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Jess Rickenback

@jess-rickenback.bsky.social
541 followers 318 following 59 posts

Lecturer in Physical Geography @EdinburghUni and Research Associate @TheBotanics focusing on ecology and evolution of tropical savannas. www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/je… Email jess.rickenback@ed.ac.uk She/her. No longer on twitter/X

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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Talking to people about grasses and grasslands with Greg Kenicer at the Botanics Lates was such a treat. We had some great audience questions and accidentally taught everyone about the symbolism of Pampas grass 😅 #grass #botany #biogeography @thebotanics.bsky.social
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
So inspired by the Interacting Disturbances workshop that ran this weekend @ Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. What even IS a disturbance?! Had a great time trying to figure it all out (&name it) with some of the coolest scientists around :) thx @sallyarchibald.bsky.social #botany #ecology
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Dazzled by a tour of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden! What a treat! #XTBG #China #plants
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
@thebotanics.bsky.social well represented at this year’s Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation meeting! Great to have so many stimulating discussions across biomes, borders, and biota. #botany #ecology #ATBC2026
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Ecologists keen to incorporate plant bioacoustics into their research and outreach had a coffee chat at the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation 2026 meeting. None of us have used this as a technique but we all want to in the future! #bioacoustics #botany #plantacoustics
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Such a privilege to host these inspiring speakers for our symposium at #ATBC on Distinguishing & characterising South&Southeast Asian savannas.Chau Pham, Tshering Dorji, Maliwan Namkhan, Ashish Nerlekar, Kevin Robertson, Aksha Chowdhary, Naomi Schwartz, Watchara Arthan,& Kyle Tomlinson were amazing!
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
It’s imperative, when at a symposium on South and Southeast Asian savannas, to dress as similarly as possible. Here’s @naomibschwartz.bsky.social and me modelling our matching styles! #ATBC2026 #savanna
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
ATBC 2026 is here! I’ll be chairing the symposium on ‘Distinguishing and characterising South and Southeast Asian savannas to improve their resilience to global change’ tomorrow (Monday 29th June) in Plenary C from 13:15. Come and hear an array of incredible and inspiring speakers! #atbc2026 🌏🌐
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Some non-book-related chat at last! There's a cute write up about some work done by my amazing colleagues and me in the savannas of Thailand and Cambodia over at csfl.ed.ac.uk/surveying-in... #floristics #fieldwork #SouthEastAsia #savanna #csfl
csfl.ed.ac.uk
Surveying in the lesser studied savannas | Centre for Sustainable Forests and Landscapes | Centre for Sustainable Forests and Landscapes
Lecturer and RBGE research associate Dr Jess Rickenback publishes new research on grass communities in Southeast Asia’s savannas.
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Join me and the other authors of the Atlas of Botany at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on June 11th for some fascinating stories of ancient evolution, innovative adaptation, and how plants shape the world around us today. Plus a signing! rbgeshop.org/products/atl... 🌎🌐 #botany #biogeography
rbgeshop.org
Atlas of Botany Discussion & Book Signing
Join the authors of the beautiful new Atlas of Botany for an in-conversation panel event in the Lecture Theatre at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Written by experts from RBGE and the University of Ed...
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
It exists! And it’s unbelievably lovely! Very excited for the actual publication day (May 7th) and possible upcoming events linked to the launch 👀 @thebotanics.bsky.social #AtlasOfBotany #Biogeography #PopularScience #plants
Jess is wearing a bright blue jumper and holding a copy of the book Atlas of Botany. She stands in front of a window through which you can see tree ferns. She looks very happy.
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
I’m immeasurably chuffed to have been able to contribute a chapter to this beautiful book, the Atlas of Botany, a collaboration between @thebotanics.bsky.social and DK. Available for pre-order now! rbgeshop.org/products/pre... #botany #popularscience 🌐🌏
A beautiful book cover featuring an illustration of Nasturtium and the title Atlas of Botany
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Thanks everyone that came to chat to me about my poster on grass communities in savannas in Thailand & Cambodia yesterday at the @britishecologicalsociety.org annual meeting in Edinburgh. So many grass and savanna fans out there! And such a great conference. #grass #ecology #diversity #savanna 🌏🌐
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
It was an amazing week hosting the inaugural Tropical East Asian Savanna workshop. The week was full of inspiring chats, burgeoning collaborations, & exciting project planning. Thanks to everyone for coming & @royalsoced.bsky.social @thebotanics.bsky.social Edinburgh Uni for supporting us! 🌏🌐
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Two different benches, same herbarium. Attendees at the Tropical East Asian Savanna workshop funded by @royalsoced.bsky.social had an intro to the @thebotanics.bsky.social herbarium followed by a crash course in grass ID with Krich. I think we can all spot a spikelet now! 🌏🌐 #grass #botany
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
It was great to hear Chau Pham, @naomibschwartz.bsky.social , Manichanh Satdichanh, and Johan Setiawan presenting at the Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium on engaging topics which spanned fire ecology, and placing people into the savanna context. #savanna 🌏🌐
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
A selection of amazing talks from the Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium last week @thebotanics.bsky.social and funded by @royalsoced.bsky.social feat. Kyle Tomlinson, Maliwan Namkhan, Martin van de Bult,& Watchara Arthan. #savanna #asia 🌏🌐
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Brilliant day this week on the Tropical East Asian Savanna Network workshop- out on Salisbury Crags with the Global Grassy Group practicing ground layer data collection and loving the #grasses! @s-eshelman.bsky.social @wieczor.bsky.social @naomibschwartz.bsky.social @royalsoced.bsky.social
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
The Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium is today! Join us in person or online to hear from some truly fantastic speakers. Online via teams Meeting ID: 374 127 860 994 5 Passcode: Yq3je9Jo or in person at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 9:30-4:30 @royalsoced.bsky.social 🌐🌏 #ecology #savanna
