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Ricardo Rocha

@ricardonature.bsky.social
2.7K followers 2K following 26 posts

Assoc. Prof. in Conservation Science @biology.ox.ac.uk Advocate for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. 2020 National Geographic Explorer. 🦇🏝️🦎🐈‍⬛ // @iccs.bsky.social iccs.org.uk/author/ricardo-rocha

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Ricardo Rocha @ricardonature.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Infrastructure for African mines destroying forests at 34 times the rate of the mines themselves phys.org/news/2026-06...
phys.org
Infrastructure for African mines destroying forests at 34 times the rate of the mines themselves
Industrial-scale mining in Africa to support global supply chains is leading to unprecedented deforestation across the continent, with 34 hectares of forest removed for every single hectare of active ...
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Michal Barták @michalbartak.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Amazing time at the 35th LUOVA Spring Symposium held in Viikki @helsinki.fi, organised by PhD researchers. Grateful to this year’s keynote speakers @ricardonature.bsky.social, @profkathrynelmer.bsky.social, and Marco Gamba for their talks, insights, and engagement with the community of PhDs.
picture of organisers and keynotes of the 35th LUOVA spring symposium standing under its logo
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Journal of Ecology @journalofecology.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
🔔 Applications are still open to join us an Associate Editor! 🐝 Pollinator ecology 🌊 Marine plants 🧬 Population genetics ⏳️ Phenology 🌱Plant-soil interactions & soil ecology And more! Follow the link for more info👉️ buff.ly/cIwdUMx
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
🦇 We are lucky to have 18 resident bat species in the UK and they make up almost a quarter of our British mammal species. At the national scale, none of the 11 UK bat species we are able to monitor are declining but it is important to put things into context:
bats.org.uk
Are UK bats threatened? - Threats to bats - Bat Conservation Trust
We are lucky to have 18 resident bat species in the UK and they make up almost a quarter of our British mammal species.Some bats are too rare or elusive...
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Ricardo Rocha @ricardonature.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
"A captive “back breeding” programme began in 2017, for which 23 hybrid tortoises most closely related to the Floreana subspecies were chosen to recreate it as genetically close to the original as possible." www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
theguardian.com
Floreana giant tortoise reintroduced to Galápagos island after almost 200 years
Subspecies driven to extinction by hungry whalers returns after ‘back breeding’ programme using partial descendants
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
There are 1500 scientifically described bat species in the world, representing a huge diversity. Beyond providing sheer magical wonder, they also play a critical role in ecosystems. www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/w...
bats.org.uk
Why bats matter - About Bats - Bat Conservation Trust
Bats matter across the UK and around the world. Bat species play a vital role in ecosystems, from agricultural land to tropical forests. They pollinate ...
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James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Of course, the main problem that is holding back effective conservation is not the lack of evidence It’s vested interests preventing the transformative change needed in the scale & ambition of conservation actions www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Biodiversity conservation has an evidence problem — it’s time to fix it
Globally, more than one million species are threatened with extinction, but often interventions intended to protect biodiversity are not rooted in robust research. The field has an opportunity to chan...
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Some good news
theguardian.com
Bermuda snail thought to be extinct now thrives after a decade’s effort
Special pods at Chester zoo helped conservationists breed and release more than 100,000 greater Bermuda snails
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
🦇 Bats matter to farming and the economy because they eat crop-damaging insects, reducing pesticide use and protecting harvests — helping farmers save money while supporting ecosystem health and food security. Learn more:
bats.org.uk
Bats, food security and the economy - Why bats matter - Bat Conservation Trust
Bats matter to farming and the economy because they eat crop-damaging insects, reducing pesticide use and protecting harvests — helping farmers save mon...
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
"Researchers found no evidence that Indigenous People over-hunted birds to extinction. Instead, the authors suggest a new theory: the birds died out because of a combination of climate change, invasive species and changes in how the land was used" phys.org/news/2026-01...
phys.org
Myth of Native Hawaiians causing bird extinctions debunked by study
Challenging a 50-year-old narrative about Hawaiʻi's native birds, a new study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa found no scientific evidence that Indigenous People hunted waterbird species to ex...
