iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🦤🌐🧪 Endangered oceanic manta rays show inter- & intra-annual site fidelity to a turbid coastal bay near Suva, Fiji! Our drone surveys highlight the unexpected ecological importance of these habitats for the species. bit.ly/esr01535

An aerial drone photograph shows the waters of Laucala Bay with Suva city in the background. In the lower central portion of the image, a single oceanic manta ray is visible feeding at the surface, with its pale ventral surface breaking the water's surface. In the background, the coastline stretches horizontally across the upper third of the image, showing a developed urban area with various buildings, infrastructure, and dense vegetation, backed by rolling hills under a cloudy sky. This image visually demonstrates the close proximity of these endangered rays to a highly populated and heavily modified urban environment, highlighting their unexpected use of coastal habitats for foraging.

100

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🦤🌐🧪 A 14 yr study of Endangered Indo-Pacific leopard sharks in Mozambique reveals seasonal sighting patterns, a female-biased population dominated by adults, and the first observations of courtship behaviour in the Western Indian Ocean. bit.ly/esr01533

Photograph of a male leopard shark closely pursuing a female alongside a reef in Mozambique. The image shows one of the courtship interactions described in the study.

100

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🦤🌐🧪 The Orcaella brevirostris population in Mahakam River, Indonesia, has declined + its range contracted over 2 decades. Habitat degradation + prey depletion—driven by palm oil expansion, pollution, and destructive fishing practices—pose further threats. bit.ly/esr01532

The picture shows a female adult pesut dolphin named ‘nenek’ (or grandmother) Fiona who is not only identified based on unique features of her dorsal fin but is known by local villagers and tourists because she has a hump just behind her neck giving the dolphin a massive appearance. Fiona has been identified since the photo-id study first started in 1999. In the background there is an approaching tugboat with 300 feet-large coal-barge. This large-sized coal barge traffic with draught between 4 to 6 m deep not only causes underwater pollution but also at least two known collision cases of a calf and juvenile pesut. Vessel collisions of coal barges and speedboats account for eight percent of known mortality causes.

110

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

🦤🌐🧪 First assessment of vessel strike risk for North Atlantic right whales and the protection measures implemented in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. As maritime traffic keeps increasing, rerouting vessels is the most effective measure. bit.ly/esr01528

Photo of a North Atlantic right whale fluke in the Gulf of St Lawrence.

100

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

🦤🌐🧪 Pontoporia blainvillei is one of the most endangered cetaceans in the western South Atlantic. Using two distinct data sources, we assessed areas potentially at risk from the installation of offshore wind turbines in southern Brazil. bit.ly/esr01524

111

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

🦤🌐🧪 Acoustic tracking of 48 reef manta rays showed South Africa’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park is an important refuge, while protection in Mozambique is limited. Mantas moved between countries, so will need coordinated regional conservation. bit.ly/esr01527

Researcher (Dr Nakia Cullain) looks down at a reef manta ray in shallow coastal water before attaching an acoustic transmitter. The image captures fieldwork used to monitor manta ray movements between Mozambique and South Africa, helping identify important habitats and inform cross-border conservation of this vulnerable species.

111

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

🦤🌐🧪 New ESR study provides quantitative reference data on dorsal hair of the Critically Endangered European mink Mustela lutreola, supporting interpretation of hair samples for conservation monitoring and reference collections.

110

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

🦤🌐 🧪 A new study on the threatened moss Buxbaumia viridis predicts a potentially drastic loss of suitable habitat in Slovenia under future climate scenarios. Protecting deadwood-rich spruce-dominated forests may be critical for its long-term survival. bit.ly/esr01520

Photograph of the rare moss Buxbaumia viridis growing on decaying wood in a forest habitat, showing its distinctive elongated sporophytes emerging from reduced gametophytes. An inset map of Slovenia displays the current predicted habitat suitability for the species, with warmer-to-greener colors indicating increasing suitability, alongside occurrence records from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries marked with different colored points.

