Dr Andrew Mahon
@andyantarctica.bsky.social
Biologist and molecular ecologist, studying animals in Antarctica, e.g., sea spiders. I also use eDNA to study biodiversity all over the globe.
Web: MahonLab.com
Google Scholar: https://rb.gy/6z3tre
LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/4kvx48s
Web: MahonLab.com
Google Scholar: https://rb.gy/6z3tre
LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/4kvx48s
US Federal research investment, particularly in biomedical and physical sciences, generates estimated returns of 200-300%. It supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, drives startups, and ensures global competitiveness. I guess we don't care about that anymore as a country? π§ͺ
In addition to continuing to downgrade Americans health, this further illustrates why we cannot depend on the private sector to pick up the work being put down by the government to improve both American and great global health.
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
February 13, 2026 at 12:34 PM
US Federal research investment, particularly in biomedical and physical sciences, generates estimated returns of 200-300%. It supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, drives startups, and ensures global competitiveness. I guess we don't care about that anymore as a country? π§ͺ
A great overview, slightly dated since the NBP is already gone. The US Antarctic program capacity is lacking greatly right now....replacements that are in place now are a band-aid at best with less capacity/ability than the NBP and Gould. π§ͺππ¦π π¦πΆ #Antarctica
Replacing the Polar Research Vessel Nathaniel B. Palmer
The National Science Foundation ended its lease of Palmer at the end of FY 2025. Here's a look at what might be coming next.
sixtydegreesnorth.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:26 PM
A great overview, slightly dated since the NBP is already gone. The US Antarctic program capacity is lacking greatly right now....replacements that are in place now are a band-aid at best with less capacity/ability than the NBP and Gould. π§ͺππ¦π π¦πΆ #Antarctica
Sincerest condolences John. Thoughts are with you and yours.
February 10, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Sincerest condolences John. Thoughts are with you and yours.
Felt like a sea spider day to me....Austropallene cornigera. π§ͺππ¦π¦πΆ #Antarctica
February 10, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Felt like a sea spider day to me....Austropallene cornigera. π§ͺππ¦π¦πΆ #Antarctica
More delays....and yet the fish keep swimming....saying they are not yet into the lakes is irresponsible. They're there. Now is when we keep the population numbers low...the longer we wait and delay, the worse/quicker the invasion will be. π§ͺπ
More delays for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project which aims to prevent invasive carp from entering the #GreatLakes
βThe federal investment currently is on hold without justification and additional contracts for the project cannot be awarded due to the funding pause" www.mlive.com/environment/...
βThe federal investment currently is on hold without justification and additional contracts for the project cannot be awarded due to the funding pause" www.mlive.com/environment/...
After Trump promised speed, Great Lakes carp barrier faces delay
Michigan and Illinois lawmakers say an unexplained federal review threatens to slow the long-awaited Lake Michigan invasive species protection project.
www.mlive.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:30 PM
More delays....and yet the fish keep swimming....saying they are not yet into the lakes is irresponsible. They're there. Now is when we keep the population numbers low...the longer we wait and delay, the worse/quicker the invasion will be. π§ͺπ
Luckily we have about 5 or so specimens from locations nearly circumpolar around Antarctica. Thanks for the advice/info Geoff!
January 27, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Luckily we have about 5 or so specimens from locations nearly circumpolar around Antarctica. Thanks for the advice/info Geoff!
We have the mitogenome assembled and circularized but no prior barcodes for it. It will be part of the re-description. I don't see any justification for a new name, as we are sure its the same species but the details and lack of access to holotype (if it exists still) make redescription warranted.
January 27, 2026 at 12:23 PM
We have the mitogenome assembled and circularized but no prior barcodes for it. It will be part of the re-description. I don't see any justification for a new name, as we are sure its the same species but the details and lack of access to holotype (if it exists still) make redescription warranted.
good question about the epitype but I again lack the holotype....but as for neotype....if I've exhausted every effort to contact folks and organization who have the holotype, is that good enough to replace the holotype...if i cannot verify one way or another if the original exists any longer.
