iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

🔬🎧 In Science Podcast: Roelof Hut about biorhythms in humans and animals 🧪 Interested in #Chronobiology? Listen to our #GELIFES researcher talk about #Biorhytms in the podcast by @rug.nl, with the hosts @wimbrons.nl and Hanna van Loo! 👉 Check it out here (in Dutch): www.rug.nl/about-ug/lat...

A photo of a podcast being recorded in a room. The two hosts are sitting at the table with the guest, listening as he talks enthusiastically. There’s three microphones standing on the table, one for each person, and a small camera pointing at the guest. A pack of snacks and a few cups of tea or coffee can be seen at the table.

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

🐦 Island birds reveal a link between immunity and gut bacteria 🧪Researchers on Cousin Island, including two professors from #GELIFES, discovered a connection between #GutHealth and the #ImmuneSystem – thanks to the Seychelles #warbler! 🔬🔗: rug.nl/research/gelifes/_news/2026/20260312-komdeur

A picture of a Seychelles warbler sitting on a tree, with a few colored rings around its legs. | Image by Hannah Dugdale

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Reposted by Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences

Wendel van der Sluis @wendelvandersluis.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Larger broods beg more, parents feed more – but chicks still grow more slowly, suggesting that the energetic costs of competition are to blame. 🐣 brill.com/view/journal... @gelifes.bsky.social @rug.nl

brill.com

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Reposted by Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences

Wendel van der Sluis @wendelvandersluis.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

New research in #Behaviour: “Begging efficiency rather than food received causes brood size effect on growth in zebra finches” by Marianthi Tangili, Michael Briga and Simon Verhulst. @mtangili.bsky.social

Proportion of time spent on each behaviour by chicks in small and large broods divided in the age categories of the chicks.

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

🧪 New #Ecophysiology article in the Journal of Experimental Biology alert! Very excited to share that the paper of our researcher, Ellie Laetz, was published in their new issue, with a photo of the study making it to the cover! Big thanks to @jexpbiol.bsky.social 🤝 Read the article below!

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

It was! 🥳 But in all seriousness, very interesting article. Human brains are amazing, and people who study them are too :)

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

That seems like a very interesting documentary! Will it be available online sometime after the screening? We'd love to see it for ourselves 😊

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

It's insane that no matter how many animal species from the past we keep discovering, there are still so many previously unknown ones that keep popping up 😅 I wonder if at some point we'll find any other herbivore species from even before that time.

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Congratulations on getting featured in the journal! It's really nice to see awareness being spread on important topics like this one 🙌

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

🧪 Dr. Dickson’s thesis explores tree-reefs and their potential to partially mimic historic #ecosystem services provided by sunken wood. Read it here if you’re interested in #MarineEcology and #ConservationEcology ⬇️⬇️ research.rug.nl/en/publicati...

An image divided into three sections, featuring a tree reef at the bottom of the sea. The text below states “Tree reef development over time”. The section on the left shows an empty tree reef on sand and rocks. The middle section shows the same tree reef after some time had passed, with some sea creatures making a habitat on it, and a little bit of green growing. The right section shows the tree reef full of green, with sea life swarming on and around it, indicating even more time had passed.

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Dickson! 🥳 Last month, he successfully defended his #thesis on #MarineRestoration and #Ecosystems – “Sunken driftwood: A lost ecosystem” 🌊 It was a pleasure to work together, and we can’t wait to see more of Dr. Dickson’s scientific journey. Cheers! 🏆 #PhD #PhDLife #PhDDefence

Cover page of the dissertation: an image of chopped trees going down the river and into the water, with multiple “zoomed in” sections showing how driftwood and its effects are fundamental for life at sea. The text in the left corner reads the title of the thesis: “Sunken driftwood, A lost ecosystem”, and the name of the author below it: “Jon Dickson”.

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

🧪Open #Postdoc position: Facilitating and monitoring agroecological living labs in the North of the Netherlands 🌱Contribute to #SoilHealth, facilitate innovation & science-based solutions 🌿PhD in #Agronomy, Agroecology, #EnvironmentalSciences, or Socio-Economic disciplines needed 📅Deadline: Feb 1st

werkenbij.rug.nl

Postdoc Facilitating and monitoring agroecological living labs in the North of The Netherlands - Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

📢Hiring a #Postdoc: Agroecological assessment of farm business models in bird conservation areas 🐤Are #BirdConservation and #NatureConservation your thing? Do you have a PhD in #Agronomy, #Agroecology, #EnvironmentalSciences, or Socio-Economic disciplines?🌾 Waste no time, apply before Feb 1st! ⬇️⬇️

werkenbij.rug.nl

Postdoc Agroecological assessment of farm business models in bird conservation areas - Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Those are very interesting insights! I wonder what environmental factors might have something to do with it, hopefully the study will allow researchers to further investigate this topic 🤔

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

That's great news! It's good to see more knowledge become available through open access 🙌

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

🔔 Update: A new #PhDPosition at the University of Groningen (@rug.nl)! If you: 🧪 have a Master's in #Biology 🌱 are interested in #PlantBiology, #Physiology, and/or #MolecularBiology Then this is a perfect opportunity! We at #GELIFES are looking forward to working with you 😉 #PhD #PhDLife

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Great website! I love that it has a section that helps narrow down the plant family if you're unsure which plant you're looking for 🥰

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Way too late for the actual event, but I have to compliment the visual – very fitting and pleasant to look at!

