Maria (⌐■_■)
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thatecologist.bsky.social
Maria (⌐■_■)
@thatecologist.bsky.social
PhD student studying conmycorrhizal density dependence

Currently reading: A Sand County Almanac
Reposted by Maria (⌐■_■)
Question for the scientists who already have their PhDs: How often do you learn new techniques for projects? Do you chase waterfalls (new methods) or stick to the rivers and the lakes you're used to (techniques from the labs you were trained in)?
November 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Very interesting article! Perhaps a pathway to reduce emissions from inorganic fertilizer?

Harnessing entomopathogenic fungi: A meta‐analysis on their role as plant growth promoters - Crosby - 2025 - PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET - Wiley Online Library nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Harnessing entomopathogenic fungi: A meta‐analysis on their role as plant growth promoters
Our meta-analysis highlights the potential of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) as sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides and fertilisers. By promoting plant growth and reducing reliance on agroc...
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Question for the scientists who already have their PhDs: How often do you learn new techniques for projects? Do you chase waterfalls (new methods) or stick to the rivers and the lakes you're used to (techniques from the labs you were trained in)?
November 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Maria (⌐■_■)
WE WANT TRAINS!

The public is sending a message: Amtrak is setting ridership records, carrying 34.5 million passengers in fiscal year 2024-25, while ticket revenue is $2.764 billion.

www.trains.com/pro/passenge...
November 17, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Kinda bothered by the outrage over the 8 mile road that was built in Belem for COP30. Cattle ranching accounts for ~80% of Amazonian deforestation, so why are people losing their minds over one road? They just want to point out "hypocrisy" in others and not look at the hypocrisy on their own plates
November 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
People who lean their seats all the way back on airplanes are rude, inconsiderate, and deserve a swift kick in the shins.
November 16, 2025 at 2:04 AM
COP30 takeaways so far: I'm much more hopeful after attending a full day of this. I've heard about so many adaptation and mitigation measures in so many countries that I feel like we can really come together as humans and make the necessary changes to not only save, but lift up vulnerable people
November 14, 2025 at 2:45 AM
I left Nashville on Sunday and will be arriving at COP30 today. Many thanks to the LATAM agent who helped us, no thanks to the Republican party who caused these problems in the first place.
November 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
If you're wondering how air travel is right now, it's actually terrible.
November 10, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I miss the time when public places weren't polluted with the noise of random people watching facebook/instagram/tiktok videos without headphones. Bring back decorum.
November 9, 2025 at 6:47 PM
In Ecuador we have walk-in government clinics where you can just get in line, tell them you need a specific vaccine, show ID, and receive it immediately. It's that easy. Why is getting a typhoid vaccine such a production in the US?? There's no place you can just walk in and get one.
November 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Just remembered that in elementary school we were sent out with catalogs to fundraise in the community. Do schools still do that? In retrospect maybe kids shouldn't have to become door-to-door salesmen to have updated textbooks.
November 6, 2025 at 10:10 PM
At this point I think the USPS is lying to me. You're telling me this package was in Nashville (destination) for 8 days until I submitted a missing mail request and it's now been in Dehlongea, Atlanta, Greenville, Laurens NC, and Charlotte in the past week? They're just putting in random cities
November 6, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Reposted by Maria (⌐■_■)
No matter how hard people try to convince us having empathy is wrong,

it is right.

No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,

it is a strength.

No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,

it is unlimited.
November 4, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Dean of academics: "We can't cover tuition because the USDA doesn't allow it for non-citizens"

Me and the four other US citizens in the program:
a cartoon chicken with big eyes is being held by a person in a red shirt .
ALT: a cartoon chicken with big eyes is being held by a person in a red shirt .
media.tenor.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:39 PM
How do I put "Mentally I'm swimming through thick mud" on my GRA evaluation without upsetting anyone?
November 4, 2025 at 6:39 PM
It's almost time for the mystery mandatory meeting between all of the PhD students and the dean. What will he yell about this time? Will he threaten to fire all of us for a second time this semester? Or tell us to stop complaining about stipends not keeping up with rent, insurance, and groceries?
November 4, 2025 at 2:40 PM
So according to USPS my package was in Georgia yesterday, in Tennessee and out for delivery this morning, and is now back in Georgia. Surely this system can be improved
November 3, 2025 at 9:13 PM
It's 56 F in my lab today and we have a mycorrhizal colonization training so I'm going to freeze until at least 12:30 😭 Why can't facilities turn off the AC???
November 3, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Vision boarding, I really like the chanted psalm 135 but is it too strong for a wedding entrance? Maybe it would be better for communion. The venue I'm going for is a baroque chapel, all candlelit. Let me know your thoughts, song recording here: youtu.be/6vBg9nS9m_8?...
O Give Thanks Unto The Lord - Byzantine Chant Psalm 117
YouTube video by Al Orthodoxiya
youtu.be
November 2, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Slightly concerned that my classmate (worships the biotech industry, loves to play devil's advocate, thinks he's *so* much smarter than other PhD students and professors) is petitioning for research ethics to be removed as a coursework requirement.
October 31, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I now know three people that have dropped out of MS or PhD programs in my department because they weren't able to make ends meet on the stipend anymore. Two of them had an emergency happen and had to go get better paying jobs to pay medical bills. Universal healthcare would help a lot of students.
October 31, 2025 at 3:55 AM
*Apologizing to team A because I've been working on projects B and C*

*Apologizing to team B because I've been working on projects and C*

*Apologizing to team C because I've been working on projects A and B*
October 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Maria (⌐■_■)
October 30, 2025 at 3:36 PM
I hate when PhD student influencer posts come up because what do you mean your life looks like that? You just jump out of bed and get ready without feeling the weight of too many responsibilities? Every time I shower or eat I feel like I'm procrastinating the multiple projects that are all urgent
a cat is laying on its back on the floor with the words me today below it .
ALT: a cat is laying on its back on the floor with the words me today below it .
media.tenor.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:20 PM