Great to see a coordinated conservation strategy for the Danube crested newt across the entire Danube Basin 🦎 Species conservation often depends on cross-border cooperation, especially for freshwater and wetland habitats that connect multiple countries. danubeparks.org/sharepoint/p...

Some of the world’s most iconic birds still puzzle evolutionary biologists. New phylogenomic analyses of palaeognaths (ostriches, kiwis, rheas, tinamous and relatives) show that key branches in their evolutionary history may be fundamentally difficult to resolve. #LIBresearch ©Adobe Stock, Wim 1/3

Some species can remain almost indistinguishable, even after millions of years of evolution. New genomic research on Arabian Pristurus geckos reveals deep evolutionary splits hidden beneath remarkably similar appearances. #LIBresearch © Koppetsch et al., CC BY 1/3

Not every moth that looks different is a different species & not every similar-looking moth belongs to the same one. New genomic research untangles the relationships within Diachrysia moths. #LIBresearch © Khan et al., CC BY 1/3

Measuring biodiversity isn’t as simple as counting species. New research shows how different indicators, from insects to soil DNA to remote sensing, can be combined to better track biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. #LIBresearch © Zawalińska et al., CC BY 1/3

What do bats eat and when? By combining DNA from bat droppings with time-stamped insect sampling, new research links predator diets directly to prey availability across the night. #LIBresearch → onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... 1/3

Important step towards more sustainable agriculture: Supporting natural enemies through simple measures like flower strips can reduce pesticide use, without sacrificing yield. #LIBresearch

What if you’ve only ever seen half a species? New research finally describes the missing males of the parasitoid wasp Pteroceraphron—and shows it also occurs in the Neotropics. #LIBresearch © Salden et al., CC BY 1/3

Not every colourful shell tells a different story. New research on Amphidromus tree snails shows that striking differences in colour and shape don’t always mean different species: Revealing a more complex picture of their evolution.. #LIBresearch © Becher et al., CC BY 1/3

Shape matters, even at the microscale. New research shows that the geometry of snail radula teeth controls how stiff they are and how efficiently they collect food, linking form directly to function in biological “tools.” #LIBresearch © Krings et al., CC BY 1/3

Hidden inside bird feathers, entire parasite communities go unnoticed. New research on quill mites reveals specialised species living within feather shafts: Highlighting overlooked diversity in one of the most intimate host–parasite systems. #LIBresearch © Skoracki et al., CC BY

Snails don’t just scrape food, they engineer it. New research shows that the tiny teeth of their radula work together: interlocking structures improve feeding efficiency, revealing how collective design boosts performance. #LIBresearch © Krings et al., CC BY 1/3

Evolution doesn’t shape all traits equally. New research on lizard skulls shows that some parts can change quickly, while others are more constrained - depending on how they develop early in life. #LIBresearch © Horta-Lacueva, CC BY 1/3

Tiny snail shells can record past climates. By analysing isotopes in fossil land snail shells, new research reconstructs how environments shifted over time—capturing climate signals at a surprisingly fine scale. #LIBresearch © Richter et al., CC BY 4.0 1/3

Symmetry isn’t always the rule in nature. New spider species of the genus Metagonia show consistent left–right differences in both male and female genitalia. A rare case of directional asymmetry in spiders. #LIBresearch © Huber et al., CC BY 4.0 1/3

What if a predator hides in plain sight, by mimicking a deadly parasite? A newly described spider from the Amazon (Taczanowskia waska) imitates a fungus that infects other spiders - combining appearance and behaviour to stay undetected. #LIBresearch © David Díaz-Guevara 1/3

Half the picture was missing ...until now. With the first description of male Pteroceraphron, this work sharpens species identification and expands its known range into the Neotropics. Taxonomy still holds many blind spots that directly affect how we track biodiversity.

Crickets once lived in ancient lagoons. Fossils from Brazil’s Crato Formation reveal a surprising diversity of extinct “lagoon crickets”, including newly described species that reshape how we understand their evolution over 100 million years ago. #LIBresearch © Schal et al., CC BY 4.0 1/3

From online games to evolutionary theory: testing warning signals with human “predators” Understanding how signals are perceived is key to explaining biodiversity patterns and how species communicate risk.

What if a spider pretends to be its own parasite? A newly described species from the Ecuadorian Amazon mimics a fungus that infects spiders—blurring the line between predator, prey, and pathogen.... weiterlesen

Earth’s earliest history is written in tiny glass beads. Impact spherules from South Africa carry geochemical fingerprints of meteorite impacts over 3 billion years ago, offering clues to processes shaping the young Earth and Solar System. #LIBresearch © NASA Earth Observatory (public domain) 1/3

What shapes biodiversity across landscapes: climate, land use, or something else? New work from Germany shows that species richness on land & in freshwater systems responds to different drivers & that these patterns are more complex than often assumed. #LIBresearch © Ellerbrok et al., CC BY 4.0 1/3

How does a little-studied snake respond to human-altered landscapes? New insights on the bamboo pitviper (Trimeresurus gramineus) reveal its ecology, behaviour & strong site fidelity, alongside growing pressure from habitat disturbance and wildlife trade. #LIBresearch © Parmar et al., CC BY 4.0 1/3

Life inside a termite nest: a new study revises a little-known group of millipedes that spend their entire lives with social insects: revealing how extreme lifestyles shape evolution. #LIBresearch © Wesener et al., CC BY 40 1/3

