Ricardo Rocha
LightNews LightNews
banner
ricardonature.bsky.social
Ricardo Rocha
@ricardonature.bsky.social
2.6K followers 1.9K following 19 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

publicoazul.bsky.social
Azul @publicoazul.bsky.social · 18h
Estarão em debate questões como o comércio ilegal de chitas, o comércio de cágados e tartarugas de água doce ou a conservação de abutres, elefantes, leões africanos, leopardos e rinocerontes.
Conferência mundial sobre vida selvagem começa em Samarcanda com ocapis, iguanas e tubarões na agenda
Estarão em debate questões como o comércio ilegal de chitas, o comércio de cágados e tartarugas de água doce ou a conservação de abutres, elefantes, leões africanos, leopardos e rinocerontes.
www.publico.pt

Reposted by Garry Peterson, Anthony Ricciardi, Ricardo Rocha , and 1 more

natecoevo.nature.com
Nature Ecology & Evolution @natecoevo.nature.com · 8d
Safeguarding long-term research in ecology and evolution www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Q&A with Stéphane Blanc, research director at CNRS, about the Long-term Studies in Ecology and Evolution programme and its priorities for supporting long-term monitoring and research

Free to read: rdcu.be/eQltU
Safeguarding long-term research in ecology and evolution - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Long-term research projects are essential for predicting the ecological and evolutionary responses of species to global change, yet their continuity is often threatened by uncertainties over funding. ...
www.nature.com

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

nhm-london.bsky.social
Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 8d
When you think of bats, you probably don’t think of pollination - but bats are crucial pollinators, and the key to creating a certain drink! 🍸

See an (adorable) bat covered in pollen and learn why a world without bats would be a world without tequila in this week’s Surprising Science. 🦇

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

batconservation.bsky.social
Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 9d
#Bats in Churches research reveals ancient buildings as vital wildlife refuges. Crucially, the research also found that 90% of church communities feel positively about their resident bats. ⛪🦇 #naturepositive

www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/10...

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

batconservation.bsky.social
Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 10d
There are 1500 described species of bat in the world with more being added all the time. Each species is unique in its requirements and the role they play in the ecosystem. In the UK we have 18 resident species www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/w...

Reposted by Juan Cole, Bessma Momani, Ricardo Rocha , and 1 more

martin-nunez.bsky.social
Martin A. Nuñez @martin-nunez.bsky.social · 12d
I just got an email from a former mentee telling me that one dinner conversation changed how he writes papers♥️

I told him: “just write the paper, get it out—the next one will be better, and the next even better.”

Perfectionism is a trap (and a way to procrastinate...:))
comic of a happy person with a shitty 1st draft

ricardonature.bsky.social
Ricardo Rocha @ricardonature.bsky.social · 12d
When beavers build dams and reshape streams, they generate habitats for #bats and other species:

phys.org/news/2025-11...

A new study from Switzerland showed at activity at beaver‐dammed stream sections was 2.3 times higher than at comparable stream sections without beaver influence.

ricardonature.bsky.social
Ricardo Rocha @ricardonature.bsky.social · 12d
Six new species of tube-nosed #bats (genus Murina) in the Philippines. The Philippines already had ~79 known bat species - now six more are added, underlining how much biodiversity still remains undocumented. scitechdaily.com/scientists-d...

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

biology.ox.ac.uk
Oxford Biology @biology.ox.ac.uk · 12d
From trade offs to synergies: Aligning climate and biodiversity policies.

Reps from Oxford Biology joined experts from government, academia and NGOs at COP30 at this side event.

With Greenpeace, SOS Atlantic Forest foundation, WWF and @oxfordgeography.bsky.social.

📸 L.Jardim & A.Vasconcelos

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

jackhooker.bsky.social
Jack Hooker @jackhooker.bsky.social · 14d
New OA 🦇 research 📄

Testing a bat fatality detection system at wind turbines

journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Testing a bat fatality detection system at wind turbines
To understand conditions associated with bat fatalities at wind turbines for informing reduction strategies, researchers began using thermal camera video monitoring with a field of view (FOV) focused ...
journals.plos.org

ricardonature.bsky.social
Ricardo Rocha @ricardonature.bsky.social · 15d
Our new study shows that island populations of grey long-eared #bats have distinct DNA haplotypes compared to mainland populations, reflecting long-term isolation & independent evolutionary trajectories: link.springer.com/article/10.1... @iccs.bsky.social @jesusoxford.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk

ricardonature.bsky.social
Ricardo Rocha @ricardonature.bsky.social · 17d
link para o estudo: conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

