Well this is a big one the largest paper from my PhD is finally out! We show how direct lighting influences optimal camouflage! With shadows promoting the evolution of darker, striped patterns and countershading!! journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

Shining a light on camouflage evolution: Using genetic algorithms to determine the effects of geometry and lighting on optimal camouflage

Visual camouflage evolution in animals depends on both light’s interaction with its surroundings and the limits of what the natural observers of the camouflage can see. Changes in lighting – such as t...

journals.plos.org

Despite advances, quantifying complex motion info remains challenging. @jtroscianko.bsky.social @kevinjgaston.bsky.social &co present BehaveAI, a #video analysis tool that sees motion as color, tracking animals & classifying #behavior in complex natural scenes @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4kTF1wX

Eye-opening findings on how light suppresses moth activity. Light attracts moths, but what if we've been missing a much more pervasive effect where even sky-glow light levels make them freeze? Paper: doi.org/10.1098/rspb... @uniexecec.bsky.social @esbriolat.bsky.social @kevinjgaston.bsky.social

Moths move significantly less when exposed to artificial nighttime light, new research from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter, Cornwall shows. Read More: news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-e... @uniexecec.bsky.social #ExeterEcology

Artificial nighttime lighting is suppressing moth activity

Moths move significantly less when exposed to artificial nighttime light, new research shows. Moths’ attraction to artificial light, such as streetlights, is common knowledge and has been much studied...

news.exeter.ac.uk

Our BehaveAI paper has just come out! Easy & effective tracking & behavioural classification, even with tiny (2px), fast moving, camouflaged objects. Paper: doi.org/10.1371/jour... Download: github.com/troscianko/B... @uniexecec.bsky.social @kevinjgaston.bsky.social @jimamclgalloway.bsky.social

Many thanks to all authors, namely to @scienceanna.bsky.social, @lisandrinamari.bsky.social, @jtroscianko.bsky.social, V. Jelínek and T. Albrecht, to all participants that played the egg game, to our research institute @ivb-cas.bsky.social of @czechacademy.bsky.social. And of course, to all BIRDS!

The final schedule for Winter ASAB is finalised, and we've got an absolutely fantastic line-up. We had 176 talk abstract submissions and just 24 slots - can't wait to see them. asabwinter.github.io/2025/schedule/ @asab-meetings.bsky.social

This grass moth is often invisible in still frames, but easy to see in motion. BehaveAI can use this motion to track tiny & camouflaged moving objects in complex scenes. Its semi-automated annotation workflow also means this moth-tracker took only an hour to make. Preprint: tinyurl.com/BehaveAI

BehaveAI can tell you who is doing what in each video frame. This example classifies behaviour from movement and sex from static appearance such as wing markings. Preprint: tinyurl.com/BehaveAI Git: tinyurl.com/BehaveAIgithub Video: tinyurl.com/BehaveAIintro @uniexecec.bsky.social

BehaveAI is live! Our biologically inspired video analysis tool sees motion as colour. Track animals or objects, classify their behaviour, and handle complex natural scenes with ease. Semi-supervised annotation, no GPUs required, user-friendly, free & open source. Pre-print tinyurl.com/BehaveAI

Winter ASAB @asab.org on *Sensory Ecology* register and submit your abstracts now (abstract deadline just a month away)! I'm organising the conference this year with @lauraakelley.bsky.social and Innes Cuthill Register & get more info here: asabwinter.github.io/2025/

✨Out Now✨ The outcome of my 1st ever #guppy experiment (from 2021!) w @ccioannou.bsky.social & @jtroscianko.bsky.social We asked: How detectable are guppies to visual predators under different env. conditions?👇 academic.oup.com/beheco/artic... #ISBE #fish #behaviour @bristolbiosci.bsky.social 🧵1/9

Enhanced conspicuousness of prey in warmer water mitigates the constraint of turbidity for predators

Abstract. Changes in environmental conditions impact predator-prey interactions by altering behaviour through sensory and non-sensory (e.g. metabolic or co

academic.oup.com

Just a few days left to sign up for our light pollution & insect declines workshop - FREE registration & meals - deadline for registration March 21st, and deadline for expert scan suggestions 22nd. www.visual-ecology.com/events/

@jtroscianko.bsky.social visited us @aplantaginis.bsky.social in #viikki and gave a fantastic talk about #ALAN and its implications on nocturnal #moths. Packed lecture room and lots of fun discussion. Thanks so much for visiting!

