Keller Kopf
@kellerfish.bsky.social
📤 2410
📥 1073
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Ecology - Conservation - Rivers - Fish and Fisheries Senior Lecturer Charles Darwin University
pinned post!
First post here. I’ll unpack our new paper
@science.org
highlighting the loss of old animals and calling for ‘longevity conservation’
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
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Loss of Earth’s old, wise, and large animals
Earth’s old animals are in decline. Despite this, emerging research is revealing the vital contributions of older individuals to cultural transmission, population dynamics, and ecosystem processes and...
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado2705
about 1 year ago
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Carl Sayer
about 1 month ago
An updated review of fish species reintroductions: global lessons to inform future riverine fish conservation in the UK | Discover Conservation
share.google/HsNqskxDVhmT...
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Steve Baty (He/him)
about 1 month ago
I am generally optimistic but I can’t help but fear this will lead to the slaughter of these sharks in the name of science.
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
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Greenland shark eyes may hold anti-aging secrets
The Greenland shark is thought to live for about 400 years but somehow its eyes appear to barely deteriorate, according to a new study that has implications for human health.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2026-01-10/eyes-dont-age-for-greenland-shark/106019818?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link
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John Bird
about 1 month ago
Deep-sea earthquakes fuel huge plankton blooms in Antarctica | Science | AAAS
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Deep-sea earthquakes fuel huge plankton blooms in Antarctica
Hydrothermal vents spurred by seismic activity feed vital nutrients to Antarctic microbes
https://www.science.org/content/article/deep-sea-earthquakes-fuel-huge-plankton-blooms-antarctica?utm_source=Deep-Ocean+Stewardship+Initiative&utm_campaign=35230f56f3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_21_aug_2020_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_570f6dc7e9-35230f56f3-345140932
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Anthony Ricciardi
about 1 month ago
Populations of endangered animals on an island have increased by 90-100% in five years, after effectively controlling non-native predators.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
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'Predator-free' fence project praised for restoring Kangaroo Island's native wildlife
Five years after feral cats were removed from inside the Western River Refuge on Kangaroo Island, populations of endangered species have boomed.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-11/kangaroo-island-native-animal-populations-bounce-back/106209894
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Dr Craig R McClain
about 2 months ago
Newish paper (i.e. it was out last summer and just now seeing it) out on Alicella gigantea, the world’s largest amphipod. Long thought to be rare because we almost never see it. Turns out it may occupy ~59% of the global ocean.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
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Dr Craig R McClain
about 2 months ago
The deepest confirmed fish observation occurred at ~8,300 m. I know the shape behind it is another fish’s tail, but my brain insists it looks like the foreground fish is wearing a party hat.
#deepsea
#marinelife
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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The Ricciardians
about 2 months ago
www.zmescience.com/science/news...
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This Freshwater Fish Can Live Over 120 Years and Shows No Signs of Aging. But It Has a Problem
An ancient freshwater species may be quietly facing a silent collapse.
https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/bigmouth-buffalo-old-fish-longevity/
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Phyllis Lee
about 2 months ago
For context, I watched him leave his family at 16 (late) and his first musth in his 20s. A very successful male.
news.mongabay.com/2026/01/what...
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What Craig’s long life reveals about elephant conservation
The death of a well-known wild animal is an odd kind of news. It is intimate, because so many people feel they have met the creature through photographs and video. It is also impersonal, because the a...
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/01/what-craigs-long-life-reveals-about-elephant-conservation/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAPHXEdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEefdR_d8UTiDRqL9NhzpQiAyBh7IZDbw8-Xlt0WlWXQ9f5QhFS1JLEW_Zdj6o_aem_cebNGhWNnfHWFgJz4-6pWQ
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Jonathan Wilson
about 2 months ago
phys.org/news/2026-01...
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Two white-blooded fish, two paths: Icefish and noodlefish independently lose red blood cell function
Antarctic icefish are famous for living without red blood cells, but they are not alone. A species of needle-shaped, warm-water fish called the Asian noodlefish also lacks hemoglobin and red blood cel...
https://phys.org/news/2026-01-white-blooded-fish-paths-icefish.html
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Museum of Science
about 2 months ago
There’s a species of jellyfish that can restart its life cycle. 🪼🔁 Turritopsis dohrnii can revert from an adult back into a juvenile state when stressed or injured, essentially starting life over again. It’s one of the only animals known to biologically reset itself.
