iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Mike Curtis

Ben Walther @bendw.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Thanks to Anna Sturrock @otolithgirl.bsky.social and Susanne Tanner for leading this great paper all the way to publication! 🎉

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Surprised Eel Historian, PhD @greenleejw.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

How does an eel think about its life? What are the steps? And when should it start to eat its own bones? This map tells you! “But SEH,” you say. “I don’t want to come here every time I need to see this!” Good news, friends! You can buy it here as a poster and put it on your wall! etsy.me/3Nvk5jK

A long, skinny map titled: "Life and Travels of the European Eel" with a subtitle reading: "From the Eel's Perspective." A label at the bottom of the map reads: "Begin Here." The map top half of the map is an mirror copy of the bottom half.

The map goes from the bottom of the page up, starting in the Sargasso Sea. An set of arrows show the eels paths to shore, then up a river and into a marshland. The arrows continue up the page to show the eel leaving the marshland and heading back downstream, and out to sea. The land is green and verdant at the bottom of the map, because the eels migrate upstream in the spring. The land is brown and dry at the top of the map, because eels migrate downstream in the autumn.

A column of text on the side tells about the eels' journeys and changes. It is more text than I can relate in the space allowed here. Each paragraph has an arrow pointing up to the next one, and they are designed to be read from the bottom of the page going upwards.

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Surprised Eel Historian, PhD @greenleejw.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Several years ago, on a whim, I started drawing a map of an eel's life travels as seen by the eel. I figured an eel thinks about its life as a linear journey, rather than a there-and-back again adventure. So I wanted to do a map to reflect this. This morning, on another whim, I finished the map!

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Mike Curtis @mikecurtis.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

This is fantastic! Ever think of drawing maps for other Anguillids?

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Cinephilia & Beyond @cinephiliabeyond.org · 13/03/2026

“But, as you see, it's a beautiful day, the Strait of Hormuz is open and people are having a wonderful time.”

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Pedro Brandão-Dias F Pinto @pedrobd.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Being In an interdisciplinary field, it is easy to feel dumb because you are a "jack of all trades, master of none" But that feel is greatly improved when you learn this sentence is often misquoted. The full version is: "jack of all trades, master of none, but often better than a master of one"🎃

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Josh Chafetz @joshchafetz.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

*Homer Simpson voice*: The dumbest diplomatic crisis of your life *so far*

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Ben Walther @bendw.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Message me with any questions!

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Matthew L. Miller @matthewlmiller.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

The Devils Hole pupfish has the smallest-known range of any vertebrate: one small but deep pool. It’s part of Death Valley National Park. The pool is fenced to protect the fish from vandals & destructive idiots. And yes, we observed Devils Hole pupfish using binoculars. #25DaysofFishmas

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Surprised Eel Historian, PhD @greenleejw.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

It's a Hot Eel City kinda Friday, yo.

Photograph of a storefront at night for a store called Hot Wheel City, but the neon lights are burned out on for the "w" & the "h", making the sign appear to read "Hot Eel City"

The colored lights are blue and orange, and the night is black. The windows are filled with chrome rims and hubcaps, a shiny display of vehicular insecurity. Masculinity needs displacement and some sweet rims.

There is a car parked in front of the store, and we can imagine a small boy in the body of a middle-aged man, sitting behind the wheel & daydreaming of just the right rims for his '64 Chevy. Oh, they laughed at him at the car show last year. But not next time. Not once he's blinded them all to with his bad-ass rims. It's gonna be like Saul on the road to Damascus, baby. They'll fall off their asses & rise up new men, with a sudden appreciation for their new lord & savior: the el Camino.

The man will drive away soon, unable to afford this dream. But he'l be back. It has it's chrome-dipped talons in him.

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Reposted by Mike Curtis

Pedro Brandão-Dias F Pinto @pedrobd.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Save the date for a Global #eDNA 🧬 conference! More details to come soon.

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Wildlife Conservation Society @wcs.org · 24/11/2025

100 years ago, WCS scientist Marie Fish (left) confirmed for the first time that American eels begin their lives in the Sargasso Sea. At #CITESCOP20, writes WCS’s Jake LaBelle, it’s up to all of us to ensure their journey continues. 🌎 www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/...

