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Shaun Killen

@shaunkillen.bsky.social
604 followers 594 following 91 posts

Prof of Ecophysiology at Uni of Glasgow. Metabolic physiology, pred/prey interactions, social behaviour, fisheries-induced evolution. 🇨🇦 in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
So you're saying you grew up in a town full of morons?
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School of Biodiversity One Health and Veterinary Medicine @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk · 28/07/2026
In a new study led by @shaunkillen.bsky.social, a virtual reality fish platform offers new insights into the impact of artificial light on aquatic life 👉 www.gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...
gla.ac.uk
Virtual reality fish platform offers new insights into the impact of artificial light on aquatic life
A virtual reality (VR) platform has given researchers new insights into how artificial light at night alters the way coral reef fish respond to predators
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Izzy Tiddy @izzylikesfish.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
New paper on the effects of artificial light on metabolic response to predation from our collaboration with Suzie Mills' lab at CRIOBE out now in @conphysjournal.bsky.social! Cool virtual reality ✅ Cute clownfish ✅ What more could you want? @shaunkillen.bsky.social doi.org/10.1093/conp...
doi.org
Artificial light at night suppresses the metabolic response of a coral reef fish to a virtual predator
Abstract. Artificial light at night is an increasingly widespread feature of coastal environments and is known to alter animal physiology, but its effects
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
In our new Proc B paper, led by Wei Liang, we show social status and water flow influence microplastic ingestion in minnows. Dominant fish ingested more microplastics, especially under flowing water conditions: royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Happy to share our new paper in MEPS, led by @izzylikesfish.bsky.social! Reef fish exposed to artificial light at night from hotels showed altered risk-taking and activity, suggesting that light pollution can increase daytime risk-taking behaviour. Read it here: www.int-res.com/journals/mep...
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Izzy Tiddy @izzylikesfish.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Delighted to say that another of my PhD chapters is now published in @meps-ir.bsky.social. We found increased diurnal risk-taking behaviour in dascyllus exposed to artificial light at night, but no effect on sociability! doi.org/10.3354/meps...
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Had a great time on our historic first ever Shoalathon! Thanks to all who came along for the fun chat, great ideas, and impressive contributions! 🐟🐟🐟
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Final reminder: registration closes tomorrow (Thursday, 17:00 UK time) with more info to follow. It should be a fun and slightly different way to connect with others interested in fish behaviour!
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
It’s often claimed most fishes are “social” at some point in their lives. Try tracing that claim back and it gets a bit… thin. We’re building ShoalBase to categorise fish social behaviour across species & contexts. Info session + shoalathon (Apr 15, 14:00 UK) Register: forms.gle/iCixceceqr9Z...
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Our new paper looks at how warming affects cognitive trade-offs. Slower deciding individuals are more accurate. But with modest warming, they speed up and lose that advantage, compressing the range of cognitive strategies in the population. Check it out!: royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...
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Nick Jones @nickarjones.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Excited to share our new paper @royalsocietypublishing.org This one took what felt like endless maze trials. We found that even modest warming (~1°C) changed an ectotherm's behaviour such that it affected cognitive performance. Speeding them up and reducing decision accuracy.
tiny.cc
Increasing temperature reduces decision accuracy by shifting speed–accuracy trade-offs in slower individuals
Abstract. Cognitive responses are linked to consistent individual behavioural variation, but the potential impact of warming on this relationship remains u
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ShoalBase.org @shoalbase.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
ShoalBase now includes 373 submissions, 286 species, and 45 countries. But that still covers only 0.8% of global fish diversity! A reminder of how much fish social behaviour remains undocumented or scattered across sources. Contributions are easy and always welcome!
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ShoalBase.org @shoalbase.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
ShoalBase submission is a few simple steps and only takes a minute or two! Observations from fieldwork, aquaria, research, fisheries, or diving, or can be entered quickly. Many fish species have no social behavioural information available, so even a single observation can help fill an important gap.
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ShoalBase.org @shoalbase.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
We’ve added a new interactive and zoomable Phylogeny Explorer to shoalbase.org! You can visualise social systems directly across the tree of life. Colour tips by dominant behaviour, explore circular/linear layouts, and see evolutionary patterns & data gaps.
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ShoalBase.org @shoalbase.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
An early ShoalBase snapshot of global fish social systems: from solitary species to shoals, schools, colonies, spawning aggregations & parental care. This figure exists because people shared their observations! Explore the data and help build the global map of fish social behaviour!: shoalbase.org
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Yes, absolutely! Thanks so much!
