Sign in

Erin Spencer, PhD

@etspencer.bsky.social
2.9K followers 201 following 116 posts

Marine ecologist, science writer, lover of all things weird in the ocean. Currently: Comms around mesophotic & deep restoration in the Gulf. Order The Incredible Octopus now: tinyurl.com/66s9xj2p

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
MBARI @mbarinews.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Your Wednesday just got an upgrade: a new MBARI bigfin squid sighting just dropped! 🦑👀 During a recent expedition to study seamounts offshore of Central California, MBARI scientists and NOAA collaborators encountered a rarely seen Magnapinna squid. Learn more: youtu.be/cEw74DoCv6Q
youtu.be
MBARI researchers film chance encounter with a rare deep-sea bigfin squid
YouTube video by MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)
16425
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Dr Craig R McClain @drcraigmc.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
The bigfin squid was first hauled up in 1883 and not formally described until 1998, 115 years later. A new paper compiling every sighting shows it lives across three oceans and down past 6,000 m, yet it's still known only to genus, identified from grainy deep-sea video. 🦑 🧪 #marinelife
link.springer.com
Global distribution and depth of the Bigfin squid Magnapinna spp - Marine Biology
The Bigfin squid Magnapinna spp. is elusive and rarely encountered, yet its charismatic morphology of large fins and extraordinarily long tentacle filaments makes it an instantly recognisable deep-sea...
07822
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
This paper has everything: weird deep-sea fish, hydrothermal vents, a jazzy title! "Some like it hot: The enigmatic Arctic deep-sea eelpout Pachycara platyrhina thrives at hydrothermal vents" Read it here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... 🐟🐙🌎🌊
010
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Love a chunky alpine rodent! 🌎https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cast-your-vote-for-the-chunkiest-alpine-rodent-during-colorados-first-ever-fat-marmot-week-180989395/
smithsonianmag.com
Cast Your Vote for the Chunkiest Alpine Rodent During Colorado's First-Ever Fat Marmot Week
The inaugural competition puts eight yellow-bellied marmots head-to-head while shining a light on the science behind their seasonal weight gain and survival at high elevations
001
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
MBARI @mbarinews.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Hidden deep within Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Sur Ridge is a vibrant underwater mountain covered in corals, sponges, and other marine life.🪸 Learn how researchers are turning this biodiversity hotspot into a living laboratory for conservation: sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/2026/su...
6449120
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Union of Concerned Scientists @ucs.org · 17/08/2026
UCS’s Darya Minovi (she/her) spoke to Grist about the importance of continued access to cancer risk data, and what losing this data means for people living in highly polluted communities.
grist.org
The EPA's data on cancer risk from air pollution has gone dark
For decades, communities have relied on the agency's cancer risk estimates to hold polluters accountable. This year, it's missing.
02316
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
"The lesson: stay the hell away from AI.”
000
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Absolutely stunning images from @schmidtocean.bsky.social's expedition 800 miles off Brazil. 🌊🐟🐙🌎 They discovered 2 hydrothermal vent fields, recorded 2 bigfin squid, & captured the first footage of a species of barreleye fish. Read the release and see the footage: schmidtocean.org/the-doldrums...
030
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Lisa @tuexplorer1.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Pseudotriakis microdon @schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 954 #deepwonders #MarineLife
0328
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Lisa @tuexplorer1.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Bathynomus @schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 954 #deepwonders #MarineLife
57717
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
I've been enjoying @outsidemag.bsky.social classics -- a round up of their best stories of all time. This cave diving story is one of the most gripping, moving articles I've ever read. @earthist.bsky.social's ability to bring us into that cave is unmatched. 🌊 www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adve...
000
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Natasha Kindred @thehoursgodsends.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Horrible new bullshit from the sea every time. It’s never ‘oh we found a new pink fish that is so happy’ it’s always stuff like this, the crush-depth screw-headed dongwongler, and it’s got to have big long creepy bits. Sick of the ocean tbh.
A photo of a Magnapinna squid captured by a deep sea drilling company.
