James Albert
@gymnotus.bsky.social
Ecology and Evolution of Amazonian Fishes
Pinned
James Albert
@gymnotus.bsky.social
· Nov 20
New paper alert: A time-calibrated phylogeny of Neotropical freshwater fishes, the most diverse continental fauna on Earth.
Built from a supermatrix of 51 genomic markers for 3,167 species, the most species-rich phylogeny of this fauna to date.
frontiersin.org/journals/bio...
Built from a supermatrix of 51 genomic markers for 3,167 species, the most species-rich phylogeny of this fauna to date.
frontiersin.org/journals/bio...
Adult brains of human (A), Mormyrid (B), pigeon (C), and goldfish (D) are shown in lateral view (rostral to the left). Each animal has differentially developed specific parts of the brain.
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
November 24, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Adult brains of human (A), Mormyrid (B), pigeon (C), and goldfish (D) are shown in lateral view (rostral to the left). Each animal has differentially developed specific parts of the brain.
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Then again, it does not always come down to microevolutionary causes. Species with extreme (large and small) body sizes have higher extinction risk, meaning ancestors tend to have intermediate body sizes. A similar pattern may exist for relative brain size too.
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
November 23, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Then again, it does not always come down to microevolutionary causes. Species with extreme (large and small) body sizes have higher extinction risk, meaning ancestors tend to have intermediate body sizes. A similar pattern may exist for relative brain size too.
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
Large brains are useful when conditions favor plastic behaviors, smaller brains when reliable behaviors increase fitness. Or: why are there so many minnows?
November 23, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Large brains are useful when conditions favor plastic behaviors, smaller brains when reliable behaviors increase fitness. Or: why are there so many minnows?
From the Abstract: "cooler and varying brain temperatures reduce brain performance and thus fitness"
But there are always trade-off, see:
Robin, E. D. (1973). The evolutionary advantages of being stupid. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 16(3), 369-380.
scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=e...
But there are always trade-off, see:
Robin, E. D. (1973). The evolutionary advantages of being stupid. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 16(3), 369-380.
scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=e...
November 23, 2025 at 8:45 PM
From the Abstract: "cooler and varying brain temperatures reduce brain performance and thus fitness"
But there are always trade-off, see:
Robin, E. D. (1973). The evolutionary advantages of being stupid. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 16(3), 369-380.
scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=e...
But there are always trade-off, see:
Robin, E. D. (1973). The evolutionary advantages of being stupid. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 16(3), 369-380.
scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=e...
Same problem with this other paper in the recent PNAS issue with a grandiose title and tremendous variance.
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
November 23, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Same problem with this other paper in the recent PNAS issue with a grandiose title and tremendous variance.
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
The title of this paper is silly, these are statistical correlations not evolutionary explanations. The trends are dwarfed by the exceptions (residuals), like the small brains of tunas and large brains of mormyrid fishes.
November 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The title of this paper is silly, these are statistical correlations not evolutionary explanations. The trends are dwarfed by the exceptions (residuals), like the small brains of tunas and large brains of mormyrid fishes.
Reposted by James Albert
If you need a professional terrestrial phototroph you need a symbiont of plant+fungi. Lichen (Spongiophyton sp) colonized the land already at least in the Early Devonian:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 ⚒️ #Paleobio #EvoBio #Geology
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 ⚒️ #Paleobio #EvoBio #Geology
November 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
If you need a professional terrestrial phototroph you need a symbiont of plant+fungi. Lichen (Spongiophyton sp) colonized the land already at least in the Early Devonian:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 ⚒️ #Paleobio #EvoBio #Geology
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 ⚒️ #Paleobio #EvoBio #Geology
Reposted by James Albert
I’m stuck in bed between chemo treatments for metastatic coloncancer, wearing a take-home chemo pump attached to my chest.
I wanted to share my advice that you can benefit from ‘Letting Your Colleagues In’ don’t need to struggle alone
@insidehighered.com
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
I wanted to share my advice that you can benefit from ‘Letting Your Colleagues In’ don’t need to struggle alone
@insidehighered.com
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
Consider Sharing Health Challenges With Colleagues (opinion)
Being open with my colleagues about my cancer diagnosis has allowed me to access an enormous source of support and comfort.
www.insidehighered.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I’m stuck in bed between chemo treatments for metastatic coloncancer, wearing a take-home chemo pump attached to my chest.
