Melanie Smith
@whalesmels.bsky.social
She/her
PhD Student
Syracuse University
Bioacoustics and Behavioral Ecology Lab
Interested in using bioacoustics for baleen whale conservation and making marine science more accessible 🐳
Views my own
PhD Student
Syracuse University
Bioacoustics and Behavioral Ecology Lab
Interested in using bioacoustics for baleen whale conservation and making marine science more accessible 🐳
Views my own
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Fun to collaborate with @whalesmels.bsky.social on this study, where we worked with Mark Stanback to glean insights from his amazing hornbill nesting data! 🪶
Very pleased to announce our research on #nestlinggrowth and #broodreduction in #hornbills has been published! I started this work as an undergraduate and am grateful for everything I have learned from my co-authors.
@dialektical.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@dialektical.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Nestling Growth and Brood Reduction in the Southern Yellow‐Billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)
In the southern yellow-billed hornbill, Tockus leucomelas, we found first-hatched nestlings had a higher growth rate and that growth rate was negatively correlated with mortality, such that early hat...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Fun to collaborate with @whalesmels.bsky.social on this study, where we worked with Mark Stanback to glean insights from his amazing hornbill nesting data! 🪶
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Early results, only 1 of 4 species, & only Ch 1... but the dissertation is finally giving me results I can share! 🥳🐳 I presented a promising acoustic+visual species distribution model for the North Atlantic right whale & discussed the role of bottom temp & silicate as important predictors! 🦑🧪🔊 #ASA
December 4, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Early results, only 1 of 4 species, & only Ch 1... but the dissertation is finally giving me results I can share! 🥳🐳 I presented a promising acoustic+visual species distribution model for the North Atlantic right whale & discussed the role of bottom temp & silicate as important predictors! 🦑🧪🔊 #ASA
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Super excited to share the first part of my thesis work!
Perhaps how you might be able to both recognize someone’s voice *and* understand what they’re saying, we find that both social identity and vocalization category can be decoded from gerbil auditory cortex activity👂🧠
tinyurl.com/4fba6wk4
Perhaps how you might be able to both recognize someone’s voice *and* understand what they’re saying, we find that both social identity and vocalization category can be decoded from gerbil auditory cortex activity👂🧠
tinyurl.com/4fba6wk4
October 27, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Super excited to share the first part of my thesis work!
Perhaps how you might be able to both recognize someone’s voice *and* understand what they’re saying, we find that both social identity and vocalization category can be decoded from gerbil auditory cortex activity👂🧠
tinyurl.com/4fba6wk4
Perhaps how you might be able to both recognize someone’s voice *and* understand what they’re saying, we find that both social identity and vocalization category can be decoded from gerbil auditory cortex activity👂🧠
tinyurl.com/4fba6wk4
Very pleased to announce our research on #nestlinggrowth and #broodreduction in #hornbills has been published! I started this work as an undergraduate and am grateful for everything I have learned from my co-authors.
@dialektical.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@dialektical.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Nestling Growth and Brood Reduction in the Southern Yellow‐Billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)
In the southern yellow-billed hornbill, Tockus leucomelas, we found first-hatched nestlings had a higher growth rate and that growth rate was negatively correlated with mortality, such that early hat...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Very pleased to announce our research on #nestlinggrowth and #broodreduction in #hornbills has been published! I started this work as an undergraduate and am grateful for everything I have learned from my co-authors.
@dialektical.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@dialektical.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Really cool study - #whales play a super important role in the ecosystem in which they live! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Migrating baleen whales transport high-latitude nutrients to tropical and subtropical ecosystems - Nature Communications
Baleen whales migrate from high latitude feeding grounds to subtropical reproductive winter grounds, translocating limiting nutrients across ecosystems. This study estimates the latitudinal movement o...
www.nature.com
March 11, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Really cool study - #whales play a super important role in the ecosystem in which they live! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Melanie Smith
We ( @drcatmac.bsky.social and I) are writing a marine conservation science and policy textbook!
