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Ivana

@ivanakomendic.bsky.social
75 followers 100 following 12 posts

PhD Candidate - Ricciardi Lab Ecology, Biological Invasions, Aquatic Ecosystems

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Reposted by Ivana
Jo Latimore @jolatimore.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Wisconsin study: Herbicide treatments for invasive Eurasian watermilfoil in lakes harm native plants and may even intensify the impact of the invasion. Whole-lake treatments, most likely to control invasive plants, are also most likely to harm native plants. authors.elsevier.com/a/1nqx614Z6t...
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Ivana @ivanakomendic.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Great experience working on this project and supervising my independent honours student at the time (Nora Hand-Lennon, now a MSc at MUN)!
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Invasive species pose diverse risks to human health. Zebra mussel invasion promotes blue-green algal blooms in lakes: cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/... www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... And algal blooms can produce toxic airborne particles that are breathed in by people (see below).
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Veronica Groves (she/her) @veronicagroves.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
With 120 artificial plants deployed and thousands of #ZebraMussels counted @ivanakomendic.bsky.social from @ricciardilab.bsky.social examined the relationship between macrophyte complexity & mussel density #ICAIS2026
Ivana presenting a slide showing attached zebra mussels on macrophyte stems.
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Victoria Van Mierlo @vanmierlo.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The second day of #ICAIS2026 wrapped up with a lovely dinner with colleagues and friends at Queen’s University Belfast (@qubelfastofficial.bsky.social ) stunning Great Hall.
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Ivana @ivanakomendic.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
The Dunabe River is shared by 10 countries (more than any other river in the world) and supports countless livelihoods and biodiversity. Incredibly sad to see such an iconic river this vulnerable... Dunave moje more... www.dw.com/en/europes-r...
dw.com
Europe's rivers are drying up. Can they be saved?
The Rhine and Danube have reached historic lows. Dwindling water levels are affecting shipping, agriculture and ecosystems — and raising concerns about the future of drinking water supplies.
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Ivana @ivanakomendic.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
www.politico.eu/article/swar...
politico.eu
Swarming jellyfish overrun French nuclear plant on same date two years in a row
The jellyfish invasion is the latest in a series of climate change-driven incidents that have affected a record number of French nuclear reactors over the summer.
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Veronica Groves (she/her) @veronicagroves.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Successful @ricciardilab.bsky.social outreach event at one of @picard-m.bsky.social #TubenoseGoby sampling sites. Had fun discussing the importance of #InvasiveSpecies prevention alongside @emmaschubert.bsky.social @vanmierlo.bsky.social @briellecomartin.bsky.social and @ivanakomendic.bsky.social
Five biologists standing in front of a poster about aquatic invasive species and behind a table of preserved specimens.
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
The zebra mussel began invading Quebec waters by colonizing the upper St Lawrence River 35 years ago. Over the past decade (since 2017), it began appearing in inland lakes in the province, signalling a new phase of its invasion of eastern Canada. #bioinvasions cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/...
cdnsciencepub.com
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) on the move: recent detections in Quebec and New Brunswick and implications for spread in Eastern Canada
Although zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have been established in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system for over 30 years, recent detections in Quebec’s inland lakes signal a concerning accel...
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Ivana @ivanakomendic.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
This is the only hippo population outside of Africa! It started with 4 imported hippos at Pablo Escobar's private zoo (1980s)... Today their population sits at around 200 individuals www.nbcnews.com/world/south-...
nbcnews.com
Colombians are divided over the fate of hippos linked to Pablo Escobar
The hippos, an invasive species in Colombia, are part of a population of 200 that continues to reproduce unchecked.
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Marco Festa-Bianchet 🇨🇦 @marcofesta.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Contagious melanoma in catfish from Lac Memphrémagog, about 30 km from where I live. Fourth documented transmissible cancer 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Brown bullhead catfish melanoma represents a novel transmissible cancer - Nature
Whole-genome sequencing analysis of tumour and matched non-tumour host tissues of the brown bullhead catfish reveals a type of naturally occurring transmissible cancer.