@cienciasulisboa.bsky.social #SPECO
Island‐restricted reptiles are more threatened but less studied than their mainland counterparts
Reptiles are highly diverse on islands, yet there is no comprehensive overview of island-restricted reptiles (IRRs) regarding their distribution, threat status, and research efforts. Our assessment r...
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

ricardonature.bsky.social
Ricardo Rocha @ricardonature.bsky.social · 17d
🦎 Quase 30% dos répteis insulares estão ameaçados - mais do dobro da média global.
E muitos correm risco antes mesmo de serem estudados.
Sem investigação podemos perder espécies únicas para sempre.
👉 wilder.pt/historias/repteis-das-ilhas-correm-mais-risco-de-extincao-mesmo-antes-de-serem-estudados
Répteis das ilhas correm mais risco de extinção, mesmo antes de serem estudados - Wilder
Um novo estudo liderado pela Universidade de Oxford concluiu que 30% das espécies de répteis confinadas em ilhas estão hoje ameaçadas, mas estes animais recebem muito menos atenção dos cientistas do q...
wilder.pt

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

ox.ac.uk
University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · 18d
NEW: An Oxford-led study has found that reptiles confined to islands face double jeopardy - they’re more likely to go extinct than mainland species, yet remain largely overlooked by researchers.

Read more ⬇️
Island reptiles face extinction before they are even studied, warns
A new study led by the University of Oxford has revealed that reptiles confined to islands are facing a double jeopardy. Despite being more likely to go extinct than mainland species, they remain
www.ox.ac.uk

Reposted by Julie L. Lockwood, Ricardo Rocha

conservationsp.bsky.social
Conservation Science and Practice @conservationsp.bsky.social · 19d
Did you know that #island‐restricted #reptiles are more threatened but less studied than their mainland counterparts?🦎 Interested in learning why?🧐 Find out in Nunes et al's #recentlypublished article!
doi.org/10.1111/csp2...
Island‐restricted reptiles are more threatened but less studied than their mainland counterparts
Reptiles are highly diverse on islands, yet there is no comprehensive overview of island-restricted reptiles (IRRs) regarding their distribution, threat status, and research efforts. Our assessment r...
doi.org

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

biology.ox.ac.uk
Oxford Biology @biology.ox.ac.uk · 19d
Reptiles confined to islands are facing a double jeopardy 🦎

New research from @ricardonature.bsky.social shows that 30% of island reptiles are threatened with extinction (compared to 12.1% of reptiles overall) - but only 6.7% of reptile-focused research since 1960 has studied them 👇
bit.ly/3LqQo1F
Island reptiles face extinction before they are even studied
bit.ly

Reposted by Travis Longcore

ricardonature.bsky.social
Ricardo Rocha @ricardonature.bsky.social · 22d
In 2010-2013, conservation teams on #Chichijima - 1 of the main islands in the #Ogasawara chain - captured & removed 131 feral cats. The goal was to reduce predation pressure on an endangered pigeon. The results were immediate: adult pigeon numbers rose from 111 to 966 www.nature.com/articles/s42...

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

dominic-martin.bsky.social
Dominic Martin @dominic-martin.bsky.social · 22d
How do large native trees and leaf litter promote amphibian diversity in Malagasy agroforests?

See the first PhD chapter of Lovasoa Rakotozafy, just out in @jappliedecology.bsky.social!

doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Screenshot of Title "Lurking in the leaves: How large native trees and leaf litter promote amphibian diversity in Malagasy agroforests", Authors "Lovasoa Manuelle Sylviane Rakotozafy, Ursina Tobler, Romual Randriamanantena, Kiady Sedera Rasataharifaly, Aristide Andrianarimisa, Dominic Andreas Martin", and Abstract of the Journal of Applied Ecology paper linked here: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.70191

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

battysarah.bsky.social
Sarah Jo 🦇 @battysarah.bsky.social · 22d
'Six important Mexican long-nosed bat roosts are now actively protected by local communities across Mexico, and the initiative's education programme has reached over 1.5 million people.'

🦇🖤🦇

www.bbc.co.uk/future/artic...
Why tequila depends on Mexico's bats
Conservationists and communities are planting thousands of agave plants to protect endangered bats, and the future of Mexico's tequila production.
www.bbc.co.uk

ricardonature.bsky.social
Ricardo Rocha @ricardonature.bsky.social · 24d
Our new paper (brilliantly led by @theflyingpat.bsky.social) shows that birds & bats can naturally suppress rice pests in West African rice landscapes - offering a sustainable solution as global rice demand grows. www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/research-rev... @jesusoxford.bsky.social @iccs.bsky.social