We'd love to include case studies of ocean conservation success stories, and we welcome submissions of ideas here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Please be clear and detailed!
🧪🦑🌎🐟
We'd love to include case studies of ocean conservation success stories, and we welcome submissions of ideas here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Please be clear and detailed!
🧪🦑🌎🐟
March 11, 2025 at 1:40 PM
We ( @drcatmac.bsky.social and I) are writing a marine conservation science and policy textbook!
We'd love to include case studies of ocean conservation success stories, and we welcome submissions of ideas here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Please be clear and detailed!
🧪🦑🌎🐟
We'd love to include case studies of ocean conservation success stories, and we welcome submissions of ideas here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Please be clear and detailed!
🧪🦑🌎🐟
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Getting reports of some sound problems with our Twitch livestream.
Here's another stream while we sort out some technical difficulties!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eemj...
Here's another stream while we sort out some technical difficulties!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eemj...
WATCH LIVE: 'Stand up for Science' rally with Bill Nye and others at Lincoln Memorial in Washington
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
www.youtube.com
March 7, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Getting reports of some sound problems with our Twitch livestream.
Here's another stream while we sort out some technical difficulties!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eemj...
Here's another stream while we sort out some technical difficulties!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eemj...
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Amazing speech by @sarahmackattack.bsky.social inspiring us to be "bad" for the greater good - Embrace chaos and break the right rules. #StandUpForScience2025 #Philadelphia
March 7, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Amazing speech by @sarahmackattack.bsky.social inspiring us to be "bad" for the greater good - Embrace chaos and break the right rules. #StandUpForScience2025 #Philadelphia
Reposted by Melanie Smith
ICB weekend read
#BlackHistoryMonth guest blog
From #Science to #Storytelling: How My Passion for Discovery Inspired Black #Nerds Matter
by Deidric Davis, BIMS member, Eckerd College senior, marine #scientist & #podcaster
integrativeandcomparativebiology.wordpress.com/2025/02/09/g...
#BlackHistoryMonth guest blog
From #Science to #Storytelling: How My Passion for Discovery Inspired Black #Nerds Matter
by Deidric Davis, BIMS member, Eckerd College senior, marine #scientist & #podcaster
integrativeandcomparativebiology.wordpress.com/2025/02/09/g...
Guest blog- From Science to Storytelling: How My Passion for Discovery Inspired Black Nerds Matter
by Deidric Davis Senior at Eckerd College , originator of podcast -Black Nerds Matter Deidric’s first day at WMNF 88.5 Radio Station. They distribute his show There’s nothing I love more than…
integrativeandcomparativebiology.wordpress.com
February 9, 2025 at 11:08 AM
ICB weekend read
#BlackHistoryMonth guest blog
From #Science to #Storytelling: How My Passion for Discovery Inspired Black #Nerds Matter
by Deidric Davis, BIMS member, Eckerd College senior, marine #scientist & #podcaster
integrativeandcomparativebiology.wordpress.com/2025/02/09/g...
#BlackHistoryMonth guest blog
From #Science to #Storytelling: How My Passion for Discovery Inspired Black #Nerds Matter
by Deidric Davis, BIMS member, Eckerd College senior, marine #scientist & #podcaster
integrativeandcomparativebiology.wordpress.com/2025/02/09/g...
Reposted by Melanie Smith
What a horrifying doozy these first two weeks of the Trump administration have been. YOWZA. I’ve been pacing myself by focusing on climate policy, since it’s nearly impossible to keep up with everything. Here, in @rollingstone.com, is what I’m thinking so far:
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
What Now for Climate Under Trump? Act Locally
Trump is working to sabotage climate solutions — but there’s a lot regular people can do to push cities and states to fill the growing federal void.
