Aaron O'Dea
@odealab.bsky.social
Tropical pale(o)biologist and reef historical ecologist in Panama. Eejit by birth. Father of two treasures. Author of "A History of Life in 100 Fossils" and "Martina and the Bridge of Time". www.odealab.com
Reposted by Aaron O'Dea
Our new paper is online! We found that 1) today's shark & ray diversity was already reached ~100Ma; 2) that the K/Pg extinction was not catastrophic; 3) that the max diversity was reached ~50Ma; and 4) that today's diversity is depleted compared to the past.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Revealing the hidden patterns of shark and ray diversity over the past 145 million years
Gardiner et al. reconstruct the diversity of sharks and rays across the past 145 million
years using deep learning and an extensive dataset. Their results unveil previously
hidden patterns, including ...
www.cell.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Our new paper is online! We found that 1) today's shark & ray diversity was already reached ~100Ma; 2) that the K/Pg extinction was not catastrophic; 3) that the max diversity was reached ~50Ma; and 4) that today's diversity is depleted compared to the past.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Aaron O'Dea
New paper out today! "Fossil otolith assemblages reveal millennial-scale changes in reef fish biomass and trophic structure across the Isthmus of Panama"
🔓https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0419
We used fossil fish otoliths to reconstruct community structure and energetics over millennia.
🔓https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0419
We used fossil fish otoliths to reconstruct community structure and energetics over millennia.
January 22, 2026 at 9:16 PM
New paper out today! "Fossil otolith assemblages reveal millennial-scale changes in reef fish biomass and trophic structure across the Isthmus of Panama"
🔓https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0419
We used fossil fish otoliths to reconstruct community structure and energetics over millennia.
🔓https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0419
We used fossil fish otoliths to reconstruct community structure and energetics over millennia.
In 2025 the normally predictable upwelling in the Gulf of Panama failed to appear - the first time since our records began 40 years ago (www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2512056122I).
We are studying the gulf carefully to see what will happen in 2026. Will it also fail or was 2025 a one-off?
We are studying the gulf carefully to see what will happen in 2026. Will it also fail or was 2025 a one-off?
January 15, 2026 at 3:14 PM
In 2025 the normally predictable upwelling in the Gulf of Panama failed to appear - the first time since our records began 40 years ago (www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2512056122I).
We are studying the gulf carefully to see what will happen in 2026. Will it also fail or was 2025 a one-off?
We are studying the gulf carefully to see what will happen in 2026. Will it also fail or was 2025 a one-off?
Reposted by Aaron O'Dea
So excited to see this out! Metabarcoding shows fishes shift diets on degraded reefs; growth rates similar, condition diverged → species-specific coping strategies buff.ly/kGkEDpw @mattleray.bsky.social @nancyknowlton.bsky.social @odealab.bsky.social @sbac-manmetuni.bsky.social @stri_panama +others
December 19, 2025 at 2:22 PM
So excited to see this out! Metabarcoding shows fishes shift diets on degraded reefs; growth rates similar, condition diverged → species-specific coping strategies buff.ly/kGkEDpw @mattleray.bsky.social @nancyknowlton.bsky.social @odealab.bsky.social @sbac-manmetuni.bsky.social @stri_panama +others
Reposted by Aaron O'Dea
Interested in Historical Ecology and Conservation Palaeobiology? 🪸🦀
Steve Pates and I are offering a PhD project on Unlocking Palaeo-Historical Biodiversity Data to Inform Ecological Baselines @es-ucl.bsky.social
@uclcber.bsky.social
🗓️ Apply by 19th January 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Steve Pates and I are offering a PhD project on Unlocking Palaeo-Historical Biodiversity Data to Inform Ecological Baselines @es-ucl.bsky.social
@uclcber.bsky.social
🗓️ Apply by 19th January 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Unlocking Palaeo-Historical Biodiversity Data to Inform Ecological Baselines through AI at University of Reading on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Unlocking Palaeo-Historical Biodiversity Data to Inform Ecological Baselines through AI at University of Reading, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Interested in Historical Ecology and Conservation Palaeobiology? 🪸🦀
Steve Pates and I are offering a PhD project on Unlocking Palaeo-Historical Biodiversity Data to Inform Ecological Baselines @es-ucl.bsky.social
@uclcber.bsky.social
🗓️ Apply by 19th January 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Steve Pates and I are offering a PhD project on Unlocking Palaeo-Historical Biodiversity Data to Inform Ecological Baselines @es-ucl.bsky.social
@uclcber.bsky.social
🗓️ Apply by 19th January 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
With otolith master Chien-Hsiang Lin, we studied the remarkable fish fauna of the late Miocene Chagres formation in Caribbean Panama peerj.com/articles/201...
