Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr. Catherine Macdonald @drcatmac.bsky.social · 1d

So proud!!! That’s the dream! Congratulations!

Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group @iucnshark.bsky.social · 3d

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has just been updated and now includes assessments of 1,266 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras.

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Jennifer Molidor @jennifermolidor.bsky.social · 3d

Hanging onto every bit of good news

The river has come alive in the Klamath with wild Chinook salmon. The wider ecosystem is healing.

This most powerful story of Indigenous-led #rewilding after the largest dam removal in US history keeps getting better.

lostcoastoutpost.com/2025/oct/9/o...

One Year After Klamath Dam Removal, 'There's Just Fish Jumping All Over the Place': Scientists Describe Improvements to Water Quality and Wildlife

lostcoastoutpost.com

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 3d

EXTREMELY COOL BAT STUFF: A study out in Science today found that the greater noctule bat, Europe's largest, hunts and catches *migrating birds* while in flight. In at least one case, a bat climbed to more than 1200 feet, then chased a robin downward FAST until it caught it near the ground.

Greater noctule bats prey on and consume passerines in flight

Despite billions of passerines seasonally migrating during the night at high altitudes, only three bat species have been found to consistently tap into this rich prey resource. However, it remains unk...

www.science.org

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Rebecca R Helm @rebeccarhelm.bsky.social · 4d

Many sea stars begin life as young fairy-like creature (called a brachiolaria) that float through the open ocean. Eventually, a small star forms within them (here in yellow). The fairy-like brachiolaria sinks under the star’s weight, and the star pops out!
🎥@the_story_of_a_biologist (on Insta)

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 4d

Marine biology: your NSFW is our W

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Dr. Catherine Macdonald @drcatmac.bsky.social · 4d

I don’t know whether to feel good or bad about the degree to which this is, to me, a thing it seems completely normal to do?

Jaida Elcock @sofishtication.bsky.social · 4d

Male sharks have 2 sexual organs called claspers. If the claspers are soft and bendy, the shark is immature. If the claspers are hard and rigid, he’s ready to reproduce! And unfortunately, as I scientist, I have had to be the one to decide if a male shark was mature or not. It’s… uncomfy😅😂

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Eric Williams @geoliminal.bsky.social · 6d

years ago heard an interview w/ a biologist who worked on interspecies comm and identified the ways birds and monkeys share info, including the way they announced the presence of a jaguar. one day in the jungle he heard the jaguar call, wondered who was getting hunted, and realized "oh, it's me."

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Dr. Catherine Macdonald @drcatmac.bsky.social · 6d

FWIW I don’t know anyone who feels like they’re peak brain right now.

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Coral City Camera @coralcitycamera.bsky.social · 10d

🏁🐡🚁🐡🚁🏁🐡🚁🏁🐡🚁🏁 Huffle SZN is in full swing! Where do all these checkered pufferfish go in Autumn? What are they up to?? #checkeredpuffer #pufferfish #pufferfishofcoralcity #huffle #huffleofpuffers #school #coral #coralhead #coralcitycamera #miami #portmiami #biscaynebay #coralcity

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 10d

Oregon coho salmon making major recovery after facing extinction 🦑🌎🧪🐠

Once threatened with extinction, Oregon coho salmon could be removed from federal ESA list

Coho salmon numbers have greatly improved in Oregon's coastal rivers. They may qualify for removal from the Endangered Species Act in coming years.

www.statesmanjournal.com

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Dr. Catherine Macdonald @drcatmac.bsky.social · 10d

At least on me, it would work better as clickbait

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Dr. Catherine Macdonald @drcatmac.bsky.social · 11d

Maybe it wouldn’t (though I’m not necessarily convinced that’s true).

Even if it is—I suppose the NYT cares about that, but I don’t have to. 🤷‍♀️

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Coral City Camera @coralcitycamera.bsky.social · 11d

A great hammerhead fin-bumped the Cam to enter the Coral City Catalog of Fishes at species #219; our 17th species of shark and ray! 🔨🦈 #greathammerhead #hammerheadshark #sharksofcoralcity #coralcitycatalogoffishes #shark #coral #coralhead #coralcitycamera #miami #portmiami #biscaynebay #coralcity

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Dr. Catherine Macdonald @drcatmac.bsky.social · 11d

I wish they had used this beautiful quote he offered in the story as the headline instead:

“She was scared also. It was not her fault.”

