Luis Moliner Cachazo
@lmolinc.bsky.social
Freshwater Ecologist at Wildfish / Scientific Associate at the NHM. Chironomidae, macroinvertebrates, eDNA. Find many useful links and keys here: https://luismolinercachazo.wixsite.com/luismolinercachazo/resources
Pinned
Luis Moliner Cachazo
@lmolinc.bsky.social
· Nov 20
A review of the freshwater diversity in the Okavango Delta and Lake Ngami (Botswana): taxonomic composition, ecology, comparison with similar systems and conservation status - Aquatic Sciences
Freshwater organisms in the Okavango Delta and Lake Ngami (Botswana) provide direct and indirect benefits to people and the economy of the region. However, their existence could be potentially threate...
doi.org
2 years in the making 😅 a revision of ALL #freshwater species recorded in the Okavango Delta & Lake Ngami (Botswana). We found that diversity is higher than previously reported, with 2,204 species (including new to science) doi.org/10.1007/s000...
#biodiversity #taxonomy #okavangodelta 🧪🌍
#biodiversity #taxonomy #okavangodelta 🧪🌍
At the Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (#SRUKCERU) we've been doing our own #Inktober (with a #scientific twist). I submitted these two drawings of #aquaticmacroinvertebrates! They are very cool bugs! Word: STING. Giant Water Bug (𝘏𝘺𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘦)
November 12, 2025 at 8:40 AM
At the Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (#SRUKCERU) we've been doing our own #Inktober (with a #scientific twist). I submitted these two drawings of #aquaticmacroinvertebrates! They are very cool bugs! Word: STING. Giant Water Bug (𝘏𝘺𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘦)
Thames Water rated the worst water company in England by the Environment Agency! after serious pollution incidents. This company goes from one scandal to another! it's time to nationalise it & stop wasting taxpayers' money #waterpollution #thameswater #sewage #pollution #freshwater
October 23, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Thames Water rated the worst water company in England by the Environment Agency! after serious pollution incidents. This company goes from one scandal to another! it's time to nationalise it & stop wasting taxpayers' money #waterpollution #thameswater #sewage #pollution #freshwater
Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo
Butterflies need more lawns! More than half of UK butterfly species are in decline, and our research shows that by letting grass grow long, you can increase numbers by up to 93%. 🌱
Nearly half of UK garden space is paved over, RHS study finds
Nearly half of UK garden space is paved over, RHS study finds
Homeowners urged to use more robust planting and permeable materials to help mitigate flood risk
Nearly half of the UK’s garden space is paved over, a new study has found.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has conducted the largest ever audit of the UK’s gardens, and found that they are an untapped – and until now, mostly unmeasured – potential resource for nature. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Butterflies need more lawns! More than half of UK butterfly species are in decline, and our research shows that by letting grass grow long, you can increase numbers by up to 93%. 🌱
You won't see a map like this very often on iNaturalist! the only record of 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘢 𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘢 (with its characteristic moustache) in the whole of the UK! non-biting midges (Chironomidae) are extremely underrecorded at species level! #taxonomy #chironomidae #biodiversity
October 8, 2025 at 10:38 PM
You won't see a map like this very often on iNaturalist! the only record of 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘢 𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘢 (with its characteristic moustache) in the whole of the UK! non-biting midges (Chironomidae) are extremely underrecorded at species level! #taxonomy #chironomidae #biodiversity
Yesterday, I sampled #macroinvertebrates in the ponds in the #NHM gardens with students from #ImperialCollegeLondon We found several Water Scorpions (𝘕𝘦𝘱𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢), this one didn't waste the time & pierced a small damselfly larva 😅 #freshwater #taxonomy
October 7, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Yesterday, I sampled #macroinvertebrates in the ponds in the #NHM gardens with students from #ImperialCollegeLondon We found several Water Scorpions (𝘕𝘦𝘱𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢), this one didn't waste the time & pierced a small damselfly larva 😅 #freshwater #taxonomy
Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo
Open Access UCL Research: Agricultural pond restoration enhances species richness in non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae)
discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10...
discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10...
Agricultural pond restoration enhances species richness in non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae)
-
UCL Discovery
UCL Discovery is UCL's open access repository, showcasing and providing access to UCL research outputs from all UCL disciplines.
discovery.ucl.ac.uk
September 9, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Open Access UCL Research: Agricultural pond restoration enhances species richness in non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae)
discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10...
discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10...
