Tom Ratz
@tomratz.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist | Independent Group Leader & SNSF Fellow at University of Zurich | Evolution, plasticity, & social interactions 🪰🐞🦗 🕷 ⍦
tomratz.weebly.com
tomratz.weebly.com
Pinned
Tom Ratz
@tomratz.bsky.social
· Dec 12
Social plasticity and individuality shape variation in contest behaviour
Abstract. Physical contests are critical in most animals in determining access to limited resources such as territories, food and sexual partners. Individu
royalsocietypublishing.org
New paper out in @royalsocietypublishing.org Biology Letters. We show that variability in contest behaviour can emerge from plastic responses to modest size differences between focal males and their rivals.
#Drosophila
#Diptera
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article...
#Drosophila
#Diptera
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article...
Reposted by Tom Ratz
The submission deadline (Jan 31st) for the 2026 Mathematical and Computational Evolutionary Biology Meeting in Crete mceb2026.sciencesconf.org is getting closer!
January 19, 2026 at 5:01 AM
The submission deadline (Jan 31st) for the 2026 Mathematical and Computational Evolutionary Biology Meeting in Crete mceb2026.sciencesconf.org is getting closer!
The contribution of stochastic mechanisms to behavioural individuality: Trends in Ecology & Evolution
www.cell.com/trends/ecolo...
www.cell.com/trends/ecolo...
Playing dice with behavior: drivers of stochastic individuality
Animal behavior is often viewed as stemming from predictable genetic and environmental
factors. However, despite our best attempts to control genetic and environmental influences
on behavior, variatio...
www.cell.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:04 AM
The contribution of stochastic mechanisms to behavioural individuality: Trends in Ecology & Evolution
www.cell.com/trends/ecolo...
www.cell.com/trends/ecolo...
Reposted by Tom Ratz
The submission deadline (Jan 31st) for the 2026 Mathematical and Computational Evolutionary Biology Meeting in Crete mceb2026.sciencesconf.org is getting closer!
January 7, 2026 at 4:46 AM
The submission deadline (Jan 31st) for the 2026 Mathematical and Computational Evolutionary Biology Meeting in Crete mceb2026.sciencesconf.org is getting closer!
Reposted by Tom Ratz
The Canada Government will offer 400 postdoctoral fellowships to international researchers in early 2026. If you have a background in wildlife microbiome or quantitative genetics and are interested to apply to work on microbiome variation in Sable Island horses or caribou, feel free to get in touch
January 2, 2026 at 3:58 PM
The Canada Government will offer 400 postdoctoral fellowships to international researchers in early 2026. If you have a background in wildlife microbiome or quantitative genetics and are interested to apply to work on microbiome variation in Sable Island horses or caribou, feel free to get in touch
Abstract submission is now open for the ASAB Spring Conference in Bristol.
We're open for abstract submission, and look forward to welcoming you all to Bristol in March!
asab-spring-conference2026.github.io
@asab-meetings.bsky.social #ASABSpring2026
asab-spring-conference2026.github.io
@asab-meetings.bsky.social #ASABSpring2026
December 22, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Abstract submission is now open for the ASAB Spring Conference in Bristol.
Excited to be back in Edinburgh for the @britishecologicalsociety.org conference 🏴
December 16, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Excited to be back in Edinburgh for the @britishecologicalsociety.org conference 🏴
Reposted by Tom Ratz
*First preprint from our lab* !!!!!
How does the brain learn to anchor its internal sense of direction to the outside world? 🧭
led by Mark Plitt @markplitt.bsky.social & Dan Turner-Evans, w/ Vivek Jayaraman:
“Octopamine instructs head direction plasticity” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Thread ⬇️
How does the brain learn to anchor its internal sense of direction to the outside world? 🧭
led by Mark Plitt @markplitt.bsky.social & Dan Turner-Evans, w/ Vivek Jayaraman:
“Octopamine instructs head direction plasticity” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Thread ⬇️
December 15, 2025 at 6:26 PM
*First preprint from our lab* !!!!!
