Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
@biojlinnsoc.bsky.social
Highlighting ground-breaking science, news and key papers from the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, the world's oldest scientific journal dedicated to biological science.
Blog: https://www.linnean.org/news/categories/the-paper-trail
Blog: https://www.linnean.org/news/categories/the-paper-trail
Straight out of the Upside Down, this semi-aquatic (yes, they can swim) caterpillar uses warning colouration to deter predation. The fish? Well, they don't care and try eating them anyway, much to their eventual regret... 🌍 🧪 👇
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
November 27, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Straight out of the Upside Down, this semi-aquatic (yes, they can swim) caterpillar uses warning colouration to deter predation. The fish? Well, they don't care and try eating them anyway, much to their eventual regret... 🌍 🧪 👇
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
What's that? You didn't know boxfish made sound? Me neither...
It turns out all species (Atlantic & Pacific) do, yet little is known about how this evolved. A novel structure found only in the Atlantic species offered the answer, but it isn't quite what you think...🌍 🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
It turns out all species (Atlantic & Pacific) do, yet little is known about how this evolved. A novel structure found only in the Atlantic species offered the answer, but it isn't quite what you think...🌍 🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
November 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
What's that? You didn't know boxfish made sound? Me neither...
It turns out all species (Atlantic & Pacific) do, yet little is known about how this evolved. A novel structure found only in the Atlantic species offered the answer, but it isn't quite what you think...🌍 🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
It turns out all species (Atlantic & Pacific) do, yet little is known about how this evolved. A novel structure found only in the Atlantic species offered the answer, but it isn't quite what you think...🌍 🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
We all know humans are having an impact on the environment, but most efforts to preserve #Biodiversity are designed for vertebrates, with little known about invertebrates! Here, European gastropods are given their time in the sun, helping identify human hotspots & influence conservation! (1/2) 🌍 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 10:12 AM
We all know humans are having an impact on the environment, but most efforts to preserve #Biodiversity are designed for vertebrates, with little known about invertebrates! Here, European gastropods are given their time in the sun, helping identify human hotspots & influence conservation! (1/2) 🌍 🧪
The mourning gecko has apparently many things to be sad about, but its cranial development is not one of them! Using CT scans of three embryonic stages, the skull development of these little reptiles was studied, revealing the phylogenetic potential of such data in reptiles!🌍
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
November 18, 2025 at 10:12 AM
The mourning gecko has apparently many things to be sad about, but its cranial development is not one of them! Using CT scans of three embryonic stages, the skull development of these little reptiles was studied, revealing the phylogenetic potential of such data in reptiles!🌍
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
Incy wincy spider, didn't help the Bromeliad out?
Little is known about the interactions between spiders & bromeliads in the Caatinga, until now! Looking at 41 plants, the presence of spiders led to reduced leaf & fruit growth, suggesting a parasitic interaction!🌍🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
Little is known about the interactions between spiders & bromeliads in the Caatinga, until now! Looking at 41 plants, the presence of spiders led to reduced leaf & fruit growth, suggesting a parasitic interaction!🌍🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
November 7, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Incy wincy spider, didn't help the Bromeliad out?
Little is known about the interactions between spiders & bromeliads in the Caatinga, until now! Looking at 41 plants, the presence of spiders led to reduced leaf & fruit growth, suggesting a parasitic interaction!🌍🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
Little is known about the interactions between spiders & bromeliads in the Caatinga, until now! Looking at 41 plants, the presence of spiders led to reduced leaf & fruit growth, suggesting a parasitic interaction!🌍🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
Niche position & breadth were tested against different evolutionary models, finding Brownian Motion (where traits change gradually due to random shifts) to be the best fit. In other words, these species aren't as restricted to their ancestral niche as one might expect! What does this mean? (5/6)
October 14, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Niche position & breadth were tested against different evolutionary models, finding Brownian Motion (where traits change gradually due to random shifts) to be the best fit. In other words, these species aren't as restricted to their ancestral niche as one might expect! What does this mean? (5/6)
Sometimes its not always clear if similar niches are due to shared ancestry (PNC) or as a result of these interactions. Here, this was investigated in ants and swollen-thorn acacias using phylogenetic trees for both species' groups. Using a whole-tree & split-pairwise approach, how was this done?
October 14, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Sometimes its not always clear if similar niches are due to shared ancestry (PNC) or as a result of these interactions. Here, this was investigated in ants and swollen-thorn acacias using phylogenetic trees for both species' groups. Using a whole-tree & split-pairwise approach, how was this done?