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Ivana @ivanakomendic.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
More and more reports of lionfish in the Adriatic - it is rapidly changing montenegro.news-pravda.com/en/world/202...
montenegro.news-pravda.com
Poisonous lionfish caught at the Bar
Poisonous lionfish caught at the BarLionfish, one of the most well-known invasive species that has appeared in the Adriatic Sea in recent years, has been caught again in the area of Bigovica Bay. The ...
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
See our recent paper advocating more cross-disciplinary integration of biological control science & invasion science: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... There are many conceptual parallels & opportunities around which the two fields can inform each other. #biocontrol #bioinvasion #invasivespecies
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Center for Biological Diversity @biologicaldiversity.org · 01/05/2026
“Mussels are the unsung heroes of clean water who tirelessly filter millions of gallons every day. But because of pollution, dams and development, they’re disappearing and they really need our help,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species co-director at the Center.
dispatch.com
Endangered species in Darby creeks get critical habitat protection
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated Little and Big Darby Creeks as critical habitats for two endangered mussel species.
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TVO Docs @tvodocs.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
From the creators of #TVOOriginal All Too Clear, Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick are setting out on a new expedition to capture the hidden world beneath the Great Lakes. Set to premiere in 2028, the project is already offering audiences an early look. Follow @hiddenbelow.bsky.social 🐟
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Quebec Subunit American Fisheries Society @afsquebec.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Registration for the AFS 4th annual symposium has been extended until March 1st! Make sure to sign up using the link in bio:) Les inscriptions au 4e symposium annuel de l'AFS ont été prolongées jusqu'au 1er mars ! N'oubliez pas de vous inscrire via le lien dans la bio :)
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Paul Eric @pauleric70.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
The golden mussel, a highly destructive invasive species that began to plague South American waterways decades ago, has reached the Amazon region, threatening some of the richest biodiversity on the planet. www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Highly destructive mussel has started to invade the Amazon
After ravaging waterways across South America, the fast-spreading species threatens a biodiversity stronghold
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
New in @biolinvasions.bsky.social: I argue that accelerating invasion rates threaten ecosystem stability & sustainable management. Thus there is an urgent need for progress toward Target 6 of the Kunming-Montreal GBF, which calls for a substantive reduction in global invasion rates. -> rdcu.be/eVlNk
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
The marbled crayfish is a global aquatic invader of increasing importance. Distributed through the pet trade; now established on four continents. Feral populations have been found in Canada in recent years. See below for our synopsis, led by @vanmierlo.bsky.social #Crustmas
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Ivana @ivanakomendic.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
One of the undergraduate students that I mentored this semester made these beautiful cookies which include MAZMs, zebra mussels and unionids (so talented)! Mentorship has easily been one of the most rewarding experiences of my PhD thus far❤️
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The Ricciardians @ricciardilab.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
The Ricciardians gather for our lab Christmas party. (Photo taken by @ecoinvasions.bsky.social) Note the secret hand sign. @tjcolvin.bsky.social @vanmierlo.bsky.social @ivanakomendic.bsky.social @emmaschubert.bsky.social @picard-m.bsky.social @briellecomartin.bsky.social @veronicagroves.bsky.social
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American Fisheries Society @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Invasive carp threaten the Great Lakes. 🎣 The Illinois DNR & @US Army Corps of Engineers are taking action — with high-tech barriers and fish removals. Watch their story in Tomorrow’s Catch, the new digital series from AFS and CWP: contentwithpurpose.co.uk/afs/tomorrow...
contentwithpurpose.co.uk
Tackling Invasive Carp - Tomorrow's Catch
Meet the “carp cowboys” protecting the Great Lakes by removing invasive carp and using cutting-edge barriers to defend native fisheries.
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The Ricciardians @ricciardilab.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
An emerging aquatic invasion threat to western Canada is the golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei), whose calcium and temperature tolerances are different from those of zebra & quagga mussels. chemainusvalleycourier.ca/2025/11/18/i...