1783931793
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Schmidt Ocean Institute @schmidtocean.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
🚨Not one, but two Magnapinna squid! 🚨 the #doldrums team observed 2 elusive Magnapinna sp., commonly known as bigfin squid, at approximately 4,300 m (about 2.7 miles). Magnapinna is the deepest-dwelling squid. Sightings of these animals are extremely rare — seeing two in one dive is extra exciting!
17676242
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Al Harborne @alharborne.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Use BRUVS? Our new study uses barracuda spots to check independence among BRUVS. TLDR; sometimes we saw same fish on different cameras but BRUVS 500m apart can be considered independent. But count individuals rather than using MaxN if you can! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @fiu.bsky.social
031
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Our family horse is obsessed with cake! He gets a cupcake (or two) every year on his birthday. #horsesdeservecaketoo
010
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
With deep sea corals, as with real estate, location is everything. In my new piece for NOAA NCCOS we highlight some incredible new models that help us predict where deep corals might be found in the Gulf, allowing for targeted restoration. 🌊🦑🧪 Read it here: coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/where-i...
coastalscience.noaa.gov
Where in the Gulf are Deep Sea Corals? How Models are Supporting Deep Coral Restoration - NCCOS - National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
With deep sea corals, as with real estate, location is everything. To thrive, corals need the right combination of seafloor substrate, depth, slope, and structure, and finding these habitat sweet spot...
052
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Al Harborne @alharborne.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
It's great to see this paper out in Animal Conservation @zslofficial.bsky.social! We show that prey availability is an important correlate of shark abundance and hence the need for a holistic management approach. doi.org/10.1111/acv.... Read more at @fiu.bsky.social news news.fiu.edu/2026/sharks-...
doi.org
The Need to Manage Prey Fish Biomass to Support Shark Conservation
Along with reducing exploitation, maintaining prey abundance may also be important for increasing populations of upper trophic-level predators, but we typically have little information on their prey ....
052
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Excited to share The Incredible Octopus won the 2026 Delaware Diamond Book Award in the 3-5 grade category! The students vote for the winners, which makes this extra special. So happy they enjoyed learning about the weird & wonderful octopus 🐙 www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/erin-... 🦑🌊📚
000
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Playing around with motivational plant posters this weekend
An opossum is drinking a white claw and talking with his hands and saying “Philly is full of life, native plants help it thrive plant native this summer
1157594
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Horrible, horrible news out of USF marine lab. Thankfully, no one is believed to be injured. But the fire today likely "total loss" -- thinking of all our colleagues who are grappling with the loss of their labs, gear, samples, and their research "home" 🐟🌍🌊🐙 www.tampabay.com/news/educati...
tampabay.com
Fire breaks out at USF St. Pete Marine Science Lab. Building likely ‘total loss’
More than 60 units and 200 firefighters were called to the scene.
14113
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Today is One Tribe One Day, @wm.edu's annual day of giving. I am excited to support the Institute for Integrative Conservation, all gifts today support the Conservation Research Program that funds student teams working on real-world conservation challenges. 🌍🌊🐟 donate.wm.edu/schools/Will...
donate.wm.edu
Institute for Integrative Conservation
Join me and make a gift to One Tribe One Day 2026
000
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
New fish news: Salmon on cocaine swim 1.9x further than those not on cocaine (!?!) An example of how human habits can affect fish & other marine organisms. 🧪🐟🌊🌍 www.cell.com/current-biol...
cell.com
Cocaine pollution alters the movement and space use of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in a large natural lake
Brand et al. show that environmentally realistic benzoylecgonine exposure increases movement and dispersal of Atlantic salmon smolts in a natural lake. Exposed fish swam and dispersed farther than con...
010
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Florida wildlife officials are trying to determine who scattered hundreds of toxic mothballs Monday across a stretch of St. Pete Beach near a colony of protected black skimmers that had gathered near the dunes. 🌍🌊 @tampabaytimes.bsky.social @maxchesnes.bsky.social www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
tampabay.com
Hundreds of mothballs scattered on St. Pete Beach. Wildlife officials are investigating
A wildlife officer on the case believes they were placed across the beach to deter protected birds from nesting.
