Madison Miketa
@madisonmiketa.bsky.social
Behavioral ecologist focused on:
• Wild animal welfare science
• Underwater noise + cetaceans
• Animal culture
(she/her)
• Wild animal welfare science
• Underwater noise + cetaceans
• Animal culture
(she/her)
Reposted by Madison Miketa
Proposed amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act would cut down protections to whales, dolphins, polar bears and other species
The Law That Saved the Whales Is Under Attack
Proposed amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act would cut down protections to whales, dolphins, polar bears and other species
www.scientificamerican.com
August 6, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Proposed amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act would cut down protections to whales, dolphins, polar bears and other species
Reposted by Madison Miketa
Killer whales work together to make nifty exfoliating scratchers out of kelp.
This is the first time tool use has been documented for grooming in cetaceans; it's probably also the first time a tool is made that benefits two animals simultaneously.
🧪🐋
www.cell.com/current-biol...
This is the first time tool use has been documented for grooming in cetaceans; it's probably also the first time a tool is made that benefits two animals simultaneously.
🧪🐋
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Manufacture and use of allogrooming tools by wild killer whales
Michael Weiss and colleagues report on wild orcas using kelp as a tool for social
grooming.
www.cell.com
June 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Killer whales work together to make nifty exfoliating scratchers out of kelp.
This is the first time tool use has been documented for grooming in cetaceans; it's probably also the first time a tool is made that benefits two animals simultaneously.
🧪🐋
www.cell.com/current-biol...
This is the first time tool use has been documented for grooming in cetaceans; it's probably also the first time a tool is made that benefits two animals simultaneously.
🧪🐋
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Madison Miketa
Happy to share our new paper introducing the Animal Culture Database in Scientific Data: We’re putting together a resource consolidating primary research on cultural behaviors in wild animal populations and how they’re affected by human activity (1/5) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Mapping nonhuman cultures with the Animal Culture Database - Scientific Data
Scientific Data - Mapping nonhuman cultures with the Animal Culture Database
www.nature.com
June 22, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Happy to share our new paper introducing the Animal Culture Database in Scientific Data: We’re putting together a resource consolidating primary research on cultural behaviors in wild animal populations and how they’re affected by human activity (1/5) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Madison Miketa
Humpback whale masked frequency-dependent hearing measured in environmental noise reveals their hearing range overlaps with anatomical predictions but extends to higher frequencies, with implications for assessing noise impacts on marine mammals
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Humpback whale masked hearing thresholds in noise measured with modified behavioral observation audiometry - Communications Biology
Humpback whale masked frequency-dependent hearing measured in environmental noise.
www.nature.com
June 18, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Humpback whale masked frequency-dependent hearing measured in environmental noise reveals their hearing range overlaps with anatomical predictions but extends to higher frequencies, with implications for assessing noise impacts on marine mammals
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Exciting news from #UNOC2025! The High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, led by Panama and Canada with 35 countries joining them, will work towards practical and ambitious solutions to reduce underwater noise and restore a quieter, healthier ocean: foraquietocean.org
For a Quiet Ocean
foraquietocean.org
June 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Exciting news from #UNOC2025! The High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, led by Panama and Canada with 35 countries joining them, will work towards practical and ambitious solutions to reduce underwater noise and restore a quieter, healthier ocean: foraquietocean.org
Reposted by Madison Miketa
New paper in @asab.org !
With both social & diffusion models, we assess the role of social transmission in the acquisition of depredation by social units of killer whales, as well as the extent to which social units engaged in this behaviour once acquired.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
With both social & diffusion models, we assess the role of social transmission in the acquisition of depredation by social units of killer whales, as well as the extent to which social units engaged in this behaviour once acquired.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
June 1, 2025 at 5:34 AM
New paper in @asab.org !
