UAntwerp FunMorph
@uafunmorph.bsky.social
Functional Morphology Lab Group of Department of Biology, University of Antwerp.
https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/funmorph/
https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/funmorph/
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Hello world! The Functional Morphology Lab of the UAntwerp Biology Department is finally on Bluesky! Let us share with you our research, academic activities, and our passion for #science. 🦎🐦 🐟 🦩 🐓 👩🔬 🎓 👨🔬
Here are some of the animals that keep us busy at the moment.
Here are some of the animals that keep us busy at the moment.
Reposted by UAntwerp FunMorph
Now online - Kinematic analyses of Lake Malawi cichlids reveal that algae specialists use head expansions that happen synchronously along the head, hypothesized to increase feeding efficiency in contrast to the wave-like pattern of piscivores.🐟
@uafunmorph.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1038/s420...
@uafunmorph.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1038/s420...
An alternative pattern of head expansion during feeding in cichlids - Communications Biology
Kinematic analyses of Lake Malawi cichlids reveal that algae specialists use head expansions that happen synchronously along the head. This contrasts with the wave-like pattern of piscivores and is hy...
www.nature.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Now online - Kinematic analyses of Lake Malawi cichlids reveal that algae specialists use head expansions that happen synchronously along the head, hypothesized to increase feeding efficiency in contrast to the wave-like pattern of piscivores.🐟
@uafunmorph.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1038/s420...
@uafunmorph.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1038/s420...
Fish suck... but species that feed on algae suck differently! 🐟 A new publication in Communications Biology by #UAFunMorph members Jana De Ridder, Peter Aerts, and Sam Van Wassenbergh, demonstrates how head motion patterns for generating suction are finetuned to the species' main diets.
October 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Fish suck... but species that feed on algae suck differently! 🐟 A new publication in Communications Biology by #UAFunMorph members Jana De Ridder, Peter Aerts, and Sam Van Wassenbergh, demonstrates how head motion patterns for generating suction are finetuned to the species' main diets.
Reposted by UAntwerp FunMorph
Extreme climate events can catalyze rapid evolutionary change! in our new Current Biology (@currentbiology.bsky.social) piece, Colin and I argue it’s time to study their evolutionary consequences systematically — beyond opportunistic observations. www.cell.com/current-biol...
Evolutionary consequences of extreme climate events
Simon Baeckens and Colin Donihue review case studies of rapid evolutionary change
in response to extreme climate events and sketch a framework for future studies in
the rapidly changing climate of the...
www.cell.com
September 8, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Extreme climate events can catalyze rapid evolutionary change! in our new Current Biology (@currentbiology.bsky.social) piece, Colin and I argue it’s time to study their evolutionary consequences systematically — beyond opportunistic observations. www.cell.com/current-biol...
You can now also follow us on LinkedIn! 👏 Check out the FunMorph Lab LinkedIn page here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
#masterstudents #masterinbiology #universiteitantwerpen #biology #stem #science #biomechanics #palaeobiology #evolution #ecology #morphology #herpetology #mammalogy #ornitology #ichthyology | UAntwerp...
New LinkedIn, new academic year, and new master's students. So, let’s kick off this account with a preview of the topics our students will be working on this year!
FunMorph is taking on more than a d...
www.linkedin.com
September 8, 2025 at 9:01 AM
You can now also follow us on LinkedIn! 👏 Check out the FunMorph Lab LinkedIn page here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Let’s kick off the new academic year! 🎉 FunMorph welcomes 12+ @uantwerpen.be master’s students this year, working with a very diverse set of study organisms, just like our lab members: boxfish 🐡, sharks 🦈, cats 🐆, otters 🦦, sealions, hippos 🦛, tapirs 🐱/🐴, snakes 🐍, lizards 🦎, ducks 🦆, canaries 🐤
September 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Let’s kick off the new academic year! 🎉 FunMorph welcomes 12+ @uantwerpen.be master’s students this year, working with a very diverse set of study organisms, just like our lab members: boxfish 🐡, sharks 🦈, cats 🐆, otters 🦦, sealions, hippos 🦛, tapirs 🐱/🐴, snakes 🐍, lizards 🦎, ducks 🦆, canaries 🐤
Reposted by UAntwerp FunMorph
While both #island & mainland #lizards may recognize their own #scent and that of others — islanders tongue-flick much less, hinting at reduced reliance on chemical cues in island environments zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @uafunmorph.bsky.social @simon.baeckens.bsky.social
July 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
While both #island & mainland #lizards may recognize their own #scent and that of others — islanders tongue-flick much less, hinting at reduced reliance on chemical cues in island environments zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @uafunmorph.bsky.social @simon.baeckens.bsky.social
Reposted by UAntwerp FunMorph
Lukas Hageneder from @uafunmorph.bsky.social is studying how the tongue and skeleton of ducks interact to successfully filter food
July 31, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Lukas Hageneder from @uafunmorph.bsky.social is studying how the tongue and skeleton of ducks interact to successfully filter food
Reposted by UAntwerp FunMorph
Today is the day!