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INRAE_ecobiop @inrae-ecobiop.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Eitb, the Basque TV channel, made a nice documentary on Antarctic Science, with a focus on the ecosystem and evolution research developed by the MACLIFE International Lab with the EHUStream Ecology / ECOBIOP teams on the field ! eitb.eus/N_AKrPge/

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Ikertzaileak Antartikan

Zientzia eta teknologia saioa.

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

After months of sketching, planning, and layering colour, I’m thrilled to share my finished illustration for Chapter 5 of The Hobbit – “Riddles in the Dark”.⁠ ⁠ What do you think of how this illustration turned out?⁠ #tolkienart #thehobbit #tolkien

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Ben Tumolo @bbtumolo.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Are you interested in an MS position in Stream Ecology? My lab (www.benjamintumolo.com) is recruiting a Master's student to join us at Northern Michigan University. 🐛🧪🕸️🍂🌊 Please get in contact if you are interested, and pass on this ad to anyone you know that might be! Apply by Dec 16

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The FSBI @thefsbi.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Following the Titanic theme, with #FSBI2025 being held in Belfast, #FSBI2026 will be taking place in 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗻! Be sure to get 𝟮𝟳𝘁𝗵-𝟯𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 in your diary, with the exciting theme of "Breaking Siloes in Fish Biology"! fsbi.org.uk/symposium-2026/

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Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation @cerfscience.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

🌊 CERF has a new mission! 🌊 Our updated mission reflects our values, vision & commitment to equity, inclusion, and coastal stewardship. Thanks to the members who shaped this future! 💙

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Reposted by Mike Curtis

Surprised Eel Historian, PhD @greenleejw.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Last week, I drew a scene from the Hobbit, and that got me wondering what other scenes I could draw. So, in between maps and such this week, I worked on another one. Here it is!

Art. Grayscale drawing, made of abstract shapes and lines, of the scene from The Hobbit when Gandalf tricks the trolls into arguing until the sun comes up. Three trolls are around a fire, with two sitting and one standing. They are all looking to the left side of the page, where a shadow of a wizard stretches over the ground. The two seated trolls know they're screwed. One is covering his eyes, and the other is reaching out as if he could crush the sun. They both look wretched. The third troll, who is standing and holding a club, is slower. He has his finger on his lips and he's still in the middle of having a moment of realization. It's going to come too late.

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Reposted by Mike Curtis

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Have you ever seen a baby gar eating? This little Spotted Gar is about a week old and has started feeding on zooplankton (in this case brine shrimp/Artemia/ aka "sea monkeys").

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Mike Curtis @mikecurtis.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Thanks Ben! Yes, everybody check out my first first author publication (and publication in general!)! More to come regarding the eel-usive life history patterns of American eel in the future!!

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Reposted by Mike Curtis

Ben Walther @bendw.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

#Eels and isotopes, oh my! New paper out from my lab led by the amazing @mikecurtis.bsky.social! What kind of variation is found in #stableisotopes in American eel in the understudied subtropical part of its range? Find out now! link.springer.com/article/10.1...

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Simon HB @norock.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Actually, Frankenstein is a doctor success at the Venice film festival

BBC News headline: Frankenstein is monster success at Venice film festival

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Skype a Scientist @skypeascientist.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Drumroll please… This year’s advent calendars… Designed by @ehrenenglish.bsky.social… Will be… EEL FACTS!!!! Get one at squidfacts.bigcartel.com Advent calendars keep Skype a scientist running (weird funding strategy, but hey! It works!), so share these far and wide ❤️

The eel facts advent calendar has 5 species of eel on it, ribbon eels which are royal blue and bright yellow, american and european eels hanging out in some eelgrass, a yellow moray, and 2 splendid garden eels which are orange and yellow. The boxes are all numbered in fun boxes with orange and light organ zigzags and a yellow oval in each with the number of the day

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Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

JOIN US!!! @garlab.bsky.social is looking for a PhD and MS student to join our team studying ecology & conservation of gars, bowfin, and other non-game native fishes beginning Spring 2026! Posting & more info coming soon. Please DM or email srdavid@umn.edu with CV if interested!

