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Ken Welch

@kcwelch.bsky.social

617 Followers 406 Following 164 Posts

Associate Professor-Zoologist at U Toronto Scarborough. Interested in things with high-sugar diets like hummingbirds, bats, bees, and my two daughters. Ecophysiology, ecotoxicology, science communication.

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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 1 week

🤣🤣🤣 Not related to the current news, thankfully!

The Onion

Steph Curry Finally Finishes Eating Mouthguard
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 1 month

Yes, clearly multiple someones were not paying attention. Just galling since I spend so much effort on my own manuscripts, on reviews, and on my editorial activities.

I'm not the most productive researcher out there by a long shot. But, that time and effort is worth not publishing slop.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 1 month

Cripes?! How did this get through the review process in the first place?

Reese Richardson

The Scientifc Reports autism cycle article has been retracted: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 2 months

announces funding for 100 new PDFs across the university. get 3/year. CAD$80K/year + CAD$10K/year in research funds. Read more here: www.utsc.utoronto.ca/grad-edu/res...

Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program | Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

The Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program is a centrally supported program to fund 100 new two-year postdoctoral appointments over two cohorts. Cost-shared with divisions, the initiative ai...

www.utsc.utoronto.ca
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 2 months

Didn't get to see the broadcast premier of "Empire of Bats'?! Well, you're in luck! See it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhWK...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhWK... www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhWK...

You’ve never seen bats like this

YouTube video by The Nature of Things

www.youtube.com
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 2 months

Very proud of the work done by former PhD student Natalia Sandoval-Herrera!

SICB journals

ICB #BatWeek finishes up with
#Systemic Effects of Pesticides on #Insectivorous #Bats: A #Proteomics Approach

Sandoval-Herrera, Welch, et al

doi.org/10.1093/icb/...

see more on Sandoval-Herrera , Welch jr

www.slu.se/profilsidor/...

youtu.be/Mt6uLNkxnus?...

www.welchbiology.com
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 2 months

Happy Halloween! My treat is a conditionally accepted manuscript! Can't wait to share more!

Fingers crossed for zero tricks.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 3 months

It's true. 🦇 are sweet.

www.cbc.ca/documentarie...

Vampire bats are ‘little ninjas’ who are actually quite sweet | CBC The Nature of Things

Documentary Empire of Bats nails the coffin shut on vampire bat myths

www.cbc.ca
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 3 months

"Sing up" is always free! So is "sign up".
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 3 months

Excited to see the new CBC Nature of Things episode, "Empire of Bats" is now streaming on CBC Gem (singup is free): gem.cbc.ca/the-nature-o...

Episode features Jerrica Jamison flying 🦇 as well as running vampire bats, of course!

gem.cbc.ca/the-nature-o... gem.cbc.ca/the-nature-o...

Empire of Bats | The Nature of Things | CBC Gem

New hosts Sarika Cullis-Suzuki and Anthony Morgan take on The Nature of Things, the world's longest-running science documentary series.

gem.cbc.ca
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 3 months

I mean...first out Sept. 3rd...but this skeet just makes it feel more real.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 3 months

It's officially out (in print, if you're feeling nostalgic)! Congrats to Dr. Oelbaum and the whole team!

Canadian Journal of Zoology

Now published:

Dietary protein and reproductive condition influence wound healing in the Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis 🦇

✒️ Oelbaum et al.
🔗 doi.org/10.1139/cjz-...
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 3 months

I love that in both English and Ojibwe, the word for chickadee is very onomatopoeic.

The Institute for Bird Populations

🪶 In the Ojibwe language, the word for chickadee is gijigijigaaneshiinh. To hear it pronounced (it sounds really cool) visit ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/m...
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 3 months

Sorry I didn't have time to do that either!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 3 months

Sorry there wasn't any time to swing south by your neck of the woods, !
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 3 months

Had a wonderful time at the North American Society for Bat Research meeting. So proud of the work done by my students Jerrica Jamison and Dr. Phil Oelbaum (now at York U). Here's a pic of Jerrica. Didn't get one of Phil at his talk because I was busy chairing session!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 3 months

A gift from my grad student! I will wear it proudly.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 4 months

Opinion piece by prof and PhD student Sisley Irwin!
🧪🌎

JPE - Journal of Pollination Ecology

Extremely interesting opinion piece by MacIvor & Irwin on "Mail-order solitary bee cocoons as a gateway for biological invasion": doi.org/10.26786/192...
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 4 months

A correction - science working the way it's supposed to

https://www.welchbiology.com/2025/09/09/a-correction-science-working-the-way-its-supposed-to/
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

Luna says, "good morning."
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

My personality lights up the room! 😜
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

As if I needed another reason to worship the ground this man walks upon...

The A.V. Club

Yankovic was all set to donate memoribilia—including his Hawaiian shirt from UHF—for a planned exhibit, but, "I’m putting that on hold."
www.avclub.com/weird-al-smi...
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

Robin explains how she engages students using mobile phones in an experiential learning context.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

and I are about to give back to back talks to University of Melbourne!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

Always a pleasure publishing with ! Society journals should always be considered when you're looking to publish!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

101? Maybe without the person inside.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

Yes! Several recent invited reviewers did this. Hugely helpful!

Danielle Levesque

Seconded! And if you can't review please suggest alternates. Early career folks are always welcome and lots of journals make it easy to co-review with a trainee.

If you're new and want reviewing opportunities make sure your Google Scholar, Scopus and ORCID etc are up to date so we can find you!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

Photo taken here?
youtu.be/hRPfY4mE4ME?...

Zoolander Clip - Derek Zoolander Center For Kids Who Can't Read Good

YouTube video by Matt Strelecki

youtu.be
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

Totally stealing this!