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

We always need more research facilities focusing on the #environment and #sustainability 👏 Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing their work :)

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

📢 Upcoming PhD Defence alert! Bird’s-eye views: tracking landscape change through remote sensing imagery and movements of Black-tailed Godwits. 📍 De Beurs, Leeuwarden | 💻 Join online at video.rug.nl/media/Promot... 🕒 22 Jan, 11:00 #PhDDefense #PhD #PhDLife #Ecology

Cover page of the dissertation: the image of the earth on the background with icons of a bird, a drone, and two destination points. The foreground is blue, with an image of a bird on the front and the text containing the title of the dissertation and the name of the author.

Title: "Bird’s-eye views: tracking landscape change through remote sensing imagery and movements of Black-tailed Godwits"
Author: Taylor B.Craft

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Just stumbled upon one of the later #MethodMonday posts of yours, and I have to say, it's a very interesting idea! It's always nice to see information on research become more accessible to the public (and to the researchers & institutions who are curious about others' methodologies 😜)

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Unfortunately 😭 I do hope we'll get to see less species become endagered, especially the ones we have only just discovered, though!

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Very interesting article! Looks like biochar indeed has potential, let's see what the future brings 👀

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

*Reads the first sentence* Oh, a bird species we haven't heard of before, that's cool! *Starts reading the article* "A newly described species of Tinamou bird may already be at risk of extinction." 🥲

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

🧪Did you know that #beetles 🐞 can compensate for a poor #NutritionalEnvironment experienced during sexual maturation? 🤔 Read this #publication to know all about this ➡️ doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72210 #LifeHistory #BuryingBeetle #NutritionalStatus #EvolutionaryEcology #Ecology #SciComm

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

#Coralreefs are dying off rapidly: we have reached the first #climate tipping point. 🧪 “Humans are changing the world so quickly that #corals can’t keep up anymore.” Sancia van der Meij, a marine biologist from #GELIFES, expresses her concern: rug.nl/research/gelifes/_news/2025/20251017-coral-reefs

rug.nl

Koraalriffen sterven af – en dat heeft grote gevolgen voor mens en dier

Wereldwijd sterven koraalriffen dermate snel af, dat we inmiddels het eerste klimaat-kantelpunt hebben bereikt, rapporteerden wetenschappers afgelopen...

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Having older #siblings decreases a chance of survival? 😨 Sometimes! 🧪Historical data show: girls with older #brothers had lower survival rates, while people with older #sisters had higher ones. Share this publication with your sibling! doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.1525 #SciComm

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Are #mustelids disappearing from the Netherlands? 🤔 The common #weasel, #stoat, and the European #polecat are very elusive #animals, which makes them difficult to study. 🧪Our researchers from #GELIFES and others have written a #publication about monitoring them: doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.70120

A drawn image of a cartoon-style stoat sneaking out at night while holding a bag with its belongings and hiding from a camera trap.

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

A photoshoot is a nice opportunity to share some #research insights though 😜 Looks like a very interesting project!

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Thanks to the results of his #research, this new knowledge could be used for creation of better traps for pest #insects, and advising engineers how to stop #bees from flying to #SolarPanels instead of flowers! 🌸

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

✨Why are some #colors in #nature shiny?✨ 🐝 #Bumblebees help our researcher from #GELIFES determine why some organisms are glossy, while others are not! Read the #publication at doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adz9010 🐝

A researcher holding buttercup flowers in one hand and a chafer bug in the other, comparing the glossiness of both

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

During the expedition, scientists will study the influence of sea ice and algae on the regional climate in the area: #krill, #fish, and #penguins, as well as many other animals in Antarctica, depend on #algae in many different ways for survival! 🐧❄️

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

🧪The #research vessel #Polarstern will soon embark on an #expedition to #Antarctica! Two of #GELIFES’ researchers on board, along with a larger crew of scientists, want to make the #WeddellSea a marine protected area ⬇️⬇️ rug.nl/research/gelifes/_news/2025/20251204-stefels

An image of the research vessel Polarstern

An image of 5 King Penguins standing next to each other

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Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences @gelifes.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

🎉GELIFES is now on Bluesky!🎉 It took us some time, but Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences is now on Bluesky! Follow us here if you want to keep up with our newest scientific developments 😉

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