Liam Dougherty
@liamdougherty.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist | Research Fellow at The University of Liverpool | Studies sexual selection, reproduction and environmental change | Uses moths, micro-CT, and (mostly) meta-analysis
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
Behavioural ecology in the 21st century..... www.nature.com/articles/s41... @asgriffin.bsky.social
Behavioural ecology in the twenty-first century - Nature Ecology & Evolution
This Perspective discusses how the field of behavioural ecology has contributed to fundamental science and tackling global challenges, ranging from understanding how natural selection leads to adaptat...
www.nature.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Behavioural ecology in the 21st century..... www.nature.com/articles/s41... @asgriffin.bsky.social
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
We had a new paper out yesterday in @royalsocietypublishing.org Biology Letters. About how the cranial feathers of male Golden and Lady Amherst’s Pheasants affect their visual fields. Nice to see it picked up The New York Times and Science. Paper link below.
November 27, 2025 at 7:18 AM
We had a new paper out yesterday in @royalsocietypublishing.org Biology Letters. About how the cranial feathers of male Golden and Lady Amherst’s Pheasants affect their visual fields. Nice to see it picked up The New York Times and Science. Paper link below.
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
The Thermal Ecology Alliance is growing rapidly and we are now at 51 countries! Join here: www.thermalecologyalliance.org/participation
November 26, 2025 at 9:04 AM
The Thermal Ecology Alliance is growing rapidly and we are now at 51 countries! Join here: www.thermalecologyalliance.org/participation
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
New paper out in @behavecol.bsky.social!
Multiple studies show that sexually selected traits such as colours can reflect the presence of pathogens/parasites, but, can defensive coloration do the same? L. Schlippe Justicia, @carodittrich.bsky.social, O. Nokelainen & I tackled that question (1/3)
Multiple studies show that sexually selected traits such as colours can reflect the presence of pathogens/parasites, but, can defensive coloration do the same? L. Schlippe Justicia, @carodittrich.bsky.social, O. Nokelainen & I tackled that question (1/3)
November 24, 2025 at 11:01 AM
New paper out in @behavecol.bsky.social!
Multiple studies show that sexually selected traits such as colours can reflect the presence of pathogens/parasites, but, can defensive coloration do the same? L. Schlippe Justicia, @carodittrich.bsky.social, O. Nokelainen & I tackled that question (1/3)
Multiple studies show that sexually selected traits such as colours can reflect the presence of pathogens/parasites, but, can defensive coloration do the same? L. Schlippe Justicia, @carodittrich.bsky.social, O. Nokelainen & I tackled that question (1/3)
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
Join us! 🧬🪰🎉🔬
We are currently advertising two #PhD projects to study the #evolution, #development and #genomics of sexual traits in stalk-eyed flies.
Deadline for applying is Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Get in touch for more info!
We are currently advertising two #PhD projects to study the #evolution, #development and #genomics of sexual traits in stalk-eyed flies.
Deadline for applying is Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Get in touch for more info!
November 17, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Join us! 🧬🪰🎉🔬
We are currently advertising two #PhD projects to study the #evolution, #development and #genomics of sexual traits in stalk-eyed flies.
Deadline for applying is Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Get in touch for more info!
We are currently advertising two #PhD projects to study the #evolution, #development and #genomics of sexual traits in stalk-eyed flies.
Deadline for applying is Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Get in touch for more info!
Interested in pursuing a PhD in animal mating behaviour and zoo conservation? Want to help understand whether mate choice can improve conservation breeding outcomes? I'm advertising a project with colleagues at the amazing Chester Zoo, see: tinyurl.com/47zjtj8e
Please share!
Please share!
ACCE+ DLA Programme: Harnessing the power of mate choice to improve conservation breeding outcomes at University of Liverpool on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - ACCE+ DLA Programme: Harnessing the power of mate choice to improve conservation breeding outcomes at University of Liverpool, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Interested in pursuing a PhD in animal mating behaviour and zoo conservation? Want to help understand whether mate choice can improve conservation breeding outcomes? I'm advertising a project with colleagues at the amazing Chester Zoo, see: tinyurl.com/47zjtj8e
Please share!
Please share!
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
🦋 How will #insects respond to #climatechange? A global review of 351 studies shows no consistent pattern. Some species expand, others shrink, partly due to varied #methodologies. Standardised approaches are crucial to predict future insect ranges. 🌐
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ddi....
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ddi....
November 4, 2025 at 12:55 PM
🦋 How will #insects respond to #climatechange? A global review of 351 studies shows no consistent pattern. Some species expand, others shrink, partly due to varied #methodologies. Standardised approaches are crucial to predict future insect ranges. 🌐
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ddi....