How does the brain learn to anchor its internal sense of direction to the outside world? 🧭
led by Mark Plitt @markplitt.bsky.social & Dan Turner-Evans, w/ Vivek Jayaraman:
“Octopamine instructs head direction plasticity” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Thread ⬇️
How does the brain learn to anchor its internal sense of direction to the outside world? 🧭
led by Mark Plitt @markplitt.bsky.social & Dan Turner-Evans, w/ Vivek Jayaraman:
“Octopamine instructs head direction plasticity” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Thread ⬇️
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Join us in Crete in May 2026 for the Mathematical and Computational Evolutionary Biology Meeting mceb2026.sciencesconf.org on the island's northern coastline near Heraklion. Abstract Deadline: January 31st
December 5, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Join us in Crete in May 2026 for the Mathematical and Computational Evolutionary Biology Meeting mceb2026.sciencesconf.org on the island's northern coastline near Heraklion. Abstract Deadline: January 31st
Reposted by Tom Ratz
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
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
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
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
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Are you heading to Edinburgh for #BES2025?
Do come and find us at stand LT7 in the Lennox Suite! We’d love to connect, chat about all things entomology, and share what’s new at RES.
See you there! 🪲
buff.ly/cF3NKTN
@britishecologicalsociety.org
Do come and find us at stand LT7 in the Lennox Suite! We’d love to connect, chat about all things entomology, and share what’s new at RES.
See you there! 🪲
buff.ly/cF3NKTN
@britishecologicalsociety.org
British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2025
Say Hello to the Royal Entomological Society Team at the British Ecological Society (BES) Annual Meeting 2025 in Edinburgh 15-18 December.
buff.ly
December 15, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Are you heading to Edinburgh for #BES2025?
Do come and find us at stand LT7 in the Lennox Suite! We’d love to connect, chat about all things entomology, and share what’s new at RES.
See you there! 🪲
buff.ly/cF3NKTN
@britishecologicalsociety.org
Do come and find us at stand LT7 in the Lennox Suite! We’d love to connect, chat about all things entomology, and share what’s new at RES.
See you there! 🪲
buff.ly/cF3NKTN
@britishecologicalsociety.org
Reposted by Tom Ratz
POSTDOC recruitment! We’re looking for a post-doc to join us to work on the (epi)genetic basis of inbreeding depression as part of the ANR-funded project FRIDA
macrostomum.wordpress.com/the-genetic-...
Please share!
macrostomum.wordpress.com/the-genetic-...
Please share!
December 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM
POSTDOC recruitment! We’re looking for a post-doc to join us to work on the (epi)genetic basis of inbreeding depression as part of the ANR-funded project FRIDA
macrostomum.wordpress.com/the-genetic-...
Please share!
macrostomum.wordpress.com/the-genetic-...
Please share!
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Thrilled to announce a Postdoc opportunity in our group on the evolutionary genetics and ecology of colour. Wonderful system, great collaborators, and room to shape your own ideas.
Apply by 7 Jan: jobs.helsinki.fi/job/13477181...
Apply by 7 Jan: jobs.helsinki.fi/job/13477181...
December 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Thrilled to announce a Postdoc opportunity in our group on the evolutionary genetics and ecology of colour. Wonderful system, great collaborators, and room to shape your own ideas.
Apply by 7 Jan: jobs.helsinki.fi/job/13477181...
Apply by 7 Jan: jobs.helsinki.fi/job/13477181...
New paper out in @royalsocietypublishing.org Biology Letters. We show that variability in contest behaviour can emerge from plastic responses to modest size differences between focal males and their rivals.
#Drosophila
#Diptera
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article...
#Drosophila
#Diptera
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article...
Social plasticity and individuality shape variation in contest behaviour
Abstract. Physical contests are critical in most animals in determining access to limited resources such as territories, food and sexual partners. Individu
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 12, 2025 at 2:36 PM
New paper out in @royalsocietypublishing.org Biology Letters. We show that variability in contest behaviour can emerge from plastic responses to modest size differences between focal males and their rivals.
#Drosophila
#Diptera
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article...
#Drosophila
#Diptera
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article...