Eine schöne Gelegenheit für einen intensiven Forschungsaufenthalt und neue Perspektiven 👇 Die Leibniz Fellowships „Value of the Past“ sind jetzt ausgeschrieben. 📅 Bewerbungsschluss: 30.06.2026

How does climate shape disease risk in wildlife? A new study shows that seasonal changes influence immune responses and infection risk in damselflies, linking environmental variability to host–parasite interactions. #LIBresearch © Paul et al., CC BY 4.0

How much diversity is hidden in well-known insect groups? New work on hoverflies revises the genus Asemosyrphus and describes a new Sphiximorpha species - highlighting how much remains to be uncovered even in studied taxa. #LIBresearch © Mengual et al., CC BY 4.0 1/2

How much insect diversity is still hidden? A new study describes insects that mimic stingless bees - revealing previously overlooked diversity and how resemblance helps them avoid predators. #LIBresearch © Reemer et al., CC BY 4.0 1/2

A new ERGA–Biodiversity Genomics Europe reference genome for the limpet Patella rustica provides a key resource to study how coastal species respond to global warming. #LIBresearch © Faria R et al., CC BY 4.0 1/3

Many “single species” actually turn out to be complexes of multiple, distinct species once studied in detail. A great example of how taxonomy continues to reveal hidden biodiversity. #LIBresearch

A new reference genome for the Azores bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina) provides a powerful tool to study and conserve one of Europe’s rarest birds. High-quality genomic data help track genetic diversity and support targeted conservation efforts. #LIBresearch © Lopes et al., CC BY 4. 1/3

A newly discovered “monkey hopper” from mid-Cretaceous amber adds to our picture of ancient insect diversity. Fossils like these help trace the deep evolutionary history of grasshopper-like insects. #LIBresearch Symbol picture: © Adobe Stock, Minakryn Ruslan 1/2

Turning individual experience into shared community standards is key for large-scale genomics. Great to see this collaborative effort highlighted! #LIBresearch

Science and museums have histories shaped by broader societal forces. Important #LIBresearch highlighting how political dynamics influenced the development of Museum Koenig — and why reflecting on this matters today.

High-quality genomes help us study evolutionary uniqueness, population history and conservation needs: A new ERGA–BGE reference genome for the Pyrenean “milky worm” sheds light on the evolution & conservation of little-known soil biodiversity. #LIBresearch © Novo et al., CC BY 4. 1/2

Closely related species living side by side — but using completely different ways to determine sex. A fascinating example of how evolutionary mechanisms can help maintain species boundaries even when hybridisation occurs. #LIBresearch

How do snails scrape algae off rocks — without destroying their own teeth? A new review explores the radula, the specialized feeding organ of mollusks, whose teeth are finely adapted to different diets and habitats. #LIBresearch © Adobe Stock, Macronatura. es 1/3

Why are insects declining — and what can we do about it? A new review synthesises current evidence: habitat loss, land-use change, climate change and pollutants are key drivers reshaping insect communities worldwide. #LIBresearch © Scherber et al., CC BY 4.0 @cscherber.bsky.social 1/2

We are concerned about recent developments affecting our partner, Ilia State University. The strong reduction of academic fields runs counter to the principles of disciplinary diversity and international academic cooperation.

Scientific data infrastructures didn’t start digitally — they grew out of networks of collectors, dealers and institutions exchanging specimens and knowledge. How has biodiversity knowledge been organised and shared? © Bischoff et al., CC BY 4.0 1/3

Great to see LIB research supporting global dialogue on sustainable wildlife management. Exchanges like this are vital for linking science, policy and practice.

Great to see this work describing new species and revisiting known diversity — a reminder how much there is still to discover about insect–ant interactions. #LIBresearch Fun Fact: Some beetles living with ants avoid detection by copying their hosts’ chemical signals.

Spannend zu sehen, wie LIB-Forschung auch außerhalb der Fachcommunity aufgegriffen wird — danke an RiffReporter für das Feature! Ein gutes Beispiel dafür, wie Infrastruktur unbeabsichtigt Tierbewegungen beeinflussen kann. #LIBResearch

Fossil insects in amber can be preserved with lifelike detail. Great to see these new elcanid species highlighted — offering rare insight into the deep evolutionary history of grasshoppers and their relatives. #LIBresearch

Gecko adhesion relies on microscopic toe structures rather than stickiness or suction. Great to see this research featured — revealing how diversity within gecko lineages helps us understand the evolution of this remarkable trait.

Interested in insects, spiders and trait-based biodiversity research? This PhD project at LIB and the University of Hamburg might be for you — or someone you know!

Trains may be more than transport for people & goods — they might also be inadvertently moving vulnerable king cobras into habitats where they struggle to survive. #LIBresearch © Parmar et al., CC BY 4.0 @droedder.bsky.social 1/3

Good research data management is key for biodiversity and genomics research — great to see NFDI highlighting data practices and communities behind them.

Amber can preserve insects almost as if they died yesterday — making it a powerful window into deep-time biodiversity and evolution. #LIBresearch #paleontology

Pesticide residues affect more than crops – they alter soil ecosystems and biodiversity. In the study discussed here, Christoph Scherber (LIB) helps put the findings into context, highlighting the key role of healthy soils for resilient ecosystems.