Jolyon Troscianko
@jtroscianko.bsky.social
Visual ecologist at Exeter University. I study how visual information affects the ecology, behaviour, survival and conservation of many different animals. Areas of interest include camouflage, signalling, visual modelling and artificial light at night
November 20, 2025 at 2:36 PM
The final schedule for Winter ASAB is finalised, and we've got an absolutely fantastic line-up.
We had 176 talk abstract submissions and just 24 slots - can't wait to see them.
asabwinter.github.io/2025/schedule/
@asab-meetings.bsky.social
We had 176 talk abstract submissions and just 24 slots - can't wait to see them.
asabwinter.github.io/2025/schedule/
@asab-meetings.bsky.social
Talk schedule
asabwinter.github.io
November 20, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The final schedule for Winter ASAB is finalised, and we've got an absolutely fantastic line-up.
We had 176 talk abstract submissions and just 24 slots - can't wait to see them.
asabwinter.github.io/2025/schedule/
@asab-meetings.bsky.social
We had 176 talk abstract submissions and just 24 slots - can't wait to see them.
asabwinter.github.io/2025/schedule/
@asab-meetings.bsky.social
Generally, if you can see the stuff easily moving around yourself in video footage, then this system will be able to track it. So multiple petri dishes would be fine. 4k footage might let you have even more. But real-time processing would get slow with very high definition.
November 7, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Generally, if you can see the stuff easily moving around yourself in video footage, then this system will be able to track it. So multiple petri dishes would be fine. 4k footage might let you have even more. But real-time processing would get slow with very high definition.
Exactly - as it can easily track moving things 2px across or less, you can work with quite low-res footage (so easy to process on lightweight device), or find really tiny things in high-res footage to cover a larger area. You can classify things from flight behaviour or appearance too...
November 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Exactly - as it can easily track moving things 2px across or less, you can work with quite low-res footage (so easy to process on lightweight device), or find really tiny things in high-res footage to cover a larger area. You can classify things from flight behaviour or appearance too...
Yeah, this whole project started because we needed to automatically & reliably track moths against foliage moving in the wind.
The system is also lightweight enough to run real-time on a Raspberry Pi5
The system is also lightweight enough to run real-time on a Raspberry Pi5
November 7, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Yeah, this whole project started because we needed to automatically & reliably track moths against foliage moving in the wind.
The system is also lightweight enough to run real-time on a Raspberry Pi5
The system is also lightweight enough to run real-time on a Raspberry Pi5
This grass moth is often invisible in still frames, but easy to see in motion. BehaveAI can use this motion to track tiny & camouflaged moving objects in complex scenes. Its semi-automated annotation workflow also means this moth-tracker took only an hour to make.
Preprint: tinyurl.com/BehaveAI
Preprint: tinyurl.com/BehaveAI
November 7, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This grass moth is often invisible in still frames, but easy to see in motion. BehaveAI can use this motion to track tiny & camouflaged moving objects in complex scenes. Its semi-automated annotation workflow also means this moth-tracker took only an hour to make.
Preprint: tinyurl.com/BehaveAI
Preprint: tinyurl.com/BehaveAI
BehaveAI can tell you who is doing what in each video frame. This example classifies behaviour from movement and sex from static appearance such as wing markings.
Preprint: tinyurl.com/BehaveAI
Git: tinyurl.com/BehaveAIgithub
Video: tinyurl.com/BehaveAIintro
@uniexecec.bsky.social
Preprint: tinyurl.com/BehaveAI
Git: tinyurl.com/BehaveAIgithub
Video: tinyurl.com/BehaveAIintro
@uniexecec.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 12:23 PM
BehaveAI can tell you who is doing what in each video frame. This example classifies behaviour from movement and sex from static appearance such as wing markings.
Preprint: tinyurl.com/BehaveAI
Git: tinyurl.com/BehaveAIgithub
Video: tinyurl.com/BehaveAIintro
@uniexecec.bsky.social
Preprint: tinyurl.com/BehaveAI
Git: tinyurl.com/BehaveAIgithub
Video: tinyurl.com/BehaveAIintro
@uniexecec.bsky.social
BehaveAI is live!
Our biologically inspired video analysis tool sees motion as colour. Track animals or objects, classify their behaviour, and handle complex natural scenes with ease.
