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Ken Welch

@kcwelch.bsky.social
645 followers 412 following 205 posts

Professor-Zoologist at U Toronto Scarborough. Interested in things with high-sugar diets like hummingbirds, bats, bees, and my two daughters. Ecophysiology, ecotoxicology, science communication.

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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I should have led with Natalia's beautiful visual abstract! 🦇🧪 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Just published! 🦇wings are big and thin, and likely represent an important route of exposure for sprayed pesticides! Great work led by Dr. Natalia Sandoval-Herrera! @utscbiology.bsky.social @utsc.utoronto.ca 🧪 linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii...
linkinghub.elsevier.com
Redirecting
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
doi.org/10.1111/1365... Proud to present our newest pub in @animalecology.bsky.social. We find greater 🦇 species diversity in Jamaican caves is associated with dietary isotopic niche packing. @utscbiology.bsky.social @utsc.utoronto.ca @yorkuniversity.bsky.social 🧪
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Journal of Experimental Zoology A @jexpzoo-a.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Immunoglobulin G levels in lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) did not vary among reproductive periods, it was positively related to the bacterial killing ability of plasma in females, and it was lower in young bats than in adult females onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Total Immunoglobulin G Variation Through the Phenological Cycle of Migrant and Resident Lesser Long‐Nosed Bats <i>(Leptonycteris yerbabuenae)</i> in the Drylands of Mexico and Its Relationship With Bacterial Killing‐Ability of Plasma
Bats have unique immunological characteristics among vertebrates. Understanding how the immune system responds during the life cycle of bat populations is crucial for grasping how their defenses agai...
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
First day of lecturing in well over a year. My lecturing muscles are stiff and sore!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Don't worry. Lightning strikes one of the robots and it becomes sentient and peaceful. Then it and Steve Guttenberg have a buddy comedy adventure. No migrants harmed.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
I'm proud to present our newest publication: "Vampire bats 🦇: Sucking the most out of blood", led by Aryan Ghader from @westernu.ca and including @giuliarossi.bsky.social! @utscbiology.bsky.social @utsc.utoronto.ca @frontiersmedia.bsky.social #SciComm #bats kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10....
kids.frontiersin.org
Vampire Bats: Sucking the Most Out of Blood
Vampire bats are the only mammals that live on nothing but blood. Blood is almost entirely made of water and protein and contains very little sugar or fat, which most animals rely upon for energy. So ...
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Submission to Frontiers For Young Minds accepted on Monday. Submission to @animalecology.bsky.social accepted this morning! More coming soon! I'll take it!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Congratulations to @utscbiology.bsky.social, @uoftcellsysbiol.bsky.social, and @utoronto.ca's newest PhD🧪, Dr. Jerrica Jamison! She did a fantastic job during her defense! Stay tuned for publications of her work to understand the evolution of sugar metabolism in 🦇!
Supervisor, Dr. Ken Welch and newly-minted PhD, Dr. Jerrica Jamison pose for a photo in front of her presentation's title slide, reading "The Evolution of Sugar Metabolism in Bats."
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
😐
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PBS News @pbsnews.org · 31/07/2026
The State Department said ​it takes "full responsibility" for "hastily" altering and then presenting a map of Africa at a global AIDS conference that mislabeled every single country it highlighted. An analysis by Reuters found a watermark in the map image that suggests it was made with OpenAI.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Welp, I'm officially promoted to (full) professor as of today! I am deeply grateful to my mentors, my colleagues, and my trainees. I am here because of them.
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Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Bob Odenkirk is a national treasure. Take 44 seconds and watch. www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0rB...
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Antonia 🦋🐞 @antoniag.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
@romtoronto.bsky.social opens today, May 16th, Bees: A story of Survival, an immersive exhibition using art & science to help you imagine life from a 🐝's perspective. From the National Museums of Liverpool & Wolfgang Buttress. I'm bee-side myself that my image was chosen for the ads #bees 🐝1/2
Add for Bees exhibition at the ROM. Bees: A Story of Survival. A large image of a Bicoloured Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon virescens) in flight. Wings down, metallic green thorax and head, black and white stripes on abdomen. Photo by Antonia Guidotti
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
🧪 A stunning photo and a new record of vertebrate predation in Waterhouse's leaf-nosed 🦇! Fantastic work by all involved! What a great natural history note! * Also, should be considered for wildlife photo of year competitions! doi.org/10.18475/cjo...
