Brian O'Meara
@omearabrian.bsky.social
I study diversification, species delimitation, trait evolution & similar questions, often using new methods. Also random coding projects. College prof living in Oak Ridge, TN, USA. Opinions my own. He/Him
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
This story has been such a long time coming! We found that the family of MYB transcription factors that makes pink tomatoes has a wacky cousin involved in the evolution of red flowers in Iochroma. #MYBs4Ever
In #G3journal, @iochromaland.bsky.social and the team present a new genetic pathway in flower color evolution and investigate how this mechanism operates within the flavonoid pathway, which is critical for pigment production in flowers and fruits. buff.ly/7sithlg
November 26, 2025 at 5:02 AM
This story has been such a long time coming! We found that the family of MYB transcription factors that makes pink tomatoes has a wacky cousin involved in the evolution of red flowers in Iochroma. #MYBs4Ever
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
Holiday reminder: you can switch yourself and your loved ones away from Google given their push for AI results rather than links.
I've liked DuckDuckGo (can turn off ads and AI). I've also heard good things about Kagi (but $).
There ARE options for web search engines that return web results.
I've liked DuckDuckGo (can turn off ads and AI). I've also heard good things about Kagi (but $).
There ARE options for web search engines that return web results.
November 25, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Holiday reminder: you can switch yourself and your loved ones away from Google given their push for AI results rather than links.
I've liked DuckDuckGo (can turn off ads and AI). I've also heard good things about Kagi (but $).
There ARE options for web search engines that return web results.
I've liked DuckDuckGo (can turn off ads and AI). I've also heard good things about Kagi (but $).
There ARE options for web search engines that return web results.
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
"Here we show substantial declines in the rates of collection of specimen data over recent decades, from analysis of over 150 million records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) spanning more than two centuries"
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪 #Macroecology #EvoBio #Paleobio
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪 #Macroecology #EvoBio #Paleobio
November 25, 2025 at 11:04 PM
"Here we show substantial declines in the rates of collection of specimen data over recent decades, from analysis of over 150 million records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) spanning more than two centuries"
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪 #Macroecology #EvoBio #Paleobio
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪 #Macroecology #EvoBio #Paleobio
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Really pleased to share the first paper to come out of the lab.
We found that hospital patients were frequently colonised with P. aeruginosa and that the same clone was shared between the gut and the lung.
The phylogenies indicate that the clones moved from lung->gut
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We found that hospital patients were frequently colonised with P. aeruginosa and that the same clone was shared between the gut and the lung.
The phylogenies indicate that the clones moved from lung->gut
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
High frequency body site translocation of nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosa - Nature Communications
Here, the authors report within-host diversity and body site translocation dynamics in hospital samples of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and reveal that body site sharing was likely due to within-patient tra...
www.nature.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Really pleased to share the first paper to come out of the lab.
We found that hospital patients were frequently colonised with P. aeruginosa and that the same clone was shared between the gut and the lung.
The phylogenies indicate that the clones moved from lung->gut
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We found that hospital patients were frequently colonised with P. aeruginosa and that the same clone was shared between the gut and the lung.
The phylogenies indicate that the clones moved from lung->gut
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
I had a new coworker who had worked with us for 2 weeks. We were at a holiday party, and they asked, "Do they have anything other than beer and wine?" My response was, "they don't do liquor at work parties." She stared at me until I realized the question. "Oh, soda and seltzer." 😬
And this is 10x in academia and other work settings
Just a friendly reminder as we go into the holidays:
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
November 24, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I had a new coworker who had worked with us for 2 weeks. We were at a holiday party, and they asked, "Do they have anything other than beer and wine?" My response was, "they don't do liquor at work parties." She stared at me until I realized the question. "Oh, soda and seltzer." 😬
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
I am procrastinating on writing by reading this interview of one of the true pioneers in evolutionary biology (and one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life)
Why we should be thinking of Welwitschia. What is Welwitschia you might ask (I did!)? Read on.
www.edge.org/conversation...
Why we should be thinking of Welwitschia. What is Welwitschia you might ask (I did!)? Read on.
www.edge.org/conversation...
