Francesco Cicconardi
@fcicconardi.bsky.social
Naturalista & Evolutionary biologist
🦋🐝🐛🐜🪰
@University of Bristol
🦋🐝🐛🐜🪰
@University of Bristol
Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi
Really like this paper, led by @ficusorganensis.bsky.social, the supplementary videos aren’t up yet but will post them when I’m back in the office!
Protein-rich flowers are spatially scattered food sources for Heliconinii 🦋. This requires a sophisticated spatial memory. @ebablab.bsky.social et al. monitors the flight behavior when 🦋 encounter novel 🌺 and compare this behavior with other 🦋 species.
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
Heliconinii butterflies display flight behaviours reminiscent of orientation flights when using new floral sources
Despite their small brains, many insects form long-term memories of the spatial distribution of resources. To support this, some species display ‘orientation’ flights to increase capture of landscape ...
journals.biologists.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Really like this paper, led by @ficusorganensis.bsky.social, the supplementary videos aren’t up yet but will post them when I’m back in the office!
Exceptionally arrogant for sure 😊
share.google/zjLDckGoX3Xt...
share.google/zjLDckGoX3Xt...
Human exceptionalism is at the root of the ecological crisis, claims evolutionary biologist
In the grand story of evolution, the crowning human distinction is our big brain. But our large heads have been slow to recognize a less admirable trait of Homo sapiens—self-centeredness.
share.google
October 10, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Exceptionally arrogant for sure 😊
share.google/zjLDckGoX3Xt...
share.google/zjLDckGoX3Xt...
New paper out! A nice collaboration.
We explore how olfactory brain structures and receptors evolved across this remarkable group, Heliconiini butterflies.
We explore how olfactory brain structures and receptors evolved across this remarkable group, Heliconiini butterflies.
Evolution of the olfactory system during the radiation of Heliconiini butterflies
Abstract. Sensory system evolution plays a crucial role in shaping species’ interactions with their environment, yet the extent to which olfactory system d
academic.oup.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:43 PM
New paper out! A nice collaboration.
We explore how olfactory brain structures and receptors evolved across this remarkable group, Heliconiini butterflies.
We explore how olfactory brain structures and receptors evolved across this remarkable group, Heliconiini butterflies.
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Olfactory floral mimicry of injured ants mediates the attraction of kleptoparasitic fly pollinators
Mochizuki reports a plant that lures pollinating flies by imitating the scent of ants
injured by predators. This study reveals the first known case of ant mimicry in flowers
and uncovers previously un...
share.google
October 1, 2025 at 9:35 AM
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Finally... Grant proposal submitted!
September 26, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Finally... Grant proposal submitted!
Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi
Villalobos-Leiva et al. analysed population structure, genetic diversity, and geometric morphometrics of wing shape in Vanessa carye, supporting its status as a migratory species with the longest journey among American butterflies.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molb...
#evobio #molbio #migration
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molb...
#evobio #molbio #migration
September 22, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Villalobos-Leiva et al. analysed population structure, genetic diversity, and geometric morphometrics of wing shape in Vanessa carye, supporting its status as a migratory species with the longest journey among American butterflies.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molb...
#evobio #molbio #migration
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molb...
#evobio #molbio #migration
Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi
Women, non-native English speakers & those form low-income countries are disadvantaged in science but by how much? We found that women with non-English first languages from low-income countries publish up to 70% fewer in English than their counterparts. 1/5
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
#languagebarriers
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
#languagebarriers
September 19, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Women, non-native English speakers & those form low-income countries are disadvantaged in science but by how much? We found that women with non-English first languages from low-income countries publish up to 70% fewer in English than their counterparts. 1/5
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
#languagebarriers
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
#languagebarriers
Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi
Very proud of this extremely collaborative piece: academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
Here, we show that divergence in visual systems - in response to differences in the light environment - leads to rapid divergence in sexually selected colour traits. Work brilliantly led by Madeleine Carruthers. 🐟👀🎨
Here, we show that divergence in visual systems - in response to differences in the light environment - leads to rapid divergence in sexually selected colour traits. Work brilliantly led by Madeleine Carruthers. 🐟👀🎨
Rapid Divergence of Visual Systems and Signaling Traits to Contrasting Light Regimes During Early Speciation of African Crater Lake Cichlid Fish
Abstract. Sensory adaptation is widely hypothesized to drive ecological speciation, yet empirical evidence from natural populations undergoing early stage
academic.oup.com
September 16, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Very proud of this extremely collaborative piece: academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
Here, we show that divergence in visual systems - in response to differences in the light environment - leads to rapid divergence in sexually selected colour traits. Work brilliantly led by Madeleine Carruthers. 🐟👀🎨
Here, we show that divergence in visual systems - in response to differences in the light environment - leads to rapid divergence in sexually selected colour traits. Work brilliantly led by Madeleine Carruthers. 🐟👀🎨
Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi
A new Science study of ants in Fiji—involving genomic sequencing of over 4000 ant specimens from museum collections—shows that most native species have been in decline since humans first arrived in the archipelago 3000 years ago. https://scim.ag/489mI2o
Genomic signatures indicate biodiversity loss in an endemic island ant fauna
Insect populations have declined worldwide, but the extent and drivers of these declines are debated. Most studies rely on field surveys performed in the past century, leaving gaps in our understandin...
www.science.org
September 15, 2025 at 7:33 PM
A new Science study of ants in Fiji—involving genomic sequencing of over 4000 ant specimens from museum collections—shows that most native species have been in decline since humans first arrived in the archipelago 3000 years ago. https://scim.ag/489mI2o
𝘊𝘳𝘺𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘢 𝘴𝘱.
