/him
Pinned
Mike Fowler
@theorecol.bsky.social
· Oct 21
Welcome
responsediversitynetwork.github.io
Welcome new followers (thanks to the ecology starter-pack!). I'll take this opportunity to publicise the Response Diversity Network: we seek to understand why species respond in diverse ways to environmental drivers, & the consequences. Join us!
responsediversitynetwork.github.io/RDN-website/
responsediversitynetwork.github.io/RDN-website/
Reposted by Mike Fowler
Lol my alma mater just established a "college of AI" and the letter I sent was like "please 'remain competitive' by fixing your shit, everyone hates this, it's like a college of subprime mortgages."
December 19, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Lol my alma mater just established a "college of AI" and the letter I sent was like "please 'remain competitive' by fixing your shit, everyone hates this, it's like a college of subprime mortgages."
Reposted by Mike Fowler
Excited to launch the new improved Reproducible Code guide from @britishecologicalsociety.org @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social FREE online here! www.britishecologicalsociety.org//wp-content/... Amazing work by some very talented ECRs. We hope it’s useful!
December 16, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Excited to launch the new improved Reproducible Code guide from @britishecologicalsociety.org @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social FREE online here! www.britishecologicalsociety.org//wp-content/... Amazing work by some very talented ECRs. We hope it’s useful!
Reposted by Mike Fowler
Here's an opportunity to lead research at Kilpisjärvi Biological Station (northern Finland, but close to the border with Norway and Sweden). An amazing place and job. Please forward to Arctic-focused folk.
jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
Professor or Assistant Professor / Associate Professor in Arctic Ecosystem Ecology
Professor or Assistant Professor / Associate Professor in Arctic Ecosystem Ecology
jobs.helsinki.fi
December 12, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Here's an opportunity to lead research at Kilpisjärvi Biological Station (northern Finland, but close to the border with Norway and Sweden). An amazing place and job. Please forward to Arctic-focused folk.
jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
Reposted by Mike Fowler
At the BES, we believe cost should not be a barrier to publishing.
Below, we have outlined how you can use resources like funding, waivers and agreements – including our own BES waivers – that cover the cost of publishing.
Find out more👇
buff.ly/irQPJaP
Below, we have outlined how you can use resources like funding, waivers and agreements – including our own BES waivers – that cover the cost of publishing.
Find out more👇
buff.ly/irQPJaP
December 10, 2025 at 12:02 PM
At the BES, we believe cost should not be a barrier to publishing.
Below, we have outlined how you can use resources like funding, waivers and agreements – including our own BES waivers – that cover the cost of publishing.
Find out more👇
buff.ly/irQPJaP
Below, we have outlined how you can use resources like funding, waivers and agreements – including our own BES waivers – that cover the cost of publishing.
Find out more👇
buff.ly/irQPJaP
I dunno, I feel like if they were being truly conservative, they'd be going back to Times Old Roman (or even further back...)
Obviously very far from the worst thing they're doing, but definitely seems they're trying to be terrible in every possible way...
December 10, 2025 at 12:01 PM
I dunno, I feel like if they were being truly conservative, they'd be going back to Times Old Roman (or even further back...)
New book going into the weeds of #JapaneseKnotweed identification, cytology, breeding behaviour & genetics, + evidence-based treatment & management requirements.
A real labour of love by Dan Jones & colleagues (and, judging by some of our conversations, hate)!
pelagicpublishing.com/products/jap...
A real labour of love by Dan Jones & colleagues (and, judging by some of our conversations, hate)!
pelagicpublishing.com/products/jap...
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed Reynoutria japonica is one of the world’s most high-profile invasive plants. This authoritative and accessible book traces the species’ global history, distribution and reproductive ...
pelagicpublishing.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:21 AM
New book going into the weeds of #JapaneseKnotweed identification, cytology, breeding behaviour & genetics, + evidence-based treatment & management requirements.
A real labour of love by Dan Jones & colleagues (and, judging by some of our conversations, hate)!
pelagicpublishing.com/products/jap...
A real labour of love by Dan Jones & colleagues (and, judging by some of our conversations, hate)!
pelagicpublishing.com/products/jap...
