Marina Vollin
@mfvollin.bsky.social
Ph.D. candidate @ UC Riverside studying gecko tail autotomy. Herp enthusiast, baby birder, Trekkie. In search of postdoc opportunities!
https://sites.google.com/view/marinavollin
https://sites.google.com/view/marinavollin
Reposted by Marina Vollin
We generated chromosome-level genomes from 19 gecko species, including representatives from all 7 gecko families. These species have diverse sex-determining systems, including both XY and ZW sex chromosomes and temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD).
August 27, 2026 at 7:35 PM
We generated chromosome-level genomes from 19 gecko species, including representatives from all 7 gecko families. These species have diverse sex-determining systems, including both XY and ZW sex chromosomes and temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD).
Reposted by Marina Vollin
Reposted by Marina Vollin
Woohoo! New paper!! Nightjars bang their wings together to make sound! nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
May 13, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Woohoo! New paper!! Nightjars bang their wings together to make sound! nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Reposted by Marina Vollin
New paper out in @molbioevol.bsky.social 🧬🦠
We show phage toxin diversity in protective symbionts isn’t random—toxin families are linked to defense against different parasitoid species.
This suggests toxin diversification is a major force shaping the functional evolution of these microbes.
We show phage toxin diversity in protective symbionts isn’t random—toxin families are linked to defense against different parasitoid species.
This suggests toxin diversification is a major force shaping the functional evolution of these microbes.
May 13, 2026 at 3:28 PM
New paper out in @molbioevol.bsky.social 🧬🦠
We show phage toxin diversity in protective symbionts isn’t random—toxin families are linked to defense against different parasitoid species.
This suggests toxin diversification is a major force shaping the functional evolution of these microbes.
We show phage toxin diversity in protective symbionts isn’t random—toxin families are linked to defense against different parasitoid species.
This suggests toxin diversification is a major force shaping the functional evolution of these microbes.
High school science dream achieved, I'm in a zefrank True Facts video!! My research is featured at around 11:50, but the whole video is packed with cool info and great science. 🦎
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Jb...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Jb...
True Facts: Geckos
YouTube video by Ze Frank
www.youtube.com
April 3, 2026 at 9:46 PM
High school science dream achieved, I'm in a zefrank True Facts video!! My research is featured at around 11:50, but the whole video is packed with cool info and great science. 🦎
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Jb...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Jb...
Burnt the candle on both ends to sneak some herping into my 2025 Ecuador- Mindo birding tour. Totally worth it!
July 10, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Burnt the candle on both ends to sneak some herping into my 2025 Ecuador- Mindo birding tour. Totally worth it!
Anyone out there know what happens when you try to use (12 years) expired formalin to fix tissues? Asking for a me. Visually it looks fine, no discoloration or gunk.
June 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Anyone out there know what happens when you try to use (12 years) expired formalin to fix tissues? Asking for a me. Visually it looks fine, no discoloration or gunk.
Reposted by Marina Vollin
I am so heartened to this seriously AWESOME #SaveNSF website go up today!!!!
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
May 2, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I am so heartened to this seriously AWESOME #SaveNSF website go up today!!!!
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
Reposted by Marina Vollin
Appreciated @jackiefmogensen.bsky.social's ode to the majestic hellbender — bellwether of aquatic ecosystems, victim of extreme weather and political bullshit.
www.motherjones.com/environment/...
www.motherjones.com/environment/...
Legend has it this salamander came from hell. We’re about to send it back.
Climate disasters, human sprawl, and now Trump: This is how extinctions happen.
www.motherjones.com
May 1, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Appreciated @jackiefmogensen.bsky.social's ode to the majestic hellbender — bellwether of aquatic ecosystems, victim of extreme weather and political bullshit.
www.motherjones.com/environment/...
www.motherjones.com/environment/...
Sometime in the last few years I saw a short form video (prob tiktok) going around the internet showing a large adult iguana dropping most or all of its tail (like a BIG slab of meat). Can't find it now, anybody seen it? I'd like it for a lecture! 🦎
April 28, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Sometime in the last few years I saw a short form video (prob tiktok) going around the internet showing a large adult iguana dropping most or all of its tail (like a BIG slab of meat). Can't find it now, anybody seen it? I'd like it for a lecture! 🦎
Reposted by Marina Vollin
I am very proud to share our new gecko research!