With both social & diffusion models, we assess the role of social transmission in the acquisition of depredation by social units of killer whales, as well as the extent to which social units engaged in this behaviour once acquired.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
With both social & diffusion models, we assess the role of social transmission in the acquisition of depredation by social units of killer whales, as well as the extent to which social units engaged in this behaviour once acquired.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Madison Miketa
Pollinator decline has captured global attention, but another plant-animal mutualism is quietly unraveling.
Our new Nature Reviews Biodiversity article synthesizes global evidence on seed disperser decline and what it means for plant biodiversity, ecosystem recovery, and climate adaptation. 🧵
Our new Nature Reviews Biodiversity article synthesizes global evidence on seed disperser decline and what it means for plant biodiversity, ecosystem recovery, and climate adaptation. 🧵
Drivers and impacts of global seed disperser decline
Nature Reviews Biodiversity - Many plants rely on animals to disperse their seeds, but some groups of these seed-dispersing animals are facing severe declines. This Review summarizes evidence of...
rdcu.be
May 19, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Pollinator decline has captured global attention, but another plant-animal mutualism is quietly unraveling.
Our new Nature Reviews Biodiversity article synthesizes global evidence on seed disperser decline and what it means for plant biodiversity, ecosystem recovery, and climate adaptation. 🧵
Our new Nature Reviews Biodiversity article synthesizes global evidence on seed disperser decline and what it means for plant biodiversity, ecosystem recovery, and climate adaptation. 🧵
Reposted by Madison Miketa
New paper on the contributions of different marine sectors to underwater noise pollution within endangered Southern Resident killer whale habitat, highlighting potential impacts of vessel activity on acoustic habitat quality #SRKW
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Ocean noise contributors in southern resident killer whale habitat
The contributions of different marine sectors to underwater noise pollution within endangered Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) habitat were inves…
www.sciencedirect.com
May 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
New paper on the contributions of different marine sectors to underwater noise pollution within endangered Southern Resident killer whale habitat, highlighting potential impacts of vessel activity on acoustic habitat quality #SRKW
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Madison Miketa
New theme issue in Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B @royalsocietypublishing.org:
Animal culture: conservation in a changing world
Edited by @pbrakes.bsky.social, @lucymaplin.bsky.social, @emma-carroll.bsky.social, Alison L Greggor, Andrew Whiten and @ellengarland.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Animal culture: conservation in a changing world
Edited by @pbrakes.bsky.social, @lucymaplin.bsky.social, @emma-carroll.bsky.social, Alison L Greggor, Andrew Whiten and @ellengarland.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences: Vol 380, No 1925
doi.org
May 1, 2025 at 8:37 AM
New theme issue in Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B @royalsocietypublishing.org:
Animal culture: conservation in a changing world
Edited by @pbrakes.bsky.social, @lucymaplin.bsky.social, @emma-carroll.bsky.social, Alison L Greggor, Andrew Whiten and @ellengarland.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Animal culture: conservation in a changing world
Edited by @pbrakes.bsky.social, @lucymaplin.bsky.social, @emma-carroll.bsky.social, Alison L Greggor, Andrew Whiten and @ellengarland.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Reposted by Madison Miketa
Scientists-- Please sign onto this open letter from scientists in defense of habitat protections under the Endangered Species Act. The comment period for the proposed regulation intended to diminish habitat protections closes on May 19. Any scientist is welcome to sign on. Thanks for sharing.
Scientists' Letter in Opposition to Rescinding the Regulatory Definition of “Harm” in Endangered Species Act Regulations
May 19, 2025
Submitted via: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034-0001
Public Comments Processing
Attn: FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W
5275 Leesbu...
nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
May 6, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Scientists-- Please sign onto this open letter from scientists in defense of habitat protections under the Endangered Species Act. The comment period for the proposed regulation intended to diminish habitat protections closes on May 19. Any scientist is welcome to sign on. Thanks for sharing.
Reposted by Madison Miketa
phys.org/news/2025-05...
