iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

No AI was involved in the making of this image ☺️

Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

New paper out: "Feasibility and reliability of farmer-recorded plant diversity indicators in European grasslands" www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #openaccess @uniofreading.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social

Examples of study farms in Romania, Sweden, and UK

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

This by Keith Duggan in @irishtimes.com is a stomach churning read. Not to make light of the horrific murder Christa Pike and her then boyfriend carried out at the time, but with such childhood trauma it would have literally been a miracle had she turned out OK. www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...

The shorthand version is that she was in trouble from her birth, with her mother’s heavy drinking during pregnancy causing brain malformation and foetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Her early years were defined by frequent heavy beatings by her father, her grandfather and several boyfriends of her mother; years spent handpassed between her father in West Virginia and her mother, then in North Carolina; ‘indications’ that she had suffered horrific sexual abuses from the age of two by a male companion of her grandmother; multiple rapes at the ages of 11, 14 and 17; and a failed suicide attempt at 12.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Looks like the pope may have just been handed an orb of bombastium. It is basically the miracle of loaves and fish all over again, but with ice cream instead!

Cover page of Uncle Scrooge No. 24 which contains the Carl Barks penned story "A cold bargain".

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

It doesn't happen every day that one comes across a Pushmi-Pullyu while on field work! Although, I suppose, the total number of legs is giving away that these are actually two separate animals.

field with alpacas in it, two of them seemingly fused into a single animal with two heads

close-up of what looks like a Pushmi-Pullyu within the group of alpacas

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Temperature measured by the @ukceh.bsky.social Wallingford meteorological station at 11 a.m. was about 5°C higher than the previous highest on any given 25 May as measured by it. These automated measurements now go back almost 25 years. Absolutely smashing it today! www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/...

Dry bulb temperature for thelast five days at the Wallingford meteorological station.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

The previous Reform UK Ltd. Kent county councillor was jailed for coercive behaviour (see this extract from a BBC article). A bit disappointing that Reform still got 33% with their new candidate in yesterday's byelection, but well done by the Green Party candidate for beating Reform into 2nd place!

The court heard Taylor had shown controlling behaviour since 2014 and according to friends he was constantly putting his wife down and accusing her of cheating.

He demanded to look though her phone, isolated her from her friends and told her she was mentally unwell because she accused him of being controlling, the court was told.

The prosecution said Taylor had told his wife he would hunt her like prey and kill her, and that he would "put you in the boot and set fire to the car".

The court heard he did not intend to carry out the threats.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

I anticipate an interesting plot twist, centering around the fact that migrating birds use quantum mechanical effects for navigation.

Lily already knows the sting of loss, beginning with the death of her mother, a tragedy that left deep scars on both her and her gifted younger sister, Jane. Jane seeks escape in the abstract world of mathematics and quantum mechanics—when she can keep the demons that fuel her addictions at bay. As the years pass, Lily buries her twin griefs deep in her heart, finding solace and a new beginning with Marshall Middleton, a renowned ornithologist whose love is as steadfast as the migration patterns he studies. Yet the shadows of her past linger.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Perhaps this should be the genus common name and not just the common name for this particular species.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

I assume you may already have seen this article?

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

I have just found the following in Atlas 2020 so I suppose I may need to check out Perring & Sell (1968)

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

I just received the following email (see screenshot). Please note the email address. Is this actually from you or is it an elaborate phishing attempt by someone piggybacking off your People's Choice vote for Wildlife Photographer of the year? I thought I should check / bring this to your attention.

head of an email seemingly from the NHM (but nor sure it actually is)