November 16, 2025 at 9:01 PM
With otolith master Chien-Hsiang Lin, we studied the remarkable fish fauna of the late Miocene Chagres formation in Caribbean Panama peerj.com/articles/201...
#ICRS is the premier conference for all things coral reef, and a great place to foster thinking and collaboration between ecologists, historical ecologists, and palaeontologists. Consider submitting your abstract to "Reefs through Time", hosted by some top-notch researchers #Coral #Paleobiology
Work on reef paleoecology? Join our session "Reefs through time: leveraging today's interdisciplinary tools to better understand the past of reef organisms and ecosystems" at the 2026 International Coral Reef Symposium
📆Abstract deadline: Dec 1, 2025
🔗https://www.icrs2026.nz/call-for-abstracts
📆Abstract deadline: Dec 1, 2025
🔗https://www.icrs2026.nz/call-for-abstracts
September 27, 2025 at 12:28 PM
#ICRS is the premier conference for all things coral reef, and a great place to foster thinking and collaboration between ecologists, historical ecologists, and palaeontologists. Consider submitting your abstract to "Reefs through Time", hosted by some top-notch researchers #Coral #Paleobiology
Reposted by Aaron O'Dea
In time for #FossilFriday, a new paper by Jansen Smith and many paleontologists (including me) on what questions the field may focus on in the coming decade
Identifying the Big Questions in paleontology: a community-driven project | Paleobiology | Cambridge Core - www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Identifying the Big Questions in paleontology: a community-driven project | Paleobiology | Cambridge Core - www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Identifying the Big Questions in paleontology: a community-driven project | Paleobiology | Cambridge Core
Identifying the Big Questions in paleontology: a community-driven project
www.cambridge.org
September 26, 2025 at 9:18 PM
In time for #FossilFriday, a new paper by Jansen Smith and many paleontologists (including me) on what questions the field may focus on in the coming decade
Identifying the Big Questions in paleontology: a community-driven project | Paleobiology | Cambridge Core - www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Identifying the Big Questions in paleontology: a community-driven project | Paleobiology | Cambridge Core - www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Aaron O'Dea
One of the most-viewed PNAS articles in the last week is “Unprecedented suppression of Panama’s Pacific upwelling in 2025.” Explore the article here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
For more trending articles, visit ow.ly/Me2U50SkLRZ.
For more trending articles, visit ow.ly/Me2U50SkLRZ.
September 24, 2025 at 6:58 PM
One of the most-viewed PNAS articles in the last week is “Unprecedented suppression of Panama’s Pacific upwelling in 2025.” Explore the article here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
For more trending articles, visit ow.ly/Me2U50SkLRZ.
For more trending articles, visit ow.ly/Me2U50SkLRZ.
New paper! led by Chris Perry: Most W. Atlantic reefs in current state can't keep up with sealevel rise at 2°C+. If reefs could accrete at Holocene rates (like these in Enriquillo basin) they'd manage fine. Restoration pockets offer some local hope, but overall sobering news doi.org/10.1038/s415...
September 17, 2025 at 8:41 PM
New paper! led by Chris Perry: Most W. Atlantic reefs in current state can't keep up with sealevel rise at 2°C+. If reefs could accrete at Holocene rates (like these in Enriquillo basin) they'd manage fine. Restoration pockets offer some local hope, but overall sobering news doi.org/10.1038/s415...
📊 new paper! The natural phenomenon of upwelling, which normally occurs every year in the Gulf of Panama, failed for the first time on record in 2025...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
[most co-authors not on bluesky except @javsdiaz.bsky.social @jonscibulski.bsky.social]...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
[most co-authors not on bluesky except @javsdiaz.bsky.social @jonscibulski.bsky.social]...
September 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
📊 new paper! The natural phenomenon of upwelling, which normally occurs every year in the Gulf of Panama, failed for the first time on record in 2025...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
[most co-authors not on bluesky except @javsdiaz.bsky.social @jonscibulski.bsky.social]...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
[most co-authors not on bluesky except @javsdiaz.bsky.social @jonscibulski.bsky.social]...
