Rob Knell
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robknell.bsky.social
Rob Knell
@robknell.bsky.social
1.7K followers 860 following 450 posts
Evolutionary ecologist working on, amongst other things, mating systems and adaptation. Knows enough stats to be dangerous and inflicts R on the innocent. Takes photos of animals. Also running/triathlon/technical diving.
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robknell.bsky.social
Rob Knell @robknell.bsky.social · Dec 15
#Biostatistics R package: interactive learnr tutorials on statistics ranging from frequency distributions to model selection. Videos, text explanations, quizzes and coding exercises. cran.r-project.org/web/packages...
Biostatistics vignette
cran.r-project.org
Reposted by Rob Knell
patrick-kennedy.bsky.social
POSTDOC ALERT🚨

Two exciting social evolution postdoc positions live today!

We're looking for two excellent field biologists. Join us to explore the evolution of sociality in wasps across Africa. Apply by 11th January.

Collaboration with
@dustinrubenstein.com

@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
December 12, 2025 at 8:58 PM
robknell.bsky.social
Even Springer Nature can get things right on occasion. 🧪 #Dinosaurs #Nanotyrannus

www.instagram.com/reels/DSr-mP...
Nature on Instagram: "Join the Nature Podcast in celebrating some of the biggest stories in science this year through our festive songs.⁠ ⁠ Research uncovered that Nanotyrannus was actually its own sp...
10K likes, 159 comments - nature_the_journal on December 25, 2025: "Join the Nature Podcast in celebrating some of the biggest stories in science this year through our festive songs.⁠ ⁠ Research uncov...
www.instagram.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:05 AM
robknell.bsky.social
Marsh harriers from Blacktoft Sands on Sunday. It was absolutely bloody freezing in the hide. #birds #ukbirds #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography.
Two marsh harriers in the sky, one is flying upwards towards the other with its talons forward as though it wants to grab it. A male and female marsh harrier in the sky with the clouds as background. The male is on its side with wings outstretched. A female marsh harrier dropping into a sea of reeds (Phragmites).
January 6, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
xcsci.bsky.social
In the foothills of the western Alps in southeastern France, horned alpine ibex roam the limestone cliffs ... a region once home to thriving populations of wild horses, bison, roe deer, gray wolves, Eurasian lynx, and four species of vultures

news.mongabay.com/2025/11/fran...

#rewilding
France’s largest rewilding project takes root in the Dauphiné Alps
In the foothills of the western Alps in southeastern France, horned alpine ibex roam the limestone cliffs of a smaller mountain range known as the Dauphiné Alps, a region once home to thriving populat...
news.mongabay.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Reposted by Rob Knell
thomasmacgillavry.bsky.social
As an early Christmas gift, @journal-evo.bsky.social accepted @kenstoyama.bsky.social and my paper on macroevolutionary patterns of ornament evolution in birds of paradise! 🦚

Check it out here:
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
Allometry, sexual dimorphism, and sexual trait elaboration in the birds of paradise
Abstract. Sexually selected traits include not only some of the most elaborate phenotypes in nature, but also some of the most diverse and sexually dimorph
academic.oup.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
jeffdean-uga.bsky.social
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
'After 200 years, we're seeing this species again': The lost birds making a comeback in the Galapagos Islands
Freed from the threat of invasive predators, Galapagos birds are performing astonishing feats of return and innovation – 200 years after Charles Darwin visited the archipelago.
www.bbc.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
robknell.bsky.social
I took a lot of photos in 2025. I tried to get it down to a top 10 but that was a bit too difficult so I have a top 25. All taken in the UK or South Africa. #wildlife #wildlifephotgraphy #birds #ukbirds 1) Some birds from Tophill Low
Male marsh harrier flying with a large branch for nesting material against a blue sky. Female marsh harrier stooping, claws extended. Tawny owl in a tree looking at the viewer through some branches with a blue sky behind
December 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
evolodonata.ecoevo.social.ap.brid.gy
Come and join me and my colleagues at the Department of Biology, #LundUniversity in #sweden! We have am open position as Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Biodiversity.