January 26, 2026 at 2:42 PM
good question about the epitype but I again lack the holotype....but as for neotype....if I've exhausted every effort to contact folks and organization who have the holotype, is that good enough to replace the holotype...if i cannot verify one way or another if the original exists any longer.
I don't need to give it a different name, but what's published is a poor representative, single collection of one and I've collected what I believe to be their described species many places and times in Antarctica. Any direction I could get from all of you would be fantastic!
January 26, 2026 at 2:23 PM
I don't need to give it a different name, but what's published is a poor representative, single collection of one and I've collected what I believe to be their described species many places and times in Antarctica. Any direction I could get from all of you would be fantastic!
To do a re-description of this organism that is absolutely warranted, do I have to actually physically travel to this unreachable location and knock on doors (that honestly may NOT exist) to find it?
January 26, 2026 at 2:23 PM
To do a re-description of this organism that is absolutely warranted, do I have to actually physically travel to this unreachable location and knock on doors (that honestly may NOT exist) to find it?
Measurements are off by many factors of 10, poor drawings, the photo is unidentifiable. What would the process of re-describing this be? I have made EVERY attempt to contact the folks that have the holotype....but i've gotten no response (its in a reported collection in an unreachable location).
January 26, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Measurements are off by many factors of 10, poor drawings, the photo is unidentifiable. What would the process of re-describing this be? I have made EVERY attempt to contact the folks that have the holotype....but i've gotten no response (its in a reported collection in an unreachable location).
I actually have a question for science community that I HOPE someone can direct me...I have a species of marine organism that was previously described but while I'm sure I have collected this species, the original description, published in the 1993 is objectively not...ideal. π§ͺππ¦π¦πΆ
January 26, 2026 at 2:23 PM
I actually have a question for science community that I HOPE someone can direct me...I have a species of marine organism that was previously described but while I'm sure I have collected this species, the original description, published in the 1993 is objectively not...ideal. π§ͺππ¦π¦πΆ
In case folks needed to know, as a #scicomm announcement and PSA to everyone, there are no penguins in Greenland. #Antarcticaπ§ͺπ¦πΆ I can't believe that needs to be said but yep....it needs to be....
January 24, 2026 at 12:22 PM
In case folks needed to know, as a #scicomm announcement and PSA to everyone, there are no penguins in Greenland. #Antarcticaπ§ͺπ¦πΆ I can't believe that needs to be said but yep....it needs to be....
An "angry" isopod (Ceratoserolis trilobitoides) collected in April 2023 in East Antarctica. Research cruise NBP23-03. π§ͺππ¦π¦πΆ
January 21, 2026 at 12:29 PM
An "angry" isopod (Ceratoserolis trilobitoides) collected in April 2023 in East Antarctica. Research cruise NBP23-03. π§ͺππ¦π¦πΆ
Another from our 2013 research cruise....(LMG13-12) along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. I BELIEVE this is Gorganocephalus chilensis (Ophiuroidea). #antarctica π§ͺππ¦π¦πΆ
January 20, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Another from our 2013 research cruise....(LMG13-12) along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. I BELIEVE this is Gorganocephalus chilensis (Ophiuroidea). #antarctica π§ͺππ¦π¦πΆ
Antarctic amphipod Friday ....the gammarid Paraceradocus gibber collected on LMG13-12 along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. π§ͺππ¦π¦πΆ
January 16, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Antarctic amphipod Friday ....the gammarid Paraceradocus gibber collected on LMG13-12 along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. π§ͺππ¦π¦πΆ
....numbers matter. π§ͺππ¦
The total NSF budget was 9 billion. I doubt they spend 89% of it on quail.
