Olivia Brooks
@olbrooks.bsky.social
Evolutionary and behavioral ecologist | Herpetologist | Postdoc at Virginia Tech | she/her
Website: https://olivialbrooks.weebly.com/
Website: https://olivialbrooks.weebly.com/
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
When a meal fights back!
I’ve only gotten distant looks at Yellow-crowned Night-heron adults, delighted to find one close! It’s trying to eat a crab but the crab’s got its beak pinched.
Super compressed video quickly moved to my phone from my camera (sorry!) just too excited to wait to share
I’ve only gotten distant looks at Yellow-crowned Night-heron adults, delighted to find one close! It’s trying to eat a crab but the crab’s got its beak pinched.
Super compressed video quickly moved to my phone from my camera (sorry!) just too excited to wait to share
November 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
When a meal fights back!
I’ve only gotten distant looks at Yellow-crowned Night-heron adults, delighted to find one close! It’s trying to eat a crab but the crab’s got its beak pinched.
Super compressed video quickly moved to my phone from my camera (sorry!) just too excited to wait to share
I’ve only gotten distant looks at Yellow-crowned Night-heron adults, delighted to find one close! It’s trying to eat a crab but the crab’s got its beak pinched.
Super compressed video quickly moved to my phone from my camera (sorry!) just too excited to wait to share
New paper from @maggiehantak.bsky.social and coauthors! Red-backed salamander sexual size dimorphism and mate associations vary by population. Salamanders are...complicated.
doi.org/10.1007/s004...
doi.org/10.1007/s004...
Spatial variation in sexual size dimorphism and mating associations in the color polymorphic Eastern Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) - Oecologia
Sexual selection due to mate preference for certain traits can maintain phenotypic diversity within populations and species. In taxa with discrete phenotypes, such as color polymorphic species, assort...
doi.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
New paper from @maggiehantak.bsky.social and coauthors! Red-backed salamander sexual size dimorphism and mate associations vary by population. Salamanders are...complicated.
doi.org/10.1007/s004...
doi.org/10.1007/s004...
I had a great time speaking at Blacksburg Books about all things poison frogs! Thanks to everyone who came out!
October 27, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I had a great time speaking at Blacksburg Books about all things poison frogs! Thanks to everyone who came out!
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
Biologists have long assumed losing a limb would be a death sentence for lizards, but a new study pokes a hole in this theory. https://scim.ag/49fjA5u
‘Pirate lizards’ can adapt to survive on just three legs
New study demonstrates why limb loss isn’t necessarily a death sentence
scim.ag
October 23, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Biologists have long assumed losing a limb would be a death sentence for lizards, but a new study pokes a hole in this theory. https://scim.ag/49fjA5u
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
Wow, nature is too cool! Structures on stinkbug hind legs that used to be interpreted as ears are actually chambers with fungi. The bugs coat their eggs in those fungi to protect them against parasitoid wasps. 🧪
Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs
Dinidorid stinkbugs were reported to possess a conspicuous tympanal organ on female hindlegs. In this study, we show that this organ is specialized to retain microbial symbionts rather than to perceiv...
www.science.org
October 17, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Wow, nature is too cool! Structures on stinkbug hind legs that used to be interpreted as ears are actually chambers with fungi. The bugs coat their eggs in those fungi to protect them against parasitoid wasps. 🧪
Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
Color me surprised! Waldron et al. (2025) studied the evolutionary consequences polymorphism in Plethodonts using a complete phylogenomic tree of of the family paired with morphometric analyses. She the results of this #AWNews at AmphibiaWeb.org
September 29, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Color me surprised! Waldron et al. (2025) studied the evolutionary consequences polymorphism in Plethodonts using a complete phylogenomic tree of of the family paired with morphometric analyses. She the results of this #AWNews at AmphibiaWeb.org
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
― Jane Goodall (1934-2025)
― Jane Goodall (1934-2025)
October 1, 2025 at 6:34 PM
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
― Jane Goodall (1934-2025)
― Jane Goodall (1934-2025)
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
Small but not defenseless 🦇
In our latest paper, we describe a behavior in disc-winged bats that is endearing and a little fearsome. When threatened, these bats shake the leaf, producing a loud drumming-like sound. This display likely signals to predators that the bats are aware of their presence.
