UBCBiodiversity
@ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social
Highlights from the Biodiversity Research Centre at The University of British Columbia.
biodiversity.ubc.ca
biodiversity.ubc.ca
Come join us!!
Applications are currently being accepted for UBC's ✨️ Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship ✨️ (two positions!!), due Jan. 15
Please share far and wide 🚀
(See thread)
Please share far and wide 🚀
(See thread)
Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunities
Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2-year (2026-2028) - 2 positions OPENAt UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in resea...
biodiversity.ubc.ca
November 3, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Come join us!!
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
“Bioluminescence is light made by living things,” Dr. Chris Harley explains. “The sparkly glow we sometimes see in the #ocean is caused by tiny, single-celled creatures in the #plankton called Noctiluca, which means ‘night light.'” curiocity.com/bioluminesce... @zoology.ubc.ca
The ocean's 'sparkly glow': Here's where to witness bioluminescence in B.C.
Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon producing a radiant blue glow in the ocean, & here are the best places to witness it in B.C.
curiocity.com
August 18, 2025 at 4:26 PM
“Bioluminescence is light made by living things,” Dr. Chris Harley explains. “The sparkly glow we sometimes see in the #ocean is caused by tiny, single-celled creatures in the #plankton called Noctiluca, which means ‘night light.'” curiocity.com/bioluminesce... @zoology.ubc.ca
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
Two covers for papers published on the same day www.pnas.org/toc/pnas/122... & www.nature.com/natecolevol/.... Proud of the team, especially #MelaniePrentice & @kevinzhong2006.bsky.social with @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social, @eoas.ubc.ca, @ubcoceans.bsky.social, @hakai.org and @science.ubc.ca
Table of Contents — August 19, 2025, 122 (33) | PNAS
View the Table of Contents for Volume 122, Issue 33
www.pnas.org
September 18, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Two covers for papers published on the same day www.pnas.org/toc/pnas/122... & www.nature.com/natecolevol/.... Proud of the team, especially #MelaniePrentice & @kevinzhong2006.bsky.social with @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social, @eoas.ubc.ca, @ubcoceans.bsky.social, @hakai.org and @science.ubc.ca
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
Like woodpeckers? Or population genomics? Or three-species hybridization? Or selective sweeps?
Then this is for you!
The typeset version of "Evidence for ancient selective sweeps followed by differentiation among three species of Sphyrapicus sapsuckers" is published today:
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Then this is for you!
The typeset version of "Evidence for ancient selective sweeps followed by differentiation among three species of Sphyrapicus sapsuckers" is published today:
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
September 8, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Like woodpeckers? Or population genomics? Or three-species hybridization? Or selective sweeps?
Then this is for you!
The typeset version of "Evidence for ancient selective sweeps followed by differentiation among three species of Sphyrapicus sapsuckers" is published today:
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Then this is for you!
The typeset version of "Evidence for ancient selective sweeps followed by differentiation among three species of Sphyrapicus sapsuckers" is published today:
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
What drives photosynthesis temperature sensitivity? New #GCB paper from #MichaletzLab grad #JosefGaren uses #FAsTeR to show it's 1‑day weather, not traits, origin climate, or phylogeny!
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
@ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social @science.ubc.ca @globalchangebio.bsky.social
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
@ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social @science.ubc.ca @globalchangebio.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 7:13 PM
What drives photosynthesis temperature sensitivity? New #GCB paper from #MichaletzLab grad #JosefGaren uses #FAsTeR to show it's 1‑day weather, not traits, origin climate, or phylogeny!
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
@ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social @science.ubc.ca @globalchangebio.bsky.social
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
@ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social @science.ubc.ca @globalchangebio.bsky.social
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
Many of us are using LLMs in coding and scientific writing. They are very helpful tools, but we need to be thoughtful as we integrate them into our work flows to preserve accountability, voice and trust. academic.oup.com/evlett/advan.... An editorial at @evolletters.bsky.social for discussion:
Editorial: Accountability, voice, and trust - responsible use of GenAI in scientific publishing
Over the last few years, the development and rapid advancement of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatG
academic.oup.com
August 22, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Many of us are using LLMs in coding and scientific writing. They are very helpful tools, but we need to be thoughtful as we integrate them into our work flows to preserve accountability, voice and trust. academic.oup.com/evlett/advan.... An editorial at @evolletters.bsky.social for discussion:
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
Just in time for her #eseb2025 poster on Thursday, @squarehare.bsky.social 's paper on the Poecilia bifurca sex chromosomes was published today academic.oup.com/g3journal/ad...