GENOMIC IMPRINTING | Edge.org
www.edge.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:20 AM
I am procrastinating on writing by reading this interview of one of the true pioneers in evolutionary biology (and one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life)
Why we should be thinking of Welwitschia. What is Welwitschia you might ask (I did!)? Read on.
www.edge.org/conversation...
Why we should be thinking of Welwitschia. What is Welwitschia you might ask (I did!)? Read on.
www.edge.org/conversation...
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
🚨Good news, everyone!
1) I'm thrilled to be joining the behavior powerhouse that is Indiana University!! So stoked, starting Jan 2026.
2) I'm recruiting grad students! Are you (or your trainee) interested in sensory ecology? behavior? evolution? fieldwork? spiders? Drop me a line Jstafstr(at)iu.edu
1) I'm thrilled to be joining the behavior powerhouse that is Indiana University!! So stoked, starting Jan 2026.
2) I'm recruiting grad students! Are you (or your trainee) interested in sensory ecology? behavior? evolution? fieldwork? spiders? Drop me a line Jstafstr(at)iu.edu
November 22, 2025 at 4:53 PM
🚨Good news, everyone!
1) I'm thrilled to be joining the behavior powerhouse that is Indiana University!! So stoked, starting Jan 2026.
2) I'm recruiting grad students! Are you (or your trainee) interested in sensory ecology? behavior? evolution? fieldwork? spiders? Drop me a line Jstafstr(at)iu.edu
1) I'm thrilled to be joining the behavior powerhouse that is Indiana University!! So stoked, starting Jan 2026.
2) I'm recruiting grad students! Are you (or your trainee) interested in sensory ecology? behavior? evolution? fieldwork? spiders? Drop me a line Jstafstr(at)iu.edu
And this is 10x in academia and other work settings
Just a friendly reminder as we go into the holidays:
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
November 24, 2025 at 11:52 AM
And this is 10x in academia and other work settings
But less than 1% of the deep sea is sampled for amphibians. The Mariana Trench could be full of hellbenders and we’d never know
(this is a joke)
(Though, there’s something evolutionarily interesting in that the most aquatic of vertebrates never return to the sea while mammals, reptiles have often)
(this is a joke)
(Though, there’s something evolutionarily interesting in that the most aquatic of vertebrates never return to the sea while mammals, reptiles have often)
14% of the #Amazon is well-sampled for #amphibians 🌍
This study (>242K records) shows major data gaps driven by accessibility & human footprint. This hi
ghlights a widespread #biodiversity ignorance. Action needed to coordinate research, curation, data sharing
academic.oup.com/biolinnean/a...
This study (>242K records) shows major data gaps driven by accessibility & human footprint. This hi
ghlights a widespread #biodiversity ignorance. Action needed to coordinate research, curation, data sharing
academic.oup.com/biolinnean/a...
November 24, 2025 at 11:51 AM
But less than 1% of the deep sea is sampled for amphibians. The Mariana Trench could be full of hellbenders and we’d never know
(this is a joke)
(Though, there’s something evolutionarily interesting in that the most aquatic of vertebrates never return to the sea while mammals, reptiles have often)
(this is a joke)
(Though, there’s something evolutionarily interesting in that the most aquatic of vertebrates never return to the sea while mammals, reptiles have often)
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
"Her wit was as sharp as her convictions, and her honesty was refreshing and rare."
A wonderfully written (by @gbaucom.bsky.social) obituary for my grad school friend and Auburn University Prof. Vanessa Koelling, who passed away last week.
www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/m...
A wonderfully written (by @gbaucom.bsky.social) obituary for my grad school friend and Auburn University Prof. Vanessa Koelling, who passed away last week.
www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/m...
Vanessa Koelling Obituary - Montgomery, AL
Celebrate the life of Vanessa Koelling, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Leak Memory Chapel.
www.dignitymemorial.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:30 AM
"Her wit was as sharp as her convictions, and her honesty was refreshing and rare."
A wonderfully written (by @gbaucom.bsky.social) obituary for my grad school friend and Auburn University Prof. Vanessa Koelling, who passed away last week.
www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/m...