#SEBExPalaeo will be live at #SEBCONFERENCE
9h30 in Nightingale 1&2
(follow signs for Bird Rooms)
Looking forward to seeing you for plenty of experimental #palaeontology #palaeobotany #3D #modelling and fun discussions!
#SEBExPalaeo will be live at #SEBCONFERENCE
9h30 in Nightingale 1&2
(follow signs for Bird Rooms)
Looking forward to seeing you for plenty of experimental #palaeontology #palaeobotany #3D #modelling and fun discussions!
July 11, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Today is the day!
#SEBExPalaeo will be live at #SEBCONFERENCE
9h30 in Nightingale 1&2
(follow signs for Bird Rooms)
Looking forward to seeing you for plenty of experimental #palaeontology #palaeobotany #3D #modelling and fun discussions!
#SEBExPalaeo will be live at #SEBCONFERENCE
9h30 in Nightingale 1&2
(follow signs for Bird Rooms)
Looking forward to seeing you for plenty of experimental #palaeontology #palaeobotany #3D #modelling and fun discussions!
A lizard in sight whets the appetite? 🦎 Read how conspecifics influence island and mainland lizards’ foraging decisions in @UAFunMorph's new paper by Ioanna Gavriilidi! Link to the full article: authors.elsevier.com/a/1lPDn1LenM...
July 10, 2025 at 12:30 PM
A lizard in sight whets the appetite? 🦎 Read how conspecifics influence island and mainland lizards’ foraging decisions in @UAFunMorph's new paper by Ioanna Gavriilidi! Link to the full article: authors.elsevier.com/a/1lPDn1LenM...
Reposted by UAntwerp FunMorph
Another PhD chapter published for Ioanna Gavriilidi @uafunmorph.bsky.social, now in @jzoology.bsky.social! She finds that island-dwelling lizards tend to rely less on chemosensory cues compared to their mainland counterparts. zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
On the flick of the tongue: male island and mainland lizards' responses to self and conspecific chemical stimuli
We compared the chemosensory recognition abilities of mainland and island Italian wall lizards (Podarcis siculus). Both populations discriminated between self and conspecific scents, but island lizar...
zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
July 8, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Another PhD chapter published for Ioanna Gavriilidi @uafunmorph.bsky.social, now in @jzoology.bsky.social! She finds that island-dwelling lizards tend to rely less on chemosensory cues compared to their mainland counterparts. zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
New paper alert! 💥Check out the paper of FunMorph's Lisa Van Linden exploring the potential role of interspecific admixture during the colonisation of a small island by Italian wall #lizards using population #genomic analyses 🧬💻 Spoiler alert: they did it all by themselves! 🦎🏝️ See link below:
July 8, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Reposted by UAntwerp FunMorph
🗓️ Save the date!
26-28 May 2025 | Université de Bordeaux, France.
Symposium and workshop :
Biomechanical simulation techniques in evolutionary morphology and biomedical sciences.
More info and registration: www.eventbrite.fr/e/1263754958...
26-28 May 2025 | Université de Bordeaux, France.
Symposium and workshop :
Biomechanical simulation techniques in evolutionary morphology and biomedical sciences.
More info and registration: www.eventbrite.fr/e/1263754958...
March 20, 2025 at 9:13 PM
🗓️ Save the date!
26-28 May 2025 | Université de Bordeaux, France.
Symposium and workshop :
Biomechanical simulation techniques in evolutionary morphology and biomedical sciences.
More info and registration: www.eventbrite.fr/e/1263754958...
26-28 May 2025 | Université de Bordeaux, France.
Symposium and workshop :
Biomechanical simulation techniques in evolutionary morphology and biomedical sciences.
More info and registration: www.eventbrite.fr/e/1263754958...
How do beak dimensions affect feeding performance in birds? 🐦 In our new study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, we studied 87 domestic canaries to test if beak size affects feeding performance—revealing a trade-off between force and speed. 🧵👇
March 21, 2025 at 8:05 AM
How do beak dimensions affect feeding performance in birds? 🐦 In our new study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, we studied 87 domestic canaries to test if beak size affects feeding performance—revealing a trade-off between force and speed. 🧵👇
Final week of the @UAFunMorph Galápagos expedition! 🎥 Capturing high-speed footage of Darwin's finches while they feed and sing to study beak movement. Best of luck to Irene, Cas, and Jan for the final data collection! 🙌 We are grateful to our helpers and sponsors. #DarwinsFinches #Galapagos
March 19, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Final week of the @UAFunMorph Galápagos expedition! 🎥 Capturing high-speed footage of Darwin's finches while they feed and sing to study beak movement. Best of luck to Irene, Cas, and Jan for the final data collection! 🙌 We are grateful to our helpers and sponsors. #DarwinsFinches #Galapagos
Reposted by UAntwerp FunMorph
Two great scientists working on #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience! #PhD student Eleesha Annear and #Masters student Ilke Boutsen @UAFunMorph working on measuring #ungulate necks at the @africamuseumbe - exciting project results coming soon!
#ExPalaeo
#ExPalaeo
February 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Two great scientists working on #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience! #PhD student Eleesha Annear and #Masters student Ilke Boutsen @UAFunMorph working on measuring #ungulate necks at the @africamuseumbe - exciting project results coming soon!