August 20, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Just in time for her #eseb2025 poster on Thursday, @squarehare.bsky.social 's paper on the Poecilia bifurca sex chromosomes was published today academic.oup.com/g3journal/ad...
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
Now available online in Accepted Manuscript form:
"Evidence for ancient selective sweeps followed by differentiation among three species of Sphyrapicus sapsuckers"
In the Journal of Evolutionary Biology: doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Congrats to lead author Libby Natola!
"Evidence for ancient selective sweeps followed by differentiation among three species of Sphyrapicus sapsuckers"
In the Journal of Evolutionary Biology: doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Congrats to lead author Libby Natola!
August 14, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Now available online in Accepted Manuscript form:
"Evidence for ancient selective sweeps followed by differentiation among three species of Sphyrapicus sapsuckers"
In the Journal of Evolutionary Biology: doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Congrats to lead author Libby Natola!
"Evidence for ancient selective sweeps followed by differentiation among three species of Sphyrapicus sapsuckers"
In the Journal of Evolutionary Biology: doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Congrats to lead author Libby Natola!
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
#UBC zoologist Dr. Judith Myers has spent five decades studying a native moth species and their boom-and-bust population cycles. She discusses her journey, findings from a recent study, and the caterpillars’ surprising resistance to climate change. science.ubc.ca/news/2025-08...
Why these hairy caterpillars swarm every decade – then vanish without a trace
Western tent caterpillars might not be on your mind every year, but during their peak outbreaks, they’re impossible to ignore—hairy larvae wriggling across roads and swarms of caterpillars climbing ho...
science.ubc.ca
August 11, 2025 at 6:27 PM
#UBC zoologist Dr. Judith Myers has spent five decades studying a native moth species and their boom-and-bust population cycles. She discusses her journey, findings from a recent study, and the caterpillars’ surprising resistance to climate change. science.ubc.ca/news/2025-08...
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
Very proud of the work from lab members and collaborators that coincidentally came out today www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... and www.nature.com/articles/s41.... A bacterial and viral pathogen associated with mass mortality in seastars and oysters. @kevinzhong2006.bsky.social @rhizalyssa.bsky.social
August 5, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Very proud of the work from lab members and collaborators that coincidentally came out today www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... and www.nature.com/articles/s41.... A bacterial and viral pathogen associated with mass mortality in seastars and oysters. @kevinzhong2006.bsky.social @rhizalyssa.bsky.social
Celebrate #Biodiversity in style!
Support the #UBC Biodiversity Research Centre with exclusive logo swag - where science meets style & conservation comes to life! Order t-shirts, mugs, & water bottles by 31 July! beatymuseum.ubc.ca/brc-merch @zoology.ubc.ca @science.ubc.ca @ubcbotany.bsky.social
Support the #UBC Biodiversity Research Centre with exclusive logo swag - where science meets style & conservation comes to life! Order t-shirts, mugs, & water bottles by 31 July! beatymuseum.ubc.ca/brc-merch @zoology.ubc.ca @science.ubc.ca @ubcbotany.bsky.social
July 25, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Celebrate #Biodiversity in style!
Support the #UBC Biodiversity Research Centre with exclusive logo swag - where science meets style & conservation comes to life! Order t-shirts, mugs, & water bottles by 31 July! beatymuseum.ubc.ca/brc-merch @zoology.ubc.ca @science.ubc.ca @ubcbotany.bsky.social
Support the #UBC Biodiversity Research Centre with exclusive logo swag - where science meets style & conservation comes to life! Order t-shirts, mugs, & water bottles by 31 July! beatymuseum.ubc.ca/brc-merch @zoology.ubc.ca @science.ubc.ca @ubcbotany.bsky.social
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
🌼 Headed to #Botany2025? You'll definitely want to check out the brand-new Plant Science Bulletin before arriving! 🌼
It has a ton of conference info---along with some great articles & book reviews!
Flipbook version: issuu.com/botanicalsoc...
PDF version: botany.org/userdata/Iss...
#plantscience
It has a ton of conference info---along with some great articles & book reviews!
Flipbook version: issuu.com/botanicalsoc...
PDF version: botany.org/userdata/Iss...
#plantscience
July 23, 2025 at 6:16 PM
🌼 Headed to #Botany2025? You'll definitely want to check out the brand-new Plant Science Bulletin before arriving! 🌼
It has a ton of conference info---along with some great articles & book reviews!
Flipbook version: issuu.com/botanicalsoc...
PDF version: botany.org/userdata/Iss...
#plantscience
It has a ton of conference info---along with some great articles & book reviews!
