Gavin Ballantyne
@gavbecology.bsky.social
Pollination ecologist and lecturer in Animal and Plant Biology at Edinburgh Napier University
Scottish, European, anti-fascist, he/him 🏳️🌈
Scottish, European, anti-fascist, he/him 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Another little creb 😊
September 18, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Another little creb 😊
Some surprisingly good coverage of the damage domesticated honeybees can do to habitats:
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The island that banned hives: can honeybees actually harm nature?
On a tiny Italian island, scientists conducted a radical experiment to see if the bees were causing their wild cousins to decline
www.theguardian.com
September 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Some surprisingly good coverage of the damage domesticated honeybees can do to habitats:
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
“We may feel like we’ve seen lots of butterflies this summer, but that’s only because last year was so awful." - Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation.
More about the results, and why they matter, here
#BigButterflyCount #butterflies #moths #insects
More about the results, and why they matter, here
#BigButterflyCount #butterflies #moths #insects
The #BigButterflyCount results are in and it's official...
2025 was an average year for butterflies.
See the full results and what can be done to help butterflies and moths 👇
https://butterfly-conservation.org/big-butterfly-count-results-2025
2025 was an average year for butterflies.
See the full results and what can be done to help butterflies and moths 👇
https://butterfly-conservation.org/big-butterfly-count-results-2025
September 11, 2025 at 8:25 AM
“We may feel like we’ve seen lots of butterflies this summer, but that’s only because last year was so awful." - Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation.
More about the results, and why they matter, here
#BigButterflyCount #butterflies #moths #insects
More about the results, and why they matter, here
#BigButterflyCount #butterflies #moths #insects
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Migrants didn't cut council funding. Migrants didn't cut NHS funding. Migrants didn't close youth centres. Migrants didn't sell off council houses. Migrants aren't filling our rivers with sewage.
Farage and co. will tell you to point the finger at migrants.
Don't fall for it.
Farage and co. will tell you to point the finger at migrants.
Don't fall for it.
August 26, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Migrants didn't cut council funding. Migrants didn't cut NHS funding. Migrants didn't close youth centres. Migrants didn't sell off council houses. Migrants aren't filling our rivers with sewage.
Farage and co. will tell you to point the finger at migrants.
Don't fall for it.
Farage and co. will tell you to point the finger at migrants.
Don't fall for it.
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
A wasteland of rubble, dust and graves: how Gaza looks from the sky
A wasteland of rubble, dust and graves: how Gaza looks from the sky
The Guardian joins a Jordanian military airdrop for a rare chance to observe a landscape devastated by Israel’s offensive
Seen from the air, Gaza looks like the ruins of an ancient civilisation, brought to light after centuries of darkness. A patchwork of concrete shapes and shattered walls, neighbourhoods scattered with craters, rubble and roads that lead nowhere. The remnants of cities wiped out.
But here, there has been no natural disaster and no slow passage of time.
Members of Jordan’s military stand among pallets of aid about to be dropped on Gaza. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
August 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM
A wasteland of rubble, dust and graves: how Gaza looks from the sky
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Our political leaders cannot say they didn't know - @michaelfakhri.bsky.social first warned that Israel was orchestrating the deliberate starvation of Palestinians in January 2024 www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
July 23, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Our political leaders cannot say they didn't know - @michaelfakhri.bsky.social first warned that Israel was orchestrating the deliberate starvation of Palestinians in January 2024 www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
I noticed something interesting when looking closer at my pics of this tiny frog (Granular Poison Frog, Oophaga granulifera) in Costa Rica. I'm not positive, but it looks like half an ant is embedded in its back, I think missing the abdomen. Some poison frogs eat ants - maybe one bit back? 🌿🐙🐸
June 10, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I noticed something interesting when looking closer at my pics of this tiny frog (Granular Poison Frog, Oophaga granulifera) in Costa Rica. I'm not positive, but it looks like half an ant is embedded in its back, I think missing the abdomen. Some poison frogs eat ants - maybe one bit back? 🌿🐙🐸
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
New UK AI datacentre could cause five times emissions of Birmingham airport
New UK AI datacentre could cause five times emissions of Birmingham airport
Exclusive: emissions from power-hungry computer warehouses at Lincolnshire facility expected to be 850,000 tonnes a year
A vast new datacentre to feed Britain’s rising demand for artificial intelligence could cause more greenhouse gas emissions than five international airports.
