Oxford Biology
@biology.ox.ac.uk
Exploring the breadth and diversity of life on Earth 🌍 Updates on research & teaching at @ox.ac.uk. Merged from Departments of Plant Sciences and Zoology August 2022
www.biology.ox.ac.uk
www.biology.ox.ac.uk
Congratulations to Alexandra Zimmermann, who has been awarded the Midori Prize for Biodiversity!
The award recognises Alexandra’s role in advancing human-wildlife coexistence as a global policy priority for biodiversity conservation 👇
The award recognises Alexandra’s role in advancing human-wildlife coexistence as a global policy priority for biodiversity conservation 👇
Dr Alexandra Zimmermann awarded Midori Prize for Biodiversity
bit.ly
September 16, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Congratulations to Alexandra Zimmermann, who has been awarded the Midori Prize for Biodiversity!
The award recognises Alexandra’s role in advancing human-wildlife coexistence as a global policy priority for biodiversity conservation 👇
The award recognises Alexandra’s role in advancing human-wildlife coexistence as a global policy priority for biodiversity conservation 👇
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Wrote up a piece for @theconversation.com on whether ancient smallpox can be brought back from 500 year old smallpox DNA (I wouldn't worry about that) and what the smallpox samples from the Chilean burial sites show us.
theconversation.com/can-an-ancie...
theconversation.com/can-an-ancie...
Can an ancient virus be brought back to life? What 500-year-old smallpox DNA reveals
Smallpox DNA from two people buried in Chile reveals the virus’s arrival through European colonisation – but recreating it would require deliberate laboratory work.
theconversation.com
September 15, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Wrote up a piece for @theconversation.com on whether ancient smallpox can be brought back from 500 year old smallpox DNA (I wouldn't worry about that) and what the smallpox samples from the Chilean burial sites show us.
theconversation.com/can-an-ancie...
theconversation.com/can-an-ancie...
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Our paper on the enigmatic alpharetrovirus lineage in bats is out! Huge credit to @emma-harding.bsky.social, and of course all co-authors involved in helping experiment, draft, analyse and discuss.
@biology.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk #paleovirology
journals.plos.org/plosgenetics...
@biology.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk #paleovirology
journals.plos.org/plosgenetics...
An ancient alpharetrovirus lineage in bats: Evolutionary insights and possible roles in reproduction
Author summary Retroviruses are important pathogens, providing constant selective pressure and sources of genetic variability throughout vertebrate evolution. Significant evolutionary leaps have been ...
journals.plos.org
September 14, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Our paper on the enigmatic alpharetrovirus lineage in bats is out! Huge credit to @emma-harding.bsky.social, and of course all co-authors involved in helping experiment, draft, analyse and discuss.
@biology.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk #paleovirology
journals.plos.org/plosgenetics...
@biology.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk #paleovirology
journals.plos.org/plosgenetics...
Reposted by Oxford Biology
We are thrilled to see recent PhD researcher Jenny Linden featured in new book ‘Scientists Making a Difference’ by
Dr Shini Somara.
Jenny’s research investigates the potential impacts of climate change on the endangered African wild dog.
👉 youtube.com/watch?v=jyt8...
1/2 @biology.ox.ac.uk
Dr Shini Somara.
Jenny’s research investigates the potential impacts of climate change on the endangered African wild dog.
👉 youtube.com/watch?v=jyt8...
1/2 @biology.ox.ac.uk
September 10, 2026 at 12:32 PM
We are thrilled to see recent PhD researcher Jenny Linden featured in new book ‘Scientists Making a Difference’ by
Dr Shini Somara.
Jenny’s research investigates the potential impacts of climate change on the endangered African wild dog.
👉 youtube.com/watch?v=jyt8...
1/2 @biology.ox.ac.uk
Dr Shini Somara.
Jenny’s research investigates the potential impacts of climate change on the endangered African wild dog.
👉 youtube.com/watch?v=jyt8...