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Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences @cjfas.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Is Atlantic Canada at risk of zebra mussel invasion? This recent study identifies several ‘higher-risk’ areas for zebra mussel invasion that could be prioritized for future monitoring and management action. 👇 ow.ly/Oe3350Xw1LZ
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The Ricciardians @ricciardilab.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
earthjournalism.net/stories/non-...
earthjournalism.net
Non-Native Fishes Are Silently Transforming Rivers in Serbia
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Quebec Subunit American Fisheries Society @afsquebec.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
We had a great time at the @gril-limnologie.bsky.social fall workshop! @ivanakomendic.bsky.social and Cata ran a successful workshop on macrophyte and zooplankton sampling:)
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Ivana @ivanakomendic.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
So sad to see. Unfortunately there’s no way to share Instagram posts to blue sky so heres a link: www.instagram.com/reel/DQO04KS...
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Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 10/10/2025
bit.ly
What to know about Michigan whitefish crisis, from limits to solutions
Invasive mussels that blanket the depths of lakes Huron and Michigan have pushed whitefish to the brink of extinction. What to know about possible solutions and why Lake Superior so far is spared.
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Ivana @ivanakomendic.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Come learn about raking, quadrat, and downing box sampling techniques! Excited for all the workshops this weekend :)
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The Ricciardians @ricciardilab.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
72 boats with invasive species intercepted before entering Lake Tahoe, including 14 interceptions of invasive mussels: fox40.com/news/califor... Shown below is a cluster of golden mussels (Limnoperna fortunei), now established in California.
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IPBES @ipbes.net · 01/10/2025
RIP #JaneGoodall - one of the modern pioneers of profound interconnections between people, animals and ecosystems. Her life was lived through science, compassion and tireless advocacy for the multiple values of nature - leaving a legacy that will endure for people and planet.
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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Photos have been rolling in for our Zebra Mussel Safari program and whenever I see photos like this come in, I'm grateful I don't have to count these by hand. 😂
A square sampling plate that is completely covered by zebra mussels.
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The Ricciardians @ricciardilab.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Last week our field team investigated the effects of low water levels in the St Lawrence River. Shown left to right: @briellecomartin.bsky.social, @ivanakomendic.bsky.social & @tjcolvin.bsky.social Joining them was @ecoinvasions.bsky.social. The land on which they're standing should be under water.
Grad students assembling equipment on the receding shoreline of the St. Lawrence River.
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The Ricciardians @ricciardilab.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
www.intelligencer.ca/news/local-n...
intelligencer.ca
Battling Water Soldier: Quinte Conservation tackling invasive aquatic threat
The public is invited to attend an information session on September 16th to learn about the negative impacts Water Soldier.
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The Ricciardians @ricciardilab.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/l...
vvdailypress.com
Invasive golden mussels found at Silverwood, Pyramid lakes in Southern California
Wildlife officials have found invasive golden mussels at both Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County and Pyramid Lake in Los Angeles County.
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UWM Center for Water Policy @uwmwaterpolicy.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
💻 Data centers are spreading fast across the Great Lakes — and straining already finite water supplies. CWP Director Melissa Scanlan is featured in a new @chicagotribune article. 📰 @chicagotribune: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/10/g... 📑 Our ABA report: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
chicagotribune.com
Surging number of data centers around the Great Lakes could lead to water shortages, report says
The region is not prepared for the unprecedented demand from data centers and other big users like agriculture.
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Brielle Comartin @briellecomartin.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
A great week at Lac Témiscouata for @ivanakomendic.bsky.social fieldwork investigating zebra mussel associations with different substrates & macrophytes
Zebra mussels on collector plates. Zebra mussels on plastic macrophytes. Lac Témiscouata. Zebra mussels fouling on a unionid.
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
1/ Invasional meltdown is a popular but nebulous concept in invasion ecology. It involves multiple direct & indirect mechanisms, yet it is rarely studied beyond simple pairwise facilitations. In a new paper, we expand the concept & offer testable hypotheses: redpath-staff.mcgill.ca/ricciardi/Ri...