A wonderfully written (by @gbaucom.bsky.social) obituary for my grad school friend and Auburn University Prof. Vanessa Koelling, who passed away last week.
www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/m...
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Just a friendly reminder as we go into the holidays:
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
November 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Just a friendly reminder as we go into the holidays:
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
We’re at #ESA2025!
Come to the Atlas of Living Australia booth, located conveniently by the coffee cart!
Come grab a hex sticker and say hi to me & @shandiya.bsky.social while you’re there 😀☕️
Come to the Atlas of Living Australia booth, located conveniently by the coffee cart!
Come grab a hex sticker and say hi to me & @shandiya.bsky.social while you’re there 😀☕️
November 24, 2025 at 4:03 AM
We’re at #ESA2025!
Come to the Atlas of Living Australia booth, located conveniently by the coffee cart!
Come grab a hex sticker and say hi to me & @shandiya.bsky.social while you’re there 😀☕️
Come to the Atlas of Living Australia booth, located conveniently by the coffee cart!
Come grab a hex sticker and say hi to me & @shandiya.bsky.social while you’re there 😀☕️
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Paleo folks: Please recommend researchers (incl yourselves) interested in phylogenetic reconstruction in deep time, molecular clocks (discord w/ fossil clocks), foundational/methodological issues in phylo/paleo-reconstruction & who'd be interested in hanging w/ historians & philosophers of science ⚒️
November 24, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Paleo folks: Please recommend researchers (incl yourselves) interested in phylogenetic reconstruction in deep time, molecular clocks (discord w/ fossil clocks), foundational/methodological issues in phylo/paleo-reconstruction & who'd be interested in hanging w/ historians & philosophers of science ⚒️
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
So, if an institute or center decided not to fund any grant from University X or on Topic Y, then there would be no documentation in the official grant files about these applications.
2/2
2/2
a brown puppy is being held by a person with the words " really " on the bottom
ALT: a brown puppy is being held by a person with the words " really " on the bottom
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:29 AM
So, if an institute or center decided not to fund any grant from University X or on Topic Y, then there would be no documentation in the official grant files about these applications.
2/2
2/2
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
One of the bragging rights that the US ed system had in the 20th century is that we didn't have education tracks. Essentially, any kid could go to a CC or state school & major in whatever they wanted to (obviously an oversimplification). I fear this aspect of the American dream is dying.
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
15-year-old bug 😐 in an industry that has the highest profit margins possible pretty much
www.theguardian.com/science/2017...
www.theguardian.com/science/2017...
November 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
15-year-old bug 😐 in an industry that has the highest profit margins possible pretty much
www.theguardian.com/science/2017...
www.theguardian.com/science/2017...
Very interesting chart design
(Description: a line plot of interest rate vs average mortgage rate, with points labeled by time. It has horizontal runs of points where interest rate doesn’t change but mortgage rate does. The overall shape is almost a one turn spiral)
(Description: a line plot of interest rate vs average mortgage rate, with points labeled by time. It has horizontal runs of points where interest rate doesn’t change but mortgage rate does. The overall shape is almost a one turn spiral)
RBNZ left interest rates close to zero from March 2020 to late 2021. Between those dates, the actual average mortgage rate paid by kiwis dropped from ~4.0% to ~2.9%. [4/n]
November 23, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Very interesting chart design
(Description: a line plot of interest rate vs average mortgage rate, with points labeled by time. It has horizontal runs of points where interest rate doesn’t change but mortgage rate does. The overall shape is almost a one turn spiral)
(Description: a line plot of interest rate vs average mortgage rate, with points labeled by time. It has horizontal runs of points where interest rate doesn’t change but mortgage rate does. The overall shape is almost a one turn spiral)
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Every year my advisor’s research group (spanning 30+ years of students & postdocs) meets up for lunch at the @agu.org Fall Meeting.
Usually half of us make it, but this year? From academia, government, private sector—turns out, no one’s going 😱
Anyone else seeing this trend?
Usually half of us make it, but this year? From academia, government, private sector—turns out, no one’s going 😱
Anyone else seeing this trend?
