echinerd.bsky.social
Jeff Thompson
@echinerd.bsky.social
310 followers 220 following 9 posts
Associate Professor @ University of Southampton. Morphological Evolution, Fossils, EvoDevo, Biomineralization, Echinoderms
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
paleo-hank.bsky.social
Hank Woolley @paleo-hank.bsky.social · 14d
It’s finally out! Extremely pleased to share the last chapter of my dissertation to be published! In this study, we take a deep dive into the 242 million-year squamate 🦎🐍 fossil record to quantify factors that lead to the mostly fragmentary specimens in collections today: doi.org/10.1017/pab....
Taphonomic megabiases constrain phylogenetic information in the squamate fossil record | Paleobiology | Cambridge Core
Taphonomic megabiases constrain phylogenetic information in the squamate fossil record
urldefense.com
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echinerd.bsky.social
Jeff Thompson @echinerd.bsky.social · 14d
If you don’t get one let me know and I can ask around here, though this well predates me!
Reposted by Jeff Thompson
daveyfwright.bsky.social
Dr. Davey F. Wright ⛏️🦕🧬 @daveyfwright.bsky.social · Sep 2
I'm hoping to take 1 MSc & 1 PhD student next year in the areas of Phylogenetic, Computational, and/or Evolutionary Paleobiology. Please reach out if you are interested in joining the @oupaleobiology.bsky.social, especially if interested in working on fossil echinoderms. Link for more info below. 🧪
News
PhD and MSc positions in Phylogenetic, Computational, and/or Evolutionary Paleobiology [Posted September 2025. Deadline is January 15, 2026. See below for information about the lab, student opportu…
daveyfwright.wordpress.com
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
tomezard.bsky.social
Tom Ezard @tomezard.bsky.social · Jul 3
New paper led by @aniekebrombacher.bsky.social using x-ray CT and laser ablation to detect plastic environmental responses in fossil individuals www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2421549122 featuring @jamesmulqueeney.bsky.social @clivetrue.bsky.social @thefosterlab.bsky.social
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
sotonbiosciences.bsky.social
Biological Sciences @sotonbiosciences.bsky.social · Jun 30
🌟 Fossil find of the week!

@echinerd.bsky.social new paper in Current Biology reveals how Cambrian echinoderms evolved from bilateral ancestors to the star-shaped sea creatures we know today. 🧬🌊

🔗 Read more: www.cell.com/current-biol...

#Echinoderms #Evolution #Cambrian
A new Cambrian stem-group echinoderm reveals the evolution of the anteroposterior axis
Woodgate et al. describe a new bilaterally symmetrical echinoderm, Atlascystis acantha, from the Cambrian of Morocco. Comparisons of plate growth with other echinoderms reveal that Atlascystis possess...
www.cell.com
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
jdwitts.bsky.social
James Witts @jdwitts.bsky.social · Jun 30
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
I’m obsessed with brittle stars: fish often nip off bits of their arms but they regenerate
These starfish relatives have lots of remarkable features and are a keystone species. My hope is that we will recognise how vital these charismatic creatures are
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
imranrahman.bsky.social
Imran Rahman @imranrahman.bsky.social · Jun 26
Delighted to share our paper in @currentbiology.bsky.social iology.bsky.social‬ with a palaeo-evo-devo perspective on the evolution of symmetry in echinoderms. Led by Steffi Woodgate with Frankie Dunn, @echinerd.bsky.social, @laurentformery.bsky.social & Sam Zamora
www.cell.com/current-biol...-5
A new Cambrian stem-group echinoderm reveals the evolution of the anteroposterior axis
Woodgate et al. describe a new bilaterally symmetrical echinoderm, Atlascystis acantha, from the Cambrian of Morocco. Comparisons of plate growth with other echinoderms reveal that Atlascystis possess...
www.cell.com
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
laurentformery.bsky.social
Laurent Formery @laurentformery.bsky.social · May 31
Our brittle star patterning study is now out at EvoDevo! 🥳
doi.org/10.1186/s132...

