Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
@zacksteel.bsky.social
Research Ecologist | Colorado | wildlife & forest conservation, disturbance, landscape ecology | my views
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
I’m recruiting a PhD and MSC student for fall 2026 working on the movement ecology and conservation of Mexican spotted owls in SW forests and rocky canyonlands. Exciting partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory. Great vibrant lab group, high impact research! 🦉
gavinmjones.com/opportunities/
gavinmjones.com/opportunities/
Opportunities
***PhD and MSc openings – Movement ecology and conservation*** I will periodically support graduate students, postdocs, and other staff through the Biology Department at the University of New…
gavinmjones.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I’m recruiting a PhD and MSC student for fall 2026 working on the movement ecology and conservation of Mexican spotted owls in SW forests and rocky canyonlands. Exciting partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory. Great vibrant lab group, high impact research! 🦉
gavinmjones.com/opportunities/
gavinmjones.com/opportunities/
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
I'm very sad to say William Bond, of the University of Cape Town & Fellow of the Royal Society (@royalsociety.org ), has passed away. It is a great loss. He was an enthusiastic ecologist and a critical thinker. I learned a lot, and I still had a lot to learn from him. RIP. 😢
🧪🌎🔥🌿🌳🪴🌐 #PlantScience
🧪🌎🔥🌿🌳🪴🌐 #PlantScience
December 4, 2025 at 10:06 PM
I'm very sad to say William Bond, of the University of Cape Town & Fellow of the Royal Society (@royalsociety.org ), has passed away. It is a great loss. He was an enthusiastic ecologist and a critical thinker. I learned a lot, and I still had a lot to learn from him. RIP. 😢
🧪🌎🔥🌿🌳🪴🌐 #PlantScience
🧪🌎🔥🌿🌳🪴🌐 #PlantScience
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
Happy #BatMas everyone! Follow this thread ⬇️ or check out the hashtag to find out about a new bat species everyday, for 25 days! 🦇🌎🧪
#BatSky🧵
#BatSky🧵
a group of bats are sitting on top of each other on a green leaf
ALT: a group of bats are sitting on top of each other on a green leaf
media.tenor.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
Valid link to the paper:
mapress.com/zt/article/v...
mapress.com/zt/article/v...
December 2, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Valid link to the paper:
mapress.com/zt/article/v...
mapress.com/zt/article/v...
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
Norman et al. The role of AI in ecology’s computational carbon footprint esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #AI #ecology #CarbonFootprint
The role of AI in ecology’s computational carbon footprint
Click on the article title to read more.
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Norman et al. The role of AI in ecology’s computational carbon footprint esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #AI #ecology #CarbonFootprint
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
“Choosing to write is also choosing to make meaning. Studies suggest that having a sense of agency is both a prerequisite for, and an outcome of, writing.”
ChatGPT isn’t mentioned once in this article but it’s impossible not to read it as a powerful critique.
ChatGPT isn’t mentioned once in this article but it’s impossible not to read it as a powerful critique.
Writing doesn't just help you process your thoughts.
Neuroscientists have found it physically changes your brain in ways that build resilience and help you handle everyday stress and challenges.
buff.ly/8PdXnTT
Neuroscientists have found it physically changes your brain in ways that build resilience and help you handle everyday stress and challenges.
buff.ly/8PdXnTT
Writing builds resilience by changing your brain, helping you face everyday challenges
Resilience is often presented as feats of bravery and endurance. But everyday practices like journaling, drafting a text or even writing a to-do list are manifestations of a capacity to adapt.
buff.ly
November 28, 2025 at 10:11 PM
“Choosing to write is also choosing to make meaning. Studies suggest that having a sense of agency is both a prerequisite for, and an outcome of, writing.”
ChatGPT isn’t mentioned once in this article but it’s impossible not to read it as a powerful critique.
ChatGPT isn’t mentioned once in this article but it’s impossible not to read it as a powerful critique.
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
Despite the general perception, global emissions from biomass burning have shown a decreasing trend over the last 23 years, a pattern that is reversed in North America.
🧪🌎🔥🌲🔥🌳🍁🌐 wildfire
🧪🌎🔥🌲🔥🌳🍁🌐 wildfire
🧵
Global annual total estimated emissions of total carbon from biomass burning grouped by continental contributions from 2003 to 2025.
Global annual total estimated emissions of total carbon from biomass burning grouped by continental contributions from 2003 to 2025.
November 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Despite the general perception, global emissions from biomass burning have shown a decreasing trend over the last 23 years, a pattern that is reversed in North America.