Flipbook version: issuu.com/botanicalsoc...
PDF version: botany.org/userdata/Iss...
#plantscience
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
The first paper from my postdoc is finally out! In collaboration with @kaitlyngaynor.bsky.social and Amy Angert, we outline how behavioral plasticity influences animal species’ distributions and can improve our understanding of range shifts under climate change! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Linking individual animal behavior to species range shifts under climate change
Climate change has led animal species to shift their ranges to greater elevations, latitudes, and depths, tracking their preferred abiotic niche. Howe…
www.sciencedirect.com
July 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
The first paper from my postdoc is finally out! In collaboration with @kaitlyngaynor.bsky.social and Amy Angert, we outline how behavioral plasticity influences animal species’ distributions and can improve our understanding of range shifts under climate change! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
Marine ecologist Dr. Chris Harley supports shell re-introduction on BC's coast despite the risk of invasive species: "We could absolutely test whether my intuition on that is correct by ... swabbing things and sequencing.”
@ubcoceans.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca
www.timescolonist.com/islander/she...
@ubcoceans.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca
www.timescolonist.com/islander/she...
Shell company: Victoria venture aims to harness the power of oyster shells
Their first product is a soil amendment made from the shells and coffee waste. But they say one critical way to recycle the shells is to return them to the ocean
www.timescolonist.com
July 21, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Marine ecologist Dr. Chris Harley supports shell re-introduction on BC's coast despite the risk of invasive species: "We could absolutely test whether my intuition on that is correct by ... swabbing things and sequencing.”
@ubcoceans.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca
www.timescolonist.com/islander/she...
@ubcoceans.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca
www.timescolonist.com/islander/she...
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
Huge congrats to @milossimovic.bsky.social for receiving a Best Presentation Award at #ISEPEP10 for his talk on mechanisms linking fine root traits to climate change-induced yellow-cedar decline! #MichaletzLab @science.ubc.ca @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca @isepep10.bsky.social
July 19, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Huge congrats to @milossimovic.bsky.social for receiving a Best Presentation Award at #ISEPEP10 for his talk on mechanisms linking fine root traits to climate change-induced yellow-cedar decline! #MichaletzLab @science.ubc.ca @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca @isepep10.bsky.social
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
Hey. @ubcoceans.bsky.social is hiring for a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Ocean Ecological Modelling. Deadline 12 Sept. To join us, apply here: research.ubc.ca/federal-rese...
Canada Excellence Research Chairs: 2026 Competition
The 2026 Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) competition has now launched.
research.ubc.ca
July 14, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Hey. @ubcoceans.bsky.social is hiring for a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Ocean Ecological Modelling. Deadline 12 Sept. To join us, apply here: research.ubc.ca/federal-rese...
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
🚨 New R package! 🚨
balancR provides tools for data balancing + robust scaling analysis, based on our recent Global Ecology & Biogeography paper: doi.org/10.1111/geb....
Co-developed with my PhD advisor @seanmichaletz.bsky.social
Check it out 👉 michaletzlab.github.io/balancR/
balancR provides tools for data balancing + robust scaling analysis, based on our recent Global Ecology & Biogeography paper: doi.org/10.1111/geb....
Co-developed with my PhD advisor @seanmichaletz.bsky.social
Check it out 👉 michaletzlab.github.io/balancR/
July 14, 2025 at 7:07 PM
🚨 New R package! 🚨
balancR provides tools for data balancing + robust scaling analysis, based on our recent Global Ecology & Biogeography paper: doi.org/10.1111/geb....
Co-developed with my PhD advisor @seanmichaletz.bsky.social
Check it out 👉 michaletzlab.github.io/balancR/
balancR provides tools for data balancing + robust scaling analysis, based on our recent Global Ecology & Biogeography paper: doi.org/10.1111/geb....
Co-developed with my PhD advisor @seanmichaletz.bsky.social
Check it out 👉 michaletzlab.github.io/balancR/
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
“Previously, people thought perhaps males realized that if they were more orange, they were more sexy,” explains Dr. Judith Mank of @zoology.ubc.ca.
www.karmactive.com/male-guppies...
www.karmactive.com/male-guppies...
Male Guppies With Orange Spots 2X More Sexually Active Than Dull Males, UBC Study Finds - Karmactive
Orange male guppies perform sexual displays twice as long and attempt mating 200% more than dull males. UBC scientists link bright coloration to brain development in genetic breakthrough study.
www.karmactive.com
July 8, 2025 at 4:40 PM
“Previously, people thought perhaps males realized that if they were more orange, they were more sexy,” explains Dr. Judith Mank of @zoology.ubc.ca.
www.karmactive.com/male-guppies...
www.karmactive.com/male-guppies...
