Tom Ratz
@tomratz.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist | Independent Group Leader & SNSF Fellow at University of Zurich | Evolution, plasticity, & social interactions 🪰🐞🦗 🕷 ⍦
tomratz.weebly.com
tomratz.weebly.com
Pinned
Tom Ratz
@tomratz.bsky.social
· Feb 7
Prey or protection? Access to food alters individual responses to competition in black widow spiders
Abstract. Animals influence the phenotype and reproductive success of their conspecifics through competitive interactions. Such effects of competition can
academic.oup.com
New spider research out in Behavioral Ecology: we show that limited resources can reverse how individuals respond to the presence of competitors and reduce individual differences in competitive phenotypes.
🕷️🕸️📝
academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...
🕷️🕸️📝
academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...
Reposted by Tom Ratz
@asab.org Spring, aimed at ECRs, is coming to Bristol!
Conference grant DEADLINE for Developing Country Applicants (<£2500) or anyone needing an early decision for visas (<£750) is in ONE WEEK, 1st December.
www.asab.org/conference-g...
Referee statement also needed by then! 🐝🐜🦟🦂🐠🐟🐬🦎🐸🦆🐿️🦓
Conference grant DEADLINE for Developing Country Applicants (<£2500) or anyone needing an early decision for visas (<£750) is in ONE WEEK, 1st December.
www.asab.org/conference-g...
Referee statement also needed by then! 🐝🐜🦟🦂🐠🐟🐬🦎🐸🦆🐿️🦓
November 24, 2025 at 9:14 PM
@asab.org Spring, aimed at ECRs, is coming to Bristol!
Conference grant DEADLINE for Developing Country Applicants (<£2500) or anyone needing an early decision for visas (<£750) is in ONE WEEK, 1st December.
www.asab.org/conference-g...
Referee statement also needed by then! 🐝🐜🦟🦂🐠🐟🐬🦎🐸🦆🐿️🦓
Conference grant DEADLINE for Developing Country Applicants (<£2500) or anyone needing an early decision for visas (<£750) is in ONE WEEK, 1st December.
www.asab.org/conference-g...
Referee statement also needed by then! 🐝🐜🦟🦂🐠🐟🐬🦎🐸🦆🐿️🦓
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Interested in how life history may shape the gut microbiome of a wild mammal? Keen on getting to work with an iconic long-term study system in Scotland?
Check out this PhD opportunity with me, Josephine Pemberton and @gfalbery.bsky.social
Reach out to chat more!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Check out this PhD opportunity with me, Josephine Pemberton and @gfalbery.bsky.social
Reach out to chat more!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
November 24, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Interested in how life history may shape the gut microbiome of a wild mammal? Keen on getting to work with an iconic long-term study system in Scotland?
Check out this PhD opportunity with me, Josephine Pemberton and @gfalbery.bsky.social
Reach out to chat more!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Check out this PhD opportunity with me, Josephine Pemberton and @gfalbery.bsky.social
Reach out to chat more!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Jumping spiders can recognise one another. This ability to learn, remember and represent images is quite surprising for such a tiny-brained animal!
buff.ly/dCkwPr0
buff.ly/dCkwPr0
November 23, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Jumping spiders can recognise one another. This ability to learn, remember and represent images is quite surprising for such a tiny-brained animal!
buff.ly/dCkwPr0
buff.ly/dCkwPr0
Next European Congress of Entomology in the lovely city of Tours, France 👇
Call for abstracts – XIII European Congress of Entomology (#ECE2026) 🐞
29 June–2 July 2026, Tours, France
I’m co-organizing the symposium “Insect Systematics in the Biodiversity Crisis: Bridging Tradition and Innovation”
🗓 Early-bird & abstract deadline: 15 Dec 2025
www.ece2026.org
29 June–2 July 2026, Tours, France
I’m co-organizing the symposium “Insect Systematics in the Biodiversity Crisis: Bridging Tradition and Innovation”
🗓 Early-bird & abstract deadline: 15 Dec 2025
www.ece2026.org
ECE 2026 - XIII European Congress of Entomology
It is our great pleasure to welcome you to Tours, France, in the heart of the Loire Valley, from June 29 to July 3, 2026.