100

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

🦤🦈🌊 Angelshark (Squatina squatina) detections on baited remote underwater video stations in Cardigan Bay demonstrate repeated habitat use, supporting the IUCN Cardigan-Caernarfon Bay Important Shark and Ray Area as important habitat area. bit.ly/esr01518

A still image taken from a baited remote underwater video station (BRUVS) on which an angelshark Squatina squatina was sighted in the IUCN Cardigan-Caernarfon Bay Important Shark and Ray Area in Wales, United Kingdom. The image is very clear, there are no obvious claspers showing that the shark sighted is female. The BRUVS is deployed on a sandy seabed and there is a spider crab attached to the bait box, visible in the foreground whilst the angelshark is clearly visible in the background.

120

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

🦈 🌐 🧪 🦤 46 years of basking shark sightings in Ireland reveal rising numbers, larger groups, and seasonal hotspots tied to ocean conditions. Ireland remains a key habitat for this species, underscoring the need for targeted and dynamic management. bit.ly/esr01515

Two basking sharks swim side by side near the ocean surface, their dorsal fins and broad backs breaking through calm blue water as they glide in close formation.

100

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

🐢🌐🦤🧪What do immature green turtles eat in São Tomé? We combined stable isotopes and RNA/DNA to uncover diet shifts and nutritional condition across habitats, key insights for conservation in the Gulf of Guinea. bit.ly/esr01513

Juvenile green sea turtle being gently held by a researcher above clear blue ocean waters under a cloudy sky, illustrating marine fieldwork and conservation research in São Tomé.

162

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

🌐🧪🦤 Endangered Cook Inlet belugas were absent from the Kenai River during peak fishing season, despite high salmon counts. Acoustic and visual monitoring suggests anthropogenic activity may be influencing their use of key foraging habitat. bit.ly/esr01509

The back of a Cook Inlet beluga whale is visible in the Kenai River. On the other side of the river is a commercial fishing boat, with a towering, snow-capped mountain in the background.

222

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

🌐🧪🦤 Endangered Japanese eel has declined across East Asia; downstream contraction in distribution and loss of effective habitat in the Yangtze River since the 1960s highlights the urgent need for fishing bans, habitat restoration, and long-term monitoring. bit.ly/esr01504

A Japanese eel Anguilla japonica rests on a gravel riverbed underwater, showing a dark gray back and pale underside. Its head is slightly raised with the mouth partly open and one round eye visible, set against a softly lit natural benthic habitat with scattered stones.

111

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

🌐🧪🦤 We estimated numbers of loggerhead and green turtles for 19 years in Florida Bay and estimated survival of loggerheads. Green turtle numbers increased and loggerheads showed no trend. Loggerhead survival was generally high in this protected habitat. bit.ly/esr01502

A diver wearing snorkeling gear is shown in the water holding a newly captured loggerhead turtle.

121

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

🌐🧪🦤 New research on the endangered St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) beluga characterizes blubber and prey lipid profiles across its food web. Sex-specific beluga profiles and taxonomic and seasonal prey shifts were identified, establishing a biochemical baseline for conservation research. bit.ly/esr01501

131

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

🦤🧪🌐🦭 Ringed seals are exposed to more ship traffic as #SeaIce declines. In Arctic Alaska, #RingedSeals were regularly exposed to multiple types of vessels during 2013-2022 open‑water seasons. The effects of vessel exposure require more research. bit.ly/esr01500

This photo is of a ringed seal amidst ocean water and sea ice floes, looking at the photographer. The seal has dark gray pelage mottled with lighter gray spots and rings. The photo was taken by Anna Bryan from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game during research conducted under a federal research permit.

143

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

🦤🧪🌐🦈 Shark vertebrae hold lifelong chemical records. Using stable isotopes, our new study reconstructs diet and habitat shifts in the Critically Endangered scalloped bonnethead—delivering key ecological insights to better guide conservation. bit.ly/esr01498

Underwater photograph showing a small scalloped bonnethead near the water surface, showing the handling of a live shark during field sampling in the marine environment.

