Amanda Ackiss
@fin-gen.bsky.social
Molecular ecologist | evolutionary biologist | freshwater invader working in fish speciation, adaptation, and conservation genomics 🐟🧬
She/her. Personal profile = views are mine.
She/her. Personal profile = views are mine.
Pinned
Amanda Ackiss
@fin-gen.bsky.social
· Apr 24
The search for Lake Superior ciscoes as described by W. Koelz in 1929 yields a surprising discovery: Shortnose Cisco (Coregonus reighardi), a presumed extinct species
The Laurentian Great Lakes (LGL) formed following the retreat of the Wisconsin glaciation 15-9 ka and provided a vast volume of freshwater habitat for coregonines, which included a diverse endemic com...
www.biorxiv.org
A light in the midst of a lot of chaos and uncertainty in #GreatLakes science-
Using genetics and morphology, we discovered a fish that was once presumed extinct still swims in Lake Superior. #CiscoInferno🔥 🐟🧬
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Using genetics and morphology, we discovered a fish that was once presumed extinct still swims in Lake Superior. #CiscoInferno🔥 🐟🧬
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
A new report reveals that fish and wildlife conservation generates substantial economic benefits. Federal, state, local, and nonprofit contributions combined contributed $115.8 billion in total economic activity and supported over 575,000 jobs nationwide. Read more: fisheries.org/2025/11/new-...
November 19, 2025 at 8:24 PM
A new report reveals that fish and wildlife conservation generates substantial economic benefits. Federal, state, local, and nonprofit contributions combined contributed $115.8 billion in total economic activity and supported over 575,000 jobs nationwide. Read more: fisheries.org/2025/11/new-...
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Think November, Think Cisco. #GreatLakes #SundayFishSketch
November 17, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Think November, Think Cisco. #GreatLakes #SundayFishSketch
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Several PhD positions open at University of Jyväskylä including one on #salmon!
If it will be funded, I look forward to collaborating with the project: Interactions between thermal performance and parasite resistance in genetically distinct salmon populations 🐟🪱🔎 🧪
Apply by 14 Dec 2025👇
If it will be funded, I look forward to collaborating with the project: Interactions between thermal performance and parasite resistance in genetically distinct salmon populations 🐟🪱🔎 🧪
Apply by 14 Dec 2025👇
Doctoral Researcher positions, Biological and Environmental Sciences
The Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences is seeking applicants for 1–4 fully funded doctoral researcher positions. The positions will begin on August 1, 2026, or as agreed, for a maximu...
ats.talentadore.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Several PhD positions open at University of Jyväskylä including one on #salmon!
If it will be funded, I look forward to collaborating with the project: Interactions between thermal performance and parasite resistance in genetically distinct salmon populations 🐟🪱🔎 🧪
Apply by 14 Dec 2025👇
If it will be funded, I look forward to collaborating with the project: Interactions between thermal performance and parasite resistance in genetically distinct salmon populations 🐟🪱🔎 🧪
Apply by 14 Dec 2025👇
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Job Opening **ASSISTANT PROFESSOR MARINE ECOLOGY**, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island.
jobs.uri.edu/postings/15960
jobs.uri.edu/postings/15960
November 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Job Opening **ASSISTANT PROFESSOR MARINE ECOLOGY**, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island.
jobs.uri.edu/postings/15960
jobs.uri.edu/postings/15960
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Great to see new work lead by @pjflood.bsky.social out in @globalchangebio.bsky.social this week. Another piece from our collaboration with @michigandnr.bsky.social examining recently digitized historical lake survey data.
news.umich.edu/fishes-young...
news.umich.edu/fishes-young...
November 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Great to see new work lead by @pjflood.bsky.social out in @globalchangebio.bsky.social this week. Another piece from our collaboration with @michigandnr.bsky.social examining recently digitized historical lake survey data.
news.umich.edu/fishes-young...
news.umich.edu/fishes-young...
