Matilda Brindle
@matildabrindle.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist using phylogenetic analyses to understand the evolution of behaviour, mostly sex. Postdoc @oxfordbiology.bsky.social. She/Her. @Matilda_Brindle on Twitter.
https://matildabrindle.weebly.com/
https://matildabrindle.weebly.com/
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
Does haplodiploidy - a method of sex determination seen in bees and ants among other animals - promote eusociality?
New research from @rbonifacii.bsky.social and @stuwest.bsky.social enters evidence into this long debate that - despite popular belief - this is not the case 👇
bit.ly/4qEoEWm
New research from @rbonifacii.bsky.social and @stuwest.bsky.social enters evidence into this long debate that - despite popular belief - this is not the case 👇
bit.ly/4qEoEWm
How insects’ sex is determined is unlikely to be what makes them so social
bit.ly
February 13, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Does haplodiploidy - a method of sex determination seen in bees and ants among other animals - promote eusociality?
New research from @rbonifacii.bsky.social and @stuwest.bsky.social enters evidence into this long debate that - despite popular belief - this is not the case 👇
bit.ly/4qEoEWm
New research from @rbonifacii.bsky.social and @stuwest.bsky.social enters evidence into this long debate that - despite popular belief - this is not the case 👇
bit.ly/4qEoEWm
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
We understand a great deal about how and why cooperation evolves, but what about its long-term consequences?
Great to see our new review on this out now in @asn-amnat.bsky.social!
Great to see our new review on this out now in @asn-amnat.bsky.social!
Huge thanks to @asn-amnat.bsky.social for inviting our review on the evolutionary and ecological consequences of cooperation. @annadewar.bsky.social @asgriffin.bsky.social @lauriebelch.bsky.social www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
February 13, 2026 at 9:47 AM
We understand a great deal about how and why cooperation evolves, but what about its long-term consequences?
Great to see our new review on this out now in @asn-amnat.bsky.social!
Great to see our new review on this out now in @asn-amnat.bsky.social!
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
The sperm of fathers experiencing immune activation are rich with a type of small RNAs that can lead to significant changes in offspring, including obesity, impaired insulin sensitivity, anxiety, and aggression, according to a study in mice. In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/LOWJ50YetfJ
February 12, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The sperm of fathers experiencing immune activation are rich with a type of small RNAs that can lead to significant changes in offspring, including obesity, impaired insulin sensitivity, anxiety, and aggression, according to a study in mice. In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/LOWJ50YetfJ
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
Comparative analysis across 5,678 insect species shows that, when you control for phylogenetic bias, eusociality has not evolved at a faster rate in haplodiploid species. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
February 12, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Comparative analysis across 5,678 insect species shows that, when you control for phylogenetic bias, eusociality has not evolved at a faster rate in haplodiploid species. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
Delighted to have been a part of this. It's a very exciting area in the field of social evolution and beyond!
Huge thanks to @asn-amnat.bsky.social for inviting our review on the evolutionary and ecological consequences of cooperation. @annadewar.bsky.social @asgriffin.bsky.social @lauriebelch.bsky.social www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
February 13, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Delighted to have been a part of this. It's a very exciting area in the field of social evolution and beyond!
This is a *great* opportunity for early career researchers to get their work out into the public domain!
I had a fab time talking to Laura about my research on the evolution of masturbation 🐒👋🍆💦🦧🌮👈:
open.spotify.com/episode/3Xy9...
I had a fab time talking to Laura about my research on the evolution of masturbation 🐒👋🍆💦🦧🌮👈:
open.spotify.com/episode/3Xy9...
February 10, 2026 at 10:26 AM
This is a *great* opportunity for early career researchers to get their work out into the public domain!
I had a fab time talking to Laura about my research on the evolution of masturbation 🐒👋🍆💦🦧🌮👈:
open.spotify.com/episode/3Xy9...
I had a fab time talking to Laura about my research on the evolution of masturbation 🐒👋🍆💦🦧🌮👈:
open.spotify.com/episode/3Xy9...
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
Strange discovery that an email about inclusive fitness was forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein, with the emailer quoting Jerusalem and comparing themself to Einstein. Are you one of the >100 evolutionary biologists now in the Epstein files? www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
February 2, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Strange discovery that an email about inclusive fitness was forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein, with the emailer quoting Jerusalem and comparing themself to Einstein. Are you one of the >100 evolutionary biologists now in the Epstein files? www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
Calling all OrthoFinder users!
We’ve just released GLADE, a tool to infer gene gains, losses, duplications, and ancestral genomes across a phylogeny.
GLADE runs directly on OrthoFinder results.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
github.com/lauriebelch/...