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Ricardo Rocha @ricardonature.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
Dog–wildlife interactions across Spain suggest vulnerability in periurban areas and aquatic ecosystems link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Client Challenge
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
theguardian.com
Aliens: the spread of invasive plants and animals across Europe – in pictures
Erik Irmer has been documenting the spread of invasive plant and animal species that disrupt native ecology across Europe. He focuses on humans’ interactions with these plants and animals. Aliens is p...
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James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
“Hares are shot… because some landowners believe the countryside is overpopulated with the animals” Yet “hare populations have declined by 80% over the past century” Another example of why ‘stakeholder opinion’ should be treated warily by conservation ecologists www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Shooting hares in England to be banned for most of the year
Exclusive: Ministers also expected to announce trail-hunting ban in sweeping changes to animal welfare law
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Wildlife Biology @wildlifebiology.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Wildlife temporal behaviors in response to human activity changes during and following COVID-19 park closures vist.ly/4j5pb #CameraTraps #Covid19 #UrbanEcology
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
#BatYearReview We have 18 resident bat species in the UK, 17 of which are known to breed here but 2025 is the year in which the 1500 bat species was scientifically described. #bats 🦇
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
🦇 (thread) We've added more courses and events to our bat calendar! Here are some highlights for the first quarter of 2026: - Scoping surveys for arborists. Online over two afternoons on the 4 & 11 February. - Consultant's Forum. Online on the 10 February. www.bats.org.uk/events 📷(c) Hugh Clark
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
NEW VACANCY - Come and join our team as the Head of Fundraising (2 year Fixed-term, Part-time 22.5hrs per week; 0.6 FTE). Deadline for Applications: 9am Monday 12th January 2026 🦇 www.bats.org.uk/the-trust/jo...
bats.org.uk
Head of Fundraising - Jobs / Contracts - Bat Conservation Trust
2 year Fixed-term,  Part-time 22.5hrs per week (0.6 FTE)£40,000-£42,500 pro rataHybrid working arrangements possible
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Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
La historia de los balleneros vascos en Labrador en el sXVI es alucinante, y este Documentos de RNE la cuenta divinamente Una de las primeras industrias globalizadas (hilo de 5 posts) www.rtve.es/play/audios/...
rtve.es
Documentos RNE - Los balleneros vascos - 10/08/16
Emisión del programa Documentos RNE titulado Los balleneros vascos. Todos los contenidos de RNE los tienes aquí, en RTVE Play
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Nature Neon @natureneon.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
Found only in the Galapagos Islands the marine iguana is the only marine lizard species in the world, they can dive as deep as 30m (98 ft) and spend up to 30 minutes at a time underwater 📹Shelton Dupreez
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
The tech boosting our understanding of bats @westernsydneyu.bsky.social www.westernsydney.edu.au/future-maker...
westernsydney.edu.au
The Tech boosting our understanding of bats | Future-Makers
Heat-sensing drones and radar pulses promise to transform the study of bats in Australia.
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Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
The Agriculture and Fisheries Council @consilium.europa.eu will probably decide these days the extension of current (poor, useless) restrictions to eel exploitation. In the 5th year of zero-catch advice, @ec.europa.eu (may) insist on refusing to protect the eel theconversation.com/eels-have-fa...
theconversation.com
Eels have fascinated us for ages - now we need to stop eating them
No one would think of eating an endangered animal like the Iberian lynx. So why do we still eat eels?
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
There is one overriding political problem, from which all others follow. Until it is addressed, every policy advanced by governments is window dressing. www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
theguardian.com
Just 0.001% hold three times the wealth of poorest half of humanity, report finds
Data from World Inequality Report also showed top 10% of income-earners earn more than the other 90%
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The Institute for Bird Populations @instbirdpop.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
🪶🌎🧪 WE'RE HIRING!!! Want to band fabulous birds on a far-flung island in the Western Pacific? We need to fill these 2 positions ASAP. More information here: birdpop.org/docs/job...