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The Economist
about 2 months ago
Most illegal activity in the ocean takes place on licensed vessels. This is the context in which a new agreement to protect the high seas has emerged. It has three broad legs
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A half-planet-size gap in global governance is about to get plugged
A new treaty offers hope of curbing the destruction of the oceans
https://econ.st/4qxWZqm
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Anthony Ricciardi
about 2 months ago
Very sad to hear of this. I met Emma at conference I organized in Montreal in 2019. She had a stellar reputation, so I invited her as a keynote speaker. She was charismatic & inspirational. Students in particular told me they enjoyed meeting her. Wonderful person.
theconversation.com/emma-johnsto...
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Emma Johnston was a visionary scientist, environmentalist and leader, with an abiding hope for humanity
The University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor, who has died aged 52, was driven by a deep love of science and a desire to safeguard the planet’s future.
https://theconversation.com/emma-johnston-was-a-visionary-scientist-environmentalist-and-leader-with-an-abiding-hope-for-humanity-272609
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Very sad news. The world needs more people like Emma. Her death is a tragic loss for science, education, and society . I wish Emma’s family and friends peace at this time.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
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Anthony Ricciardi
about 2 months ago
Current evidence shows: More invaders in an ecosystem = greater likelihood that one will be disruptive. Invaders can interact synergistically with each other & with external stressors. Rather than generate resistance, higher invasion rates promote more disruption.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
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Do globally increasing invasion rates threaten ecosystem sustainability? - Biological Invasions
Rates of biological invasion are rarely described as a sustainability issue, yet multiple lines of evidence suggest that burgeoning invasion rates cause ecosystems to be less sustainable over time. Fi...
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10530-025-03737-8
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Bruce Stallsmith
about 2 months ago
Ricefishes of the genus Oryzias always fascinate me. At first glance I at once think it must be a small Percina darter species, a Poeciliid livebearer, or a North American silversides. Here's a newly described species from northern Taiwan. 🧪🌍🐟
#TeamFish
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A new freshwater ricefish of genus Oryzias (Teleostei: Adrianichthyidae) from northern Taiwan | Zootaxa
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.23
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Keller Kopf
Prosanta Chakrabarty
about 2 months ago
Awesome article in
@science.org
on
@danielgeldof.bsky.social
Master's thesis on the secret of the rockhead poacher’s (Bothragonus swanii) unusual cranial anatomy. Daniel did some beautiful CT scans on this odd fish's head.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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This fish seems to use its bizarre skull like a drum
The rockhead poacher’s unusual cranial anatomy may help it communicate
https://www.science.org/content/article/fish-seems-use-its-bizarre-skull-drum
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ProfColinBean
about 2 months ago
A global estimator of C and N isotope baselines for fresh waters. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 00, 1–15.
doi.org/10.1111/2041...
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A global estimator of C and N isotope baselines for fresh waters
Baselines are the pebbles in the shoes of isotope ecologists. The extreme variability of the isotope composition of resources at the base of food webs governs the spatial differences of consumers'...
https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.70225
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Prep. Finished for a minor (cat. 2; likely 90 km/hr winds) cyclone here in Darwin.
3 months ago
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Dr Dan Shugar 🇨🇦
3 months ago
The application deadline for these has been extended (due to them being open an unreasonably short time initially, not b/c we got too few applications). Dust off your CV, friends. 🧪⚒️
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Biodiversity Council
4 months ago
A new special collection, released in the journal Wildlife Research
@wildliferesearchj.bsky.social
, published by
@csiropublishing.bsky.social
, showcases some of the amazing Indigenous-led and cross-cultural wildlife research occurring in Australia 🧪 Watch the full interview in the link below.
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Nature Portfolio
4 months ago
The remarkably long lifespan of bowhead whales could be due to an increased ability to repair DNA mutations, according to research in Nature.
go.nature.com/4hzvDN7
🌏 🧪
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David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
4 months ago
The not-so-little Murray cod that could: fish tracked swimming 900km along Australia’s biggest river system
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
🧪🦑🌎🐠
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The not-so-little Murray cod that could: fish tracked swimming 900km along Australia’s biggest river system
Fish named after Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus was most recently tracked at a section of the mid-Murray, near Belsar Island
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/27/murray-cod-tracked-swimming-australia-biggest-river-system
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Lauren Brent
4 months ago
the IUCN have passed the Longevity Conservation motion put forward to them by
@kellerfish.bsky.social
and
@pili-scotland.bsky.social
and based on the paper we wrote on the value of older individuals in animal societies.
