Reuben O'Connell-Booth
@rocb-ento.bsky.social
PhD-ing insect conservation & agri-environment schemes. Reo29@cam.ac.uk
Pinned
Interested in #moth trapping?
Ever wondered why different bulbs collect different species?
Or why some species are particularly threatened by light pollution?
Using 100,000+ samples from the GMS (@gardenmothscheme.bsky.social), our new pre-print addresses these questions and more (thread)
Ever wondered why different bulbs collect different species?
Or why some species are particularly threatened by light pollution?
Using 100,000+ samples from the GMS (@gardenmothscheme.bsky.social), our new pre-print addresses these questions and more (thread)
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
4/ Using evidence gathered from old postcards, maps and the accounts of shepherds and botanists, I want to rebuild a picture of the chalk downland that existed until the 1940s - and in doing so, help efforts to restore it.
Please get involved here:
ghostsofchalkcountry.org/2025/09/14/h...
Please get involved here:
ghostsofchalkcountry.org/2025/09/14/h...
How old postcards reveal the destruction of chalk downland
This post is by Guy Shrubsole. Rifling through boxes of old postcards in junk shops is, admittedly, not my coolest pastime. But it’s something I’ve started doing of late, because some o…
ghostsofchalkcountry.org
September 25, 2025 at 10:18 AM
4/ Using evidence gathered from old postcards, maps and the accounts of shepherds and botanists, I want to rebuild a picture of the chalk downland that existed until the 1940s - and in doing so, help efforts to restore it.
Please get involved here:
ghostsofchalkcountry.org/2025/09/14/h...
Please get involved here:
ghostsofchalkcountry.org/2025/09/14/h...
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
Learning that ”the relationship remained significant after adjusting for (unreliable) confounder” is an inference criteria that becomes worse when you have more power has been very formative for how I read the literature.
September 26, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Learning that ”the relationship remained significant after adjusting for (unreliable) confounder” is an inference criteria that becomes worse when you have more power has been very formative for how I read the literature.
This is outrageous
“Reform [UK] voters don’t think climate is important and the Mail and Sun [newspapers] complain that Starmer has spent a record number of days overseas”
on.ft.com/4nOy28P Keir Starmer has no plans to attend COP30 climate summit in Brazil
“Reform [UK] voters don’t think climate is important and the Mail and Sun [newspapers] complain that Starmer has spent a record number of days overseas”
on.ft.com/4nOy28P Keir Starmer has no plans to attend COP30 climate summit in Brazil
Keir Starmer has no plans to attend COP30 climate summit in Brazil
Final decision has yet to be made amid ‘big fight inside government’ over trip by prime minister
on.ft.com
September 25, 2025 at 8:13 AM
This is outrageous
“Reform [UK] voters don’t think climate is important and the Mail and Sun [newspapers] complain that Starmer has spent a record number of days overseas”
on.ft.com/4nOy28P Keir Starmer has no plans to attend COP30 climate summit in Brazil
“Reform [UK] voters don’t think climate is important and the Mail and Sun [newspapers] complain that Starmer has spent a record number of days overseas”
on.ft.com/4nOy28P Keir Starmer has no plans to attend COP30 climate summit in Brazil
Heath's moth trap design, from the original publication.
Heath, J., 1965. A genuinely portable M.V. Light Trap. Ent. Rec., 77: 236-238. www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39266893
Heath, J., 1965. A genuinely portable M.V. Light Trap. Ent. Rec., 77: 236-238. www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39266893
July 3, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Heath's moth trap design, from the original publication.
Heath, J., 1965. A genuinely portable M.V. Light Trap. Ent. Rec., 77: 236-238. www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39266893
Heath, J., 1965. A genuinely portable M.V. Light Trap. Ent. Rec., 77: 236-238. www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39266893
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
Your annual reminder of how to tell Field Scabious, Knautia arvensis, and Small Scabious, Scabiosa columbaria, apart with a quick glance. Have a look under the flower heads. Field Scabious has a double row of leaf-like bracts, and Small Scabious has a single row of narrow, bristle-tipped bracts.
