Rob Lanfear
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roblanfear.bsky.social
Rob Lanfear
@roblanfear.bsky.social
phylogenetics, molecular evolution, some genomes, kids, dogs, and eclectic hobbies none of which I am much good at but I think for me that's the point
Confirming two pairs of two. couldn’t find any others in any other formations at all (including solo). Definitely not dead - will sometimes wave a leg if touched. but both pairs remained in exactly that formation all day.
November 22, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Is it? That’s the best thing ever.
November 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
November 21, 2025 at 10:21 AM
My first thought too. But the pairing seems so interesting. we saw two pairs really close together. Will look for more tomorrow.
November 21, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Nice to be a philosopher.
November 11, 2025 at 12:08 AM
A lot of similarities to Oaks as far as I can tell so far. Possibly with more hybridisation and introgression. Also some really cool F1 hybrids like the Meelup mallee. As far as we know it's a single individual, thousands of years old, and infertile.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyp...
Eucalyptus × phylacis - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Had a read through. So interesting! I'm just starting to get into similar questions (though from a position of great ignorance...) in Eucalypts. I'd love to chat some time when i've had a chance to read a whole bunch more...
November 11, 2025 at 12:01 AM
What a great lecture! Such a broad overview of the entire system. Wonderful to see the breadth all tied together like that!
November 10, 2025 at 11:46 PM
I remember really enjoying this paper on individuality. Some time since I read it though, and I see there's a bunch of new stuff I haven't read yet...

link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Plant individuality: a solution to the demographer’s dilemma - Biology & Philosophy
The problem of plant individuality is something which has vexed botanists throughout the ages, with fashion swinging back and forth from treating plants as communities of individuals (Darwin 1800; Bra...
link.springer.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Cool! Do you happen to also have a recording of the Biology Dept seminar flagged at the beginning - on the nature of Oak species?
November 10, 2025 at 10:14 PM
What the actual fuck.
August 29, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I remember reading the study this is based on somewhere (preprint, maybe), and worrying a lot that it was perhaps very overparameterised.

Honestly can't recall details, but would be interested to know others' thoughts. Will re-add the primary study to my reading list.
August 29, 2025 at 3:02 AM
It's so bad. Obviously impossible to know for sure, but one develops a decent radar after years of looking at undergrad work. And parts of the review are just so 'off' in that tricky to nail down way.
July 7, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Same in Science. And the VC won't even be there. It's a joke.
July 2, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Would be very interesting to work in the Perth office for a bit. Maybe you’d get hired to write a speech or two!
June 7, 2025 at 10:57 PM