Shaun Killen
@shaunkillen.bsky.social
Prof of Ecophysiology at Uni of Glasgow. Metabolic physiology, pred/prey interactions, social behaviour, fisheries-induced evolution. 🇨🇦 in 🏴
Pinned
Thread: In our new paper in Biological Reviews, we argue that one of physiology’s most basic assumptions is wrong. There is no single, static “baseline” metabolic rate. Instead, sleep-wake cycles quietly subvert how BMR and SMR are usually interpreted. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... (1/9)
Our new paper led by Libor Zvorka: omega-3s in food webs affect brain chemistry, which affects dominance, habitat use and growth in juvenile trout. A mechanistic link from ecosystem change to social performance and fitness. Read in @jexpbiol.bsky.social !: journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
Deficiency of vital organic nutrients in ecosystems limits brain development and fitness in wild fish
Summary: Omega-3 LC-PUFA deficiency in aquatic ecosystems alters brain fatty acid composition in salmonids, reducing their cognitive capabilities and competitiveness in social interactions, highlighti...
journals.biologists.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Our new paper led by Libor Zvorka: omega-3s in food webs affect brain chemistry, which affects dominance, habitat use and growth in juvenile trout. A mechanistic link from ecosystem change to social performance and fitness. Read in @jexpbiol.bsky.social !: journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
Reposted by Shaun Killen
📣 Calling fish biologists & conservation scientists!
We’re convening a session at #ICBF2026 (UBC, Vancouver):
Bridging experimental biology & conservation
If your research connects mechanism to real-world application- from lab to field- we want your abstract!
Apply by March 3rd! 🐟🌎
icbf2026.com
We’re convening a session at #ICBF2026 (UBC, Vancouver):
Bridging experimental biology & conservation
If your research connects mechanism to real-world application- from lab to field- we want your abstract!
Apply by March 3rd! 🐟🌎
icbf2026.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:42 PM
📣 Calling fish biologists & conservation scientists!
We’re convening a session at #ICBF2026 (UBC, Vancouver):
Bridging experimental biology & conservation
If your research connects mechanism to real-world application- from lab to field- we want your abstract!
Apply by March 3rd! 🐟🌎
icbf2026.com
We’re convening a session at #ICBF2026 (UBC, Vancouver):
Bridging experimental biology & conservation
If your research connects mechanism to real-world application- from lab to field- we want your abstract!
Apply by March 3rd! 🐟🌎
icbf2026.com
Reposted by Shaun Killen
How do we know our research results are REAL? We replicate them! Most folks agree but lament on how hard it is to publish these replications.
My dearest gentle reader, lament no more! Delighted to unveil: Replication Studies, a new section of Behavioral Ecology 1/
academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
My dearest gentle reader, lament no more! Delighted to unveil: Replication Studies, a new section of Behavioral Ecology 1/
academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
Replication studies: a win-win for early-career training and behavioral ecology
Replicating previous research builds confidence that results are real and meaningful. But close replications are rare due to limitations in resources and d
academic.oup.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:42 PM
How do we know our research results are REAL? We replicate them! Most folks agree but lament on how hard it is to publish these replications.
My dearest gentle reader, lament no more! Delighted to unveil: Replication Studies, a new section of Behavioral Ecology 1/
academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
My dearest gentle reader, lament no more! Delighted to unveil: Replication Studies, a new section of Behavioral Ecology 1/
academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
We're building ShoalBase: a global database of fish social systems. Undergrad or other students wanting research experience in behavioural ecology, data synthesis or evolution - please DM! www.shoalbase.org
Want research experience? We're recruiting volunteer student interns to help build ShoalBase, a global database of fish social behaviour. Gain experience in literature synthesis, database building & comparative ecology. Strong contributors: acknowledgment, references, project pathways. DM for more!
February 11, 2026 at 3:34 PM
We're building ShoalBase: a global database of fish social systems. Undergrad or other students wanting research experience in behavioural ecology, data synthesis or evolution - please DM! www.shoalbase.org
Reposted by Shaun Killen
New paper out!
