Margaret Stanley
@ecostanley.bsky.social
Professor, University of Auckland: urban ecology, conservation, invasive species. Mum to 2 teenagers. Nature fan. She/her. Aotearoa - New Zealand.
UOA profile: https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/mc-stanley
UOA profile: https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/mc-stanley
Pinned
Margaret Stanley
@ecostanley.bsky.social
· Jan 29
Does your school have enough trees? Here’s why they’re great for kids and their learning
With children heading back to school at the height of summer, a recent study finds too many playgrounds need better tree cover.
theconversation.com
Schools are the perfect place for trees - but are your kids missing out on all those benefits? Research from Abi's MSc thesis @aucklanduni.bsky.social 🧪🌏#schools #aotearoa #tamakimakaurau theconversation.com/does-your-sc...
"deer are causing severe, possibly permanent damage to native forest on public and private land" newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/24/b...
Biodiversity takes beating from land-trampling deer
In the second of a series on southern pest problems, Newsroom looks at the deer’s devastating impact on agriculture and the already-struggling conservation estate. Jill Herron reports.
newsroom.co.nz
November 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
"deer are causing severe, possibly permanent damage to native forest on public and private land" newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/24/b...
Weed management is going to be critical.... theconversation.com/the-fire-is-...
The fire is out, but Tongariro is now at risk of losing its unique biological legacy
The disaster should raise questions about how we fund, manage and protect these vulnerable habitats when climate change is outpacing conservation efforts.
theconversation.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Weed management is going to be critical.... theconversation.com/the-fire-is-...
With the focus on mammalian predators, browsers & omnivores populations are growing - see this series on feral pigs newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/17/c...
Cloven-hooved ruffians ripping up the south
In the first of a series on the south’s pest issues, Newsroom looks at feral pigs, which are threatening national parks and wreaking havoc on farms and public conservation land.
newsroom.co.nz
November 16, 2025 at 7:19 PM
With the focus on mammalian predators, browsers & omnivores populations are growing - see this series on feral pigs newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/17/c...
And Inke takes out the @aucklanduni.bsky.social postgrad poster runner up prize! #scicomm Loving our awesome science communicators!
November 13, 2025 at 4:55 AM
And Inke takes out the @aucklanduni.bsky.social postgrad poster runner up prize! #scicomm Loving our awesome science communicators!
Thanks to @royalsocietynz.bsky.social for awarding me the Callaghan medal for Science Communication. Thanks to my many supporters, NZ communities for being curious, & the many people in various agencies who really do want to use evidence in decision-making. This is critical now, more than ever. 🌐🌏🧪
November 5, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Thanks to @royalsocietynz.bsky.social for awarding me the Callaghan medal for Science Communication. Thanks to my many supporters, NZ communities for being curious, & the many people in various agencies who really do want to use evidence in decision-making. This is critical now, more than ever. 🌐🌏🧪
Siouxsie has forged a path to making science communication a little safer for the rest of us...
Siouxsie Wiles: Why I’m crowdfunding despite winning my legal battle
'Between the ERA and the Employment Court, my husband and I have spent over $632,000.'
thespinoff.co.nz
November 2, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Siouxsie has forged a path to making science communication a little safer for the rest of us...
Reposted by Margaret Stanley
"Inflammatory, politically-motivated rhetoric has no place here."
Emeritus Professor Alison Jones on the politically-motivated betrayal of academic freedom at UoA.
e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-...
Emeritus Professor Alison Jones on the politically-motivated betrayal of academic freedom at UoA.
e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-...
A betrayal of academic freedom | E-Tangata
e-tangata.co.nz
October 19, 2025 at 10:54 PM
"Inflammatory, politically-motivated rhetoric has no place here."
Emeritus Professor Alison Jones on the politically-motivated betrayal of academic freedom at UoA.
e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-...
Emeritus Professor Alison Jones on the politically-motivated betrayal of academic freedom at UoA.
e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-...
Reposted by Margaret Stanley
📹 In collaborative wildlife conservation, Indigenous Peoples and Western science partners increasingly balance principles of open data with Indigenous Data Sovereignty. Potential tension is explored and nine recommendations to advance resolution provided➡️https://buff.ly/TOJHc4s
October 14, 2025 at 1:03 PM
📹 In collaborative wildlife conservation, Indigenous Peoples and Western science partners increasingly balance principles of open data with Indigenous Data Sovereignty. Potential tension is explored and nine recommendations to advance resolution provided➡️https://buff.ly/TOJHc4s
Reposted by Margaret Stanley
A study by Rutgers ecologist and RCEI affiliate Myla Aronson and colleagues has found “overwhelming” evidence that increasing biodiversity in cities – establishing parks, installing native plants and encouraging sustainable landscaping – can significantly ...
Read more at tinyurl.com/2tw837ut
Read more at tinyurl.com/2tw837ut
October 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM
A study by Rutgers ecologist and RCEI affiliate Myla Aronson and colleagues has found “overwhelming” evidence that increasing biodiversity in cities – establishing parks, installing native plants and encouraging sustainable landscaping – can significantly ...