Elsham datacentre in Lincolnshire is on course to cost £10bn and its 15 power-hungry computer warehouses are projected to release five times the carbon dioxide of Birmingham airport, including from take-offs and landings. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
June 6, 2025 at 12:28 PM
New UK AI datacentre could cause five times emissions of Birmingham airport
The tough forewings of beetles and earwigs can be confusing to students learning insect identification for the first time. The Ant Lab videos are such a brilliant resource, showing how these amazing animals use their wings
Finally checked off "rove beetle wing folding" from my need to film list. New video up now: youtu.be/uvXxiUjw-xY
June 4, 2025 at 7:19 AM
The tough forewings of beetles and earwigs can be confusing to students learning insect identification for the first time. The Ant Lab videos are such a brilliant resource, showing how these amazing animals use their wings
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Half the tree of life’: ecologists’ horror as nature reserves are emptied of insects
- A new point in history has been reached, entomologists say, as climate-led species’ collapse moves up the food chain even in supposedly protected regions free of pesticides
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- A new point in history has been reached, entomologists say, as climate-led species’ collapse moves up the food chain even in supposedly protected regions free of pesticides
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Half the tree of life’: ecologists’ horror as nature reserves are emptied of insects
A new point in history has been reached, entomologists say, as climate-led species’ collapse moves up the food chain even in supposedly protected regions free of pesticides
www.theguardian.com
June 3, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Half the tree of life’: ecologists’ horror as nature reserves are emptied of insects
- A new point in history has been reached, entomologists say, as climate-led species’ collapse moves up the food chain even in supposedly protected regions free of pesticides
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- A new point in history has been reached, entomologists say, as climate-led species’ collapse moves up the food chain even in supposedly protected regions free of pesticides
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
😱👇🏽
#nametheharm
Increased global greenhouse gasses will increase global temperatures making ice sheets in polar and alpine zones melt and become unstable. Their collapse will cause local & regional damage
#nametheharm
Increased global greenhouse gasses will increase global temperatures making ice sheets in polar and alpine zones melt and become unstable. Their collapse will cause local & regional damage
INCREDIBLE !!
Here we are... 😱😱😱
After days of overloading and cracks propagating, Birch Glacier collapsed today at 3.24 pm over Blatten and the dammed Lonza river...
Devastating! 😭
www.letemps.ch/suisse/valai...
Here we are... 😱😱😱
After days of overloading and cracks propagating, Birch Glacier collapsed today at 3.24 pm over Blatten and the dammed Lonza river...
Devastating! 😭
www.letemps.ch/suisse/valai...
May 28, 2025 at 9:51 PM
😱👇🏽
#nametheharm
Increased global greenhouse gasses will increase global temperatures making ice sheets in polar and alpine zones melt and become unstable. Their collapse will cause local & regional damage
#nametheharm
Increased global greenhouse gasses will increase global temperatures making ice sheets in polar and alpine zones melt and become unstable. Their collapse will cause local & regional damage
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Gaza is not an anomaly. It is a mirror. A reflection of our world as it really is today. And for many, a preview of what is to come.
mondoweiss.net/2025/05/huma...
#Palestine #Israel
mondoweiss.net/2025/05/huma...
#Palestine #Israel
Humanity is being buried in Gaza. We must rise up to save our collective future.
Gaza is not an anomaly. It is a mirror. A reflection of our world as it really is today. And for many, a preview of what is to come.
mondoweiss.net
May 28, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Gaza is not an anomaly. It is a mirror. A reflection of our world as it really is today. And for many, a preview of what is to come.
mondoweiss.net/2025/05/huma...
#Palestine #Israel
mondoweiss.net/2025/05/huma...
#Palestine #Israel
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Gaza aid chaos ‘completely avoidable’ says UNRWA director
Gaza aid chaos ‘completely avoidable’ says UNRWA director
Sam Rose works for the UN Relief and Works Agency, where he is the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza.
www.channel4.com
May 27, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Gaza aid chaos ‘completely avoidable’ says UNRWA director
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Something a bit different for today's #foxoftheday . Watch some newts , accompanied by a drinking fox's tongue , shared by @urbanponds101 ! Top work !