Apply here no later than February 11 2026:

https://lu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:848749/type:job/where:4/apply:1
Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Biodiversity
The Department of Biology was established in 2010 through the merger of the Departments of Ecology, Cell and Organism Biology, Biological Undergraduate Education, and the Biological Museums. The depar
lu.varbi.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:58 PM
robknell.bsky.social
@qmul.bsky.social I know I’ve previously said I’m grateful for all the times the college has done something egregiously nasty and made me glad I decided to leave, but it’s been a few years now. You can stop, I’ll be fine.
qmucu.bsky.social QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · Dec 17
The Principal has been walking around tearing down Palestine posters and has been instructing managers & security to do so when he can't go on his little tour of campus himself.

This is chilling and discriminatory and must be challenged. Full motion: qmucu.org/2025/12/17/c... 🇵🇸
After weeks of renewed censorship of expression of solidarity with Palestine, the Branch adopted the below motion at a Branch Meeting on 16 December 2025. This branch notes The ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in the form of continuing attacks and the denial of aid, despite the agreement of a formal “ceasefire”; The continuing climate of repression against expressions of solidarity with Palestine, including targeting students and staff on university campuses. We also note the escalating targeting of expressions of solidarity with Palestine at Queen Mary, including the previous break in and forced removal of posters from the UCU branch office. The ongoing refusal of Queen Mary management to divest from complicit companies or to break research ties with Israeli universities and arms companies, as has been widely demanded by both staff and students; The recently announced policy in several academic Schools prohibiting the display of any and all material expressing solidarity with Palestine on academic office doors and windows; That this policy arose following direct pressure from the Principal, acting on unsubstantiated allegations that this material was antisemitic; The frequent ongoing removal of such material from office doors within and beyond those Schools; That this material included posters and stickers produced and circulated by UCU; Implicit and explicit threats of disciplinary action against colleagues who display material expressing solidarity with Palestine;
December 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
robknell.bsky.social
One of the techniques the students learn to use on our #Wildlife #Conservation #MSc field course in #SouthAfrica is camera trapping to estimate mammal biodiversity. Sometimes the videos are more interesting than other times #leopard @uniofhull.bsky.social
December 15, 2025 at 7:03 AM
robknell.bsky.social
Students on our ur #MSc #Wildlife #Conservation fieldcourse in the #KrugerNationalPark met these two fine fellows within about 10 minutes of each other @uniofhull.bsky.social #Wilddog #Lion #WildlifePhotography
An African Wild Dog looking left of the camera, background is green vegetation The head of a young male lion seen through some grass. It is raining and the lion's mane has a lot of water beaded up on it.
December 13, 2025 at 4:49 AM
robknell.bsky.social
A bit of scorpion hunting with a UV torch is always a good way to spend an evening. #HullWildlifeConservation #MSc #Wildlife #Conservation #Arachnid
A photo of a scorpion taken under UV light. The background is dark blue but the scorpion is flourescing bright turquiose
December 13, 2025 at 4:44 AM
robknell.bsky.social
Onthophagus rangifer, one of the most extraordinary horned dung beetles you might ever see. From a baited pitfall trap near Skukuza on our #MSc #Wildlife #Conservation field course in the #Kruger park. #HullWildlifeConservation #insects #coleoptera #wildlifephotography @uniofhull.bsky.social
A photo of a beetle standing in front of a green background. The beetle's head and thorax are bright metallic green and he has two horns, almost as long as his body, arising from his head and sloping backwards.
December 10, 2025 at 5:10 AM
robknell.bsky.social
Students on our #Msc #Wildlife #Conservation learning how elephants alter biodiversity and tree cover in the #krugernationalpark #HullWildlifeConservation. Exclusion experiments tell us how herbivores affect ecological comunities. When the herbivores are 🐘 you need serious gear to keep 'em out.
A group of students standing in front of a large electrified fence. A SANParks scientist holding a rifle is talking to them. The vegetation behind the fence is visibly higher than that in front.
December 9, 2025 at 5:20 AM
robknell.bsky.social
Just spent a significant amount of time walking through the bush in the Kruger Park, accompanied by a man with a rifle, searching for enough fresh elephant poo to fill a bucket. Yes this is my job. Yes they pay me to do this.🧪
December 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
whysharksmatter.bsky.social
WCS Celebrates Historic and Sweeping Trade Protections for Sharks and Rays Adopted at CITES CoP20 > Newsroom | All CITES shark and ray proposals pass – marking the most comprehensive advance in global shark conservation in CITES history.
WCS Celebrates Historic and Sweeping Trade Protections for Sharks and Rays Adopted at CITES CoP20
Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nov. 28, 2025 – The following statement was issued today from CITES CoP20, celebrating the adoption of sweeping and historic adoption of new international trade protections for…
newsroom.wcs.org
November 28, 2025 at 2:13 PM
robknell.bsky.social
She’s back! Wisdom is now at least 75 years old. Wonderful.
friendsofmidway.bsky.social Friends Of Midway Atoll (FOMA) @friendsofmidway.bsky.social · Nov 20
#Wisdom is back!
The world’s oldest known living banded bird, Mōlī (Laysan albatross) queen, has returned to Kuailhelani (Midway Atoll). #Birds
November 28, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Reposted by Rob Knell
philmartin.bsky.social
What do you think the primary goal of applied ecological/conservation research is?