104831
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Great hammerhead sharks outperform the curve journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
journals.biologists.com
Great hammerhead sharks outperform the curve
An animal's body temperature controls all sorts of processes, from how they digest food to how fast their muscles contract. Marine creatures that rely on the temperature of their surroundings to…
0232
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Ranked News @rankednews.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Great hammerheads maintain peak hunting across wide temperature swings, biologging data suggest: New research published in the _Journal of Experimental Biology_ reveals that great hammerhead sharks exhibit remarkable "thermal hustle," maintaining peak hunting performa… ranked.news/470836?u=b
Article image
011
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Science X / Phys.org @sciencex.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Biologging data indicate great hammerhead sharks maintain high hunting performance across a broad range of ocean temperatures, suggesting notable thermal flexibility compared to other predators. doi.org/hbvhnf
phys.org
Great hammerheads maintain peak hunting across wide temperature swings, biologging data suggest
Most predators slow down when ocean temperatures shift. Great hammerhead sharks don't—not significantly anyway. These ocean predators are masters of the "thermal hustle," maintaining peak hunting performance across a surprisingly wide range of ocean temperatures between winter and summer months, according to new research published this week in Journal of Experimental Biology.
041
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Thermal performance and activation energy explain flexible thermal habitat use in great hammerhead sharks journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...
journals.biologists.com
Thermal performance and activation energy explain flexible thermal habitat use in great hammerhead sharks
Highlighted Article: Performance data from great hammerhead sharks indicate a thermal optimum of 29.3°C; however, they have low activation energies compared with other large sharks, enabling high…
0244
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Katrina Miller @katrinamillerphd.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
"It’s a bright spot on the moon,” CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen said, his voice breaking up, “and we would like to call it Carroll.” The crew all shared a hug after. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/s...
nytimes.com
Astronauts Dedicate Moon Crater to Carroll Wiseman, Wife of NASA Commander
283263509
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
New piece from BBC wildlife about our recent publication looking at great hammerhead thermal performance 🌊🦑🧪🐟 www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...
discoverwildlife.com
Researchers tracked 9 great hammerhead sharks off Florida and the Bahamas. Here's what they discovered | Discover Wildlife
Scientists wanted to learn more about how the largest hammerhead species on the planet may cope as the climate changes.
020
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Yannis Papastamatiou @dr-yannis.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
New paper out today! Using accelerometers to generate thermal performance curves in great hammerhead sharks. Their low activation energies may explain why they can perform well across seasons.
22511
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
The final chapter of my PhD is published in Journal of Experimental Biology! And, we got the cover! We used biologgers to estimate great hammerheads' temperature “sweet spot.” We saw they can perform well at a range of temps, which supports observations from the field. (1/2) 🌊🦑🧪🐟
284
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
New article presents an image guide from trenches in the NW Pacific. It includes 100+ taxa and is a way to ID organisms in future biodiversity studies. See examples below, including chordates, arthropods, and "rarities and peculiarities." Read it here: bdj.pensoft.net/article/1821... 🌊🦑🐟🧪
080
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Absolutely spectacular images from @schmidtocean.bsky.social's recent expedition in Argentina. The team documented the largest known Bathelia candida coral reef (nearly the size of the Vatican!) and 28 suspected new species. Learn more in their expedition recap: schmidtocean.org/argentinas-d... 🌊🦑🧪🐟
07022
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
New study quantifies the impacts of mining on deep sea organisms. Researchers found: 🪱number of organisms decreased by 37% in mining tracks ⚖️number of species decreased by 32% in mining tracks, making the remaining community more unbalanced Read the paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🌊🦑🧪
nature.com
Impacts of an industrial deep-sea mining trial on macrofaunal biodiversity - Nature Ecology & Evolution
A species-level dataset of sediment-dwelling macrofauna, sampled 2 years before and 2 months after a test of a commercial deep-sea mining machine, reveals losses of macrofaunal density and species ric...
064
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Dr. Dawn Wright @deepseadawn.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
What can you do to helpt turn climate change around? 🌱 Use GIS! 🌐 Register for our free course and learn how. We'll provide all the data and software you need: ow.ly/r4lf50Y6zUz #gischat #geogsky #geosky 🧪 🦑 ⚒️ 🌊 🌎 🌍 🌏
A picture of Dawn Wright, Esri Chief Scientist, with a quote: "Join us on the path toward generating positive climate action and find out how to use the geographic approach to empower the world you want to see."