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American Fisheries Society @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

It's your last chance to take advantage of early registration rates for the #AFS155 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, August 10-14, 2025. We are unable to offer any further extensions, so be sure to register by 11:59 pm EDT tonight! Register here: afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org/registration

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Reposted by Mike Curtis

Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei (IGB) @igb-berlin.de · 07/05/2025

Hidden costs of #hydropower: Dams alter environmental conditions both upstream and downstream in affected #rivers, with profound impacts on #biodiversity. Two new studies offer evidence and recommendations to help mitigate these harmful effects: www.igb-berlin.de/en/news/hidd...

Two recent studies published in Biological Conservation and Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, led by researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) and the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlight the profound impacts of hydropower on biodiversity in river channels and at the land-water surface. The studies demonstrate that these effects arise from impoundment upstream of the dams, disruptions to the natural flow, sediment, and thermal regimes in downstream channels and floodplains, altering habitat conditions and environmental cues vital for many species to complete their life cycles. The authors provide an overview of measures aimed at mitigating these adverse effects. They underscore the importance of systematic planning, long-term monitoring, adaptive management, and decision-making involving multiple actors to ensure sustainable development and call for a critical reassessment of hydropower's status as an often claimed environmentally friendly energy source.

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Katie Hinde @mammalssuck.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Fifteen Minutes #2025MMM

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Movement Ecology Lab @movecology.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

🎣 Caught a tagged red drum, trout, or sheepshead in TX bays? Look for a yellow "Release Fish" tag + internal transmitter! 📍 Note tag #, date/location, & length 📞 Report: 361-825-2525 💻 sportfishcenter.org/outreach/report-tag 🎁 Reward—released or kept! #TAMUCC

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David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

I (accidentally) minored in history with a focus on history of science and a thing that lots of people don't know is that Germany used to be by far the global leader in science... until they started persecutive academics of certain backgrounds and many German academics came to the US...

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Mike Curtis @mikecurtis.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Will the symposium have a remote option? I haven't seen any updates for registration yet

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Katie O'Reilly @drkatfish.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

For context, the funding being terminated is 50% of Maine Sea Grant's budget. Cutting $4.5 million won't make a drop in the overall federal budget, but will decimate the program. Maine Sea Grant, like all Sea Grant programs, exists to serve the American people. The return on investment is huge.

An infographic about the impact of Sea Grant funding

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Mike Curtis @mikecurtis.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

I wonder if these positions will start to get flooded by American researchers, even on a temporary basis. It's sad that we're at a point in time where that has to be a recruiting technique, but sign me up! I'd love to work in a stable democracy that supports science instead of hindering it

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Mike Curtis @mikecurtis.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

The AFS Estuaries Section is running officer elections soon with president-elect, secretary, and treasurer positions up for grabs. Interested parties can check out officer descriptions/duties on our website estuaries.fisheries.org Reach out here, or email, Michaelcurtis3@my.unt with any ?s

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David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

🚨Academic scientist friends who are members-ideally leaders- of scientific professional societies, I need your help. 🚨 There is a sign-letter being prepared that will speak out against recent politicization of scientific funding and demonization of scientific researchers. 🧪🌎🦑

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Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei (IGB) @igb-berlin.de · 09/01/2025

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reveals: One quarter of #freshwater animals at risk of extinction! "Without a rethink, the trend will continue to intensify and #biodiversity will rapidly decline," comments IGB researcher and co-author Jörn Gessner. Read more > www.igb-berlin.de/en/news/iucn...

The largest global assessment of freshwater animals on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to date has revealed that 24 per cent of the world’s freshwater fish, dragonfly, damselfly, crab, crayfish and shrimp species are at high risk of extinction, according to an analysis published in Nature today. Migratory fish such as sturgeons suffered these losses decades ago and since then little has improved in terms of water management to protect biodiversity. This is emphasized by Dr. Jörn Gessner, co-author of the study from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB).

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Mike Curtis @mikecurtis.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Excited this came in the mail! Ready for a good read

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Mike Curtis @mikecurtis.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Successfully defended my PhD research proposal, submitted my first first author paper, and out doing field work. Been a good week (or so)!!

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Mike Curtis @mikecurtis.bsky.social · 27/10/2023

I didn't post enough at the other place, something I want to change on this platform. A little info about me - I am a PhD student researching population and community dynamics of imperiled fishes. I'm also the AFS Estuaries Section president-elect and webmaster and will post section updates!

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