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ddi....
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
Do you get confused when reading meta-analyses? Our new paper offers a practical guide to help researchers understand, interpret, and use them properly. We also show that the insights meta-analyses provide are often overlooked by those who cite them.
New research from #RSOS: Harnessing meta-analyses' insights in ecology and evolution research buff.ly/KgahjlP | #Ecology #Evolution #ImpactFactor
October 21, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Do you get confused when reading meta-analyses? Our new paper offers a practical guide to help researchers understand, interpret, and use them properly. We also show that the insights meta-analyses provide are often overlooked by those who cite them.
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
I have a job opening in my lab. If you are interested in bird behaviour and predator prey interactions please take a look! werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...
Vacancy — Postdoc Position in Decision Making in Birds
Are you an expert in animal behavior? Do you have experience working with birds? The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) is looking for a motivated researcher to investigate the ro...
werkenbij.uva.nl
September 25, 2025 at 10:10 AM
I have a job opening in my lab. If you are interested in bird behaviour and predator prey interactions please take a look! werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
Wa hoo! Our paper in Science is out today, revealing why some prey use conspicuous warning colouration while others use camouflaging colours. A huge global collaboration under incredible leadership by Iliana Medina and @wlallen.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Global selection on insect antipredator coloration
Natural selection has repeatedly led to the evolution of two alternative antipredator color strategies—camouflage to avoid detection and aposematism to advertise unprofitability—but we lack understand...
www.science.org
September 26, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Wa hoo! Our paper in Science is out today, revealing why some prey use conspicuous warning colouration while others use camouflaging colours. A huge global collaboration under incredible leadership by Iliana Medina and @wlallen.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
Interested in evolutionary ecology and genetics? Check out this PhD position in Pau Carazo's lab in Valencia - we look forward to your application!
We’re offering a fully funded 4 yr PhD position to work on Sexual selection in complex environments at the @uv.es. Co-supervised by @dbergerbiol.bsky.social. Find details below 👇
September 2, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Interested in evolutionary ecology and genetics? Check out this PhD position in Pau Carazo's lab in Valencia - we look forward to your application!
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
Perfectly timed to coincide with our Thermal Fertility Limit Special Topic Network meeting we’ve received a further 2 years of funding, thank you @eseb.bsky.social! And great work fellow leads @rhondasnook.bsky.social, @liamdougherty.bsky.social and Claudia Fricke.
August 20, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Perfectly timed to coincide with our Thermal Fertility Limit Special Topic Network meeting we’ve received a further 2 years of funding, thank you @eseb.bsky.social! And great work fellow leads @rhondasnook.bsky.social, @liamdougherty.bsky.social and Claudia Fricke.
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
Absolutely delighted to share that I have published my first first-author manuscript in #AnimalBehaviourJournal with
@zen-of-science.bsky.social, @liamdougherty.bsky.social and Tabitha Beesley, where we looked at why male moths attempt same-sex mating!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@zen-of-science.bsky.social, @liamdougherty.bsky.social and Tabitha Beesley, where we looked at why male moths attempt same-sex mating!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reduced male pheromone production and an increased female sex ratio promote same-sex sexual behaviour in male Indian meal moths
Same-sex sexual behaviours (SSSBs) are often deemed detrimental to fitness because they carry the same costs as sexual interactions with the opposite …
www.sciencedirect.com
August 17, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Absolutely delighted to share that I have published my first first-author manuscript in #AnimalBehaviourJournal with
@zen-of-science.bsky.social, @liamdougherty.bsky.social and Tabitha Beesley, where we looked at why male moths attempt same-sex mating!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@zen-of-science.bsky.social, @liamdougherty.bsky.social and Tabitha Beesley, where we looked at why male moths attempt same-sex mating!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
“the widespread appeal of animal tool use is partly due to anthropocentrism”
👍 for this new comparison of how animal tools and nests are talked about, from Sally Street et al.
The need to slap a human-like ‘intelligence’ label on animals is a symptom of this bias (writing a book on that now) 🧪🪹🔨
👍 for this new comparison of how animal tools and nests are talked about, from Sally Street et al.
The need to slap a human-like ‘intelligence’ label on animals is a symptom of this bias (writing a book on that now) 🧪🪹🔨
Anthropocentric bias may explain research disparities between animal tool use and nest building
Scientists are not immune from bias. Studying nonhuman species objectively is inherently challenging, especially for ‘charismatic’ and ostensibly huma…
www.sciencedirect.com
June 29, 2025 at 7:32 PM
“the widespread appeal of animal tool use is partly due to anthropocentrism”
👍 for this new comparison of how animal tools and nests are talked about, from Sally Street et al.
