Michael Mahon, PhD
@mmahon.bsky.social
Postdoc. Dad. Quantitative ecologist. Food webs, PFAS, and other contaminants in the Great Lakes; large scale freshwater biodiversity trends. Opinions are my own. He/him.
Duluth, MN.
Duluth, MN.
Pinned
Michael Mahon, PhD
@mmahon.bsky.social
· Sep 24
Diverging fish biodiversity trends in cold and warm rivers and streams - Nature
In the past three decades, fish abundance, richness and uniqueness have diverged across cold and warm streams, and the effects on native fish communities of stream warming and increases in introduced fishes have magnified each other.
www.nature.com
In short, fish biodiversity in U.S. streams are changing fast.
- Cold streams are losing biodiversity
- Warm streams are gaining in a homogenized way
- Human choices will shape the future of freshwater fish
Free access in first post.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Cold streams are losing biodiversity
- Warm streams are gaining in a homogenized way
- Human choices will shape the future of freshwater fish
Free access in first post.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
"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 Michael Mahon, PhD
How #climatechange is reshaping fish communities in the United States as temperatures rise and non-native fishes proliferate: @ian-vaughan.bsky.social overviews recent extensive work by @rumschsl.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/d41... www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Climate change is reshaping fish communities in the United States
Rising temperatures and the introduction of non-native fishes have been linked to rapid changes in fish communities across the United States.
www.nature.com
September 29, 2025 at 10:19 AM
How #climatechange is reshaping fish communities in the United States as temperatures rise and non-native fishes proliferate: @ian-vaughan.bsky.social overviews recent extensive work by @rumschsl.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/d41... www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
Changing water temperatures and human-driven introductions of fish have altered the composition of fish populations in streams and rivers across the USA over the past three decades, a study in Nature suggests. go.nature.com/47ZCcWH 🧪
September 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Changing water temperatures and human-driven introductions of fish have altered the composition of fish populations in streams and rivers across the USA over the past three decades, a study in Nature suggests. go.nature.com/47ZCcWH 🧪
Our research group just published a study in Nature on how fish biodiversity in U.S. rivers and streams has been changing over the past 27 years (1993–2019). The results show sharply diverging trends depending on historic and changing water temperature. 🧵 rdcu.be/eH0l8
September 24, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Our research group just published a study in Nature on how fish biodiversity in U.S. rivers and streams has been changing over the past 27 years (1993–2019). The results show sharply diverging trends depending on historic and changing water temperature. 🧵 rdcu.be/eH0l8
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
Exciting collaboration with colleagues from the US and Frederik de Laender - lead by S. Rumschlag and Mike Mahon - on how climate change has lead to alterations in US fish diversity over the last decades. Paper just out: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Diverging fish biodiversity trends in cold and warm rivers and streams - Nature
In the past three decades, fish abundance, richness and uniqueness have diverged across cold and warm streams, and the effects on native fish communities of stream warming and increases in introduced fishes have magnified each other.
www.nature.com
September 24, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Exciting collaboration with colleagues from the US and Frederik de Laender - lead by S. Rumschlag and Mike Mahon - on how climate change has lead to alterations in US fish diversity over the last decades. Paper just out: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
EPA has ordered scientists in its Office of Water to immediately pause almost all research & stop publishing studies. Researchers were told that, unless scientific journals had already returned proofs, studies will be subject to an additional EPA review.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
EPA tells scientists to stop publishing studies, employees say
Staff from the EPA’s Office of Water were summoned to a town hall meeting this week and told to pause the publication of most research, pending a review.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 20, 2025 at 1:24 PM
EPA has ordered scientists in its Office of Water to immediately pause almost all research & stop publishing studies. Researchers were told that, unless scientific journals had already returned proofs, studies will be subject to an additional EPA review.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Looking for a great photo of a freshwater fish (North American) to submit as a journal cover image for a manuscript on fish biodiversity trends! If you have one you’d be willing to share (with credit, of course!), please reach out. 🎣📸 #fishphoto #freshwaterfish #scicomm
July 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Looking for a great photo of a freshwater fish (North American) to submit as a journal cover image for a manuscript on fish biodiversity trends! If you have one you’d be willing to share (with credit, of course!), please reach out. 🎣📸 #fishphoto #freshwaterfish #scicomm
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
NEW: per multiple sources, apparently there may be punishment/retaliation coming for EPA employees who signed the Declaration of Dissent this week. People are starting to get letters putting them on administrative leave, seems like potentially targeted at those who signed with their names.