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

A big thank you to the Biological Flora editors Tony Davy and Sarah Dalrymple, to the six reviewers, to @bsbiscience.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social for providing climate/distribution information, and to many ecologists who answered our questions or gave permission to use photos in the paper.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank the following people for the supply of data or information:
Natalia Afanasieva, Michael Ansong, Mostafa Assadi, Ben Averis,
Marianne Evju, Antonio Gazol, Natalia Gordeeva, Jeanette Hall,
Felicity Hayes, Olivier Huguenin-Elie,
Keith Kirby, Jitka Klimešová,
František Krahulec, Katalin Lukács, Jon Moen, Sergey Ovesnov,
John Rodwell, Stuart Smith, Eleanor Stamp, Burak Sürmen, Peter
Thomet, Suvi Vanhakylä. We thank Kevin Walker (BSBI) for the
provision of hectad distribution data and climate data shown in
Figure 3, and both him and Tom Humphrey (also BSBI) for calculating
the proportion of native records of G. sylvaticum growing in
SSSIs. Victoria Troshkina kindly gave permission to use photographs
of pollen grains, and Marianne Evju kindly gave permission to use a
photograph of G. sylvaticum in Norwegian alpine grassland. Six reviewers
from the board of associate editors, including Kevin Walker,
provided useful comments on the manuscript. We would particularly
like to thank the two senior editors of the Biological Flora series,
Tony Davy and Sarah Dalrymple, for guidance throughout.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

He certainly would "go down in history", as the idiot who single-handedly demolished NATO.

Kremlin says Trump would 'certainly go down in history' if he took Greenland

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that it was hard to disagree with experts who said that US president Donald Trump would go down in the history of the United States and the world if he took control of Greenland, Reuters reported.

“Here, perhaps, it is possible to abstract from whether this is good or bad, whether it will comply with the parameters of international law or not,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, but stated it would “certainly go down in history.”

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

A Happy New Year to all fellow #NewYearPlantHunt plant hunters! Nadine and I found 43 spp. in flower today in and around Wallingford, very similar to what we had in some previous years. We still need to upload our results, but that's a job for tomorrow. #NYPH

Nadine recording sweet violet Viola odorata for the BSBI New Year Plant Hunt

A particularly large individidual of petty spurge Euphorbia peplus in flower

Close-up of white dead-nettle Lamium album in flower

Close-up of spurge laurel Daphne laureola in flower

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

www.nonviolenceinternational.net/donate_ucpip

narmed Civilian Protection (UCP) involves well-trained, organized civilians providing direct protection to other civilians who are under threat of violent conflict as well as supporting local communities in self-protection. Always nonviolent and focusing on the primacy of local actors, their methods include violence de-escalation, protective accompaniment, proactive presence, interpositioning, early warning/early response and shuttle diplomacy.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Actually, having just opened the book, now I have ☺️ Her married name was indeed Haap, and she went on to pursue a PhD in Geography at University of Heidelberg. Perhaps the 1912 entry specified the year she got her degree in Oxford, which would make sense as she finished her school education in 1909.

Note indicating that Dr. Ilse Haap had donated the book to the Geographic Seminar of Heidelberg University where she had obtained a Phd.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Note stating that Ilse Haap donated the book that I have just bought to the Geography Department at Heidelberg in 1956.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

In an earlier article from 1916 she (of course assuming this is the same person, which would mean she had married by 1916), she wrote about the difficulties of women obtaining a university education equal to that of men.

Excerpt from a German book about an article written by Ilse Haap, nee Eichrodt, in 1916.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

She may have subsequently returned to Germany and gotten married, taking on her husband's surname, Haap, as evidenced by this entry dated from 1922 in the German Digital Library catalogue. I do not know for what published item this entry was.

Entry in the German Digital Luibrary catalogue for Ilse Haap, née Eichrodt.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

She then went to England and studied at Oxford, where she registered in 1912 as student with the Society of Home-Students (later St. Anne's College) whose purpose was then to facilitate women studying at Oxford University without college immersion, see here: www.st-annes.ox.ac.uk/this-is-st-a...

Google search result showing that Ilse Eichrodt registered to study at Oxford in 1912.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Today I received a botanical book from 1911 from a seller in Germany, and got curious about the inscribed name (Ilse Eichrodt). It appears she was a forester's daughter from Weinheim/Germany and passed her "Reifeprüfung" as joint best student in 1909, see here: www.museum-weinheim.de/hoehere_toec...