In our latest paper, we describe a behavior in disc-winged bats that is endearing and a little fearsome. When threatened, these bats shake the leaf, producing a loud drumming-like sound. This display likely signals to predators that the bats are aware of their presence.
Drumming as a potential defense strategy against roost intruders in disk-winged bats - Mammalian Biology
Roosting animals face frequent threats from intruders, including predators, competitors, and parasites, and have evolved a range of strategies to mitigate these risks. Here, we report the first eviden...
link.springer.com
September 5, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Small but not defenseless 🦇
In our latest paper, we describe a behavior in disc-winged bats that is endearing and a little fearsome. When threatened, these bats shake the leaf, producing a loud drumming-like sound. This display likely signals to predators that the bats are aware of their presence.
In our latest paper, we describe a behavior in disc-winged bats that is endearing and a little fearsome. When threatened, these bats shake the leaf, producing a loud drumming-like sound. This display likely signals to predators that the bats are aware of their presence.
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
August 31, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Big fan of pitcher plants!
Aliens on Chobham Common - purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea) and yellow pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava). These carnivorous plants are native to North America and have been introduced to Chobham Common decades ago
August 30, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Big fan of pitcher plants!
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
My feather cell type paper is finally out! doi.org/10.1111/ede.... We’ve packed a ton of stuff into this paper but I’ll go through some highlights in this thread!
Genetic Characterization of the Cell Types in Developing Feathers, and the Evolution of Feather Complexity
We used single cell sequencing to investigate the cell types of developing chicken feathers. From these data, we are able to describe the transcriptional profile of feather cell types, look at their ....
doi.org
August 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
My feather cell type paper is finally out! doi.org/10.1111/ede.... We’ve packed a ton of stuff into this paper but I’ll go through some highlights in this thread!
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
The Common Midwife Toad (Alytes obstetricans) gets its name from its unique parental care. The male toads carry their eggs around with them on the legs.
📸 Diego González Dopico and Christian Fischer
learn more about the toad 🐸 at buff.ly/oJHHCYi
📸 Diego González Dopico and Christian Fischer
learn more about the toad 🐸 at buff.ly/oJHHCYi
August 26, 2025 at 10:02 PM
The Common Midwife Toad (Alytes obstetricans) gets its name from its unique parental care. The male toads carry their eggs around with them on the legs.
📸 Diego González Dopico and Christian Fischer
learn more about the toad 🐸 at buff.ly/oJHHCYi
📸 Diego González Dopico and Christian Fischer
learn more about the toad 🐸 at buff.ly/oJHHCYi
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
We need about 300 more scientists before we let teachers loose on the database!
Tell your colleagues, we need ya!
Tell your colleagues, we need ya!
Scientists!
@skypeascientist.bsky.social matches scientists with classrooms, libraries, & more for virtual Q&As! It's easy and fun!
We are looking for 750 more volunteers by 8/15
If you're down to chat with 1-5 classrooms this semester, sign up here
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
@skypeascientist.bsky.social matches scientists with classrooms, libraries, & more for virtual Q&As! It's easy and fun!
We are looking for 750 more volunteers by 8/15
If you're down to chat with 1-5 classrooms this semester, sign up here
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
August 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
We need about 300 more scientists before we let teachers loose on the database!
Tell your colleagues, we need ya!
Tell your colleagues, we need ya!
