Colautti Lab
@colauttilab.bsky.social
We work at the interface of ecology, evolution and genetics at Queen's U (Canada) using statistics, bioinformatics, field experiments, and sequencing.
Website: https://EcoEvoGeno.org
Repo: https://github.com/ColauttiLab
ORCiD: 0000-0003-4213-0711
Website: https://EcoEvoGeno.org
Repo: https://github.com/ColauttiLab
ORCiD: 0000-0003-4213-0711
Halloween highlight:
14-year-old trick-or-treater recognizing Metallica’s Master of Puppets blasting on the outdoor speakers
14-year-old trick-or-treater recognizing Metallica’s Master of Puppets blasting on the outdoor speakers
October 31, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Halloween highlight:
14-year-old trick-or-treater recognizing Metallica’s Master of Puppets blasting on the outdoor speakers
14-year-old trick-or-treater recognizing Metallica’s Master of Puppets blasting on the outdoor speakers
I love math! It’s so weird and fun and relevant, but we rarely teach it that way! Here’s a fun example I show to bio students that exposes a glitch in this shared delusion/simulation we are all living in:
September 25, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I love math! It’s so weird and fun and relevant, but we rarely teach it that way! Here’s a fun example I show to bio students that exposes a glitch in this shared delusion/simulation we are all living in:
Now published in @newphyt.bsky.social, @1pantunes.bsky.social and I review evidence for the "Novel Weapons Hypothesis" and the role of allelopathy during invasion. Bottom line: there is very good reason to be skeptical.
dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph....
dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph....
September 18, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Now published in @newphyt.bsky.social, @1pantunes.bsky.social and I review evidence for the "Novel Weapons Hypothesis" and the role of allelopathy during invasion. Bottom line: there is very good reason to be skeptical.
dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph....
dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph....
Ahh, that most wonderful time of year when the hot weather starts to cool down, leaves start to change colour, and grant application spam starts to nestle into your inbox
September 11, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Ahh, that most wonderful time of year when the hot weather starts to cool down, leaves start to change colour, and grant application spam starts to nestle into your inbox
Coming soon (with @1pantunes.bsky.social)...
July 9, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Coming soon (with @1pantunes.bsky.social)...
We use ULINE (S-19297) 1.75" x 0.5" WEATHER RESISTANT label on basic laser printer. This is the default layout for the baRcodeR package in R and has good UV+cold integrity. Labels overlap around 2mL tubes for extra hold. We sometimes add clear packing tape on top for extra hold in long-term -80
May 28, 2025 at 7:27 PM
We use ULINE (S-19297) 1.75" x 0.5" WEATHER RESISTANT label on basic laser printer. This is the default layout for the baRcodeR package in R and has good UV+cold integrity. Labels overlap around 2mL tubes for extra hold. We sometimes add clear packing tape on top for extra hold in long-term -80
All set for Science Rendezvous at Slush Puppy place tomorrow (Sat May 10)! Come learn about tick-born diseases and plants on the move
May 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
All set for Science Rendezvous at Slush Puppy place tomorrow (Sat May 10)! Come learn about tick-born diseases and plants on the move
Very interesting election returns. Collapse of socially progressive NDP breaking evenly between Liberals and Conservatives. But in Quebec, loss of separatist BQ seats going heavily Liberal…
April 29, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Very interesting election returns. Collapse of socially progressive NDP breaking evenly between Liberals and Conservatives. But in Quebec, loss of separatist BQ seats going heavily Liberal…
Now published in @journalofecology.bsky.social -- garlic mustard may not be toxic to soil mycorrhizae but, as the cover suggests, they sure are attractive to arthropods!
doi.org/10.1111/1365...
doi.org/10.1111/1365...
April 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Now published in @journalofecology.bsky.social -- garlic mustard may not be toxic to soil mycorrhizae but, as the cover suggests, they sure are attractive to arthropods!
doi.org/10.1111/1365...
doi.org/10.1111/1365...
This is a case for MAGA that I can understand
March 8, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This is a case for MAGA that I can understand
Does anyone know of a good AI agent or app to transcribe large audio files (recorded field notes)?
March 6, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Does anyone know of a good AI agent or app to transcribe large audio files (recorded field notes)?