Inside title page the book "Types of British Vegetation" from 1911.

Inscription "Ilse Eichrodt" in one of the front inside pages.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

My chat functionality (also for existing chats) is disabled and I can't read your DMs. in the UK, age verification is now required for this functionality. I do not want to give personal data to KWS, the company contracted by Bluesky for age verification. To contact me pls reply to a post / email me.

Tect from Wikipedia stating the following about KWS: In July 2025, social media company Bluesky began requiring users in the UK to register with KWS in order to access certain features, in response to the Online Safety Act 2023. Reviewers including Rupert Goodwins of The Register and Simon McGarr of The Gist have criticised the service for the amount of personal data gathered, and for the fact that such data could be acquired by an as-yet unknown third party if ever the business is sold.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

Another issue not many are aware of is plastic pollution from waste compost. Here's some examples from a few wks ago in one arable field. The entire field was littered with plastic fragments. This will gradually break down into smaller (micro/nano) particles, and may then enter the human food chain.

Selection of plastic rubbish items of different shapes, sizes and colours found recently in an arable field somewhere in Great Britain after it had received household waste compost for soil improvement

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

These are very sensible policies by the journal @restorationecology.bsky.social for the use of AI both by authors and by editors and reviewers. I am very glad that the journal does not allow use of AI-generated images. I wonder how other journals' guidelines on this subject compare with these ones?

AI Use in Manuscripts

Authors who use AI tools to assist with writing and/or editing of a manuscript, production of graphical elements of the paper, or in the collection and analysis of data, must be transparent by disclosing details of use, including which AI tool was used and how it was used, in the Materials and Methods section (or via a disclosure or within the Acknowledgements section, as applicable) of the paper. Restoration Ecology does not allow AI-generated images on its cover or in journal articles.

Tools that are used to improve spelling, grammar, and general editing are permitted if fully disclosed. Authors are fully responsible for the content of their manuscript, even those parts produced by an AI tool, and for correctly referencing any supporting work on which that information depends.

The final decision about whether use of a GenAI tool is appropriate or permissible in the circumstances of a submitted manuscript or a published article lies with the journal’s editor or other party responsible for the publication’s editorial policy.

AI in Peer Review

GenAI tools should be used only on a limited basis in connection with peer review. Please see Wiley's Best Practice Guidelines on Research Integrity and Publishing Ethics for complete guidance on the use of AI in the peer review process. A GenAI tool can be used by an editor or peer reviewer to improve the quality of the written feedback in a peer review report. This use must be transparently declared upon submission of the peer review report to the manuscript’s handling editor. Independent of this limited use case, editors or peer reviewers should not upload manuscripts (or any parts of manuscripts including figures and tables) into GenAI tools or services. Importantly, GenAI tools may use input data for training or other purposes, which could violate the confidentiality of the peer review process, privacy of authors and reviewers, and the copyright of the manuscript under review.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Delighted to still discover new arrivals from the other place over here, such as my former office mate in Leeds, fellow plant ecologist @jpeacock06.bsky.social.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

There's a lovely halo around the sun today, as seen here in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. Apparently this is due to the interaction of sunlight with atmospheric ice crystals.

Halo around the sun photographed in Waillngford on 7 May 2025.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

My partner Nadine had this unusual plant emerge in her seed bank study. After much deliberation we ID'd it as Scoparia dulcis, a pantropical weed native to tropical S America. Most likely a contaminant in the peat-free compost. Maybe they used coconut coir or another tropical material as ingredient.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Eighty years ago today, on 9 April 1945, Georg Elser, the man who on 8 November 1939 missed killing Hitler by 13 minutes, was murdered by Nazis in Dachau concentration camp.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

I'll look what the literature says for the species, and may email you with some thoughts, but not sure if it is actually a question worth pursuing. One paper I just found found little effect of stratification but they had stored seeds at room temperature for several months, so perhaps no surprise.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

I would like to suggest the addition of another share button after donation, to also share the fact on Bluesky. Not to virtue signal, but help inspire more donations by others. I really hope Ukraine gets peace soon, but on acceptable terms, because the Russian war of aggression must not be rewarded.