June 23, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Your annual reminder of how to tell Field Scabious, Knautia arvensis, and Small Scabious, Scabiosa columbaria, apart with a quick glance. Have a look under the flower heads. Field Scabious has a double row of leaf-like bracts, and Small Scabious has a single row of narrow, bristle-tipped bracts.
So cool - these moths navigate using starlight
More great stuff from the Eric Warrant & the Lund vision group.
Makes me wonder- could this be disrupted by skyglow? Yet another way artificial light can disrupt moths?
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
More great stuff from the Eric Warrant & the Lund vision group.
Makes me wonder- could this be disrupted by skyglow? Yet another way artificial light can disrupt moths?
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
These moths use the stars to navigate on an epic migration
Bogong moths migrate hundreds of kilometres and back each year using the southern night sky as their compass.
www.nature.com
June 23, 2025 at 3:27 PM
So cool - these moths navigate using starlight
More great stuff from the Eric Warrant & the Lund vision group.
Makes me wonder- could this be disrupted by skyglow? Yet another way artificial light can disrupt moths?
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
More great stuff from the Eric Warrant & the Lund vision group.
Makes me wonder- could this be disrupted by skyglow? Yet another way artificial light can disrupt moths?
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
Natural England is delighted today to declare England’s newest National Nature Reserve: the Bradford Pennine Gateway NNR. 1200 hectares of priority habitats on the doorstep of tens of thousands of people, many with limited access to high quality natural areas.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
May 13, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Natural England is delighted today to declare England’s newest National Nature Reserve: the Bradford Pennine Gateway NNR. 1200 hectares of priority habitats on the doorstep of tens of thousands of people, many with limited access to high quality natural areas.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Interesting paper, worth a read. Another complicating factor in untangling moth declines! link.springer.com/article/10.1...
May 1, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Interesting paper, worth a read. Another complicating factor in untangling moth declines! link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
REVEALED: only 5% of Forestry Commission grants for woodland creation have been spent on the natural regeneration of trees, while the remaining 95% is spent on tree planting.
The government needs to change the rules.
My FOI request & comment in the Guardian:
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The government needs to change the rules.
My FOI request & comment in the Guardian:
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Government ‘failing to support natural regeneration of trees in England’
Campaigners say targets for woodland creation are unlikely to be met because 95% of grants are for planting
www.theguardian.com
April 28, 2025 at 12:46 PM
REVEALED: only 5% of Forestry Commission grants for woodland creation have been spent on the natural regeneration of trees, while the remaining 95% is spent on tree planting.
The government needs to change the rules.
My FOI request & comment in the Guardian:
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The government needs to change the rules.
My FOI request & comment in the Guardian:
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
When lepidopterist Michael Braby spotted something odd on a rare butterfly specimen, an old case was re-opened: a heist involving Scotland Yard & a forgery that created a flutter throughout the taxonomic world.
cosmosmagazine.com/nature/butterfly-heist-70-years-ago-is-still-causing-flutter/
cosmosmagazine.com/nature/butterfly-heist-70-years-ago-is-still-causing-flutter/
Butterfly heist 70 years ago is still causing flutter
Braby has spent thirty-odd years researching butterflies and moths, so when alarm bells start ringing follows up
cosmosmagazine.com
April 25, 2025 at 2:56 AM
When lepidopterist Michael Braby spotted something odd on a rare butterfly specimen, an old case was re-opened: a heist involving Scotland Yard & a forgery that created a flutter throughout the taxonomic world.
cosmosmagazine.com/nature/butterfly-heist-70-years-ago-is-still-causing-flutter/
cosmosmagazine.com/nature/butterfly-heist-70-years-ago-is-still-causing-flutter/
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
“Yes, defining women as biological is a disaster for feminism.” @saranahmed.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/feminist...
open.substack.com/pub/feminist...
Patriarchal Hammers
Some thoughts on the recent judgement by the Supreme Court
open.substack.com
April 22, 2025 at 1:02 PM
“Yes, defining women as biological is a disaster for feminism.” @saranahmed.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/feminist...
open.substack.com/pub/feminist...
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
Locally here in the Sussex High Weald Hyacinthoides non-scripta are mainly blue, occasionally white but these definitely look purple… @naturelark.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
April 24, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Locally here in the Sussex High Weald Hyacinthoides non-scripta are mainly blue, occasionally white but these definitely look purple… @naturelark.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
I just posted a new notebook:
Causal Inference with the 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚜 📦 for #Rstats. It introduces the idea of G-Computation and tries to demystify the differences between ATE, ATT, and ATU.