1/2 @biology.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Oxford Biology
We are recruiting a 4-year lab technician on safer antifungals from bdelloid rotifers @biology.ox.ac.uk. Please spread the word or apply! Culturing rotifers, fungi, running experiments, extracting biological molecules, assay antifungals and toxicity. Closes 30th Sept.
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
'
my.corehr.com
September 10, 2026 at 10:45 AM
We are recruiting a 4-year lab technician on safer antifungals from bdelloid rotifers @biology.ox.ac.uk. Please spread the word or apply! Culturing rotifers, fungi, running experiments, extracting biological molecules, assay antifungals and toxicity. Closes 30th Sept.
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
Long-distance navigation is no easy feat, but for some seabirds it can involve traversing hundreds of kilometres of open ocean
New research led by @plewin.bsky.social shows that even if Manx shearwaters can sense the earth’s magnetism, they don't rely on it to get home 👇
New research led by @plewin.bsky.social shows that even if Manx shearwaters can sense the earth’s magnetism, they don't rely on it to get home 👇
Homing shearwaters don’t need magnetic sense to navigate
bit.ly
September 10, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Long-distance navigation is no easy feat, but for some seabirds it can involve traversing hundreds of kilometres of open ocean
New research led by @plewin.bsky.social shows that even if Manx shearwaters can sense the earth’s magnetism, they don't rely on it to get home 👇
New research led by @plewin.bsky.social shows that even if Manx shearwaters can sense the earth’s magnetism, they don't rely on it to get home 👇
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Our pre-print analysing the 1 std decline in mass in Wytham great tits has just been published in @animalecology.bsky.social check it out: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @biology.ox.ac.uk
September 10, 2026 at 6:39 AM
Our pre-print analysing the 1 std decline in mass in Wytham great tits has just been published in @animalecology.bsky.social check it out: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @biology.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Over the moon 🌝 to be awarded an Ig Nobel for our work on the evolution of kissing 💋, with dream team @stuwest.bsky.social & Kate Talbot!
Here's our *very serious* acceptance speech. Come for the science, stay for the human-Neanderthal snogging action: tinyurl.com/34k9773v (~34 mins).
Here's our *very serious* acceptance speech. Come for the science, stay for the human-Neanderthal snogging action: tinyurl.com/34k9773v (~34 mins).
September 7, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Over the moon 🌝 to be awarded an Ig Nobel for our work on the evolution of kissing 💋, with dream team @stuwest.bsky.social & Kate Talbot!
Here's our *very serious* acceptance speech. Come for the science, stay for the human-Neanderthal snogging action: tinyurl.com/34k9773v (~34 mins).
Here's our *very serious* acceptance speech. Come for the science, stay for the human-Neanderthal snogging action: tinyurl.com/34k9773v (~34 mins).
Congratulations to @matildabrindle.bsky.social & @stuwest.bsky.social who have won an Ig Nobel Prize for their research on the evolution of kissing!
Their study involved defining what constitutes a kiss - not as easy a task as you might expect 👇
https://bit.ly/4gHcmL3
@ox.ac.uk
Their study involved defining what constitutes a kiss - not as easy a task as you might expect 👇
https://bit.ly/4gHcmL3
@ox.ac.uk
Ig Nobel Prize for research on the evolution of kissing
bit.ly
September 8, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Congratulations to @matildabrindle.bsky.social & @stuwest.bsky.social who have won an Ig Nobel Prize for their research on the evolution of kissing!
Their study involved defining what constitutes a kiss - not as easy a task as you might expect 👇
https://bit.ly/4gHcmL3
@ox.ac.uk
Their study involved defining what constitutes a kiss - not as easy a task as you might expect 👇
https://bit.ly/4gHcmL3
@ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Oxford Biology
I am extremely excited - or should I say rather chuffed? - to share that I am joining the University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk as Associate Professor of Animal Behaviour in the Department of Biology @biology.ox.ac.uk and as a Fellow of Merton College.
