Hydrology Paper of the Day @seanmichaletz.bsky.social on why physical cutting of branches for leaf gas exchange measurements affects xylem water potential: quantification of processes in 26 species; utilization of the unified stomatal optimization model; hypotheses of processes; and mitigation.

Sean Michaletz@seanmichaletz.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Does branch excision bias our #photosynthesis data? New paper led by #MarcellaCross shows excision increases water potential but reduces photosynthesis in most species, with trait-dependent effects, so excised branches underestimate intact rates. www.researchgate.net/publication/... #MichaletzLab

Shout out to Amy Angert for her wisdom and collaboration, and thank you to NSERC, @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social and @asn-amnat.bsky.social Graduate Student Research Awards for your support in setting up a new experimental system using duckweeds! 🦆🌱

How does sexual selection produce strikingly different phenotypes from the same genetic material? Find out at our next keynote lecture by @judithmank.bsky.social, Professor of Evolutionary Genomics at @zoology.ubc.ca & @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social. 📅 August 25 at 11:00a.m. 📍 Room NQ105, Martinsried

Does branch excision bias our #photosynthesis data? New paper led by #MarcellaCross shows excision increases water potential but reduces photosynthesis in most species, with trait-dependent effects, so excised branches underestimate intact rates. www.researchgate.net/publication/... #MichaletzLab

New research "underscores the unfortunate truth that even the red- and blue-listed species in B.C. are not afforded effective legal protections by the province,” said UBC's Dr. Sarah Otto. @zoology.ubc.ca @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social thetyee.ca/News/2026/03...

Just 14 Species Have ‘Genuinely’ Improved on BC’s At-Risk Lists | The Tyee

That’s out of 2,642 struggling species tracked in a new wildlife study.

thetyee.ca

For the first time in the wild, researchers have shown plant populations can evolve quickly enough to rebound from extreme drought. The study is a rare ray of hope in an often gloomy climate landscape. @zoology.ubc.ca @ubcbotany.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

Wild plants able to rapidly evolve to survive climate change, study reveals

For the first time in the wild, researchers have shown plant populations can evolve quickly enough to rebound from extreme drought. The study, out of UBC and Cornell University, is a rare ray of hope ...

cbc.ca

“The heatwave had widespread ecological effects, including an almost 400% increase in wildfire activity & negatively affecting more than three-quarters of the species studied,” said UBC zoologist Dr. Diane Srivastava. @zoology.ubc.ca @srivastavalab.bsky.social www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-...

North America’s 2021 ‘heat dome’ has caused catastropic ecological damage: study

Billions of mussels scorched and baby birds dropping from sweltering nests: North America’s 2021 heatwave caused a cascade of ecological damage, some of it catastrophic, some unexpected, a new study s...

ctvnews.ca

A sweeping new study of the 2021 heat wave reveals major ecological losses—but also surprising species that thrived, offering crucial insight into how climate extremes reshape ecosystems. @zoology.ubc.ca @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social science.ubc.ca/news/2026-03...

Extreme heat has extreme effects–but some like it hot

A sweeping new study of the 2021 heat wave reveals offers crucial insight into how climate extremes reshape ecosystems.

science.ubc.ca

New paper alert! The 2021 western North American #heatwave had widespread but variable impacts across species & ecosystems, with cascading effects on #productivity, #streamflow, & #wildfire. @baumlab.bsky.social @katiegwin.bsky.social @coleburton.bsky.social @srivastavalab.bsky.social bit.ly/3NnoEfA

Two of UBC’s premier research prizes were awarded to UBC Science faculty members today, with Dr. Curtis Suttle (@virosphere.bsky.social) receiving the Jacob Biely award, and Dr. Jess McIver earning UBC’s Charles A. McDowell award. @killamtrusts.bsky.social science.ubc.ca/news/2026-03...