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Nicholas Wu @nicholaswu.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
New 2026 paper led by @patricepottier.bsky.social, @kruthsatz.bsky.social & I in @conphysjournal.bsky.social show studies on embryos make up <10% of conservation physiology studies, highlighting a major blind spot in predicting vulnerable life stages to climate change. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/conp...
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
2nd new postdoc in our group! Looking to hire postdoc in eco-economic modelling for our Amazon ornamental fish project, integrating biological data with supply-chain, livelihood & sustainability analyses. Participatory work in Brazil. Please share! www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/research...
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
1 of 2 new postdocs in our group! Looking for an integrative fish physiologist for our Amazon ornamental fish project, linking stress & welfare across supply chain. Partnership with fishers and Brazilian collaborators. Field work and applied impact. Please share!: www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/research...
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
We're hiring a Research Technician to join our project on fish welfare & sustainability in the Amazon ornamental fish trade. Fieldwork in Brazil & lab, physiology & behaviour, contribute to conservation, sustainability & livelihoods in the Amazon. Apply here: www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/technici...
jobs.gla.ac.uk
Technician
Job AdvertWe have an exciting opportunity for a Technician to support the delivery of the UKRI-funded interdisciplinary project Fish, Fishers and Finances: Working with Brazilian Traditional Commun...
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Our new paper led by Libor Zvorka: omega-3s in food webs affect brain chemistry, which affects dominance, habitat use and growth in juvenile trout. A mechanistic link from ecosystem change to social performance and fitness. Read in @jexpbiol.bsky.social !: journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
journals.biologists.com
Deficiency of vital organic nutrients in ecosystems limits brain development and fitness in wild fish
Summary: Omega-3 LC-PUFA deficiency in aquatic ecosystems alters brain fatty acid composition in salmonids, reducing their cognitive capabilities and competitiveness in social interactions, highlighti...
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Mar Pineda @marpineda.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
📣 Calling fish biologists & conservation scientists! We’re convening a session at #ICBF2026 (UBC, Vancouver): Bridging experimental biology & conservation If your research connects mechanism to real-world application- from lab to field- we want your abstract! Apply by March 3rd! 🐟🌎 icbf2026.com
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Kate Laskowski @katelaskowski.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
How do we know our research results are REAL? We replicate them! Most folks agree but lament on how hard it is to publish these replications. My dearest gentle reader, lament no more! Delighted to unveil: Replication Studies, a new section of Behavioral Ecology 1/ academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
academic.oup.com
Replication studies: a win-win for early-career training and behavioral ecology
Replicating previous research builds confidence that results are real and meaningful. But close replications are rare due to limitations in resources and d
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
We're building ShoalBase: a global database of fish social systems. Undergrad or other students wanting research experience in behavioural ecology, data synthesis or evolution - please DM! www.shoalbase.org
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Emmanuelle Chretien @manuchretien.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
New paper out! Social context should be integrated into comparative and environmental physiology
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Jolle Jolles @jollejolles.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
🔍 I am looking for a 5-mo research technician to join my lab at CEAB-CSIC! The position will work on the DRYFISH project and combines fieldwork in drying Mediterranean streams with laboratory experiments with fish 📄 Details here: tinyurl.com/4ckf357j 📅 Deadline: 17 Feb 26
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Jolle Jolles @jollejolles.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Excited to see this out, our detailed commentary on the importance of social context for comparative physiology. Led by @shaunkillen.bsky.social out now in @jexpbiol.bsky.social here journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...
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Daphne Cortese @cortesedaphne.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
When studying animal physiology we carefully control temperature, oxygen…but often ignore who animals live with. Social context such as parents (1), social environment (2), litter mates (3) can shape physiology and later plasticity (4). We discuss it in this commentary 👉 doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
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Mar Pineda @marpineda.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
🚨New paper out now! Excited to see this commentary, led by @shaunkillen.bsky.social, showing that social context is key in comparative physiology and must be integrated! Read more here: doi.org/10.1242/jeb.... #ComparativePhysiology #Behaviour #Ecophysiology @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk @jexpbiol.bsky.social
doi.org
Further integrating social context into comparative and environmental physiology
Summary: Social environments affect all aspects of animal physiology. We highlight how overlooking social effects might lead to inaccurate physiology-based predictions of species’ responses to environ...