Social context should be integrated into comparative and environmental physiology
Social context should be integrated into comparative and environmental physiology
We face two potential missteps in ecophysiology: 1) measuring animals under socially unrealistic conditions & 2) extrapolating results to nature, where social dynamics alter trait expression, plasticity, & evolutionary outcomes. Our new commentary in @jexpbiol.bsky.social : doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
February 11, 2026 at 2:38 AM
New paper out!
Social context should be integrated into comparative and environmental physiology
Social context should be integrated into comparative and environmental physiology
Reposted by Shaun Killen
🔍 I am looking for a 5-mo research technician to join my lab at CEAB-CSIC!
The position will work on the DRYFISH project and combines fieldwork in drying Mediterranean streams with laboratory experiments with fish
📄 Details here: tinyurl.com/4ckf357j
📅 Deadline: 17 Feb 26
The position will work on the DRYFISH project and combines fieldwork in drying Mediterranean streams with laboratory experiments with fish
📄 Details here: tinyurl.com/4ckf357j
📅 Deadline: 17 Feb 26
February 10, 2026 at 10:34 AM
🔍 I am looking for a 5-mo research technician to join my lab at CEAB-CSIC!
The position will work on the DRYFISH project and combines fieldwork in drying Mediterranean streams with laboratory experiments with fish
📄 Details here: tinyurl.com/4ckf357j
📅 Deadline: 17 Feb 26
The position will work on the DRYFISH project and combines fieldwork in drying Mediterranean streams with laboratory experiments with fish
📄 Details here: tinyurl.com/4ckf357j
📅 Deadline: 17 Feb 26
Reposted by Shaun Killen
Excited to see this out, our detailed commentary on the importance of social context for comparative physiology. Led by @shaunkillen.bsky.social out now in @jexpbiol.bsky.social here journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
We face two potential missteps in ecophysiology: 1) measuring animals under socially unrealistic conditions & 2) extrapolating results to nature, where social dynamics alter trait expression, plasticity, & evolutionary outcomes. Our new commentary in @jexpbiol.bsky.social : doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
February 10, 2026 at 10:16 AM
Excited to see this out, our detailed commentary on the importance of social context for comparative physiology. Led by @shaunkillen.bsky.social out now in @jexpbiol.bsky.social here journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
Reposted by Shaun Killen
When studying animal physiology we carefully control temperature, oxygen…but often ignore who animals live with.
Social context such as parents (1), social environment (2), litter mates (3) can shape physiology and later plasticity (4). We discuss it in this commentary 👉 doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
Social context such as parents (1), social environment (2), litter mates (3) can shape physiology and later plasticity (4). We discuss it in this commentary 👉 doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
February 9, 2026 at 1:49 PM
When studying animal physiology we carefully control temperature, oxygen…but often ignore who animals live with.
Social context such as parents (1), social environment (2), litter mates (3) can shape physiology and later plasticity (4). We discuss it in this commentary 👉 doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
Social context such as parents (1), social environment (2), litter mates (3) can shape physiology and later plasticity (4). We discuss it in this commentary 👉 doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
Reposted by Shaun Killen
🚨New paper out now! Excited to see this commentary, led by @shaunkillen.bsky.social, showing that social context is key in comparative physiology and must be integrated! Read more here: doi.org/10.1242/jeb.... #ComparativePhysiology #Behaviour #Ecophysiology @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk @jexpbiol.bsky.social
Further integrating social context into comparative and environmental physiology
Summary: Social environments affect all aspects of animal physiology. We highlight how overlooking social effects might lead to inaccurate physiology-based predictions of species’ responses to environ...
