Was Darwin wrong? Hermaphrodites found to be more energy efficient than animals with two sexes monash.edu/science/news...

Can we really train bacteriophages to selectively target certain bacteria? Natasha Torriero-Smith and co-authors explore this question and propose some solutions to help drive the field forward. doi.org/10.1016/j.mi... @jeremyjbarr.bsky.social

Is hermaphrodism less common in animals because it is energetically more costly? George Jarvis and @djmmeeg.bsky.social have analysed 536 species of marine invertebrates and found that hermaphrodites require approximately 27% less energy than gonochores on average. doi.org/10.1098/rspb...

How is behavioural diversity affected by human-induced change? Oded Berger-Tal and co-authors review how anthropogenic disturbances can impact behavioural diversity through the evolutionary forces of selection, flow, mutation and drift. doi.org/10.1098/rspb... @bbmwong.bsky.social

Eduardo Flores-Sandoval and colleagues propose that the gene MpARF2 and the hormone auxin work together to providing signalling information to surrounding differentiating cells—a game changer for embryophyte evolution doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...

Travis Park & Co-authors investigate the optimal evolutionary path in aquatic mammal feeding and find novel morphological innovations can shift evolutionary trajectories from optimal paths yet still result in highly diverse and successful animal lineages. doi.org/10.1016/j.is...

70 species of marine megafauna found to have high vulnerability to anthropogenic threats. Overall, temperature extremes and plastics and other solid waste were rated as affecting the largest proportion of populations. doi.org/10.1111/cobi...

Can we improve the efficiency of photosynthesis in C4 plants such as sorghum and maize? Maria Ermakov, Robert Sharwood and Robert Furbank review and highlight future possibilities. doi.org/10.1111/nph....

Till Ramm and colleagues analyse next-generation data in a transdisciplinary framework, and demonstrate the benefits of integrating a paleontological perspective into conservation-oriented studies. Current Biology cell.com/current-biol...

As your car tyres wear down, they leave microscopic particles that can end up in waterways and are toxic to a range of aquatic species. María Angeles Gonzalez-Vazquez and co. review current knowledge on the ecotoxicity of selected tyre-related chemicals. doi.org/10.1016/j.aq...

How can pollutants affect the success of non-native species? Isaac Ligocki & colleagues find the potential influence of chemical pollution on invasion success remains largely unexplored and recommend its inclusion in conservation and restoration doi.org/10.1098/rspb...

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to A/Prof Kay Hodgins @shaky-dingo.bsky.social (@monashbiol.bsky.social), recipient of the Researcher of the Year Award. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards

#MonashScienceAwards Congratulations to the GATC Lab and @‪skblab.bsky.social‬ (@monashbiol.bsky.social), who received a Commendation for Research Team of the Year Award. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to Prof @annempeters.bsky.social (@monashbiol.bsky.social), recipient of the Dean's Award for Excellence in Honours Supervision. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards.

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to Dr Hendrika Duivenvoorden (@monashbiol.bsky.social), recipient of the Dean's Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Education. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards.

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to A/Prof Kay Hodgins @shaky-dingo.bsky.social (@monashbiol.bsky.social), recipient of the Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Research Supervision. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards.

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to @monashbiol.bsky.social PhD candidates Storme De Scally and Christopher Blake, joint winners of the Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Graduate Research Student to the Life of the Faculty/School Community. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards.

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to @monashbiol.bsky.social PhD candidate Peter Allen, who has received a Commendation for the Award for Research Impact by a Graduate Research Student. Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards.

#MonashScienceAwards Congrats to Dr Sam Ginther, recipient of the Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for Thesis Excellence. @monashbiol.bsky.social Learn more: monash.edu/science/awards.

Check out new paper led by @jackmanera.bsky.social on impacts of noise pollution. @monashscience.bsky.social @monashbiol.bsky.social #BobWongLab

Welcome to this week's EGI seminar in @biology.ox.ac.uk when Prof Craig White @craig-white.bsky.social from @monashbiol.bsky.social will talk on The Evolution of Metabolic Rate and Life History: 3.30pm Fri 14 Nov in Lecture Theatre 2 in the Life & Mind Building. Also live-streamed: instructions ⬇️

Congrats to Nicole De Rycke, who received a Special Commendation for the VC's Award for Professional Staff - Individual Strategic Excellence 👏👏 Learn more: monash.edu/vc-excellenc... @monashbiol.bsky.social

If a community has a long history of co-evolution, is it more resistant to invasion? @storme_zaviar and @MikeJayMcD use a simple 2 species microbial community to test this idea doi.org/10.1007/s002...

A recent study by Ekta Kochar, Damian Dowling and co-authors adds to the growing evidence that mtDNA variation contributes to thermal plasticity in longevity but does not provide clear insight into whether this variation is adaptive or maladaptive. doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...

Can we improve the way we carry out Green Status of Species assessments? Maiko Lutz, David Chapple, Jessica Walsh and co-authors propose a 'best practice' approach using a formalized group setting. Read about their case studies here doi.org/10.1111/cobi...