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Fully funded #PhD studentships, start Sept 2026:
1. Weaponry and aggression in wild fiddler crabs, with me, Safi Darden, Martin How tinyurl.com/weaponsPhD
2. The emotional basis of behaviour, with me, Danny Williamson, Andy Higginson tinyurl.com/emotionsPhD
#AnimalBehaviour @crab-exeter.bsky.social
1. Weaponry and aggression in wild fiddler crabs, with me, Safi Darden, Martin How tinyurl.com/weaponsPhD
2. The emotional basis of behaviour, with me, Danny Williamson, Andy Higginson tinyurl.com/emotionsPhD
#AnimalBehaviour @crab-exeter.bsky.social
December 3, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Fully funded #PhD studentships, start Sept 2026:
1. Weaponry and aggression in wild fiddler crabs, with me, Safi Darden, Martin How tinyurl.com/weaponsPhD
2. The emotional basis of behaviour, with me, Danny Williamson, Andy Higginson tinyurl.com/emotionsPhD
#AnimalBehaviour @crab-exeter.bsky.social
1. Weaponry and aggression in wild fiddler crabs, with me, Safi Darden, Martin How tinyurl.com/weaponsPhD
2. The emotional basis of behaviour, with me, Danny Williamson, Andy Higginson tinyurl.com/emotionsPhD
#AnimalBehaviour @crab-exeter.bsky.social
Thrilled to see our "fighting" flies featured on the cover of Biology Letters! 🎉
🪰 Drosophila prolongata
#Drosophila #Diptera
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/issue
🪰 Drosophila prolongata
#Drosophila #Diptera
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/issue
Volume 21 Issue 12 | Biology Letters | The Royal Society
A Royal Society journal focused on the rapid publication of short high quality research articles reviews and opinion pieces across the biological sciences.
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 10, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Thrilled to see our "fighting" flies featured on the cover of Biology Letters! 🎉
🪰 Drosophila prolongata
#Drosophila #Diptera
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/issue
🪰 Drosophila prolongata
#Drosophila #Diptera
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/issue
Less than one week left to submit an abstract for ECE 2026 in Tours!
🚨 Save the date!!
We're hosting the next European Congress of Entomology (ECE) in Tours, France 🇫🇷 from 29 June to 3 July 2026 🐞🦋🐜
🔬 50+ symposia covering nearly every aspect of insect science
📅 Registration opens 10 July 2025
🔗 Stay tuned: www.ece2026.org
#ECE2026 #Entomology #Insects
We're hosting the next European Congress of Entomology (ECE) in Tours, France 🇫🇷 from 29 June to 3 July 2026 🐞🦋🐜
🔬 50+ symposia covering nearly every aspect of insect science
📅 Registration opens 10 July 2025
🔗 Stay tuned: www.ece2026.org
#ECE2026 #Entomology #Insects
ECE 2026 - XIII European Congress of Entomology
It is our great pleasure to welcome you to Tours, France, in the heart of the Loire Valley, from June 29 to July 3, 2026.
www.ece2026.org
December 9, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Less than one week left to submit an abstract for ECE 2026 in Tours!
One-day meeting on insect behaviour research in Birmingham (and online).
#CallForAbstracts Deadline next week!
Submit your abstracts soon for a chance to share your research and present at the #BehaviourSIG in February 🔽
buff.ly/KrjZwc8
📅 Deadline for abstract submissions: 16 December
@rothamsted.bsky.social @ipmmark.bsky.social @basf.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social
Submit your abstracts soon for a chance to share your research and present at the #BehaviourSIG in February 🔽
buff.ly/KrjZwc8
📅 Deadline for abstract submissions: 16 December
@rothamsted.bsky.social @ipmmark.bsky.social @basf.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social
Emerging themes: Novel techniques in insect behaviour studies
Join the RES Behaviour SIG on Tuesday 10 February 2026 in Birmingham for a day of talks on insect behaviour research.
buff.ly
December 9, 2025 at 8:08 AM
One-day meeting on insect behaviour research in Birmingham (and online).
One week left to submit an abstract for ISBE2026 in Turin 👇
Make sure you don’t miss our key dates for abstract submission and registration!
December 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM
One week left to submit an abstract for ISBE2026 in Turin 👇
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Make sure you don’t miss our key dates for abstract submission and registration!