Unravelling some of the complexity of animal cultures & conservation with @lucymaplin.bsky.social,
@emma-carroll.bsky.social, Alison L Greggor, Andrew Whiten, @ellengarland.bsky.social & contributors to our theme issue
doi.org/10.1098/rstb... @royalsocietypublishing.org
Unravelling some of the complexity of animal cultures & conservation with @lucymaplin.bsky.social,
@emma-carroll.bsky.social, Alison L Greggor, Andrew Whiten, @ellengarland.bsky.social & contributors to our theme issue
doi.org/10.1098/rstb... @royalsocietypublishing.org
Animal culture recognized as key factor in new conservation strategies
Exeter scientists are among those who have discovered many animals learn and pass on behaviors through social learning or culture, which could have important implications for conservation.
phys.org
May 2, 2025 at 3:49 AM
phys.org/news/2025-05...
Unravelling some of the complexity of animal cultures & conservation with @lucymaplin.bsky.social,
@emma-carroll.bsky.social, Alison L Greggor, Andrew Whiten, @ellengarland.bsky.social & contributors to our theme issue
doi.org/10.1098/rstb... @royalsocietypublishing.org
Unravelling some of the complexity of animal cultures & conservation with @lucymaplin.bsky.social,
@emma-carroll.bsky.social, Alison L Greggor, Andrew Whiten, @ellengarland.bsky.social & contributors to our theme issue
doi.org/10.1098/rstb... @royalsocietypublishing.org
Reposted by Madison Miketa
New paper:
Network indicators of cultural resilience to anthropogenic removals in animal societies
comparative analysis with data from @amboselibaboonrp.bsky.social, @sb-dolphins.bsky.social and the Samburu Elephant Project
doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0144
Network indicators of cultural resilience to anthropogenic removals in animal societies
comparative analysis with data from @amboselibaboonrp.bsky.social, @sb-dolphins.bsky.social and the Samburu Elephant Project
doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0144
Network indicators of cultural resilience to anthropogenic removals in animal societies | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Social learning, information transmission and culture play vital roles in the lives of social animals, influencing their survival, reproduction and ability to adapt to changing environments. However, the effect of anthropogenic disturbances on these ...
dx.doi.org
May 3, 2025 at 8:47 PM
New paper:
Network indicators of cultural resilience to anthropogenic removals in animal societies
comparative analysis with data from @amboselibaboonrp.bsky.social, @sb-dolphins.bsky.social and the Samburu Elephant Project
doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0144
Network indicators of cultural resilience to anthropogenic removals in animal societies
comparative analysis with data from @amboselibaboonrp.bsky.social, @sb-dolphins.bsky.social and the Samburu Elephant Project
doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0144
Reposted by Madison Miketa
New paper:
Culture and conservation in baleen whales
@ellengarland.bsky.social, @petercorkeron.bsky.social, Mike Noad, Briana Abrahms, @jennyallen13.bsky.social, @rconstantine.bsky.social, @lrendell.bsky.social, Renata Sousa-Lima, Kate Stafford, @emma-carroll.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Culture and conservation in baleen whales
@ellengarland.bsky.social, @petercorkeron.bsky.social, Mike Noad, Briana Abrahms, @jennyallen13.bsky.social, @rconstantine.bsky.social, @lrendell.bsky.social, Renata Sousa-Lima, Kate Stafford, @emma-carroll.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Culture and conservation in baleen whales | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Culture, defined as information or behaviours shared within a population and acquired from conspecifics through social learning, acts as a second inheritance system which has important implications for species' ecology and evolution. Understanding the ...
doi.org
May 1, 2025 at 8:54 AM
New paper:
Culture and conservation in baleen whales
@ellengarland.bsky.social, @petercorkeron.bsky.social, Mike Noad, Briana Abrahms, @jennyallen13.bsky.social, @rconstantine.bsky.social, @lrendell.bsky.social, Renata Sousa-Lima, Kate Stafford, @emma-carroll.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Culture and conservation in baleen whales
@ellengarland.bsky.social, @petercorkeron.bsky.social, Mike Noad, Briana Abrahms, @jennyallen13.bsky.social, @rconstantine.bsky.social, @lrendell.bsky.social, Renata Sousa-Lima, Kate Stafford, @emma-carroll.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Reposted by Madison Miketa
A colleague at Stanford’s business school used The Stanford Daily to argue—poorly—against DEI. The piece was riddled with historical errors and left one searching for fact, so I broke my public writing hiatus to respond.