I wanted to share my advice that you can benefit from ‘Letting Your Colleagues In’ don’t need to struggle alone
@insidehighered.com
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
I wanted to share my advice that you can benefit from ‘Letting Your Colleagues In’ don’t need to struggle alone
@insidehighered.com
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
Reposted by James Albert
Halloween logicals, still the best 10/31 venn
October 31, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Halloween logicals, still the best 10/31 venn
Reposted by James Albert
Sharing this cool animation of #Aquilolamna, a fossil shark from the Late Cretaceous Agua Nueva Formation of Mexico. This species was cosplaying as a manta ray long before the first manta rays appeared in the fossil record. #FossilFriday
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfdd...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfdd...
Aquilolamna - Eagle Shark [ 3D animation ]
YouTube video by Kiabugboy
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Sharing this cool animation of #Aquilolamna, a fossil shark from the Late Cretaceous Agua Nueva Formation of Mexico. This species was cosplaying as a manta ray long before the first manta rays appeared in the fossil record. #FossilFriday
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfdd...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfdd...
Reposted by James Albert
Although many ecosystems can weather several years of moderate drought, consecutive years of extreme dryness push them past a tipping point, resulting in dramatic declines in plant growth, researchers report in Science. https://scim.ag/4ogN9I8
Drought intensity and duration interact to magnify losses in primary productivity
As droughts become longer and more intense, impacts on terrestrial primary productivity are expected to increase progressively. Yet, some ecosystems appear to acclimate to multiyear drought, with cons...
scim.ag
October 21, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Although many ecosystems can weather several years of moderate drought, consecutive years of extreme dryness push them past a tipping point, resulting in dramatic declines in plant growth, researchers report in Science. https://scim.ag/4ogN9I8
Reposted by James Albert
An invited speaker told me today they share my paper with their students to show them what's possible, and I'm going to ride that validation for a while.
In this paper we applied comparative genomics to study genome evolution:
elifesciences.org/articles/65394
In this paper we applied comparative genomics to study genome evolution:
elifesciences.org/articles/65394
elifesciences.org
October 21, 2025 at 7:08 PM
An invited speaker told me today they share my paper with their students to show them what's possible, and I'm going to ride that validation for a while.
In this paper we applied comparative genomics to study genome evolution:
elifesciences.org/articles/65394
In this paper we applied comparative genomics to study genome evolution:
elifesciences.org/articles/65394
Reposted by James Albert
#Oregon: Just months after the historic removal of four major dams on the Klamath River, scientists and tribal leaders are stunned by what they’re seeing—salmon are returning in far greater numbers, and much faster, than anyone expected. www.activenorcal.com/salmon-are-s...
Salmon Are Surging Far Beyond Expectations After Klamath River Dam Removal
Just months after the historic removal of four major dams on the Klamath River, scientists and tribal leaders are stunned by what they’re seeing—salmon are returning in far greater numbers, and much f...
www.activenorcal.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:13 AM
#Oregon: Just months after the historic removal of four major dams on the Klamath River, scientists and tribal leaders are stunned by what they’re seeing—salmon are returning in far greater numbers, and much faster, than anyone expected. www.activenorcal.com/salmon-are-s...
Reposted by James Albert
Fewer grad students means less science, but many STEM PhD programs in the US are cutting back on admissions this year due to federal funding uncertainties. Words by me for @nature.com:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
@emsque.bsky.social @ucsdcooperlab.bsky.social @julieposselt.bsky.social 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
@emsque.bsky.social @ucsdcooperlab.bsky.social @julieposselt.bsky.social 🧪
US PhD admissions shrink as fears over Trump’s cuts take hold
Some doctoral programmes are admitting no students at all amid uncertainty about federal science funding.
www.nature.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Fewer grad students means less science, but many STEM PhD programs in the US are cutting back on admissions this year due to federal funding uncertainties. Words by me for @nature.com:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
@emsque.bsky.social @ucsdcooperlab.bsky.social @julieposselt.bsky.social 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
@emsque.bsky.social @ucsdcooperlab.bsky.social @julieposselt.bsky.social 🧪
Reposted by James Albert
Welp. Thanks to the Republican gov shutdown I have a bunch of hours back in my week due to a NIH study section not meeting.
These poor applicants. They will be waiting week by week for government to reopen and to find out what will happen to their grant application.