Semi-supervised annotation, no GPUs required, user-friendly, free & open source.
Pre-print tinyurl.com/BehaveAI
Our biologically inspired video analysis tool sees motion as colour. Track animals or objects, classify their behaviour, and handle complex natural scenes with ease.
Semi-supervised annotation, no GPUs required, user-friendly, free & open source.
Pre-print tinyurl.com/BehaveAI
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
BehaveAI is live!
Our biologically inspired video analysis tool sees motion as colour. Track animals or objects, classify their behaviour, and handle complex natural scenes with ease.
Semi-supervised annotation, no GPUs required, user-friendly, free & open source.
Pre-print tinyurl.com/BehaveAI
Our biologically inspired video analysis tool sees motion as colour. Track animals or objects, classify their behaviour, and handle complex natural scenes with ease.
Semi-supervised annotation, no GPUs required, user-friendly, free & open source.
Pre-print tinyurl.com/BehaveAI
Winter ASAB @asab.org on *Sensory Ecology* register and submit your abstracts now (abstract deadline just a month away)!
I'm organising the conference this year with @lauraakelley.bsky.social and Innes Cuthill
Register & get more info here: asabwinter.github.io/2025/
I'm organising the conference this year with @lauraakelley.bsky.social and Innes Cuthill
Register & get more info here: asabwinter.github.io/2025/
July 29, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Winter ASAB @asab.org on *Sensory Ecology* register and submit your abstracts now (abstract deadline just a month away)!
I'm organising the conference this year with @lauraakelley.bsky.social and Innes Cuthill
Register & get more info here: asabwinter.github.io/2025/
I'm organising the conference this year with @lauraakelley.bsky.social and Innes Cuthill
Register & get more info here: asabwinter.github.io/2025/
Reposted by Jolyon Troscianko
✨Out Now✨ The outcome of my 1st ever #guppy experiment (from 2021!) w @ccioannou.bsky.social & @jtroscianko.bsky.social
We asked: How detectable are guppies to visual predators under different env. conditions?👇
academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
#ISBE #fish #behaviour @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
🧵1/9
We asked: How detectable are guppies to visual predators under different env. conditions?👇
academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
#ISBE #fish #behaviour @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
🧵1/9
Enhanced conspicuousness of prey in warmer water mitigates the constraint of turbidity for predators
Abstract. Changes in environmental conditions impact predator-prey interactions by altering behaviour through sensory and non-sensory (e.g. metabolic or co
academic.oup.com
July 14, 2025 at 12:01 PM
✨Out Now✨ The outcome of my 1st ever #guppy experiment (from 2021!) w @ccioannou.bsky.social & @jtroscianko.bsky.social
We asked: How detectable are guppies to visual predators under different env. conditions?👇
academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
#ISBE #fish #behaviour @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
🧵1/9
We asked: How detectable are guppies to visual predators under different env. conditions?👇
academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
#ISBE #fish #behaviour @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
🧵1/9
Just a few days left to sign up for our light pollution & insect declines workshop - FREE registration & meals - deadline for registration March 21st, and deadline for expert scan suggestions 22nd.
www.visual-ecology.com/events/
www.visual-ecology.com/events/
March 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Just a few days left to sign up for our light pollution & insect declines workshop - FREE registration & meals - deadline for registration March 21st, and deadline for expert scan suggestions 22nd.
www.visual-ecology.com/events/
www.visual-ecology.com/events/
Reposted by Jolyon Troscianko
@jtroscianko.bsky.social visited us @aplantaginis.bsky.social in #viikki and gave a fantastic talk about #ALAN and its implications on nocturnal #moths. Packed lecture room and lots of fun discussion. Thanks so much for visiting!
February 18, 2025 at 5:03 PM
@jtroscianko.bsky.social visited us @aplantaginis.bsky.social in #viikki and gave a fantastic talk about #ALAN and its implications on nocturnal #moths. Packed lecture room and lots of fun discussion. Thanks so much for visiting!