July 3, 2025 at 3:49 PM
NEW: per multiple sources, apparently there may be punishment/retaliation coming for EPA employees who signed the Declaration of Dissent this week. People are starting to get letters putting them on administrative leave, seems like potentially targeted at those who signed with their names.
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
Amazing: MIT researchers revealed how ChatGPT etc are destroying our brains and booby-trapped the report to expose those who want to use AI to ostensibly summarize the results.
t.co/JXeTALBPds
t.co/JXeTALBPds
June 19, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Amazing: MIT researchers revealed how ChatGPT etc are destroying our brains and booby-trapped the report to expose those who want to use AI to ostensibly summarize the results.
t.co/JXeTALBPds
t.co/JXeTALBPds
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
Authorities have taken 57-year-old Vance Boelter into custody in Sibley County. He's the suspect in the targeted fatal shootings of Minnesota House DFL leader Melissa Hortman and her spouse, and the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse.
Vance Boelter, suspect in shooting of Minnesota lawmakers, taken into custody in Sibley County
Authorities have taken 57-year-old Vance Boelter into custody in Sibley County. He's the suspect in the targeted fatal shootings of Minnesota House DFL leader Melissa Hortman and her spouse, and the s...
www.mprnews.org
June 16, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Authorities have taken 57-year-old Vance Boelter into custody in Sibley County. He's the suspect in the targeted fatal shootings of Minnesota House DFL leader Melissa Hortman and her spouse, and the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse.
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
Make it seven:
DOJ just sought emergency relief from #SCOTUS in the AFSCME/mass-RIFs case. It’ll be docketed as 24A1106.
In case you’re keeping score, this marks the 15th emergency application from Trump in 16 weeks.
Across 16 *years,* the GWB and Obama administrations filed a total of … eight.
DOJ just sought emergency relief from #SCOTUS in the AFSCME/mass-RIFs case. It’ll be docketed as 24A1106.
In case you’re keeping score, this marks the 15th emergency application from Trump in 16 weeks.
Across 16 *years,* the GWB and Obama administrations filed a total of … eight.
There are now emergency applications pending at SCOTUS on SIX different Trump policies. That must be an unprecedented number.
-birthright citizenship
-agency firings
-Alien Enemies Act
-TPS for Venezuelans
-DOGE access to SSA data
-Ending parole for 500k immigrants
-birthright citizenship
-agency firings
-Alien Enemies Act
-TPS for Venezuelans
-DOGE access to SSA data
-Ending parole for 500k immigrants
May 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Make it seven:
DOJ just sought emergency relief from #SCOTUS in the AFSCME/mass-RIFs case. It’ll be docketed as 24A1106.
In case you’re keeping score, this marks the 15th emergency application from Trump in 16 weeks.
Across 16 *years,* the GWB and Obama administrations filed a total of … eight.
DOJ just sought emergency relief from #SCOTUS in the AFSCME/mass-RIFs case. It’ll be docketed as 24A1106.
In case you’re keeping score, this marks the 15th emergency application from Trump in 16 weeks.
Across 16 *years,* the GWB and Obama administrations filed a total of … eight.
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
FLASH: Federal judge blocks RIFs/Trump administration reorganization plans for 20 federal agencies. SF-based Judge Susan Illston (Clinton) says they appear to exceed executive branch authority to implement without Congressional approval. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
May 10, 2025 at 1:27 AM
FLASH: Federal judge blocks RIFs/Trump administration reorganization plans for 20 federal agencies. SF-based Judge Susan Illston (Clinton) says they appear to exceed executive branch authority to implement without Congressional approval. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
Glad to see the MRCC is back up! Funding restored by NOAA/Dept of Commerce. But ridiculous that funding for regional climate centers was removed in the first place.
April 21, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Glad to see the MRCC is back up! Funding restored by NOAA/Dept of Commerce. But ridiculous that funding for regional climate centers was removed in the first place.
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
New preprint finding that eliminating US global health funding over the next fifteen years would cause:
- 15.2m deaths from AIDS
- 2.2m deaths from TB
- 7.9 additional child deaths
- 15.2m deaths from AIDS
- 2.2m deaths from TB
- 7.9 additional child deaths
April 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
New preprint finding that eliminating US global health funding over the next fifteen years would cause:
- 15.2m deaths from AIDS
- 2.2m deaths from TB
- 7.9 additional child deaths
- 15.2m deaths from AIDS
- 2.2m deaths from TB
- 7.9 additional child deaths
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
From the editorial: "If the Duluth EPA lab is being indiscriminately targeted, the cutting and slashing (in D.C.) clearly isn’t being done with the care, consideration, or thought such a process demands."