Upbeat Former Prof

i once asked a mentor what skill she was proudest of. she replied, "assembling teams that outlive not only my time as their leader, but their time together as a team."
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

Many #ibrc225 participants including myself have signed the letter calling out Aussie gov. These kinds of racist policies are wrong and damaging.

Eight bat researchers mostly from Asia and Africa refused entry into Australia to attend global scientific event www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Eight bat researchers mostly from Asia and Africa refused entry into Australia to attend global scientific event

Organisers say move will damage nation’s scientific standing as government refuses to comment on why group of scientists were refused entry

www.theguardian.com
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

If we're going for the moon shot, how about a vaccine against stupid?

Colin Carlson

RFK has announced that he is developing a vaccine against all viruses. Yes, every single one. The whole, uh, "phylum"
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

Congratulations! What a great feeling that first lab pub brings!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

It was a great time! Learned a ton!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

Ecotoxicology & Endocrinology starts soon! Come join me if you're attending The 20th International Bat Research Conference 2025. #ibrc2025 - via #Whova event app
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 5 months

Kicking off #IBRC2025!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 6 months

You lost me. I was not talking economics. This is much bigger than that. Good luck to you.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 6 months

Let's aim for less time. I've only got so much time here.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 6 months

Averaged over enough time the slope of the linear regression better be positive and significantly different from zero.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 6 months

Guess what I will NOT be watching!

The New York Times

From @theathletic.com: Fox Sports has completed a major deal with Barstool Sports. The agreement calls for the company’s founder, Dave Portnoy, to become a regular on Fox’s premier Saturday college football pregame show, “Big Noon Kickoff.”
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 6 months

New 🦇 paper alert! What do you do when COVID cancels all travel to work with wild neotropical #bats? You work with captive bats in far-away (next door) Quebec!

Extra protein impacts frugivores' wound-healing!

dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-...

dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-... dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-...

Dietary protein and reproductive condition influence wound healing in the Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis

Dietary protein is essential for successful wound healing. When animals that feed primarily on fruits that are poor in protein and micronutrients encounter periods—during migration, reproduction, and ...

dx.doi.org
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 6 months

Hey, let's not talk about THAT "BBB"! Let's talk about a new Big Beautiful 🦇 paper! Big Brown 🦇 given realistic daily dose of pesticide in food for just 3 or 7 days show big changes to plasma proteomes, including important immune system components! doi.org/10.1093/icb/...

doi.org/10.1093/icb/...

Systemic effects of pesticides on insectivorous bats: a proteomics approach

Abstract. Bats play a critical role controlling agricultural pests, yet foraging in croplands exposes them to hazardous pesticides. These chemicals pose si

doi.org
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 7 months

my wife and I were very offended when you did the same for our wedding! 😂
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 7 months

Nice, short documentary about the Jamaica Flower 🦇. Most shots of the bats are as they are being held in the hand/measured. Those two hands belong to my fabulous two grad students, Phil and Jerrica! #bats

The Unique Flower Bat of Jamaica: One of Nature’s Rare and Fascinating Species

YouTube video by pbcjamaica

www.youtube.com
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 7 months
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 7 months

this is much easier said than done
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

I believe the term you are looking for is "hangry"
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

They always tell it like it is!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

and friend of the lab design clever chamber that keeps humidity constant while they change temperature to study how salamanders avoid drying out! Read more .

Behavioural evidence of a humidistat: a temperature-compensating mechanism of hydroregulation in spotted salamanders

Highlighted Article: Spotted salamanders maintain hydration state by behaviourally defending a constant evaporative drive between temperatures.

doi.org
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

Speak for yourself. I can wiggle mine just fine, thank you! 😜
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

Agreed! my dog is more protected than my daughter!

Dr. Robin Bond, biogeochemist at a PUI 🧪

This honestly is really fascinating. My dog gets a vaccine that protects against Lyme, and I've often wondered why humans can't get a similar vaccine.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

I'm sorry. that was neither Canadian nor Minnesotan of me.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

have you lost weight?!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

This is on point.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Oops. Here's the article I'm referring to.

Supplemental Feeding as a Driver of Population Expansion and Morphological Change in Anna's Hummingbirds

Bird beaks are highly adaptable, with the potential to undergo rapid morphological shifts in response to environmental change such as climatic variation or food availability. Anna's Hummingbirds (Cal....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

Cool work by colleagues including Alejo Rico Guevara and former MSc student Simon English showing that backyard hummingbird feeders have led to remarkably rapid changes in Anna's hummingbird bill morphology!

🌍🧪
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

how would we know anyway? I only ever see him sitting down.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

go easy! they're trying!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

every year here, but usually just passing through.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

what a weird hummingbird!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

Cool new work by Rogers, , Stager, and Gerson! Build your own bird behavioural phenotyping system for a couple hundred 💵!

doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
doi.org/10.1242/jeb....

Arduino allows development of a low-cost, high-resolution metabolic and behavioral phenotyping system for birds

Summary: DIY live-in chambers and Arduino electronics allow the use of standard respirometry equipment for high-resolution, multi-day metabolic phenotyping and bio-monitoring of birds.

doi.org
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

Can confirm!
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

The part that gets me so mad is that, even if the Dems were being dishonest, this alternative is and was so obviously worse.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

I think, I see, your point. Good, catch.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

Like every toilet in my house!

George Takei

Imagine losing a battle to a bathroom sign and thinking you won.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

Thicc
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 8 months

peak bloom! 🍒🌸🌸
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 9 months

Not sure. But, "Lurking Weasel" is a cool band name.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 9 months

I want to thank the community for NOT flooding my feed with posts about #WorldNakedGardeningDay.
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Ken Welch @kcwelch.bsky.social 9 months

well, hello there!