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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
kind of funny that an olympian said they are here to represent "compassion, respect, and love for others" and some people automatically knew that was a statement against them
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
We face two potential missteps in ecophysiology: 1) measuring animals under socially unrealistic conditions & 2) extrapolating results to nature, where social dynamics alter trait expression, plasticity, & evolutionary outcomes. Our new commentary in @jexpbiol.bsky.social : doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Sorry, here is the working link!: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Simulated catch and release angling of Atlantic salmon before spawning alters activity, exploratory behaviour and aggression of offspring
C&R of wild Atlantic salmon can lead to offspring that are less active and exploratory in novel environments, but more aggressive. These intergenerational effects were strongest when air exposure was....
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Thank you! Not sure why I'm having so much trouble with links lately!
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Catch-and-release stress in Atlantic salmon shortly before spawning can affect next generation. Offspring show ↓ activity & exploration, & ↑ aggression, all traits that matter during early life. Read here: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... Great work from Magadalene Papatheodoulou!
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
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Dustin Marshall @djmmeeg.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
The principles of experimental design in ecology and evolution has 20k downloads, but unfortunately I still have to reject ~20% of papers without review because they lack replication at the right level. More discussion among mentors and mentees please. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Principles of experimental design for ecology and evolution
Here I argue that we do not discuss experimental design, often until it is too late. This editorial seeks to begin a conversation about how and where to replicate appropriately.
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Can't wait to start this cross disciplinary project with a fantastic team, including @kochhanndaiani.bsky.social, @katjaenberg.bsky.social, Nick Hanley, Kath Sloman, and many others. Linking fish welfare, rural livelihoods, and rainforest conservation. Postdoc (x2) and tech positions forthcoming. 🙂
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The Beaverton @thebeaverton.com · 31/01/2026
Nation could really use Catherine O'Hara to deal with passing of Catherine O'Hara
thebeaverton.com
Nation could really use Catherine O'Hara to deal with passing of Catherine O'Hara
OTTAWA - Following the passing of screen and comedy legend Catherine O'Hara, nationwide reports indicate that the only thing Canadians could use to cheer them up from their grief is Catherine O'Hara.
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Apologies, the link above doesn't work. Use this one for the paper! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Fatal Attraction: Light Pollution Creates an Ecological Trap for Wild Fish
This graphical abstract provides a snapshot of the ecological trap created by artificial light. At night, larval fish are attracted to illuminated habitats and settle there, but subsequently experien...
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Nicholas Wu @nicholaswu.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
I have two #PhD scholarships available on either the ecophysiology or movement ecology of the Pilbara leaf-nosed #bat at @murdoch.edu.au 🦇 Apply now: www.murdoch.edu.au/study/schola... Lab website: www.nicholaswulab.com
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Our new paper in @globalchangebio.bsky.social: artificial light at night creates an ecological trap for wild reef fish. Settlement ↑ under artificial light (up to 8× higher), but survival ~50% lower due to predation, disrupted settlement timing, and altered metabolic rhythms: doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Finally moving beyond the fiction of a constant metabolic baseline will give us a more realistic foundation for bioenergetics, ecology, and evolution! (9/9)
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
We are not saying SMR is useless. We are saying it should be treated as state-dependent, or explicitly time-integrated across the sleep–wake cycle, depending on the biological question. (8/9)
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
These effects may have implications for repeatability, heritability, metabolic scaling, behaviour–metabolism links, thermal performance curves, and even “calming effects” of conspecifics. Sleep architecture is a hidden axis in ALL of these. (7/9)
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Derived traits are affected too. Because aerobic scope = MMR − SMR, state-biased SMR estimates can inflate or shrink apparent performance capacity, even if maximum performance is unchanged. (6/9)
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Environmental or treatment effects can also be missed entirely. If a factor affects a sleep-dominant process and SMR is measured during wake (or vice versa), any metabolic change may never be detected. (5/9)
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
This creates systematic measurement bias. SMR measured only during sleep underestimates daily maintenance costs; SMR measured only during wake overestimates them. The size and direction of the bias depend on sleep duration and sleep architecture. (4/9)
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Wake, NREM sleep, and REM sleep each prioritise different physiological processes, with distinct energetic demands. How maintenance is defined and what constitutes SMR depends entirely on WHEN you measure it. (3/9)
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Basal and standard metabolic rate are treated as fixed traits: the minimum cost of staying alive. But many core maintenance processes are not continuously active. Instead, they are temporally partitioned across wakefulness and different sleep states. (2/9)
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Thread: In our new paper in Biological Reviews, we argue that one of physiology’s most basic assumptions is wrong. There is no single, static “baseline” metabolic rate. Instead, sleep-wake cycles quietly subvert how BMR and SMR are usually interpreted. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... (1/9)
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Shaun Killen @shaunkillen.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Congrats @helenanorman.bsky.social on an amazing poster!
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