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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · 5d

🐣 3rd Place - Video | Zoology Photo/Video Competition 2025: “Tūturiwhatu” (NZ dotterel, Charadrius obscurus) by Ava Thomas (2nd-year Zoology & Ecology). Endangered (~2,500 left). Filmed in Coromandel: a chick tucks into its parent’s feathers to dodge the wind. 🐦🌿 www.facebook.com/share/v/16BJ...

Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · 6d

🧠💚 Mental Health Awareness Week (6–12 Oct)! We’re celebrating the Five Ways to Wellbeing with chill, drop-in events. Grab a Self-Care Bingo sheet at the front desk & complete one for a prize. Uni-wide events too for staff/students (tinyurl.com/3xze36fd). Poster 👇

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · 9d

🎬 2nd Place — Video | Zoology Photo/Video Comp 2025: “Microplastic Sampling in the Central Lakes Area.” By Alice Gilbert (MSc, Freshwater). On Lake Dunstan with WAI Wānaka, Alice samples for microplastics. No animals on camera (invertebrates likely lurking!).
www.facebook.com/share/v/1Chp...

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · 9d

🐝 3rd Place — Staff Photo | Zoology Photo/Video Comp 2025: “Bumble Bee Inspired Progress Flag” by Senior Lecturer Jenny Jandt @thewasplady.bsky.social. Bees across Ōtago—field, backyard & glasshouse—celebrate colour and pride in our Rainbow Community. 🌈

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · 26d

🏆 2nd place Staff Photo – Zoology Comp 2025! 🦂
Seriously cool scorpion by Jo Monks, snapped under UV during night-time escapades in Borneo at the World Congress of Herpetology.
Jo is a Senior Lecturer who loves lizards & champions science for their conservation.

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · 28d

Another case of island gigantism: the extinct Hodgens’ Waterhen (Tribonyx hodgenorum) is a member of Porzana (Aves: Rallidae)
doi.org/10.1007/s103...

Another case of island gigantism: the extinct Hodgens’ Waterhen (Tribonyx hodgenorum) is a member of Porzana (Aves: Rallidae) - Journal of Ornithology

Tribonyx hodgenorum (Scarlett, Rec Canterb Mus 6:265–266, 1955) was a flightless rail (Rallidae) endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand that became extinct in the eighteenth century. The affinities of this r...

doi.org

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · 28d

Brain-Encysting Trematodes Increase the Frequency
but Reduce the Repeatability of Surfacing Behaviour in
Mottled Triplefin
doi.org/10.1111/eth....

Brain‐Encysting Trematodes Increase the Frequency but Reduce the Repeatability of Surfacing Behaviour in Mottled Triplefin

In Otago Harbour, New Zealand, the trophically transmitted trematode Cardiocephaloides ovicorpus infects the brain of a population of mottled triplefin (Forsterygion capito) with high prevalence and ....

doi.org

Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · 28d

Population structure of three New Zealand crested penguins identifies current conservation challenges for the Fiordland penguin/tawaki, erect-crested penguin, and eastern rockhopper penguin
doi.org/10.1371/jour...

Population structure of three New Zealand crested penguins identifies current conservation challenges for the Fiordland penguin/tawaki, erect-crested penguin, and eastern rockhopper penguin

Identifying contemporary population structure and genetic connectivity among seabird populations is essential for developing conservation plans for threatened species, especially as factors like philo...

doi.org

Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · 28d

Incidental distribution and activity of the flightless Campbell Island teal (Anas nesiotis) on Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku, New Zealand
www.birdsnz.org.nz/wp-content/u...

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Reposted by Zoology Department, University of Otago

Zoology Rainbow Committee @zoologyrainbow.bsky.social · 28d

🌈✨ Throwback to Rainbow Happy Hour (15 Aug 2025)! ✨🌈
Colourful snacks, Bingo, prizes & the brightest outfits filled the Zoology Tea Room with joy 🎉 Huge thanks to everyone who joined & to our prize donors 💜

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Reposted by Zoology Department, University of Otago

Zoology Rainbow Committee @zoologyrainbow.bsky.social · Sep 8

🌈☕✨ Throwback to Scones with the Zoology Rainbow Committee! ✨☕🌈

On 12th August we shared good vibes, fresh scones, and colourful company. Thanks to everyone who joined us — your smiles made the morning even sweeter! 💜🌸

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · Sep 8

Congratulations to Katie Buschang, PhD student from Zoology, who finished runner-up at the University 3 minute-thesis competition grand finale.
www.facebook.com/share/p/14Gh...

Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · Sep 7

Congratulations to Elliot Weir who submitted their MSc thesis recently!!!!

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · Sep 7

🎥✨ Taking the top spot in the Video Category! ✨🎥
Zoology Photo/Video Comp 2025
🎬 My Beetle Breakdown by Joshua Castro
“Testing beetle pheromone behaviour (though honestly, I think the only thing being tested was my patience).” 😅
Joshua is a third-year Zoology student
www.facebook.com/share/v/1ZxC...

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · Sep 7

🌟 1st Place – Staff Category! 🌟
Zoology Photo/Video Comp 2025

📸 Crawlin’ in the Deep by Allison Miller
A curious Milford Sound wheke strolling the marine block 🐙💙

Allison is a postdoc researching evolutionary ecology, phylogenetics & zoonoses.

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · Sep 7

🌟 3rd place in the Student Non-Bird Photo category of the Zoology Photo/Video Comp 2025!

📸 Sea Lion Pups — playful pups in the chaos of Enderby Island’s sea lion beach.
👤 Photographer: Oskar Ehrhardt, wildlife management student aiming for a seabird master’s!

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · Aug 14

🏆 3rd place Student Bird Photo – Zoology Comp 2025! 🐧 Faces of the Subantarctic by Bianca Keys shows rare moments of erect-crested & eastern rockhopper penguins.
Bianca, a penguin-obsessed PhD student, studies their ecology & trends in remote subantarctic colonies.

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · Aug 8

📸 2nd Place – Student Non-Bird Photo, Zoology Photo/Video Competition 2025
Morena by Pearl Barry 🦎
A young Otago green skink basks with its siblings at Orokonui Ecosanctuary 🌿
Pearl Barry is an ecology grad researching keystone behaviour and species translocations.

Reposted by Zoology Department, University of Otago

Zoology Rainbow Committee @zoologyrainbow.bsky.social · Aug 8

🌈✨ Zoology Rainbow Extravaganza – Aug 12 ✨🌈
🫖 Morning Tea (~11am) – Scones by the Zoology Rainbow Committee!
🎲 Zoology Board Game Night – Rainbow Week Takeover! (~4pm) – Gnome Hollow, Hues & Cues + snacks! 🍿
📍Zoology Dept, Uni of Otago (tea room)
All welcome! 🏳️‍🌈 @zoologyotago.bsky.social

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · Aug 1

🐧 2nd Place – Student Bird Photo Category
📸 Hoiho and Megaherbs on Enderby
A stunning shot of a Hoiho soaking in the view from Enderby’s cliffs!
Congrats to Oskar Ehrhardt, wildlife management student and future seabird scientist 🐦🌿

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Reposted by Zoology Department, University of Otago

Sulagna Banerjee @sulagnab.bsky.social · Aug 1

Thrilled to join the first-ever RARITY Internship! Looking forward to exploring how research turns into action — from policy to patient impact. Let’s go beyond the bench! @zoologyotago.bsky.social

#raredisease #STEM #EarlyCareerResearchers #WomenInSTEM

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · Jul 31

Ancient DNA and morphometrics reveal a new species of extinct insular shelduck from Rēkohu Chatham Islands
doi.org/10.1093/zool...

Ancient DNA and morphometrics reveal a new species of extinct insular shelduck from Rēkohu Chatham Islands

Abstract. The Rēkohu Chatham Islands, 785 km east of mainland Aotearoa New Zealand, exhibit high levels of species endemism. Prior to human settlement, the

doi.org

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Zoology Department, University of Otago @zoologyotago.bsky.social · Jul 31

Congratulations to Alex Brown who submitted his MSc thesis yesterday!

Reposted by Zoology Department, University of Otago

Siobhan Leachman @siobhanleachman.bsky.social · Jul 27

Just used and cited this scientific publication in the #Wikipedia article for Leiproctus fulvenscens. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiopro...

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Reposted by Zoology Department, University of Otago

Jenny Jandt (she/her) @thewasplady.bsky.social · Jul 28

German wasp vs male sweat bee.

When males hunt for mates, the ground nesting bee community becomes more obvious to predators. The males won't contribute to the nest, and the females don't waste time hovering. This community will be fine.
@zoologyotago.bsky.social

youtu.be/ymdlevx43nY?...

German wasp catches sweat bee

YouTube video by Jenny Jandt

youtu.be

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