I really enjoyed #BESAG2025 at ZSL. Very interesting mix of keynote & lightning talks. From the impacts of #climatechange, #cigarettebutts & #petfleatreatments on #aquatic systems, to #biogeochemical and microbial interactions, #carbonsequestration & subterranean invertebrates! all levels covered!
September 17, 2025 at 6:50 AM
I really enjoyed #BESAG2025 at ZSL. Very interesting mix of keynote & lightning talks. From the impacts of #climatechange, #cigarettebutts & #petfleatreatments on #aquatic systems, to #biogeochemical and microbial interactions, #carbonsequestration & subterranean invertebrates! all levels covered!
Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo
Latest from the Nature Pod 🔊 Earth's deepest ecosystem discovered six miles below the sea
go.nature.com/4m4iPje
go.nature.com/4m4iPje
Earth's deepest ecosystem discovered six miles below the sea
Hear the biggest stories from the world of science | 30 July 2025
go.nature.com
August 2, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Latest from the Nature Pod 🔊 Earth's deepest ecosystem discovered six miles below the sea
go.nature.com/4m4iPje
go.nature.com/4m4iPje
Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo
Our Curator of Hemiptera, Diana, wants to show you her favourite bugs - and you’d better have some lovely things to say about them… 👁️🦗🐜
#Hemiptera #Bugs #NaturalHistory #BeNice #WeAreAlwaysWatching
#Hemiptera #Bugs #NaturalHistory #BeNice #WeAreAlwaysWatching
July 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Our Curator of Hemiptera, Diana, wants to show you her favourite bugs - and you’d better have some lovely things to say about them… 👁️🦗🐜
#Hemiptera #Bugs #NaturalHistory #BeNice #WeAreAlwaysWatching
#Hemiptera #Bugs #NaturalHistory #BeNice #WeAreAlwaysWatching
Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo
Independent analysis has estimated that more than half of
Thames Water's 351 sewage treatment works are currently operating without sufficient capacity to treat the volumes of sewage they receive.🧵⬇️
Thames Water's 351 sewage treatment works are currently operating without sufficient capacity to treat the volumes of sewage they receive.🧵⬇️
July 1, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Independent analysis has estimated that more than half of
Thames Water's 351 sewage treatment works are currently operating without sufficient capacity to treat the volumes of sewage they receive.🧵⬇️
Thames Water's 351 sewage treatment works are currently operating without sufficient capacity to treat the volumes of sewage they receive.🧵⬇️
When #mites (𝘌𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘦) suck sap on the underneath of the leaves of Lime #trees (𝘛𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢 sp.) & release chemicals, they induce the trees to 'entrap' them inside red nail-shaped #galls, common at this time of the year
Credits: 2nd pic: Marty Jopson (Youtube), 3rd pic: Sciencephotolibrary
Credits: 2nd pic: Marty Jopson (Youtube), 3rd pic: Sciencephotolibrary
June 20, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo
And then we surveyed a country.....
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#biodiversity #WomenInStem #AcademicSKY 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#biodiversity #WomenInStem #AcademicSKY 🧪
First national survey of terrestrial biodiversity using airborne eDNA - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - First national survey of terrestrial biodiversity using airborne eDNA
www.nature.com
June 2, 2025 at 11:57 AM
And then we surveyed a country.....
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#biodiversity #WomenInStem #AcademicSKY 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#biodiversity #WomenInStem #AcademicSKY 🧪
Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo
If you're passionate about #ponds please check out our new Pond Restoration Training with Carl Sayer & Helen Greaves. This two-day course from 3-4 July is a perfect introduction to pond restoration science & best practice.
🐸 Interested? Find out more & book your place:
www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/pond-...
🐸 Interested? Find out more & book your place:
www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/pond-...
June 9, 2025 at 3:49 PM
If you're passionate about #ponds please check out our new Pond Restoration Training with Carl Sayer & Helen Greaves. This two-day course from 3-4 July is a perfect introduction to pond restoration science & best practice.
🐸 Interested? Find out more & book your place:
www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/pond-...
🐸 Interested? Find out more & book your place:
www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/pond-...
Yesterday, I volunteered for @thames21.bsky.social taking #water samples at 2 locations on the #river Brent. They want to compare the analysis of samples taken by #citizenscientists (measured with Hannah checkers) with lab results. It was fun! & I met one of their volunteers who lives very close 🧪💦
June 7, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Yesterday, I volunteered for @thames21.bsky.social taking #water samples at 2 locations on the #river Brent. They want to compare the analysis of samples taken by #citizenscientists (measured with Hannah checkers) with lab results. It was fun! & I met one of their volunteers who lives very close 🧪💦
Fining polluters is good, but with #ThamesWater, a company with a £20 billion financial hole, that needed a rescue loan of £3 billion, that should have been nationalised ages ago, customers will probably pay the #fine with an increase in their bills. This is just another #scandal to add to the list!
