Aaron O'Dea
@odealab.bsky.social
Tropical pale(o)biologist and reef historical ecologist in Panama. Eejit by birth. Father of two treasures. Author of "A History of Life in 100 Fossils" and "Martina and the Bridge of Time". www.odealab.com
New paper! led by Chris Perry: Most W. Atlantic reefs in current state can't keep up with sealevel rise at 2°C+. If reefs could accrete at Holocene rates (like these in Enriquillo basin) they'd manage fine. Restoration pockets offer some local hope, but overall sobering news doi.org/10.1038/s415...
September 17, 2025 at 8:41 PM
New paper! led by Chris Perry: Most W. Atlantic reefs in current state can't keep up with sealevel rise at 2°C+. If reefs could accrete at Holocene rates (like these in Enriquillo basin) they'd manage fine. Restoration pockets offer some local hope, but overall sobering news doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Here in the tropics, climate "disruption" can upend predictable processes that coastal communities rely on. There are many regionally-important upwelling zones across the tropics. All need better monitoring and climate predictions. Great collaboration with @mpic.de. OA! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
September 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Here in the tropics, climate "disruption" can upend predictable processes that coastal communities rely on. There are many regionally-important upwelling zones across the tropics. All need better monitoring and climate predictions. Great collaboration with @mpic.de. OA! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
More than 95% biomass of Panama's fisheries comes from the Pacific coast and the #1 largest export of Panama is sea food. Upwelling is economically critical for Panama and its people. Is this a one-off or a vision of the future? Photo: Steve Paton/STRI
September 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
More than 95% biomass of Panama's fisheries comes from the Pacific coast and the #1 largest export of Panama is sea food. Upwelling is economically critical for Panama and its people. Is this a one-off or a vision of the future? Photo: Steve Paton/STRI
It appears the culprit was dramatically reduced wind patterns—74% fewer northerly winds with much shorter duration when they did occur. Just not enough to kick-start the upwelling...
September 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
It appears the culprit was dramatically reduced wind patterns—74% fewer northerly winds with much shorter duration when they did occur. Just not enough to kick-start the upwelling...
We analysed long term records of temperature and wind in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry using the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's long term monitoring program data. Here's to institutional monitoring!
September 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
We analysed long term records of temperature and wind in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry using the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's long term monitoring program data. Here's to institutional monitoring!
This seasonal upwelling is driven by the trade winds, and it brings cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface. Year on, year out it has predictably supported ocean life and fisheries for millennia. The cooling waters also protect coral reefs from heat stress. Photos: Natasha Hinojosa and Steve Paton
September 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
This seasonal upwelling is driven by the trade winds, and it brings cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface. Year on, year out it has predictably supported ocean life and fisheries for millennia. The cooling waters also protect coral reefs from heat stress. Photos: Natasha Hinojosa and Steve Paton
📊 new paper! The natural phenomenon of upwelling, which normally occurs every year in the Gulf of Panama, failed for the first time on record in 2025...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
[most co-authors not on bluesky except @javsdiaz.bsky.social @jonscibulski.bsky.social]...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
[most co-authors not on bluesky except @javsdiaz.bsky.social @jonscibulski.bsky.social]...
September 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
📊 new paper! The natural phenomenon of upwelling, which normally occurs every year in the Gulf of Panama, failed for the first time on record in 2025...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
[most co-authors not on bluesky except @javsdiaz.bsky.social @jonscibulski.bsky.social]...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
[most co-authors not on bluesky except @javsdiaz.bsky.social @jonscibulski.bsky.social]...
We are hiring a lab manager for our lab family at Naos Island in Panama. More information and position description here: odealab.com/opportunities/.
Deadline is today, but if you need more time please just let me know
Deadline is today, but if you need more time please just let me know
August 4, 2025 at 7:50 AM
We are hiring a lab manager for our lab family at Naos Island in Panama. More information and position description here: odealab.com/opportunities/.