www.ece2026.org
November 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Next European Congress of Entomology in the lovely city of Tours, France 👇
Reposted by Tom Ratz
🚨 Uh-oh!!! A suuuper hot #PhD opportunity just dropped! My friend and collaborator Massimo De Agrò is looking for someone to explore jumping spider vision and neurophysiology! #psychophysics #jumpingspiders #greatPI - apply!!!! (Deadline December 17th) 🚨
November 21, 2025 at 9:49 PM
🚨 Uh-oh!!! A suuuper hot #PhD opportunity just dropped! My friend and collaborator Massimo De Agrò is looking for someone to explore jumping spider vision and neurophysiology! #psychophysics #jumpingspiders #greatPI - apply!!!! (Deadline December 17th) 🚨
Reposted by Tom Ratz
📢4-year fully funded #PhD on seasonal timing of egg overwintering insects 🦋🦗🪳
🔬Identify universal mechanisms underlying #insect egg developmental time under #ClimateChange
📌@niooknaw.bsky.social @animalecol-nioo.bsky.social
ℹ️ vacatures.knaw.nl/job-invite/2...
❗Application deadline: 7 December 2025
🔬Identify universal mechanisms underlying #insect egg developmental time under #ClimateChange
📌@niooknaw.bsky.social @animalecol-nioo.bsky.social
ℹ️ vacatures.knaw.nl/job-invite/2...
❗Application deadline: 7 December 2025
PhD Seasonal Timing of Egg Overwintering Insects under Climate Change - NIOO-KNAW - Wageningen
PhD Seasonal Timing of Egg Overwintering Insects under Climate Change - NIOO-KNAW - Wageningen
vacatures.knaw.nl
October 24, 2025 at 8:54 AM
📢4-year fully funded #PhD on seasonal timing of egg overwintering insects 🦋🦗🪳
🔬Identify universal mechanisms underlying #insect egg developmental time under #ClimateChange
📌@niooknaw.bsky.social @animalecol-nioo.bsky.social
ℹ️ vacatures.knaw.nl/job-invite/2...
❗Application deadline: 7 December 2025
🔬Identify universal mechanisms underlying #insect egg developmental time under #ClimateChange
📌@niooknaw.bsky.social @animalecol-nioo.bsky.social
ℹ️ vacatures.knaw.nl/job-invite/2...
❗Application deadline: 7 December 2025
Reposted by Tom Ratz
I'm v excited to be recruiting a PhD student to work on badger behaviour and ecology! Starting date is March 2026; see the ad here, or message me for more details: www.gregalbery.me/s/March-2026...
October 3, 2025 at 2:05 PM
I'm v excited to be recruiting a PhD student to work on badger behaviour and ecology! Starting date is March 2026; see the ad here, or message me for more details: www.gregalbery.me/s/March-2026...
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Myself and Alastair Wilson wrote an updated version of our 2016 primer to quantitative genetics in the wild: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti.... Happy to share a copy if interested. It is also on research gate
Quantitative Genetics in Natural Populations
Phenotypes evolve under natural selection if, and only if, they are genetically variable. While evolutionary ecologists have long studied natural sele…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Myself and Alastair Wilson wrote an updated version of our 2016 primer to quantitative genetics in the wild: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti.... Happy to share a copy if interested. It is also on research gate
Abstract submission for ISBE2026 until 15 December 2025 👇
#ISBE2026 Call for Abstracts is now open! Submit your abstract by 15 December 2025 on www.isbe2026.com
@behavecol.bsky.social
@behavecol.bsky.social
October 19, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Abstract submission for ISBE2026 until 15 December 2025 👇
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Interested in simulating the kind of data that you might commonly find in evolutionary and ecological studies?
Then we have the R package for you - squidSim!!