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
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Global body adopts policy to protect Earth’s old, wise and large animals | Charles Darwin University
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recognised Charles Darwin University-led research into the Earth’s oldest animals with the adoption of the ‘Longevity Conservation’ global...
https://www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-body-adopts-policy-protect-earth%E2%80%99s-old-wise-large-animals
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Josie Glausiusz
4 months ago
The North Atlantic right whale, one of the rarest whales on the planet, now numbers an estimated 384 animals, up 8 whales from the previous year, according to the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium. Right whales were once hunted to the brink of extinction.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
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Scientists say North Atlantic right whale population slowly increasing
Once hunted to the brink of extinction, the most venerable of the leviathans now numbers 384, up eight from past year
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/21/right-whale-population-increasing?utm_term=68f85a463991a1de687fe33692ff2aa3&utm_campaign=GuardianTodayUK&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=GTUK_email
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Professor Euan Ritchie
4 months ago
The Victorian government’s decisions do a great disservice to expert’s time and carefully considered advice, and most importantly, the health of the places and wildlife we love.
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Karl Jacoby
4 months ago
Proud papa moment: my son J published a letter in the
@nytimes.com
today (in print tomorrow) on the need to think our definitions of autism.
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Australian Society for Fish Biology
4 months ago
📑
#NewReview
by Boube et al. dives into the scientific literature around the Great Hammerhead Shark. Our understanding of its migratory behaviour and habitat use is changing. 👀
doi.org/10.1007/s111...
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Dr Christina N. Zdenek
4 months ago
Extinctions serve as important warning signs that something is very wrong in the environment. Will we finally heed these warnings? Our mental wellbeing and over half our economy depends on it.
theconversation.com/and-then-the...
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And then there were none: Australia’s only shrew declared extinct
Australia’s only known shrew has been declared extinct. Its loss emphasises the need for national protection of Australia’s rare and unique wildlife.
https://theconversation.com/and-then-there-were-none-australias-only-shrew-declared-extinct-265988
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Anthony Ricciardi
4 months ago
Attempted eradication of smallmouth bass promotes rapid evolution. Here's the study that is the focus of the Scientific American article:
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
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@scbeurope.bsky.social
@society4conbio.bsky.social
@science.org
@altfws.altgov.info
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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@biodiversityguy.bsky.social
@euanritchie.bsky.social
@ljnbrent.bsky.social
@pili-scotland.bsky.social
@chrisjolly.bsky.social
@charlesdarwinuni.bsky.social
@rarlinghausfish.bsky.social
@shoalorg.bsky.social
@sharkscience.bsky.social
@amfisheriessoc.bsky.social
@fishconserve.bsky.social
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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If you are a voting member of the IUCN - please consider supporting our motion (113) for Longevity Conservation at the Congress this week
@iucnshark.bsky.social
@aciucn.bsky.social
@iucn-bctf.bsky.social
@sscmarine.bsky.social
iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot...
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MOTION 113
https://iucncongress2025.org/assembly/motions/motion/113
4 months ago
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Brian J. Enquist
4 months ago
The disproportionate impact of the
#megabiota
on biodiversity and ecosystem processes
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Dexter and Casper snoozing
4 months ago
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Little surprise saltwater crocodile swimming off local Darwin beach; I did let the surf lifeguards and swimmers know!
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4 months ago
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A BIG congratulations to Dr Tegan Dedman for completing her PhD
@charlesdarwinuni.bsky.social
. Effects of sea level rise on the tropical freshwater wetland communities
4 months ago
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Herbert Nickel
4 months ago
Bison inhibits tree growth in Great Plains. We should give wisent a better chance to do the same in German national parks.
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
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Native megafauna (Bison bison) act as a surprising inhibitor of cedar tree expansion in a Great Plains grassland
In the Central Great Plains of North America, fire suppression is causing transitions from grasslands to shrublands and woodlands. This woody encroachment alters plant community composition, decrease...