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
79% will leave behind no science staff.
79% will leave behind no science staff.
October 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
79% will leave behind no science staff.
79% will leave behind no science staff.
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
"The Great Lakes Science Center in Michigan would lose 108 of 137 positions."
via @eenews.bsky.social
via @eenews.bsky.social
E&E News: USGS science centers face Trump’s chopping block
Interior has indicated that it plans to lay off employees in science centers across the country, including deep cuts at some offices.
subscriber.politicopro.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:52 PM
"The Great Lakes Science Center in Michigan would lose 108 of 137 positions."
via @eenews.bsky.social
via @eenews.bsky.social
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Court document reveals that the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area would be cut severely, and maybe entirely, along with critical natural resource management staff. This would be devastating for our public lands!
“The Monday filing outlines where 2,050 positions would be eliminated; the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Land Management, and the main Interior office would be especially hard hit. Regional offices with the National Park Service are also targeted for significant cuts.”
Inside Trump's plan to eviscerate USGS and beyond - Center for Western Priorities
Forced by a federal judge to partially reveal plans for firing federal employees, the Trump administration on Monday said it plans to “imminently” terminate more than 2,000 employees at the Interior d...
westernpriorities.org
October 21, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Court document reveals that the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area would be cut severely, and maybe entirely, along with critical natural resource management staff. This would be devastating for our public lands!
Speechless. A fisheries science center that has a 100 year history in Ann Arbor.
Federal layoffs would gut Great Lakes fisheries research center
The Trump administration is planning a mass layoff of federal employees who conduct research of Great Lakes fisheries.
www.detroitnews.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Speechless. A fisheries science center that has a 100 year history in Ann Arbor.
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
New paper alert! Not yet formatted, but check it out to see what we found regarding sex chromosomes in tilapia and other outgroup cichlid species.
academic.oup.com/gbe/advance-...
academic.oup.com/gbe/advance-...
Before the East African radiation: sex chromosome systems in basal haplotilapiine cichlids
Abstract. Cichlid fishes have undergone an extraordinary diversification in East Africa. They also have a high rate of sex chromosome turnover. This clade
academic.oup.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:15 PM
New paper alert! Not yet formatted, but check it out to see what we found regarding sex chromosomes in tilapia and other outgroup cichlid species.
academic.oup.com/gbe/advance-...
academic.oup.com/gbe/advance-...
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
A very appropriate theme today! Deepwater cisco species are sampled by trawling. This is Coregonus nigripinnis, one of the biggest ciscos and some of their scales that I sampled from the archive today dating back to the 60s
September 17, 2025 at 11:01 PM
A very appropriate theme today! Deepwater cisco species are sampled by trawling. This is Coregonus nigripinnis, one of the biggest ciscos and some of their scales that I sampled from the archive today dating back to the 60s
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Our review on the last decade+ of hybrid incompatibility research is now out! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Original thread here: bsky.app/profile/moll...
Original thread here: bsky.app/profile/moll...
August 10, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Our review on the last decade+ of hybrid incompatibility research is now out! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Original thread here: bsky.app/profile/moll...
Original thread here: bsky.app/profile/moll...
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Been waiting on a hamlet phylogeny (Hypoplectrus spp.) They have a beautiful mating ritual where they loop around each other floating up - then go down switch sexes and do the dance again.
Also notable / 300+ genomes can’t resolve the relationships of 19 species!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Also notable / 300+ genomes can’t resolve the relationships of 19 species!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Radiation with reproductive isolation in the near-absence of phylogenetic signal
Phenotypic diversification and reproductive isolation may unfold in the near-absence of phylogenetic signal.
www.science.org
July 30, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Been waiting on a hamlet phylogeny (Hypoplectrus spp.) They have a beautiful mating ritual where they loop around each other floating up - then go down switch sexes and do the dance again.