September 8, 2026 at 10:33 AM
I am extremely excited - or should I say rather chuffed? - to share that I am joining the University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk as Associate Professor of Animal Behaviour in the Department of Biology @biology.ox.ac.uk and as a Fellow of Merton College.
Reposted by Oxford Biology
The fever dream of the @ignobel.bsky.social awards with
@matildabrindle.bsky.social and Kate Talbot. And our amazing support team! The original paper - www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @biology.ox.ac.uk
@matildabrindle.bsky.social and Kate Talbot. And our amazing support team! The original paper - www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @biology.ox.ac.uk
September 5, 2026 at 1:16 PM
The fever dream of the @ignobel.bsky.social awards with
@matildabrindle.bsky.social and Kate Talbot. And our amazing support team! The original paper - www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @biology.ox.ac.uk
@matildabrindle.bsky.social and Kate Talbot. And our amazing support team! The original paper - www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @biology.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Oxford Biology
The IgNobel for Biomechanics goes to @matildabrindle.bsky.social, @stuwest.bsky.social and C. Talbot for a precise definition of kissing (provided in the comment below).
That's well and good, but I think Dr Brindle's work on non-reproductive sex behaviours should be getting an IgNobel too.
🧪💋
That's well and good, but I think Dr Brindle's work on non-reproductive sex behaviours should be getting an IgNobel too.
🧪💋
September 4, 2026 at 10:53 AM
The IgNobel for Biomechanics goes to @matildabrindle.bsky.social, @stuwest.bsky.social and C. Talbot for a precise definition of kissing (provided in the comment below).
That's well and good, but I think Dr Brindle's work on non-reproductive sex behaviours should be getting an IgNobel too.
🧪💋
That's well and good, but I think Dr Brindle's work on non-reproductive sex behaviours should be getting an IgNobel too.
🧪💋
Reposted by Oxford Biology
🧪 Free lecture hosted by @lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk:
📅 Sep 7, 6pm
🪲 Bugs in the (Eco)system
Prof. Owen Lewis from @biology.ox.ac.uk explores the consequences of altered insect communities for the diversity and functioning of ecosystems in an era of rapid climate and land-use change.
Link below.
📅 Sep 7, 6pm
🪲 Bugs in the (Eco)system
Prof. Owen Lewis from @biology.ox.ac.uk explores the consequences of altered insect communities for the diversity and functioning of ecosystems in an era of rapid climate and land-use change.
Link below.
September 4, 2026 at 10:39 AM
🧪 Free lecture hosted by @lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk:
📅 Sep 7, 6pm
🪲 Bugs in the (Eco)system
Prof. Owen Lewis from @biology.ox.ac.uk explores the consequences of altered insect communities for the diversity and functioning of ecosystems in an era of rapid climate and land-use change.
Link below.
📅 Sep 7, 6pm
🪲 Bugs in the (Eco)system
Prof. Owen Lewis from @biology.ox.ac.uk explores the consequences of altered insect communities for the diversity and functioning of ecosystems in an era of rapid climate and land-use change.
Link below.
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Congratulations to @matildabrindle.bsky.social @stuwest.bsky.social and Kate Talbot for winning an @ignobel.bsky.social award for their work on the evolution of kissing 💋💋💋 What a blast! @biology.ox.ac.uk
September 4, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Congratulations to @matildabrindle.bsky.social @stuwest.bsky.social and Kate Talbot for winning an @ignobel.bsky.social award for their work on the evolution of kissing 💋💋💋 What a blast! @biology.ox.ac.uk
Congratulations to Hugh Ford, who has been awarded an @erc.europa.eu Starting Grant for research on 3D imaging of information processing in live tissues!
Hugh is currently based at UCL and will be joining Oxford Biology early next year. Read more about his research 👇
https://bit.ly/4qJxGmw
#ERCStG
Hugh is currently based at UCL and will be joining Oxford Biology early next year. Read more about his research 👇
https://bit.ly/4qJxGmw
#ERCStG
Dr Hugh Ford awarded ERC Starting Grant
bit.ly
September 3, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Congratulations to Hugh Ford, who has been awarded an @erc.europa.eu Starting Grant for research on 3D imaging of information processing in live tissues!