We are delighted to host an RCN symposium on light pollution as a driver of insect declines. May 12th-14th, Penryn. We will draw on academics, industry, planners & NGOs to explore issues & seek solutions. Free registration, but limited places!
www.visual-ecology.com/events/
@uniexecec.bsky.social
www.visual-ecology.com/events/
@uniexecec.bsky.social
February 17, 2025 at 10:10 AM
We are delighted to host an RCN symposium on light pollution as a driver of insect declines. May 12th-14th, Penryn. We will draw on academics, industry, planners & NGOs to explore issues & seek solutions. Free registration, but limited places!
www.visual-ecology.com/events/
@uniexecec.bsky.social
www.visual-ecology.com/events/
@uniexecec.bsky.social
Yeah it's a great little sensor. Also check out the OSpRad project if you don't need the imaging aspect.
And yes, it can work with pulsed sources either crudely with a long (e.g. 1 second) exposure, or with hardware sync through the Arduino (not implemented, but would be easy enough).
And yes, it can work with pulsed sources either crudely with a long (e.g. 1 second) exposure, or with hardware sync through the Arduino (not implemented, but would be easy enough).
January 8, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Yeah it's a great little sensor. Also check out the OSpRad project if you don't need the imaging aspect.
And yes, it can work with pulsed sources either crudely with a long (e.g. 1 second) exposure, or with hardware sync through the Arduino (not implemented, but would be easy enough).
And yes, it can work with pulsed sources either crudely with a long (e.g. 1 second) exposure, or with hardware sync through the Arduino (not implemented, but would be easy enough).
Reposted by Jolyon Troscianko
New open-source hyperspectral imager you can 3D print for less than $450 from
@jtroscianko.bsky.social. The HOSI system can take panoramic hyperspectral images that meet the difficult requirements of artificial light at night (ALAN) research.
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.... #BMCBiology
@jtroscianko.bsky.social. The HOSI system can take panoramic hyperspectral images that meet the difficult requirements of artificial light at night (ALAN) research.
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.... #BMCBiology
January 7, 2025 at 7:59 PM
New open-source hyperspectral imager you can 3D print for less than $450 from
@jtroscianko.bsky.social. The HOSI system can take panoramic hyperspectral images that meet the difficult requirements of artificial light at night (ALAN) research.
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.... #BMCBiology
@jtroscianko.bsky.social. The HOSI system can take panoramic hyperspectral images that meet the difficult requirements of artificial light at night (ALAN) research.
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.... #BMCBiology
Hyperspectral Imager paper out! High sensitivity UV to nearIR, full-field panoramas, radiance & reflectance, runs from a smartphone. Build the system for about $450 from 3D printed parts & off-the-shelf components.
Paper: doi.org/10.1186/s129...
Intro video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q8l...
Paper: doi.org/10.1186/s129...
Intro video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q8l...
Hyperspectral Open Source Imager (HOSI) introduction
YouTube video by Jolyon Troscianko
www.youtube.com
January 8, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Hyperspectral Imager paper out! High sensitivity UV to nearIR, full-field panoramas, radiance & reflectance, runs from a smartphone. Build the system for about $450 from 3D printed parts & off-the-shelf components.
Paper: doi.org/10.1186/s129...
Intro video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q8l...
Paper: doi.org/10.1186/s129...
Intro video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q8l...
Costs are very high for UV systems, e.g. a good UV lens alone typically costs over $8k. Then maybe $20-50k for the camera.
But even then you end up with a system that has very low sensitivity, will struggle with large dynamic ranges, and definitely can't take wide-angle/panoramic images
But even then you end up with a system that has very low sensitivity, will struggle with large dynamic ranges, and definitely can't take wide-angle/panoramic images
January 8, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Costs are very high for UV systems, e.g. a good UV lens alone typically costs over $8k. Then maybe $20-50k for the camera.
But even then you end up with a system that has very low sensitivity, will struggle with large dynamic ranges, and definitely can't take wide-angle/panoramic images
But even then you end up with a system that has very low sensitivity, will struggle with large dynamic ranges, and definitely can't take wide-angle/panoramic images
Reposted by Jolyon Troscianko
Exciting PhD opportunity with @neeltjeboogert.bsky.social , @padpadpadpad.bsky.social (Exeter) and myself (Bristol) on gulls, their microbiomes, and role in transmitting disease.
Details below - deadline 13 January!
Details below - deadline 13 January!