#ExPalaeo
#ExPalaeo
Reposted by UAntwerp FunMorph
Do you work on experimental #biology to understand past organisms and ecosystems? Could your work be applicable to organisms in the #fossil record?
Perhaps the @sebiology.bsky.social Annual Meeting special session "Experimental Palaeontology" #SEB_ExPalaeo is something for you?! (1/n)
Perhaps the @sebiology.bsky.social Annual Meeting special session "Experimental Palaeontology" #SEB_ExPalaeo is something for you?! (1/n)
February 16, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Do you work on experimental #biology to understand past organisms and ecosystems? Could your work be applicable to organisms in the #fossil record?
Perhaps the @sebiology.bsky.social Annual Meeting special session "Experimental Palaeontology" #SEB_ExPalaeo is something for you?! (1/n)
Perhaps the @sebiology.bsky.social Annual Meeting special session "Experimental Palaeontology" #SEB_ExPalaeo is something for you?! (1/n)
Reposted by UAntwerp FunMorph
Something is coming (back) this summer... in Antwerp... in July... 🇧🇪🦣🦕🌿🦠
More details to follow soon!
@narimanechatar.bsky.social
@peterfalkingham.com
@sesamoidstreet.bsky.social
@sebiology.bsky.social
More details to follow soon!
@narimanechatar.bsky.social
@peterfalkingham.com
@sesamoidstreet.bsky.social
@sebiology.bsky.social
February 1, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Something is coming (back) this summer... in Antwerp... in July... 🇧🇪🦣🦕🌿🦠
More details to follow soon!
@narimanechatar.bsky.social
@peterfalkingham.com
@sesamoidstreet.bsky.social
@sebiology.bsky.social
More details to follow soon!
@narimanechatar.bsky.social
@peterfalkingham.com
@sesamoidstreet.bsky.social
@sebiology.bsky.social
Reposted by UAntwerp FunMorph
Hard biting #birds are slow singers - which has more consequences than you might think!
In my newest article, published in The Conversation, you can learn about how beak size affects the singing and #evolution of songbirds. 🪶
theconversation.com/hard-bites-a...
#ornithology #scicomm #science
In my newest article, published in The Conversation, you can learn about how beak size affects the singing and #evolution of songbirds. 🪶
theconversation.com/hard-bites-a...
#ornithology #scicomm #science
Hard bites and slow songs: How beak size affects the singing and evolution of songbirds
Researchers have discovered that massive beaks and strong bites hinder the velocity of beak movement in songbirds. The musical differences that result may have consequences for evolution.
theconversation.com
February 6, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Hard biting #birds are slow singers - which has more consequences than you might think!
In my newest article, published in The Conversation, you can learn about how beak size affects the singing and #evolution of songbirds. 🪶
theconversation.com/hard-bites-a...
#ornithology #scicomm #science
In my newest article, published in The Conversation, you can learn about how beak size affects the singing and #evolution of songbirds. 🪶
theconversation.com/hard-bites-a...
#ornithology #scicomm #science
Follow Maja and her research here: @maja-mielke.bsky.social 🐦🎨
[1/2] Hard biting #birds are slow singers - which has more consequences than you might think! 🪶 🐦
In her newest article, published in The Conversation, #UAFunMorph member Maja Mielke writes about how beak size affects the singing and #evolution of songbirds.
In her newest article, published in The Conversation, #UAFunMorph member Maja Mielke writes about how beak size affects the singing and #evolution of songbirds.
February 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Follow Maja and her research here: @maja-mielke.bsky.social 🐦🎨
[1/2] Hard biting #birds are slow singers - which has more consequences than you might think! 🪶 🐦
In her newest article, published in The Conversation, #UAFunMorph member Maja Mielke writes about how beak size affects the singing and #evolution of songbirds.
In her newest article, published in The Conversation, #UAFunMorph member Maja Mielke writes about how beak size affects the singing and #evolution of songbirds.
February 6, 2025 at 2:29 PM
[1/2] Hard biting #birds are slow singers - which has more consequences than you might think! 🪶 🐦
In her newest article, published in The Conversation, #UAFunMorph member Maja Mielke writes about how beak size affects the singing and #evolution of songbirds.
In her newest article, published in The Conversation, #UAFunMorph member Maja Mielke writes about how beak size affects the singing and #evolution of songbirds.
Hello world! The Functional Morphology Lab of the UAntwerp Biology Department is finally on Bluesky! Let us share with you our research, academic activities, and our passion for #science. 🦎🐦 🐟 🦩 🐓 👩🔬 🎓 👨🔬
Here are some of the animals that keep us busy at the moment.
Here are some of the animals that keep us busy at the moment.
February 6, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Hello world! The Functional Morphology Lab of the UAntwerp Biology Department is finally on Bluesky! Let us share with you our research, academic activities, and our passion for #science. 🦎🐦 🐟 🦩 🐓 👩🔬 🎓 👨🔬
Here are some of the animals that keep us busy at the moment.
Here are some of the animals that keep us busy at the moment.