Hugh is currently based at UCL and will be joining Oxford Biology early next year. Read more about his research 👇
https://bit.ly/4qJxGmw
#ERCStG
Hugh is currently based at UCL and will be joining Oxford Biology early next year. Read more about his research 👇
https://bit.ly/4qJxGmw
#ERCStG
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Do tigers and leopards use Bhutan’s landscapes in the same way, and at the same spatial scales?
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
Bayesian* multi-scale spatial occupancy modelling examined tiger & leopard habitat use, compared ecological niches & assessed patterns of co-occurrence.
1/6 @biology.ox.ac.uk
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
Bayesian* multi-scale spatial occupancy modelling examined tiger & leopard habitat use, compared ecological niches & assessed patterns of co-occurrence.
1/6 @biology.ox.ac.uk
September 2, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Do tigers and leopards use Bhutan’s landscapes in the same way, and at the same spatial scales?
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
Bayesian* multi-scale spatial occupancy modelling examined tiger & leopard habitat use, compared ecological niches & assessed patterns of co-occurrence.
1/6 @biology.ox.ac.uk
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
Bayesian* multi-scale spatial occupancy modelling examined tiger & leopard habitat use, compared ecological niches & assessed patterns of co-occurrence.
1/6 @biology.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Oxford Biology
🌱 How did plants develop the ability to transport water?
My new research in @plantphys.bsky.social suggests it wasn't a single evolutionary breakthrough
💧 Plant “plumbing” was built piece by piece over hundreds of millions of years
academic.oup.com/plphys/artic...
@biology.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk
My new research in @plantphys.bsky.social suggests it wasn't a single evolutionary breakthrough
💧 Plant “plumbing” was built piece by piece over hundreds of millions of years
academic.oup.com/plphys/artic...
@biology.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk
September 2, 2026 at 10:42 AM
🌱 How did plants develop the ability to transport water?
My new research in @plantphys.bsky.social suggests it wasn't a single evolutionary breakthrough
💧 Plant “plumbing” was built piece by piece over hundreds of millions of years
academic.oup.com/plphys/artic...
@biology.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk
My new research in @plantphys.bsky.social suggests it wasn't a single evolutionary breakthrough
💧 Plant “plumbing” was built piece by piece over hundreds of millions of years
academic.oup.com/plphys/artic...
@biology.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk
We have two online talks coming up for Biology Week in October!
The Kent meningitis outbreak
Register ➡️ https://bit.ly/4h5dFDy
Species coexistence in a changing world
Register ➡️ https://bit.ly/3V5NXq0
Appropriate for ages 11+. Teachers, just register for the event to join with your class.
The Kent meningitis outbreak
Register ➡️ https://bit.ly/4h5dFDy
Species coexistence in a changing world
Register ➡️ https://bit.ly/3V5NXq0
Appropriate for ages 11+. Teachers, just register for the event to join with your class.
September 2, 2026 at 10:03 AM
We have two online talks coming up for Biology Week in October!
The Kent meningitis outbreak
Register ➡️ https://bit.ly/4h5dFDy
Species coexistence in a changing world
Register ➡️ https://bit.ly/3V5NXq0
Appropriate for ages 11+. Teachers, just register for the event to join with your class.
The Kent meningitis outbreak
Register ➡️ https://bit.ly/4h5dFDy
Species coexistence in a changing world
Register ➡️ https://bit.ly/3V5NXq0
Appropriate for ages 11+. Teachers, just register for the event to join with your class.