Our View: Threats to Duluth water lab not well-thought-out
From the editorial: "If the Duluth EPA lab is being indiscriminately targeted, the cutting and slashing (in D.C.) clearly isn’t being done with the care, consideration, or thought such a process demands."
www.duluthnewstribune.com
April 15, 2025 at 2:06 PM
From the editorial: "If the Duluth EPA lab is being indiscriminately targeted, the cutting and slashing (in D.C.) clearly isn’t being done with the care, consideration, or thought such a process demands."
I don’t remember going on a baseball podcast…
April 4, 2025 at 11:02 PM
I don’t remember going on a baseball podcast…
Anyone in Duluth looking to support their local EPA employees, come out tomorrow morning!
March 24, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Anyone in Duluth looking to support their local EPA employees, come out tomorrow morning!
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
ANOTHER UPSET.
Drake is heading to the second-round of the men’s NCAA Tournament.
Drake is heading to the second-round of the men’s NCAA Tournament.
March 21, 2025 at 2:16 AM
ANOTHER UPSET.
Drake is heading to the second-round of the men’s NCAA Tournament.
Drake is heading to the second-round of the men’s NCAA Tournament.
Welp. What a way to find out that my colleagues and I may be soon out of jobs.
Breaking News: The EPA plans to eliminate its scientific research arm, firing as many as 1,155 chemists, biologists, toxicologists and other scientists.
Trump Administration Aims to Eliminate E.P.A.’s Scientific Research Arm
More than 1,000 chemists, biologists and other scientists could be laid off under a plan to dismantle the Office of Research and Development.
www.nytimes.com
March 18, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Welp. What a way to find out that my colleagues and I may be soon out of jobs.
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
Biggest Federal Employee Unions Says Shutdown is Preferable to Elon/Trump CR talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/bigge...
Biggest Federal Employee Unions Says Shutdown is Preferable to Elon/Trump CR
Federal workers obviously don’t like government shutdowns. Most of them are furloughed....
talkingpointsmemo.com
March 13, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Biggest Federal Employee Unions Says Shutdown is Preferable to Elon/Trump CR talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/bigge...
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
Do you want water that’s safe for your family to drink, air that’s safe for your family to breathe, or a livable climate?
We’re apparently cutting 2/3 of our capacity, so pick one of those three.
🤷
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/c...
We’re apparently cutting 2/3 of our capacity, so pick one of those three.
🤷
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/c...
Trump Says E.P.A. Layoffs Will Cut Staff by 65 Percent
The president said Lee Zeldin, the E.P.A. administrator, was planning mass layoffs. Several hours later, White House officials said the president was referring to budget cuts.
www.nytimes.com
February 27, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Do you want water that’s safe for your family to drink, air that’s safe for your family to breathe, or a livable climate?
We’re apparently cutting 2/3 of our capacity, so pick one of those three.
🤷
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/c...
We’re apparently cutting 2/3 of our capacity, so pick one of those three.
🤷
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/c...
Reposted by Michael Mahon, PhD
Join us! Science Homecoming helps scientists reconnect with communities by writing about the importance of science funding in their hometown newspapers. We’ve mapped every small newspaper in the U.S. and provide resources to get you started. Help science get back home 🧪🔬🧬 🏠
sciencehomecoming.com
sciencehomecoming.com
Science Homecoming
sciencehomecoming.com
February 18, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Join us! Science Homecoming helps scientists reconnect with communities by writing about the importance of science funding in their hometown newspapers. We’ve mapped every small newspaper in the U.S. and provide resources to get you started. Help science get back home 🧪🔬🧬 🏠
sciencehomecoming.com
sciencehomecoming.com
New PFAS analytical method from our Great Lakes contaminants lab. We had issues reliably extracting PFAS from whole fish samples using Method 1633, so we found that lipid-extraction resulted in clean extracts. The work was led by my awesome, but Bluesky-less colleagues. doi.org/10.1021/acs....
A High Efficiency Method for the Extraction and Quantitative Analysis of 45 PFAS in Whole Fish
This study describes and validates a new method for extracting perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from whole-body fish tissue, demonstrates that freeze-dry preservation of tissue con...
doi.org
February 19, 2025 at 6:25 PM
New PFAS analytical method from our Great Lakes contaminants lab. We had issues reliably extracting PFAS from whole fish samples using Method 1633, so we found that lipid-extraction resulted in clean extracts. The work was led by my awesome, but Bluesky-less colleagues. doi.org/10.1021/acs....