Andrew Christopher Knapp
@knapprew.bsky.social
Stop-and-chat avoider. Lido afficionado. Was once world's youngest person, albeit briefly.
It's a frigid day in #Colchester today, and the pair of #Peregrines on Jumbo are doing a much better job of enduring the cold than I managed! #birds #birdsofbluesky
January 2, 2026 at 2:44 PM
It's a frigid day in #Colchester today, and the pair of #Peregrines on Jumbo are doing a much better job of enduring the cold than I managed! #birds #birdsofbluesky
Colchester, site of the UK's only recorded earthquake fatality
December 30, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Colchester, site of the UK's only recorded earthquake fatality
Had a productive day yesterday and I'm now the proud owner of a substantial amount of ragù Knappolitana!
December 21, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Had a productive day yesterday and I'm now the proud owner of a substantial amount of ragù Knappolitana!
I'm with you on that one!
December 17, 2025 at 11:37 AM
I'm with you on that one!
We also found that traits seem to evolve differently within major clades. For example, brain shape and eye size appear to have different trait optima in palaeognaths and Australaves. 12/n
December 17, 2025 at 11:26 AM
We also found that traits seem to evolve differently within major clades. For example, brain shape and eye size appear to have different trait optima in palaeognaths and Australaves. 12/n
To cut a long story short, we found strongest support for a variation of the Hand in Glove model, whereby changes in brain shape influences changes in braincase shape, which in turn influences the shape of the beak and jaw muscles, and the diameter of the orbit (eye socket). 10/n
December 17, 2025 at 11:17 AM
To cut a long story short, we found strongest support for a variation of the Hand in Glove model, whereby changes in brain shape influences changes in braincase shape, which in turn influences the shape of the beak and jaw muscles, and the diameter of the orbit (eye socket). 10/n
Next, we compared 12 hypotheses of trait interaction to try and figure out which trait, if any, was overwhelmingly driving evolution of the head. These hypotheses are based on several developmental hypotheses, along with integrated and modular models designed to capture a range of explanations. 9/n
December 17, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Next, we compared 12 hypotheses of trait interaction to try and figure out which trait, if any, was overwhelmingly driving evolution of the head. These hypotheses are based on several developmental hypotheses, along with integrated and modular models designed to capture a range of explanations. 9/n
First, we tested evolutionary correlation between different parts of the head (brain, braincase, beak, jaw muscles and eye size). We found that all we significantly correlated. 8/n
December 17, 2025 at 11:07 AM
First, we tested evolutionary correlation between different parts of the head (brain, braincase, beak, jaw muscles and eye size). We found that all we significantly correlated. 8/n
We used geometric morphometrics to capture shape of the skull, and of the endocast, the cavity that houses the brain. Luckily for us, endocast shape in birds matches brain shape very closely, letting us include a wide range of museum specimens in our dataset. 7/n
December 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
We used geometric morphometrics to capture shape of the skull, and of the endocast, the cavity that houses the brain. Luckily for us, endocast shape in birds matches brain shape very closely, letting us include a wide range of museum specimens in our dataset. 7/n
Thanks especially to Taylor West for segmenting most of these scans, a phenomenal effort! 6/n
December 17, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Thanks especially to Taylor West for segmenting most of these scans, a phenomenal effort! 6/n
Our goal in this paper was to investigate correlations between skull, brain, jaw muscles and eye size, and to test hypotheses of how they influence each other. We started by assembling a massive CT scan dataset of 322 bird species, attempting to capture the breadth of modern bird diversity.
December 17, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Our goal in this paper was to investigate correlations between skull, brain, jaw muscles and eye size, and to test hypotheses of how they influence each other. We started by assembling a massive CT scan dataset of 322 bird species, attempting to capture the breadth of modern bird diversity.
These other evolutionary changes include a toothless beak, enlarged eyes and reduced jaw muscles. Space is at a premium in bird heads, with brain, eyes and jaw muscles all tightly packed together, so it seems that the evolution of these traits should be tightly linked. 4/n
December 17, 2025 at 10:49 AM
These other evolutionary changes include a toothless beak, enlarged eyes and reduced jaw muscles. Space is at a premium in bird heads, with brain, eyes and jaw muscles all tightly packed together, so it seems that the evolution of these traits should be tightly linked. 4/n
Why is this important? Drastic changes in brain size and shape are one of the most obvious patterns we observe during the early evolution of birds. Are these changes in brain morphology responsible for the other distinctive evolutionary changes we see in the bird head?
December 17, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Why is this important? Drastic changes in brain size and shape are one of the most obvious patterns we observe during the early evolution of birds. Are these changes in brain morphology responsible for the other distinctive evolutionary changes we see in the bird head?
We know that the brain forms very early in vertebrate embryos and plays a big role in shaping the formation of the surrounding tissues in the head, including the skull, eye and jaw muscles. What we don't really know is how this translates into evolutionary change across many species. 2/n
December 17, 2025 at 10:19 AM
We know that the brain forms very early in vertebrate embryos and plays a big role in shaping the formation of the surrounding tissues in the head, including the skull, eye and jaw muscles. What we don't really know is how this translates into evolutionary change across many species. 2/n
...surface water and ambush predation in deep, dark water. This shows that even seemingly homogeneous habitats like the open ocean are actually complex environments that can lead to rapid adaptive radiations!
December 9, 2025 at 10:39 AM
...surface water and ambush predation in deep, dark water. This shows that even seemingly homogeneous habitats like the open ocean are actually complex environments that can lead to rapid adaptive radiations!
I'm on my way home now after a very tiring but very, very fun week of science and catching up with old and new friends. Thanks so much to @richardjbutler.bsky.social and the team for an unforgettable #SVP! #SVP2025
November 16, 2025 at 11:22 AM
I'm on my way home now after a very tiring but very, very fun week of science and catching up with old and new friends. Thanks so much to @richardjbutler.bsky.social and the team for an unforgettable #SVP! #SVP2025
It's banquet time at #svp2025 #THERESNOWTWRONGWITHGALALUNCHEONSLAD
November 15, 2025 at 7:36 PM
It's banquet time at #svp2025 #THERESNOWTWRONGWITHGALALUNCHEONSLAD
November 15, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Well, mum, I finally got one! #palaeojokes #svp2025
November 14, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Well, mum, I finally got one! #palaeojokes #svp2025
@palaeo-jrule.bsky.social bringing Simpsons gifs to his talk on filter feeding in seals. #svp2025
November 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
@palaeo-jrule.bsky.social bringing Simpsons gifs to his talk on filter feeding in seals. #svp2025
It checks out
November 4, 2025 at 2:12 PM
It checks out