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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue
@drmichellelarue.bsky.social
17K followers 990 following 1.2K posts
Antarctic wildlife ecologist, Rutherford Discovery Fellow, Assoc Prof UCNZ, speaker, children’s book author @natgeo Secrets of the Penguins drmichellelarue.com
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 19h
They are, like, simultaneously clueless and innocent while also being badass and tough. It’s a cool combination of traits.
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 1d
I never said I was good at my job
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 1d
When I was on the ice w Nat Geo, we visited the emperor penguins at Atka Bay which is a colony that hops up onto the ice shelf rather than staying only on sea ice. This means that when chicks fledge they have a high-dive of a jump to reach the water. Which they do. With spectacular inelegance. 🧪🌍🦑🦉
A scientist in a black jacket and brown hat with binoculars in her hands looks into the distance as emperor penguin chicks hang out in the background.
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 2d
Resting Concern Face, 100%
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 2d
Thank you. Larry agrees.
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 2d
… he does. It’s why he doesn’t believe me for a second when I tell him I’m not making things with cheese. He knows.
drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 2d
It’s true!
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 2d
They must.
drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 2d
Sir, I am not getting the cheese out just for you. I’m not making anything with cheese.

Larry: …

Me: *proceeds to get cheese out of the fridge just for him, which he ate proudly and then ran out of the kitchen as though he just got away with a crime*
German Shepherd sitting on the floor in the kitchen looking directly at the camera, adorably asking for some cheese, which I did not start out with but proceeded to obtain from the fridge because how can anyone say no to this face.
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Reposted by Dr Michelle LaRue
rezekjoe.bsky.social
Joseph Rezek @rezekjoe.bsky.social · 3d
Just posting this. Everyone knows why.
Text of the fourth amendment “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
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Reposted by Dr Michelle LaRue
whysharksmatter.bsky.social
David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 4d
Jem Cresswell’s striking whale images – in pictures www.theguardian.com/environment/... 🦑🌎🧪
Jem Cresswell’s striking whale images – in pictures
The photographer spent five years documenting humpback whales in the waters surrounding the Tonga Trench
www.theguardian.com
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 5d
I think there are few things funnier than watching fat, fluffy, hungry Adelie penguin chicks chasing their parents for food

🧪🌍🦑🦉
Two fluffy, grey Adelie penguin chicks chasing an adult
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Reposted by Dr Michelle LaRue
sciencevs.bsky.social
Science Vs @sciencevs.bsky.social · 7d
This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥

We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪

Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇

open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 6d
Amazing! You probably met my advisor, Don Siniff, then. Wonderful man.
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 6d
Emperor penguins choose to live on sea ice, which is frozen ocean water, instead of being on land. And they’ve done this for millions of years. Incredible birds.
🧪🌎🦑🦉

Photo taken under NZ AMLR permit
Scientist in orange coat stands on ice in front of a small group of emperor penguins
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 7d
You worked with Art Devries?!
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 7d
Weddell seals are the best seals for sure, I’m sorry you’re under contractual obligation to suggest otherwise but they won’t hold it against you
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 7d
Weddell seals notoriously take direction excellently
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 7d
Can't wait to get to the ice and see these beauties again... never gets old.

Weddell seals are the southern-most marine mammal in the world and live more than 30 years!
🧪🌍🦑🦉🦊
Antarctic scientist standing on the sea ice behind a Weddell seal who is looking toward the left side of the picture, in epic fashion
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 8d
There is still time to apply for our PhD position available at University of Canterbury!

🧪🌎🦑🦉🦊
drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 23d
Join Mia Wege and me to study niche partitioning among three Antarctic mesopredators!

Fully-funded PhD opportunity at U Canterbury, please email [email protected] if you're interested!

Applications will be reviewed until filled.
Fluffy Weddell seal pup looks straight into the camera We are seeking a motivated PhD student to investigate how multiple mesopredators share space and resources in the Southern Ross Sea. The project will address questions about niche partitioning (both spatial and temporal) and foraging ecology in the Southern Ocean using three years of animal tracking data deployed on penguins (n = 60) and seals (n = 30). Specifically, we wish to uncover aspects of three-dimensional space use in Adélie penguins, emperor penguins, and Weddell seals at Cape Crozier, in the southern Ross Sea. There exists one of the largest colonies of Adélie penguins, a small colony of emperor penguins, and a small group of Weddell seals. We ask: How are these animals using the same space at the same time? How can that part of the ocean support hundreds of thousands of central-place foragers in a relatively small foraging halo, during the short summer window of time? Answers to these questions will provide fine-scale insights as part of the larger project which seeks to understand the metacommunity structure of marine mesopredators in the Southern Ocean and will inform conservation in the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (one of the largest in the world). With the first 10-year evaluation of the MPA coming up, this project will have immediate real-world impact. We cannot guarantee Antarctic field work as part of the PhD project. Funding: Rutherford Discovery Fellowship ($27,000 NZD/year for three years + fees), plus potential school-supported (School of Earth and Environment) conference travel opportunities. Requirements: Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Ecology, Marine Biology, Geography, Zoology or Statistics required; good communication skills (written and verbal), with previous publication experience a bonus; strong work ethic, strong initiative, and team attitude; previous experience handling biologging data (in any system), large datasets, and data wrangling a plus.
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 23d
This is one of the massive problems with PhD stipends in NZ in general. Yep.
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 23d
Specificity is my jam!
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 23d
Wow I've been off Bluesky for so long I forgot about the emojis

