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Ben Longdon

@blongdon.bsky.social
2.1K followers 792 following 214 posts

Virus evolution, ecology and host shifts. Fly zookeeper. Insect rhabdovirus geek. Tea Junkie. Like music, food, bikes. Lab website: www.benlongdon.com

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Reposted by Ben Longdon
Bob Wong @bbmwong.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Monash University is offering a fully-funded PhD scholarship to an outstanding student in animal behaviour/evolutionary ecology. Choose from eight project areas. For information about what project I'm offering, please DM me or see application form: forms.gle/ia9t4KPD3FKT.... Deadline: 15 Nov.
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Ceramic moth making - a Cocoon Residency event by Jasmine Saunders, as part of our NERC moth virome project out @uniexecec.bsky.social with @savebutterflies.bsky.social , run by @thentrythis.social.thentrythis.org.ap.brid.gy Come along Fri 16th/Sat 24th October, 11am-2pm (its free, all welcome).
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Drosophila @malecnsfly.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
a short history of me, in crayon. 400 million years of insects, a rocket in 1947, a white-eyed fly in a milk bottle, and now every one of my neurons, mapped and running in a jar. #SciArt #SciComm #drosophila
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Drosophila @malecnsfly.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
flies love your trash, right? wrong fly. that's my cousin, the house fly. i'm a fruit fly: the smell of dung reaches my brain and 92 ms later my moonwalker neurons fire. i back away. #SciComm #neuroskyence #drosophila
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Drosophila @malecnsfly.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
the first animals in space were fruit flies: 20 feb 1947, a V-2 from White Sands, 109 km up, back alive. in 2017, 4,000 of us flew on the first Dragon to fly twice. next: mars? #SciComm #SpaceSky #drosophila
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Lee Henry @henrylabsymbio.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Excited to see our work out in @pnas.org! We asked how mobile genetic elements generate functional diversity in symbionts and found a plasmid that protects aphids from lethal pathogens, helping to explain variation in defence across natural aphid populations. See @ben-parker.bsky.social thread👇
pnas.org
Phenotypic divergence is driven by mobile genetic elements in a heritable insect symbiont | PNAS
Heritable microbes profoundly influence insect biology, yet the traits they confer often evolve rapidly and differ among closely related symbiont s...
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Gytis Dudas @evogytis.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
baltic v1.0.0 is live! Get it via pip or clone from Github repo. Now with documentation (baltic.readthedocs.io) & a gallery of tutorials & examples (phylo-baltic.github.io/baltic-gallery, still WIP). Huge thanks to @barney-potter.bsky.social for all the initiative & help along the way. #ViroSky
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Lots of pizza and quite a lot of moths as part of the Cocoon artist residencies on our moth virome project with @thentrythis.social.thentrythis.org.ap.brid.gy
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Yikes. I wonder even if images are not manipulated, if the conditions comparing different reagents are (eg company A's special taq has a nice bright band compared to leading competitors B and C which they sneezed in repeatedly then only added 1/1000th of the amount of template).
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
New paper by @sarahkwalsh.bsky.social looking at phage-bacteria interactions across a diverse panel of 64 Staph isolates in an insect host model - "Detectable effects of bacterial phylogeny on virulence but not phage efficacy in an in vivo Galleria mellonella model" doi.org/10.1093/isme...
doi.org
Detectable effects of bacterial phylogeny on virulence but not phage efficacy in an in vivo Galleria mellonella model
Abstract. Predicting the outcomes of bacteria–phage interactions is a central challenge in microbial ecology, particularly across heterogeneous host enviro
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
This looks v neat: "Species-specific barriers restrict virus spillover potential across the Caenorhabditis genus" Herek @sfelena.bsky.social et al doi.org/10.1371/jour...
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
My understanding was this was always their plan, as I know various folk at mid-career (Assoc Prof, ~10-15 years out of PhD) were told they were not senior enough!
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Matthew Hahn @3rdreviewer.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Very cool pair of papers demonstrating little link between amount of additive genetic variation and amount of nucleotide variation within species: journals.plos.org/plosbiology/... www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
journals.plos.org
Levels of additive genetic variation vary substantially between species
Adaptive potential determines how populations respond to environmental change. This study compiles evolvability estimates from over 170 multicellular species, revealing substantial variation across th...
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Sarah Jose (JoseSci) @sarahjose.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
My #ExE2026 conference post is now live! It was great chatting with attendees about their research and learning more about the field. Thanks again to the organisers @erikpostma.bsky.social, @btschirren.bsky.social, @blongdon.bsky.social, @ali--wilson.bsky.social, and @hansonmark.bsky.social!
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Just came across these two cool papers that I'd missed - dilution effects dependent on phylogenetic relatedness of hosts journals.plos.org/plosbiology/... (25k plots of >1.1m trees!) and some models on same ideas besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... (both from Jonathan Davies group).
journals.plos.org
Evolutionary history of host trees amplifies the dilution effect of biodiversity on forest pests
Biodiversity appears to strongly suppress pathogens and pests in many plant and animal systems, but this ‘dilution effect’ can vary strikingly in magnitude. This study uses forest inventory data from ...
