Anthony Ricciardi
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ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi
@ecoinvasions.bsky.social
4.1K followers 800 following 890 posts

Ecologist (invasive species, freshwater biodiversity, bioinvasions, aquatic ecosystems) | Professor of Biology, McGill University | Director of the Bieler School of Environment | My lab account: @ricciardilab.bsky.social

Videos
Environmental science 69%
Geography 17%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

jdtonkin.bsky.social
Jonathan Tonkin @jdtonkin.bsky.social · 5h
What would you share with an earlier version of yourself?
What I wish I knew: 33 thoughts for early career researchers
Thirty three reflections I wish someone had shared with me early in my research career.
predirections.substack.com

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 16h
Quote: "We predict that the spread of toads to the Pilbara will cause an additional five mammals and four reptile species to be added to the threatened species list, and cause another species to be upgraded in threat status."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Quantifying the potential impact of the cane toad (Rhinella marina) on biodiversity in Australia’s Pilbara region - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Quantifying the potential impact of the cane toad (Rhinella marina) on biodiversity in Australia’s Pilbara region
www.nature.com

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 1d
www.cnn.com/interactive/...
A deadly fire ant has reached European shores. The insect invasion could wreak havoc
The red imported fire ant is one of the world’s most destructive invasive species. Can its spread be stopped?
www.cnn.com

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 2d
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
England facing drastic measures due to extreme drought next year
Government and water companies are devising emergency plans for worst water shortage in decades
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi, Andrew Watkins

thierryaaron.bsky.social
Dr. Aaron Thierry @thierryaaron.bsky.social · 2d
In 2020 @wwf.panda.org identified the 100 global cities expected to suffer the greatest rise in water risk by 2050- home to at least 350 million people!

We've already seen several megacities just days away from running dry.

Here's a🧵 with eg's

Reposted by Julie L. Lockwood

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 2d
Mosquitoes were introduced to Hawaii on ships c. 1826. Non-native birds acted as a reservoir for the pathogen in lowland areas as native birds (which lacked immunity) became limited to high altitude forests. Climate change allowed mosquitoes to colonize higher elevations.
www.cnn.com/science/hawa...
Thousands of mosquitoes are being dropped by drone over islands in Hawaii. Here’s why | CNN
Native Hawaiian honeycreeper birds are being wiped out by avian malaria. Scientists think they can battle the problem by releasing more mosquitoes.
www.cnn.com

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 3d
No obituary of James Watson is complete without acknowledging that his Nobel Prize-winning discovery was facilitated by the pioneering work of Dr. Rosalind Franklin - who established her own remarkable legacy in a tragically short time span.
c0nc0rdance.bsky.social c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 3d
My ask of any science enthusiasts who tell the story of Rosalind Franklin:
Don't make her life be about the DNA debacle. She died far too young, but she was a promising scientist in her own right, a mentor and scientific author.

Not for Watson or Crick, but for her legacy.
jeffreymphd.bsky.social Jeffrey M @jeffreymphd.bsky.social · 3d
Her sister wrote my favorite essay about her. She points out that RF would have been famous even if she'd never looked at DNA

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Reposted by Marco Festa‐Bianchet, Anthony Ricciardi, Kelly R. Zamudio , and 3 more

c0nc0rdance.bsky.social
c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 3d
My ask of any science enthusiasts who tell the story of Rosalind Franklin:
Don't make her life be about the DNA debacle. She died far too young, but she was a promising scientist in her own right, a mentor and scientific author.

Not for Watson or Crick, but for her legacy.