1️⃣ <a href="https://poll.blue/p/PuXpIV/1" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">Diagnose threats and impacts
2️⃣ <a href="https://poll.blue/p/PuXpIV/2" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">Understand ecological processes
3️⃣ <a href="https://poll.blue/p/PuXpIV/3" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">Inform management or policy
4️⃣ <a href="https://poll.blue/p/PuXpIV/4" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">Something else (comment below)

📊 Show results
November 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
robknell.bsky.social
Black cat in front of a hot fire through a thermal scope.
A false colour thermal image of a cat lying on its side. The cat’s front, head and paws are all showing as very hot
November 27, 2025 at 8:00 AM
robknell.bsky.social
Funded PhD studentship available on the way that mating system affects coevolutionary processes with natural enemies. #ecoevo #sexualselection looking for a great candidate spread the word! www.findaphd.com/phds/project... 🧪
Mating systems, coevolution and resistance evolution. at University of Hull on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Mating systems, coevolution and resistance evolution. at University of Hull, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:25 PM
robknell.bsky.social
This is fascism.
November 21, 2025 at 7:06 PM
robknell.bsky.social
Bedtime for democracy...
veryimportant.lawyer Patrick Cosmos @veryimportant.lawyer · Nov 17
We gotta start close-reading Dead Kennedys album artwork like it’s the writings of Nostradamus
paleofuture.bsky.social Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · Nov 17
Real tweets from the White House are indistinguishable from anti-Trump AI slop.

Or, in this case, 1990s Adbusters parodies.
November 17, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
alielw.bsky.social
The impact of climate change on sexually selected traits and it's consequences for evolutionary fitness

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
ACCE+ DLA Programme: The impact of climate change on sexually selected traits and its consequences for evolutionary fitness at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - ACCE+ DLA Programme: The impact of climate change on sexually selected traits and its consequences for evolutionary fitness at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
alielw.bsky.social
Genomics and development of an exaggerated sexual trait in stalk-eyed flies

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience DLA Programme: Genomics and development of an exaggerated sexual trait in stalk-eyed flies at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience DLA Programme: Genomics and development of an exaggerated sexual trait in stalk-eyed flies at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by Rob Knell
alielw.bsky.social
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!
November 17, 2025 at 3:58 PM