Matt Cato
@matt-cato.bsky.social
PhD Student at Lancaster University with @lec-reefs.bsky.social. Funded by NERC ECORISC CDT.
Investigating the impacts of chemical stressors on the coral microbiome, and their implications on nitrogen cycling and coral physiology 🪸
Investigating the impacts of chemical stressors on the coral microbiome, and their implications on nitrogen cycling and coral physiology 🪸
Reposted by Matt Cato
🚨 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫! 🚨 Open access here - onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.... - and summary below ⬇️
@lec-reefs.bsky.social
@lec-reefs.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 8:16 PM
🚨 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫! 🚨 Open access here - onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.... - and summary below ⬇️
@lec-reefs.bsky.social
@lec-reefs.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Cato
PhD position - Changing Ecological Role of Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas.
One of the new @exageo-dla.bsky.social advertised projects: www.exageo.org/phd-student-... - deadline for applications 9th January. International applications welcome.
Come and join us @lec-reefs.bsky.social
One of the new @exageo-dla.bsky.social advertised projects: www.exageo.org/phd-student-... - deadline for applications 9th January. International applications welcome.
Come and join us @lec-reefs.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
PhD position - Changing Ecological Role of Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas.
One of the new @exageo-dla.bsky.social advertised projects: www.exageo.org/phd-student-... - deadline for applications 9th January. International applications welcome.
Come and join us @lec-reefs.bsky.social
One of the new @exageo-dla.bsky.social advertised projects: www.exageo.org/phd-student-... - deadline for applications 9th January. International applications welcome.
Come and join us @lec-reefs.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Cato
Interested in #Ecotoxicology ? Come and do a #PhD with me and colleagues at @HeriotWattUni in collaboration with Scottish Association of Marine Science and British Geological Survey, fully funded through the ECOWILD CDT ecowild.site.hw.ac.uk/2026-27-proj...
November 6, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Interested in #Ecotoxicology ? Come and do a #PhD with me and colleagues at @HeriotWattUni in collaboration with Scottish Association of Marine Science and British Geological Survey, fully funded through the ECOWILD CDT ecowild.site.hw.ac.uk/2026-27-proj...
Reposted by Matt Cato
We're hiring! 🥳 Come and join our team in Lancaster - we're looking for two senior postdocs to work on corporate sustainability and restoration ecology. 🌳 🪸 ♻️ (1 of 2)
@lec-reefs.bsky.social @pentlandcentre.bsky.social @sci-tech-lancaster.bsky.social @lancasteruni.bsky.social
@lec-reefs.bsky.social @pentlandcentre.bsky.social @sci-tech-lancaster.bsky.social @lancasteruni.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 9:22 AM
We're hiring! 🥳 Come and join our team in Lancaster - we're looking for two senior postdocs to work on corporate sustainability and restoration ecology. 🌳 🪸 ♻️ (1 of 2)
@lec-reefs.bsky.social @pentlandcentre.bsky.social @sci-tech-lancaster.bsky.social @lancasteruni.bsky.social
@lec-reefs.bsky.social @pentlandcentre.bsky.social @sci-tech-lancaster.bsky.social @lancasteruni.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Cato
As a marine biologist I never thought I’d care so much about bird poop, but here we are! This was such a fun paper to write with a truly amazing group of co authors! Check it out in Holly’s post below🪶
I am very excited to share that we have a new paper out today in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com
In it, we summarize the state of knowledge on the Circular Seabird Economy!
1/n 🧪
Link to paper here: rdcu.be/eMOUd
In it, we summarize the state of knowledge on the Circular Seabird Economy!
1/n 🧪
Link to paper here: rdcu.be/eMOUd
October 30, 2025 at 2:26 PM
As a marine biologist I never thought I’d care so much about bird poop, but here we are! This was such a fun paper to write with a truly amazing group of co authors! Check it out in Holly’s post below🪶
Reposted by Matt Cato
New in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com: our review of the influence of #seabirds, via their nutrient transfer, on islands & adjacent marine ecosystems 🐦🏝️🪸
We highlight knowledge gaps & future directions ✨
"The circular seabird economy is critical for oceans, islands and people": doi.org/10.1038/s443...
We highlight knowledge gaps & future directions ✨
"The circular seabird economy is critical for oceans, islands and people": doi.org/10.1038/s443...
October 27, 2025 at 7:49 AM
New in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com: our review of the influence of #seabirds, via their nutrient transfer, on islands & adjacent marine ecosystems 🐦🏝️🪸
We highlight knowledge gaps & future directions ✨
"The circular seabird economy is critical for oceans, islands and people": doi.org/10.1038/s443...