We wanted to know if experimenter identity influences gecko behaviour during experiments that increases error of behavioural measurements.
The answer is yes, identity matters but only in a familiar context!
OA paper:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
We wanted to know if experimenter identity influences gecko behaviour during experiments that increases error of behavioural measurements.
The answer is yes, identity matters but only in a familiar context!
OA paper:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
April 3, 2025 at 5:42 AM
I am very proud to share our new gecko research!
We wanted to know if experimenter identity influences gecko behaviour during experiments that increases error of behavioural measurements.
The answer is yes, identity matters but only in a familiar context!
OA paper:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
We wanted to know if experimenter identity influences gecko behaviour during experiments that increases error of behavioural measurements.
The answer is yes, identity matters but only in a familiar context!
OA paper:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
There’s a snake loose in the (Lego) museum! 🐍
March 13, 2025 at 2:35 AM
There’s a snake loose in the (Lego) museum! 🐍
Reposted by Marina Vollin
Very excited for our new review paper (with Tony Russell) on gecko adhesion, locomotion, and ecomechanics. This stemmed from the JEB symposium last year. @jexpbiol.bsky.social @ucriverside.bsky.social #gecko #ecomechanics #adhesion journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
Geckos running with dynamic adhesion: towards integration of ecology, energetics and biomechanics
Summary: We propose a set of lab and field experiments to further investigate adhesively assisted gecko locomotion, which is controlled by a hierarchical system including muscles, vascular tissue, tendons and hair-like adhesive structures.
journals.biologists.com
February 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Very excited for our new review paper (with Tony Russell) on gecko adhesion, locomotion, and ecomechanics. This stemmed from the JEB symposium last year. @jexpbiol.bsky.social @ucriverside.bsky.social #gecko #ecomechanics #adhesion journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
Some Ensatinas I found in San Diego co. over the weekend. Last of the SoCal salamander genuses for my life list! And man it was sooo nice to disappear into nature for a day. Grateful for CA’s beautiful state parks! 🦎
February 19, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Some Ensatinas I found in San Diego co. over the weekend. Last of the SoCal salamander genuses for my life list! And man it was sooo nice to disappear into nature for a day. Grateful for CA’s beautiful state parks! 🦎
Reposted by Marina Vollin
Our opinion piece in our local newspaper - Cutting funding for science in Arizona hurts our economy and our future 🌐🧪🧮🌾
tucson.com/opinion/colu...
tucson.com/opinion/colu...
Local opinion: Cutting funding for science in Arizona hurts our economy and our future
The cuts are leading us down a path that will cede the United States' world leadership in science, medicine and health.
tucson.com
February 17, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Our opinion piece in our local newspaper - Cutting funding for science in Arizona hurts our economy and our future 🌐🧪🧮🌾
tucson.com/opinion/colu...
tucson.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Marina Vollin
Though widespread and popular in the pet trade, we know very little about their natural history. In this study, lead by undergraduate student Ethan Livingston, we characterized their thermal biology. This Includes one of the highest temperature tolerances *ever recorded* for a vertebrate!
Check out our first study with sandfish skinks (Scincus scincus)!
Published in the Journal of Herpetology and available now (open access):
doi.org/10.1670/2317...
Published in the Journal of Herpetology and available now (open access):
doi.org/10.1670/2317...
February 6, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Though widespread and popular in the pet trade, we know very little about their natural history. In this study, lead by undergraduate student Ethan Livingston, we characterized their thermal biology. This Includes one of the highest temperature tolerances *ever recorded* for a vertebrate!
Reposted by Marina Vollin
How did L.A.'s wildfires affect its animals?
@antonsrkn.bsky.social has answers in this stellar piece, which features his stunning photos. www.smithsonianmag.com/science-natu...
@antonsrkn.bsky.social has answers in this stellar piece, which features his stunning photos. www.smithsonianmag.com/science-natu...