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi, Benjamin Larue

euanritchie.bsky.social
Professor Euan Ritchie @euanritchie.bsky.social · 3d
Brilliant story-telling and visuals, despite the tragic impacts of feral cats www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Revered and reviled, cats in the crosshairs on Christmas Island
On a speck of land in the Indian Ocean, one of the world's most ambitious wars is being waged against feral cats. But not everyone is celebrating.
www.abc.net.au

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 4d
New study from our lab: Feeding efficiency (trophic impact) of goldfish varies with combinations of thermal & salinity conditions typical of urban ponds in north temperate regions. Salinity enhances efficiency at temperatures below the thermal optimum of goldfish.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Effects of temperature and chloride salinity on the functional response of goldfish (Carassius auratus) - Biological Invasions
Freshwater animals released into temperate urban environments are increasingly subjected to the effects of elevated water temperatures (via climate warming) and salinization (via road salt application...
link.springer.com

Reposted by Julie L. Lockwood, Anthony Ricciardi

sciencex.bsky.social
Science X / Phys.org @sciencex.bsky.social · 4d
New analysis suggests invasive Polynesian rats played a major role in Rapa Nui’s deforestation by destroying palm seeds, highlighting the combined impact of invasive species and human activity. doi.org/g99c8s
Rapa Nui's catastrophic deforestation: Invasive rats, not just humans, may be to blame
Dr. Terry Hunt from the University of Arizona and Dr. Carl Lipo from the University of Birmingham have published a study in the Journal of Archaeological Sciences, reassessing the role of Polynesian rats (Rattus exulans) in the deforestation of Rapa Nui.
phys.org

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

race2extinct.bsky.social
Lyle Lewis @race2extinct.bsky.social · 5d
Barred owls are an invasive species in western North America. Their westward spread was fueled by fire suppression, tree planting, and settlement, not by “natural expansion.” (Livezey 2009)
1/4
Barred owl perched on a mossy branch in a Pacific Northwest forest…..a species native to eastern North America that has expanded westward and displaced native owls.

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 5d
As a grad student, I gave a talk at the 1994 International Zebra Mussel Conference (now called ICAIS) about a probable future N.Am. invasion by Limnoperna fortunei, the golden mussel. And in 1998 I wrote this warning:
redpath-staff.mcgill.ca/ricciardi/Ri...
The mussel was found in California in 2024

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 5d
2024 essay on reconstructing the biogeography of the moose:
"As moose populations multiply in the Southern Rocky Mountains, decision-makers are questioning whether the animals are endemic or invaders. Archaeology can offer answers—and potential solutions." www.sapiens.org/archaeology/...
Do Moose “Belong” in Colorado?
As moose multiply in the Rocky Mountains, decision-makers question whether the animals are endemic or invaders. Archaeology offers answers.
www.sapiens.org

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 5d
The 2023 IPBES report on invasive alien species highlighted a global threat requiring multidisciplinary attention. In this 2021 paper, our team outlined four priority areas to advance invasion science in an era of rapid environmental change:
cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10....

Reposted by Juan Cole

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 5d
A 2017 article that rings more true today: "We can’t afford to dismiss the testimony of those with scientific and technical expertise. Like the airline pilots who we trust to fly our planes, scientists have knowledge and skills that many of us both lack and need." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
We're in a post-truth world with eroding trust and accountability. It can't end well | Nick Enfield
In our new normal, experts are dismissed and alternative facts flagrantly offered. This suspicion of specialists is part of a bigger problem
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Tim M. Blackburn, Pablo García‐Díaz

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 5d
A comprehensive global assessment of the status & trends of alien species for major taxonomic groups. This is an outstanding product of the 2023 IPBES assessment on invasive species.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

mongabay.com
Mongabay @mongabay.com · 5d
The head of a Thai NGO is being sued by an agribusiness giant for alleging the firm is linked to the outbreak of an invasive fish species in Thailand’s waterways.