We highlight knowledge gaps & future directions ✨
"The circular seabird economy is critical for oceans, islands and people": doi.org/10.1038/s443...
Reposted by Matt Cato
🪸 🪸 🪸 Postdoc position in my group at Bristol to study the role of venom in surviving environmental stress in corals! 🪸 Interested in venom biochemistry and coral ecology?Please apply by November 24!
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
October 27, 2025 at 12:43 PM
🪸 🪸 🪸 Postdoc position in my group at Bristol to study the role of venom in surviving environmental stress in corals! 🪸 Interested in venom biochemistry and coral ecology?Please apply by November 24!
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
Reposted by Matt Cato
Corals are disappearing, pushing Earth to its first major ‘tipping point’
grist.org/oceans/coral...
#Ocean #Coral #Climate #Heat #Reefs #Environment
grist.org/oceans/coral...
#Ocean #Coral #Climate #Heat #Reefs #Environment
Corals are disappearing, pushing Earth to its first major ‘tipping point’
A new report says Earth has reached a dire milestone with the widespread death of warm-water coral reefs. It's not too late to save what remains.
grist.org
October 20, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Corals are disappearing, pushing Earth to its first major ‘tipping point’
grist.org/oceans/coral...
#Ocean #Coral #Climate #Heat #Reefs #Environment
grist.org/oceans/coral...
#Ocean #Coral #Climate #Heat #Reefs #Environment
Reposted by Matt Cato
@ruchakarkarey.bsky.social is in Vogue India! Great article about India's women marine defenders www.vogue.in/content/once...
Indian women used to be afraid of the ocean. Now, they’re turning into its strongest defenders
Along India’s coastline, a rising wave of women is healing our oceans, moving beyond the margins of shore-bound roles traditionally ascribed to them
www.vogue.in
October 16, 2025 at 2:48 PM
@ruchakarkarey.bsky.social is in Vogue India! Great article about India's women marine defenders www.vogue.in/content/once...
Reposted by Matt Cato
🌟 New book chapter alert!
🪸 Coral reefs are threatened by climate change, especially by mass ‘bleaching’ events. Bleaching is caused by the loss of photosymbionts under stress, resulting in a white – ‘bleached’ - phenotype.
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
#SymbioSky #MicroSky
🪸 Coral reefs are threatened by climate change, especially by mass ‘bleaching’ events. Bleaching is caused by the loss of photosymbionts under stress, resulting in a white – ‘bleached’ - phenotype.
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
#SymbioSky #MicroSky
Bleaching of Reef Organisms: Current Knowledge, Challenges, and Future Directions into the Anthropocene
Coral reefs worldwide are threatened by climate change and other anthropogenic stressors. A global factor contributing to coral reef decline is the increasing frequency, duration, and intensity of bleaching events leading to extensive mortality of keystone species,...
link.springer.com
October 8, 2025 at 7:08 AM
🌟 New book chapter alert!
🪸 Coral reefs are threatened by climate change, especially by mass ‘bleaching’ events. Bleaching is caused by the loss of photosymbionts under stress, resulting in a white – ‘bleached’ - phenotype.
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
#SymbioSky #MicroSky
🪸 Coral reefs are threatened by climate change, especially by mass ‘bleaching’ events. Bleaching is caused by the loss of photosymbionts under stress, resulting in a white – ‘bleached’ - phenotype.
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
#SymbioSky #MicroSky
Reposted by Matt Cato
📣 Abstract Submission Deadline Extended!
Great news for reefsearchers and students interested in reef conservation, the deadline to submit your abstract for the 2025 Reef Conservation UK Conference has been extended to Thursday, 19th September at 2 PM!
Submit your abstract here: lnkd.in/eNVygyra
Great news for reefsearchers and students interested in reef conservation, the deadline to submit your abstract for the 2025 Reef Conservation UK Conference has been extended to Thursday, 19th September at 2 PM!
Submit your abstract here: lnkd.in/eNVygyra
September 13, 2025 at 12:12 AM
📣 Abstract Submission Deadline Extended!
Great news for reefsearchers and students interested in reef conservation, the deadline to submit your abstract for the 2025 Reef Conservation UK Conference has been extended to Thursday, 19th September at 2 PM!
Submit your abstract here: lnkd.in/eNVygyra
Great news for reefsearchers and students interested in reef conservation, the deadline to submit your abstract for the 2025 Reef Conservation UK Conference has been extended to Thursday, 19th September at 2 PM!
Submit your abstract here: lnkd.in/eNVygyra
Reposted by Matt Cato
EXCLUSIVE: England’s farms are being fertilised with a cocktail of toxic landfill juice + sewage sludge.