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eap.70108
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Daniel Bolnick
4 months ago
@sse-evolution.bsky.social
just announced the following: Call for Proposals: Research Synthesis Working Groups The Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE) invites proposals for sponsored Research Synthesis Working Groups at the 2026 Evolution meeting (up to two in-person and one virtual). ...
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Frank Pennekamp
5 months ago
Does body size predict abundance the same way in all environments, as predicted by the Metabolic theory of Ecology? Our new study challenges this assumption. Read it here: 📄
doi.org/10.1111/ele....
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Biodiversity modulates the cross‐community scaling relationship in changing environments
Organismal abundance typically declines with increasing body size, with metabolic theory predicting a universal size–abundance slope of –0.75. Using protist microcosms across gradients of species ric...
https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.70208
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Brian J. Enquist
5 months ago
Classic macroecological laws-long held as signatures of biological systems-also emerge in economic and geological systems. The real signal lies not in the static universal patterns, but in how those patterns shift with scale 🌐🧪
#scaling
#macroecology
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
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Separating Macroecological Pattern and Process: Comparing Ecological, Economic, and Geological Systems
Theories of biodiversity rest on several macroecological patterns describing the relationship between species abundance and diversity. A central problem is that all theories make similar predictions f...
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0112850
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Brian J. Enquist
5 months ago
Cool... a global focus on three core traits of ectotherms: metabolic rate, development time and fecundity. ShareTrait: Towards interoperable and reusable individual trait-based data in ectotherms
#OpenTraits
#FunctionalTraits
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
🧪🌐
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https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1365-2435.70147
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William (Bill) Sutherland
7 months ago
The Society of Wildlife Art have a wonderful project at Massingham Heath rewilding project, Norfolk. Here Amie Haslam and Brin Edwards explain the project.
youtu.be/hiCQiSHuaG4?...
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The Power of Art in Conservation
YouTube video by Bill Sutherland's Conservation Concepts
https://youtu.be/hiCQiSHuaG4?si=4p33sb5Rsgeziefl
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Magdalena Skipper
7 months ago
This is fascinating - the brain fires up immune cells when sick people are nearby 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
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The brain fires up immune cells when sick people are nearby
When people viewed virtual avatars with coughs or rashes, their brains triggered an immune response.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02363-7
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Jens-Christian Svenning
7 months ago
Why did some
#megafauna
survive? 🦣🦘🦌 Our new study shows
#extinction
risk was higher for larger, flat-footed, island species— and lower for those closely related to tropical African/Asian fauna, likely filtered by earlier human impacts 👣🍖 📄
doi.org/10.1111/geb....
#hominid
#hunting
#evolution
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Julian Hoffman
7 months ago
Like the old-growth coastal redwoods that host whole other ecosystems in their spires, these extraordinary Australian stick insects reveal not only the richness and mystery of mature forest canopies but how vital their protection is for countless forms of life.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
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Supersized stick insect discovered in high-altitude trees in Australia
The 40cm-long insect, named Acrophylla alta, weighs slightly less than a golf ball and may be the heaviest insect in Australia
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/31/big-stick-insect-acrophylla-alta-found-north-queensland-trees
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Keller Kopf
Journal of Applied Ecology
7 months ago
Albatrosses make distinct flight hops when following fishing vessels 🎣 In this blog post, Jonathan Rutter discusses a new behaviour-based method to detect previously hidden interactions between seabirds and fishing vessels 🛰️🌏🧪 👇
appliedecologistsblog.com/2025/07/31/a...
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Rachel A.S. Forbes
7 months ago
There's so much life in the deep ocean, and there's still so much to discover!
#deepocean
#marinescience
🧪
www.bbc.com/news/article...
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'Communities' of strange, extreme life seen for first time in deep ocean
A Chinese-led research team captures pictures of life at depths of more than 9km in the northwest Pacific Ocean.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3wnqe5j99do
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Keller Kopf
Journal of Applied Ecology
7 months ago
To fill or not to fill: Comparing imputation methods for improved riverine long-term biodiversity monitoring 💭🌎 Suggests gap filling in biodiversity data can distort trends as more missing years mean easier fits but higher uncertainty 📊🧪 🔗
doi.org/10.1111/1365...
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1500 km2 of tropical savanna dotted with crystal clear water holes. Camping off the beaten track in Litchfield National Park is pretty special
7 months ago
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