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
LepiLEDs and a Mercury vapour, both in Robinson traps.
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Adam Lendvai @lendvaiaz.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
The evolutionary ecology conference #Exe2026 in #Cornwall was a fantastic meeting. Phenomenal plenaries, outstanding contributed talks, inspiring discussions, and fun social programs. Pictured is the final conference dinner in an unforgettable setting. Bonus photo below. 👇
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Daniel Bolnick @danielbolnick.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
At the #ExE2026 conference in Cornwall UK, considering the intersection of evolution and ecology on a field trip to Lizard Point.
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Suvi Ruuskanen @suviruuskanen.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
#ExE2026 goodbye! What an excellent conference: great science, super well organized ( definitely not short of food!), beautiful venue, incl dinner. Now treveling back to @uniofjyvaskyla.bsky.social with a new ideas and a new book to read 🙂 see you in Edinburgh next year!
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Connor G G Bamford @connorggbamford.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Please share 🚨 We have a postdoc position open on avian influenza virus tracking and genomics across natural to develop an early-warning system to protect human and animal health hrwebapp.qub.ac.uk/tlive_webrec...
hrwebapp.qub.ac.uk
Job profile
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Hanna Kokko @kokkonut.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
I've been to a lot of meetings where the timekeeping signals are bird calls, but it's special when the meeting's outing goes to that place where you can see & hear the birds! The scenery was OK too. #ExE2026
Habitat of red-billed choughs (who were there but not in this photo) during the half day outing of the ExE conference
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Dieter Lukas @dieterlukas.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 06/07/2026
I compiled a list of 350 #funding opportunities for #postdoctoral research #fellowships: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J2M… I realized I should share this again after mentioning it to some folks at the #EFP2026
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Methods in Ecology and Evolution @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Enjoying the scenery while at #ExE2026 this week! Maybe all conferences should be by the sea?
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Benoit Pujol @benoitpujol.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Evolution and Ecology meet in talks of the #ExE2026 conference from the microbiome to behaviour. Great contributions to the understanding to the ability of wild species to adapt by using quantitative genetics. Looking forward to 2027 edition
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Luís M. Silva @luismsilva.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Thank you for all the #ExE2026 organizers for one of the best conferences I ever been!! From the talks to the whole setup, was an unique experience! Looking forward for #ExE2027 in Edinburgh! :)
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Erik Postma @erikpostma.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
After one and a half days of amazing talks at #ExE2026, it was time to show off some of the best coastline #Cornwall has on offer ☀️🌊⛰️ Lizard Point to Kynance Cove, with seals, choughs and ice cream. What a day!
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Simon Evans @sevans.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
A new group dedicated to evolutionary ecology! This is an opportunity to have a permanent community space for the field, as well as ensure regular conferences like #ExE2026. But it needs your help 👇
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BES Evolutionary Ecology Group @bes-evolecol.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
@erikpostma.bsky.social opening the #ExE2026 conference, having explained it’s the “Goldilocks Conference”, with the winning recipe combining ecology and ecologyl
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Sarah Jose (JoseSci) @sarahjose.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
The sun is setting on another day of #ExE2026. Thanks to the organisers @erikpostma.bsky.social @btschirren.bsky.social @blongdon.bsky.social @ali--wilson.bsky.social and @hansonmark.bsky.social for a fantastic meeting!
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Erik Postma @erikpostma.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Spread the word! 📢 Funded by @aria-research.bsky.social, @uniexecec.bsky.social in beautiful #Cornwall is creating a cohort of 20 (!) MbyRes students that will tackle some of the biggest questions in order to bring about a step-change for ecosystem resilience. For more information, see 👇!
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Masters by Research at @uniexecec.bsky.social in beautiful Cornwall ecologyconservation.exeter.ac.uk/masteer-coho... these are *funded* - covering home tuition fees, a research/training support grant and a prog of cohort activities. Lots of projects available (including one w/ me!) - pls share!
Penryn campus - home of CEC - views across campus and Cornish coastline
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Xav Harrison @xavh.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
We are now recruiting for a 3 year NERC-funded postdoc to study the transmission dynamics of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in migratory birds. Based in the Wild Microbiome Lab @uniexecec.bsky.social in beautiful Cornwall.
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Laura Kelley @lauraakelley.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Sexier in the city? Urban male great bowerbirds decorate bowers with human-made objects, creating brighter and more varied displays than rural males. Males strongly prefer human-made objects over natural ones, possibly boosting their appeal to females! shorturl.at/lcNY2 @royalsocietypublishing.org
The ground is covered in leaf litter. On the ground are two parallel walls made of sticks that form a corridor. At each entrance there are objects scattered around including grey plastic, green pieces of glass, grey stones, white snail shells and red items.