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Nature @nature.com · 31/07/2025
This surprisingly relaxing footage is from SIX MILES under the ocean – and it’s the deepest ecosystem yet discovered
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Evan @evanwahm.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Plain Pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium) with invasive Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) attached to it #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #Invert #mussel #aquatics #freshwater 🌍🧪
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MSU Extension Center for Lakes and Streams @msue-lakes-streams.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Curious what invasive water hyacinth looks like up close? Here you go! Lovely but destructive. #MacrophyteMonday
Illustration of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), an invasive aquatic plant with round, waxy green leaves held above water by inflated petioles. The image highlights key features: free-floating growth, showy upright flower clusters that range from purple to white, and dense, feathery roots. A red banner marks it as invasive, with a note encouraging reports to EGLE via email at egle-wrd-aip@mi.gov. Includes Michigan State University Extension and EGLE logos.
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Mike Dettinger @mdettinger.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
National Invasive Species Information Center estimated cost of invasive species to global economy > $1.288 trillion over 50 years. But a new study in Nature Ecology & Evolution finds that figure to be a “substantial” underestimation of the true cost. www.thecooldown.com/green-busine...
thecooldown.com
Study reveals invasive species are adding trillions of dollars to global debt — here's what's causing the damage
Invasive species can harm crops, livestock, human health, and infrastructure, requiring significant amounts of money to control the spread and repair the damage they cause.
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
The zebra mussel invaded the Richelieu River in the mid-1990s, despite a suboptimal calcium concentration (18 mg/L). After 25 yrs of exposure to fouling, unionid diversity & abundance have eroded to the same extent as in invaded calcium-rich habitats. See our paper: cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/...
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The Ricciardians @ricciardilab.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
www.sfgate.com/renotahoe/ar...
sfgate.com
Lake Tahoe goes on high alert as invasive species creeps closer
Lake Tahoe officials are on high alert after inspectors found golden mussels, a highly invasive aquatic species, on a 65-foot watercraft headed into the basin.
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Ivana @ivanakomendic.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
Artificial aquatic plant experiment has successfully been set-up! In case anyone was wondering what 100+ plants and bricks look like I’ve included photos
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NeoBiota @neobiota.pensoft.net · 21/05/2025
A new R package, jumpID, distinguishes long-distance "jump" dispersal from diffusive spread in invasive species using occurrence data, and its application to the spotted lanternfly in the U.S. identified 152 such jumps from 2014–2022. 🔗 doi.org/10.3897/neob...
doi.org
A method to quantify jump dispersal of invasive species from occurrence data: the case of the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula
The accuracy of predicting the spread of biological invasions is improved if models explicitly incorporate the two main dispersal mechanisms: diffusive spread and jump dispersal. However, quantitative...
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 08/11/2024
Interested in #microplastics and their growing significance to the science & practice of limnology? Read this article: t.co/NdbDnKxKBs
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The Ricciardians @ricciardilab.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Discovery of zebra mussel in N.B. raises alarm over spread of invasive species | CBC News
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans found an adult zebra mussel on a dock in the St. John River near Mactaquac last December, raising concerns that the invasive species is spreading throughout the ...
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Brielle Comartin @briellecomartin.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Congratulations to my lab mate @ivanakomendic.bsky.social on passing her QE! 🍻🤍 #PhDcandidate
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The Ricciardians @ricciardilab.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
"[Quagga mussels] are such efficient filter feeders that fewer than every two weeks the entire volume of Lake Michigan is filtered by them, resulting in clear, blue water that’s beautiful but inhospitable for many lake species." www.wpr.org/environment/...
wpr.org
Quadrillions of invasive mussels are damaging the Great Lakes, documentary shows
Since the late 1990s, the lake whitefish population has declined as much as 80 percent in parts of the Great Lakes. The culprit is a tiny invasive species called the quagga mussel.
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