The blackchin tilapia has spread to at least 19 provinces, where it outcompetes other aquatic species and is disturbing ecosystems.
Thai agri giant CPF sues activist over claims linking it to invasive fish outbreak
The secretary-general of a Thai agricultural watchdog is facing a lawsuit that observers say is part of corporate efforts to silence citizens who are calling for greater accountability over the…
news.mongabay.com

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 7d
environment.ec.europa.eu/news/conserv...
Conservation paradoxes: 36 species which are invasive in some areas but still need protecting elsewhere.
Issue 623: Some species are invasive and economically costly in some areas, but conservation priorities in others. A study identifies 36 such species, finding them to be conservation priorities due to...
environment.ec.europa.eu

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 7d
phys.org/news/2025-10...
Global study reveals tempo of invasive species' impacts
A new study shows for the first time that biological invasions don't change ecosystems in a single, uniform way. Some impacts, most notably losses of native plant diversity caused by invasive plant sp...
phys.org

Reposted by Tuomas Kankaanpää

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 7d
www.zmescience.com/science/news...
Australia's Only Shrew is Now officially Extinct, Killed by Non-native Species Introduced by Humans
The Christmas Island shrew is now lost forever.
www.zmescience.com

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 7d
After invasive predators (cats) are removed from an island, an endemic pigeon species recovers rapidly. Adult pigeon numbers rose from 111 to 966, and juvenile counts jumped from 9 to 189.

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 7d
www.unifr.ch/news/en/3344...
Saving a species but at the expense of others?
The way to hell is paved with good intentions. In the hope of saving certain endangered species and ecosystems, some conservation projects propose the introduction of large plant-feeding mammals int...
www.unifr.ch

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

albrechts-h.bsky.social
Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde @albrechts-h.bsky.social · 7d
this scenario is exactly where an ethical framework would be important - something my colleague Gillian Crozier and I tried to address in our paper link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

zarahpattison.bsky.social
DrZP @zarahpattison.bsky.social · 7d
Source: The Daily Galaxy
search.app/Qm77E
They Removed 131 Cats From an Island—What Happened to the Ecosystem Next Defied All Scientific Logic
A critically endangered species staged a comeback no one thought possible, revealing a genetic twist that’s rewriting the rules of extinction.
search.app

Reposted by Scott C. Doney, Anthony Ricciardi, Elizabeth Stokoe , and 2 more

katharinehayhoe.com
Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · 8d
Congratulations to the 2025 recipient of the Volvo Prize, @naomioreskes.bsky.social! Naomi's work addresses vital issues such as why we need to trust science; a topic that becomes even more important with every new day.

Read more here: www.environment-prize.com/laureates/na...
Why we should trust scientists
Many of the world's biggest problems require asking questions of scientists -- but why should we believe what they say? Historian of science Naomi Oreskes thinks deeply about our relationship to belie...
www.ted.com

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

ucs.org
Union of Concerned Scientists @ucs.org · 9d
The Union of Concerned Scientists invites you to a virtual science advocacy training on how the scientific community can push back against the growing authoritarian threat and stand up for our democracy. Thursday, November 20, 3:00–4:00 p.m. ET.
How Scientists Can Stand Up for Democracy
The Union of Concerned Scientists invites you to a virtual science advocacy training on how the scientific community can push back against the growing authoritarian threat and stand up for our democracy. Thursday, November 20, 3:00–4:00 p.m. ET.
act.ucsusa.org

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 10d
5/ I'm not opposed to moving certain species over small spatial scales. But the history of unintended consequences of 'well-planned' introductions, and our current predictive understanding of impacts, makes me caution against using spp introductions as a common tool. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Assisted colonization risk assessment
Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) are rare in their native region but threaten ecosystems in places where they have been introduced.
www.science.org

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 10d
4/ One example of the risks of assisted colonization: To save Tasmanian devils threatened by a transmissible cancer, a population was established on an island where the species never previously occurred. That introduced population destoyed thousands of penguins. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Tasmanian devils wipe out thousands of penguins on tiny Australian island
Marsupials introduced to Maria Island, east of Tasmania, to safeguard their numbers but have decimated birdlife
www.theguardian.com

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 10d
3/ We've learned much about the impacts of invasion over the past 50 yrs. But the context-dependency & complexity of impacts makes them inherently difficult to predict. In my judgement, we lack adequate risk assessment methods to depend heavily on species introductions to advance conservation goals.