What if, now hear me out, we just stopped employing the people who come up with the bad business processes???
The vast majority of Enterprise-level technology (including AI) is sold on a promise that it will fix problems caused by bad business proceseses.
Magic Beans for Senior Management.
Rarely works. Because technology can't solve business process problems. At BEST it can mitigate the impact a bit.
Magic Beans for Senior Management.
Rarely works. Because technology can't solve business process problems. At BEST it can mitigate the impact a bit.
I find a lot of discussions about technology these days come down to two questions: what do we actually know?, and, what is it possible for us to know?
December 9, 2025 at 1:45 PM
What if, now hear me out, we just stopped employing the people who come up with the bad business processes???
Great work by @christophecoste.bsky.social
📖 Published📖
Authors used the framework of branching processes, leading to a simple algorithm providing a numerical approximation of the distribution of total lifetime reproductive success that does not require explicit expression of probability-generating functions🖥️🧪🌍
Read more:
Authors used the framework of branching processes, leading to a simple algorithm providing a numerical approximation of the distribution of total lifetime reproductive success that does not require explicit expression of probability-generating functions🖥️🧪🌍
Read more:
buff.ly
December 9, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Great work by @christophecoste.bsky.social
Latest piece of Sam Ross's global takeover with #ResponseDiversity thinking just accepted @oikosjournal.bsky.social!
Such a cool collaboration with @ceresbarros.bsky.social @lauradee.bsky.social @owpet.bsky.social @hannah-wht-eco.bsky.social Takehiro Sasaki & Anna LoPresti!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Such a cool collaboration with @ceresbarros.bsky.social @lauradee.bsky.social @owpet.bsky.social @hannah-wht-eco.bsky.social Takehiro Sasaki & Anna LoPresti!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
December 9, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Latest piece of Sam Ross's global takeover with #ResponseDiversity thinking just accepted @oikosjournal.bsky.social!
Such a cool collaboration with @ceresbarros.bsky.social @lauradee.bsky.social @owpet.bsky.social @hannah-wht-eco.bsky.social Takehiro Sasaki & Anna LoPresti!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Such a cool collaboration with @ceresbarros.bsky.social @lauradee.bsky.social @owpet.bsky.social @hannah-wht-eco.bsky.social Takehiro Sasaki & Anna LoPresti!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
I mean, having posted this 10 days ago, I might as well start gambling professionally now. Especially as my employer is on the verge of announcing compulsory redundancies 🤬
December 5, 2025 at 10:13 PM
I mean, having posted this 10 days ago, I might as well start gambling professionally now. Especially as my employer is on the verge of announcing compulsory redundancies 🤬
Reposted by Mike Fowler
How social–ecological #networks can improve our understanding and management of #biologicalinvasions – new paper by Fiona Rickowski et al. now published in #BioScience doi.org/10.1093/bios... #InvasiveSpecies #nonnative #pests #conservation #alienspecies
December 4, 2025 at 9:48 PM
How social–ecological #networks can improve our understanding and management of #biologicalinvasions – new paper by Fiona Rickowski et al. now published in #BioScience doi.org/10.1093/bios... #InvasiveSpecies #nonnative #pests #conservation #alienspecies
Reposted by Mike Fowler
I’m really upset about this as a Guiding member for over 30 years. We’ve always welcomed trans girls and made a safe space for them. Not sure this will make any difference but if you can sign please do: c.org/SR6NcW46B7
Allow transgender women and girls back into GirlGuiding UK
Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?
c.org
December 4, 2025 at 6:51 PM
I’m really upset about this as a Guiding member for over 30 years. We’ve always welcomed trans girls and made a safe space for them. Not sure this will make any difference but if you can sign please do: c.org/SR6NcW46B7
Whooop! New paper online!
"A Systems Perspective: How Social–Ecological Networks Can Improve Our Understanding and Management of Biological Invasions"
Phenomenal effort by Fiona Rickowski to pull this all together, wrangling a large co-author/bag-of-cats team into shape!
doi.org/10.1093/bios...