Here’s How the Los Angeles Wildfires Are Affecting Animals, From Fish to Snakes to Birds
While scientists were able to save and move some creatures in the aftermath, researchers are worried about the prospects for other species
www.smithsonianmag.com
February 5, 2025 at 6:32 PM
How did L.A.'s wildfires affect its animals?
@antonsrkn.bsky.social has answers in this stellar piece, which features his stunning photos. www.smithsonianmag.com/science-natu...
@antonsrkn.bsky.social has answers in this stellar piece, which features his stunning photos. www.smithsonianmag.com/science-natu...
Reposted by Marina Vollin
The Transgender Law Centre works on supporting trans rights in areas like healthcare, employment, and immigration. They're trans-led and provide legal assistance, policy advocacy, public education. I've just donated and, if you can, I would recommend you do too <3 transgenderlawcenter.org/donate/
January 21, 2025 at 3:47 AM
The Transgender Law Centre works on supporting trans rights in areas like healthcare, employment, and immigration. They're trans-led and provide legal assistance, policy advocacy, public education. I've just donated and, if you can, I would recommend you do too <3 transgenderlawcenter.org/donate/
Reposted by Marina Vollin
Love this story of rattlesnakes collecting raindrops on their bodies to drink. Congrats to @snakeymama.bsky.social and the authors of this wonderful paper
Paper here:
academic.oup.com/cz/advance-a...
@nytimes.com coverage here
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/s...
Paper here:
academic.oup.com/cz/advance-a...
@nytimes.com coverage here
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/s...
Rain-harvesting behavior in free-ranging prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis)
Abstract. Organisms inhabiting arid environments face challenges to obtain dietary water. To prevent desiccation, some organisms possess unique adaptations
academic.oup.com
January 21, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Love this story of rattlesnakes collecting raindrops on their bodies to drink. Congrats to @snakeymama.bsky.social and the authors of this wonderful paper
Paper here:
academic.oup.com/cz/advance-a...
@nytimes.com coverage here
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/s...
Paper here:
academic.oup.com/cz/advance-a...
@nytimes.com coverage here
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/s...
Reposted by Marina Vollin
Do you teach field-based courses? Or hope to? Wrote a brief commentary for the new Plant Science Bulletin on why these course need to be offered/supported. TL;DR the kids need to get outside... where integrative biology lives. #SICB2025 #STEMeducation
digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/fac_journ/21...
digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/fac_journ/21...
Field-Based Courses Still Matter, but not Like They Used To
Increasingly, field-based courses are providing the first real opportunities for students to experience nature in meaningful ways. As a baseline, even before the content delivery and the graded assess...
digitalcommons.bucknell.edu
January 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Do you teach field-based courses? Or hope to? Wrote a brief commentary for the new Plant Science Bulletin on why these course need to be offered/supported. TL;DR the kids need to get outside... where integrative biology lives. #SICB2025 #STEMeducation
digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/fac_journ/21...
digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/fac_journ/21...
Reposted by Marina Vollin
Hey! I'll be presenting at SICB tomorrow in the "Sound production and acoustic cues" session, room A704. The talk is actually biomechanics: it's about how Bearded Tachuri (a flycatcher from Argentina) makes sounds with fluttering feathers #SICB2025
January 4, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Hey! I'll be presenting at SICB tomorrow in the "Sound production and acoustic cues" session, room A704. The talk is actually biomechanics: it's about how Bearded Tachuri (a flycatcher from Argentina) makes sounds with fluttering feathers #SICB2025
Today! #SICB2025
OMG, #SICB2025 is in less than a week! Looking forward to seeing everyone soon in Atlanta. I will be presenting on my work examining gecko locomotion and prey capture following autotomy on Saturday (1/4) at 1:30 PM. Stop by International Salon 10 and say hi! 🦎
January 4, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Today! #SICB2025
Oh, I’ll also have stickers to hand out throughout SICB! Please stop me and ask for one if you see me 😁🦎
December 29, 2024 at 5:05 PM
Oh, I’ll also have stickers to hand out throughout SICB! Please stop me and ask for one if you see me 😁🦎