The need to slap a human-like ‘intelligence’ label on animals is a symptom of this bias (writing a book on that now) 🧪🪹🔨
👍 for this new comparison of how animal tools and nests are talked about, from Sally Street et al.
The need to slap a human-like ‘intelligence’ label on animals is a symptom of this bias (writing a book on that now) 🧪🪹🔨
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
Is it hot right now? YES!! (In most of Europe anyway) 🥵🥵🥵
Loving these new web applications developed for the UK 🇬🇧 by @roostweather.bsky.social and @edhawkins.org and Spain 🇪🇸 by @dargueso.bsky.social and AUS 🇦🇺 (original) by @mlip.bsky.social
🌍🧪⚒️🌡️📈
Links:
istheukhotrightnow.com
hoyextremo.com
Loving these new web applications developed for the UK 🇬🇧 by @roostweather.bsky.social and @edhawkins.org and Spain 🇪🇸 by @dargueso.bsky.social and AUS 🇦🇺 (original) by @mlip.bsky.social
🌍🧪⚒️🌡️📈
Links:
istheukhotrightnow.com
hoyextremo.com
June 30, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Is it hot right now? YES!! (In most of Europe anyway) 🥵🥵🥵
Loving these new web applications developed for the UK 🇬🇧 by @roostweather.bsky.social and @edhawkins.org and Spain 🇪🇸 by @dargueso.bsky.social and AUS 🇦🇺 (original) by @mlip.bsky.social
🌍🧪⚒️🌡️📈
Links:
istheukhotrightnow.com
hoyextremo.com
Loving these new web applications developed for the UK 🇬🇧 by @roostweather.bsky.social and @edhawkins.org and Spain 🇪🇸 by @dargueso.bsky.social and AUS 🇦🇺 (original) by @mlip.bsky.social
🌍🧪⚒️🌡️📈
Links:
istheukhotrightnow.com
hoyextremo.com
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
Massive piece of work by @pietropollo.bsky.social and colleagues!
Really encouraging paper showing that many EcoEvo meta-analyses are largely reproducible and replicable!
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Really encouraging paper showing that many EcoEvo meta-analyses are largely reproducible and replicable!
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Reliability of meta-analyses in ecology and evolution: (mostly) good news from a case study on sexual signals | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Meta-analyses are powerful synthesis tools that are popular in ecology and evolution owing to the rapidly growing literature of this field. Although the usefulness of meta-analyses depends on their reliability, such as the precision of individual and mean ...
doi.org
May 21, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Massive piece of work by @pietropollo.bsky.social and colleagues!
Really encouraging paper showing that many EcoEvo meta-analyses are largely reproducible and replicable!
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Really encouraging paper showing that many EcoEvo meta-analyses are largely reproducible and replicable!
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
you might think N American species are getting common at their north range limit and rare at their south range limit as temps get warmer
but you would be wrong
new paper in GEB w/ @eliotmiller.bsky.social & Matt Strimas-Mackey, eBird Status & Trends ftw
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
but you would be wrong
new paper in GEB w/ @eliotmiller.bsky.social & Matt Strimas-Mackey, eBird Status & Trends ftw
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
May 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
you might think N American species are getting common at their north range limit and rare at their south range limit as temps get warmer
but you would be wrong
new paper in GEB w/ @eliotmiller.bsky.social & Matt Strimas-Mackey, eBird Status & Trends ftw
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
but you would be wrong
new paper in GEB w/ @eliotmiller.bsky.social & Matt Strimas-Mackey, eBird Status & Trends ftw
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
Divergent selection and plasticity increases reproductive isolation early during incipient speciation. Find our new meta-analysis on experimental speciation studies here: rdcu.be/ek019 🧪 @EvolOdonata.ecoevo.social.ap.brid.gy @pipdowning.bsky.social
Meta-analysis reveals that phenotypic plasticity and divergent selection promote reproductive isolation during incipient speciation
Nature Ecology & Evolution - The authors examine factors affecting reproductive isolation in the early stages of speciation by collating data from 34 experimental speciation studies in 15...
rdcu.be
May 7, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Divergent selection and plasticity increases reproductive isolation early during incipient speciation. Find our new meta-analysis on experimental speciation studies here: rdcu.be/ek019 🧪 @EvolOdonata.ecoevo.social.ap.brid.gy @pipdowning.bsky.social
New paper led by Lily Amos, with @stuartwigby.bsky.social and myself- very rapid changes in male Drosophila mating behaviour in response to multiple stressors (academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...).