www.rollingstone.com
February 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM
What a horrifying doozy these first two weeks of the Trump administration have been. YOWZA. I’ve been pacing myself by focusing on climate policy, since it’s nearly impossible to keep up with everything. Here, in @rollingstone.com, is what I’m thinking so far:
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Melanie Smith
We uncovered the same statistical structure that is a hallmark of human language in whale song, published today in Science. @inbalarnon.bsky.social @simonkirby.bsky.social @jennyallen13.bsky.social @clairenea.bsky.social @emma-carroll.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
February 6, 2025 at 7:15 PM
We uncovered the same statistical structure that is a hallmark of human language in whale song, published today in Science. @inbalarnon.bsky.social @simonkirby.bsky.social @jennyallen13.bsky.social @clairenea.bsky.social @emma-carroll.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Came across this platform—looks useful for those of us working with spatial data. It’s said to hold 18,000+ datasets and links to other websites where one can download data from. Community driven so users can submit new datasets to help grow and improve the collection 🧪🌏🌱
www.geospatial.community
www.geospatial.community
Geospatial Community
Find Geospatial data effortlessly
www.geospatial.community
January 30, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Came across this platform—looks useful for those of us working with spatial data. It’s said to hold 18,000+ datasets and links to other websites where one can download data from. Community driven so users can submit new datasets to help grow and improve the collection 🧪🌏🌱
www.geospatial.community
www.geospatial.community
Reposted by Melanie Smith
🚨 Job opportunity! 🚨
We're hiring a Marine Conservation Intern to join our @wtsww.bsky.social team at #CBMWC! You must be between 18 & 25 to qualify for this internship.🐬
Find out more & apply today: www.welshwildlife.org/jobs/marine-conservation-intern
#MarineConservationJobs #Wales #WTSWW
We're hiring a Marine Conservation Intern to join our @wtsww.bsky.social team at #CBMWC! You must be between 18 & 25 to qualify for this internship.🐬
Find out more & apply today: www.welshwildlife.org/jobs/marine-conservation-intern
#MarineConservationJobs #Wales #WTSWW
January 30, 2025 at 8:28 AM
🚨 Job opportunity! 🚨
We're hiring a Marine Conservation Intern to join our @wtsww.bsky.social team at #CBMWC! You must be between 18 & 25 to qualify for this internship.🐬
Find out more & apply today: www.welshwildlife.org/jobs/marine-conservation-intern
#MarineConservationJobs #Wales #WTSWW
We're hiring a Marine Conservation Intern to join our @wtsww.bsky.social team at #CBMWC! You must be between 18 & 25 to qualify for this internship.🐬
Find out more & apply today: www.welshwildlife.org/jobs/marine-conservation-intern
#MarineConservationJobs #Wales #WTSWW
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Critical to be aware where we're being misled & what is real “There are no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities”. Climate crisis & subsequently warming waters impact food sources to force whales to new (unprotected) areas www.capeandislands.org/local-news/2...
Is offshore wind driving whales ‘crazy?’ Science says no
Just hours after his inauguration on Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting new federal leases for offshore wind projects. He cited, as one reason, the impact offshore wind m...
www.capeandislands.org
January 29, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Critical to be aware where we're being misled & what is real “There are no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities”. Climate crisis & subsequently warming waters impact food sources to force whales to new (unprotected) areas www.capeandislands.org/local-news/2...