Nature is full of fascinating relationships, but nothing quite compares to mutualisms. It is these relationships, as well as the physical environment, that helps to define a species' ecological niche (the world a species lives in)...but why do we care? (2/6)
October 14, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Nature is full of fascinating relationships, but nothing quite compares to mutualisms. It is these relationships, as well as the physical environment, that helps to define a species' ecological niche (the world a species lives in)...but why do we care? (2/6)
Are you a PhD student ready to publish a paper? Submit your research to our journal today & enter one of our new journal prizes, celebrating PhD student work in #Botany or #Biology !🧪🌍👇
academic.oup.com/biolinnean/p...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/biolinnean/p...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
September 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Are you a PhD student ready to publish a paper? Submit your research to our journal today & enter one of our new journal prizes, celebrating PhD student work in #Botany or #Biology !🧪🌍👇
academic.oup.com/biolinnean/p...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/biolinnean/p...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
As a Learned Society, our journals provide vital income that funds our charitable endeavours and community engagement. By reviewing for us, you give back to our community and contribute to our mission of creating a world where nature is understood, valued, and protected. (2/2)
September 17, 2025 at 9:01 AM
As a Learned Society, our journals provide vital income that funds our charitable endeavours and community engagement. By reviewing for us, you give back to our community and contribute to our mission of creating a world where nature is understood, valued, and protected. (2/2)
Neither behaviour really benefits the females at all, with multiple partners actually exposing them to predators, risk of disease & energy loss. So why did this happen? Likely the result of male pressure, larger females had fewer partners, so it appears size really does matter here...(5/6)
September 5, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Neither behaviour really benefits the females at all, with multiple partners actually exposing them to predators, risk of disease & energy loss. So why did this happen? Likely the result of male pressure, larger females had fewer partners, so it appears size really does matter here...(5/6)
Using 6 microsatellite DNA markers from 15 nests in Espirito Santo, Brazil, the DNA of mothers and their hatchlings were compared to identify how many males contributed to each nest, a first for Brazil's leatherback population. But what did they find? (3/6)
September 5, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Using 6 microsatellite DNA markers from 15 nests in Espirito Santo, Brazil, the DNA of mothers and their hatchlings were compared to identify how many males contributed to each nest, a first for Brazil's leatherback population. But what did they find? (3/6)
Mysterious by nature, leatherbacks spend their entire lives at sea, only returning to land to lay eggs. The males however? They might never return...making their mating patterns tricky to study. So how did Bispo & co do it? Using modern biology's best friend: genetics! 🌍🧪(2/6)
September 5, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Mysterious by nature, leatherbacks spend their entire lives at sea, only returning to land to lay eggs. The males however? They might never return...making their mating patterns tricky to study. So how did Bispo & co do it? Using modern biology's best friend: genetics! 🌍🧪(2/6)
How, when & where animals move during mating periods can direct gene flow in species. Here, the impact of migratory behaviour on population structure in 17 species of bat was studied, revealing no link to genetic structure or diversity in general! 🌍🧪🦇
Bat to the research...
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
Bat to the research...
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
July 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM
How, when & where animals move during mating periods can direct gene flow in species. Here, the impact of migratory behaviour on population structure in 17 species of bat was studied, revealing no link to genetic structure or diversity in general! 🌍🧪🦇
Bat to the research...
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
Bat to the research...
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
Everyone loves tardigrades (especially at the LinnSoc), but is tardigrade love-making affected by water? Here, the effect of anhydrobiosis (life without water) on mate choice & reproductive stress was studied, finding females laid fewer eggs but no delay on mate choice! 🌍🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
July 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Everyone loves tardigrades (especially at the LinnSoc), but is tardigrade love-making affected by water? Here, the effect of anhydrobiosis (life without water) on mate choice & reproductive stress was studied, finding females laid fewer eggs but no delay on mate choice! 🌍🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
Sampling crustacean epibionts of green, hawksbill & loggerhead sea turtles uncovered high genetic diversity, low genetic structure & high gene flow, suggesting an overlap between host life history & historical epibiont colonisation! Ride the waves dude...🌍🧪👇
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
July 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Sampling crustacean epibionts of green, hawksbill & loggerhead sea turtles uncovered high genetic diversity, low genetic structure & high gene flow, suggesting an overlap between host life history & historical epibiont colonisation! Ride the waves dude...🌍🧪👇
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
Unsurprisingly, priority areas were in #Biodiversity hotspots such as the Tropical Andes, Tropical Africa & New Guinea. These regions exhibit unique ecological & evolutionary traits in anuran larval diversity, highlighting their importance for targeted research. (3/4) 🌍🧪
May 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Unsurprisingly, priority areas were in #Biodiversity hotspots such as the Tropical Andes, Tropical Africa & New Guinea. These regions exhibit unique ecological & evolutionary traits in anuran larval diversity, highlighting their importance for targeted research. (3/4) 🌍🧪
This #WorldBiodiversityDay we're highlighting one of the most #threatened groups of tetrapod: Anurans. Crucial gaps in our knowledge exist for more than half of all species, preventing effective #Conservation. This is especially a problem for biphasic species...so what can be done? A 🧵(1/4) 🌍🧪
May 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
This #WorldBiodiversityDay we're highlighting one of the most #threatened groups of tetrapod: Anurans. Crucial gaps in our knowledge exist for more than half of all species, preventing effective #Conservation. This is especially a problem for biphasic species...so what can be done? A 🧵(1/4) 🌍🧪
High-altitude individuals had a lower diversity but a predominance of Proteobacteria, suggesting they had enhanced nutrient synthesis! It's clear altitude shapes the gut microbiota in sparrows, helping future #Ecology & #Conservation initiatives across altitudes! (2/2) 🧪
academic.oup.com/bio...