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Zoe Meziere @zoe-meziere.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Next up in the S. pistillata saga: thermal tolerance differs among cryptic coral species and associated symbionts during a heatwave. Now out in @royalsocietypublishing.org 🧵 royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...
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PLOS One @plosone.org · 02/06/2026
Our Associate Editor @sarahjose.bsky.social will be attending the Evolution x Ecology 2026 conference hosted by @uniexecec.bsky.social. She'd love to hear more about your research or have a chat about publishing in @plosone.org, @plosbiology.org, or our exciting new journal PLOS Ecosystems! #ExE2026
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Someones done a good job of commercialising vinegar funnel traps (or Super Ninja 🥷 🪰 fruit fly traps) for Drosophila! superninja.eco/en/fruit-fly...
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UKVF.bsky.social @ukvf.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Don't miss the opportunity to connect with peers, share insights, build collaborations, and shape the future of virome research in the UK Stay tuned for registration details!
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UKVF.bsky.social @ukvf.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
📍 Where: Advanced Research Centre (ARC), University of Glasgow 🗓️ When: 5-6 October 2026 🦠 Focus: Animal, human and environmental viromics
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UKVF.bsky.social @ukvf.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Big news for the virome research community!  We are thrilled to announce the first-ever UK Virome Forum (UKVF) in-person event! Whether you're a PhD student, an ECR, or a PI working in virome-related research, this is your space to connect and collaborate.
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
@erikpostma.bsky.social saw this and thought of you!
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Dr Orly Razgour @orlyrazgour.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Last couple of days to apply for this postdoctoral research position in my group working on the population genomics of serotine bats in the UK and Lyssavirus transmission at the University of Exeter. Job reference: Q13679 🦇🧬🧪🌍🌐 eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
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EvolDir @evoldir.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
📣 EvolDir is now managed by @eseb.bsky.social! We are delighted to be taking the reins and express our gratitude to both Brian Golding who began this service to the community in the mid-1980s and to @rdmpage.bsky.social who ran this account until now 👏 You can now find evoldir here: evoldir.net
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Karim Majzoub @karimaj.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
We found a viral Trojan Horse: a virus can hide inside another virus.This one surprised us: deltaviruses don’t just borrow a helper virus. They can travel inside it. A literal Trojan Horse “virus-in-a-virus” route into cells. 🤯 Kudos to 1st author @viroscope.bsky.social and co-authors !
sciencedirect.com
Deltaviruses spread through a viral Trojan Horse
Hepatitis D-like satellite viruses, known as deltaviruses, have been recently discovered in a wide range of animals. These viruses are thought to expr…
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Asymmetric biparental and inefficient horizontal transmission of paralysis-causing sigmavirus in Queensland fruit fly www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Asymmetric biparental and inefficient horizontal transmission of paralysis-causing sigmavirus in Queensland fruit fly - Heredity
Heredity - Asymmetric biparental and inefficient horizontal transmission of paralysis-causing sigmavirus in Queensland fruit fly
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Daniel Padfield @padpadpadpad.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
PLEASE SHARE. PhD Opportunity with me, Ben Raymond and Jan Engelstaedter and Andrew Letten at University of Queensland. Experimentally testing mechanisms of how temperature may change selection and spread of AMR in E. coli. Coupled with some advanced modelling and sequencing. 🧪🦠 #microsky
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Rachel M. Wheatley @rachelmwheatley.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
🔊 Looking for a Research Assistant in Bacterial Evolution to join my lab 🦠 🥼Main duties: Research (AMR + microbiome) + lab assistance. ⏲️ Post duration: 30 months 🗓️ Closing date for applications: 20th April 2026 💰 Salary: ~£35k Details and how to apply: tinyurl.com/2a3v66y7 Please share!
lnkd.in
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
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Nature @nature.com · 30/03/2026
Becoming a parent is much more detrimental to women’s academic careers than it is to men’s Read the full story: go.nature.com/4v4rxmQ
IMPACT OF PARENTHOOD ON UNIVERSITY EMPLOYMENT. Line graph shows how the probability of holding a research position changes from four years before to seven years after having children.
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
this looks v useful! Jarrod is finally updating MCMCglmm course notes that I think will include some comparative methods. I keep thinking that a phylo mixed model version of besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... might be useful - you've got a lot of the bones here!
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
An ecologist’s guide to the animal model
1. Efforts to understand the links between evolutionary and ecological dynamics hinge on our ability to measure and understand how genes influence phenotypes, fitness and population dynamics. Quanti...
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
My "Introduction to Phylogenetic Comparative Methods in R" online book is now available here: nhcooper123.github.io/pcm-primer-o... Note it only deals with basic methods and was mostly written in 2020 if you're wondering why your awesome new method/paper is missing! Please cite it if you use it :)
Plastic frogs sitting round a key board
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Ben Longdon @blongdon.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Can also check out on www.instagram.com/uk_mvp/ with links to artists
instagram.com
Instagram
Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.
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