If you're interested in a PhD about tracking Antarctic wildlife, consider joining my group... And, spread the word!
🧪🌍🦑🦉🦊
drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 23d
Join Mia Wege and me to study niche partitioning among three Antarctic mesopredators!

Fully-funded PhD opportunity at U Canterbury, please email [email protected] if you're interested!

Applications will be reviewed until filled.
Fluffy Weddell seal pup looks straight into the camera We are seeking a motivated PhD student to investigate how multiple mesopredators share space and resources in the Southern Ross Sea. The project will address questions about niche partitioning (both spatial and temporal) and foraging ecology in the Southern Ocean using three years of animal tracking data deployed on penguins (n = 60) and seals (n = 30). Specifically, we wish to uncover aspects of three-dimensional space use in Adélie penguins, emperor penguins, and Weddell seals at Cape Crozier, in the southern Ross Sea. There exists one of the largest colonies of Adélie penguins, a small colony of emperor penguins, and a small group of Weddell seals. We ask: How are these animals using the same space at the same time? How can that part of the ocean support hundreds of thousands of central-place foragers in a relatively small foraging halo, during the short summer window of time? Answers to these questions will provide fine-scale insights as part of the larger project which seeks to understand the metacommunity structure of marine mesopredators in the Southern Ocean and will inform conservation in the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (one of the largest in the world). With the first 10-year evaluation of the MPA coming up, this project will have immediate real-world impact. We cannot guarantee Antarctic field work as part of the PhD project. Funding: Rutherford Discovery Fellowship ($27,000 NZD/year for three years + fees), plus potential school-supported (School of Earth and Environment) conference travel opportunities. Requirements: Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Ecology, Marine Biology, Geography, Zoology or Statistics required; good communication skills (written and verbal), with previous publication experience a bonus; strong work ethic, strong initiative, and team attitude; previous experience handling biologging data (in any system), large datasets, and data wrangling a plus.
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drmichellelarue.bsky.social
Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 23d
Join Mia Wege and me to study niche partitioning among three Antarctic mesopredators!

Fully-funded PhD opportunity at U Canterbury, please email [email protected] if you're interested!

Applications will be reviewed until filled.
Fluffy Weddell seal pup looks straight into the camera We are seeking a motivated PhD student to investigate how multiple mesopredators share space and resources in the Southern Ross Sea. The project will address questions about niche partitioning (both spatial and temporal) and foraging ecology in the Southern Ocean using three years of animal tracking data deployed on penguins (n = 60) and seals (n = 30). Specifically, we wish to uncover aspects of three-dimensional space use in Adélie penguins, emperor penguins, and Weddell seals at Cape Crozier, in the southern Ross Sea. There exists one of the largest colonies of Adélie penguins, a small colony of emperor penguins, and a small group of Weddell seals. We ask: How are these animals using the same space at the same time? How can that part of the ocean support hundreds of thousands of central-place foragers in a relatively small foraging halo, during the short summer window of time? Answers to these questions will provide fine-scale insights as part of the larger project which seeks to understand the metacommunity structure of marine mesopredators in the Southern Ocean and will inform conservation in the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (one of the largest in the world). With the first 10-year evaluation of the MPA coming up, this project will have immediate real-world impact. We cannot guarantee Antarctic field work as part of the PhD project. Funding: Rutherford Discovery Fellowship ($27,000 NZD/year for three years + fees), plus potential school-supported (School of Earth and Environment) conference travel opportunities. Requirements: Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Ecology, Marine Biology, Geography, Zoology or Statistics required; good communication skills (written and verbal), with previous publication experience a bonus; strong work ethic, strong initiative, and team attitude; previous experience handling biologging data (in any system), large datasets, and data wrangling a plus.
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Reposted by Dr Michelle LaRue
deformedearth.bsky.social
Matt King @deformedearth.bsky.social · Aug 9
What will happen to Antarctic research with the US pulling back?

With all the rapid change it could have us heading backwards.

So, someone needs to fill the void but we're seeing other Western nations busy with infrastructure not science.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
The 'centre of the world' and the global race for research
Lead the research and lead the way on Antarctica but as the US cuts environmental funding questions are raised about the future of science there.
www.abc.net.au
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