May 28, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Something a bit different for today's #foxoftheday . Watch some newts , accompanied by a drinking fox's tongue , shared by @urbanponds101 ! Top work !
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Open letter by Israeli academics.
“This is a horrifying litany of war crimes and even crimes against humanity, all of our own doing. … It is human societies, not governments alone, that commit crimes against humanity. … We cannot claim that we did not know. We have been silent for too long.”
“This is a horrifying litany of war crimes and even crimes against humanity, all of our own doing. … It is human societies, not governments alone, that commit crimes against humanity. … We cannot claim that we did not know. We have been silent for too long.”
May 28, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Open letter by Israeli academics.
“This is a horrifying litany of war crimes and even crimes against humanity, all of our own doing. … It is human societies, not governments alone, that commit crimes against humanity. … We cannot claim that we did not know. We have been silent for too long.”
“This is a horrifying litany of war crimes and even crimes against humanity, all of our own doing. … It is human societies, not governments alone, that commit crimes against humanity. … We cannot claim that we did not know. We have been silent for too long.”
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Bees come in all shapes and sizes...
This wee cutie measures around 7mm and is one of the UK’s smallest bee species. Halictus tumulorum, I think (commonly known as The Bronze Furrow Bee) - but my identification skills leave a lot to be desired, so do please correct me if I’m wrong.
#bees #nature
This wee cutie measures around 7mm and is one of the UK’s smallest bee species. Halictus tumulorum, I think (commonly known as The Bronze Furrow Bee) - but my identification skills leave a lot to be desired, so do please correct me if I’m wrong.
#bees #nature
May 26, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
"Seas off Cork a 'marine desert' due to overfishing of sprat, says owner of whale-watching business."
Sprat, the basis of entire ecosystems, is being hoovered out to turn into fishmeal, an *insanely* wasteful process.
Who or what gives them the right???
www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster...
Sprat, the basis of entire ecosystems, is being hoovered out to turn into fishmeal, an *insanely* wasteful process.
Who or what gives them the right???
www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster...
Seas off Cork a 'marine desert' due to overfishing of sprat, says owner of whale-watching business
Skipper Colin Barnes said the whales have left his search area of ocean off Cork because the sprat they feed on has been fished to near extinction
www.irishexaminer.com
May 28, 2025 at 6:01 AM
"Seas off Cork a 'marine desert' due to overfishing of sprat, says owner of whale-watching business."
Sprat, the basis of entire ecosystems, is being hoovered out to turn into fishmeal, an *insanely* wasteful process.
Who or what gives them the right???
www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster...
Sprat, the basis of entire ecosystems, is being hoovered out to turn into fishmeal, an *insanely* wasteful process.
Who or what gives them the right???
www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster...
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
🔴 NEW 🔴
UK Supermarket Seabass Linked to Devastating Overfishing in Senegal
Waitrose, Co-op, Lidl, Asda and Aldi among retailers selling fish fed on west African catch
📝 @hazelhealy.bsky.social & @brigitte-whl.bsky.social
UK Supermarket Seabass Linked to Devastating Overfishing in Senegal
Waitrose, Co-op, Lidl, Asda and Aldi among retailers selling fish fed on west African catch
📝 @hazelhealy.bsky.social & @brigitte-whl.bsky.social
Revealed: UK Supermarket Seabass Linked to Devastating Overfishing in Senegal
Waitrose, Co-op, Lidl, Asda and Aldi among retailers selling fish fed on west African catch
www.desmog.com
May 22, 2025 at 10:16 AM
🔴 NEW 🔴
UK Supermarket Seabass Linked to Devastating Overfishing in Senegal
Waitrose, Co-op, Lidl, Asda and Aldi among retailers selling fish fed on west African catch
📝 @hazelhealy.bsky.social & @brigitte-whl.bsky.social
UK Supermarket Seabass Linked to Devastating Overfishing in Senegal
Waitrose, Co-op, Lidl, Asda and Aldi among retailers selling fish fed on west African catch
📝 @hazelhealy.bsky.social & @brigitte-whl.bsky.social
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Always a pleasure to come across a Golden-fringed Mason Bee (Osmia aurulenta) nest! This is one of 3 UK bee species to nest in empty snail shells. A female had just finished pasting leaf mastic over the entrance to the shell when I came across her yesterday at Porth Neigwl.