December 1, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Make sure you don’t miss our key dates for abstract submission and registration!
Registration and abstract submission are now open for next year’s ISBE Congress in Turin.
We are happy to announce that registration for ISBE2026 is now open! We encourage you to register as soon as possible to take advantage of reduced fees and to plan your trip and accommodation in advance.
Please read the information on www.isbe2026.com before proceeding with your registration.
Please read the information on www.isbe2026.com before proceeding with your registration.
November 29, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Registration and abstract submission are now open for next year’s ISBE Congress in Turin.
Reposted by Tom Ratz
@asab.org Spring, aimed at ECRs, is coming to Bristol!
Conference grant DEADLINE for Developing Country Applicants (<£2500) or anyone needing an early decision for visas (<£750) is in ONE WEEK, 1st December.
www.asab.org/conference-g...
Referee statement also needed by then! 🐝🐜🦟🦂🐠🐟🐬🦎🐸🦆🐿️🦓
Conference grant DEADLINE for Developing Country Applicants (<£2500) or anyone needing an early decision for visas (<£750) is in ONE WEEK, 1st December.
www.asab.org/conference-g...
Referee statement also needed by then! 🐝🐜🦟🦂🐠🐟🐬🦎🐸🦆🐿️🦓
November 24, 2025 at 9:14 PM
@asab.org Spring, aimed at ECRs, is coming to Bristol!
Conference grant DEADLINE for Developing Country Applicants (<£2500) or anyone needing an early decision for visas (<£750) is in ONE WEEK, 1st December.
www.asab.org/conference-g...
Referee statement also needed by then! 🐝🐜🦟🦂🐠🐟🐬🦎🐸🦆🐿️🦓
Conference grant DEADLINE for Developing Country Applicants (<£2500) or anyone needing an early decision for visas (<£750) is in ONE WEEK, 1st December.
www.asab.org/conference-g...
Referee statement also needed by then! 🐝🐜🦟🦂🐠🐟🐬🦎🐸🦆🐿️🦓
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Interested in how life history may shape the gut microbiome of a wild mammal? Keen on getting to work with an iconic long-term study system in Scotland?
Check out this PhD opportunity with me, Josephine Pemberton and @gfalbery.bsky.social
Reach out to chat more!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Check out this PhD opportunity with me, Josephine Pemberton and @gfalbery.bsky.social
Reach out to chat more!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
November 24, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Interested in how life history may shape the gut microbiome of a wild mammal? Keen on getting to work with an iconic long-term study system in Scotland?
Check out this PhD opportunity with me, Josephine Pemberton and @gfalbery.bsky.social
Reach out to chat more!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Check out this PhD opportunity with me, Josephine Pemberton and @gfalbery.bsky.social
Reach out to chat more!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Jumping spiders can recognise one another. This ability to learn, remember and represent images is quite surprising for such a tiny-brained animal!
buff.ly/dCkwPr0
buff.ly/dCkwPr0
November 23, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Jumping spiders can recognise one another. This ability to learn, remember and represent images is quite surprising for such a tiny-brained animal!
buff.ly/dCkwPr0
buff.ly/dCkwPr0
Next European Congress of Entomology in the lovely city of Tours, France 👇
Call for abstracts – XIII European Congress of Entomology (#ECE2026) 🐞
29 June–2 July 2026, Tours, France
I’m co-organizing the symposium “Insect Systematics in the Biodiversity Crisis: Bridging Tradition and Innovation”
🗓 Early-bird & abstract deadline: 15 Dec 2025
www.ece2026.org
29 June–2 July 2026, Tours, France
I’m co-organizing the symposium “Insect Systematics in the Biodiversity Crisis: Bridging Tradition and Innovation”
🗓 Early-bird & abstract deadline: 15 Dec 2025
www.ece2026.org
ECE 2026 - XIII European Congress of Entomology
It is our great pleasure to welcome you to Tours, France, in the heart of the Loire Valley, from June 29 to July 3, 2026.
www.ece2026.org
November 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Next European Congress of Entomology in the lovely city of Tours, France 👇