131

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

🦤🧪🌐🦈 Ultrasound scans identify the Al Wajh Lagoon (Red Sea) as the first documented gestation site for Critically Endangered halavi #guitarfish and Endangered reticulate #whipray, refining size-at-maturity and indicating localized pupping. bit.ly/esr01497

Photograph of a halavi guitarfish (Glaucostegus halavi) in a holding tub, shown from above with the pale ventral surface exposed. A researcher holds an ultrasound probe against the abdomen while another hand stabilizes the animal.

121

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

🌐🧪🦤 The 1st DNA-verified record of copper shark Carcharhinus brachyurus in Chile; 24 sharks were reorted in artisanal landings at Antofagasta, extending species' eastern Pacific range southward and highlighting need for monitoring and management of bycatch. bit.ly/esr0146

Bronze whaler sharks and common dolphins competing to feed on a sardine bait ball during the sardine run, Wild Coast, Indian Ocean, South Africa.

121

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

🌐🧪🦤 North Pacific male loggerheads utilize high-latitude foraging grounds around 40°N during the summer regardless of their growth stage or reproductive status. High-latitude habitats would be more important for males than previously thought. bit.ly/esr01495

A male loggerhead turtle, with elongated tail. They utilize high-latitude foraging grounds around 40°N during the summer regardless of their growth stage or reproductive status.

111

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

🌐🧪🦤 24 males contributed to the nests of 23 females at Jumby Bay, Antigua. Our data show low multiple paternity and an even breeding sex ratio for 2013, providing baselines for hawksbills in the Eastern Caribbean to establish trends over time. bit.ly/esr01491

This photograph shows a close-up of a hawksbill sea turtle's face inside beach vegetation.

142

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

🐳🌐🦤🧪 New data from tagged fin whales in southern New England show low non-song call rates during mid-summer. Calls from males were most frequent during nighttime feeding, indicating context-dependent sound production and implications for acoustic detection. bit.ly/esr01487

Aerial photograph of a fin whale with an orange suction-cup tag on its back.

153

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

🦤🧪🌐🦈 Long-term tagging of the flapnose houndshark Scylliogaleus quecketti conducted by the Oceanographic Research Institute in the Pondoland MPA found this species extremely resident with a small home range. It is likely well protected in no-take MPAs. bit.ly/esr01488

A photograph of Dr Bruce Mann holding a dart-tagged, male flapnose houndshark that is about to be released in the Pondoland MPA.

132

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

🦤🧪🌐 Pinna nobilis is an endemic Mediterranean bivalve, critically endangered after a mass mortality event that began in 2016. In Tabarca Marine Reserve, Spain, mortality reached 100%. Pinna rudis is now filling its ecological niches. bit.ly/esr01483

A photo of Pinna nobilis in a seagrass meadow

121

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

🦤🧪🌐 🐟 A decade of acoustic telemetry reveals new insight into survival of juvenile #GulfSturgeon (Acipenser desotoi) in Florida’s #ApalachicolaRiver, improving understanding of this threatened species and supports informed conservation efforts. bit.ly/esr01484

Five juvenile Gulf Sturgeon that were used in this study, lined up on the boat prior to release to show the general size of fish captured at this life stage.

192

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

🐢🦤🌐🧪 Tracking of 23 #LoggerheadTurtles from Tanegashima revealed five core foraging areas across warm and cold seasons in the East China Sea. Larger individuals tended to use the Tsushima Strait. Results inform targeted conservation planning. bit.ly/esr01478

A tagged female loggerhead turtle resting on a sandy bottom

111

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

🐢🌐🧪🦤 Community-engaged surveys of Green sea turtle in the Azores Archipelago found 69 sightings near Faial Island and Pico Island. All were juveniles (10–79 cm), confirming the area as a transient foraging ground. bit.ly/esr01482

121

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

🦤 🌐 🧪 🐢 Green turtles need on average 1.5 years to recover from anthropogenic injuries, longer for severe trauma. Recurring propeller strikes and fishing line entanglements at Liuqiu Island, Taiwan, highlight the need for go-slow zones and responsible fishing. bit.ly/esr01472

Subadult green turtle swimming over a shallow reef, showing a pronounced laceration on the right side of the face and three parallel carapace scars, consistent with propeller-strike trauma.