Short-term increases in rival number improves single mating productivity in male Drosophila
Abstract. In variable environments, animals can change their reproductive behaviours and physiology to maximise reproductive returns. Natural environments
academic.oup.com
May 7, 2025 at 1:34 PM
New paper led by Lily Amos, with @stuartwigby.bsky.social and myself- very rapid changes in male Drosophila mating behaviour in response to multiple stressors (academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...).
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
🚨 PhD in Ecology 🚨
We’re looking for up to 2 PhD students to join our lab!
If you’re curious about behavioural ecology & species interactions, this is for you!
🌐 More info: torsekar.in
📅 Deadline for Univ PhD entrance exam: 12 May '25
🔗 Apply: tinyurl.com/23ubx89z
#PhDOpportunity #Ecology
We’re looking for up to 2 PhD students to join our lab!
If you’re curious about behavioural ecology & species interactions, this is for you!
🌐 More info: torsekar.in
📅 Deadline for Univ PhD entrance exam: 12 May '25
🔗 Apply: tinyurl.com/23ubx89z
#PhDOpportunity #Ecology
Hello and welcome! We study how animals navigate an extraordinarily complex world, where interactions with both conspecifics and heterospecifics influence their survival and reproduction. At the heart of our research is a central question: Can organisms shape their own evolutionary trajectories through behaviour? To explore this, we focus on how animals manage predation risk—and how…
torsekar.in
April 16, 2025 at 4:00 AM
🚨 PhD in Ecology 🚨
We’re looking for up to 2 PhD students to join our lab!
If you’re curious about behavioural ecology & species interactions, this is for you!
🌐 More info: torsekar.in
📅 Deadline for Univ PhD entrance exam: 12 May '25
🔗 Apply: tinyurl.com/23ubx89z
#PhDOpportunity #Ecology
We’re looking for up to 2 PhD students to join our lab!
If you’re curious about behavioural ecology & species interactions, this is for you!
🌐 More info: torsekar.in
📅 Deadline for Univ PhD entrance exam: 12 May '25
🔗 Apply: tinyurl.com/23ubx89z
#PhDOpportunity #Ecology
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
Over the past 4 years, ABC has collected donations and distributed the funds as microgrants to animal behaviour students in financial need. These microgrants have helped students cover costs such as books, travel, registration fees, etc. Thank you to everyone who donated to ABC!
April 15, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Over the past 4 years, ABC has collected donations and distributed the funds as microgrants to animal behaviour students in financial need. These microgrants have helped students cover costs such as books, travel, registration fees, etc. Thank you to everyone who donated to ABC!
Come join us in Barcelona this August!
A change to our symposium line up for @eseb2025.bsky.social, Belinda van Heerwaarden @bvanheerwaarden.bsky.social is now joined by Matthew Koski. Abstract deadline in 25th April. @rhondasnook.bsky.social, @liamdougherty.bsky.social and I would love to see you there! #🧪
April 15, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Come join us in Barcelona this August!
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
"from 1965 to 2020, nearly half the variation in publication trends among 293 North American male passerine & near-passerine birds was explained by 3 factors subject to human bias: aesthetic salience (visual appeal), range size (familiarity) & number of universities within ranges (accessibility)"
Six-decade research bias towards fancy and familiar bird species | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Human implicit biases towards visually appealing and familiar stimuli are well documented
and rooted in our brains’ reward systems. For example, humans are drawn to charismatic,
familiar organisms, bu...
royalsocietypublishing.org
April 2, 2025 at 7:28 AM
"from 1965 to 2020, nearly half the variation in publication trends among 293 North American male passerine & near-passerine birds was explained by 3 factors subject to human bias: aesthetic salience (visual appeal), range size (familiarity) & number of universities within ranges (accessibility)"
Reposted by Liam Dougherty
I’ve long used FiveThirtyEight’s interactive “Hack Your Way To Scientific Glory” to illustrate the idea of p-hacking when I teach statistics. But ABC/Disney killed the site earlier this month :(
So I made my own with #rstats and Observable and #QuartoPub ! stats.andrewheiss.com/hack-your-way/
So I made my own with #rstats and Observable and #QuartoPub ! stats.andrewheiss.com/hack-your-way/
March 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I’ve long used FiveThirtyEight’s interactive “Hack Your Way To Scientific Glory” to illustrate the idea of p-hacking when I teach statistics. But ABC/Disney killed the site earlier this month :(
So I made my own with #rstats and Observable and #QuartoPub ! stats.andrewheiss.com/hack-your-way/
So I made my own with #rstats and Observable and #QuartoPub ! stats.andrewheiss.com/hack-your-way/