Subterranean ecosystems are key to water, climate, biodiversity & culture. But to what extent? As part of @biodiversa.eu DarCo we demonstrate that they contribute to 75% of classified ecosystem services. Read OA in Biol Rev: doi.org/10.1002/brv.... Illustration @jmalumbresolarte.bsky.social

Thanks for featuring our work! Across 6 Italian cities (220 point counts; breeding + winter), we find that established parakeets tend to expand the functional trait space of urban bird communities, consistent with filling underused niche space.

In @ecoevorxiv.bsky.social, we just released a open dataset on subterranean spiders, with >30000 georeferenced localities for >600 cave spider species: doi.org/10.32942/X2M... The kind of information we need to implement evidence-based subterranean conservation!

EARLY VIEW in IBIS Non-native parrot species expand the trait space of avian communities by filling empty niches in urban areas | onlinelibrary.wiley.... Fabio Marcolin, Riccardo Alba, Stefano Mammola, Giacomo Assandri, Luca Ilahiane, Diego Rubolini, Luís Reino, Dan Chamberlain | #ornithology 🪶

🕷️ Working with cave spiders? Fascinated by trait-based ecology? We've just updated the checklist of European cave spiders, plus a fresh database of their traits. Read it now on @ecoevorxiv.bsky.social: doi.org/10.32942/X2D...

How the #arts and #science can jointly protect #nature – our new article on building synergies between #art and #biodiversity #conservation now published in in Front. Ecol. Environ. @esajournals.bsky.social esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Socio‐Economic Status and Non‐Native Species Drive Bird Ecosystem Service Provision in Urban Areas 🔗 buff.ly/jYUfGu0 @rickyalba26.bsky.social birdlabtorino.bsky.social @fabio.marcolin.714 @luis.reino.5 @dan.chamberlain.359 @RickyAlba26 @danc-eco.bsky.social @stefanomammola.bsky.social

Arachnid of the week is Troglochthonius doratodactylus Helversen, 1968

Hot off the press 🔥 New Ecological Monographs paper shows why, when and how to include intraspecific trait variability to enhance functional diversity research. Huge shout out to Facundo Palacio for his vision and leadership. Read here 👉 doi.org/10.1002/ecm.... #traits #functionaldiversity 📏🌐

Biophobias—fear of nature’s elements—don’t just impact mental health. They ripple through wildlife and public health, ecosystems & culture. We argue: it's time to frame biophobias as a One Health issue, tackling them with integrated solutions. Read it OA here: doi.org/10.1093/bios...

Please share. We have a fully-funded PhD position on animal migration. If interested, please apply by 27 July. More about us: shawanchowdhury.com. @idiv-research.bsky.social @monashbiol.bsky.social @uq-cbcs.bsky.social #PhDposition #Ecology #Conservation #Migration #Rstats #AcademicTwitter

New paper in @peopleandnature.bsky.social exploring social media filtering role of news on spiders doi.org/10.1002/pan3... ➡️ Sensationalism—not accuracy—drives social media shares ➡️ 53% news articles are never shared ➡️ Harmless spiders get ignored w/ @veronanni.bsky.social @cataranea.bsky.social

Subterranean ecosystems are key to water, climate, biodiversity & more. But to what extent? A @ecoevorxiv.bsky.social preprint led by @biodiversa.eu DarCo shows they contribute to 75% of classified ecosystem services by CICES: doi.org/10.32942/X2J... Illustration: @jmalumbresolarte.bsky.social

🕷️🌍🕸️ Spiders aren't creepy crawlies—they're ecosystem heroes! From pest control to biotech inspiration to key figures in our collective culture, a new review reveals the many services spiders provide: 🔗 doi.org/10.1111/brv.... (drawing by @jmalumbresolarte.bsky.social)

How broadening the #flagship concept can help conservation capture more hearts — and save more #nature - our paper on the unifying theoretical framework for #conservation #flagships now published in Biol. Conserv. doi.org/10.1016/j.bi... with @diogoverissimo.bsky.social and others #flagshipspecies

The wonderfully talented post-doc Sven Iburg, who was working with me in the last two years is seeking a new positon, pref BENELUX area. Let me know if you have any openings or suggestions! He is a true alrounder, really good both in the lab and with bioinformatics. meg.irsa.cnr.it/index.php/pe...

My latest @newscientist.com cartoon

ISBE26-the 20th International Society for Behavioral Ecology Conference will take place in Turin, Italy, from 20-24th of July 2026. We invite you to join us to enjoy a 5-day meeting rich in top-notch science and ample networking opportunities, in our beautiful city. Website out soon! #ISBE26

Not sure which #FunctionalDiversity / #disparity metric to use? Maybe these reflections in @ecography.bsky.social with @cardosopmb.bsky.social, @mariawagnerj.bsky.social, @stefanomammola.bsky.social and Tom Matthews could help! #OA nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Trait-based approaches are crucial in ecology, but analysis choice matters! Choosing functional diversity metrics to better assess ecosystem changes. 🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ecog... @cardosopmb.bsky.social @stefanomammola.bsky.social @cienciasulisboa.bsky.social #Ecology #Biodiversity #DataAnalysis

It’s out! (with some of my illustrations, like the cartoon here)

Can art help protect subterranean ecosystems? 🎨 🦐 🦇 🕷️ In our new study in @pensoft Subterranean Biology, we explore the power of art in subterranean conservation. 🔗 Read more: subtbiol.pensoft.net/articles.php... w/ @veronanni.bsky.social @ivanjaric.bsky.social & more!

New letter in @science.org by the @biodiversaplus.bsky.social DarCo project team highlights the need to integrate groundwater ecosystems into the EU Water Framework Directive. A crucial step for sustainable water management and protecting groundwater fauna. 🌍🦐💚💧 doi.org/10.1126/scie...

Last Orders! If you'd like to but anything from me (such as this drawing) in time for Christmas please get your order in now. My shop closes next week. www.tomgauld.com