Lexi Wilkes
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lexiwilkes.bsky.social
Lexi Wilkes
@lexiwilkes.bsky.social
1.4K followers 550 following 6 posts
Kelp spatial ecology and climate change | PhD Candidate | UMass Boston | (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
jebyrnes.bsky.social
And she passed! Welcome Dr. @breckmccollum.bsky.social!
jebyrnes.bsky.social Jarrett Byrnes @jebyrnes.bsky.social · 16d
This morning! See @breckmccollum.bsky.social talk subtidal rock wall ecology as she defends her PhD! Zoom link in image!
Defense poster for Breckie McCollum!
November 6, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
jebyrnes.bsky.social
This morning! See @breckmccollum.bsky.social talk subtidal rock wall ecology as she defends her PhD! Zoom link in image!
Defense poster for Breckie McCollum!
November 6, 2025 at 12:27 PM
lexiwilkes.bsky.social
So excited for your defense @breckmccollum.bsky.social ! Can’t wait to see all the awesome work you’ve done :)
breckmccollum.bsky.social Breck "Breckie" McCollum (she/hers) @breckmccollum.bsky.social · Oct 3
You guys, it’s finally happening!
October 3, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
jakubnowosad.com
Check out "Scaling the r-spatial ecosystem" by Dewey Dunnington 🌍📦
An exploration of how R’s spatial tools can be used for big(ger) data.

Video: youtu.be/tjNEoIYr_ag?...
Slides: dewey.dunnington.ca/slides/rspat...

#RStats #rspatial #GIS #SpatialData
August 6, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
jebyrnes.bsky.social
A preprint of our paper on #CausalInference in #Ecology - Best practices for moving from correlation to causation in ecological research - led by Hannah Correia is now up as a preprint ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v... 🧪🌍

This came from a GREAT workshop last year, and gives a solid framework and howto
June 9, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
jebyrnes.bsky.social
Just incredibly proud of Taylor Kielczewski's honors poster on determinants of #kelp distributions in Long Island Sound from working with @lexiwilkes.bsky.social. Fantastic work!!!
May 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
jebyrnes.bsky.social
After a lot of hard work, the Global Ocean Observing System #GOOS Bio-Eco panel has released their Essential Ocean Variable spec sheets for expert review. If you're doing work with anything biological in the ocean, take a look at goosocean.org/news/call-fo... and give us your expert opinion! #IOOS
Call for Expert Input: Consultation on Biology and Ecosystems Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) – Global Ocean Observing System
goosocean.org
May 8, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
charleswlogan.bsky.social
FYI: The Spencer Foundation, Kapor Foundation, The William T. Grant Foundation, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation have collaborated to offer $25K rapid response grants.

"This rapid response bridge funding opportunity is for scholars and teams whose grants have recently been cancelled by NSF."
Rapid Response Bridge Funding Program
In the face of recent abrupt shifts in federal funding for education research, including large-scale terminations of National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant awards, we have developed a rap...
www.spencer.org
May 2, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
lizneeley.bsky.social
URGENT ACTION FOR NSF GRANTEES.

For current & recent (since 2020) awards, archive your award history this afternoon/tonight. Screenshot/download/print your work in research.gov & alert your partners.

We have credible threats to integrity of awards tracking systems (via @jeremymberg.bsky.social)
April 24, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
oaggimenez.bsky.social
🚨🎉 New paper "Ten quick tips to get you started with Bayesian statistics", hope you'll like it 😇🤗

✍🏽 w/ Andy Royle, Marc Kéry and Chloé Nater

🔗 dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...

@plos.org @cnrsecologie.bsky.social @cnrsoccitanieest.bsky.social @umontpellier.bsky.social
Graphical summary of 10 quick tips to get started with Bayesian statistics and how they fit into a larger view of an analytical workflow with Bayesian models.
April 11, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
frodsan.bsky.social
New #statistics #ecopubs @esajournals.bsky.social:

Predictive models are indeed useful for causal inference doi.org/10.1002/ecy....