doi.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:05 PM
🚨New paper out now! Excited to see this commentary, led by @shaunkillen.bsky.social, showing that social context is key in comparative physiology and must be integrated! Read more here: doi.org/10.1242/jeb.... #ComparativePhysiology #Behaviour #Ecophysiology @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk @jexpbiol.bsky.social
Reposted by Shaun Killen
kind of funny that an olympian said they are here to represent "compassion, respect, and love for others" and some people automatically knew that was a statement against them
February 7, 2026 at 10:25 PM
kind of funny that an olympian said they are here to represent "compassion, respect, and love for others" and some people automatically knew that was a statement against them
We face two potential missteps in ecophysiology: 1) measuring animals under socially unrealistic conditions & 2) extrapolating results to nature, where social dynamics alter trait expression, plasticity, & evolutionary outcomes. Our new commentary in @jexpbiol.bsky.social : doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
February 9, 2026 at 1:24 PM
We face two potential missteps in ecophysiology: 1) measuring animals under socially unrealistic conditions & 2) extrapolating results to nature, where social dynamics alter trait expression, plasticity, & evolutionary outcomes. Our new commentary in @jexpbiol.bsky.social : doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
Catch-and-release stress in Atlantic salmon shortly before spawning can affect next generation. Offspring show ↓ activity & exploration, & ↑ aggression, all traits that matter during early life. Read here: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... Great work from Magadalene Papatheodoulou!
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Catch-and-release stress in Atlantic salmon shortly before spawning can affect next generation. Offspring show ↓ activity & exploration, & ↑ aggression, all traits that matter during early life. Read here: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... Great work from Magadalene Papatheodoulou!
Reposted by Shaun Killen
The principles of experimental design in ecology and evolution has 20k downloads, but unfortunately I still have to reject ~20% of papers without review because they lack replication at the right level. More discussion among mentors and mentees please.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Principles of experimental design for ecology and evolution
Here I argue that we do not discuss experimental design, often until it is too late. This editorial seeks to begin a conversation about how and where to replicate appropriately.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:57 AM
The principles of experimental design in ecology and evolution has 20k downloads, but unfortunately I still have to reject ~20% of papers without review because they lack replication at the right level. More discussion among mentors and mentees please.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Can't wait to start this cross disciplinary project with a fantastic team, including @kochhanndaiani.bsky.social, @katjaenberg.bsky.social, Nick Hanley, Kath Sloman, and many others. Linking fish welfare, rural livelihoods, and rainforest conservation. Postdoc (x2) and tech positions forthcoming. 🙂
@shaunkillen.bsky.social has received £980,000 UKRI funding to lead a new project which aims to improve fish welfare in the global ornamental fish trade, while strengthening incomes for traditional fishing communities in the Brazilian Amazon.
www.gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...
www.gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...
February 4, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Can't wait to start this cross disciplinary project with a fantastic team, including @kochhanndaiani.bsky.social, @katjaenberg.bsky.social, Nick Hanley, Kath Sloman, and many others. Linking fish welfare, rural livelihoods, and rainforest conservation. Postdoc (x2) and tech positions forthcoming. 🙂
Reposted by Shaun Killen
Nation could really use Catherine O'Hara to deal with passing of Catherine O'Hara
Nation could really use Catherine O'Hara to deal with passing of Catherine O'Hara
OTTAWA - Following the passing of screen and comedy legend Catherine O'Hara, nationwide reports indicate that the only thing Canadians could use to cheer them up from their grief is Catherine O'Hara.
www.thebeaverton.com
January 31, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Nation could really use Catherine O'Hara to deal with passing of Catherine O'Hara
Reposted by Shaun Killen
I have two #PhD scholarships available on either the ecophysiology or movement ecology of the Pilbara leaf-nosed #bat at @murdoch.edu.au 🦇
Apply now: www.murdoch.edu.au/study/schola...
Lab website: www.nicholaswulab.com
Apply now: www.murdoch.edu.au/study/schola...
Lab website: www.nicholaswulab.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:06 AM
I have two #PhD scholarships available on either the ecophysiology or movement ecology of the Pilbara leaf-nosed #bat at @murdoch.edu.au 🦇
Apply now: www.murdoch.edu.au/study/schola...
Lab website: www.nicholaswulab.com
Apply now: www.murdoch.edu.au/study/schola...