academic.oup.com/bio...
May 19, 2025 at 9:45 AM
High-altitude individuals had a lower diversity but a predominance of Proteobacteria, suggesting they had enhanced nutrient synthesis! It's clear altitude shapes the gut microbiota in sparrows, helping future #Ecology & #Conservation initiatives across altitudes! (2/2) 🧪
academic.oup.com/bio...
academic.oup.com/bio...
Always trust your gut...unless you're a low-altitude Eurasian tree sparrow? Analysis of the gut microbiota of sparrows at high & low altitude revealed significant differences, with low-altitude sparrows having greater diversity but a higher prevalence of potentially-pathogenic bacteria! (1/2) 🌍🧪🐦
May 19, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Always trust your gut...unless you're a low-altitude Eurasian tree sparrow? Analysis of the gut microbiota of sparrows at high & low altitude revealed significant differences, with low-altitude sparrows having greater diversity but a higher prevalence of potentially-pathogenic bacteria! (1/2) 🌍🧪🐦
Genetic sampling of newly established populations & use of microsatellites in relict populations confirmed relict populations as having extraordinarily low genetic diversity, but also found restored diversity in new populations! What does this mean? (3/4) 🧪🌍
April 8, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Genetic sampling of newly established populations & use of microsatellites in relict populations confirmed relict populations as having extraordinarily low genetic diversity, but also found restored diversity in new populations! What does this mean? (3/4) 🧪🌍
The Eurasian beaver is actually well adept at recovery! Overhunting & habitat destruction led to dramatic populations declines, but natural #dispersal & translocations of relict populations have expanded their range! But has this impacted genetic diversity? (2/4) 🧪🌍
April 8, 2025 at 11:30 AM
The Eurasian beaver is actually well adept at recovery! Overhunting & habitat destruction led to dramatic populations declines, but natural #dispersal & translocations of relict populations have expanded their range! But has this impacted genetic diversity? (2/4) 🧪🌍
Do you give a damn about beavers? Then don't iGNAW this thread! Nature's engineers, beavers were hunted to extinction in the UK, but a landmark decision to allow their #reintroduction has paved the way for their return! But how will this work? A thread 🌍🧪🧵🦫 (1/4)
#BeaverDay
#BeaverDay
April 8, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Do you give a damn about beavers? Then don't iGNAW this thread! Nature's engineers, beavers were hunted to extinction in the UK, but a landmark decision to allow their #reintroduction has paved the way for their return! But how will this work? A thread 🌍🧪🧵🦫 (1/4)
#BeaverDay
#BeaverDay
This months #EditorsChoice highlights the importance of continued research using modern techniques in areas thought to be fully explored, uncovering an unprecedented #NewSpecies!
academic.oup.com/biolinnean/i...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/biolinnean/i...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
April 1, 2025 at 10:43 AM
This months #EditorsChoice highlights the importance of continued research using modern techniques in areas thought to be fully explored, uncovering an unprecedented #NewSpecies!
academic.oup.com/biolinnean/i...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/biolinnean/i...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
Have you heard? We're going batty for bats in #MammalWeek this year! Wanna nab a ticket to our last walk of spring? Grab it below! 🧪🌎🦇
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/getting-ba....
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/getting-ba....
March 24, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Have you heard? We're going batty for bats in #MammalWeek this year! Wanna nab a ticket to our last walk of spring? Grab it below! 🧪🌎🦇
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/getting-ba....
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/getting-ba....