The record-breaking fine handed out today by Ofwat to Thames Water highlights the urgent need for stronger enforcement to protect our rivers. Water companies must prioritise river health — and be held accountable when they fail to do so. Read full statement here: www.thames21.org.uk/2025/05/tham...
Thames21’s response to Ofwat's 'record-breaking' fine to Thames Water - Thames21
The record-breaking fine handed out today by Ofwat to Thames Water highlights the urgent need for stronger enforcement to protect our rivers. Water companies must...
www.thames21.org.uk
May 29, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Fining polluters is good, but with #ThamesWater, a company with a £20 billion financial hole, that needed a rescue loan of £3 billion, that should have been nationalised ages ago, customers will probably pay the #fine with an increase in their bills. This is just another #scandal to add to the list!
Yesterday it was a very nice day out in the New Forest, sampling aquatic #macroinvertebrates with PhD students from the NERC-NHM #freshwater course. We sampled two streams and Hatchet Pond, where some of the rarest #macrophytes in the UK thrive (like Water Purslane, 𝘓𝘶𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘴)
May 22, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Yesterday it was a very nice day out in the New Forest, sampling aquatic #macroinvertebrates with PhD students from the NERC-NHM #freshwater course. We sampled two streams and Hatchet Pond, where some of the rarest #macrophytes in the UK thrive (like Water Purslane, 𝘓𝘶𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘴)
Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo
🎤There’s no place like London
There’s no place at all
The east or the West End
You end up in the best end
☺️Take part in a FREE exciting walk, talk or webinar this #londonriversweek2025. Starts in Friday 30th May to Sunday 8th June 2025.
🖱️Register here: www.thames21.org.uk/events/categ...
#thames
There’s no place at all
The east or the West End
You end up in the best end
☺️Take part in a FREE exciting walk, talk or webinar this #londonriversweek2025. Starts in Friday 30th May to Sunday 8th June 2025.
🖱️Register here: www.thames21.org.uk/events/categ...
#thames
April 10, 2025 at 8:33 AM
🎤There’s no place like London
There’s no place at all
The east or the West End
You end up in the best end
☺️Take part in a FREE exciting walk, talk or webinar this #londonriversweek2025. Starts in Friday 30th May to Sunday 8th June 2025.
🖱️Register here: www.thames21.org.uk/events/categ...
#thames
There’s no place at all
The east or the West End
You end up in the best end
☺️Take part in a FREE exciting walk, talk or webinar this #londonriversweek2025. Starts in Friday 30th May to Sunday 8th June 2025.
🖱️Register here: www.thames21.org.uk/events/categ...
#thames
Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo
Help us gather data on water quality across the River Brent as part of London Rivers Week 2025! 📊💦
🗓️ 28th May - online training session
🗓️ 6th June - sampling at numerous locations along the Brent and its tributaries.
book.plinth.org.uk/e/IVny4WFfDK...
#thames21 #lrw2025
🗓️ 28th May - online training session
🗓️ 6th June - sampling at numerous locations along the Brent and its tributaries.
book.plinth.org.uk/e/IVny4WFfDK...
#thames21 #lrw2025
London Rivers Week - River Brent WaterBlitz
<p>Help us get a snapshot of water quality across the whole River Brent Catchment as part of London Rivers Week.</p><p><br></p><p>Join a team of Citizen Scientists to gather water quality samples at n...
book.plinth.org.uk
May 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Help us gather data on water quality across the River Brent as part of London Rivers Week 2025! 📊💦
🗓️ 28th May - online training session
🗓️ 6th June - sampling at numerous locations along the Brent and its tributaries.
book.plinth.org.uk/e/IVny4WFfDK...
#thames21 #lrw2025
🗓️ 28th May - online training session
🗓️ 6th June - sampling at numerous locations along the Brent and its tributaries.
book.plinth.org.uk/e/IVny4WFfDK...
#thames21 #lrw2025
A very interesting paper about the potential of #algae & #mussels to remove #psychopharmaceuticals from freshwaters. More research on this topic is needed, because some are pervasive (e.g. ibuprofen) & can't be removed in water treatment plants pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/A...