Lab website: www.nicholaswulab.com
Our new paper in @globalchangebio.bsky.social: artificial light at night creates an ecological trap for wild reef fish. Settlement ↑ under artificial light (up to 8× higher), but survival ~50% lower due to predation, disrupted settlement timing, and altered metabolic rhythms: doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
January 26, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Our new paper in @globalchangebio.bsky.social: artificial light at night creates an ecological trap for wild reef fish. Settlement ↑ under artificial light (up to 8× higher), but survival ~50% lower due to predation, disrupted settlement timing, and altered metabolic rhythms: doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
Thread: In our new paper in Biological Reviews, we argue that one of physiology’s most basic assumptions is wrong. There is no single, static “baseline” metabolic rate. Instead, sleep-wake cycles quietly subvert how BMR and SMR are usually interpreted. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... (1/9)
January 23, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Thread: In our new paper in Biological Reviews, we argue that one of physiology’s most basic assumptions is wrong. There is no single, static “baseline” metabolic rate. Instead, sleep-wake cycles quietly subvert how BMR and SMR are usually interpreted. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... (1/9)
Congrats @helenanorman.bsky.social on an amazing poster!
Congratulations to #ASABWinter2025 best talk winner Jonah Walker (“Multimodal signalling and mate choice across peacock spider species“) and poster winners Helena Norman, Joey Baxter and James Robertshaw 🙌🎨🏆
December 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Congrats @helenanorman.bsky.social on an amazing poster!
SLR tests assume a single sample phase is enough for learning.
In our new paper, minnows only discriminated object locations after five exposures, a species-specific result with implications for how we assess cognition in fishes. Exploration also predicted performance. doi.org/10.1111/eth....
In our new paper, minnows only discriminated object locations after five exposures, a species-specific result with implications for how we assess cognition in fishes. Exploration also predicted performance. doi.org/10.1111/eth....
December 10, 2025 at 6:47 PM
SLR tests assume a single sample phase is enough for learning.
In our new paper, minnows only discriminated object locations after five exposures, a species-specific result with implications for how we assess cognition in fishes. Exploration also predicted performance. doi.org/10.1111/eth....
In our new paper, minnows only discriminated object locations after five exposures, a species-specific result with implications for how we assess cognition in fishes. Exploration also predicted performance. doi.org/10.1111/eth....
Please help us classify all fish species by their social systems 🙏! Any and all observations or general knowledge are useful. Log them at shoalbase.org, the form takes about a minute to fill in 😀.
Observation of the Week! In coastal Spain, adult Diplodus vulgaris were seen forming shoals over benthic habitat at ~20°C. Every record like this helps us map social systems across species. Contribute yours (with or without photo or video) at shoalbase.org! Observation by @cortesedaphne.bsky.social
December 10, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Please help us classify all fish species by their social systems 🙏! Any and all observations or general knowledge are useful. Log them at shoalbase.org, the form takes about a minute to fill in 😀.
Reposted by Shaun Killen
If you’ve ever watched fish, you have knowledge worth sharing! Help us map the social systems of 35,000+ species.
Contribute a record here, it only takes a minute!: shoalbase.org
Contribute a record here, it only takes a minute!: shoalbase.org
ShoalBase | Explore and Contribute
ShoalBase offers a global database on fish social behaviour, supporting research, conservation, and ecology through community contributions and visual data mapping.
shoalbase.org
November 27, 2025 at 9:53 PM
If you’ve ever watched fish, you have knowledge worth sharing! Help us map the social systems of 35,000+ species.
Contribute a record here, it only takes a minute!: shoalbase.org
Contribute a record here, it only takes a minute!: shoalbase.org
Reposted by Shaun Killen
Published records of fish social systems are valuable, but often lost in the literature; informal observations can fill gaps. ShoalBase can centralise literature and log new observations so patterns become visible. Know a paper? Please add it! Seen a behaviour? Please add that too! shoalbase.org
ShoalBase | Join, Explore, Contribute Now
ShoalBase offers a global database on fish social behaviour, supporting research, conservation, and ecology through community contributions and visual data mapping.
shoalbase.org
November 26, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Published records of fish social systems are valuable, but often lost in the literature; informal observations can fill gaps. ShoalBase can centralise literature and log new observations so patterns become visible. Know a paper? Please add it! Seen a behaviour? Please add that too! shoalbase.org