Author Archives: jordancuff

New preprint: Dietary RNA: diagnostic and functional RNA offer a potential paradigm shift for molecular dietary analyses

Check out this new preprint that Jordan led with an incredible team of researchers across Newcastle University (including our very own Ben Hawthorne) and the University of Innsbruck! The analysis of DNA from stomachs, faeces and regurgitates has revolutionised trophic ecology over the last two decades, but RNA has scarcely been considered within this context.ContinueContinue reading “New preprint: Dietary RNA: diagnostic and functional RNA offer a potential paradigm shift for molecular dietary analyses”

Send us your crab spider photos and samples!

Help Rosy collect records of crab spiders on flowers for her PhD research! Flower crab spiders (Misumena vatia) love to live in flower verges, which are great for pollinators, natural pest control and as biodiversity buffer zones. We want to find out how these spiders are contributing to these ecosystem services. Can you help us spy onContinueContinue reading “Send us your crab spider photos and samples!”

Will co-authors new paper on ant thermal limits

Check out the new paper that Will contributed to, published in Journal of Thermal Biology: “Automating thermal limits: continuous, objective, and high-throughput thermal data for small mobile ectotherms” Current methods for measuring the thermal limits of small ectotherms (like insects) focus exclusively on thermal extremes. This paper advances beyond this using locomotor activity monitoring, which generates continuous,ContinueContinue reading “Will co-authors new paper on ant thermal limits”

NEW PAPER: ScannerVision: Scanner-based image acquisition of medically important arthropods for the development of computer vision and deep learning models

Check out this new paper that Jordan contributed to, led by Song-Quan Ong (Aarhus University and Universiti Malaysia Sabah): ScannerVision: Scanner-based image acquisition of medically important arthropods for the development of computer vision and deep learning models The paper demonstrates how flatbed CCD scanners can be used to digitise insect traps and how these digitalContinueContinue reading “NEW PAPER: ScannerVision: Scanner-based image acquisition of medically important arthropods for the development of computer vision and deep learning models”

Ainsley and Jack co-author new paper on the decline of UK fisheries

Check out the new paper that Ainsley and Jack have contributed to, published in Fish and Fisheries: “Recognising and protecting the national benefit of sustainable fisheries in the UK”. The article discusses the many national benefits of sustainable fisheries, the risks of losing them and the uneven losses to these fisheries across the UK. ThisContinueContinue reading “Ainsley and Jack co-author new paper on the decline of UK fisheries”

Congrats to Rosy on being elected RES Student Rep!

Massive congratulations to Rosy on being selected to be the next Royal Entomological Society Student Representative! The RES Student Reps represent the society in a wide range of contexts, and represent the views of postgraduate students in society matters too. One of the most significant contributions they make is the organisation of the annual StudentContinueContinue reading “Congrats to Rosy on being elected RES Student Rep!”

Our nutritional networks paper shortlisted for the 2024 Elton Prize!

We are super excited that our paper from last year proposing the concept of ‘nutritional networks’ has been shortlisted for Journal of Animal Ecology’s 2024 Elton Prize! The Elton Prize celebrates ‘the best paper published in Journal of Animal Ecology by an early career author.’ It is named after Charles Elton, a pioneer in the field ofContinueContinue reading “Our nutritional networks paper shortlisted for the 2024 Elton Prize!”