Photo of the coastline of Rota by Asch Nighthawk with inset photo by Lauren Helton of two people banding a Mariana Kingfisher and inset of bander handling a Mariana Fruit-dove for photo documentaion by Kristin Attinger.
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James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
“Despite reports of catastrophic insect declines, their global status remains unclear due to … a massive lack of data” Poorly evidenced reports of huge losses do insects a disservice & do not help with planning appropriate action www.ceh.ac.uk/press/some-i...
ceh.ac.uk
‘Some insects are declining but what’s happening to the other 99%?’
Little is known about how 99% of insect species globally are faring and a new approach is needed to better monitor species and protect them, according to a study led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hyd...
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The Institute for Bird Populations @instbirdpop.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Did you ask for a bird fact? No, but you're getting one whether you like it or not. 🪶
Photo of a Blue Jay perched on a bird feeder post and calling by Ian Lee. A speech bubble from the jay says: "Just look at those bird nerds run! Thanks folks! I'll be here all week!" Text on the graphic says Unsolicited Bird Fact: Blue Jays are good at impressions. They're known to imitate Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks, Broad-winged Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Osprey, Eastern Screech-Owl, American Kestrel and Fish Crow. Scientists aren't sure WHY they do this, but evidence suggests it's to deceive other birds. However, the Blue Jays giving Ivory-billed Woodpecker calls in Arkansas in 2006 were DEFINITELY doing it to prank ornithologists.
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David Roberts @drdavidlroberts.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
BBC News - Top UK scientist says research visa restrictions endanger economy www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Top UK scientist says research visa restrictions endanger economy
Prof Sir Paul Nurse says the UK is "shooting itself in the foot" with its visa system for researchers.
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Stu Butchart @stubutchart.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Climate change and overfishing threaten African Penguins. BirdLife South Africa are fighting for this species’ future www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
60,000 African penguins starve to death after sardine numbers collapse – study
Climate crisis and overfishing contributed to loss of 95% of penguins in two breeding colonies in South Africa, research finds
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James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
It is all too easy to regard new monitoring tech as the solution to environmental problems All they do is expose in greater detail our degradation of the Earth We need to use on that information to spur action - don’t just observe, act
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Conservation Science and Practice @conservationsp.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
How can we monitor biodiversity on a budget? In this article, Moore et al discuss optimizing camera trap selection in a biodiversity hotspot.🌿 Find their #openaccess article at doi.org/10.1111/csp2... #conservation #biodiversity #science
doi.org
Monitoring biodiversity on a budget: Optimizing camera trap selection in a biodiversity hotspot
This study evaluates two common camera trap models used to monitor wildlife in a global biodiversity hotspot. We found that while Reconyx cameras provide marginally higher detectability, Swift camera...
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Every pound donated gets doubled until midday on Tuesday 9th December or once we reach our target. Help us continue to provide A Voice For Bats at this critical moment donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...
donate.biggive.org
A voice for bats – Big Give
The legislation that protects bats is at risk, which is threatening recent population recovery and endangering bat species at risk …
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
🦇 Today is #WorldWildlifeConservationDay - Bats account for more than a quarter of mammal species in the UK and around 20% of all mammal species worldwide. They are the only flying mammal in the world and each species is unique. Find out about UK bat species here: www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/w...
bats.org.uk
UK Bats - Types of bats - Bat Conservation Trust
We are lucky enough to have 18 species of bat in the UK, 17 of which are known to be breeding here - that's almost a quarter of our mammal species. Ever...