#SolitaryBeeWeek
#SolitaryBeeWeek
May 21, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Always a pleasure to come across a Golden-fringed Mason Bee (Osmia aurulenta) nest! This is one of 3 UK bee species to nest in empty snail shells. A female had just finished pasting leaf mastic over the entrance to the shell when I came across her yesterday at Porth Neigwl.
#SolitaryBeeWeek
#SolitaryBeeWeek
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Colossal Liar Wolves
forbetterscience.com/2025/05/21/c...
forbetterscience.com/2025/05/21/c...
Colossal Liar Wolves
“What is most concerning is that Colossal’s ‘dire wolves’ have now attracted the attention of the Trump administration.” – Ronan Taylor
forbetterscience.com
May 21, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Colossal Liar Wolves
forbetterscience.com/2025/05/21/c...
forbetterscience.com/2025/05/21/c...
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
This Ivy-leafed toadflax does not give up its pollen easily but this small furrow bee is determined.
#bees #pollination #naturephotography #wildflowers #macrophotography #wildlifephotography
@brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @ianbeavis.bsky.social @jeffollerton.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @
#bees #pollination #naturephotography #wildflowers #macrophotography #wildlifephotography
@brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @ianbeavis.bsky.social @jeffollerton.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @
April 30, 2025 at 6:59 AM
This Ivy-leafed toadflax does not give up its pollen easily but this small furrow bee is determined.
#bees #pollination #naturephotography #wildflowers #macrophotography #wildlifephotography
@brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @ianbeavis.bsky.social @jeffollerton.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @
#bees #pollination #naturephotography #wildflowers #macrophotography #wildlifephotography
@brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @ianbeavis.bsky.social @jeffollerton.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
Even more terrifying than the numbers - the likelihood that Labour will conclude that they need to push even harder to the right instead of setting out why the cult of Farage is wrong, dishonest and corrupt.
Seat Projection based on this morning's YouGov Poll:
RFM: 309 (+304)
LAB: 138 (-273)
LDM: 95 (+23)
SNP: 43 (+34)
CON: 21 (-100)
GRN: 7 (+3)
PLC: 7 (+3)
Oth: 11 (+6)
RFM: 309 (+304)
LAB: 138 (-273)
LDM: 95 (+23)
SNP: 43 (+34)
CON: 21 (-100)
GRN: 7 (+3)
PLC: 7 (+3)
Oth: 11 (+6)
May 20, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Even more terrifying than the numbers - the likelihood that Labour will conclude that they need to push even harder to the right instead of setting out why the cult of Farage is wrong, dishonest and corrupt.
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
New blog: new paper on science denial. Combatting denialism depends on community approaches to scicomm. Experts need to be supported by academic and research institutions, policymakers, and journalists #academicsky #commsky wp.me/pF3Q3-TP
New paper: science denial, insect apocalypse and biodiversity loss
Saunders, Lees, Grames (2025) Understanding and counteracting the denial of insect biodiversity loss Science denial is one of the greatest threats to humanity. Denial of climate change and public h…
wp.me
May 18, 2025 at 7:14 AM
New blog: new paper on science denial. Combatting denialism depends on community approaches to scicomm. Experts need to be supported by academic and research institutions, policymakers, and journalists #academicsky #commsky wp.me/pF3Q3-TP
Reposted by Gavin Ballantyne
There is a point at which wealth gives you too much power to shape politics, just as there is a point above which super-rich lifestyles cause extreme harm to the environment.
@dhnnjyn.bsky.social on why we need an "extreme wealth line" in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@dhnnjyn.bsky.social on why we need an "extreme wealth line" in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It’s not a rich list – it’s gone far beyond that. We need to talk about ‘extreme wealth’ | Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah
We recognise extreme poverty as ruinous, but this turbo-charged affluence is deeply damaging too. Treat it as such, says Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah of the New Economics Foundation
www.theguardian.com
May 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
There is a point at which wealth gives you too much power to shape politics, just as there is a point above which super-rich lifestyles cause extreme harm to the environment.
@dhnnjyn.bsky.social on why we need an "extreme wealth line" in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@dhnnjyn.bsky.social on why we need an "extreme wealth line" in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...