Also notable / 300+ genomes can’t resolve the relationships of 19 species!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Also notable / 300+ genomes can’t resolve the relationships of 19 species!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Frog Bay Tribal National Park along Lake Superior (established by Red Cliff Band in 2012) was the first of its kind. Other Tribes have since followed with similar parks.
#GreatLakes #Indigenous
www.wpr.org/news/lake-su...
#GreatLakes #Indigenous
www.wpr.org/news/lake-su...
On the Lake Superior shoreline, tribal national park holds special meaning
Frog Bay Tribal National Park opened in 2012 to restore reservation lands back to tribal ownership and ensure tribal members and outsiders alike can access the area for generations.
www.wpr.org
July 28, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Frog Bay Tribal National Park along Lake Superior (established by Red Cliff Band in 2012) was the first of its kind. Other Tribes have since followed with similar parks.
#GreatLakes #Indigenous
www.wpr.org/news/lake-su...
#GreatLakes #Indigenous
www.wpr.org/news/lake-su...
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Final read through of revisions and response to reviewer comments is done for the tilapia manuscript so look out for that here shortly! This was a hard one to pull together and Tom and I put it off for a while to do other things, so I’m glad to finally have it out of my hair.
July 20, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Final read through of revisions and response to reviewer comments is done for the tilapia manuscript so look out for that here shortly! This was a hard one to pull together and Tom and I put it off for a while to do other things, so I’m glad to finally have it out of my hair.
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
"Like lobster to Maine and salmon to Alaska, whitefish is one of the signature animals in Michigan's history"
But after decades of slow decline, the fish are now on the brink of collapse in most of Lakes Michigan + Huron in part due to invasive mussels #GreatLakes www.bridgemi.com/michigan-env...
But after decades of slow decline, the fish are now on the brink of collapse in most of Lakes Michigan + Huron in part due to invasive mussels #GreatLakes www.bridgemi.com/michigan-env...
Iconic whitefish on edge of collapse as Great Lakes biodiversity crisis deepens | Bridge Michigan
Few fish are as synonymous with Michigan as whitefish. Pushed to the edge by invasive species, their struggle is the tip of a cataclysmic species collapse that could change our way of life.
www.bridgemi.com
June 23, 2025 at 2:56 PM
"Like lobster to Maine and salmon to Alaska, whitefish is one of the signature animals in Michigan's history"
But after decades of slow decline, the fish are now on the brink of collapse in most of Lakes Michigan + Huron in part due to invasive mussels #GreatLakes www.bridgemi.com/michigan-env...
But after decades of slow decline, the fish are now on the brink of collapse in most of Lakes Michigan + Huron in part due to invasive mussels #GreatLakes www.bridgemi.com/michigan-env...
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Today is 🪸 Coral Triangle Day! DYK the #Philippines is one of 6 countries in this global epicenter of marine biodiversity? I was lucky to see this pair of mating Olive Ridley #seaturtles during a survey of Iliana Bay (a.k.a. Iranun Bay) 🇵🇭 last April with BALYENA.ORG
June 9, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Today is 🪸 Coral Triangle Day! DYK the #Philippines is one of 6 countries in this global epicenter of marine biodiversity? I was lucky to see this pair of mating Olive Ridley #seaturtles during a survey of Iliana Bay (a.k.a. Iranun Bay) 🇵🇭 last April with BALYENA.ORG
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Check out our new preprint where we identify a large haplotype block associated with climate and smoltification in Atlantic salmon 🐟
Large haplotypes linked to climate and life history variation in divergent lineages of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.23.655798v1
June 2, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Check out our new preprint where we identify a large haplotype block associated with climate and smoltification in Atlantic salmon 🐟
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
What do endangered fish, schoolkids, and a conservation video game have in common? Dr. Trevor Pitcher.