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Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
CITES has failed to protect Anguilla eels, even when the proposed modification of appendices was shy and insufficient The most threatened Anguilla species must be in CITES Appendix I to avoid any international trade See comment in Aquatic Conservation: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
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Alexander Lees @alexanderlees.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Huge News from the Western Amazon: it's the year 2025 and we are still describing entirely new, strikingly-distinctive large-bodied bird species! Behold Tinamus resonans sp. nov. the Slaty-masked Tinamou mapress.com/zt/article/v... #Ornithology @tetzoo.bsky.social 🪶
Photo montage of Tinamus resonans sp. nov., a new species of tinamou from the montane forests of the Serra do Divisor, western Amazonia, Brazil. The species is distinguished by a unique combination of plumage pattern, vocal repertoire, and ecological characteristics, including a conspicuous dark slate facial mask, vivid rufous-cinnamon underparts, and a uniform brownish-gray back. Its vocalizations are remarkable, consisting of long and powerful songs that echo strikingly across the steep montane slopes, producing a characteristic resonant effect. The species was documented exclusively at higher elevations within a transitional zone between submontane and stunted forests, where the understory is densely structured by root mats. A preliminary population estimate, based on field detections and spatial extrapolation, suggests approximately 2,106 individuals restricted to the Serra do Divisor massif. Although no immediate anthropogenic pressures were observed within its range, the species may be highly vulnerable to climate change and to proposed infrastructure projects that threaten the integrity of this federally protected region. The discovery of T. resonans highlights the biological uniqueness of the Serra do Divisor, reinforces its status as a center of montane endemism, and underscores the critical importance of maintaining its long-term conservation.
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Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Las anguilas son fabulosas Los 15kg servidos en Kresala habían recorrido en conjunto más de 150 millones de kilómetros, la distancia de La Tierra al Sol, para llegar a la costa francesa y acabar comercializadas por Angulas Aguinaga y servidas en paltos pijos theconversation.com/la-anguila-e...
theconversation.com
La anguila: el animal más misterioso podría extinguirse antes de que logremos entenderlo
Este pez ha cautivado a la humanidad durante siglos. ¿De dónde sale? La hipótesis principal se remonta a 1923, pero nadie ha capturado nunca una anguila en el mar.
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Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
@elperiodico.com emite la justificación de Iñaki López de Viñaspre sobre su banquete de angulas en Kresale: "han sido pescadas (...) siguiendo las directrices del Sustainable Eel Group (SEG)" Eso es una tontería. Lo explico abajo www.elperiodico.com/es/gastronom...
elperiodico.com
¿Te comerías una angula sabiendo que está en peligro de extinción? Una comida para abrir el apetito gurmet y el debate
<a href='https://www.elperiodico.com/es/gastronomia/20241107/restaurante-kresala-barcelona-parrilla-111393812'>Kresala</a> monta un ágape para 70 personas con seis pases en los que este pescado en pel...
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David Roberts @drdavidlroberts.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Fears for elephant seals as bird flu kills half of population in South Atlantic. Study estimates 53,000 females have died on South Georgia since 2023, with ‘dramatic impact’ on future of the species www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Fears for elephant seals as bird flu kills half of population in South Atlantic
Study estimates 53,000 females have died on South Georgia since 2023, with ‘dramatic impact’ on future of the species
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Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge @camzoology.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Join us! We're recruiting research assistants in the following groups: Drosophila Connectomics (closing date: 8 Dec) Insect Ecology (closing date: 7 Jan) Prof Stephen Montgomery’s Group (closing date: 14 Jan) For more info and to apply: bit.ly/48pL6wF
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Journal of Animal Ecology @animalecology.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
🚨we're looking for new Associate Editors to join our editorial board! ⏲️deadline for submissions: 23 February 2026, 23:59 GMT (UTC+0) 📎read more and apply at the link below: www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/appl...
britishecologicalsociety.org
Apply to be a BES Associate Editor - British Ecological Society
Help advance outstanding ecological research by joining our Editorial Boards! Applications are now open across all seven BES journals.
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Blair Costelloe @blaircostelloe.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Interested in a multidisciplinary PhD that integrates robotics, computer vision, ecology and conservation? We are looking for 12 Doctoral Candidates to join the WildBotics MSCA Doctoral Network! Positions are fully funded for 36 months! More info & apply @ www.wildbotics.eu/recruitment 🧪👩‍🔬🌍
wildbotics.eu
WildBotics - Recruitment
We are looking for you!