Check our new preprint:
ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...
Then we have the R package for you - squidSim!!
Check our new preprint:
ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...
squidSim: a flexible R package for structured and reproducible simulations in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
ecoevorxiv.org
September 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Interested in simulating the kind of data that you might commonly find in evolutionary and ecological studies?
Then we have the R package for you - squidSim!!
Check our new preprint:
ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...
Then we have the R package for you - squidSim!!
Check our new preprint:
ecoevorxiv.org/repository/v...
Reposted by Tom Ratz
How do insects respond to changing climates? Our new review and analysis in @annualreviews.bsky.social suggests that phenological adaptation trumps thermal adaptation.
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
Life-History Evolution of Insects in Response to Climate Variation: Seasonal Timing Versus Thermal Physiology | Annual Reviews
Climate adaptation in insects can proceed via responses in life-history traits and their thermal plasticity and through phenological shifts mediated by responses to photoperiodic cues (photoperiodism)...
www.annualreviews.org
September 30, 2025 at 8:03 AM
How do insects respond to changing climates? Our new review and analysis in @annualreviews.bsky.social suggests that phenological adaptation trumps thermal adaptation.
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
Reposted by Tom Ratz
ASAB @asab.org conference grants for the Winter meeting in Edinburgh, up to £500, close 1st October!
@asab-meetings.bsky.social #ASABWinter2025
All the details needed are here:
www.asab.org/conference-g...
Don't forget I also need a referee statement emailed direct by the same deadline!
@asab-meetings.bsky.social #ASABWinter2025
All the details needed are here:
www.asab.org/conference-g...
Don't forget I also need a referee statement emailed direct by the same deadline!
September 27, 2025 at 6:57 AM
ASAB @asab.org conference grants for the Winter meeting in Edinburgh, up to £500, close 1st October!
@asab-meetings.bsky.social #ASABWinter2025
All the details needed are here:
www.asab.org/conference-g...
Don't forget I also need a referee statement emailed direct by the same deadline!
@asab-meetings.bsky.social #ASABWinter2025
All the details needed are here:
www.asab.org/conference-g...
Don't forget I also need a referee statement emailed direct by the same deadline!
Worldwide patterns of selection on insect anti-predator coloration, published in the journal Science:
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
www.science.org
September 29, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Worldwide patterns of selection on insect anti-predator coloration, published in the journal Science:
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Tom Ratz
We are delighted that our Winter Meeting 2025 in Leuven 🇧🇪 is approaching!
Abstract submissions now open: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: December 18-19
Abstract deadline: October 15
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution at KU Leuven
Plenary: Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
Abstract submissions now open: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: December 18-19
Abstract deadline: October 15
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution at KU Leuven
Plenary: Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
September 13, 2025 at 7:22 AM
We are delighted that our Winter Meeting 2025 in Leuven 🇧🇪 is approaching!
Abstract submissions now open: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: December 18-19
Abstract deadline: October 15
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution at KU Leuven
Plenary: Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
Abstract submissions now open: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: December 18-19
Abstract deadline: October 15
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution at KU Leuven
Plenary: Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
Next year's European Congress of Entomology in Tours (France) 👇
🚨 Save the date!!
We're hosting the next European Congress of Entomology (ECE) in Tours, France 🇫🇷 from 29 June to 3 July 2026 🐞🦋🐜
🔬 50+ symposia covering nearly every aspect of insect science
📅 Registration opens 10 July 2025
🔗 Stay tuned: www.ece2026.org
#ECE2026 #Entomology #Insects
We're hosting the next European Congress of Entomology (ECE) in Tours, France 🇫🇷 from 29 June to 3 July 2026 🐞🦋🐜
🔬 50+ symposia covering nearly every aspect of insect science
📅 Registration opens 10 July 2025
🔗 Stay tuned: www.ece2026.org
#ECE2026 #Entomology #Insects
ECE 2026 - XIII European Congress of Entomology
It is our great pleasure to welcome you to Tours, France, in the heart of the Loire Valley, from June 29 to July 3, 2026.
