Ricardo Rocha
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ricardonature.bsky.social
Ricardo Rocha
@ricardonature.bsky.social
2.7K followers 2K following 24 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

batconservation.bsky.social
Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 3d
🦇 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, 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...
www.bats.org.uk

Reposted by Nancy­ Knowlton­, Ricardo Rocha

davidho.bsky.social
David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 3d
Some good news
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
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Stephen D. Murphy, Ricardo Rocha

jmbecologist.bsky.social
James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · 3d
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...
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...
www.nature.com

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 27d
"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...
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...
phys.org

ricardonature.bsky.social
Ricardo Rocha @ricardonature.bsky.social · Jan 10
Dog–wildlife interactions across Spain suggest vulnerability in periurban areas and aquatic ecosystems link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Client Challenge
link.springer.com

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

ecoinvasions.bsky.social
Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · Jan 4
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
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...
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

jmbecologist.bsky.social
James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · Dec 22
“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

batconservation.bsky.social
Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Dec 19
#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

wildlifebiology.bsky.social
Wildlife Biology @wildlifebiology.bsky.social · Dec 19
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

batconservation.bsky.social
Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Dec 18
🦇 (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

batconservation.bsky.social
Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Dec 16
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

chikichanka.bsky.social
Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · Dec 15
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

natureneon.bsky.social
Nature Neon @natureneon.bsky.social · Dec 14
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

chikichanka.bsky.social
Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · Dec 11
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

batconservation.bsky.social
Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Dec 11
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 8 more

georgemonbiot.bsky.social
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Dec 10
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

instbirdpop.bsky.social
The Institute for Bird Populations @instbirdpop.bsky.social · Dec 9
🪶🌎🧪 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

jmbecologist.bsky.social
James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · Dec 8
“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

instbirdpop.bsky.social
The Institute for Bird Populations @instbirdpop.bsky.social · Dec 5
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

stubutchart.bsky.social
Stu Butchart @stubutchart.bsky.social · Dec 5
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

jmbecologist.bsky.social
James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · Dec 5
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

batconservation.bsky.social
Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Dec 5
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

drdavidlroberts.bsky.social
David Roberts @drdavidlroberts.bsky.social · Dec 5
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

conservationsp.bsky.social
Conservation Science and Practice @conservationsp.bsky.social · Dec 5
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

chikichanka.bsky.social
Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · Dec 4
@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

batconservation.bsky.social
Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Dec 4
🦇 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

drdavidlroberts.bsky.social
David Roberts @drdavidlroberts.bsky.social · Dec 4
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

blaircostelloe.bsky.social
Blair Costelloe @blaircostelloe.bsky.social · Dec 3
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

animalecology.bsky.social
Journal of Animal Ecology @animalecology.bsky.social · Dec 3
🚨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

camzoology.bsky.social
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge @camzoology.bsky.social · Dec 3
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