Read more at tinyurl.com/2tw837ut
Read more at tinyurl.com/2tw837ut
Native trees support specialist invertebrates, fungi and birds that co-evolved with them - if we only plant exotics, we lose those relationships and end up with cities dominated by generalist species like sparrows and pigeons.🧪🌏 #urban #trees #urbanforest #biodiversity
Five reasons urban trees make sense
Comment: The trees lining our streets and parks are quietly delivering a host of benefits – from cooling and cleaning the air to improving our health and wellbeing.
newsroom.co.nz
October 16, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Native trees support specialist invertebrates, fungi and birds that co-evolved with them - if we only plant exotics, we lose those relationships and end up with cities dominated by generalist species like sparrows and pigeons.🧪🌏 #urban #trees #urbanforest #biodiversity
Reposted by Margaret Stanley
“It’s not about trees versus houses,” she says. “We also have huge areas like sports fields that could do with a lot more trees around the edges. Every bit of canopy helps.” @ecostanley.bsky.social #aklbiodiversity newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/17/f...
Five reasons urban trees make sense
Comment: The trees lining our streets and parks are quietly delivering a host of benefits – from cooling and cleaning the air to improving our health and wellbeing.
newsroom.co.nz
October 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
“It’s not about trees versus houses,” she says. “We also have huge areas like sports fields that could do with a lot more trees around the edges. Every bit of canopy helps.” @ecostanley.bsky.social #aklbiodiversity newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/17/f...
Reposted by Margaret Stanley
📣 Opportunity for early career researchers from developing countries who work on climate change. IPCC is calling for chapter scientists for assessment round 7. Successful applicants will receive a stipend for 48 months. 🧪🌎
www.ictp.it/opportunity/...
www.ictp.it/opportunity/...
IPCC AR7 Chapter Scientists | ICTP
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is in the process of preparing its Seventh Assessment report (AR7). The IPCC Working Groups are seeking highly motivated early-career researchers f...
www.ictp.it
October 5, 2025 at 10:06 PM
📣 Opportunity for early career researchers from developing countries who work on climate change. IPCC is calling for chapter scientists for assessment round 7. Successful applicants will receive a stipend for 48 months. 🧪🌎
www.ictp.it/opportunity/...
www.ictp.it/opportunity/...
Reposted by Margaret Stanley
What are the ‘social dimensions’ of moving species for conservation and why does engaging with them matter?
This is the focus of our new paper doi.org/10.1016/j.tr... published in @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social olevo.bsky.social led by ever talented @aisrayne.bsky.social
📷 Kevin Parker
This is the focus of our new paper doi.org/10.1016/j.tr... published in @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social olevo.bsky.social led by ever talented @aisrayne.bsky.social
📷 Kevin Parker
October 7, 2025 at 10:26 PM
What are the ‘social dimensions’ of moving species for conservation and why does engaging with them matter?
This is the focus of our new paper doi.org/10.1016/j.tr... published in @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social olevo.bsky.social led by ever talented @aisrayne.bsky.social
📷 Kevin Parker
This is the focus of our new paper doi.org/10.1016/j.tr... published in @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social olevo.bsky.social led by ever talented @aisrayne.bsky.social
📷 Kevin Parker
Check out NZ Parliamentary Commissioner for Environment's report: 3 points politicians should agree on: 1) our economy is a subset of the environment, not vice versa, 2) critical importance of high-quality spatial data, 3) be realistic about time frames/costs of tackling env. problems. #Aotearoa 🧪🌏
Annual report for the year ended 30 June 2025
The Commissioner has released his annual report for the year ended 30 June 2025. Here is an abbreviated version of his overview. The full version can be read here.
pce.parliament.nz
October 8, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Check out NZ Parliamentary Commissioner for Environment's report: 3 points politicians should agree on: 1) our economy is a subset of the environment, not vice versa, 2) critical importance of high-quality spatial data, 3) be realistic about time frames/costs of tackling env. problems. #Aotearoa 🧪🌏
The remarkable rise of eBird – the world’s biggest citizen science project
theconversation.com/the-remarkab...
theconversation.com/the-remarkab...
The remarkable rise of eBird – the world’s biggest citizen science project
In 2002, an online database was set up allowing birdwatchers to record their species observations. It is now a vast resource, shaping scientific research.
theconversation.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The remarkable rise of eBird – the world’s biggest citizen science project
theconversation.com/the-remarkab...
theconversation.com/the-remarkab...
An excellent piece - "Goodall showed us scientists can express their emotions and values and that we can be respected researchers as well as passionate advocates and science communicators."
‘Only if we help shall all be saved’: Jane Goodall showed we can all be part of the solution
Jane Goodall showed tremendous courage in charting her own course as a pioneering researcher – and working to spread hope wherever she went.
theconversation.com
October 2, 2025 at 9:07 PM
An excellent piece - "Goodall showed us scientists can express their emotions and values and that we can be respected researchers as well as passionate advocates and science communicators."