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Need a coping strategy in the face of *waves arms around*? After seeing more misinformation accounts here, I've been doing a dive on #scicomm best practices. We scientists should triple down on this and dial up our prebunking and debunking efforts. Here's a 🧵 of strategies and resources: 🧪
1/
1/
January 28, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Need a coping strategy in the face of *waves arms around*? After seeing more misinformation accounts here, I've been doing a dive on #scicomm best practices. We scientists should triple down on this and dial up our prebunking and debunking efforts. Here's a 🧵 of strategies and resources: 🧪
1/
1/
Reposted by Melanie Smith
New pre-print! 🎙️🦉
Automated Note Annotation after Bioacoustic Classification: Unsupervised Clustering of Extracted Acoustic Features Improves Detection of a Cryptic Owl
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
#bioacoustics #machinelearning #conservation
Automated Note Annotation after Bioacoustic Classification: Unsupervised Clustering of Extracted Acoustic Features Improves Detection of a Cryptic Owl
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
#bioacoustics #machinelearning #conservation
January 21, 2025 at 9:46 PM
New pre-print! 🎙️🦉
Automated Note Annotation after Bioacoustic Classification: Unsupervised Clustering of Extracted Acoustic Features Improves Detection of a Cryptic Owl
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
#bioacoustics #machinelearning #conservation
Automated Note Annotation after Bioacoustic Classification: Unsupervised Clustering of Extracted Acoustic Features Improves Detection of a Cryptic Owl
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
#bioacoustics #machinelearning #conservation
In addition to supporting DEI and collaborating with local communities, scientists should use indigenous names and common names when describing species, study sites, etc. Indigenous people deserve respect when research is conducted on their land. #Science #MarineScience #Academia
January 23, 2025 at 5:44 AM
In addition to supporting DEI and collaborating with local communities, scientists should use indigenous names and common names when describing species, study sites, etc. Indigenous people deserve respect when research is conducted on their land. #Science #MarineScience #Academia
Reposted by Melanie Smith
EO: "the immutable biological reality of sex"
Biological reality:
Biological reality:
January 21, 2025 at 2:18 AM
EO: "the immutable biological reality of sex"
Biological reality:
Biological reality:
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Not a great head space the past few days given both the metaphorical and horrifyingly real fires of 2025 — but my Libby hold on “What If We Get It Right” just came in, and damn if the buoyant optimism of @ayanaeliza.bsky.social hasn’t recalibrated my hopometer. It’s a life raft for climate despair.
January 9, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Not a great head space the past few days given both the metaphorical and horrifyingly real fires of 2025 — but my Libby hold on “What If We Get It Right” just came in, and damn if the buoyant optimism of @ayanaeliza.bsky.social hasn’t recalibrated my hopometer. It’s a life raft for climate despair.
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Our global study on the state of trust in scientists is now out in Nature Human Behaviour! 🥳
With a team of 241 researchers, we surveyed 71,922 people in 68 countries, providing the largest dataset on trust in scientists post-pandemic 👇🧵https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02090-5
With a team of 241 researchers, we surveyed 71,922 people in 68 countries, providing the largest dataset on trust in scientists post-pandemic 👇🧵https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02090-5
January 20, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Our global study on the state of trust in scientists is now out in Nature Human Behaviour! 🥳
With a team of 241 researchers, we surveyed 71,922 people in 68 countries, providing the largest dataset on trust in scientists post-pandemic 👇🧵https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02090-5
With a team of 241 researchers, we surveyed 71,922 people in 68 countries, providing the largest dataset on trust in scientists post-pandemic 👇🧵https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02090-5
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Researchers found 15 people in Kansas City who had changed their mind about climate change, and asked them why. Fascinating!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
January 19, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Researchers found 15 people in Kansas City who had changed their mind about climate change, and asked them why. Fascinating!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Melanie Smith
Have you ever heard the underwater song of a bearded seal, the call of a walrus, the call of a baby crocodile, or the song of a fruit fly? All these sounds (and more) are on "The ‘Voices of Nature. How and Why Animals Communicate’ book website 👇
mathevon0.wixsite.com/soundjourney...
#bioacoustics
mathevon0.wixsite.com/soundjourney...
#bioacoustics
Book The Voices of Nature | SOUNDJOURNEYBOOK
mathevon0.wixsite.com
January 16, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Have you ever heard the underwater song of a bearded seal, the call of a walrus, the call of a baby crocodile, or the song of a fruit fly? All these sounds (and more) are on "The ‘Voices of Nature. How and Why Animals Communicate’ book website 👇
mathevon0.wixsite.com/soundjourney...
#bioacoustics
mathevon0.wixsite.com/soundjourney...
#bioacoustics