New paper published! Another of my "sabbatical papers" - a series of papers that evolved and matured through discussions with colleagues while I was on a six month roaming sabbatical a couple of years ago. This one discusses the #Cambrian #explosion.
1/6
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Hey you! I am still on the market for jobs this fall! I am an entomologist who specializes in inclusive biology teaching (15+ semesters of collegiate instruction) and a broad array of research skills spanning collection & ID, molecular work (RNAi, Genomics), and phenotyping (behavior, physiology)🧪
The paper then lists a series of experimental approaches to support this hypothesis (grant proposals have been submitted to do the research).
6/6
The #molecular toolkits involved in this increase in #brain #complexity were then independently co-opted to different organ systems (e.g. the #segmented body plan), leading to a general increase in complexity in these lineages. I call this "the Brain-First hypothesis".
5/6
The second idea looks at a late pulse of increase in complexity, in the three most complex and diverse invertebrate phyla: #annelids, #arthropods and #mollusks. I suggest that this late pulse is due to a convergent increase in brain complexity in response to an increase in ecological complexity.
4/6
The roots of the cascade are in the late Ediacaran and it continues well into the middle Cambrian. There are in fact, several pulses of increase in #complexity and #diversity, some of which affect the entire animal kingdom and some of which are specific to only a few lineages.
3/6
The paper focuses on two ideas. The first is reframing the "explosion" as a "cascade". There are numerous papers on the "cause" of the #Cambrian explosion. They are not mutually exclusive, because each attempts to explain a different phase in what is actually a series of linked cascading events.
2/6
New paper published! Another of my "sabbatical papers" - a series of papers that evolved and matured through discussions with colleagues while I was on a six month roaming sabbatical a couple of years ago. This one discusses the #Cambrian #explosion.
1/6
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
A tiny rock pool in the Jerusalem mountains. See my post from a few days ago for a picture.
Could do. We could also extract RNA ourselves. We have the technology. What would you want to do with it.
ping @jopabinia.bsky.social @franzanth.bsky.social @crustaceansociety.bsky.social @arthropodlegs.bsky.social
Large (female?) ostracod and smaller individual on some pond0scum. A few eggs can be seen to the left.
About 20 ostracod eggs on a small stem.
Two ostracods seem to be actively aerating their eggs using their antennae.
Remember the rock pool from yesterday? Here is what we found under the microscope: Ostracods and ostracod eggs! They seem to be doing some sort of parental care and waving their antennae over the eggs.
@jopabinia.bsky.social
Asya and Ariel BLV trying to identify micro-invertebrates in a small rock pool.
A footpath in the Jerusalem mountains at the tail end of spring flower season. On both sides of the path are tall purple inflorescences of Scilla Hyacinthoides. In the foreground are some pink Linum pubescens. Aside from these there are numerous yellow and white flowers: garlic, mustard and more.
Asya standing on a slope with the lab mascot - Plushy Onopeltus - strapped to her backpack.
Asya sitting on a stone wall under a large oak tree and playing the recorder.
Yesterday we had a lab outing to say goodbye to Asya Novikova. Asya has been in the lab (on and off) for over 15 years: as an intern, as a student and as an animal technician. We are sad to see her go, but it is time for her to move on.
New paper led by Ph.D. student Idan @sheizaf.bsky.social Combining citizen science, behavioral ecology, taxonomy of rare species and anthropogenic disturbance. Something for everyone.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Disturbance isn't just habitat loss. It triggers unexpected behavioral shifts in species we barely understand. 🕵️♂️
In this study, we show how rare crustaceans respond to human-altered environments in non-obvious ways. We impact the world even when we aren't looking! 🌿
I want to add an important shout-out to Ecology & Evolution @ecol-evol.bsky.social who have a special section called Nature Notes, which is the perfect venue for publishing this type of observational studies.
Idan then used his skills in isopod taxonomy and in general analytical techniques to give a broader context to the story. It turns out that these thousands of individuals belong to a species only reported and collected a handful of times. The behavior is a response to artificial light pollution.
It all started with this strange observation that Idan got from Eviatar Itzkovich in the Golan Heights, who heard we were interested in isopods. Idan and Eviatar planned some experiments to test what was behind this behavior, and Eviatar carried them out next to his house.
bsky.app/profile/shei...
New paper led by Ph.D. student Idan @sheizaf.bsky.social Combining citizen science, behavioral ecology, taxonomy of rare species and anthropogenic disturbance. Something for everyone.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Two papers accepted in 24 hours! One is a cool “small” story and one is a major synthesis, several years in the making. Stay tuned for more details as they move into production.
Most of the Burgess Shale weird wonders are not “extinct phyla” but stem-group arthropods.
Today the EMBO Journal special issue on molecular ecology and evolution is finally published.
It was a pleasure coordinating this collection together with @berndpulverer.bsky.social and many outstanding authors.
Editorial: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Cover art by @munafomarzia.bsky.social
And of course centipedes (goes without saying).
Michalis, great to see more experimental biologists getting lured into the fascinating world of taxonomy. I have also fallen into this world (desert spiders and cave isopods) and love it.
Finally, the BBC 1970s version is very “Dark Ages” in feel, so realistic in that sense. We found it on YouTube, but it was in such poor technical quality we gave up after a few episodes.
And if you are looking for cinematic retellings, John Boorman’s Excalibur is a masterpiece. Avoid all 21st century retellings.
The Seeing Stone trilogy is aimed at young adults, but is also great for older adults. It does a very good job of putting the legends in a historical perspective, both of when they supposedly took place and of when they were retold.
I just finished re-reading The Once and Future King. It is brilliant on many levels: Its self-conscious anachronisms (now anachronistic themselves). Its British humour. And especially now, its uncompromising pacifism, and lamentation about how good ideas by good people are destroyed by evil people.
New preprint!! 🌟📝
Can we tell if a horseshoe crab will moult ?
Will it moult tomorrow or maybe in a week? 🤔👀
In this study, we developed a simple and non-invasive approach in determining the moult stage of the Atlantic #horseshoe crab by looking at key structures. #inverts #science
Another exciting preprint by @nextstrain.bsky.social, with one of the coolest animals out there, the horseshoe crab!