(1/10)
We’ve just released GLADE, a tool to infer gene gains, losses, duplications, and ancestral genomes across a phylogeny.
GLADE runs directly on OrthoFinder results.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
github.com/lauriebelch/...
(1/10)
www.biorxiv.org
January 29, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Calling all OrthoFinder users!
We’ve just released GLADE, a tool to infer gene gains, losses, duplications, and ancestral genomes across a phylogeny.
GLADE runs directly on OrthoFinder results.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
github.com/lauriebelch/...
(1/10)
We’ve just released GLADE, a tool to infer gene gains, losses, duplications, and ancestral genomes across a phylogeny.
GLADE runs directly on OrthoFinder results.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
github.com/lauriebelch/...
(1/10)
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
How do temperature regimes shape trait diversity in communities? Does variability promote more specialists or more generalists?
Our new Nature Communications paper tackles this with eco-evo simulations + 653 moth species across latitudinal and elevational gradients.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our new Nature Communications paper tackles this with eco-evo simulations + 653 moth species across latitudinal and elevational gradients.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Warmer environments harbor greater thermal trait diversity in moth assemblages - Nature Communications
Climate limits where insects can live and which species can coexist. Using thermal tolerances of 653 moths on Asian mountains, this study shows warmer temperatures broaden thermal tolerance traits div...
www.nature.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:23 AM
How do temperature regimes shape trait diversity in communities? Does variability promote more specialists or more generalists?
Our new Nature Communications paper tackles this with eco-evo simulations + 653 moth species across latitudinal and elevational gradients.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our new Nature Communications paper tackles this with eco-evo simulations + 653 moth species across latitudinal and elevational gradients.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The marvellous @kitopie.bsky.social explaining how both monogamy and 'promiscuous' mating can help females avoid infanticide, "both early humans and chimpanzees are trying to solve the same problem"!
How monogamous are humans compared to other animals?
Check out this BBC interview with @kitopie.bsky.social to learn more!
Check out this BBC interview with @kitopie.bsky.social to learn more!
December 15, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The marvellous @kitopie.bsky.social explaining how both monogamy and 'promiscuous' mating can help females avoid infanticide, "both early humans and chimpanzees are trying to solve the same problem"!
Romantic stuff, eh 😂
November 20, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Romantic stuff, eh 😂
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
"we ... employ Bayesian phylogenetic methods to reconstruct the evolutionary history of kissing."
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A comparative approach to the evolution of kissing
Kissing can be observed across the animal kingdom. This presents an evolutionary puzzle, since the fitness benefits of kissing are unclear. We use a n…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:30 AM
"we ... employ Bayesian phylogenetic methods to reconstruct the evolutionary history of kissing."
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Superstar researcher @averymaune.bsky.social on her awesome new paper! 🤩
Watch #BiologyLetters author Avery Maune talk about new research revealing that urbanization can reshape social behaviour in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis): cassyni.com/events/3Hp2U... #AnimalBehaviour #ethology
September 30, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Superstar researcher @averymaune.bsky.social on her awesome new paper! 🤩
This looks like a great resource, please could you add me to the list?
August 6, 2025 at 9:58 AM
This looks like a great resource, please could you add me to the list?
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
Have had a very exciting and unexpected start to this week, travelling to Salford for an interview with BBC Breakfast talking all things #wasps! Many thanks to @waspwoman.bsky.social for trusting me with this opportunity, and the fantastic #WorldOfWasps at @uclgrantmuseum.bsky.social for the props!
July 24, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Have had a very exciting and unexpected start to this week, travelling to Salford for an interview with BBC Breakfast talking all things #wasps! Many thanks to @waspwoman.bsky.social for trusting me with this opportunity, and the fantastic #WorldOfWasps at @uclgrantmuseum.bsky.social for the props!
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
This casual phrase might seem harmless but it misunderstands what autism really is and can do real harm to autistic people.
Everyone isn’t ‘a little bit autistic’ – here’s why this notion is harmful
This casual phrase might seem harmless but it misunderstands what autism really is and can do real harm to autistic people.
tcnv.link
May 14, 2025 at 10:53 AM
This casual phrase might seem harmless but it misunderstands what autism really is and can do real harm to autistic people.
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
🚨🐜!!! Check out our new paper where we investigate the impact of a soil level (SoilTemp) dataset on niche shifts of introduced ant species globally — using soil temperatures often lessens the extent of niche shifts between native and introduced ranges! 🐜 🐜 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
April 15, 2025 at 8:14 AM
🚨🐜!!! Check out our new paper where we investigate the impact of a soil level (SoilTemp) dataset on niche shifts of introduced ant species globally — using soil temperatures often lessens the extent of niche shifts between native and introduced ranges! 🐜 🐜 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
The ASN Distinguished Achievement in the Conceptual Unification of the Biological Sciences is for a senior (but still active) investigator who has made major contributions that relate to the goals of ASN. This year’s awardee is Stuart West (Oxford) www.biology.ox.ac.uk/people/stuar...