I hope you’ll read and share the piece.
stanforddaily.com/2025/04/22/w...
I hope you’ll read and share the piece.
stanforddaily.com/2025/04/22/w...
What DEI threatens isn’t merit. It’s monopoly.
Political science professor Hakeem Jefferson argues for DEI's importance to de-monopolizing universities.
stanforddaily.com
April 23, 2025 at 12:23 AM
A colleague at Stanford’s business school used The Stanford Daily to argue—poorly—against DEI. The piece was riddled with historical errors and left one searching for fact, so I broke my public writing hiatus to respond.
I hope you’ll read and share the piece.
stanforddaily.com/2025/04/22/w...
I hope you’ll read and share the piece.
stanforddaily.com/2025/04/22/w...
Reposted by Madison Miketa
Interesting article in Science today about why we should safeguard animal cultures too
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
April 4, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Interesting article in Science today about why we should safeguard animal cultures too
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
“Predators are not clusters of interchangeable items that can be reduced, increased, or reshuffled at will. They constitute complex societies composed of individuals who cooperate, transmit knowledge, & learn behaviours from one another that enable them to adapt to ongoing environmental pressures.”
Beyond the Numbers: The Hidden Fragility of Animal Societies
Wolves, Grizzlies, and Black Bears still roam our landscapes, yet beneath the surface, fractures appear: knowledge slips away, social bonds…
gbryja.medium.com
March 13, 2025 at 11:24 PM
“Predators are not clusters of interchangeable items that can be reduced, increased, or reshuffled at will. They constitute complex societies composed of individuals who cooperate, transmit knowledge, & learn behaviours from one another that enable them to adapt to ongoing environmental pressures.”
Reposted by Madison Miketa
"We will come to a greater, stronger understanding of animal behavior once we stop expecting—or demanding!—animals to behave according to our preconceived human notions."
@ambikamath.bsky.social & Melina Packer answered questions about "Feminism in the Wild" for Psychology Today:
@ambikamath.bsky.social & Melina Packer answered questions about "Feminism in the Wild" for Psychology Today:
"Feminism in the Wild": Cleaning Up Studies of Animal Behavior
A new book explains how biases from sexism, homophobia, racism, and much more have tainted the science of animal behavior and how we can free ourselves from this narrow status quo.
www.psychologytoday.com
March 13, 2025 at 10:05 PM
"We will come to a greater, stronger understanding of animal behavior once we stop expecting—or demanding!—animals to behave according to our preconceived human notions."
@ambikamath.bsky.social & Melina Packer answered questions about "Feminism in the Wild" for Psychology Today:
@ambikamath.bsky.social & Melina Packer answered questions about "Feminism in the Wild" for Psychology Today:
Reposted by Madison Miketa
A new and exciting @nature.com Communications study reveals baleen whales operate the planet's largest nutrient transport system, moving tons of nitrogen and carbon from polar feeding grounds to tropical breeding areas. Great job @jjkiszka.bsky.social and coauthors ✨
March 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
A new and exciting @nature.com Communications study reveals baleen whales operate the planet's largest nutrient transport system, moving tons of nitrogen and carbon from polar feeding grounds to tropical breeding areas. Great job @jjkiszka.bsky.social and coauthors ✨
Reposted by Madison Miketa
Africa’s elephants have been in dramatic decline for 50 years. What can be done to save them – new study
Africa’s elephants have been in dramatic decline for 50 years. What can be done to save them – new study
Maintaining current elephant numbers, let alone reversing declines, requires new thinking and conservation innovation.
buff.ly
March 10, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Africa’s elephants have been in dramatic decline for 50 years. What can be done to save them – new study
Reposted by Madison Miketa
I am excited to announce that @neeltjeboogert.bsky.social and I are co-editing a special collection in the journal Animal Cognition on "Cognition in the Wild". Submissions are due by June 15. We are excited to see the amazing work you have been doing! link.springer.com/collections/...