13211
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
MBARI @mbarinews.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Mondays are better with an octopus squid 🦑💫⁠ ⁠ The octopus squid (Octopoteuthis deletron) is unusual among squids. Most squids have eight arms and two long tentacles, making a total of 10 appendages. As young Octopoteuthis mature, their two feeding tentacles are reabsorbed into their bodies.
118567
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
This is so unnerving. "For more than a century, scientific journals have been the pipes through which knowledge of the natural world flows into our culture. Now they’re being clogged with AI slop." 🧪 www.theatlantic.com/science/2026...
theatlantic.com
Science Is Drowning in AI Slop
Peer review has met its match.
010
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Fun new paper documenting deep-sea fishes off Puerto Rico. The paper documents some interesting observations, including how diversity changes with depth & even how cusk eels are an important but understudied part of abyssal & hadal communities. 🦑🐟🌊 Read it here: academic.oup.com/icesjms/arti...
0319
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Catching up on my @schmidtocean.bsky.social dive watching and WOW this habitat is stunning. This is from the Malvinas Trench during the Argentinian Deep Seeps expedition. Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWEt... 🦑🌊🧪
130
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Dr Dorota SK @drdorotask.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Finally out! We studied the retinas of the longest-living vertebrate, the Greenland shark, and found that the retinas remain remarkably healthy in animals around 150 years old. What is the mechanism? It may be a highly efficient DNA repair system. Enjoy! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
721485
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
I love being a biologist, becuase it means at any moment your Instagram stories will have someone's beach pic followed by a photo of a half-digested vole extracted from roadkill as part of a diet study. Incredible, no notes.🧪🌍
110
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Happening now on the @schmidtocean.bsky.social livestream! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCEB... 🦑🌊🧪🐟
050
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
A little bright spot for your day -- @deepstewardship.bsky.social has a collection of incredible deep sea photos collected from partners around the world. Here are a few, and see them all here: www.flickr.com/people/19477... 🦑🐟🌊🧪
1192
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Very cool new paper: Scientists observed a whiplash squid covering itself in mud, the first time this behavior has been documented for squid. They suspect the squid was arranging its tentacles to look like the stalks of a sponge or worm 🦑🌊🧪 esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
0196
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
If you haven't see this incredible footage of a bigfin squid (Magnapinna) from @nautiluslive.org, stop what you're doing & watch! This was from last month's expedition exploring deep waters of the Cook Islands, spotted at 5,100 meters deep. 🌍🦑🌊🧪 www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UvS...
youtube.com
Rare Bigfin Squid Spotted in Deep Sea of Cook Islands | Nautilus Live
YouTube video by EVNautilus
160
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
MBARI @mbarinews.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Meet the engineering team behind one of MBARI’s new underwater imaging systems 🤖🔧 Our scientists and engineers work side by side to develop cutting-edge tools that track ocean health in real time and help us visualize the ocean like never before. Learn more: youtu.be/Kqo4MhthIkQ?...
youtu.be
Meet the engineering team behind one of MBARI’s new underwater imaging systems
YouTube video by MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)
0163
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Had a wonderful time during another @skypeascientist.bsky.social visit -- this time with 4th graders in a class in New Jersey! Sign up here if you're an educator or scientist interested in participating: www.skypeascientist.com 🧪🌊🍎
092
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
New paper by Wong et al.: The 2014-2016 northeast Pacific marine heatwave had well-documented impacts on deep reef fish assemblages. ROV surveys from 2005-2021 showed changes in sessile invertebrate abundance during and after the heat wave. 🧪🦑🌊 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Decadal changes in California’s temperate mesophotic reef invertebrate community through the 2014-2016 Northeast Pacific marine heatwave
The 2014-2016 northeast Pacific marine heatwave (MHW) disrupted marine ecosystems in California, with well-documented impacts on kelp reef ecosystems,…
010
Erin Spencer, PhD @etspencer.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Very cool new paper alert! On a 2024 expedition off Chile, scientists saw tons of cusk eels hanging out among tubeworms! An interesting observation of how this species uses methane seeps as important habitat. 🐟🦑🧪🌊 Read the paper: esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
020