‘She Could Have Killed Me’: Scientist Survives Shark Bite to His Head

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Brian O'Meara @omearabrian.bsky.social · 11d

Webpage on the hidden curriculum of applying to ecology and evolution grad programs in the US (a lot of the info applies to other fields too, but perhaps less well): applyingtoeeb.info

#AcademicSky 🧪

Applying to US Graduate School in Ecology, Evolution, and Related Fields

applyingtoeeb.info

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Ryan Marino, MD @ryanmarino.bsky.social · 12d

This is why we fund scientists to study things like oyster slobber even if you don’t think it sounds important

Leah 🐸 McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 14d

⚠️ Chinese researchers have invented bone glue that mimics how oysters stick to surfaces underwater.

The adhesive can reportedly repair orthopedic fractures in 2-3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments, and is bioabsorbable.

interestingengineering.com/science/chin...

China's oyster-inspired 'bone glue' bonds fractures in minutes

A new oyster-inspired Bone-02 adhesive can revolutionize bone repair without metal fasteners.

interestingengineering.com

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

dr℮w @giantmolecular.cloud · 17d

It seems the GRFP solicitation is FINALLY released (like 5 minutes ago)! Due dates have also been pushed back, thankfully! 🧪 🔭

www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

www.nsf.gov

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Dr. Catherine Macdonald @drcatmac.bsky.social · 17d

Also this really isn’t super-esoteric information available only to experts. There are details about sharks that media gets wrong that are genuinely nuanced or obscure, but this is literally the first result if you google “hammerhead shark catch and release”:

A headline reads “hammerhead sharks vulnerable to catch and release fishing”

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Dr. Catherine Macdonald @drcatmac.bsky.social · 17d

Salmon sharks a few weeks ago:

a man sits on a bench with the words " this is my favorite time of year "

Alt: a man dressed as a priest sits on a bench with the words " this is my favorite time of year "

media.tenor.com

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Dr. Catherine Macdonald @drcatmac.bsky.social · 17d

Feels like “Salmon Murder Week” would be more accurate?

Ben Goldfarb @bengoldfarb.bsky.social · 17d

Petition to rechristen Fat Bear Week “Salmon Abundance Week.” The fish are the ones who endure the trials of migration and suffer the misery of getting chomped! The bears just stand in the chow line and wait for sockeye to deliver themselves. #SalmonAbundanceWeek

a brown bear is walking across a waterfall with netflix written on the bottom

ALT: a brown bear is walking across a waterfall with netflix written on the bottom

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Jean-François Cudennec @jfcudennec.bsky.social · 19d

major traffic incident

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Andrew D Thaler @drandrewthaler.bsky.social · 21d

A good, short primer on what the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction means and what comes next.

The US has signed, but yet ratified the treaty. Ratification requires a 2/3 votes in the to the US Senate. Add ratification of the High Seas Treaty to your regular constituent call.

A primer on what the high seas treaty is and how it will work

The approval of a high seas treaty means new protections will be possible for international waters for the first time.

apnews.com

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Rachel H @rachelcraves.bsky.social · 21d

Ah yes, the three primary colors

Amazon options to buy a notebook in Green, Purple, or Shark.

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Reposted by Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Dr. Dawn Wright @deepseadawn.bsky.social · 23d

At yesterday's 80th @UN General Assembly, the High Seas Treaty was FINALLY ratified! 🌊 🦑

Aka the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ) Agreement, it now officially enters into force in 120 days, becoming international law in Jan 2026.

highseasalliance.org/treaty-ratif...

High Seas Treaty Ratification Tracker

At least 60 countries must sign and ratify the High Seas Treaty for it to become international law. Join the #RaceForRatification. Ask leaders to ratify the Treaty Now!

highseasalliance.org

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