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
Sooo we know about placental mammals vs species like echidnas. But I learned today that fish can also have placentas?? In poeciliidae (guppies, mollies, etc) placentas independently evolved MULTIPLE times. In some fish, you can even see the umbilical cord-like structures that connect to the mother🧪
August 2, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Sooo we know about placental mammals vs species like echidnas. But I learned today that fish can also have placentas?? In poeciliidae (guppies, mollies, etc) placentas independently evolved MULTIPLE times. In some fish, you can even see the umbilical cord-like structures that connect to the mother🧪
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
Got this really cool, ghostly picture by accident the other day in Dillon Beach, CA. It is a Heermann's gull with both it's shadow and reflection.
#birds
#birds
August 8, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Got this really cool, ghostly picture by accident the other day in Dillon Beach, CA. It is a Heermann's gull with both it's shadow and reflection.
#birds
#birds
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
Soras are quite shy and spend the majority of their time lurking in reed beds. But what happens when you are hunting amongst the reeds, catch a bug, and need to take it back to your chicks … across an open gap?
YOU SPRINT FOR IT!
Those feet were made for that!
#Birds #photography #wildlife 🪶
YOU SPRINT FOR IT!
Those feet were made for that!
#Birds #photography #wildlife 🪶
August 4, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Soras are quite shy and spend the majority of their time lurking in reed beds. But what happens when you are hunting amongst the reeds, catch a bug, and need to take it back to your chicks … across an open gap?
YOU SPRINT FOR IT!
Those feet were made for that!
#Birds #photography #wildlife 🪶
YOU SPRINT FOR IT!
Those feet were made for that!
#Birds #photography #wildlife 🪶
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
Why do treehoppers look so weird?! Our latest paper, out this week in @pnas.org, suggests a perhaps unexpected reason - static electricity ⚡ We show that treehoppers can detect the electrostatic cues of predators and that their crazy shapes may boost their electrosensitivity! doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
Electroreception in treehoppers: How extreme morphologies can increase electrical sensitivity | PNAS
The link between form and function of an organism’s morphology is usually apparent
or intuitive. However, some clades of organisms show remarkable ...
doi.org
July 24, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Why do treehoppers look so weird?! Our latest paper, out this week in @pnas.org, suggests a perhaps unexpected reason - static electricity ⚡ We show that treehoppers can detect the electrostatic cues of predators and that their crazy shapes may boost their electrosensitivity! doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
Better together: sibling cooperation matters! Burying beetle larvae consistently benefited from growing up with siblings, both with & without parents. Huber et al. show that sibling interactions can play a key role in the evolution of family life. Read now!
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
July 21, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Better together: sibling cooperation matters! Burying beetle larvae consistently benefited from growing up with siblings, both with & without parents. Huber et al. show that sibling interactions can play a key role in the evolution of family life. Read now!
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
Don't jump to quick(silver) conclusions. In this week's #AWNews Kain et al. (2025) provide evidence that immune response in the presence of methylmercury can be highly variable in wild populations of amphibians. Read more at AmphibiaWeb.org
July 21, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Don't jump to quick(silver) conclusions. In this week's #AWNews Kain et al. (2025) provide evidence that immune response in the presence of methylmercury can be highly variable in wild populations of amphibians. Read more at AmphibiaWeb.org
This salamander was doing her best impression of a mossy rock.
July 20, 2025 at 12:37 PM
This salamander was doing her best impression of a mossy rock.
Happy #WorldSnakeDay from this little pretzel of a garter snake.
July 16, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Happy #WorldSnakeDay from this little pretzel of a garter snake.
Reposted by Olivia Brooks
#SnakeWeek: DeLalande's Blind Snake (Rhinotyphlops lalandei), South Africa. The enlarged rostral scale helps these snakes to push thru soil in search of termite and ant larvae. The eyes are simple light detectors for a snake that lives mostly underground. #herps #snakes #NaturePhotography 🌿
July 14, 2025 at 3:00 PM
#SnakeWeek: DeLalande's Blind Snake (Rhinotyphlops lalandei), South Africa. The enlarged rostral scale helps these snakes to push thru soil in search of termite and ant larvae. The eyes are simple light detectors for a snake that lives mostly underground. #herps #snakes #NaturePhotography 🌿