www.ece2026.org
September 12, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Next year's European Congress of Entomology in Tours (France) 👇
Reposted by Tom Ratz
🚨 PhD alert! IMPRS brain & behavior in Bonn just opened their calls for applications. Great PhD funding opportunities. Check it out! PS- I just joined their faculty, meaning you could do a rotation in my lab or even a PhD with me on spider sleep 🙃 Apply! 🚨
📢Apply now! Join our IMPRS for Brain&Behavior to pursue a #PhD in #neuroethology. Learn how brain circuits are linked to interesting animal behaviors!
📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025
🔗 imprs-brain-behavior.mpg.de
#neuroscience #Neuroskyence #neurojobs #sciencejobs #PhDsky #PhDOffers #FundedPhD
📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025
🔗 imprs-brain-behavior.mpg.de
#neuroscience #Neuroskyence #neurojobs #sciencejobs #PhDsky #PhDOffers #FundedPhD
September 6, 2025 at 8:48 AM
🚨 PhD alert! IMPRS brain & behavior in Bonn just opened their calls for applications. Great PhD funding opportunities. Check it out! PS- I just joined their faculty, meaning you could do a rotation in my lab or even a PhD with me on spider sleep 🙃 Apply! 🚨
Reposted by Tom Ratz
🚨 Postdoc opportunities! 🚨
We’re looking for postdocs in 🌿 biodiversity science, 🧬 genetic indicator assessment, and 📊 ecological statistics.
Join us in unraveling the drivers & consequences of global change on biodiversity — and be part of a supportive & collaborative environment!
DL 24 September
We’re looking for postdocs in 🌿 biodiversity science, 🧬 genetic indicator assessment, and 📊 ecological statistics.
Join us in unraveling the drivers & consequences of global change on biodiversity — and be part of a supportive & collaborative environment!
DL 24 September
📢 Post doc! Want to join our team?
We are looking for 3 post docs in biodiversity science, genetic indicator assessment, and ecological statistics for a fixed term of 2 years!
Come unravel the drivers and consequences of global change on biodiversity with us!
DL 24.9.
#universityofhelsinki
We are looking for 3 post docs in biodiversity science, genetic indicator assessment, and ecological statistics for a fixed term of 2 years!
Come unravel the drivers and consequences of global change on biodiversity with us!
DL 24.9.
#universityofhelsinki
3 Post doc positions in biodiversity science, genetic indicator assessment and ecological statistics
3 Post doc positions in biodiversity science, genetic indicator assessment and ecological statistics
jobs.helsinki.fi
September 3, 2025 at 12:30 PM
🚨 Postdoc opportunities! 🚨
We’re looking for postdocs in 🌿 biodiversity science, 🧬 genetic indicator assessment, and 📊 ecological statistics.
Join us in unraveling the drivers & consequences of global change on biodiversity — and be part of a supportive & collaborative environment!
DL 24 September
We’re looking for postdocs in 🌿 biodiversity science, 🧬 genetic indicator assessment, and 📊 ecological statistics.
Join us in unraveling the drivers & consequences of global change on biodiversity — and be part of a supportive & collaborative environment!
DL 24 September
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Job alert! We're looking for a Scientific Data Applications Specialist (m/w/d) 80-100% 📢
👉 Are you interested? Find all necessary information here: apply.refline.ch/673277/1287/...
👉 Are you interested? Find all necessary information here: apply.refline.ch/673277/1287/...
August 29, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Job alert! We're looking for a Scientific Data Applications Specialist (m/w/d) 80-100% 📢
👉 Are you interested? Find all necessary information here: apply.refline.ch/673277/1287/...
👉 Are you interested? Find all necessary information here: apply.refline.ch/673277/1287/...
Reposted by Tom Ratz
3.5-year #Postdoc position on avian microbiomes and reproduction @animalecol-nioo.bsky.social @niooknaw.bsky.social on a fully-funded ERC project focused on understanding the significance of reproductive microbiomes for host biology and fitness. Reach out for more info!
nioo.knaw.nl/en/vacancies...
nioo.knaw.nl/en/vacancies...