🧪🌎🔥🌲🔥🌳🍁🌐 wildfire
🧪🌎🔥🌲🔥🌳🍁🌐 wildfire
Some important news this week that fell below the headlines or other news
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/c...
In One Week, Trump Moves to Reshape U.S. Environmental Policy
www.nytimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Some important news this week that fell below the headlines or other news
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/c...
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
🤯 Wild shit here. They put biologgers on greater noctule bats and found them pursuing, capturing, and eating birds in-flight. The recording of a European Robin getting blasted and snacked on is nuts.
Sci Am story: www.scientificamerican.com/article/this...
Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Sci Am story: www.scientificamerican.com/article/this...
Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Bat vs. Robin—Scientists Capture Real-Life Audio of Midair Hunt
Scientists suspected that Europe’s largest bats snack on migrating songbirds when they can, but a stunning newly published observation proves it
www.scientificamerican.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:15 PM
🤯 Wild shit here. They put biologgers on greater noctule bats and found them pursuing, capturing, and eating birds in-flight. The recording of a European Robin getting blasted and snacked on is nuts.
Sci Am story: www.scientificamerican.com/article/this...
Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Sci Am story: www.scientificamerican.com/article/this...
Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
Join us at CU Denver Biology! We have an open search for an assistant professor in cell and molecular biology to support our research and teaching mission. cu.taleo.net/careersectio...
November 17, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Join us at CU Denver Biology! We have an open search for an assistant professor in cell and molecular biology to support our research and teaching mission. cu.taleo.net/careersectio...
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
A Magellanic penguin making sure the seals were asleep before walking past them..
November 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
A Magellanic penguin making sure the seals were asleep before walking past them..
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
Our new study just came out taking a look at how drought influences human-wildlife conflict reports in California! Check it out here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 12, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Our new study just came out taking a look at how drought influences human-wildlife conflict reports in California! Check it out here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
Researchers looked back at more than 1,000 cancer patients, including some who received a COVID mRNA vaccine around the time of treatment. Their findings excited them.
Study Finds COVID mRNA Vaccines Boost Cancer Treatment
New research found that mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 could enhance cancer treatments and help patients live longer.
buff.ly
November 15, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Researchers looked back at more than 1,000 cancer patients, including some who received a COVID mRNA vaccine around the time of treatment. Their findings excited them.
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
The latest @ologies.bsky.social is Owls! It's brilliant (as are all Ologies). It's with the awesome Rocky Guitiérrez, who was PhD supervisor of @jonathanslaght.com (Owls of the Eastern Ice book!) who we got to meet & show owls to when he came to Brisbane a few years ago.
pca.st/episode/573b...
pca.st/episode/573b...
Strigiformology (OWLS) Part 1 with R.J. Gutiérrez
pca.st
November 13, 2025 at 3:38 AM
The latest @ologies.bsky.social is Owls! It's brilliant (as are all Ologies). It's with the awesome Rocky Guitiérrez, who was PhD supervisor of @jonathanslaght.com (Owls of the Eastern Ice book!) who we got to meet & show owls to when he came to Brisbane a few years ago.
pca.st/episode/573b...
pca.st/episode/573b...
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
We are hiring: 4 PhD Positions in Ecology / Data Science and one Ecological Data Scientist. For more information, see www.uni-regensburg.de/universitaet...
We are hiring: 4 PhD Positions in Ecology / Data Science and one Ecological Data Scientist
We are looking for 4 PhD Positions and one Scientific Programmer / Ecological Data Scientist to join the AG Hartig (Theoretical Ecology)
www.uni-regensburg.de
November 13, 2025 at 4:14 PM
We are hiring: 4 PhD Positions in Ecology / Data Science and one Ecological Data Scientist. For more information, see www.uni-regensburg.de/universitaet...
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
With the aurora popping up again last night, I thought I'd repost this adventure from last year. I drew this when the great @nepeteaa.bsky.social wondered what night-migrating songbirds might make of it all. Part 1/2
November 12, 2025 at 6:12 PM
With the aurora popping up again last night, I thought I'd repost this adventure from last year. I drew this when the great @nepeteaa.bsky.social wondered what night-migrating songbirds might make of it all. Part 1/2
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
The impacts of avian influenza are profound and far reaching. Hopefully 🇮🇸 Gyrfalcons will recover in time but this is near catastrophic #RaptorResearch 🌎 🪶
Avian flu taking a severe toll on Iceland’s falcon population
icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/20...
Avian flu taking a severe toll on Iceland’s falcon population
icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/20...