750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Thousands of tonnes of toxic landfill liquid added to sewage and spread on English farms
Exclusive: Leachate is tankered to treatment works where it mixes with sewage and industrial effluent
www.theguardian.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:19 AM
EXCLUSIVE: England’s farms are being fertilised with a cocktail of toxic landfill juice + sewage sludge.
750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Matt Cato
NEW CORAL RESEARCH: Thermally resistant coral Stylophora pistillata survives but does not thrive under chronic elevated baseline temperature (Open Access)
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#coralreefs #coralresearch #climatechange #coralbleaching #supercorals #coralreefecology #marineresearch
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#coralreefs #coralresearch #climatechange #coralbleaching #supercorals #coralreefecology #marineresearch
September 10, 2025 at 2:30 PM
NEW CORAL RESEARCH: Thermally resistant coral Stylophora pistillata survives but does not thrive under chronic elevated baseline temperature (Open Access)
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#coralreefs #coralresearch #climatechange #coralbleaching #supercorals #coralreefecology #marineresearch
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#coralreefs #coralresearch #climatechange #coralbleaching #supercorals #coralreefecology #marineresearch
Reposted by Matt Cato
How microbial therapies are reshaping coral reef restoration? 'Fungi and Fungi-Like Entities' chapter of 'Coral Reef Microbiome' explores the science behind microbial-based interventions to combat coral bleaching and ecosystem degradation. bit.ly/472kO39 @cpogoreutz.bsky.social
Fungi and Fungi-Like Entities
Coral microbiology research has long focused on the composition and functional roles of prokaryotic organisms, but microeukaryotic communities, including the enigmatic fungi remain a poorly understood "black box" within coral and other holobionts. Here,...
bit.ly
August 26, 2025 at 2:30 AM
How microbial therapies are reshaping coral reef restoration? 'Fungi and Fungi-Like Entities' chapter of 'Coral Reef Microbiome' explores the science behind microbial-based interventions to combat coral bleaching and ecosystem degradation. bit.ly/472kO39 @cpogoreutz.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Cato
New paper: Do corals keep their thermal tolerance in nurseries? #CBASS assays show A. cytherea lose then recover, while A. florida retain tolerance=>To inform restoration, screening should be conducted prior to nursery propagation www.nature.com/articles/s42... @uni-konstanz.de @coralku.bsky.social
Species-specific retention vs. recovery of coral thermal tolerance following nursery propagation - Communications Biology
Standardized acute thermal assays (CBASS) of Acropora species reveal that nursery-reared corals either retain or recover thermal tolerance over time, suggesting adaptive traits are...
www.nature.com
August 28, 2025 at 10:38 AM
New paper: Do corals keep their thermal tolerance in nurseries? #CBASS assays show A. cytherea lose then recover, while A. florida retain tolerance=>To inform restoration, screening should be conducted prior to nursery propagation www.nature.com/articles/s42... @uni-konstanz.de @coralku.bsky.social
Please share and repost. Make sure to also follow the new RCUK social media page!
🪸 Announcing RCUK 2025! 🪸
📅 Saturday December 6th 2025
(With workshops Friday 5th @ 1 pm)
📍 Bangor University’s main campus
Main Arts Lecture Theatre & Prichard-Jones Hall
Call for abstracts opens in July – further details over the coming months.
More info: www.reefconservationuk.org
#RCUK2025
📅 Saturday December 6th 2025
(With workshops Friday 5th @ 1 pm)
📍 Bangor University’s main campus
Main Arts Lecture Theatre & Prichard-Jones Hall
Call for abstracts opens in July – further details over the coming months.
More info: www.reefconservationuk.org
#RCUK2025
May 31, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Please share and repost. Make sure to also follow the new RCUK social media page!
Had an incredible time at #SETACVienna this past week. So much impactful toxicological work going on! Being a volunteer meant I could aid all the hard work of SETAC staff. Getting to know and spend time with volunteers, SETAC staff, and ECORISC students during the week made my time even more special
May 17, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Had an incredible time at #SETACVienna this past week. So much impactful toxicological work going on! Being a volunteer meant I could aid all the hard work of SETAC staff. Getting to know and spend time with volunteers, SETAC staff, and ECORISC students during the week made my time even more special
Great week with the @fieldstudiesc.bsky.social team at Dale Fort supporting their Marine Science Camp. Students spent time learning about seabirds, rockpools, plankton and even let me ramble on about coral reefs. Thank you @thembauk.bsky.social for giving me this opportunity. Anemones are so cool!
April 19, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Great week with the @fieldstudiesc.bsky.social team at Dale Fort supporting their Marine Science Camp. Students spent time learning about seabirds, rockpools, plankton and even let me ramble on about coral reefs. Thank you @thembauk.bsky.social for giving me this opportunity. Anemones are so cool!