January 15, 2026 at 10:00 PM
....numbers matter. π§ͺππ¦
Photo of the day....Austropallene cornigera, a sea spider from the continental shelf waters around #Antarctica #Pycnogonida π§ͺππ¦π¦πΆ Collected in East Antarctica in 2023 on the NBP23-03 research cruise.
January 12, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Photo of the day....Austropallene cornigera, a sea spider from the continental shelf waters around #Antarctica #Pycnogonida π§ͺππ¦π¦πΆ Collected in East Antarctica in 2023 on the NBP23-03 research cruise.
Reposted by Dr Andrew Mahon
Really excited about this news! We had a lot fun and I'm wearing my newly-won FHL sweatshirt for today's last #sicb2026 talks
Time to celebrate! The @sicb-diz.bsky.social auction at the #SICB2026 meeting raised $4790 for student and postdoctoral support!!!! This will be the basis for the John and Vickey Pearse Fund being established by DIZ! Thanks to @kmkocot.bsky.social for being our exuberant auctioneer and all donors!!!
January 7, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Really excited about this news! We had a lot fun and I'm wearing my newly-won FHL sweatshirt for today's last #sicb2026 talks
Time to celebrate! The @sicb-diz.bsky.social auction at the #SICB2026 meeting raised $4790 for student and postdoctoral support!!!! This will be the basis for the John and Vickey Pearse Fund being established by DIZ! Thanks to @kmkocot.bsky.social for being our exuberant auctioneer and all donors!!!
January 7, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Time to celebrate! The @sicb-diz.bsky.social auction at the #SICB2026 meeting raised $4790 for student and postdoctoral support!!!! This will be the basis for the John and Vickey Pearse Fund being established by DIZ! Thanks to @kmkocot.bsky.social for being our exuberant auctioneer and all donors!!!
Reposted by Dr Andrew Mahon
#IcyInverts presenters from this morning's #SICB2026 Antarctic Invertebrates session. @sicb-diz.bsky.social
January 6, 2026 at 2:31 AM
#IcyInverts presenters from this morning's #SICB2026 Antarctic Invertebrates session. @sicb-diz.bsky.social
Last call for the DIZ auction at the SICB meeting in Portland, OR! @sicb.bsky.social @sicb-diz.bsky.social If you need to ship an item to make it to the auction, DM me or email me (see form!). PLEASE DONATE! Art items, books, crafts, nerdy stuff, stickers, .....Funds help STUDENTS!!! Please RT!
Donations for the auction at our annual meeting in Portland in January. Jim's quilt will be amazing!!! Donate and help us make this huge! This is a major fundraiser for DIZ's ability to support students! If you would be so kind and want to donate, please use this link: forms.gle/nz8WWSmsdagp...
December 19, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Last call for the DIZ auction at the SICB meeting in Portland, OR! @sicb.bsky.social @sicb-diz.bsky.social If you need to ship an item to make it to the auction, DM me or email me (see form!). PLEASE DONATE! Art items, books, crafts, nerdy stuff, stickers, .....Funds help STUDENTS!!! Please RT!
π§ͺπ¦π¦πΆπ
Happy Halloween! Today, I bring you one of the weirdest (and COOLEST!) creatures collected on our research trips ...a giant amphipod (Paraceradocus sp. I believe). They burrow in this slit-like holes in muddy sediments! Found on our research cruise to East Antarctica in 2023 (NBP23-03). π¦π¦πΆπ§ͺπ¦π§
December 1, 2025 at 8:22 PM
π§ͺπ¦π¦πΆπ
Donations for the auction at our annual meeting in Portland in January. Jim's quilt will be amazing!!! Donate and help us make this huge! This is a major fundraiser for DIZ's ability to support students! If you would be so kind and want to donate, please use this link: forms.gle/nz8WWSmsdagp...
November 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Donations for the auction at our annual meeting in Portland in January. Jim's quilt will be amazing!!! Donate and help us make this huge! This is a major fundraiser for DIZ's ability to support students! If you would be so kind and want to donate, please use this link: forms.gle/nz8WWSmsdagp...