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
🧬 Launching a project using lipidomics & transcriptomics to see if zooplankton quality is changing with climate. These tools reveal shifts in energy storage & stress responses—key to managing marine ecosystems @genomebc.bsky.social @psfca.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social #DFO
June 30, 2025 at 10:14 PM
🧬 Launching a project using lipidomics & transcriptomics to see if zooplankton quality is changing with climate. These tools reveal shifts in energy storage & stress responses—key to managing marine ecosystems @genomebc.bsky.social @psfca.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social #DFO
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
Nominate an outstanding early-career researcher! The Stevenson Lectureship Award honours creativity and impact in fisheries and aquatic sciences. The recipient will present a plenary lecture and receive travel support. Deadline: Sept 19, 2025. Details ➡️ buff.ly/uVBjCEr @scas-scsa.bsky.social
June 25, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Nominate an outstanding early-career researcher! The Stevenson Lectureship Award honours creativity and impact in fisheries and aquatic sciences. The recipient will present a plenary lecture and receive travel support. Deadline: Sept 19, 2025. Details ➡️ buff.ly/uVBjCEr @scas-scsa.bsky.social
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
Research on plant response to rising temperatures is often studied at small scales, then extrapolated across whole ecosystems. But that doesn't always translate into an accurate prediction at a larger scale.
@ubcbotany.bsky.social @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social
science.ubc.ca/news/2025-06...
@ubcbotany.bsky.social @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social
science.ubc.ca/news/2025-06...
Predicting how plants will fare in the heat is not so easy
Anticipating how plants will respond to rising temperatures is critical—not just for plants, but for whole ecosystems. How organisms respond to heat is often studied at small scales—such the behavior ...
science.ubc.ca
June 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Research on plant response to rising temperatures is often studied at small scales, then extrapolated across whole ecosystems. But that doesn't always translate into an accurate prediction at a larger scale.
@ubcbotany.bsky.social @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social
science.ubc.ca/news/2025-06...
@ubcbotany.bsky.social @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social
science.ubc.ca/news/2025-06...
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
#UBCForestry's Elizabeth Wolkovich highlights the importance of the summer solstice in shaping plant growth strategies.
The research shows that although warmer temperatures result in longer growing seasons, many species remain constrained by the early seasonal cues they rely on🌲
shorturl.at/WKAO2
The research shows that although warmer temperatures result in longer growing seasons, many species remain constrained by the early seasonal cues they rely on🌲
shorturl.at/WKAO2
How the summer solstice may be the cue for plants to brace for fall
The discovery that plants start closing up this early in the year could upend expectations about how they will respond to global warming
www.theglobeandmail.com
June 12, 2025 at 5:22 PM
#UBCForestry's Elizabeth Wolkovich highlights the importance of the summer solstice in shaping plant growth strategies.
The research shows that although warmer temperatures result in longer growing seasons, many species remain constrained by the early seasonal cues they rely on🌲
shorturl.at/WKAO2
The research shows that although warmer temperatures result in longer growing seasons, many species remain constrained by the early seasonal cues they rely on🌲
shorturl.at/WKAO2
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
check out this @cbcnews-rss.bsky.social interview with #UBCO and @biodivpathways.bsky.social wildlife scientist
@claytontlamb.bsky.social
#RoadEcology
#WiRELab
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
@claytontlamb.bsky.social
#RoadEcology
#WiRELab
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
© CBC/Radio-Canada 2025. All rights reserved.
www.cbc.ca
June 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM
check out this @cbcnews-rss.bsky.social interview with #UBCO and @biodivpathways.bsky.social wildlife scientist
@claytontlamb.bsky.social
#RoadEcology
#WiRELab
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
@claytontlamb.bsky.social
#RoadEcology
#WiRELab
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
Reposted by UBCBiodiversity
Plants are facing the #heat – from molecules to the biosphere –but predicting their responses isn’t easy. New @science.org paper w/ @mekevans.bsky.social & Jia Hu shows how plant responses to #warming can shift or reverse across #scales, and how new research can improve prediction. shorturl.at/mQB2c
June 12, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Plants are facing the #heat – from molecules to the biosphere –but predicting their responses isn’t easy. New @science.org paper w/ @mekevans.bsky.social & Jia Hu shows how plant responses to #warming can shift or reverse across #scales, and how new research can improve prediction. shorturl.at/mQB2c