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Thrilled to have Dr Naomi Schwartz @naomibschwartz.bsky.social, University of British Columbia, at the Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium! Naomi will present 'Seeing the savanna through the trees: fire ecology at forest-savanna boundaries in Southeast Asia'. Join us in person/online June 24th 🌐🌏
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
More exciting speakers at the Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium! Dr Manichanh Satdichanh will be presenting on 'Farmer, fire and forest succession: A story of social-ecological system from Southeast Asia'. Join us on 24th June in person or online, for free! #savanna #conference #ecology 🌐🌏
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
We are very excited to be hosting Johan Setiawan, Manager of Baluran National Park, Indonesia, at the Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium. Johan will present on the challenges of managing invasive species in the Park. Join us for free in person or online on June 24th! #savanna #ecology 🌐🌏
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Our next speaker is Dr Martin van de Bult who will present at the Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium on 'Melaleuca dominated savanna in Cambodia: floristic composition and ecological characteristics'. Join us in #Edinburgh on June 24th for free in person or online! #savanna #botany #ecology 🌐🌏
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
It's an honour to host Prof Kyle Tomlinson from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences at the Tropical East Asian Savanna symposium. Kyle will present 'Three lines of analysis for C4 grassy biomes across Southeast Asia'. Don't miss out! Join us on 24 June! 🌐🌏#savanna
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Our next speaker at the Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium is Chau Pham, a PhD student from the University of Minnesota, who will talk to use about 'Understanding the past to manage for the future: historical fire regimes of a deciduous dipterocarp savanna'. Join us in person / online June 24 🌐🌏
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Dr Kevin Robertson, a fire ecologist from Tall Timbers Research Station, Florida, USA, will be joining us at the Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium on 24th June! We're very excited to hear his presentation 'Pine Savannas of Vietnam and the Southeastern U.S. - A Comparison'. Attendance is free! 🌐🌏
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
The Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium is proud to present Dr Watchara Arthan speaking on 'Andropogoneae a key but overlooked lineage of savannas– A case study from Heteropogon and Themeda'. Join in person @thebotanics.bsky.social or online June 24th! 🌐🌏 #savanna #ecology #grass #biogeography
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Introducing our speakers for the Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium! We are delighted to present work from Maliwan Namkhan who will speak on 'Defining the extent of Deciduous Dipterocarp Forest and Threat under Deforestation Hotspots in the Indo-Burma region'. Join us in person or online! 🌐🌏
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Tickets (free!) for the first Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium are available: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tropical-e... 200 word abstracts still welcome for talks (15/30min), deadline 30 May. Email for info / abstract submissions. See you 24 June @thebotanics.bsky.social ! #ecology #savanna 🌐🌏
eventbrite.co.uk
Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium
Get ready to dive deep into the vibrant savanna ecosystems of Tropical East Asia at our free symposium!
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
The first Tropical East Asian Savanna Symposium, funded by @royalsoced.bsky.social, will be 24 June @thebotanics.bsky.social. Free! Come along, or apply to present! 200 word abstracts welcome for talks (15/30min), deadline 30 May. Email for info / abstract submissions. @edinburghuni.bsky.social 🌐🌏
A poster with a black background and six circles, five of which have an animal, bird or plant in. The sixth circle reads 'Tropical East Asian Savanna Synposium' The poster advertises a free public symposium on 24th june at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Lecture Theatre, 20a Inverleith Row. The event is funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh with support from the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Congrats to Ethan, who will be my first PhD student! Very excited to be part of his future journey exploring the drivers of and differences between plant growth forms in the tropics @thebotanics.bsky.social @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social #botany #ecology #biogeography 🌐🌎🌱
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
The Global Ecology starter pack has been so successful there's a third iteration (and it includes me!) I'm told there's still space if you're a global ecologist and want to be added: DM @global-ecology.bsky.social to join. go.bsky.app/MkLHiKU 🌐
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
It was an absolute pleasure to present my work exploring ground layer species diversity in Southeast Asian savannas this week at the Savanna Science Network Meeting. Amazing to meet so many inspiring savanna scientists as well! #botany #forbs #savanna #SSNM2025 #SavannaScienceNetworkMeeting
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
Making friends with the locals at the Savanna Science Network Meeting in Kruger National Park :) #SSNM2025 #savannascience
A savanna with impala and a zebra in Kruger National Park
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Overjoyed to receive a @royalsoced.bsky.social Collaboration Grant with @naomibschwartz.bsky.social and Watchara Arthan to run a workshop with and for researchers, managers and conservation practitioners working in Tropical East Asian savannas later this year. Here's to reframing grassy paradigms!
A beautiful purple flower (Utricularia) in a Cambodian dipterocarp savanna
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
This is such a lovely paper- well done Naomi and everyone!
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Published! Open letter:There are more than just trees and forests to be conserved and restored. Tropical & subtropical grasslands & savannas matter for biodiversity protection, and the future of this planet relies on these ecosystems to the same extent it relies on forests. doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...
doi.org
Open letter: There are more than just trees and forests to be conserved and restored
Click on the article title to read more.
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Jess Rickenback @jess-rickenback.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
Interested in plant systematics, ecology, and taxonomy in the tropics? Looking for a PhD? The next round of UKRI funded PhDs @EdinburghUni are out, & include 3 with me, @xaxapezzini and David Harris at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Applications due 6 Jan. e4-dtp.ed.ac.uk/e5-dtp/super... #botany
A giraffe and a spiny plant in Kenya, to illustrate the concept of trait evolution as a response to herbivory
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