This is a first draft and I would looove any feedback!
marginaleffects.com/chapters/gco...
Causal Inference with the 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚜 📦 for #Rstats. It introduces the idea of G-Computation and tries to demystify the differences between ATE, ATT, and ATU.
This is a first draft and I would looove any feedback!
marginaleffects.com/chapters/gco...
8 Causal inference with G-computation – Model to Meaning
marginaleffects.com
February 1, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I just posted a new notebook:
Causal Inference with the 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚜 📦 for #Rstats. It introduces the idea of G-Computation and tries to demystify the differences between ATE, ATT, and ATU.
This is a first draft and I would looove any feedback!
marginaleffects.com/chapters/gco...
Causal Inference with the 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚜 📦 for #Rstats. It introduces the idea of G-Computation and tries to demystify the differences between ATE, ATT, and ATU.
This is a first draft and I would looove any feedback!
marginaleffects.com/chapters/gco...
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
Such a banger. The rain DAG has made its way around socials a few times, but check out the extremely lucid and incisive discussion section.
February 13, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Such a banger. The rain DAG has made its way around socials a few times, but check out the extremely lucid and incisive discussion section.
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
Labour’s great nature sellout is the worst attack on England’s ecosystems I’ve seen in my lifetime | George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Labour’s great nature sellout is the worst attack on England’s ecosystems I’ve seen in my lifetime | George Monbiot
The horrifying planning bill, which rips up environmental protections, was drafted with CEOs in mind. We know because Keir Starmer told us, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
April 24, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Labour’s great nature sellout is the worst attack on England’s ecosystems I’ve seen in my lifetime | George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
NEW PAPER from the GLiTRS team! 🎉
We review how best to use different types of evidence to better understand global insect declines 🦗🪳🪲🦋🐛🐜
"Integrating multiple evidence streams to understand insect biodiversity change" published in @science.org
🔗 tinyurl.com/mr35bdaa
A summary 🧵 below (1/7)
We review how best to use different types of evidence to better understand global insect declines 🦗🪳🪲🦋🐛🐜
"Integrating multiple evidence streams to understand insect biodiversity change" published in @science.org
🔗 tinyurl.com/mr35bdaa
A summary 🧵 below (1/7)
www.science.org
April 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM
NEW PAPER from the GLiTRS team! 🎉
We review how best to use different types of evidence to better understand global insect declines 🦗🪳🪲🦋🐛🐜
"Integrating multiple evidence streams to understand insect biodiversity change" published in @science.org
🔗 tinyurl.com/mr35bdaa
A summary 🧵 below (1/7)
We review how best to use different types of evidence to better understand global insect declines 🦗🪳🪲🦋🐛🐜
"Integrating multiple evidence streams to understand insect biodiversity change" published in @science.org
🔗 tinyurl.com/mr35bdaa
A summary 🧵 below (1/7)
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
Using this as an excuse to share a great post by @natehaines.bsky.social on modelling and Dunning-Kruger.
haines-lab.com/post/2021-01...
haines-lab.com/post/2021-01...
April 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Using this as an excuse to share a great post by @natehaines.bsky.social on modelling and Dunning-Kruger.
haines-lab.com/post/2021-01...
haines-lab.com/post/2021-01...
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
“England’s non-woodland trees have been mapped for the first time, using cutting-edge methods of laser detection and satellite imagery”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘An exciting moment’: England’s urban and rural trees mapped for first time
‘Groundbreaking’ tool aims to help tree-planting efforts and identify areas to create nature-rich habitats
www.theguardian.com
April 5, 2025 at 9:11 AM
“England’s non-woodland trees have been mapped for the first time, using cutting-edge methods of laser detection and satellite imagery”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
Too edgy for Private Eye?
We recently ran the 1st of 3 ads in Private Eye magazine. But after our 1st they told us they wouldn't run any more.
Did they give in to pressure from the shooting industry or another vested interest?
Private Eye- too establishment for Wild Justice!