@lowelab.bsky.social
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echinerd.bsky.social
Jeff Thompson @echinerd.bsky.social · May 30
TLDR? In the Palaeozoic echinoid fossil record, fine grained and siliciclastic rocks are associated with higher quality preservation than coarse grained or carbonate rocks!
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echinerd.bsky.social
Jeff Thompson @echinerd.bsky.social · May 30
Super happy to see this out! Ever wondered what regulates taphonomic quality in skeletal fossil records? New with @princessquatris.bsky.social , Tim Ewin, and Maddy Ford we identify the controls on preservational quality in Palaeozoic echinoids onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Taphonomic controls on a multi‐element marine skeletal fossil record
Animals with multi-element skeletons, including the vertebrates, echinoderms and arthropods, are some of the most biodiverse and ecologically important animal groups. Understanding the relative impac...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
eesaupe.bsky.social
Erin E. Saupe @eesaupe.bsky.social · May 29
🚨🚨🚨!Post doc opportunity! 🚨🚨🚨
35 month post doc on niche modelling of migratory whales in my lab with Katrina Jones. Job advert below:
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
Please get in touch with questions!
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echinerd.bsky.social
Jeff Thompson @echinerd.bsky.social · May 22
Just under two weeks left to apply for this 3 year postdoc looking at how signalling shapes skeletal development in sea urchins! Please reach out if you’re interested! For lovers of imaging, skeletal development, biomineralization, in situ hybridization, and marine invertebrates!
echinerd.bsky.social
Jeff Thompson @echinerd.bsky.social · May 12
Interested in Developmental biology? Imaging? Marine invertebrate body plans? Then this three year postdoc in my group @sotonbiosciences.bsky.social is for you! Join our team to decypher how signalling molecules shape skeletal phenotype in juvenile sea urchins. jobs.soton.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...
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echinerd.bsky.social
Jeff Thompson @echinerd.bsky.social · May 12
For any questions about the role please reach out to me! On here or via email.
echinerd.bsky.social
Jeff Thompson @echinerd.bsky.social · May 12
Interested in Developmental biology? Imaging? Marine invertebrate body plans? Then this three year postdoc in my group @sotonbiosciences.bsky.social is for you! Join our team to decypher how signalling molecules shape skeletal phenotype in juvenile sea urchins. jobs.soton.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
johnrhutchinson.bsky.social
Professor John R. Hutchinson @johnrhutchinson.bsky.social · Apr 22
CEE Spring Symposium 2025, "Evo Devo Palaeo: Using developmental biology to interpret evolution and palaeontology, and vice versa."
Poster: CEE Spring Symposium 2025, Evo Devo Palaeo: Using developmental biology to interpret evolution and palaeontology, and vice versa. Date: Wednesday 14th May 2025 Time: 1:00pm – 5:30pm Location: LG26 Lecture Room, Bentham House, UCL 4–8 Endsleigh Gardens, London WC1H 0EG This year’s symposium has been organised by Dr Qamariya Nasrullah (KCL), Dr Neal Anthwal (KCL), Dr Lucy Roberts (NHM), and Dr Marco Camaiti (NHM). We’ll be exploring the powerful intersections between development, evolution, and the fossil record. This interdisciplinary conference brings together researchers working across these areas to share insights on how developmental biology informs our understanding of evolutionary history, and how fossils, in turn, illuminate developmental processes. Expect exciting talks, cutting-edge research, and vibrant discussions from scientists and emerging leaders who are shaping the future of the field. Confirmed Speakers: • Jeff Thompson– Fossils and Developmental Biology Shed Light on the Divergence of Echinoderm Body Plans • Margarida Cardoso Moriera– The Evolution of New Organs • Fatima Iftikhar– The Soft Tissue Behaviour Behind Tooth Resorption in Living Teiids and Fossil Mosasaurs • Agnese Lanzetti– Developing a New Habit: Ontogeny Tracks the Evolution of Aquatic Adaptations in Baleen and Toothed Whales • Luke Barlow– Development of the Pterygoid Complex Sheds Light on the Evolution of Suckling in Mammals • Rory Cooper– Evolving Patterns: How Molecules and Mechanics Sculpt Diverse Skin Appendages • Tahlia Pollock– Sharp Insights: Untangling Constraints on Pointed Tooth Form in Tetrapods Tickets: Reserve your free ticket now via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cee-spring-symposium-2025-tickets-1323634589689
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
chalksea.bsky.social
ChaSE Project @chalksea.bsky.social · Apr 9
Lovely day in the field at Culver Cliff (Isle of Wight) with @echinerd.bsky.social and PhD student Chia-Hsin Hsu. We looked at the beautifully bedded Cenomanian-Turonian #chalk, finding plenty of echinoderms, bivalves, serpulids and even a nice nautilid!
Three people stand talking in front of a cliff made up of distinct bands of light and dark coloured chalk. A fossil echinoderm in white chalk. A finger for scale! The impression of a large fossil Nautilus in grey chalk. A black and white scale bar is at the top of the photo. A tiny star-shaped ossicle from a fossil crinoid in the chalk. With a finger for scale.
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
princessquatris.bsky.social
Christopher Dean @princessquatris.bsky.social · Apr 8
🚨 I'm super happy to announce that our new paper is finally out today in @currentbiology.bsky.social! 🚨