doi.org
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
RIP Professor Jodie Holt, academic supervisor to many, including my wife @botanist-robin.bsky.social. I am very glad I got to know her a little and can consider her a friend. cnas.ucr.edu/news/2026/05... #FuckCancer
cnas.ucr.edu
In Memoriam: Remembering Jodie Holt, Scholar, Educator, and Campus Leader
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Just heard abou this on @kjzz.org: www.notaweddingcrasher.com What the actual f*ck?!
notaweddingcrasher.com
Not a Wedding Crasher | Attend Real Weddings
Discover weddings with open seats and attend as an approved guest. Not a Wedding Crasher connects couples and guests for unique celebrations.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Hello old friend! Bring on the #bats
Jaguar temple at Lamanai Archaeological Reserve.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Happy #BatAppreciationDay!
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Journal of Experimental Biology @jexpbiol.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Understanding how animals perform bouts of physical activity involves integration across scales & physiological systems. In their Commentary the Guest Editors of the Integrative Biology of Exercise SI highlight 5 themes, bridging fields & scales of study doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
Screenshot of PDF of the Special Issue Commentary, 'Comparative and evolutionary perspectives on the integrative biology of exercise', by Monica A. Daley, Erika J. Eliason, Christopher G. Guglielmo and Natalie Holt. The publishing information states: © 2026. Published by The Company of Biologists | Journal of Experimental Biology (2026) 229, jeb252325. doi:10.1242/jeb.252325. The first sentence reads: 'Understanding how animals achieve movement and athletic performance in varied conditions requires integration across physiological systems and structural scales from molecules to ecosystems'.
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StrictlyChristo 🇺🇦🌻 @strictlychristo.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Kitty is helping 😹
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
New review article from the lab! In addition to discussing relatively easily studied hovering animals (hummingbirds, nectar bats), we call for further work studying energetics/fuel use in other nectar and fruit-feeders! With @giuliarossi.bsky.social @utscbiology.bsky.social @utsc.utoronto.ca 🦇🧪
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Overwintering bumble🐝 queens can survive submersion for days and can even breath (a little) under water. @jexpbiol.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/s...
nytimes.com
Bumblebee Queens Can Breathe Underwater
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Great work by Alejo Rico-Guevara and team! Though, even the slender-tongued, specialized nectar 🦇s take insects regularly as part of their diet. Gotta get that protein somehow!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Opening remarks of the annual meeting of the #ontariobatnetwork from Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong.
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Bethany Brookshire @beebrookshire.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Sunbirds are red. Hummingbirds look like jewels. Birds can eat tons of sugar With the right DNA tools. www.sciencenews.org/article/bird...
sciencenews.org
Here’s how honeyeaters and other birds thrive on sugary diets
Birds that feed on nectar or fruit evolved better mechanisms for managing metabolism, blood pressure and high glucose.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Damn straight they did.
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Dr. Glenn Tattersall @tattersallg.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
New Faculty Positions opening up at Wilfrid Laurier University! Integrative Organismal Zoologist: careers.wlu.ca/job/Waterloo... Microbial Systems: careers.wlu.ca/job/Waterloo... Computational Ecology/Modelling Biologist: careers.wlu.ca/job/Waterloo... Biochemistry: careers.wlu.ca/job/Waterloo...
careers.wlu.ca
Assistant Professor-Department of Biology (Zoologist)
Assistant Professor-Department of Biology (Zoologist)
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Jennifer Molidor @jennifermolidor.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
There’s a wolf in LA for the first time in 100 years. A collared gray wolf entered the mountains of north Los Angeles County yesterday. Known as “BEY03F” she traveled hundreds of miles from her pack in Plumas County crossing highways, mountains, creeks and valleys. www.latimes.com/environment/...
latimes.com
A wolf has come to Los Angeles County for the first time in more than a century
Around 6 a.m. Saturday, the 3-year-old female arrived in the mountains north of Santa Clarita, as tracked by a GPS collar.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
The Toronto Zoo is hiring a seasonal research assistant in their Nutrition Science group. Experience with wild animal feeding/handling is preferred! DM me for more details or questions. workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/defau...
workforcenow.adp.com
Recruitment
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
🤣🤣🤣 Not related to the current news, thankfully!
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Michael J. Steudeman @msteudeman.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
Universities embracing generative AI be like:
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Moon-Watcher @bobsmyusername.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
Who has made this 🤣
Buster from the tv show ‘Arrested Development’ holding an arm full of plushies while he looks at his mother Lucille, saying, “these are my awards, mother, from FIFA.“
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Cripes?! How did this get through the review process in the first place?