We recently ran the 1st of 3 ads in Private Eye magazine. But after our 1st they told us they wouldn't run any more.
Did they give in to pressure from the shooting industry or another vested interest?
Private Eye- too establishment for Wild Justice!
April 4, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Too edgy for Private Eye?
We recently ran the 1st of 3 ads in Private Eye magazine. But after our 1st they told us they wouldn't run any more.
Did they give in to pressure from the shooting industry or another vested interest?
Private Eye- too establishment for Wild Justice!
We recently ran the 1st of 3 ads in Private Eye magazine. But after our 1st they told us they wouldn't run any more.
Did they give in to pressure from the shooting industry or another vested interest?
Private Eye- too establishment for Wild Justice!
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
The New York Times recently had an article on IVF and embryo selection which I think buries a few important ledes about these products ...
Opinion | Should Human Life Be Optimized?
Advances in genetic testing and artificial intelligence are changing what’s possible for those undergoing I.V.F. Are we ready for the future of fertility?
www.nytimes.com
April 3, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The New York Times recently had an article on IVF and embryo selection which I think buries a few important ledes about these products ...
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
Elevated extinction risk in over one-fifth of native North American pollinators. 1,600 spp of vertebrate & insect pollinators assessed - one in five at risk of extinction. major threats - climate, agriculture, hydrological & fire regimes, & urban development. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Elevated extinction risk in over one-fifth of native North American pollinators | PNAS
Pollinators are critical for food production and ecosystem function. Although native
pollinators are thought to be declining, the evidence is limit...
www.pnas.org
April 3, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Elevated extinction risk in over one-fifth of native North American pollinators. 1,600 spp of vertebrate & insect pollinators assessed - one in five at risk of extinction. major threats - climate, agriculture, hydrological & fire regimes, & urban development. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
It's published!
The largest research work I've ever undertaken:
Lords of the flies: dipteran migrants are diverse, abundant & ecologically important
Published in Biological Reviews: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Thanks so much to co-authors @koralwotton.bsky.social & Myles Menz
1/x
The largest research work I've ever undertaken:
Lords of the flies: dipteran migrants are diverse, abundant & ecologically important
Published in Biological Reviews: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Thanks so much to co-authors @koralwotton.bsky.social & Myles Menz
1/x
April 2, 2025 at 6:39 AM
It's published!
The largest research work I've ever undertaken:
Lords of the flies: dipteran migrants are diverse, abundant & ecologically important
Published in Biological Reviews: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Thanks so much to co-authors @koralwotton.bsky.social & Myles Menz
1/x
The largest research work I've ever undertaken:
Lords of the flies: dipteran migrants are diverse, abundant & ecologically important
Published in Biological Reviews: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Thanks so much to co-authors @koralwotton.bsky.social & Myles Menz
1/x
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
Government to extend ban on moorland burning - closing loopholes in existing rules
Great news for nature, carbon, & people who’ll be spared from acrid smoke & flooding
Bad news for dukes & billionaires who own grouse moors 🎻
Here's my quote running on PA newswire: 1/
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Great news for nature, carbon, & people who’ll be spared from acrid smoke & flooding
Bad news for dukes & billionaires who own grouse moors 🎻
Here's my quote running on PA newswire: 1/
www.gov.uk/government/n...
March 31, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Government to extend ban on moorland burning - closing loopholes in existing rules
Great news for nature, carbon, & people who’ll be spared from acrid smoke & flooding
Bad news for dukes & billionaires who own grouse moors 🎻
Here's my quote running on PA newswire: 1/
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Great news for nature, carbon, & people who’ll be spared from acrid smoke & flooding
Bad news for dukes & billionaires who own grouse moors 🎻
Here's my quote running on PA newswire: 1/
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Reuben O'Connell-Booth
Need to explain (or understand) linear mixed effects regressions, random intercepts, and random slopes? Look no further than "A Visual Introduction to Hierarchical Models" by Michael Freeman, 2017. It's a banger!
A Visual Introduction to Hierarchical Models
A visual explanation of multi-level modeling
mfviz.com
March 27, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Need to explain (or understand) linear mixed effects regressions, random intercepts, and random slopes? Look no further than "A Visual Introduction to Hierarchical Models" by Michael Freeman, 2017. It's a banger!