January 6, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Exciting PhD opportunity with @neeltjeboogert.bsky.social , @padpadpadpad.bsky.social (Exeter) and myself (Bristol) on gulls, their microbiomes, and role in transmitting disease.
Details below - deadline 13 January!
Details below - deadline 13 January!
Reposted by Jolyon Troscianko
Another thing I made this year: Real and implied birds.
December 20, 2024 at 6:52 PM
Another thing I made this year: Real and implied birds.
Reposted by Jolyon Troscianko
In one year, I genetically engineered the boring Arabidopsis into a beautiful ornamental flower 🧬🌹
Here is how and why I gave this model organism a visual upgrade 🧵(1/7)
Here is how and why I gave this model organism a visual upgrade 🧵(1/7)
December 12, 2024 at 11:24 AM
In one year, I genetically engineered the boring Arabidopsis into a beautiful ornamental flower 🧬🌹
Here is how and why I gave this model organism a visual upgrade 🧵(1/7)
Here is how and why I gave this model organism a visual upgrade 🧵(1/7)
Reposted by Jolyon Troscianko
JOB OPPORTUNITY! I am hiring a postdoc for 18 months to investigate the links between temperature and antibiotic resistance. Ecoevo microbiology, plasmids, and some super fun stats, modelling, and bioinformatics. To starts in Feb 2025. Please share!
#exetercec
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
#exetercec
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Powered by MHR
jobs.exeter.ac.uk
December 12, 2024 at 11:11 AM
JOB OPPORTUNITY! I am hiring a postdoc for 18 months to investigate the links between temperature and antibiotic resistance. Ecoevo microbiology, plasmids, and some super fun stats, modelling, and bioinformatics. To starts in Feb 2025. Please share!
#exetercec
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
#exetercec
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Reposted by Jolyon Troscianko
Tomorrow is the Conservation Christmas Lecture!🎄🌍🦤🧪
This year the focus will be 'feeding the world at least cost to the planet' hosted by @kjhockings.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
Guest talks aren't recorded so make sure you're on campus! One not to miss...
This year the focus will be 'feeding the world at least cost to the planet' hosted by @kjhockings.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
Guest talks aren't recorded so make sure you're on campus! One not to miss...
December 10, 2024 at 10:50 AM
Tomorrow is the Conservation Christmas Lecture!🎄🌍🦤🧪
This year the focus will be 'feeding the world at least cost to the planet' hosted by @kjhockings.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
Guest talks aren't recorded so make sure you're on campus! One not to miss...
This year the focus will be 'feeding the world at least cost to the planet' hosted by @kjhockings.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
Guest talks aren't recorded so make sure you're on campus! One not to miss...
Reposted by Jolyon Troscianko
New paper out! We show that heart cockles use bundled fiber optic cables to transmit light through "skylights" in their shell for their photosynthetic algae. The skylights filter out harmful UV radiation. These coral analogues are cool critters!! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Heart cockle shells transmit sunlight to photosymbiotic algae using bundled fiber optic cables and condensing lenses - Nature Communications
Some bivalves have evolved photosynthetic symbioses. Here, the authors show that heart cockles transmit light through their upper shell to internal photosynthetic symbionts, using mineral fiber optic ...
www.nature.com
December 9, 2024 at 2:45 PM
New paper out! We show that heart cockles use bundled fiber optic cables to transmit light through "skylights" in their shell for their photosynthetic algae. The skylights filter out harmful UV radiation. These coral analogues are cool critters!! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jolyon Troscianko
🧪Why does warning signal variability persist in #aposematic species? Our new @sse-evolution.bsky.social paper explores this using data from 64,741 🤯 A.plantaginis, raised over 25 generations. Spoiler: no evidence that life-history traits constrain warning colours! academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
Evolutionary potential and constraints in an aposematic species: Genetic correlations between warning coloration and fitness components in wood tiger moths
Abstract. Variability in warning signals is common but remains puzzling since deviations from the most common form should result in a higher number of pred
academic.oup.com
December 7, 2024 at 4:37 PM
🧪Why does warning signal variability persist in #aposematic species? Our new @sse-evolution.bsky.social paper explores this using data from 64,741 🤯 A.plantaginis, raised over 25 generations. Spoiler: no evidence that life-history traits constrain warning colours! academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...