Animal Cognition in the Wild
Recent technological advances have improved our ability to study animal cognition in the wild, and the field has made significant progress in recent years. ...
link.springer.com
February 27, 2025 at 4:53 AM
I am excited to announce that @neeltjeboogert.bsky.social and I are co-editing a special collection in the journal Animal Cognition on "Cognition in the Wild". Submissions are due by June 15. We are excited to see the amazing work you have been doing! link.springer.com/collections/...
Sign-on to this open letter from @ucsusa.bsky.social “calling on Congress and the Trump administration to ensure that NOAA and its sub-agencies remain fully funded and staffed, and that the independent, trusted science the agency produces is protected.”
Science at Risk: Protect NOAA
Scientists & experts: Add your name to this open letter calling on Congress and the Trump administration to ensure that NOAA and its sub-agencies remain fully funded and staffed, and that the independ...
secure.ucsusa.org
February 25, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Sign-on to this open letter from @ucsusa.bsky.social “calling on Congress and the Trump administration to ensure that NOAA and its sub-agencies remain fully funded and staffed, and that the independent, trusted science the agency produces is protected.”
BOEM has rescinded the ‘Expanded Rice’s Whale Protection Efforts’ under the Secretary of the Interior’s Order ‘Unleashing American Energy.’ Rice’s whales are Critically Endangered with ~50 animals left (as of 2017/8 data). NMFS estimates that < 1 whale every 10 years may be removed to remain viable.
February 21, 2025 at 3:36 AM
BOEM has rescinded the ‘Expanded Rice’s Whale Protection Efforts’ under the Secretary of the Interior’s Order ‘Unleashing American Energy.’ Rice’s whales are Critically Endangered with ~50 animals left (as of 2017/8 data). NMFS estimates that < 1 whale every 10 years may be removed to remain viable.
Reposted by Madison Miketa
Join us! Science Homecoming helps scientists reconnect with communities by writing about the importance of science funding in their hometown newspapers. We’ve mapped every small newspaper in the U.S. and provide resources to get you started. Help science get back home 🧪🔬🧬 🏠
sciencehomecoming.com
sciencehomecoming.com
Science Homecoming
sciencehomecoming.com
February 18, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Join us! Science Homecoming helps scientists reconnect with communities by writing about the importance of science funding in their hometown newspapers. We’ve mapped every small newspaper in the U.S. and provide resources to get you started. Help science get back home 🧪🔬🧬 🏠
sciencehomecoming.com
sciencehomecoming.com
Reposted by Madison Miketa
👀
Constitutional issue impedes elimination of Wyoming’s protected wildlife list
A bill to authorize game wardens to deal with sometimes-pesky otters turned, for a moment, into an effort to altogether eliminate Wyoming’s 72-year-old “protected” wildlife list.
www.wyomingnews.com
February 16, 2025 at 3:39 PM
👀
Reposted by Madison Miketa
Today we've announced 43 new Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) spotlighting whale, manatee & other marine mammal habitats needing protection in NW Atlantic & Caribbean. See our news story here: www.marinemammalhabitat.org/news/
See the IMMA e-Atlas: www.marinemammalhabitat.org/imma-eatlas/
See the IMMA e-Atlas: www.marinemammalhabitat.org/imma-eatlas/
February 13, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Today we've announced 43 new Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) spotlighting whale, manatee & other marine mammal habitats needing protection in NW Atlantic & Caribbean. See our news story here: www.marinemammalhabitat.org/news/
See the IMMA e-Atlas: www.marinemammalhabitat.org/imma-eatlas/
See the IMMA e-Atlas: www.marinemammalhabitat.org/imma-eatlas/