Reposted by Aaron O'Dea
Just one more week (till 5 Sept) to apply for the postdoc position with me at UA Museums' Department of Museum Research and Collections. NSF-project together with Jill Leonard-Pingel, @odealab.bsky.social, and @sethf.bsky.social focused on marine ecosystems in Panama.
bsky.app/profile/pale...
bsky.app/profile/pale...
Job Alert‼️ Postdoctoral Fellow opportunity in paleontology/biology at the University of Alabama Museums:
careers.ua.edu/jobs/688232b... Aim: assess biotic interactions using mollusks from both sides of the Isthmus of Panama. Please share widely! @paleosoc.bsky.social @almnh.bsky.social
careers.ua.edu/jobs/688232b... Aim: assess biotic interactions using mollusks from both sides of the Isthmus of Panama. Please share widely! @paleosoc.bsky.social @almnh.bsky.social
August 29, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Just one more week (till 5 Sept) to apply for the postdoc position with me at UA Museums' Department of Museum Research and Collections. NSF-project together with Jill Leonard-Pingel, @odealab.bsky.social, and @sethf.bsky.social focused on marine ecosystems in Panama.
bsky.app/profile/pale...
bsky.app/profile/pale...
Reposted by Aaron O'Dea
Calling all Palaeontology PhD candidates and post-docs everywhere! No matter what your particular field of research or country of institution, please follow forms.gle/cLLkEjdLjPrT... and fill in my ANONYMOUS RESEARCH SURVEY – #Yourpalaeolife : investigating fieldwork by early career palaeontologists
#Yourpalaeolife: the experience of early career palaeontologists and fieldwork
Hello everybody!
Welcome to my anonymous survey about fieldwork in palaeontology. I want to know about your experiences: what is the place of fieldwork in our research lives, how to we view it, and h...
forms.gle
August 16, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Calling all Palaeontology PhD candidates and post-docs everywhere! No matter what your particular field of research or country of institution, please follow forms.gle/cLLkEjdLjPrT... and fill in my ANONYMOUS RESEARCH SURVEY – #Yourpalaeolife : investigating fieldwork by early career palaeontologists
Reposted by Aaron O'Dea
Job Alert‼️ Postdoctoral Fellow opportunity in paleontology/biology at the University of Alabama Museums:
careers.ua.edu/jobs/688232b... Aim: assess biotic interactions using mollusks from both sides of the Isthmus of Panama. Please share widely! @paleosoc.bsky.social @almnh.bsky.social
careers.ua.edu/jobs/688232b... Aim: assess biotic interactions using mollusks from both sides of the Isthmus of Panama. Please share widely! @paleosoc.bsky.social @almnh.bsky.social
August 8, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Job Alert‼️ Postdoctoral Fellow opportunity in paleontology/biology at the University of Alabama Museums:
careers.ua.edu/jobs/688232b... Aim: assess biotic interactions using mollusks from both sides of the Isthmus of Panama. Please share widely! @paleosoc.bsky.social @almnh.bsky.social
careers.ua.edu/jobs/688232b... Aim: assess biotic interactions using mollusks from both sides of the Isthmus of Panama. Please share widely! @paleosoc.bsky.social @almnh.bsky.social
I do like a good past analogue for future change. V cool study by Pallacks et al shows how twilight zone lanternfishes—vital prey & carbon cyclers and earth's largest biomass—vanished from the E. Mediterranean when oxygen dropped, but rebounded fast when it returned. www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Ocean deoxygenation linked to ancient mesopelagic fish decline - Communications Earth & Environment
Historical phases of ocean oxygen minimum are associated with near extinctions of mesopelagic fish, suggesting risks of future deoxygenation to marine fisheries due to warming, according to an analysi...
www.nature.com
August 4, 2025 at 12:12 PM
I do like a good past analogue for future change. V cool study by Pallacks et al shows how twilight zone lanternfishes—vital prey & carbon cyclers and earth's largest biomass—vanished from the E. Mediterranean when oxygen dropped, but rebounded fast when it returned. www.nature.com/articles/s43...
We are hiring a lab manager for our lab family at Naos Island in Panama. More information and position description here: odealab.com/opportunities/.
Deadline is today, but if you need more time please just let me know
Deadline is today, but if you need more time please just let me know
August 4, 2025 at 7:50 AM
We are hiring a lab manager for our lab family at Naos Island in Panama. More information and position description here: odealab.com/opportunities/.