Deadline is today, but if you need more time please just let me know
Deadline is today, but if you need more time please just let me know
While writing this paper, our labs underwent their own trophic cascade! We used to have a few scorpions here and there. Administration put out scorpion poison and the we became infested by millipedes (?Chondrodesmus)
July 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
While writing this paper, our labs underwent their own trophic cascade! We used to have a few scorpions here and there. Administration put out scorpion poison and the we became infested by millipedes (?Chondrodesmus)
While all this was going, the cryptobenthic fishes showed remarkable stability with no change in body size or abundance over 7,000 years. Are they immune to the cascading effects of predation or are bottom-up factors more important? Photo by @gobyone.bsky.social
July 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
While all this was going, the cryptobenthic fishes showed remarkable stability with no change in body size or abundance over 7,000 years. Are they immune to the cascading effects of predation or are bottom-up factors more important? Photo by @gobyone.bsky.social
We also looked at the frequency of damselfish bite marks on Acropora coral. They increased nearly 10-fold on modern compared to ancient reefs, suggesting more damselfishes and again, reduced predation. Photo of S. planifrons in Bocas del Toro by @hannah-rempel.bsky.social
July 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
We also looked at the frequency of damselfish bite marks on Acropora coral. They increased nearly 10-fold on modern compared to ancient reefs, suggesting more damselfishes and again, reduced predation. Photo of S. planifrons in Bocas del Toro by @hannah-rempel.bsky.social
We found that sharks and fishes that are commonly targeted by humans are >50% depleted and 22% smaller today than 7,000 years ago. Expected given long term exploitation!
What surprised us was that prey fish doubled in abundance and are growing 17% larger today, suggesting release from predation
What surprised us was that prey fish doubled in abundance and are growing 17% larger today, suggesting release from predation
July 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
We found that sharks and fishes that are commonly targeted by humans are >50% depleted and 22% smaller today than 7,000 years ago. Expected given long term exploitation!
What surprised us was that prey fish doubled in abundance and are growing 17% larger today, suggesting release from predation
What surprised us was that prey fish doubled in abundance and are growing 17% larger today, suggesting release from predation
and extracted thousands of reef fish otoliths and dermal denticles from the fine reef sediments
July 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
and extracted thousands of reef fish otoliths and dermal denticles from the fine reef sediments
We used the amazing 7,000 year-old coral reefs like these in Panama and the Dominican Republic to travel back in time
July 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
We used the amazing 7,000 year-old coral reefs like these in Panama and the Dominican Republic to travel back in time
🐠🦈 Just out: In this paper we ask "How has reef trophic structure changed since humans started removing predatory fishes from Caribbean coral reefs?".
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Illustrations @cookedillustrations.com
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Illustrations @cookedillustrations.com
July 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
🐠🦈 Just out: In this paper we ask "How has reef trophic structure changed since humans started removing predatory fishes from Caribbean coral reefs?".
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Illustrations @cookedillustrations.com
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Illustrations @cookedillustrations.com
This is the Panama Canal with the centennial bridge over the Culebra Cut, the locks leading into the Pacific ocean and Panama City in the background
June 30, 2025 at 12:18 AM
This is the Panama Canal with the centennial bridge over the Culebra Cut, the locks leading into the Pacific ocean and Panama City in the background
March 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The #INQUA meetings are about paleoecology, climate change, human evolution, and environmental transformations over the past 2.6myrs. @cookedillustra.bsky.social made a beautiful report from the last INQUA meeting in Rome. Here are some highlights. Grab the whole pdf here zenodo.org/records/1494...
March 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The #INQUA meetings are about paleoecology, climate change, human evolution, and environmental transformations over the past 2.6myrs. @cookedillustra.bsky.social made a beautiful report from the last INQUA meeting in Rome. Here are some highlights. Grab the whole pdf here zenodo.org/records/1494...
This smoky jungle frog is the reigning queen of the Gamboa frog pond
February 23, 2025 at 3:30 AM
This smoky jungle frog is the reigning queen of the Gamboa frog pond
A myctophids-eye view of the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Lanternfishes live typically from 200 to 2000m deep. Panama (top right) and Galapagos (bottom left) are connected by the Cocos ridge
January 29, 2025 at 9:05 PM
A myctophids-eye view of the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Lanternfishes live typically from 200 to 2000m deep. Panama (top right) and Galapagos (bottom left) are connected by the Cocos ridge
I think this is part of a rostrum of a large billfish. From the Caribbean late Miocene for #fossilfriday
January 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I think this is part of a rostrum of a large billfish. From the Caribbean late Miocene for #fossilfriday
The ITCZ has finally shifted south of the Isthmus and wind jets forming through low-lying canal area. Will be interesting to see if the winds will be strong enough to create upwelling in the Gulf of Panama during this La niña. The role of ENSO on upwelling in the region has not been resolved
January 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM
The ITCZ has finally shifted south of the Isthmus and wind jets forming through low-lying canal area. Will be interesting to see if the winds will be strong enough to create upwelling in the Gulf of Panama during this La niña. The role of ENSO on upwelling in the region has not been resolved