These poor applicants. They will be waiting week by week for government to reopen and to find out what will happen to their grant application.
October 20, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Welp. Thanks to the Republican gov shutdown I have a bunch of hours back in my week due to a NIH study section not meeting.
These poor applicants. They will be waiting week by week for government to reopen and to find out what will happen to their grant application.
These poor applicants. They will be waiting week by week for government to reopen and to find out what will happen to their grant application.
For Stomiiformes, an elongate body shape is ancestral, deep body derived.
October 22, 2025 at 2:56 AM
For Stomiiformes, an elongate body shape is ancestral, deep body derived.
Reposted by James Albert
Good evening. We estimate that between 4.2 and 7.6 million people turned out for the No Kings Day demonstrations held around the country on Saturday. This makes Oct 18 very likely the biggest single-day U.S. protest event since 1970. www.gelliottmorris.com/p/second-no-...
Second "No Kings Day" protests likely the largest single-day political demonstration since 1970, with 4.2-7.6 million participants
Here are the initial results from our crowdsourced crowd-counting estimates
www.gelliottmorris.com
October 19, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Good evening. We estimate that between 4.2 and 7.6 million people turned out for the No Kings Day demonstrations held around the country on Saturday. This makes Oct 18 very likely the biggest single-day U.S. protest event since 1970. www.gelliottmorris.com/p/second-no-...
Unlike the blind walk of phylogeny, ontogeny is a goal directed process.
October 19, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Unlike the blind walk of phylogeny, ontogeny is a goal directed process.
Reposted by James Albert
A big bowfin skull (presumably Amia pattersoni) on display at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Pretty rare Green River fish.
October 19, 2025 at 4:34 PM
A big bowfin skull (presumably Amia pattersoni) on display at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Pretty rare Green River fish.
Reposted by James Albert
Because I still find people who don't know how the story ends:
Christopher Columbus was returned to Spain in chains in 1500 AD, convicted of barbaric torture of colonists, but released 6 weeks later by order of King Ferdinand II.
Neither he nor his brothers ever governed a Spanish holding again.
Christopher Columbus was returned to Spain in chains in 1500 AD, convicted of barbaric torture of colonists, but released 6 weeks later by order of King Ferdinand II.
Neither he nor his brothers ever governed a Spanish holding again.
October 9, 2023 at 1:53 PM
Because I still find people who don't know how the story ends:
Christopher Columbus was returned to Spain in chains in 1500 AD, convicted of barbaric torture of colonists, but released 6 weeks later by order of King Ferdinand II.
Neither he nor his brothers ever governed a Spanish holding again.
Christopher Columbus was returned to Spain in chains in 1500 AD, convicted of barbaric torture of colonists, but released 6 weeks later by order of King Ferdinand II.
Neither he nor his brothers ever governed a Spanish holding again.
Reposted by James Albert
Seems worth noting this award in light of the present circumstances. Get the troops out of our fair city please, perhaps after they enjoy a great Malnati’s pizza!
October 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Seems worth noting this award in light of the present circumstances. Get the troops out of our fair city please, perhaps after they enjoy a great Malnati’s pizza!
The C-value paradox: no simple correlation between the total amount of genomic DNA (C-value) and perceived biological complexity.
October 5, 2025 at 3:34 AM
The C-value paradox: no simple correlation between the total amount of genomic DNA (C-value) and perceived biological complexity.
Reposted by James Albert
If conservationists work from a compromised baseline, our notions of abundance, scarcity, and ecological wellbeing will keep getting defined downward:
"The researchers show that using the 1970s as a baseline tends to normalize an already severely degraded state."
phys.org/news/2025-10...
"The researchers show that using the 1970s as a baseline tends to normalize an already severely degraded state."
phys.org/news/2025-10...
Bird conservation threatened by shifting baseline syndrome
New research shows that populations of dozens of waterbird and seabird species have been declining for much longer than previously thought in Europe. The article "Shifting the baseline for waterbird a...
phys.org
October 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
If conservationists work from a compromised baseline, our notions of abundance, scarcity, and ecological wellbeing will keep getting defined downward:
"The researchers show that using the 1970s as a baseline tends to normalize an already severely degraded state."
phys.org/news/2025-10...
"The researchers show that using the 1970s as a baseline tends to normalize an already severely degraded state."
phys.org/news/2025-10...