Marine virologist, astrophysicist earn UBC’s top research prizes

UBC recognizes six Science faculty members for research excellence, with two of the university's top prizes awarded to Dr. Curtis Suttle and Dr. Jess McIver.

science.ubc.ca

Congratulations to Dr. Curtis Suttle, has been awarded the Jacob Biely Faculty Research Award. This award is regarded as UBC’s premier award for research across all disciplines. @ubcmicroimmuno.bsky.social @eoas.ubc.ca @ubcbotany.bsky.social oceans.ubc.ca/2026/03/10/d...

Looking for a meaningful holiday gift that goes beyond the usual presents? A Beaty Biodiversity Museum membership is a thoughtful option for families and science enthusiasts of all ages. Click the link to know more: beatymuseum.ubc.ca/visit/member... #BCmuseums #SciComm #UBCscience #UBCcampus #UBC

Check out our #MichaletzLab presentations at #AGU2025 this week! @agu.org @agubiogeosciences.bsky.social @gec-agu.bsky.social @nicolebison.bsky.social @milossimovic.bsky.social

Recent study revealed plants are starting to lose more water under high temperatures. Known as "leaky plants," the abnormality is increasing because of #ClimateChange, potentially converting them from carbon sinks to carbon sources @seanmichaletz.bsky.social www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/clim...

Why leaky plants are a troublesome climate issue for Earth - The Weather Network

A recent study revealed that plants are starting to lose more water under high temperatures. A phenomenon known as 'leaky plants' is increasing because of climate change, potentially converting them f...

theweathernetwork.com

As @seanmichaletz.bsky.social puts it, "plants are basically the foundation of the entire biosphere." Leaky plants are problematic for everything. “All of the other living organisms on Earth...that's the energy source for all of the other living organisms. Other organisms eat that biomass for food.”

“Things are getting worse faster than we anticipated. "It appears we’re already close to the edge of some tipping points and we just haven’t found them yet.” @ubcoceans.bsky.social Dr. Chris Harley commented on B.C. ocean acidification via @viawesome.bsky.social buff.ly/JXS7fRx

B.C.'s oceans are turning acidic faster than once thought, finds study

Coral records reveal B.C. ocean acidity amplified 50 per cent more than previously thought, threatening a $452-million shellfish fishery

biv.com

Excited to share our fresh-off-the-press Annual Review on the role of temperature in metabolic scaling! We review the state of the field on this topic and unpack confusion about the various ways the term "scaling" is used in metabolic theories. www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...

Scaling Temperature Effects on Metabolism from Individuals to Ecosystems

The effects of temperature on metabolic rates are a core component of ecological change, with surprisingly regular effects across diverse ecological systems. Metabolic scaling theories can provide qua...

annualreviews.org

#UBC Botany is hiring an Assistant Professor in Non-Seed Plant Diversity - come work with us in beautiful #Vancouver, BC! Please repost! academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31140

Come join us!!

Rachel Germain@gerlame.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Applications are currently being accepted for UBC's ✨️ Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship ✨️ (two positions!!), due Jan. 15 Please share far and wide 🚀 (See thread)

“Bioluminescence is light made by living things,” Dr. Chris Harley explains. “The sparkly glow we sometimes see in the #ocean is caused by tiny, single-celled creatures in the #plankton called Noctiluca, which means ‘night light.'” curiocity.com/bioluminesce... @zoology.ubc.ca

The ocean's 'sparkly glow': Here's where to witness bioluminescence in B.C.

Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon producing a radiant blue glow in the ocean, & here are the best places to witness it in B.C.

curiocity.com

Two covers for papers published on the same day www.pnas.org/toc/pnas/122... & www.nature.com/natecolevol/.... Proud of the team, especially #MelaniePrentice & @kevinzhong2006.bsky.social with @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social, @eoas.ubc.ca, @ubcoceans.bsky.social, @hakai.org and @science.ubc.ca

Table of Contents — August 19, 2025, 122 (33) | PNAS

View the Table of Contents for Volume 122, Issue 33

pnas.org

Like woodpeckers? Or population genomics? Or three-species hybridization? Or selective sweeps? Then this is for you! The typeset version of "Evidence for ancient selective sweeps followed by differentiation among three species of Sphyrapicus sapsuckers" is published today: doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...