11/N
11/N
Professor Stuart West
www.biology.ox.ac.uk
March 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The ASN Distinguished Achievement in the Conceptual Unification of the Biological Sciences is for a senior (but still active) investigator who has made major contributions that relate to the goals of ASN. This year’s awardee is Stuart West (Oxford) www.biology.ox.ac.uk/people/stuar...
11/N
11/N
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
The ASN Early Career Investigator Awards recognize outstanding work by 4 researchers who have received their doctorates in the past 3 years. Recipients include:
d. Anna Dewar www.anna-dewar.com
5/N
d. Anna Dewar www.anna-dewar.com
5/N
Anna Dewar
Dr Anna Dewar
Career Development Research Fellow St John's College & Department of Biology, University of Oxford
Honorary Research Fellow Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment, University C...
www.anna-dewar.com
March 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The ASN Early Career Investigator Awards recognize outstanding work by 4 researchers who have received their doctorates in the past 3 years. Recipients include:
d. Anna Dewar www.anna-dewar.com
5/N
d. Anna Dewar www.anna-dewar.com
5/N
Great, thanks!
March 17, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Great, thanks!
Sounds great Kit, sorry I can't make it! ☹️
March 14, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Sounds great Kit, sorry I can't make it! ☹️
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
Really looking forward to this talk at @radicalanthro.bsky.social where I’ll argue that the evolution of menopause is crucial to an understanding of the evolution of modern humans and language. @bristolantharch.bsky.social
Details for @kitopie.bsky.social
On
'Primate mating systems and the evolution of language'
Tuesday's evening session
LIVE + ZOOM 👇👇👇
On
'Primate mating systems and the evolution of language'
Tuesday's evening session
LIVE + ZOOM 👇👇👇
Next Tuesday's session
LIVE @UCLAnthropology + ZOOM with #evolutionary #anthropologist @kitopie.bsky.social
modeling causes of social change
🌖Tues Mar 18, 18:30 (London UTC)🌗
'Primate mating systems and the evolution of language'
#primates #evolution #communication #cooperation #sexualconflict
LIVE @UCLAnthropology + ZOOM with #evolutionary #anthropologist @kitopie.bsky.social
modeling causes of social change
🌖Tues Mar 18, 18:30 (London UTC)🌗
'Primate mating systems and the evolution of language'
#primates #evolution #communication #cooperation #sexualconflict
March 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Really looking forward to this talk at @radicalanthro.bsky.social where I’ll argue that the evolution of menopause is crucial to an understanding of the evolution of modern humans and language. @bristolantharch.bsky.social
Reposted by Matilda Brindle
Write-up of our new paper on information transfer in plant-fungal networks: "Study shows plants are more likely to be ‘eavesdroppers’ than altruists when tapping into underground networks".
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-01...
@tobykiers.bsky.social
@stuwest.bsky.social
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-01...
@tobykiers.bsky.social
@stuwest.bsky.social
Study shows plants are more likely to be ‘eavesdroppers’ than
A new study led by the University of Oxford has used a modelling approach to show that it is unlikely that plants would evolve to warn other plants of impending attack. Instead of using their
www.ox.ac.uk
January 23, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Write-up of our new paper on information transfer in plant-fungal networks: "Study shows plants are more likely to be ‘eavesdroppers’ than altruists when tapping into underground networks".
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-01...
@tobykiers.bsky.social
@stuwest.bsky.social
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-01...
@tobykiers.bsky.social
@stuwest.bsky.social
Super important new research out today by @josephwilliamson.bsky.social, @alexpigot.bsky.social & @jonbridle.bsky.social et al. shows diverse communities of species have worryingly similar heat tolerance 🔥🪲🦜🦎. Read more about it in Joe's piece for @theconversation.com
Co-occurring species have similar tolerances to rising temperatures, suggesting communities will decline abruptly due to climate change. I wrote about our latest paper for The Conversation - check it out! 🧪🌏🥵 theconversation.com/shared-heat-...
Shared heat tolerance leaves ecosystems at risk of sudden climate-driven collapse – new research
Different species often malfunction at the same temperature limit.
theconversation.com
January 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Super important new research out today by @josephwilliamson.bsky.social, @alexpigot.bsky.social & @jonbridle.bsky.social et al. shows diverse communities of species have worryingly similar heat tolerance 🔥🪲🦜🦎. Read more about it in Joe's piece for @theconversation.com