November 23, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Every year my advisor’s research group (spanning 30+ years of students & postdocs) meets up for lunch at the @agu.org Fall Meeting.
Usually half of us make it, but this year? From academia, government, private sector—turns out, no one’s going 😱
Anyone else seeing this trend?
Usually half of us make it, but this year? From academia, government, private sector—turns out, no one’s going 😱
Anyone else seeing this trend?
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
My favourite part of the AI Kingston on Thames christmas mural is the man using a severed dog's paw on a stick to subdue his chimera dogwife
November 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM
My favourite part of the AI Kingston on Thames christmas mural is the man using a severed dog's paw on a stick to subdue his chimera dogwife
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
ARTISTS!
I need your help!
In collab. w/the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, I'm organizing a group of artists to come to our Jan. meeting! We're looking for artists to create based on what they learn at the conference. $1000 stipend.
Application is V short! forms.gle/ah1i8KwNJinZ...
I need your help!
In collab. w/the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, I'm organizing a group of artists to come to our Jan. meeting! We're looking for artists to create based on what they learn at the conference. $1000 stipend.
Application is V short! forms.gle/ah1i8KwNJinZ...
November 22, 2025 at 3:51 PM
ARTISTS!
I need your help!
In collab. w/the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, I'm organizing a group of artists to come to our Jan. meeting! We're looking for artists to create based on what they learn at the conference. $1000 stipend.
Application is V short! forms.gle/ah1i8KwNJinZ...
I need your help!
In collab. w/the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, I'm organizing a group of artists to come to our Jan. meeting! We're looking for artists to create based on what they learn at the conference. $1000 stipend.
Application is V short! forms.gle/ah1i8KwNJinZ...
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Really excited to see this paper out in the world. It's an ambitious final chapter from past PhD student Aaron Yilmaz. We ask how eco-evolutionary dynamics play out in the context of urban evolution using a reciprocal transplant experiment. www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Are there ecological consequences of urban adaptation? A test of eco-evolutionary dynamics in a terrestrial isopod (Oniscus asellus) | The American Naturalist: Vol 0, No ja
www.journals.uchicago.edu
November 22, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Really excited to see this paper out in the world. It's an ambitious final chapter from past PhD student Aaron Yilmaz. We ask how eco-evolutionary dynamics play out in the context of urban evolution using a reciprocal transplant experiment. www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Grad students: this is the sort of comment you want from your committee members. Choose them wisely.
Well that’s episode one down. Like I said above, overall thoughts are that they did fine with an incredibly challenging topic, but with some quibbles - and most of those are drawn from it being an insanely challenging topic that makes narrative, linear documentary storytelling hard
It’s fine
It’s fine
November 22, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Grad students: this is the sort of comment you want from your committee members. Choose them wisely.
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Just out in Systematic Biology, we explore the role of gene flow in island phylogeography of the Solomons Black-and-white Monarch complex. doi.org/10.1093/sysb...
Up first, strong genetic structure between islands groups and weak (but present!) structure between Pleistocene-connected islands (🧵)
Up first, strong genetic structure between islands groups and weak (but present!) structure between Pleistocene-connected islands (🧵)
November 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Just out in Systematic Biology, we explore the role of gene flow in island phylogeography of the Solomons Black-and-white Monarch complex. doi.org/10.1093/sysb...
Up first, strong genetic structure between islands groups and weak (but present!) structure between Pleistocene-connected islands (🧵)
Up first, strong genetic structure between islands groups and weak (but present!) structure between Pleistocene-connected islands (🧵)
Reposted by Brian O'Meara
Ugh too mad to work. I’m taking a potoo break.
📸Sparkle Motion, Sebastian Lescano, unknown, Melissa Garoo
📸Sparkle Motion, Sebastian Lescano, unknown, Melissa Garoo
November 21, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Ugh too mad to work. I’m taking a potoo break.
📸Sparkle Motion, Sebastian Lescano, unknown, Melissa Garoo
📸Sparkle Motion, Sebastian Lescano, unknown, Melissa Garoo