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Matt Betts

@mattbetts42.bsky.social
7K followers 726 following 95 posts

Professor of ecology, forest biodiversity, Oregon State University, Lead PI HJ Andrews NSF Long-term Ecological Research Program @uslter, flel.forestry.oregonstate.edu

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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Finding the Mother Bird: we used long-term data and dynamic models to show that many species interactions are positive (attraction) in a forest bird community. nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Useful synthesis effort led by Anderson Bueno focused on differences between true islands and forest “islands” in a terrestrial mosaic. Matrix matters! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
pnas.org
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Excited about a new paper led by @gcerullo.bsky.social showing that edge effects on marbled murrelets amplify under poor ocean conditions. The management implication is to reduce edge amount by spatially concentrating logging: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Spatially concentrating logging could mitigate climate‐magnified fragmentation risks to a globally endangered bird
We map key opportunities to boost populations of marbled murrelets by reducing edginess around remaining nesting habitat, and investigate these opportunities' spatial distribution across land ownersh...
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
Very grateful for a productive week in Frascati with the @ipbes.net Monitoring Assessment group.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Some solid Forest Landscape Lab time at our research site in the Oregon Cascades! Lucky to have all of these brilliant folks in our group.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Long-term data result in more reliable species distribution models. Perhaps expected, but nice to see it quantified formally! Thanks @nico-anselmetto.bsky.social for leading this effort at the HJ Andrews LTER. @uslter.bsky.social 🧪 besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Leveraging long‐term data to improve biodiversity monitoring with species distribution models
To our knowledge, this is the first empirical study to demonstrate the benefits of long-term dynamic SDMs with spatially matched predictor variables. If predicting the future of biodiversity under la...
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Nice article by @jimrobbins.bsky.social in @nytimes.com on one of my favorites - marbled murrelet - and its potential fate given changes to our forests, oceans and the US Endangered Species Act. @coforegonstate.bsky.social 🧪
nytimes.com
A Tiny Seabird Faces Growing Threats in the Forest
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Thanks to @natecoevo.nature.com for publishing this short essay on our Costa Rica hummingbird/heliconia work!
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Old-growth Douglas-fir / western hemlock forest, Pyramids, Oregon
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Science is rarely a linear path from hypotheses to published papers. Here, I tell the story of our many ups and downs during the discovery of pollinator recognition. Hope you enjoy it! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
Another excellent article by @lyndamapes @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social, this one focused on one of my favorite species - Swainson’s Thrush. So nice to see the HJ Andrews @uslter.bsky.social linked to wintering grounds in Costa Rica. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
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Reposted by Matt Betts
Long Term Ecological Research Network (United States) @uslter.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Always a pleasure to see others recognize the value of our network. "[The LTER Network] has enabled scientists to get answers that have led to key policy decisions, from amending the Clean Air Act to prevent acid rain to preserving old-growth forests." Lynda Mapes for the @seattletimes.com
seattletimes.com
Trump wants to cut research centers like the one in this PNW forest
Congress will take up Trump's proposed budget cuts, which target 26 long-term ecological research centers like the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Great to see this @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social by Lynda Mapes on post-fire "reorganization" at the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest and LTER! @uslter.bsky.social
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Today’s @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social features an excellent article by Lynda Mapes on how our research forest HJ Andrews Experimental Forest @uslter has changed following fire www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
seattletimes.com
A fire charred this research forest. What happened next dazzled
The 2023 Lookout Fire burned most of a forest in Oregon. What's unfolding in the aftermath could inform the future of other forests burned as wildfire becomes fiercer and more frequent.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Collecting bioacoustics data but terrified of the time required to train auto-ID models? A solution from @mattweldy.bsky.social out today in @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social in the form of transfer learning which minimizes the need for training data. besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Fledgling black-backed woodpecker @ the HJ Andrews LTER yesterday. Fascinating to see this long-studied ecosystem reorganizing after the 2023 Lookout Fire.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Clearcutting doesn't mimic fire when it comes to biodiversity conservation - in the early stages of forest development at least. Congrats to Graham Frank on the publication of his PhD chapter! esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
Rough skinned newt, Oregon Coast Range
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
For what it's worth, I largely owe my career to NSF. Happy 75th! www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Is a photo subversive? NSF staff overcome obstacles to 75th anniversary portrait
Management tried to quash outpouring of support for beleaguered agency
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Some well articulated arguments for science funding here: theconversation.com/unprecedente...
theconversation.com
Unprecedented cuts to the National Science Foundation endanger research that improves economic growth, national security and your life
The Trump administration has terminated hundreds of federal grants that support engineering, biology, geology, computer science, STEM education and much more.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
This article came out officially yesterday focused on supporting federal science to inform forest management: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... Thanks to @gcerullo.bsky.social for his efforts on this.
science.org
Benefits of onshoring forestry rely on science
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Here’s our attempt to emphasize the importance of maintaining strong federal research capacity in the face of new executive orders to increase timber production in the US: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
Benefits of onshoring forestry rely on science
US Executive Orders to reduce wood imports (1) and ramp up domestic production (2) signal a transformation in forest policy. Portrayed as addressing supply chain and national security concerns, these ...
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Defunding the research agency that uncovered forever chemicals, measures impacts of air particulate on human health, researches playground safety…what could go wrong? www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/c...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Aims to Eliminate E.P.A.’s Scientific Research Arm
More than 1,000 chemists, biologists and other scientists could be laid off under a plan to dismantle the Office of Research and Development.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