"A Systems Perspective: How Social–Ecological Networks Can Improve Our Understanding and Management of Biological Invasions"
Phenomenal effort by Fiona Rickowski to pull this all together, wrangling a large co-author/bag-of-cats team into shape!
doi.org/10.1093/bios...
A Systems Perspective: How Social–Ecological Networks Can Improve Our Understanding and Management of Biological Invasions
Abstract. Reversing biodiversity loss and the sustainability crisis requires approaches that explicitly consider human–nature interdependencies. Social–eco
doi.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Whooop! New paper online!
"A Systems Perspective: How Social–Ecological Networks Can Improve Our Understanding and Management of Biological Invasions"
Phenomenal effort by Fiona Rickowski to pull this all together, wrangling a large co-author/bag-of-cats team into shape!
doi.org/10.1093/bios...
"A Systems Perspective: How Social–Ecological Networks Can Improve Our Understanding and Management of Biological Invasions"
Phenomenal effort by Fiona Rickowski to pull this all together, wrangling a large co-author/bag-of-cats team into shape!
doi.org/10.1093/bios...
Reposted by Mike Fowler
Latest painting (acrylic on canvas)
December 4, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Latest painting (acrylic on canvas)
I see the video has cut out just before the biscuits are dropped on the ground, smashed, then shat on by the bird, who proceeds to try and scoop up all the crumbs again before anyone else can get to them?
Russell Group universities at the funding table.
Relatable Corvid
December 3, 2025 at 10:01 PM
I see the video has cut out just before the biscuits are dropped on the ground, smashed, then shat on by the bird, who proceeds to try and scoop up all the crumbs again before anyone else can get to them?
Reposted by Mike Fowler
Hi everyone! I'm co-organizing this retreat/workshop June 15-19 for those looking to get started in mathematical/computational modeling of biological processes. Location is a beautiful farm in NC. Please share with students and others who want to build modeling skills. Interdisciplinarity welcome!
December 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Hi everyone! I'm co-organizing this retreat/workshop June 15-19 for those looking to get started in mathematical/computational modeling of biological processes. Location is a beautiful farm in NC. Please share with students and others who want to build modeling skills. Interdisciplinarity welcome!
Last couple of days to apply for this (very exciting, IMO) #PhD position!
Application deadline 3rd December 2025.
Feel free to contact me if you'd like more info (but not via DMs here, thanks to the UK Gov's Online Safety Act).
Application deadline 3rd December 2025.
Feel free to contact me if you'd like more info (but not via DMs here, thanks to the UK Gov's Online Safety Act).
#PhD on the Metapopulation dynamics of pollinating bees under joint pesticide & habitat fragmentation pressure. Starts Sept 2026 based at Swansea and Bristol Unis.
More project details: bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristo...
BBSRC SWBio Doctoral Training Programme: www.findaphd.com/phds/program...
More project details: bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristo...
BBSRC SWBio Doctoral Training Programme: www.findaphd.com/phds/program...
bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Last couple of days to apply for this (very exciting, IMO) #PhD position!
Application deadline 3rd December 2025.
Feel free to contact me if you'd like more info (but not via DMs here, thanks to the UK Gov's Online Safety Act).
Application deadline 3rd December 2025.
Feel free to contact me if you'd like more info (but not via DMs here, thanks to the UK Gov's Online Safety Act).
Reposted by Mike Fowler
This is great. More please! The more folk who rely on LLMs for funding planning means my chances go up even before I submit!
November 30, 2025 at 5:54 PM
This is great. More please! The more folk who rely on LLMs for funding planning means my chances go up even before I submit!
Reposted by Mike Fowler
Don't use LLMs for ANYTHING. Not your grants, not your papers. NOTHING.
You were hired because of your mind. Use it for god's sake
You were hired because of your mind. Use it for god's sake
November 30, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Don't use LLMs for ANYTHING. Not your grants, not your papers. NOTHING.