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
1] The global threat posed by invasive non-native species is outlined in the 2023 IPBES assessment report, the most comprehensive analysis of its kind. Its findings are based on the work of 80 international experts reviewing 13,000 scientific papers. Their conclusions are unequivocal. ipbes.net/ias
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Sara Mendes @sarammendes.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
wilder.pt/naturalistas...
wilder.pt
À conversa com um Ecólogo: Cinco perguntas a Sara Mendes - Wilder
Investigadora portuguesa a trabalhar em Espanha, no Conselho Superior de Investigações Científicas, foi um dos três vencedores do Prémio de Doutoramento em Ecologia – Fundação Amadeu Dias.
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
Polynesian rats, introduced with the arrival of colonists circa 1200, rapidly grew into a massive population and consumed most of the island's tree seeds, thereby preventing forest regeneration after humans cleared land for cultivation. #bioinvasion phys.org/news/2025-11...
phys.org
Studies show how the giant statues on Rapa Nui were made and moved—and what caused the island's deforestation
Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is often portrayed in popular culture as an enigma. The rationale is clear: The tiny, remote island in the Pacific features nearly 1,000 enormous statues—the moa...
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Urban bats avoid street lights when commuting between their roosts and foraging grounds idw-online.de/de/news862413 #ALAN #Wildlife
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Ricardo Rocha @ricardonature.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Weighing up the wild-meat harvest in Amazonia www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Weighing up the wild-meat harvest in Amazonia
An assessment of the food hunted across the Amazon rainforest reveals its crucial role and how human pressures, particularly deforestation, threaten the resource.
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Science Magazine @science.org · 27/11/2025
The domestic cat may be a far more recent arrival to Europe than previously thought, a new Science study. finds. The results offer new insight into one of humanity’s most enigmatic animal companions and identify North Africa as the cradle of the modern housecat. Learn more: scim.ag/44kov1S
A shorthair domestic cat gazes upward.
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
🦇 Following an enthusiastic reception at the National Bat Conference, Paola Reason is back with an extended online talk on 2 December (2:00 - 3:15pm) to share her reflections on 30 years of bat work and consultancy. Book today: www.bats.org.uk/events/voice...
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
@natreswales.bsky.social published the first Species in Peril report. It outlines species at risk in Wales which includes six mammal species, five of which are bat species: greater horseshoe bat, Bechstein’s bat, Leisler’s bat, barbastelle and serotine. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...?
bbc.co.uk
The species at risk of extinction in Wales named in first of its kind report
Species in Peril identifies thousands of at-risk species in Wales based on geographical restriction.
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
🦇Interested in a bat-related PhD? 👇 Using genomics to understand bat population declines under global environmental change with @orlyrazgour.bsky.social , @bfraser.bsky.social and BCT, based at the University of Exeter. Application deadline 8 January 2026: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
findaphd.com
Applying genomic approaches to understand bat population declines. NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for September 2026 Entry at University of Exeter on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Applying genomic approaches to understand bat population declines. NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for September 2026 Entry at University of Exeter, listed on FindAPhD.com
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Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Fascinating story about evidence that #H5N1 #birdflu infected vampire bats in South America, raising the prospect of a potential new & dangerous host for the virus. Some good news: The virus didn't appear to spread well among the bats. By @martinenserink.bsky.social. www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Vampire bats may have contracted H5N1 bird flu in Peru, raising worries about further spread
Bats could form a bridge between marine and terrestrial mammals, scientists say
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Andy Purvis @andypurvisnhm.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Land-use change undermines the stability of avian functional diversity - new #OA @nature.com paper with @patrickawalkden.bsky.social @josephtobias.bsky.social, combining #PredictsProject with #Avonet doi.org/10.1038/s415...
doi.org
Land-use change undermines the stability of avian functional diversity - Nature
Large-scale analyses of bird species traits reveal that&nbsp;land-use change reduces resilience of key&nbsp;ecological functions more than&nbsp;previously thought.
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