September 15, 2025 at 9:34 AM
𝘊𝘳𝘺𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘢 𝘴𝘱.
Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi
Our paper on central complex evolution in Heliconiini butterflies is now available as reviewed preprint at @elife.bsky.social 🎉🎉. Please check out the helpful and constructive reviews which we are going to address in the next weeks 🤗 elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre... @ebablab.bsky.social
Distinct evolutionary trajectories of two integration centres, the central complex and mushroom bodies, across Heliconiini butterflies
elifesciences.org
September 13, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Our paper on central complex evolution in Heliconiini butterflies is now available as reviewed preprint at @elife.bsky.social 🎉🎉. Please check out the helpful and constructive reviews which we are going to address in the next weeks 🤗 elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre... @ebablab.bsky.social
Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi
Protecting Indigenous territories in areas of the Amazon rainforest with high levels of forest cover may help reduce the number of cases of several diseases in the surrounding areas, according to an analysis in Communications Earth & Environment. go.nature.com/47z1jPX 🧪
September 12, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Protecting Indigenous territories in areas of the Amazon rainforest with high levels of forest cover may help reduce the number of cases of several diseases in the surrounding areas, according to an analysis in Communications Earth & Environment. go.nature.com/47z1jPX 🧪
Boop!
I Booped a Caterpillar Every Day for 33 Days.
YouTube video by Autumn Parks
youtube.com
September 9, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Boop!
Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi
More on the ancient foundation of animal development. Coyle & King illustrate how core regulatory modules were present in our pre-animal ancestors. The key was not invention, but recycling & new protein interactions. #CellBiology #multicellularity #protistsOnSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
September 8, 2025 at 9:33 AM
More on the ancient foundation of animal development. Coyle & King illustrate how core regulatory modules were present in our pre-animal ancestors. The key was not invention, but recycling & new protein interactions. #CellBiology #multicellularity #protistsOnSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi
Red devil spiders from the Canary Islands have a genome half the size of mainland counterparts - Pisarenco, @jrozasub.bsky.social et al. show how purifying selection against slightly deleterious DNA and TE insertions is the primary mechanism.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf206
#evobio #molbio #TEsky
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf206
#evobio #molbio #TEsky
How Did Evolution Halve Genome Size During an Oceanic Island Colonization?
Abstract. Red devil spiders of the genus Dysdera colonized the Canary Islands and underwent an extraordinary diversification. Notably, their genomes are ne
doi.org
September 5, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Red devil spiders from the Canary Islands have a genome half the size of mainland counterparts - Pisarenco, @jrozasub.bsky.social et al. show how purifying selection against slightly deleterious DNA and TE insertions is the primary mechanism.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf206
#evobio #molbio #TEsky
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf206
#evobio #molbio #TEsky
Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi
Hines et al. examined the genetics of parallel color pattern acquisition in three bumble bees in Western N. America - in three lineages, color shifts map to the regulatory region of a segmental-fate-determining Hox gene called Abdominal B.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf187
#evobio #molbio
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf187
#evobio #molbio
September 1, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Hines et al. examined the genetics of parallel color pattern acquisition in three bumble bees in Western N. America - in three lineages, color shifts map to the regulatory region of a segmental-fate-determining Hox gene called Abdominal B.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf187
#evobio #molbio
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf187
#evobio #molbio
Finally good news!
A study in Nature Communications shows that countries are at different stages of a common global sequence of decline in religious participation, personal importance of religion, and religious belonging. go.nature.com/4oPDLfM 🧪
September 1, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Finally good news!
This is a great opportunity to learn all about genomics!!!!!
Early bird applications for the Workshop on Genomics 2026 are still open until the 1st of August, we have a few spots left! Do not miss the chance to get a discount! 🙆🏽♀️ #evomics2026
Apply here: evomics.org/apply-worksh...
Apply here: evomics.org/apply-worksh...
Applications are now open for the Workshop on Genomics 2026 (11-24 Jan) in Cesky Krumlov, Czechia. For the first time, we are offering Early Bird Registration discounts! 🐣 Do not miss the chance! 🤩 Help us spread the word among friends and colleagues! 🙆🏽♀️ #evomics2026
evomics.org/apply-worksh...
evomics.org/apply-worksh...
August 31, 2025 at 10:15 AM
This is a great opportunity to learn all about genomics!!!!!
Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi
“Bedazzled Jewels” The #metalmark butterflies (Fam. #Riodinidae) include many stunning species w/ diverse forms. In this group are the #Helicopiini, which are furry & often adorned w/ metallic scales. Here are Elegant #Jewelmark, #Anteros allectus, & Black-bellied Jewelmark, A. formosus. #Ecuador
January 6, 2025 at 2:00 AM
“Bedazzled Jewels” The #metalmark butterflies (Fam. #Riodinidae) include many stunning species w/ diverse forms. In this group are the #Helicopiini, which are furry & often adorned w/ metallic scales. Here are Elegant #Jewelmark, #Anteros allectus, & Black-bellied Jewelmark, A. formosus. #Ecuador
Reposted by Francesco Cicconardi
A study in Nature Medicine identifies the Mediterranean diet as a promising approach to mitigate genetically dependent Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias risk by targeting a broad spectrum of metabolic pathways. go.nature.com/469m6s3 #medsky 🍎📃 🧪
August 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
A study in Nature Medicine identifies the Mediterranean diet as a promising approach to mitigate genetically dependent Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias risk by targeting a broad spectrum of metabolic pathways. go.nature.com/469m6s3 #medsky 🍎📃 🧪