We are delighted to host an RCN symposium on light pollution as a driver of insect declines. May 12th-14th, Penryn. We will draw on academics, industry, planners & NGOs to explore issues & seek solutions. Free registration, but limited places! www.visual-ecology.com/events/ @uniexecec.bsky.social

New open-source hyperspectral imager you can 3D print for less than $450 from @jtroscianko.bsky.social. The HOSI system can take panoramic hyperspectral images that meet the difficult requirements of artificial light at night (ALAN) research. bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.... #BMCBiology

Hyperspectral Imager paper out! High sensitivity UV to nearIR, full-field panoramas, radiance & reflectance, runs from a smartphone. Build the system for about $450 from 3D printed parts & off-the-shelf components. Paper: doi.org/10.1186/s129... Intro video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q8l...

Hyperspectral Open Source Imager (HOSI) introduction

YouTube video by Jolyon Troscianko

youtube.com

Exciting PhD opportunity with @neeltjeboogert.bsky.social , @padpadpadpad.bsky.social (Exeter) and myself (Bristol) on gulls, their microbiomes, and role in transmitting disease. Details below - deadline 13 January!

Another thing I made this year: Real and implied birds.

In one year, I genetically engineered the boring Arabidopsis into a beautiful ornamental flower 🧬🌹 Here is how and why I gave this model organism a visual upgrade 🧵(1/7)

JOB OPPORTUNITY! I am hiring a postdoc for 18 months to investigate the links between temperature and antibiotic resistance. Ecoevo microbiology, plasmids, and some super fun stats, modelling, and bioinformatics. To starts in Feb 2025. Please share! #exetercec jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...

Tomorrow is the Conservation Christmas Lecture!🎄🌍🦤🧪 This year the focus will be 'feeding the world at least cost to the planet' hosted by @kjhockings.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social Guest talks aren't recorded so make sure you're on campus! One not to miss...

New paper out! We show that heart cockles use bundled fiber optic cables to transmit light through "skylights" in their shell for their photosynthetic algae. The skylights filter out harmful UV radiation. These coral analogues are cool critters!! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Heart cockle shells transmit sunlight to photosymbiotic algae using bundled fiber optic cables and condensing lenses - Nature Communications

Some bivalves have evolved photosynthetic symbioses. Here, the authors show that heart cockles transmit light through their upper shell to internal photosynthetic symbionts, using mineral fiber optic ...

nature.com

🧪Why does warning signal variability persist in #aposematic species? Our new @sse-evolution.bsky.social paper explores this using data from 64,741 🤯 A.plantaginis, raised over 25 generations. Spoiler: no evidence that life-history traits constrain warning colours! academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...

Evolutionary potential and constraints in an aposematic species: Genetic correlations between warning coloration and fitness components in wood tiger moths

Abstract. Variability in warning signals is common but remains puzzling since deviations from the most common form should result in a higher number of pred

academic.oup.com

5 exciting PhD opportunities to join the Center for Research in Animal Behaviour at the University of Exeter in Sept 2025. www.exeter.ac.uk/research/gro...

Advent Sci-Fact 4: New headlights hurt moths! Unlike us, moths can’t blink in bright light. Moths are more likely to fly erratically towards pulses of cool toned phosphor-LEDs, compared with warmer and RGB lights. Meaning new headlights are more harmful. Paper: tinyurl.com/29avcnnx #SciComm 🧪🌍

Reminder that there's one week left to apply for this job. Please pass on the information to anyone who might be interested!

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda.bsky.social · 2y ago

Job Alert! New postdoc position in our lab investigating cognitive biases in wild bumblebees. Thanks to Wild Animal Initiative for the funding. Position for 31 months. Deadline: December 9th. Please apply/boost #PostdocJob #AcademicJobs #Bees jobs.ncl.ac.uk/job/Newcastl...

* NEW #PhD * #Evolution #Ecology of Immune #Senesence in Wild Badgers - exciting project with me, @btschirren.bsky.social & our awesome collaborators @ APHA. Based at @exetercec.bsky.social in Cornwall, UK. !PLEASE SHARE! See www.animalsocieties.org and apply: www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin... 🌏 🧪 🦑

Help us understand how conspicuous butterflies are by playing this game! mferickson.github.io/findbutterfly/

🐵📢 I am recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to work for 6-months on our NSF-BBSRC project investigating the form and function of primate natal coats. Why are some🐒 babies🍊?! www.swansea.ac.uk/jobs-at-swan... Please pass on to potential applicants and get in touch if considering applying.