112

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

🦤🌐🧪🐊 New research identifies key preferences for low banks & flat ground in captive Chinese alligtors. Optimizing these habitat features can improve breeding success for this critically endangered species. #WildlifeConservation #Alligator #EndangeredSpecies bit.ly/esr01476

Two Chinese alligators float calmly in water. The alligator in the upper part of the image faces left, with its eyes, nostrils, and a section of its textured, armored back visible above the surface. The other alligator faces right, with only its eyes and nostrils exposed; the silhouette of its submerged back creates a faint, dark shape beneath the water. This serene scene highlights the species' aquatic nature.

132

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

🦤🦈🌐🧪Critically Endangered tope sharks face threats across Europe. Combining angler, fishery and beam trawl data confirms a vital pupping ground in the Dutch Wadden Sea and nearby North Sea waters, supporting efforts for future protection. bit.ly/esr01473

2189

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

🦤🌐🧪When an American crocodile in South Florida died unexpectedly during a routine capture event, a field necropsy revealed clinical signs of Pb toxicosis and 22.42 g of Pb in the animal’s stomach. bit.ly/esr01474

Side-view of an American crocodile with a gaped mouth showing that it is missing nearly all of its teeth

242

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

🦤🌐🧪ESR Special #27. Southern Africa is home to well over 200 species of #Chondrichthyans. Over a third are considered threatened. This Special is open to all authors, including submissions based on presentations at the 8th SARS in 2025. Contribute now! bit.ly/esr_special27

Zebra shark underwater with sand and rocks on the bottom and small dark-coloured fishes swimming around.

186

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

🐢🦤🧪 ESR Special #26. Initiated at the end of the 20th century, many #MarineTurtle monitoring programs have been ongoing for two or more decades and provide valuable insights into population dynamics and conservation. Contribute now! bit.ly/esr_special26 @brendangodley.bsky.social

Photo of nesting sea turtle on a beach with the title of the special superimposed on it.

022

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

🦤🌐🧪 We developed a novel modeling framework, integrating disparate data types over 45yrs, to estimate true survival of the Mojave desert tortoise. Our results suggest positive effects of precipitation and higher survival of adult males. bit.ly/esr01468 @brendangodley.bsky.social

021

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

🦤🧪🌐 Our morphometric study of the endangered Longfin Smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) shows clear sex-based shape differences and weak geographic trends. These findings help inform conservation and reproductive biology in the San Francisco Estuary. bit.ly/esr01471 @brendangodley.bsky.social

011

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

🦤🌐🧪A three-year study to evaluate imagery classification techniques to assess the feasibility of modeling individual Peirson’s milk-vetch (Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii) within the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, California. bit.ly/esr01467 @brendangodley.bsky.social

Peirson’s milk-vetch within the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, California

032

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

🦤🌐🧪#GreenTurtle reproductive dynamics! 🐢 Over half of harvested females off Nicaragua were adults, of which 6–39% bred each year. Size regulations in Nicaragua may disproportionately target large juvenile females, urging policy updates. 🌿 #TurtleConservation @brendangodley.bsky.social

Photograph of the complete reproductive tract of an adult female green turtle (Chelonia mydas), laid out on a black surface. The paired ovaries are centrally located and filled with numerous developing follicles of varying sizes. The infundibula extend from each ovary, leading into the coiled oviducts that flank both sides of the tract. A measurement scale is visible along the bottom edge of the image.

011

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

We used satellite imagery to estimate the population of the short-tailed #albatross on the Senkaku Islands, recently classified as an independent species. The population comprised only about 150 pairs, indicating urgent conservation needs. bit.ly/esr01462 brendangodley.bsky.social

Nesting short-tailed albatross on Torisihima Island, January 2020. Both the Torishima- and Senkaku-type birds breed on Torishima Island, but they are hardly distinguishable from their appearance.

