Michael Pirie
@piriemike.bsky.social
450 followers 500 following 22 posts
Systematic botanist, curator at the Bergen University Gardens. #EricaGCC
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Reposted by Michael Pirie
systassn.bsky.social
Our friends at the World Flora Online need your help!

They are asking all (potential) users to help them shape a useful plant identification feature to be added to WFO by answering a survey.

Please use the QR codes in the image below to access the survey.
Reposted by Michael Pirie
Reposted by Michael Pirie
Reposted by Michael Pirie
frwildflowers.bsky.social
inaturalist•org
Update on June 11, 2025 9:15pm EDT
“We are not giving Google special access to your iNat data, and we have no obligation to use Google's infrastructure…If the demo… is not helpful, compromises data quality, has outsized environmental impacts, or is … too flawed, we will not keep it.”
We recognize that this announcement has caused a lot of upset and confusion among people who care deeply about iNaturalist. In the hundreds of comments, we hear that many people feel betrayed, disrespected, and without agency. We sincerely apologize.
With respect for the ethical and environmental concerns raised, we'd like to offer more clarity about our plans with this grant and program. We know that trust is not easily rebuilt, but we'd like to try.

First, to clarify some things we did not clearly communicate:

1. We are not replacing or changing the current human-curated system of identifications. Many of you have rightly pointed out that this is at the heart of iNat, and we wouldn't dream of doing away with it. Anything we explore with Al would only be meant to enhance the experience of some users: by, for example, providing an interesting tip about identifying the species, suggesting that the photographer try to capture a particular aspect of the plant or animal that might aid a human identifier, or explaining the computer vision's logic for the identification it's suggested.
2. We are not giving Google special access to your iNat data, and we have no obligation to use Google's infrastructure as part of this grant. Google is providing funding and advice on how to potentially leverage Al.
3. Naturalist has successfully incorporated machine learning and computer vision (kinds of Al) since 2017, with a very small footprint (primarily three machines running in spaces we control). We understand that new technologies can have much larger environmental impacts, and we aim to quantify the environmental footprint of Naturalist's infrastructure for 2025 and beyond.
4. This grant funds our team exploring new ways to surface and organize helpful identification comments - and if the demo we create is not helpful, compromises data quality, has outsized environmental impacts, or is overall too flawed, we will not keep it.

This project is just getting off the ground, and we … Done
• inaturalist.org
AA
The Naturalist community has always been a core partner in informing the direction of the platform, and we appreciate and hear your feedback (including but not limited to):
• We understand that you are concerned about inaccurate, out-of-context and/or hallucinated information being provided by a tool like this. We agree that any Al-provided information be clearly labeled as such and that there be a way to upvote/downvote or otherwise flag potentially misleading information, and we are excited to explore more ways for how this may happen.
• We hear that people would like to be able to understand and control how their data is used on and beyond iNaturalist. On iNaturalist, you own the copyright to your data, and iNaturalist Terms of Use prohibit the use of data for commercial Al training. Whether commercial Al companies are beholden to copyright law or terms of use or can argue "fair use" of publicly accessible data is being worked out in the courts and is something we are paying attention to.
• Most importantly, the community will be involved in the creation of this and any major new features.
We will not be implementing any new changes to what you see on iNaturalist right now without involving the community. Our plan is to have an initial demo available for select user testing by the end of 2025. If you have more feedback, ideas, concerns, or questions you'd be willing to share, please use this form so we can more easily keep track of them.
Additionally, if you would like to attend a virtual Q&A session to have some of this discussion in real time, please let us know in this form (more details to be determined).
Again, the project funded by this grant is just getting started. We will proceed carefully and respectfully, and we're immensely grateful for this incredible and engaged community.
Reposted by Michael Pirie
phytokeys.pensoft.net
A taxonomic study of the Erica genus identified three new species from South Africa’s Western Cape using morphology, DNA data, and a custom ID tool, while clarifying the status of two other taxa, including one natural hybrid.

🔗 doi.org/10.3897/phyt...
Reposted by Michael Pirie
waynemaddison.bsky.social
Mesquite 4 beta released! Many new features, esp. phylogenomic. Check out the trailer and longer video on the home page: www.mesquiteproject.org, and use the download link there to get a copy.

Feedback welcome! Ask and discuss on our new Google Group (groups.google.com/g/mesquite-p...).
The Mesquite icon shown, as a Mesquite leaf against a black background, and as a leave against the sun and a blue sky.
Reposted by Michael Pirie
phytokeys.pensoft.net
The plant genus Erica has 35 recognised species in Madagascar. Their taxonomy, evolution, ecology, and local uses are reviewed in this paper to highlight research and conservation priorities.

doi.org/10.3897/phyt...

@janhackel.bsky.social @piriemike.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Pirie
christhorogood.bsky.social
The titan arum is a wonder of the natural world, with flowering structures that can reach three metres in height. My friends in Sumatra just sent me these photos of one in the wild - in bud - located today ✨
Reposted by Michael Pirie
phytokeys.pensoft.net
Erica sicula, a disjunct Mediterranean heather, faces severe local threats despite a broad range and requires urgent conservation. Researchers provide an overview of the distribution, ecology, and conservation status of both subspecies.

doi.org/10.3897/phyt...
Reposted by Michael Pirie
heyrhododendron.bsky.social
Are you looking for academic papers on Rhododendron? Check out our rhododendron group on Zotero

We’ve gathered thousands of rhododendron articles, some as old as the 1600’s and many of which you won’t find in academic search engines

FREE TO JOIN!

www.zotero.org/groups/47355...
Zotero | Groups > Rhodo-research.net
Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share research.
www.zotero.org
Reposted by Michael Pirie
heyrhododendron.bsky.social
Rhododendron Research Network Rockin’ Around the Clock
May 29-30, 2025

A FREE virtual convention highlighting a global community of researchers, conservationists and members of the public working in genus Rhododendron 🪴🧪🌺

Convention schedule and registration:
medeiroslab.com/2025-virtual...
Reposted by Michael Pirie
worldfloraonline.bsky.social
World Flora Online is now on Bluesky! Follow us for more updates and news from WFO.
Reposted by Michael Pirie
tiboleroyinen.bsky.social
🌹 🧬
Proud to announce that our preprint on the history of rose breeding is now recommended by @peercommunityin.bsky.social Evolutionary Biology !

Manuscript: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Recommendation: evolbiol.peercommunityin.org/articles/rec...
Dedication: www.biorxiv.org/content/bior...
piriemike.bsky.social
If you see this, quote with flowers from your gallery. (Erica transparens)