Sophia Volzke

Aerial view of two whales swimming in shimmering green ocean water, sunlight reflecting on the surface. One whale raises its fluke near the top left. Stock image.

A study in Scientific Reports suggests the observed decline in reproductive success of the western Australian population of southern right whales is influenced by environmental changes in mid- and high-latitude feeding grounds. go.nature.com/3MDSqfS 🌊 🌍 🧪

Image by Dr Fredrik Christiansen, Senior Researcher PhD, MSc, BSc Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience Aarhus University

Our recent study in Ecological Modelling shows that southern right whale mother-calf pairs leave calving grounds once calves reach ~8 m in length, not after a fixed time. Larger, fatter mothers help calves reach departure size faster! 🐋⚡

Read it here:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... 🌐🌏🌱🧪

YES! Seals are marine mammals and so share common bone structures! #neiltheseal #science #biology
Loving all the questions! 🦭🧪🦑

Science is best communicated through identity and culture – how researchers are ensuring STEM serves their communities Scientists have traditionally focused on educating the public on science or correcting misinformation. But researchers from marginalized communities often have broader goals in science communication.

From bilingual workshops to comics and podcasts, scientists from marginalized communities are redefining science communication as relationship-building, not just information sharing.

buff.ly/nDa1EtR
#STEM 🧪

4 years of 🦭 seal science: PhD thesis submitted ✌️🎉🥂
#phdjourney #womeninstem #marinemammalscience 🦑🧪

Urgent! Snoozefest with #neiltheseal ! Freshly post-moult Dec 2025 🦭🦑
📍Lutruwita #Tasmania

Elephant seal dive #behavior responds consistently to changes in foraging success regardless of sex or ocean habitat Understanding how air-breathing diving animals moderate their dive behaviour when foraging successfully is foundational in the study of their foraging ecology. Yet, this fundamental relationship remains unresolved with previous research pointing to inconsistent relationships, differing nominally according to sex, habitat type and scale. Empirically testing the relationships between dive effort responses and foraging success is further hampered because of challenges obtaining concurrent measures of behavioural responses and foraging success at sea. We compiled a multi-decadal dive dataset from 609 southern elephant seals, including their dive responses (transit rate, and relative dive and surface recovery duration) and buoyancy—changes in which provide an indirect measure of body condition change and foraging success. Using this dataset, we tested how seal dive behaviour alters when foraging remotely at sea. We found that as foraging success increased, seals increased transit (ascent, descent) rates and decreased relative dive durations for a given depth, with no response in surface recovery. Our results were consistent across sexes and foraging habitats, and account for the general effects of buoyancy on dive behaviour. The homogeneity of these findings suggests that there is a general functional response in which elephant seals perform, on average, shorter, steeper dives during periods of successful foraging. Importantly, we can align these results with predictions from the marginal value theorem (MVT), that a forager should remain in a patch only until gains drop below the neighbourhood mean. Our findings have broad-based implications for how ecologists interpret dive responses of wild marine animals, demonstrating the value of seeking independent in situ information on foraging success.

Elephant seal dive #behavior responds consistently to changes in foraging success regardless of sex or ocean habitat @peerj.bsky.social

🦭🦑 sharing to show off amazing elephant seal research!

Text on image: Currently Seeking - Volunteer ASL Interpreters General requirements: ASL-English Interpreter Certification (or currently working towards one); Familiarity with Google Meet, Zoom and other virtual communication platforms; Fast and reliable internet connection; Flexible schedule to join virtual monthly meetings across different time zones If interested, please send your latest CV to: diversity@marinemammalscience.org

We are seeking volunteer ASL Interpreters (or students working towards certification) to join monthly, virtual meetings and facilitate translation of spoken language (English) to American Sign Language and sign language to spoken language. Knowledge of marine mammal sciences is not required. (1)

Hahaha love this 🤣 #sinktherich

I’d like to humbly suggest that you take whatever money you are saving by cancelling Disney plus, Hulu, ESPN, etc. and give it to indie journalists, authors, artists, or community organizations that are making a difference.

Hey Jim 🫶

Should i look into hosting my own data would that make it more accessible / quicker to gain access because i know user hosting cost is a factor?

Yeah, bummer (for now) i was really enjoying having access to something for once 😅

Ah but we are so much more than Twitter! Have you seen @whtwnd.com or @flashes.blue or @skylight.social? There are substack, instagram, and TikTok competitors built in the Bluesky ecosystem by 3rd party developers like @seabass.bsky.social and @buildwithtori.com

Whales are the only form of energy from which the world has transitioned. 🥲

When I was little, the U.S. military came to our home at gunpoint and took me and my family away. We were imprisoned for years in barbed wire camps simply because we were Japanese American. I have spent my life telling that story, hoping it would never be repeated.

His job is just beach. #neiltheseal 🦭

"Everything that they do is through mimicry, rather than abstracted cognition across proper world models."
Latest from @garymarcus.bsky.social

a whale breaching through the surface of the ocean and water mist reflecting back a rainbow in the mist. Text including a pride SMM logo and “All are welcome in this pod” overlaid

All are welcome in this pod. In celebration of Pride Month, we reaffirm our support for our 2SLGBTQIA+ colleagues, friends and allies.

#marinemammalogy #smm

Whether for or against the stadium, Tasmanians overwhelmingly feel dudded by the AFL - poll - The Australia Institute Regardless of who wins the July 19 state election, Tasmanians overwhelmingly want the government to rip up the dud stadium deal with the AFL.

Regardless of who wins the July 19 state election, Tasmanians want the govt to rip up the dud stadium deal with the AFL.

Our research reveals more than two-thirds of Tasmanians believe the stadium deal is unfair and want Parliament to stand up to the AFL and negotiate a new deal.

Same. Major anxiety morning 😩

The White Cliffs of Dover have even been lit up with the stripes!

Wind and Solar Energy Are Cheaper Than Electricity from Fossil-Fuel Plants Even without subsidies, renewable energy is staying competitive with power from gas and coal

Wind and Solar Energy Are Cheaper Than Electricity from Fossil-Fuel Plants
Even without subsidies, renewable energy is staying competitive with power from gas and coal.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/wind...

I see 2 approaches: Identifying that capitalism is the problem.. we keep letting corporations profit off of labor, humans, and the planet with no repercussions for unsustainable practices. 2: societal change.. if consumers condemn these practises - is where this meme might convince common folk

🐋🧪🫶
marinemammalscience.org/awards-fundi...

Important new paper giving insights into Australian southern right whales 🐋📈📉🧪

Federal scientists will stop updating the NOAA list of billion-dollar weather disasters. The list, which had grown rapidly in recent years, reflected both worsening extreme weather and expanding development nationwide.

I’m so glad that my perception stands true for who the Australian people are 🫶 now we continue to enact change and progress, on a basis of inclusivity and education!