022

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

🦤🌐🧪 #Leatherback #seaturtles perform extensive post-nesting migrations, which can be influenced by mesoscale eddies and ocean currents. We use satellite telemetry to investigate the routes taken by turtles in the #IndianOcean. bit.ly/esr_58_417 @brendangodley.bsky.social

Leatherback turtle lying on a beach with a tag attached to its carapace.

021

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

🦤🌐🧪 Amazon River dolphins are elusive 🐬, but isotopes + satellite tracking reveal variation in their feeding behavior. Using δ15N-AA, this study sets a new baseline for their trophic ecology and highlights them as flexible top predators in the Amazon Basin. bit.ly/esr_58_303

a photo of Amazon River dolphins and some peaople in canoes observing them in a river.

151

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

🦤🧪🌐 🐢 Concern about nesting #flatback #turtles on Delambre Island, Western Australia. Despite natural cycles, population currently appears to be dropping. Monitoring and adaptive management are vital to understand and protect this unique population. bit.ly/esr_58_287

192

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Habitat degradation may hinder #pangolin ability to raise pups, despite their perceived adaptability. We documented the elusive wild female #ManisJavanica during maternal and non-maternal stages, offering insights for evidence-based conservation. bit.ly/esr_58_223

151

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

🧪🦤🌐 Endangered Lake Chubsucker in Canada are feeling the heat – literally. 🔥🐟 While they hold their own in low-oxygen waters, rising temps are already affecting their behaviour, which is concerning as climate change intensifies. bit.ly/esr_58_275

032

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

🦤🌐🧪Wind beneath my wings: we describe the spatial and temporal extent of the post-fledging dependence period of the endangered #ChacoEagle (Buteogallus coronatus), related with individual sex, body condition and ecoregion. bit.ly/esr_58_193

121

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

🌐🧪🦤 A population assessment and ecological study confirmed that Sulcaria isidiifera is a critically endangered lichen that only occurs on the central coast of California. Translocation was also tested as a potential conservation measure to protect this rare lichen. bit.ly/esr_58_103

193

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

🌐🧪🦤 Automated cameras in remote field sites captured breeding data for at-risk #doublecrestedcormorant in #StraitofGeorgia #BritishColumbia. Multievent capture-recapture models were used to understand negative effects on nest success across entire breeding season. bit.ly/esr_58_85

193

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

🌐🧪🦤 Using DNA from skin samples, age (1–45 yr) and sex of Lahille’s bottlenose #dolphins in Brazil were estimated. With <600 left, this non-invasive #epigenetic tool aids survival predictions and #conservation 🧬🐬. bit.ly/esr_58_137

142

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

🌐🧪🦤 Considering prey availability has the exciting potential to improve marine conservation efforts, as evidenced in this case study modeling the habitat of critically endangered North Atlantic #RightWhales. #OceanScience #Maine #ProtectOurOceans #BluePlanet. bit.ly/esr_58_67

North Atlantic right whales “Arpeggio” (Catalog #2753) and Catalog #4617 pass by each other while skim feeding in the Great South Channel in February 2024

122

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

🌐🧪🦤 We reveal that #AtlanticSturgeon #Acipenseroxyrinchus produce low frequency thunder-like sounds associated with #spawning, similar to #lakesturgeon #Acipenserfulvescens. This finding lays the groundwork for passive acoustic monitoring of this endangered species. bit.ly/esr_58_1

An Atlantic sturgeon lying caught on a boat in the water next to a wooden jetty.

132

Endangered Species Research @esr-ir.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

🌐🧪🦤 Various aspects of biology of the #olm #Proteus anguinus, an endangered cave #salamander, including its reproductive biology remain a mystery. Our study explores ways to identify their sex, a key step towards establishing captive reproduction and conserving the species. bit.ly/esr_57_453

A European blind cave salamander resting on limestone in subterranean waters.

162