Reposted by Oxford Biology
New preprint out in @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social with @devisatarkar.bsky.social and @sheldonbirds.bsky.social in which we analyse the effects of this summer's unprecedented and severe #heatwave on tit reproduction and mass.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org
September 1, 2026 at 10:43 AM
New preprint out in @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social with @devisatarkar.bsky.social and @sheldonbirds.bsky.social in which we analyse the effects of this summer's unprecedented and severe #heatwave on tit reproduction and mass.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Delighted that my master's project @biology.ox.ac.uk about social trade-offs in a wild population of birds is now published in Animal Behaviour @asab.org doi.org/10.1016/j.an... 🧵
Redirecting
doi.org
August 28, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Delighted that my master's project @biology.ox.ac.uk about social trade-offs in a wild population of birds is now published in Animal Behaviour @asab.org doi.org/10.1016/j.an... 🧵
In the most populated country in the world - and in a landscape changing with urbanisation - there is an ever-changing relationship between humans and dogs in India.
@nishantkumar.bsky.social discusses his recent article in Nature Cities and this coexistence 👇
@nishantkumar.bsky.social discusses his recent article in Nature Cities and this coexistence 👇
India’s urban coexistence crisis with 60 million street-dogs
bit.ly
August 28, 2026 at 9:16 AM
In the most populated country in the world - and in a landscape changing with urbanisation - there is an ever-changing relationship between humans and dogs in India.
@nishantkumar.bsky.social discusses his recent article in Nature Cities and this coexistence 👇
@nishantkumar.bsky.social discusses his recent article in Nature Cities and this coexistence 👇
Reposted by Oxford Biology
For World African Wild Dog Day, we are busting some of the biggest myths about this endangered canid.
Scroll through to find out more about this iconic species.
@biology.ox.ac.uk
Scroll through to find out more about this iconic species.
@biology.ox.ac.uk
August 26, 2026 at 10:39 AM
For World African Wild Dog Day, we are busting some of the biggest myths about this endangered canid.
Scroll through to find out more about this iconic species.
@biology.ox.ac.uk
Scroll through to find out more about this iconic species.
@biology.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Oxford Biology
We are excited to launch the next iteration of our Masterclass on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade. The course is open to academics, practitioners and researchers wanting to address illegal wildlife trade.
Apply here by early September:
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/mas...
Apply here by early September:
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/mas...
August 25, 2026 at 3:07 PM
We are excited to launch the next iteration of our Masterclass on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade. The course is open to academics, practitioners and researchers wanting to address illegal wildlife trade.
Apply here by early September:
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/mas...
Apply here by early September:
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/mas...
Reposted by Oxford Biology
New film about the Oxford tutorial featuring our freshers in the museum! Students are often nervous about this aspect of teaching at Oxford so well done to Matt Greetham for putting this together. @biology.ox.ac.uk @newcollegeoxf.bsky.social @morethanadodo.bsky.social youtu.be/cOPPGrgrWm0 @ox.ac.uk
The Oxford Tutorial
YouTube video by University of Oxford
youtu.be
August 25, 2026 at 9:16 AM
New film about the Oxford tutorial featuring our freshers in the museum! Students are often nervous about this aspect of teaching at Oxford so well done to Matt Greetham for putting this together. @biology.ox.ac.uk @newcollegeoxf.bsky.social @morethanadodo.bsky.social youtu.be/cOPPGrgrWm0 @ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Oxford Biology
Join us on 3 October for a day of discovery, curiosity, and hands-on science! 🌳🧠
We’re hosting a free science fair with @biology.ox.ac.uk
where you can visit stalls, take part in activities, and hear about exciting research 👇
bit.ly/insidelam
We’re hosting a free science fair with @biology.ox.ac.uk
where you can visit stalls, take part in activities, and hear about exciting research 👇
bit.ly/insidelam
Inside Life and Mind
A science fair for all ages with stalls, activities and talks
bit.ly
August 24, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Join us on 3 October for a day of discovery, curiosity, and hands-on science! 🌳🧠
We’re hosting a free science fair with @biology.ox.ac.uk
where you can visit stalls, take part in activities, and hear about exciting research 👇
bit.ly/insidelam
We’re hosting a free science fair with @biology.ox.ac.uk
where you can visit stalls, take part in activities, and hear about exciting research 👇
bit.ly/insidelam