Meet the scientist blending lab work with storytelling, policy, and play to protect Canada’s freshwater species. Read his story on the #CSPBlog 💡▶️ buff.ly/jxWfLkl
@pitcherlab.bsky.social
Meet the scientist blending lab work with storytelling, policy, and play to protect Canada’s freshwater species. Read his story on the #CSPBlog 💡▶️ buff.ly/jxWfLkl
@pitcherlab.bsky.social
May 22, 2025 at 11:20 AM
What do endangered fish, schoolkids, and a conservation video game have in common? Dr. Trevor Pitcher.
Meet the scientist blending lab work with storytelling, policy, and play to protect Canada’s freshwater species. Read his story on the #CSPBlog 💡▶️ buff.ly/jxWfLkl
@pitcherlab.bsky.social
Meet the scientist blending lab work with storytelling, policy, and play to protect Canada’s freshwater species. Read his story on the #CSPBlog 💡▶️ buff.ly/jxWfLkl
@pitcherlab.bsky.social
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
It's unbelievable to me that the jobs of USGS scientists—who are essential to understanding and protecting fish and fisheries—are at risk. Their work is absolutely critical.
All of the USGS ecosystems folks I know are amazing scientists and humans. The Great Lakes and their fishes would be lost without them
The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area, the foundation of the science that informs fish and wildlife management, disease response, and conservation policy across the U.S., is at risk. We're joining @nationalwildlife.bsky.social in a virtual rally on May 22 - register now: www.mobilize.us/nwf/event/79...
May 21, 2025 at 1:37 PM
It's unbelievable to me that the jobs of USGS scientists—who are essential to understanding and protecting fish and fisheries—are at risk. Their work is absolutely critical.
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
All of the USGS ecosystems folks I know are amazing scientists and humans. The Great Lakes and their fishes would be lost without them
The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area, the foundation of the science that informs fish and wildlife management, disease response, and conservation policy across the U.S., is at risk. We're joining @nationalwildlife.bsky.social in a virtual rally on May 22 - register now: www.mobilize.us/nwf/event/79...
Virtual Rally to Save the Cornerstone of Conservation Science · National Wildlife Federation
We need YOU as we rally in support of critical federal government services at risk of being lost forever. The U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area is responsible for many of the programs tha...
www.mobilize.us
May 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
All of the USGS ecosystems folks I know are amazing scientists and humans. The Great Lakes and their fishes would be lost without them
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
Fam — here’s a nice overview of the 43 nationwide Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Units, which have been a lasting model for wildlife research since the 1930s, created by wildlife science pioneers such as Aldo Leopold & Ding Darling. 🐟🦌🦆🦃🦎
Link: wildlifemanagement.institute/outdoor-news...
Link: wildlifemanagement.institute/outdoor-news...
Cooperative Research Units Program Unveils Two Informative Fact Sheets
The Cooperative Research Units Program is excited to release two new fact sheets: “A Hawk’s View of 2024” and “10-Year Overview.” The fact sheets highlight our program’s success in training of the nex...
wildlifemanagement.institute
May 20, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Fam — here’s a nice overview of the 43 nationwide Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Units, which have been a lasting model for wildlife research since the 1930s, created by wildlife science pioneers such as Aldo Leopold & Ding Darling. 🐟🦌🦆🦃🦎
Link: wildlifemanagement.institute/outdoor-news...
Link: wildlifemanagement.institute/outdoor-news...
Reposted by Amanda Ackiss
The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area, the foundation of the science that informs fish and wildlife management, disease response, and conservation policy across the U.S., is at risk. We're joining @nationalwildlife.bsky.social in a virtual rally on May 22 - register now: www.mobilize.us/nwf/event/79...
Virtual Rally to Save the Cornerstone of Conservation Science · National Wildlife Federation
We need YOU as we rally in support of critical federal government services at risk of being lost forever. The U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area is responsible for many of the programs tha...
www.mobilize.us
May 19, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area, the foundation of the science that informs fish and wildlife management, disease response, and conservation policy across the U.S., is at risk. We're joining @nationalwildlife.bsky.social in a virtual rally on May 22 - register now: www.mobilize.us/nwf/event/79...