Some scenes from the Corvallis stand up for science protest today. So nice to see this much positivity out there.
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David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Today, a broad coalition of scientific professional societies who represent over 92,000 scientists are speaking out against the politicization and demonization of Federally funded science and government scientist jobs. It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
ucsusa.org
48 Scientific Societies Representing Almost 100,000 Scientists Ask Congress to Protect the Future of Science
48 scientific societies representing almost 100,000 scientists signed on to a letter asking Congress to protect the future of science
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Beautiful piece given to me after my talk @uoftmississauga.bsky.social. Drawn by Mark Nadijiwan of the Anishnabek, to show the turtle as a communicator of wisdom to humans.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Don't look up! www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Outcry as Trump withdraws support for research that mentions ‘climate’
US government stripping funds from domestic and overseas research amid warnings for health and public safety
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
I've always been quite impressed with the US for its investments in science, and use of science in (some) decision making. That era seems to be coming to an end, unless we can do all that we can to stop it. So sorry for my friends and colleagues at NSF: www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
politico.com
‘You screwed people’: Inside the National Science Foundation’s firing of 168 workers
At an emotional meeting, foundation officials announced layoffs for about 10 percent of their workforce and warned of more firings to come.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
A reminder to stop doom scrolling for a bit, listen to Mozart piano concerto 20 in D minor, then call your representatives.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
And now for something completely different: baby Malayan tapir.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
We’re on the edge of our seats about HJ Andrews Forest @uslter.bsky.social careers and the future of our 45 years of data. Unfortunate times: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Exclusive: how NSF is scouring research grants for violations of Trump’s orders
The US National Science Foundation has unfrozen grant funding, but it continues to scrutinize research projects, sowing turmoil.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
I'm summarizing some of our lab group's forest bird research at the Seven Scapes Bird Alliance meeting tomorrow (Wednesday @ 6 pm). Old growth & climate, hummingbirds, and intensive forest management. If interested, you can register here: zoom.us/webinar/regi... @oregonstate.edu
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Michael Paul Nelson @michaelpaulnelson.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
A good one for today!
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
This is causing major issues for us at the HJ Andrews LTER. Possible disruptions to >40 years of data on water, tree growth and survival, ecosystem response to fire. As well as three long-term employees whose livelihoods are now uncertain.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Increased demand for wood, in combination with climate change and fires, pose serious challenges for biodiversity and carbon storage. Which landscape planning strategies minimize negative impacts? New paper by @colinmast.bsky.social! 🧪https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10980-024-02041-5
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Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 28/01/2025
The National Science Foundation canceled all of its grant review panels this week. www.npr.org/sections/sho... 8/12
npr.org
National Science Foundation freezes grant review in response to Trump executive orders
The National Science Foundation has canceled all grant review panels this week. It's unclear how long the pause could last.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Job opportunity for field techs in the Forest Landscape Lab (flel.forestry.oregonstate.edu) at OSU. These positions focus on long-term songbird responses to intensive forest management and involve bioacoustics. If you have skills in PNW bird ID, please apply: jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/163...
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
My favorite paper this week, not just because it seems to solve language differences, but mostly because it cites Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Super article by Marina Ritchie about grad students at the HJ Andrews NSF-LTER and their resilience to our recent wildfires: www.nwf.org/Home/Magazin... @uslter.bsky.social
nwf.org
Undaunted, Grad Students Return to the Field After Wildfires
Young researchers see the wildfires that paused their field work in Oregon’s H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest as lessons for the future
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
Exciting opportunity this spring/summer for bird and microclimate-oriented field biologists at the HJ Andrews LTER, Oregon, USA. If you have western bird ID skills and like rugged fieldwork, please apply! jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/163...
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 28/12/2024
Counter to our hopes and dreams, marbled murrelet surveys yield little information about nest locations…(led by Jonathan Valente). journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
Very nice article by Marina Ritchie about the resilience of three grad students in the face of wildfire @ the HJ Andrews NSF @uslter.bsky.social www.nwf.org/Home/Magazin...
nwf.org
Undaunted, Grad Students Return to the Field After Wildfires
Young researchers see the wildfires that paused their field work in Oregon’s H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest as lessons for the future
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 26/12/2024
Coast Range old-growth, Oregon
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Importance of data spread. Please let me know if you find a moderately tasty 800 m diameter sphere.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Correlation (hopefully) not causation. Has anyone else noticed this pattern with their conservation-oriented work?
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Two life-long ambitions achieved: (1) my "McCune number" (like a mossy Erdös number) now +1 (publishing with one of my ecology heroes Bruce McCune), (2) publishing a moss paper. Not expected: a high elevation species thriving at low elevations - even when in competition. Coming in Northwest Science.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Cool/hot paper alert.
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
My daughter sent me this and I think it’s kind of funny/true
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Jonathan Lenoir 🌳🌲🌴 @jonlen.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Species #response #curves to 🌡 to derive #thermal #performances are usually fitted against T°C data from #weather #stations, right? Yet, how many #forest species live next to a weather station? None! Lets derive affinity to forests' microclimates ⬇️ @journalofecology.bsky.social shorturl.at/rEMVU
shorturl.at
The affinity of vascular plants and bryophytes to forest microclimate buffering
Understorey plants have a species-specific affinity to the forest microclimate, which we quantify for the first time. The investigation of species response curves to microclimate processes—buffering ...
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Matt Betts @mattbetts42.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Yesterday I explored again the forest near where I grew up in New Brunswick, Canada and realized what an outsized impact this place has had on me. Where is your childhood forest?
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