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Soil ecologist & macrophotographer | He/Him | Author of 'The World Beneath Our Feet', publishing in Aug/Sep '26! www.frankashwood.com

Frank Ashwood

Do you love soil organisms? I mean LUV them?? ♥️ Your love will complete with that of photographers Andy Murray @mesofauna.bsky.social & Frank Ashwood @frankashwood.bsky.social They sat with @mitemonica.bsky.social to talk why & how they do what they do in the current issue! doi.org/10.25674/504

2mo

Soil Organisms Journal

I've been very quiet here lately, busy juggling teaching and the final touches on my book. It's almost there now! Early endorsements and reviews are coming in (including from some of my environmental science heroes!). Today's glowing review by the illustrious Publishers Weekly was just lovely! 🧪

13d

This Prickly Stick Insect (Acanthoxyla prasina) is a highlight from a Lincoln Uni ecology field trip to the West Coast this semester. Whilst they are native to New Zealand, this species has been introduced to the UK. If you love stick insect content, you MUST follow @morganemerien.bsky.social! 🧪

10d

Frank Ashwood

🚨 There is less than one month to go until abstract submissions close! 🚨 Where do you think the biggest gaps in soil ecology policy lie at the moment? At this conference we aim to bring together practitioners and academics to discuss and influence soil ecology policy. shorturl.at/L4ehi

Frank Ashwood

Breaking news: giant springtail from Aotearoa NZ made the cover of @natecoevo.nature.com! This amazing pic of H. paucispinosa by @frankashwood.bsky.social should lure readers to the global study by @zheng-zhou.bsky.social et al on soil animal trophic diversity 🌍🌿🕷️🪱🪳🧪 www.nature.com/natecolevol/...

1mo

Okay, having my springtail photography on the cover of @natecoevo.nature.com is pretty cool!

Soil Ecology Group

1mo

Frank Ashwood

This week is #GSB4 #GSB2026, the highlight of the soil biodiversity calendar! Sadly I couldn't make it this time (the joys of being a new father), so I guess I'll just contribute some photos instead... starting with this beautiful red-legged mite traversing a moss-covered log. #SoilBiodiversity 🧪

1mo

I recently discovered this incredible creature while on a night walk in the NZ bush. Known as a 'Velvet Worms', this adorable predator immobilises prey with organic glue fired from turrets on its head! Oh... and they are basically unchanged in about 400 million years! #TheWorldBeneathOurFeet 🧪

I appreciate all the love for my previous post, so, here's a little more velvet worm / Peripatus cuteness to start your weekend off right! Beneath that adorable little eye, you can see the stumpy glue cannon, which it uses to subdue prey! #Macrophotography #TheWorldBeneathOurFeet 🧪

2mo

Andrew Barnes

2mo

Right on time for #GSB2026, soil fauna made it to the cover of Nat Eco Evo (great shot by frankashwood.bsky.social). Attendees who have questions on the journal or papers to pitch, feel free to chat to me at the conference. @thegsbi.bsky.social

1mo

Frank Ashwood

Walter Andriuzzi

Our April issue is now live! www.nature.com/natecolevol/... Featuring research on: 🦑 squid and cuttlefish diversification 🌊 priority questions for blue carbon science 🐦‍⬛ the emergence of Usutu virus Cover image from Zhou et al (credit @frankashwood.bsky.social ) www.nature.com/articles/s41...

1mo

Nature Ecology & Evolution