We used the ecological approach of occupancy modelling to investigate the structure of the dinosaur fossil record prior to the K/Pg mass extinction!

www.cell.com/current-biol...
The structure of the end-Cretaceous dinosaur fossil record in North America
Dean et al. examine the fossil record of North American dinosaurs prior to the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Estimates of detection probability from occupancy models decrease prior to the extinction...
www.cell.com
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
thefosterlab.bsky.social
Gavin Foster @thefosterlab.bsky.social · Apr 1
Very pleased to have co-edited the latest version of Elements Magazine (www.elementsmagazine.org) "Biomineral Geochemistry" with @amoeba-lab.bsky.social and Ros Rickaby. Topics range from controls on CaCO3 polymorph to the role of amorphous intermediate phases and "vital effects". 🧪🌊🪸⚒️
Cover of Elements Issue entitled Biomineral Geochemistry: Windows into Past Climates and Calcification. The picture shows amorphous calcium carbonate particles - the precursors to many biominerals
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
amoeba-lab.bsky.social
The Amoeba Lab @amoeba-lab.bsky.social · Mar 26
Today in the Amoeba lab - an initial step on our path to building a new dedicated foraminifera culturing facility. Here are our first images of live foraminifera!
An image of a live foraminifera around 200 microns in diameter with long pseudopodia
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echinerd.bsky.social
Jeff Thompson @echinerd.bsky.social · Mar 12
This is part of a collaborative project between my group at Southampton and Liz Petsios' at Baylor University aiming to understand the role of functional performance in the evolution of echinoid feeding structures. Please reach out if you have any questions or are interested in the position!
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echinerd.bsky.social
Jeff Thompson @echinerd.bsky.social · Mar 12
Like morphometrics, micro-CT scanning, and morphological evolution? Then please consider applying for our 18 month postdoc position at the university of Southampton! Details here: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DMF402/r...
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
nmkphylo.bsky.social
Nico Mongiardino Koch @nmkphylo.bsky.social · Mar 7
New preprint out with @echinerd.bsky.social et al. on total-evidence dating showcasing:

1) Sea urchins (the best clade)
2) Lyrics by Peter Gabriel-era Genesis (the best prog band)
3) Extreme effect of the type of relaxed clock on phylogenetic and macroevolutionary inferences (a bit scary honestly)
biorxiv-evobio.bsky.social
bioRxiv Evolutionary Biology @biorxiv-evobio.bsky.social · Mar 6
But the clock, tick-tock: the preeminence of relaxed clock models in total-evidence dated phylogenetics https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.28.640870v1
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
princessquatris.bsky.social
Christopher Dean @princessquatris.bsky.social · Feb 26
Very excited to use my first @bsky.app post to announce @echinerd.bsky.social and I's new paper in Proc B! 🎉

We used a dataset of Palaeozoic echinoids from 33 museums worldwide to see the impact museum ‘dark data’ has on biogeographic and evolutionary patterns in deep time!

doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Museum ‘dark data’ show variable impacts on deep-time biogeographic and evolutionary history | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
The age of digitally accessible datasets has transformed palaeontology, enabling previously impossible macroevolutionary insights. However, a substantial reservoir of generally inaccessible ‘dark data...
royalsocietypublishing.org
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Reposted by Jeff Thompson
imranrahman.bsky.social
Imran Rahman @imranrahman.bsky.social · Dec 6
For #FossilFriday, I'm delighted to share this amazing new specimen donated to the NHM. The slab preserves over 100 specimens of the Middle Jurassic crinoid Isocrinus nicoleti. This is the subject of ongoing research with Tim Ewin, Ebony Cutcliffe, @egmitchell.bsky.social & @echinerd.bsky.social .
A slab preserving over 100 specimens of the Middle Jurassic crinoid Isocrinus nicoleti.
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