Removal of Psychopharmaceuticals from WWTP Effluent by an Algae-Mussel Trophic Cascade: A Potential Nature-Based Solution?
Psychopharmaceuticals are an emerging group of hazardous contaminants that pose a risk to the aquatic environment. Yet, modern wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) do not remove them sufficiently to all...
pubs.rsc.org
May 14, 2025 at 8:35 AM
A very interesting paper about the potential of #algae & #mussels to remove #psychopharmaceuticals from freshwaters. More research on this topic is needed, because some are pervasive (e.g. ibuprofen) & can't be removed in water treatment plants pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/A...
Two months ago, I took like 30-50 #waterfleas from a #pond and dropped them in our allotment pond. Thanks to the mild weather in the UK, the population has exploded! & they are doing a great job in clearing the water by feeding on the algae!
May 9, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Two months ago, I took like 30-50 #waterfleas from a #pond and dropped them in our allotment pond. Thanks to the mild weather in the UK, the population has exploded! & they are doing a great job in clearing the water by feeding on the algae!
Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo
When you think you are about to film a Algae Case Chironomid Midge larva sticking it head out and.....you get the opposite!
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social #bugsky @riverflies.bsky.social @freshwaterscience.bsky.social @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social #bugsky @riverflies.bsky.social @freshwaterscience.bsky.social @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
May 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
When you think you are about to film a Algae Case Chironomid Midge larva sticking it head out and.....you get the opposite!
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social #bugsky @riverflies.bsky.social @freshwaterscience.bsky.social @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social #bugsky @riverflies.bsky.social @freshwaterscience.bsky.social @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo
Alarming drops in oxygen found in 80% of 15,535 lakes examined worldwide since 2003.
Such drops across waterways have increased mass wildlife asphyxiations events, including deaths of thousands of eels in NZ, Murray cod in AU & mussels in EU in just the last few years #NatureWriting #WildOz 🧪 🌏 🦑
Such drops across waterways have increased mass wildlife asphyxiations events, including deaths of thousands of eels in NZ, Murray cod in AU & mussels in EU in just the last few years #NatureWriting #WildOz 🧪 🌏 🦑
Oxygen Levels in Earth's Lakes Are Plummeting, Study Reveals
Earth's lakes are experiencing an alarming drop in oxygen levels, new research shows.
www.sciencealert.com
April 30, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Alarming drops in oxygen found in 80% of 15,535 lakes examined worldwide since 2003.
Such drops across waterways have increased mass wildlife asphyxiations events, including deaths of thousands of eels in NZ, Murray cod in AU & mussels in EU in just the last few years #NatureWriting #WildOz 🧪 🌏 🦑
Such drops across waterways have increased mass wildlife asphyxiations events, including deaths of thousands of eels in NZ, Murray cod in AU & mussels in EU in just the last few years #NatureWriting #WildOz 🧪 🌏 🦑
Visiting Osterley House today (West London), I found this big #freshwater #mussel in the pond, about 18 cm long. Probably 𝘈𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢 𝘤𝘺𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘢 (Swan mussel) #taxonomy
April 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Visiting Osterley House today (West London), I found this big #freshwater #mussel in the pond, about 18 cm long. Probably 𝘈𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢 𝘤𝘺𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘢 (Swan mussel) #taxonomy
This orange sphere is the infective larval stage (cystacanth) of an Acanthocephalan (thorny-headed worm), that has developed in the hemocoel of the Gammarus. The adult stages of these #parasites live in the intestine of the final host (fish and birds) #macroinvertebrate #taxonomy
March 26, 2025 at 5:56 PM
This orange sphere is the infective larval stage (cystacanth) of an Acanthocephalan (thorny-headed worm), that has developed in the hemocoel of the Gammarus. The adult stages of these #parasites live in the intestine of the final host (fish and birds) #macroinvertebrate #taxonomy
The larva of 𝘌𝘶𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘺𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 (Scarce Black, Stratiomyidae), a rare species associated with ancient woodland. They live in small rot-holes in broadleaved trees, such as beech, ash & oak. I found this one on the Hamble Brook, a very nice chalk stream! #taxonomy #macroinvertebrates #chalkstream
March 15, 2025 at 5:55 PM
The larva of 𝘌𝘶𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘺𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 (Scarce Black, Stratiomyidae), a rare species associated with ancient woodland. They live in small rot-holes in broadleaved trees, such as beech, ash & oak. I found this one on the Hamble Brook, a very nice chalk stream! #taxonomy #macroinvertebrates #chalkstream