Sounds like a response to 'Predictive models aren't for causal inference' doi.org/10.1111/ele....
The subject of investigating causation in ecology has been widely discussed in recent years, especially by advocates of a structural causal model (SCM) approach. Some of these advocates have criticized the use of predictive models and model selection for drawing inferences about causation. We argue that the comparison of model-based predictions with observations is a key step in hypothetico-deductive (H-D) science and remains a valid approach for assessing causation. We draw a distinction between two approaches to inference based on predictive modeling. The first approach is not guided by causal hypotheses and focuses on the relationship between a (typically) single response variable and a potentially large number of covariates. We agree that this approach does not yield useful inferences about causation and is primarily useful for hypothesis generation. The second approach follows a H-D framework and is guided by specific hypotheses about causal relationships. We believe that this has been, and continues to be, a useful approach to causal inference. Here, we first define different kinds of causation, arguing that a “probability-raisers-of-processes” definition is especially appropriate for many ecological systems. We outline different scientific “designs” for generating the observations used to investigate causation. We briefly outline some relevant components of the SCM and H-D approaches to investigating causation, emphasizing a H-D approach that focuses on modeling causal effects on vital rate (e.g., rates of survival, recruitment, local extinction, colonization) parameters underlying system dynamics. We consider criticisms of predictive modeling leveled by some SCM proponents and provide two example analyses of ecological systems that use predictive modeling and avoid these criticisms. We conclude that predictive models have been, and can continue to be, useful for providing inferences about causation.
March 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
swlawrence.bsky.social
Curr. Biol. (2025) 10.1016/j.cub.2024.12.025  Kelp forests are integral + critical to aquatic ecosystems, but species such as giant kelp + bull kelp have experienced population bottlenecks in recent decades.
Graphic of kelp genetics. Giant kelp. In particular, kelp forests are declining in many parts of the northeast Pacific, practically right off my doorstep where we live close to Puget Sound [Salish Sea]. "Bemmels et al. sequenced the genomes of 429 bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) and 211 giant kelp (Macrocystis sp.) from the coastlines of British Columbia and Washington." They found 'low effective population size was associated with low genetic diversity and high inbreeding coefficients (including increased selfing rates), with extreme variation in these genetic health indices among bull kelp populations but more moderate variation in giant kelp.' They found fewer deleterious variants than predicted, but suspect their loss was more likely due to genetic drift rather than purging. "The researchers predict (1) reduced within-population inbreeding depression in small populations, which may be associated with an observed shift toward increased selfing rate, and (2) hybrid vigor in crosses between small populations." These findings inform several possible strategies for optimal sourcing and crossing of populations for restoration + aquaculture. Kelp have keystone ecosystem functions, but also represent a potential source of both biofuel + agricultural amendments.
March 1, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
johnpavlovitz.bsky.social
February 28, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
nsilbiger.bsky.social
📣 JOB ALERT📣
The Silbiger Lab is hiring a full time research tech @ University of Hawai’i at Mānoa to support research on intertidal ecology in Hawai’i & coral reef/coastal oceanography in Okinawa, Japan. RCUH ID: 225085 application link below. 1 year to start, but have several years of funding.
February 11, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
sciencymermaid.bsky.social
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
Cheer your #WomeninScience on today. They need it!
February 11, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
sdeoliveira.bsky.social
Website is still under construction but worth it to keep checking for those interested in science advocacy and how to join local teams👇🏽

#standupforscience2025 #sciencenotsilence #scienceforall
STAND UP FOR SCIENCE 2025
Join us in Washington, DC or your state capitol on March 7th, 2025 to stand up for science!
www.standupforscience2025.org
February 11, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
stevebowen.bsky.social
A show of support to the scientists and staff at NOAA. This is among the best collection of scientists in the world who provide an invaluable public service via data and forecasting. Their work proves essential for daily operations of the military to commerce to the rest of the private sector.
February 5, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
garythoren.bsky.social
January 31, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
erwanrivault.com
What would happen if key ocean currents that bring warm water from the tropics to the North Atlantic collapse?

Temperatures in northern Europe would drop drastically, studies suggest.

Our full story on the risks of AMOC collapse:
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Map of Northern Europe showing how temperatures would change after eventual AMOC collapse. Cities like London, Reykjavik or Bergen would chill drastically, by almost 15C for some.
February 1, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
ocasio-cortez.house.gov
SHARE WIDELY.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.

You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.

(1/3)
January 22, 2025 at 2:19 AM
lexiwilkes.bsky.social
A really beautiful and inspiring thread for anyone who needs a reminder that despite everything going on focusing on joy is so crucial. I know I needed the reminder. Thank you for sharing @mishellbaker.bsky.social💛
mishellbaker.bsky.social Mishell Baker thankfully @mishellbaker.bsky.social · Jan 21
Being a person with deadly, incurable cancer who is nonetheless still alive for an indefinite timeframe gives me an interesting metaphor that helps me deal with things like large-scale corruption in government or commerce.

Bear with me for a second while I try to explain.
January 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
lauradee.bsky.social
Very excited this paper is now out in Ecology Letters onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.... #causalsky
January 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
bio-diverse.bsky.social
Exciting opportunity - Last minute call for nominations for experts and fellows for the #IPBES methodological assessment of integrated biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning and ecological connectivity

Fellows:
www.ipbes.net/spatial-plan...
Experts:
www.ipbes.net/spatial-plan...
Call for nominations for fellows for the methodological assessment of integrated biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning and ecological connectivity (6 Sep 2024 - 24 Jan 2025) | IPBES secretariat
Dear IPBES members, observers and other interested stakeholders,
www.ipbes.net
January 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
darrigomelanie.bsky.social
$1,131,794,901

That's how much Big Oil has spent over the last 30 years paying off Congress to look the other way on climate action while the planet burns.

Well, the planet is burning.
Don't let them look away.
January 9, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Reposted by Lexi Wilkes
snarkysteff.bsky.social
Gisele Pelicot is an incredible woman and a hero for her nerve in bringing all those rapists to justice and for knowing the shame does not lie worth her — bravely declining anonymity was incredible.
December 19, 2024 at 5:24 PM