More changes & challenges ahead (well, now really).... the logistics can be super challenging. This is where we learn lessons from our colleagues.
AI in the classroom is hard to detect – time to bring back oral tests
A chatbot can produce text, but it can’t sustain a probing conversation about your reasoning. Our work suggests oral assessment has a role in the age of AI.
theconversation.com
September 30, 2025 at 9:13 PM
More changes & challenges ahead (well, now really).... the logistics can be super challenging. This is where we learn lessons from our colleagues.
An excellent piece of writing - "Now, more than ever, mothers don’t need to be told what to do. They need our support, and our commitment to prioritising actions that make the world a healthier place for everybody."
The (mostly) well-meaning war on pregnancy
Opinion from Auckland University: Our tendency to simplify the complex factors that influence pregnancy often results in a myopic focus on individual behaviour.
newsroom.co.nz
September 30, 2025 at 9:02 PM
An excellent piece of writing - "Now, more than ever, mothers don’t need to be told what to do. They need our support, and our commitment to prioritising actions that make the world a healthier place for everybody."
Reposted by Margaret Stanley
I spoke with @rnzrss.bsky.social about why we need to regulate the exotic pet trade in Aotearoa www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedeta...
Turtles - the pet turned pest
Turtles have a relaxed reputation, but in reality they're quick-moving and aggressive, and are wreaking havoc on our native wildlife
www.rnz.co.nz
September 27, 2025 at 2:09 AM
I spoke with @rnzrss.bsky.social about why we need to regulate the exotic pet trade in Aotearoa www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedeta...
Reposted by Margaret Stanley
Quantifying timing and impact of invasive predators on seabird breeding success conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Temporally‐indexed multi‐species density impact functions: Quantifying timing and impact of invasive predators on seabird breeding success
Conserving threatened species often requires effective predator suppression strategies, particularly on islands where introduced predators pose significant threats. Density-impact functions provide a....
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 29, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Quantifying timing and impact of invasive predators on seabird breeding success conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
A great initiative from Te Tira Whakamātaki - peltswithpurpose.raiselysite.com/en/
What is unwanted here (possums) is a taonga (treasure) in Te Whenua-a-Moemoeā (Australia). Māori possum hunters supply Aboriginal communities (for cultural revitalisation). Donations enable rangatahi exchanges.
What is unwanted here (possums) is a taonga (treasure) in Te Whenua-a-Moemoeā (Australia). Māori possum hunters supply Aboriginal communities (for cultural revitalisation). Donations enable rangatahi exchanges.
(Re)storying the Possum - Pelts with Purpose
Possums destroy native species. But what is unwanted here is a taonga across the Tasman. Help us gather and prepare possum pelts for Aboriginal communities to use, all while restoring biodiversity at ...
peltswithpurpose.raiselysite.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:55 AM
A great initiative from Te Tira Whakamātaki - peltswithpurpose.raiselysite.com/en/
What is unwanted here (possums) is a taonga (treasure) in Te Whenua-a-Moemoeā (Australia). Māori possum hunters supply Aboriginal communities (for cultural revitalisation). Donations enable rangatahi exchanges.
What is unwanted here (possums) is a taonga (treasure) in Te Whenua-a-Moemoeā (Australia). Māori possum hunters supply Aboriginal communities (for cultural revitalisation). Donations enable rangatahi exchanges.
Fantastic talk by the fabulous @dianaborse.bsky.social on her @aucklanduni.bsky.social PhD research about co-occurring weeds at #EMAPI2025 ecology & management of weeds conference. #weeds #invasive
September 3, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Fantastic talk by the fabulous @dianaborse.bsky.social on her @aucklanduni.bsky.social PhD research about co-occurring weeds at #EMAPI2025 ecology & management of weeds conference. #weeds #invasive
Reposted by Margaret Stanley
Invasive species eradication: How do we declare success? 🌎 www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Invasive species eradication: How do we declare success? | Cambridge Prisms: Extinction | Cambridge Core
Invasive species eradication: How do we declare success? - Volume 1
www.cambridge.org
August 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Invasive species eradication: How do we declare success? 🌎 www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Data centers consume massive amounts of water – companies rarely tell the public exactly how much
theconversation.com/data-centers...
theconversation.com/data-centers...
Data centers consume massive amounts of water – companies rarely tell the public exactly how much
In 2024, one data center in Iowa consumed 1 billion gallons of water, enough to supply all the state’s residences with water for five days.
theconversation.com
August 20, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Data centers consume massive amounts of water – companies rarely tell the public exactly how much
theconversation.com/data-centers...
theconversation.com/data-centers...
Some brilliant @aucklanduni.bsky.social #3MT talks tonight! Incredibly talented communicators! Making research accessible!
August 8, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Some brilliant @aucklanduni.bsky.social #3MT talks tonight! Incredibly talented communicators! Making research accessible!