Avian flu taking a severe toll on Iceland’s falcon population
The Icelandic gyrfalcon population has been hit hard by the ongoing wave of avian influenza in recent years. Once numbering around 2,000 birds, the population has now collapsed to roughly 500 individu...
icelandmonitor.mbl.is
November 12, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The impacts of avian influenza are profound and far reaching. Hopefully 🇮🇸 Gyrfalcons will recover in time but this is near catastrophic #RaptorResearch 🌎 🪶
Avian flu taking a severe toll on Iceland’s falcon population
icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/20...
Avian flu taking a severe toll on Iceland’s falcon population
icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/20...
Fort Collins, CO! A first for me!
Also, why is it red and not green?
Also, why is it red and not green?
November 12, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Fort Collins, CO! A first for me!
Also, why is it red and not green?
Also, why is it red and not green?
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
Both of these animals are 'pandas':
the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and
giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
But they're not closely related, with a common ancestor ~40 MYA.
So which one is the TRUE panda?
the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and
giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
But they're not closely related, with a common ancestor ~40 MYA.
So which one is the TRUE panda?
February 12, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Both of these animals are 'pandas':
the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and
giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
But they're not closely related, with a common ancestor ~40 MYA.
So which one is the TRUE panda?
the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and
giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
But they're not closely related, with a common ancestor ~40 MYA.
So which one is the TRUE panda?
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
🦇ICYMI: a great video on our work developing a "probiotic" to help bats survive white-nose syndrome infections. This beautifully shot video also gives a good primer on what the probiotic is all about. This was 2yrs ago -good news...our studies show the probiotic is working!
youtu.be/VOtuiB6aiLE?...
youtu.be/VOtuiB6aiLE?...
WCS Bat Probiotics YouTube
YouTube video by WCSCanada Western Bat Program
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 5:13 PM
🦇ICYMI: a great video on our work developing a "probiotic" to help bats survive white-nose syndrome infections. This beautifully shot video also gives a good primer on what the probiotic is all about. This was 2yrs ago -good news...our studies show the probiotic is working!
youtu.be/VOtuiB6aiLE?...
youtu.be/VOtuiB6aiLE?...
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
¿Hiciste tu doctorado en México? ¿Quieres hacer un postdoc en California? ¿Te interesa la genética evolutiva? ¡Checa esta beca y mándame un mensaje! alianzamx.universityofcalifornia.edu/research-and...
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships - University of California Alianza MX
Submitting an Application Current Fellows 2025 Cohort Additional Information Humberger Toggle Menu Interested in applying for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship? Eligibility The program seeks applican...
alianzamx.universityofcalifornia.edu
November 7, 2025 at 10:47 PM
¿Hiciste tu doctorado en México? ¿Quieres hacer un postdoc en California? ¿Te interesa la genética evolutiva? ¡Checa esta beca y mándame un mensaje! alianzamx.universityofcalifornia.edu/research-and...
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
Applications are currently being accepted for UBC's ✨️ Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship ✨️ (two positions!!), due Jan. 15
Please share far and wide 🚀
(See thread)
Please share far and wide 🚀
(See thread)
Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunities
Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2-year (2026-2028) - 2 positions OPENAt UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in resea...
biodiversity.ubc.ca
November 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Applications are currently being accepted for UBC's ✨️ Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship ✨️ (two positions!!), due Jan. 15
Please share far and wide 🚀
(See thread)
Please share far and wide 🚀
(See thread)
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
Bats are the primary pollinators for agave plants.
Commercial agave, used to create tequila & mezcal, is increasingly being propagated via clonal "pups", because the flowering stalk is cut to increase the rate at which the "heart" (piña) grows.
This decreases genetic diversity....
Commercial agave, used to create tequila & mezcal, is increasingly being propagated via clonal "pups", because the flowering stalk is cut to increase the rate at which the "heart" (piña) grows.
This decreases genetic diversity....
November 2, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Bats are the primary pollinators for agave plants.
Commercial agave, used to create tequila & mezcal, is increasingly being propagated via clonal "pups", because the flowering stalk is cut to increase the rate at which the "heart" (piña) grows.
This decreases genetic diversity....
Commercial agave, used to create tequila & mezcal, is increasingly being propagated via clonal "pups", because the flowering stalk is cut to increase the rate at which the "heart" (piña) grows.
This decreases genetic diversity....
Reposted by Zack Steel 🪶🦇🌲🔥
Yesterday I posted the slowed motion of a Pileated woodpecker in flight. this reminded me I also had done a Barred Owl in flight, #birds
October 30, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Yesterday I posted the slowed motion of a Pileated woodpecker in flight. this reminded me I also had done a Barred Owl in flight, #birds