Reposted by Matt Cato
We examined the microbiome of Madracis aurentenra, an urban coral off the coast of the Colombian Caribbean. Interesting dynamics between Endozoicomonas and Vibrionaceae 🧪🪸 #MicroSky peerj.com/articles/192...
Endozoicomonas dominance and Vibrionaceae stability underpin resilience in urban coral Madracis auretenra
Coral resilience varies across species, with some exhibiting remarkable stability and adaptability, often mediated by their associated microbiomes. Given the species-specific nature of coral-microbiom...
peerj.com
April 15, 2025 at 8:03 PM
We examined the microbiome of Madracis aurentenra, an urban coral off the coast of the Colombian Caribbean. Interesting dynamics between Endozoicomonas and Vibrionaceae 🧪🪸 #MicroSky peerj.com/articles/192...
In June my CDT will be running a conference in Birmingham tailored for ecotoxicologists. We’ll be showcasing our research projects as well as generating discussions surrounding the environmental risk of chemicals in the environment. Please register soon if interested!
ECORISC CDT - 2025 Conference
Venue: Conference Aston
Location: Aston University, Aston St, Birmingham B4 7ET
Start Date/Time: 10:30 Wednesday 11th June 2025
Finish Date/Time: 15:00 Thursday 12th June 2025
ecorisccdt.york.ac.uk
March 27, 2025 at 1:22 PM
In June my CDT will be running a conference in Birmingham tailored for ecotoxicologists. We’ll be showcasing our research projects as well as generating discussions surrounding the environmental risk of chemicals in the environment. Please register soon if interested!
Been waiting on this one 🙌🏻 will be using this like a bible for the next few years to come. Fantastic effort from all involved!
OUT NOW 'coral reef microbiome' by Springer Nature link.springer.com/book/10.1007... .. some 2.5 years in the making, jam packed: check out Ch.16 on Assisted Restoration as the sum of approaches required to deliver effective ecological restoration! Many thanks to all contributors @uni-konstanz.de
Coral Reef Microbiome
This book focuses on Structure, Function and Ecology of the coral microbiome and associated active interventions to conserve and restore coral reefs.
link.springer.com
March 7, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Been waiting on this one 🙌🏻 will be using this like a bible for the next few years to come. Fantastic effort from all involved!
Reposted by Matt Cato
💡 Did you know, #corals exposed to #LightPollution at night are spawning one to three days outside of their optimum reproductive periods.... which could reduce the likelihood of coral eggs being fertilised and surviving to produce new adult corals 🪸
February 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM
💡 Did you know, #corals exposed to #LightPollution at night are spawning one to three days outside of their optimum reproductive periods.... which could reduce the likelihood of coral eggs being fertilised and surviving to produce new adult corals 🪸
Reposted by Matt Cato
A #NewStudy, led by Anneliese Hodge (PhD researcher at PML and @plymuni.bsky.social / @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social), highlights that an estimated 6,000-14,000 tonnes of #sunscreen is released into coral reef zones annually: pml.ac.uk/news/sunscre...
Sunscreen’s potential impact on marine life needs urgent investigation, new study reveals
The chemicals found in sunscreens are becoming an increasing presence in our ocean. But there are still significant gaps in our understanding of how they might affect marine ecosystems, according to a
pml.ac.uk
February 18, 2025 at 11:14 AM
A #NewStudy, led by Anneliese Hodge (PhD researcher at PML and @plymuni.bsky.social / @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social), highlights that an estimated 6,000-14,000 tonnes of #sunscreen is released into coral reef zones annually: pml.ac.uk/news/sunscre...
Reposted by Matt Cato
Calling coral reef scientists, oceanographers, isotope ecologists: new post-doc at Lancaster Environment Centre with me @lec-reefs.bsky.social @renatoamorais.bsky.social @remotereefs.bsky.social @drmanateena.bsky.social
Deadline 28 Feb | Apply👇 | 🦑 🧪 🌊 🌍
hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...
Deadline 28 Feb | Apply👇 | 🦑 🧪 🌊 🌍
hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...
January 29, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Calling coral reef scientists, oceanographers, isotope ecologists: new post-doc at Lancaster Environment Centre with me @lec-reefs.bsky.social @renatoamorais.bsky.social @remotereefs.bsky.social @drmanateena.bsky.social
Deadline 28 Feb | Apply👇 | 🦑 🧪 🌊 🌍
hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...
Deadline 28 Feb | Apply👇 | 🦑 🧪 🌊 🌍
hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...
Reposted by Matt Cato
