Ricardo Rocha

@ricardonature.bsky.social

2.7K followers 2K following 23 posts

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

https://iccs.org.uk/author/ricardo-rocha/

Videos

Environmental science 48%

Biology 16%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · 4d

“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...

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

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 7d

#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 🦇

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Wildlife Biology @wildlifebiology.bsky.social · 7d

Wildlife temporal behaviors in response to human activity changes during and following COVID-19 park closures vist.ly/4j5pb #CameraTraps #Covid19 #UrbanEcology

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 8d

🦇 (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

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 10d

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...

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

www.bats.org.uk

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · 11d

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/...

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

www.rtve.es

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha, Dunlap

Nature Neon @natureneon.bsky.social · 12d

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

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · 15d

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...

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?

theconversation.com

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 15d

The tech boosting our understanding of bats @westernsydneyu.bsky.social www.westernsydney.edu.au/future-maker...

The Tech boosting our understanding of bats | Future-Makers

Heat-sensing drones and radar pulses promise to transform the study of bats in Australia.

www.westernsydney.edu.au

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster, Patrick A. Jansen, Juliet Lodge , and 7 more Gavin L. Foster, Patrick A. Jansen, Juliet Lodge, Alison Phipps, Mary Corcoran, Els Torreele, Mark Priestley, Patrick Meier, James Connelly, Ricardo Rocha

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 16d

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...

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%

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha, Julian Schrader, Samuele Ramellini

The Institute for Bird Populations @instbirdpop.bsky.social · 17d

🪶🌎🧪 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.

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · 17d

“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...

‘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...

www.ceh.ac.uk

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

The Institute for Bird Populations @instbirdpop.bsky.social · 20d

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.

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Stu Butchart @stubutchart.bsky.social · 21d

Climate change and overfishing threaten African Penguins. BirdLife South Africa are fighting for this species’ future www.theguardian.com/environment/...

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

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · 21d

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

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 21d

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...

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

David Roberts @drdavidlroberts.bsky.social · 21d

BBC News - Top UK scientist says research visa restrictions endanger economy
www.bbc.com/news/article...

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.

www.bbc.com

Reposted by Stephen D. Murphy, Ricardo Rocha

Conservation Science and Practice @conservationsp.bsky.social · 21d

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

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...

doi.org

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · 22d

@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...

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 22d

🦇 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...

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...

www.bats.org.uk

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

David Roberts @drdavidlroberts.bsky.social · 22d

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/...

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

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Blair Costelloe @blaircostelloe.bsky.social · 23d

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 - Recruitment

We are looking for you!

www.wildbotics.eu

Reposted by Michael G. Bertram, Ricardo Rocha, Malte Jochum

Journal of Animal Ecology @animalecology.bsky.social · 23d

🚨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...

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.

www.britishecologicalsociety.org

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge @camzoology.bsky.social · 23d

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

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · 24d

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...

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.

theconversation.com

Reposted by Joseph A. Tobias, Ricardo Rocha, Jesse R. Lasky , and 1 more Joseph A. Tobias, Ricardo Rocha, Jesse R. Lasky, Juliano Sarmento Cabral

Alexander Lees @alexanderlees.bsky.social · 24d

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.

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 25d

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

Reposted by Julie L. Lockwood, Ricardo Rocha

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 26d

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...