How do how early-life conditions and genetic compatibility between mitochondria and the genome shape complex phenotypes? Stefano Bettinnazzi and co-authors found mitonuclear mismatch and early diet affected developmental time, body size and adult diet. doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...

How does exposure to a pathogen affect our understanding of the risk of climate change to the host? Jared Lush and co-authors explore this question in a new paper out in Thermal Biology doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...

Rodolfo Anderson and David Chapple find that Protected Areas mitigate the effects of heat stress in ectotherms, particularly in tropical regions. doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...

M. polymorpha's low genetic redundancy makes it an attractive model to investigate cell wall biosynthesis. Hee Sung Kang, John Bowman and co-authors add to the growing knowledge of the cell wall structure of Marchantia across different life stages. doi.org/10.1111/tpj....

What influences nest failure in purple crowned fairy wrens in riparian habitat in tropical savannahs? Ian Hoppe, @AP_BirdBehavEco and co-authors find good habitat and group living important doi.org/10.1111/1365...

Speedy snakes! Our new study on high-speed kinematics of strikes in venomous snakes url: journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/... @monashbiol.bsky.social

Full speed snake strikes - faster than the blink of an eye! From our new paper in @jexpbiol.bsky.social @monashbiol.bsky.social

How do we capture fast and furious snake bites? High-speed video with 3D reconstruction, all at 1000 frames per second! @monashbiol.bsky.social @jexpbiol.bsky.social

How similar are the vocalizations produced by birds that host brood parasites to communicate threat? William Feeney, Niki Teunissen and coauthors found sound production in the correct context is learned but hearing it elicits an innate response. rdcu.be/eMPjE

Other Effective Based Conservation Measures are important contributors to our global conservation targets, but how are they assessed? @Carly_N_Cook and co-authors have uncovered some significant issues. doi.org/10.1111/conl...

Russell Woodford and co-authors find an essential role of PGR5 in enabling efficient C4 photosynthesis under fluctuating light by regulating photosynthetic control and energy-dependent non-photochemical quenching. doi.org/10.1093/plph...

RNA splicing is a critical gene regulatory process but what mechanisms allow genetic variation to affect RNA splicing and disease? Craig Dent et al. present a basic logical framework that explains most splice-site choice across eukaryotic organisms. rdcu.be/eKn4z

Jack Manera and co-authors investigate the impacts of boat noise pollution on the 5 behavioural interactions between two susceptible marine taxa: fish and crustaceans. They found different boat noises affect the taxa differently. doi.org/10.1093/behe... @bbmwong.bsky.social

Can drones play a role in invasive rodent eradication programs? Donal Smith and co-authors report on six drone-assisted campaigns across five Pacific nations, demonstrating successful rodent eradications despite technical challenges doi.org/10.1111/csp2...

Can phage therapy be a frontline antimicrobial solution for The Alfred Hospital’s ECC outbreak? Dinesh Subedi and co-authors report on the development of a phage cocktail and a therapeutic-grade product, ready for clinical use. rdcu.be/eKnWw

Emily Belcher and co-authors show that embryos achieve robustness by tightly coordinating the relative timing of embryonic events, offering clues to how embryos may withstand contemporary climate change in marine systems. doi.org/10.1098/rsob...

Bryophytes are small and simple in structure and yet thrive in a large variety of environments. A recent pangenomic analysis revealed the enormous diversity of gene families that bryophytes possess, likely contributing to their success rdcu.be/eKmyb

How can we support Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs)? Carly Cook and colleagues identified a clear need to resolve what is required for sites to demonstrate they meet the definition of an OECM DOI: 10.1111/cobi.70148

Teck-Phui Chua and colleagues investigate the impact of individual mutations on antibiotic resistance through selection of antibiotic-resistant mutants in vitro. doi.org/10.1093/jac/...

How does herbivory, with and without nutrient enrichment, influenced litter decomposition of a standard leaf litter substrate? Adrienne Keller et al found no interactive effect of nutrient supply and herbivory on aboveground litter decomposition rates rdcu.be/eH4r2

Can we predict how Dengue fever will spread as repeated heatwaves become the norm? Suk Lan Sur and colleagues test the response of mosquitoes, dengue virus and the biological control agent Wolbachia to repeated heat exposures. doi.org/10.1128/msph...

It has been such a joy hosting @odedberger-tal.bsky.social for the past year in our lab here at @monashbiol.bsky.social. Will miss the science discussions, chats about global politics and, of course, eating together.🙏

Can we reach a consensus on the best 'size' metric to model vital rates in plants? Maude Baudraz et al found that several tested size metrics perform well - encouraging for large-scale demographic studies using different size metrics. doi.org/10.1111/1365...

A recent review outlines the mechanisms that define multi-drug-resistant pathogens and explores how phage–antibiotic synergy, through the targeting of efflux systems, can dismantle multi-drug-resistant phenotypes and enhance treatment outcomes. doi.org/10.1128/mbio...

What do scientists working in the field of environmental toxicology / behavioural ecology, from industry, government, non-government and academia/research centres think of behavioural endpoints in the protection of human and ecosystem health? doi.org/10.1093/inte... @bbmwong.bsky.social