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Canadian Journal of Zoology @canjzoology.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Join our wonderful #PeerReview team! We’re looking for a Scientific Editor to help uphold rigorous peer review and support our editors, reviewers, and authors. Applications are now open. Apply now 📚▶️ ow.ly/1ziL50XulU8 #ScienceJobs #NowHiring
Close-up of a fly resting on a green leaf with text announcing a Scientific Editor job opening at Canadian Science Publishing.
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Mehran Dastmalchi @mehran-plantsci.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
In 1996, almost thirty years ago, Stephan Clemens & Wolfgang Barz described a methylenedioxy bridge formation reaction, converting calycosin to pseudobaptigenin. Today, we have identified the enzyme catalyst from red clover! 🍀 @UTSC @UtscBiology www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
@utoronto.ca announces funding for 100 new PDFs across the university. @utsc.utoronto.ca get 3/year. CAD$80K/year + CAD$10K/year in research funds. Read more here: www.utsc.utoronto.ca/grad-edu/res...
utsc.utoronto.ca
Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program | Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
The Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program is a centrally supported program to fund 100 new two-year postdoctoral appointments over two cohorts. Cost-shared with divisions, the initiative ai...
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Danve Castroverde @danvec.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Regular registration ENDS on November 12th for the @cspbscbv.bsky.social Eastern Regional Meeting to be held at Wilfrid Laurier University later this month! @laurierbiology.bsky.social @wilfridlaurieruni.bsky.social #CSPB_ERM CONFERENCE WEBSITE: event.fourwaves.com/erm2025
event.fourwaves.com
Canadian Society of Plant Biologists - Eastern Regional 2025 Meeting
Fourwaves - Canadian Society of Plant Biologists - Eastern Regional 2025 Meeting
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Dr. Cosima Porteus @cosimaporteus.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Check out our latest research on how ocean acidification affects marine sticklebacks from former postdoc Dr. Rex Yoon. doi.org/10.1002/jez.... @utscbiology.bsky.social @utscresearch.bsky.social
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Didn't get to see the broadcast premier of "Empire of Bats'?! Well, you're in luck! See it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhWK... @utsc.utoronto.ca @utscbiology.bsky.social
youtube.com
You’ve never seen bats like this
YouTube video by The Nature of Things
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American Physiological Society @apsphysiology.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
🦇How do vampire bats get the energy to find their next meal? One lab set out to find the answer. Read more in The New York Times: ow.ly/6nmr50X4AI3 #ISpyPhysiology #ComparativePhysiology #Halloween #FridayPhysiologyFact #HalloweenCountdown CC: Ken Welch 🧪 📷: iStock
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Very proud of the work done by former PhD student Natalia Sandoval-Herrera!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Happy Halloween! My treat is a conditionally accepted manuscript! Can't wait to share more! Fingers crossed for zero tricks.
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John Stinchcombe @johnstinchcombe.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Amazing profile of the new facilities at @ksrjokershill.bsky.social designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects. azuremagazine.com/article/koff...
azuremagazine.com
Outside Toronto, the Koffler Scientific Reserve Finds True North
Montgomery Sisam’s Koffler Scientific Reserve is a surprisingly intimate marriage of building science and agrarian vernacular.
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SICB journals @sicbjournals.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
ICB's #BatWeek spotlight - more on @aigverte.bsky.social (co author on #Bat Dentitions: A Model System for Studies at the Interface of Development, #Biomechanics, and #Evolution doi.org/10.1093/icb/... Watch Bat Vision Evolution youtu.be/rnbhtN6Iui0?... & www.ted.com/talks/alexa_...
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Kevin McMahon @primitiveyes.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
There's bats everywhere this time of year -- but they are not as scary as claimed! Check out our lovely new documentary on CBC Nature of Things. It will make you love bats! gem.cbc.ca/the-nature-o...
gem.cbc.ca
Empire of Bats | The Nature of Things | CBC Gem
New hosts Sarika Cullis-Suzuki and Anthony Morgan take on The Nature of Things, the world's longest-running science documentary series.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
It's true. 🦇 are sweet. www.cbc.ca/documentarie...
cbc.ca
Vampire bats are ‘little ninjas’ who are actually quite sweet | CBC The Nature of Things
Documentary Empire of Bats nails the coffin shut on vampire bat myths
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