You were hired because of your mind. Use it for god's sake
You were hired because of your mind. Use it for god's sake
Reposted by Mike Fowler
📖 Published📖
This paper used human players to impersonate predator-prey interactions combined with mathematical models to explore the complex ramifications of predator–prey interactions and test otherwise data-deficient hypotheses 🌍 🧪
Read more:
This paper used human players to impersonate predator-prey interactions combined with mathematical models to explore the complex ramifications of predator–prey interactions and test otherwise data-deficient hypotheses 🌍 🧪
Read more:
buff.ly
November 29, 2025 at 8:15 AM
📖 Published📖
This paper used human players to impersonate predator-prey interactions combined with mathematical models to explore the complex ramifications of predator–prey interactions and test otherwise data-deficient hypotheses 🌍 🧪
Read more:
This paper used human players to impersonate predator-prey interactions combined with mathematical models to explore the complex ramifications of predator–prey interactions and test otherwise data-deficient hypotheses 🌍 🧪
Read more:
One of the wildest things about acting as an internal examiner for postgraduate theses, is discovering the massive variation in methodological/sampling norms across sub-disciplines *within the same department*.
Entire sub-disciplines have zero problem with pseudoreplication. 🤯
Entire sub-disciplines have zero problem with pseudoreplication. 🤯
elmo from sesame street sitting at a table with a purple cup and straw
ALT: elmo from sesame street sitting at a table with a purple cup and straw
media.tenor.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:35 PM
One of the wildest things about acting as an internal examiner for postgraduate theses, is discovering the massive variation in methodological/sampling norms across sub-disciplines *within the same department*.
Entire sub-disciplines have zero problem with pseudoreplication. 🤯
Entire sub-disciplines have zero problem with pseudoreplication. 🤯
Reposted by Mike Fowler
📢❗🚨Reminder: POSTDOC in THEORETICAL ECOLOGY. Great opportunity to develop theoretical models on the ecology of food systems, exploring key aspects such as biodiversity, spatial heterogeneity, pollination, and stability. Close collaboration with researchers from multiple disciplines & countries
I am pleased to announce a new postdoctoral position in Theoretical Ecology. More info here: info.bc3research.org/2025/11/06/p...
Postdoctoral position in agroecology for TRANSFORM Project
The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) is offering a full-time postdoctoral research position to support activities within a Horizon Europe project. The project focuses on developing innovative cr...
info.bc3research.org
November 28, 2025 at 9:45 AM
📢❗🚨Reminder: POSTDOC in THEORETICAL ECOLOGY. Great opportunity to develop theoretical models on the ecology of food systems, exploring key aspects such as biodiversity, spatial heterogeneity, pollination, and stability. Close collaboration with researchers from multiple disciplines & countries
Considering live-streaming my response to Monday's "All-staff webinar" to 'update' us on the Financial Sustainability Programme.
I recommend using headphones set at a low volume. There will be screaming, gutteral noises and agricultural language.
I recommend using headphones set at a low volume. There will be screaming, gutteral noises and agricultural language.
Farm GIF
ALT: Farm GIF
media.tenor.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Considering live-streaming my response to Monday's "All-staff webinar" to 'update' us on the Financial Sustainability Programme.
I recommend using headphones set at a low volume. There will be screaming, gutteral noises and agricultural language.
I recommend using headphones set at a low volume. There will be screaming, gutteral noises and agricultural language.
Can't decide whether Runctitional Features should be the name of my Sludge-metal – Jazz fusion band, my wrestling name, or my sex tape.
Why not all three?
You are all now present at The Runctitional Features Universe big-bang moment.
Why not all three?
You are all now present at The Runctitional Features Universe big-bang moment.
Uhh,,, Figure 1 shows you... what exactly? Trying to understand Medical fryrmbial, runctitional features and mum's legs going through concrete.
This whole article is a bit of a disaster. And it's very difficult to find other published work for the author. Strange! 🧪
(via @smutclyde.bsky.social)
This whole article is a bit of a disaster. And it's very difficult to find other published work for the author. Strange! 🧪
(via @smutclyde.bsky.social)
November 27, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Can't decide whether Runctitional Features should be the name of my Sludge-metal – Jazz fusion band, my wrestling name, or my sex tape.
Why not all three?
You are all now present at The Runctitional Features Universe big-bang moment.
Why not all three?
You are all now present at The Runctitional Features Universe big-bang moment.