Screenshot of share buttons for various social media channels on the United24 website

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

There's a full-time position as Ecologist (with botanical skills) and Field survey co-ordinator advertised here at @ukceh.bsky.social. Full details here: ceh.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CEH_Ca...

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Saw this cartoon earlier today on a pinboard in a colleague's office.

Gary Larson cartoon of sheep at a boring party, not knowing what to do. Thankfully, a border collie just arrives at the party, as one sheep remarks to the other about the party being such a chaos.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

The Bluesky user experience is much superior to that offered by late Twitter, even before it was sold and renamed. But I wonder: How does Bluesky pay its bills, with a service that doesn't charge its users nor ask them for voluntary contributions, and neither are there any adverts? What's the deal?

Idyllic scence from inside the chicken masting plant in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nuggest that gave the chickens the illusion they were in some kind of paradise.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

We grew from this lion's-mane mushroom from a growth kit that I got from a friend for my birthday. Jokingly naming it 'Fritz' was not a good idea, though, as it resulted in a slightly guilt-ridden harvest. But it tasted nice. Now prepping the mycelium for a potential second round of growth.

Cooked lion's mane mushroom in a frying pan

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

A practical definition for better ID and protection of British ancient grasslands is discussed in this recent @plantlifeuk.bsky.social @britishecolsoc.bsky.social discussion paper by @caroline-orourke.bsky.social, D. Gowing, G. Griffith, @bsbiscience.bsky.social: www.plantlife.org.uk/wp-content/u...

Screenshot of Plantylife web page announcing the ancient grasslands report, showing a grassland and some accompanying text.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

This by David Smith in the Guardian sums it up quite nicely. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...

Text of a Guardian article comparing Carter and Trump.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

We found 52 species today on our 'Brightwell ramble' for the @bsbibotany.bsky.social #NewYearPlantHunt, a new personal best for Nadine and myself. I don't think we got any better at this, but this winter has been particularly mild so far.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

Delighted to find more and more of my ecological network from the other place over here. Now also @sandravarga.bsky.social and I have also just found @sandradullau.bsky.social.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 06/11/2024

I had already resolved to close down my Twitter account before the end of the year. Turns out today is as good a day as any for doing so.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 04/09/2024

Welcome to Bluesky @jenniroche.bsky.social! Great to see the restoration ecology community steadily grow over here.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 25/08/2024

The organisers of the #SERE2024 preconference tour were pulling out all stops to surprise us during the visit to the 'Life to Alvars' project. Turns out restored alvar grassland is a great stage for accordion music ☺️.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 25/08/2024

Just some of the botanical hightlights on day 2 of our #SERE2024 preconference tour, including carline thistle Carlina vulgaris and maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes in alvar grassland, and bird's-eye primrose Primula farinosa in a calcareous flush in fen grassland.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 25/08/2024

It was also vrey interesting to hear from Bert Holm about wooded meadow restoration on the island of Saaremaa and elsewhere in Estonia on day 2 of our #SERE2024 preconference tour.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 25/08/2024

Very nice ts see the award-winning Life To Alvars project on the island of Muhu on day 2 of our #SERE2024 preconference trip and learning from Annely Holm about the great work done there. Also impressive to see the difference between land inside the project vs land outside (1st photo left vs right).

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 24/08/2024

There's still quite a few things in flower in the Estonian grasslands we visited on day one of our #SERE2024 preconference field trip, such as marsh pea (Lathyrus palustris) which is very rare back in the UK, and the beautiful wood cow wheat (Melampyrum nemorosum) which does not occur in the UK.

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Markus Wagner @wagnermarkus.bsky.social · 24/08/2024

Another highlight on the first day of the #SERE2024 preconference field trip was a visit to Laelatu Wooded Meadow, one of the most species rich ecosystems in the world at small scales of up to 1m2 (up to 76 species recorded, and that's just vascular plants).

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