Evidence for ancient selective sweeps followed by differentiation among three species of Sphyrapicus sapsuckers

Abstract. Genomic differentiation usually accompanies speciation, but that differentiation is often highly heterogeneous across the genome. Understanding w

doi.org

Darren Irwin (he / him)@darrenirwin.bsky.social · last yr.

Now available online in Accepted Manuscript form: "Evidence for ancient selective sweeps followed by differentiation among three species of Sphyrapicus sapsuckers" In the Journal of Evolutionary Biology: doi.org/10.1093/jeb/... Congrats to lead author Libby Natola!

What drives photosynthesis temperature sensitivity? New #GCB paper from #MichaletzLab grad #JosefGaren uses #FAsTeR to show it's 1‑day weather, not traits, origin climate, or phylogeny! www.researchgate.net/publication/... @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social @science.ubc.ca @globalchangebio.bsky.social

Many of us are using LLMs in coding and scientific writing. They are very helpful tools, but we need to be thoughtful as we integrate them into our work flows to preserve accountability, voice and trust. academic.oup.com/evlett/advan.... An editorial at @evolletters.bsky.social for discussion:

Editorial: Accountability, voice, and trust - responsible use of GenAI in scientific publishing

Over the last few years, the development and rapid advancement of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatG

academic.oup.com

Just in time for her #eseb2025 poster on Thursday, @squarehare.bsky.social 's paper on the Poecilia bifurca sex chromosomes was published today academic.oup.com/g3journal/ad...

Judith Mank@judithmank.bsky.social · last yr.

Lydia Fong’s poster is on Thursday, P03.077. Genome of the Amazon Guppy (Poecilia bifurca) reveals conservation of sex chromosomes and dosage compensation. The preprint for this is at www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... @squarehare.bsky.social #eseb2025 5/n

Now available online in Accepted Manuscript form: "Evidence for ancient selective sweeps followed by differentiation among three species of Sphyrapicus sapsuckers" In the Journal of Evolutionary Biology: doi.org/10.1093/jeb/... Congrats to lead author Libby Natola!

#UBC zoologist Dr. Judith Myers has spent five decades studying a native moth species and their boom-and-bust population cycles. She discusses her journey, findings from a recent study, and the caterpillars’ surprising resistance to climate change. science.ubc.ca/news/2025-08...

Why these hairy caterpillars swarm every decade – then vanish without a trace

Western tent caterpillars might not be on your mind every year, but during their peak outbreaks, they’re impossible to ignore—hairy larvae wriggling across roads and swarms of caterpillars climbing ho...

science.ubc.ca

Very proud of the work from lab members and collaborators that coincidentally came out today www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... and www.nature.com/articles/s41.... A bacterial and viral pathogen associated with mass mortality in seastars and oysters. @kevinzhong2006.bsky.social @rhizalyssa.bsky.social

Evolutionarily divergent nidovirus with an exceptionally large genome identified in Pacific oysters undergoing mass mortality | PNAS

Metatranscriptomic data from a mass-mortality event of adult Pacific Oysters, Crassostrea (Magallana) gigas, the most widely cultivated shellfish g...

pnas.org

Times Colonist@timescolonist.bsky.social · last yr.

Celebrate #Biodiversity in style! Support the #UBC Biodiversity Research Centre with exclusive logo swag - where science meets style & conservation comes to life! Order t-shirts, mugs, & water bottles by 31 July! beatymuseum.ubc.ca/brc-merch @zoology.ubc.ca @science.ubc.ca @ubcbotany.bsky.social