New paper exploring the roots of gang culture in reef fish out in Proceedings B @royalsociety.org ! We found that herbivory is more efficient in groups, and is promoted at high herbivore densities.🐠 With @anishpaul.bsky.social @ruchakarkarey.bsky.social and others. doi.org/10.1098/rspb...

Density dependence and territorial competitors can modulate parrotfish social foraging and herbivory on coral reefs

Abstract. Social context can modify the behaviour of animals, influencing how they interact with their environment—potentially cascading to effects on ecos

doi.org

Strongly agree with this letter in Science arguing that field-based research should be more highly and fairly valued in academia. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

The value of field research in academia

From anthropology to zoology, immersion within communities, cultural settings, and study systems is integral to research and learning (1, 2). Fieldwork, the direct observation and collection of data i...

science.org

Thrilled to be part of this new paper led by Mayukh Dey & Nature Conservation Foundation, summarizing 25 yrs of 🪸 reef resilience monitoring in Lakshadweep 🏝️ 🇮🇳 We find distinct recovery archetypes shaped by atoll location & coral assemblages onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

We've had a blast at the Indo-Pacific Fish Conference in Taipei. Thanks to the organisers for a fantastic week! 🐟🐠🦈 Ft. talks from @cbenkwitt.bsky.social @lljeannot.bsky.social @ruchakarkarey.bsky.social @james-robinson.bsky.social

Excellent week, with wonderful people, thinking about behaviour at macroecological scales at iDiv Leipzig #sMacrobehaviour

Sal Keith (she/her)@salkeith.bsky.social · last yr.

And with that, sMacrobehaviour has left the building! What an awesome few days, thanks everyone 🥰🥳😃 Yay science #sDiv @kamarske.bsky.social @jonathanpdrury.bsky.social @theresarueger.bsky.social @ruchakarkarey.bsky.social @sheardcat.bsky.social & co. Looking forward to March 2026

FULLY FUNDED PHD on using #AI to explore the effects of global change on ecological functions of biological colour. Only 6 days left to apply! www.exageo.org/apply/ With me, Chris Cooney (Sheff Uni) @chris-nemeth.bsky.social & David Roy (UKCEH) based at @lec-reefs.bsky.social @dsilu.bsky.social

Concerned about another growing divide in science between the Global North/South, (East/West). While many of us have swiftly moved on to 🦋, it’s worth acknowledging that many scientists in the Global South are still using✖️ #ScienceDivide #GlobalSouth

If you're looking for an illustrator to bring your research to life, I can't recommend @maninibansal.bsky.social enough! Her work is stunning—transforming concepts into vibrant visuals rooted in local iconography. Checkout the project we worked on together 🐠🎣🪸 #SciComm #Natureillustrations

#PhD opportunity on "Decoding biological colour: leveraging AI to analyse big data on animal images in a changing world" with me, @chris-nemeth.bsky.social Chris Cooney (U Sheff) & David Roy (UKCEH) thru new @exageo-dla.bsky.social based at Lancaster Uni www.exageo.org/phd-student-...

Had an engaging class with the MSc & PhD students at ATREE, Bangalore, discussing ethical dilemmas in marine conservation practice. One of my favourite discussions was around how conservation considerations at land & sea differ. #marineconservation #ethicalconservation #globalsouth

…and ofcourse I showed up in a fish-themed saree because …. #matsyakanya 🧜🏽‍♀️ #streeshakti #sareelove

KokkaChammam@ruchakarkarey.bsky.social · 2y ago

Grateful to be invited to share insights on slow, immersive science and place-based ecology at #RCUK2024 Thrilled to see the audience captivated by Manini Bansal’s portrayal of #spawningaggregations and life in #Lakshadweep, showcasing the deep ties between community & reefs. 🌿 🪸🎣🏝️🦑

Grateful to be invited to share insights on slow, immersive science and place-based ecology at #RCUK2024 Thrilled to see the audience captivated by Manini Bansal’s portrayal of #spawningaggregations and life in #Lakshadweep, showcasing the deep ties between community & reefs. 🌿 🪸🎣🏝️🦑

A really small @lec-reefs.bsky.social squad at #RCUK2024 yesterday!

We're at #RCUK2024! Ft. @ruchakarkarey.bsky.social plenary on spawning grouper @netlab.bsky.social on reef shark residency in El Nino @lljeannot.bsky.social seabird nutrients and cryptobenthic fish Visiting researchers Anish Paul on fish predation, Jane Sudrajat & Maserati on coral restoration

Anish Paul talking about the role of predator-driven nutrients in facilitating herbivory on coral reefs. 🪸🐠🐟 #RCUK2024 #coralreefs #India #Lakshadweep @lec-reefs.bsky.social #NCBSIndia

Preorder. This. Book! 👇

Climate Change Affects Multiple Coral Reef Fisheries Ecosystem Services: doi.org/10.1111/fme.... We examined catch rates, affordability & nutritional content on bleached coral reefs. Led by Dr Sarah Martin, w @james-robinson.bsky.social @nickajgraham.bsky.social Seychelles Fishing Authority

Climate Change Affects Multiple Coral Reef Fisheries Ecosystem Services

Coral reef fisheries support livelihoods and provide an affordable source of essential dietary nutrients to coastal people. However, climate-driven coral bleaching is dramatically altering reef habit....

doi.org

On #worldfisheriesday we celebrate the diverse ways in which people are connected to nature through fisheries. 🐟🐠🎣🪸🍱🍤 @lec-reefs.bsky.social Illustration: Manini Bansal

Excited to be speaking at this COP29 Virtual Ocean Pavilion event tomorrow. I'll be chatting about @lec-reefs.bsky.social research into marine ecosystem connectivity 🪶🪸🌊 You can register to attend here: cop29oceanpavilion.vfairs.com

Honoured to be a plenary speaker at #ReefConsUK this year! Excited to share insights from a decade of studying & conserving fish #spawningaggregations in #India in my talk titled: "Site-fidelity: place-based ecology and the case of the squaretail groupers"

Thank you Smore Science Magazine for this sweet feature. Hope it inspires more girls of colour to become professional stalkers…fish stalkers i.e ;) #marinebiology #fishbehaviour #globalsouth #browninscience✊🏽 www.smorescience.com/rucha-karkar...

Interested in quantifying energy and nutrient fluxes in coral reef ecosystems (and beyond)? We have just the right paper for you, reviewing & highlighting the most exciting approaches to getting a handle on elemental fluxes in the most diverse marine ecosystem. www.cell.com/trends/ecolo...

#NewPaper providing a framework that YOU can use to estimate the amount of energy that any population of marine bird (e.g. #seabirds, ducks, & divers) uses day-to-day. It was a pleasure to co-lead this with my PhD pal Jamie Duckworth 🐦 Out now in JEB: doi.org/10.1242/jeb....

Excited to be heading back to my second home #Lakshadweep 🏝️ for another action-packed exploration of the social - ecological dynamics of fish spawning aggregations 🐠🐠🪸🎣 A merry fishmas to you all!

Seabirds help corals grow twice as fast, recovering coral populations following an extreme marine heatwave. Check out our new paper in Science Advances here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Follow us for cool tropical marine science 🪸🐠🎣🍱🐧

LEC Reefs@lec-reefs.bsky.social · 3y ago

We've moved! Yes, we've left the bad place and are looking forward to connecting with old & new friends here. Follow us for new research from across the tropics, on fish, people, food, and climate. 🐟🪸🧪 You'll like it - tell your friends!