Postdoctoral researcher: avian microbiomes and reproduction
We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join our team working on avian reproductive microbiomes at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) in the group of Dr. Melissah Rowe. The postd...
nioo.knaw.nl
August 12, 2025 at 3:06 PM
3.5-year #Postdoc position on avian microbiomes and reproduction @animalecol-nioo.bsky.social @niooknaw.bsky.social on a fully-funded ERC project focused on understanding the significance of reproductive microbiomes for host biology and fitness. Reach out for more info!
nioo.knaw.nl/en/vacancies...
nioo.knaw.nl/en/vacancies...
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Attention #Behaviour2025 ! Can’t wait for the next conference? Good news, the deadline for abstracts for #ASABWinter2025 has been extended !
August 29, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Attention #Behaviour2025 ! Can’t wait for the next conference? Good news, the deadline for abstracts for #ASABWinter2025 has been extended !
Reposted by Tom Ratz
📌North-West European IUSSI Winter Meeting 2025
We are happy to announce that our next meeting on the 18–19 December 2025 will be in Leuven, Belgium, hosted by @twenseleers.bsky.social and his team.
Plenary speakers: Ido Pen & Rahia Mashoodh @rmash.bsky.social
More details to follow 🐝🐜🪳🪲
We are happy to announce that our next meeting on the 18–19 December 2025 will be in Leuven, Belgium, hosted by @twenseleers.bsky.social and his team.
Plenary speakers: Ido Pen & Rahia Mashoodh @rmash.bsky.social
More details to follow 🐝🐜🪳🪲
August 26, 2025 at 1:10 PM
📌North-West European IUSSI Winter Meeting 2025
We are happy to announce that our next meeting on the 18–19 December 2025 will be in Leuven, Belgium, hosted by @twenseleers.bsky.social and his team.
Plenary speakers: Ido Pen & Rahia Mashoodh @rmash.bsky.social
More details to follow 🐝🐜🪳🪲
We are happy to announce that our next meeting on the 18–19 December 2025 will be in Leuven, Belgium, hosted by @twenseleers.bsky.social and his team.
Plenary speakers: Ido Pen & Rahia Mashoodh @rmash.bsky.social
More details to follow 🐝🐜🪳🪲
Reposted by Tom Ratz
The SORTEE Guidelines for Data and Code Quality Control in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
doi.org/10.32942/X24...
doi.org/10.32942/X24...
August 17, 2025 at 6:10 PM
The SORTEE Guidelines for Data and Code Quality Control in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
doi.org/10.32942/X24...
doi.org/10.32942/X24...
Reposted by Tom Ratz
With #eseb2025 coming to a close, it is time to start making plans for 2026. Interested in the interface of evolution 🧬 and ecology 🌳? Come to our #ExE conference hosted by @uniexecec.bsky.social in beautiful #Cornwall. Leave your email address at tinyurl.com/EvolxEcol to join our mailing list!
August 22, 2025 at 1:32 PM
With #eseb2025 coming to a close, it is time to start making plans for 2026. Interested in the interface of evolution 🧬 and ecology 🌳? Come to our #ExE conference hosted by @uniexecec.bsky.social in beautiful #Cornwall. Leave your email address at tinyurl.com/EvolxEcol to join our mailing list!
Reposted by Tom Ratz
Aurelien Tellier presenting the details of #eseb2027 which will be a hub meeting, with connected and local sessions in 4 hubs (Gothenburg, Munich, London, Istanbul) eseb2027.org #eseb2025
August 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Aurelien Tellier presenting the details of #eseb2027 which will be a hub meeting, with connected and local sessions in 4 hubs (Gothenburg, Munich, London, Istanbul) eseb2027.org #eseb2025
Revisiting the human sociobiology debate
What have we learned 50 years on?
www.science.org
August 22, 2025 at 11:06 AM