Deadline is today, but if you need more time please just let me know
Deadline is today, but if you need more time please just let me know
Nice video report from Shuchita Jha at @inold.news on our Caribbean reef trophodynamics paper (www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...). How can some reef fishes be bigger today than they were 7,000 years ago? youtu.be/buGORJ3F1iM
Caribbean Coral Reefs Meet Archaeology
YouTube video by Neighbird
youtu.be
July 24, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Nice video report from Shuchita Jha at @inold.news on our Caribbean reef trophodynamics paper (www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...). How can some reef fishes be bigger today than they were 7,000 years ago? youtu.be/buGORJ3F1iM
Thrilled to share our new paper, led by @jonscibulski.bsky.social, on the rich 16kyr-long history of human-ocean interactions along the Pacific coast of Panama and Costa Rica. Inspired by the late Richard Cooke MBE and beautifully illustrated by his son, @cookedillustrations.com #PaleoSky
🌊Just out! We reviewed the history of human-ocean interactions, focusing on the Pacific coast of the Southern Central Asmerican Isthmus (Panamá and Costa Rica).
Over 16K years of stories on culture, environment, and ecology!
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10....
Illustration: Madeline Dall
Over 16K years of stories on culture, environment, and ecology!
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10....
Illustration: Madeline Dall
Historical ecology of the Southern Central American Pacific coast | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
The Pacific coast of the Southern Central American Isthmus is a highly productive and biodiverse region with a rich human history. Although the interaction of the oceans, climate, biodiversity and early human systems has shaped the region’s ecology, ...
royalsocietypublishing.org
July 10, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Thrilled to share our new paper, led by @jonscibulski.bsky.social, on the rich 16kyr-long history of human-ocean interactions along the Pacific coast of Panama and Costa Rica. Inspired by the late Richard Cooke MBE and beautifully illustrated by his son, @cookedillustrations.com #PaleoSky
🐠🦈 Just out: In this paper we ask "How has reef trophic structure changed since humans started removing predatory fishes from Caribbean coral reefs?".
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Illustrations @cookedillustrations.com
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Illustrations @cookedillustrations.com
July 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
🐠🦈 Just out: In this paper we ask "How has reef trophic structure changed since humans started removing predatory fishes from Caribbean coral reefs?".
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Illustrations @cookedillustrations.com
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Illustrations @cookedillustrations.com
This is the Panama Canal with the centennial bridge over the Culebra Cut, the locks leading into the Pacific ocean and Panama City in the background
June 30, 2025 at 12:18 AM
This is the Panama Canal with the centennial bridge over the Culebra Cut, the locks leading into the Pacific ocean and Panama City in the background
The #INQUA meetings are about paleoecology, climate change, human evolution, and environmental transformations over the past 2.6myrs. @cookedillustra.bsky.social made a beautiful report from the last INQUA meeting in Rome. Here are some highlights. Grab the whole pdf here zenodo.org/records/1494...
March 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The #INQUA meetings are about paleoecology, climate change, human evolution, and environmental transformations over the past 2.6myrs. @cookedillustra.bsky.social made a beautiful report from the last INQUA meeting in Rome. Here are some highlights. Grab the whole pdf here zenodo.org/records/1494...
This smoky jungle frog is the reigning queen of the Gamboa frog pond
February 23, 2025 at 3:30 AM
This smoky jungle frog is the reigning queen of the Gamboa frog pond
A myctophids-eye view of the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Lanternfishes live typically from 200 to 2000m deep. Panama (top right) and Galapagos (bottom left) are connected by the Cocos ridge
January 29, 2025 at 9:05 PM
A myctophids-eye view of the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Lanternfishes live typically from 200 to 2000m deep. Panama (top right) and Galapagos (bottom left) are connected by the Cocos ridge
I think this is part of a rostrum of a large billfish. From the Caribbean late Miocene for #fossilfriday
January 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I think this is part of a rostrum of a large billfish. From the Caribbean late Miocene for #fossilfriday
Fascinating paper on something I never thought of: When we remove big old animals from wild populations (like fish) we might be losing important cultural transmission in species that learn from elders - Essentially culling transmission of collective knowledge onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Overfishing Social Fish
Social learning is common among vertebrates, including fish. Learning from others reduces the risk and costs of adaptation. In some longer-lived species, social learning can lead to the formation of ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Fascinating paper on something I never thought of: When we remove big old animals from wild populations (like fish) we might be losing important cultural transmission in species that learn from elders - Essentially culling transmission of collective knowledge onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...