…test how it grows, and even predict how it might handle environmental change. Check out @jillahamilton.bsky.social proposal for the molecular passport in Molecular Ecology doi.org/10.1111/mec....
Part 2/2: A “molecular passport” is like a travel document for each seed, recording its origin story—where it came from, who its parent was, and its unique genetic fingerprint. By combining this with location and climate data, scientists can follow each seed’s journey,…
Oops! Sorry!
scientists can better track, manage, and protect this diversity, turning seed collections into more powerful tools for conservation.
Seed banks help protect the genetic diversity of species, but we don’t always know how much diversity these banks truly preserve. By creating “molecular passports”—DNA profiles linked to individual seed donors—
Part 1/2: A very fun illustration project into the novel (for me!) world of plant genetics. I got to work with the amazing @jillhamilton.bsky.social on this manuscript
…Bernardi et al., found that this change is phenotypically consistent BUT genetic trait evolution is context dependent, showing that evolution can respond to environmental changes in predictable ways despite different underlying mechanisms. doi: 10.1093/evlett/qraf008
From 2025! Fruit flies change their pigmentation depending on temperature, becoming lighter in warmer conditions. By studying wild and experimental populations across space (ie: latitude) and time (ie: seasons)…
This is figure is a non-exhaustive chart of quality of habitat tiers that can be implemented to evaluate habitat potential. Check out in the latest from @sjcfishy.bsky.social lab by Lemieux et al in Environmental Reviews: doi.org/10.1139/er-2025-0220
Freshwater habitats are in serious decline, and while many projects aim to restore them, it’s often unclear whether they actually work. This paper explains how measuring habitat quality can better show if restoration efforts are truly helping habitats recover.
Temperature sensing Part 3: Physiological processes and ecological conditions can alter thermoTRP channels, affecting temperature perception. Check out the latest from Currie and York! doi.org/10.1242/
Temperature sensing Part 2: TRP channels across fish from a wide range of thermal habitats show species-specific temperature activation thresholds. In this way, TRP channels are excellent targets for understanding evolutionary adaptation. Check out the latest from Currie and York! doi.org/10.1242/
This figure shows how the nerve is activated by TRPs to send a signal to the brain. These proteins have been found in a number of fish organs. Check out the latest from Currie and York! doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
But it is not only the degree of warming that matters, but also the animal’s ability to accurately detect and respond to these changes. Enter transient receptor potential (TRP) channels.
Temperature sensing Part 1: Climate change is warming the environment faster than many animals can adapt, and ectotherms, like most fish, are especially at risk because their physiology depend directly on the surrounding temperature.
Fun fact - I was inspired by Archibald Motley’s work that I had the privilege of viewing at the MET during my visit to NYC a couple years ago. DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2025.05.007
Their study reveal potential functional roles when these sites undergo functional modifications, which can pinpoint targets for treating metabolic disease. We couldn’t get this image finished in time for the cover, but it was a fun piece to work on regardless!
This piece was illustrated for Tigist et al.’s recent paper in Molecular Cell. The dynamic regulation and fine-tuning of proteins via phosphorylation can turn metabolism into a coordinated and often improvised rhythm.
The figure shows the low reproduction and erosion that has occurred at a startling rate over the last several decades doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
Excellent piece by Matz @heatshok.bsky.social and colleagues discussing the dire status of Caribbean reefs, and potential plans and policies that can be implemented if these reefs are to have any chance. Check it out in PNAS!
🧪🌎 All western Atlantic coral reefs are on the same decline trajectory, although Florida is one of the most further along: doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
illustration by @rushstudio.bsky.social
Latest paper from Toews et al @davetoews.bsky.social. Their study into microenvironments within the forest canopy revealed that these warbler species opportunistically feed upon the spiders they encounter in their preferred strata in the canopy. Check it out in Ornithology!!! doi.org/10.1093/orni...
A comic graphical abstract by illustrator Rush Dhillon showing two wood warblers and their spider prey. The graphs illustrate the read abundance of these spiders in the warbler's fecal samples.
I could give you a great summary of our new warbler diet paper… but if a picture says a thousand words, this awesome graphical abstract by @rushstudio.bsky.social tells the whole story. 🦉🧪
academic.oup.com/auk/article/...
Life stages of Fundulus heteroclitus. Mummichog, killifish, call it what you want, but know it is among the mightiest inhabitants of North America’s east coast estuaries
The Waddinton epigenetic landscape… for salmonids! The concept is that cells can roll downhill to their “endpoint” differentiated state. However, the landscape itself can be modified by various factors, “nudging” the ball into different valleys. Figure for Schulte Lab.
Logo for the Forest Genetics Conference 2025. The logo is a nod to the Western Forest Genetics Association (WFGA), the Southern Forest Tree Improvement Committee (SFTIC), & the Northern Forest Genetics Association (NFGA). June 23-27th, hosted by the Schatz Centre at Penn State, in State College, PA
Understanding animal physiology in all its forms necessitates asking hard-to-measure questions. Until his retirement last year, @zoology.ubc.ca was lucky enough to have Bruce Gillespie create custom equipment for over 25 yrs, assisting us in quantifying our research. Here are a few of his creations.