Play the long game
February 27, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Play the long game
I forgot to post this screenshot of John Harper's scathing critique
February 3, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I forgot to post this screenshot of John Harper's scathing critique
Looking back through the history of allelopathy, this pattern of rejection repeats itself many times. E.g., In 1970, Bruce Bartholomew used wire exclosures to show that the effects of ‘allelopathy’ could be offset by the exclusion of grazing and granivorous birds and mammals. 11/13
February 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Looking back through the history of allelopathy, this pattern of rejection repeats itself many times. E.g., In 1970, Bruce Bartholomew used wire exclosures to show that the effects of ‘allelopathy’ could be offset by the exclusion of grazing and granivorous birds and mammals. 11/13
Spatially clustered populations are confounded with urbanization, which is a known factor affecting secondary chemistry in clover. 10/13
February 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Spatially clustered populations are confounded with urbanization, which is a known factor affecting secondary chemistry in clover. 10/13
We also re-assessed evidence for rapid evolution and trade-offs reported in this system. It mostly comes down to correlations with population ‘age’, which are spatially clustered and possibly spurious, as we show in the supplement. 9/13
February 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
We also re-assessed evidence for rapid evolution and trade-offs reported in this system. It mostly comes down to correlations with population ‘age’, which are spatially clustered and possibly spurious, as we show in the supplement. 9/13
Maple grew just fine in our interspecific competition treatment, which is wholly inconsistent with a previous, high-profile study showing a complete elimination of mycorrhizal colonization and >75% reduction in Acer saccharum growth. 8/13
February 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Maple grew just fine in our interspecific competition treatment, which is wholly inconsistent with a previous, high-profile study showing a complete elimination of mycorrhizal colonization and >75% reduction in Acer saccharum growth. 8/13
Glucosinolates don't significantly impact AMF associations. Instead, it seems like we may have had the cause-and-effect reversed: glucosinolate investment doesn’t hurt competitors, but stronger competition reduces glucosinolate production. 7/13
February 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Glucosinolates don't significantly impact AMF associations. Instead, it seems like we may have had the cause-and-effect reversed: glucosinolate investment doesn’t hurt competitors, but stronger competition reduces glucosinolate production. 7/13
After accounting for this plasticity and correlated phenotype, we found a genetic trait that characterized the relative investment into glucosinolates (RGI). Accessions with higher RGI were worse competitors. This was true for both interspecific and intraspecific treatments 6/13
February 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
After accounting for this plasticity and correlated phenotype, we found a genetic trait that characterized the relative investment into glucosinolates (RGI). Accessions with higher RGI were worse competitors. This was true for both interspecific and intraspecific treatments 6/13
Variation in glucosinolates was plastic, and correlated with Chlrophyll a content. This won’t be surprising for those who study glucosinolates, but it has big implications for previous studies of A. petiolata that measured glucosinolates on field collections or in no-competition treatments. 5/13
February 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Variation in glucosinolates was plastic, and correlated with Chlrophyll a content. This won’t be surprising for those who study glucosinolates, but it has big implications for previous studies of A. petiolata that measured glucosinolates on field collections or in no-competition treatments. 5/13
In the greenhouse and later in a field site at the Queen's University Biological Station (QUBS), we grew the F1 generation in one of three treatments alone (non-competition treatment), in intraspecific competition, and in interspecific competition with Acer saccharum (sugar maple) seedling. 4/13
February 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
In the greenhouse and later in a field site at the Queen's University Biological Station (QUBS), we grew the F1 generation in one of three treatments alone (non-competition treatment), in intraspecific competition, and in interspecific competition with Acer saccharum (sugar maple) seedling. 4/13
We collected 22 naturally inbred lines across North America and grew them for a generation in a common garden. Surprisingly, few studies have done this, even though we know that glucosinolates are highly plastic throughout development and due to environment. 3/13
February 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
We collected 22 naturally inbred lines across North America and grew them for a generation in a common garden. Surprisingly, few studies have done this, even though we know that glucosinolates are highly plastic throughout development and due to environment. 3/13
Allelopathy has a storied past. Our new paper in #Jecology with former students R Honor and M Marcellus started as a genetic screen for allelopathy/novel weapons in Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard). Instead, we no longer think allelopathy played an important role in its invasion. 1/13
February 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Allelopathy has a storied past. Our new paper in #Jecology with former students R Honor and M Marcellus started as a genetic screen for allelopathy/novel weapons in Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard). Instead, we no longer think allelopathy played an important role in its invasion. 1/13
My heart goes out to the beautiful, industrious communities across North America, and the paycheck-to-paycheck families who will be most impacted by this senseless trade war 😪
February 2, 2025 at 3:04 PM
My heart goes out to the beautiful, industrious communities across North America, and the paycheck-to-paycheck families who will be most impacted by this senseless trade war 😪
Here’s an example about allelopathy from Harper’s (1977) Population Biology of Plants textbook. Despite being a harsh critic of allelopathy research, he is cautious here. Is this an example of ecological complexity or is the hypothesis just false?
January 16, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Here’s an example about allelopathy from Harper’s (1977) Population Biology of Plants textbook. Despite being a harsh critic of allelopathy research, he is cautious here. Is this an example of ecological complexity or is the hypothesis just false?