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

batconservation.bsky.social
Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 24d
🦇 There are more than 80 bat groups in the UK, all run by volunteers and all on the front line of bat conservation. To find your local bat group and get involved see:
Contact your local bat group - Support Bats - Bat Conservation Trust
There are more than 80 bat groups in the UK. They are made up of many dedicated volunteers and are the mainstay of bat conservation across the country, ...
buff.ly

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

biology.ox.ac.uk
Oxford Biology @biology.ox.ac.uk · 26d
On Tuesday a special pre-COP30 event was held in Oxford, co-hosted by Aline Soterroni from Biology and @erikaberenguer.bsky.social from @ecioxford.bsky.social

Brazil’s Ambassador to the UK, Antonio Patriota, opened the event, Forests and the Future: Brazil’s Path to Climate Solutions
bit.ly/3JbgqW5
Pre-COP dialogue cements Oxford and Brazil partnership in forest conservation and climate finance innovation
bit.ly

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

ox.ac.uk
University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · 27d
The UK Government has vowed to ‘build, baby, build’ to deliver 1.5 million homes across the country by 2029.

Can this be achieved without worsening the biodiversity and nature crises?

Dame E.J. Milner-Gulland, Professor of Biodiversity @biology.ox.ac.uk explains ⬇️
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-10...
Expert Comment: Building faster, building fairer: can we make growth
Dame E.J. Milner-Gulland, Professor of Biodiversity in Oxford University’s Department of Biology, explains why conservationists and researchers are concerned about the proposed Planning &
www.ox.ac.uk

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

Aidan Keane @aidankeane.bsky.social · 29d
PhD opportunity: Examining the role of public acceptance on the success of island restoration initiatives 🏝️🐀🤝 w. @rspb.bsky.social

* Project outline: e5-dtp.ed.ac.uk/project?item...
* Deadline: Sunday 14th December 2025
* How to apply: e5-dtp.ed.ac.uk/applications...

Happy to answer questions!

Reposted by Brian J. Enquist, Julie L. Lockwood, Mark N. Maunder , and 7 more

afredston.bsky.social
Alexa Fredston @afredston.bsky.social · Oct 22
POSTDOC JOB AD: I'm hiring a Bayesian ecologist to build a (IMO, extremely fun) model of humpback whale spatiotemporal dynamics in California

2-year position starting fall 2026. in-person in Santa Cruz; collab w with Mevin Hooten's lab at UT Austin.

ask me Qs or apply: recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF02003
Fredston Lab: Postdoctoral Scholar
University of California, Santa Cruz is hiring. Apply now!
recruit.ucsc.edu

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

batconservation.bsky.social
Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Oct 22
🦇 We are recruiting:
(1/3) Project Officer to deliver the Protecting Scotland’s Island Wonders project, part of the Species on the Edge project!

Part-time + fixed term contract. Home based in the Inner Hebrides with regular field work on Skye. Apply by 9am, 28 Oct:
www.bats.org.uk/the-trust/jo...
Species on the Edge Project Officer (Argyll and Inner Hebrides) - Jobs / Contracts - Bat Conservation Trust
Part-time (30 hours per week) fixed term contract until January 2027This role is home based in the Inner Hebrides with regular field work on Skye.£29,88...
www.bats.org.uk

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

biology.ox.ac.uk
Oxford Biology @biology.ox.ac.uk · Oct 20
"Illegal wildlife trade affects thousands of species of wild plants, animals and fungi, and has been reported in 162 countries, including Canada, which is far from a passive bystander."

Michelle Anagnostou @oxmartinschool.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com 👇
theconversation.com/new-study-re...
New study reveals how illegal wildlife trade intersects with organized crime in Canada
Illegal wildlife trade is one of the largest criminal activities in the world and some black markets are growing each year. Canada’s response remains inadequately prioritized and under-resourced.
theconversation.com

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha, Celesté Maré

iccs.bsky.social
Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science @iccs.bsky.social · Oct 20
Great blog to start the week: reflections from @sonakshis.bsky.social on the 2025 Interdisciplinary Conservation Network.

"The highlight of ICN for me was the people. Their presence reminded me of what interdisciplinarity truly looks like and what it takes to build it."

iccs.org.uk/what-interdi...
What Interdisciplinarity Feels Like in Practice - ICCS
By Sonakshi Srivastava, a participant in the Interdisciplinary Conservation Network 2025.   I am not going to lie: as a social scientist, I am still a little scared of natural scientists. It is hard t...
iccs.org.uk

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

oxfordbiologylgbtq.bsky.social
Biology LGBTQ+ Journal Club @oxfordbiologylgbtq.bsky.social · Oct 14
Hello bluesky! We are an LGBTQ+ Biology Journal Club at Uni of Oxford 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️. We are interested in topics relevant to queer ecology and amplifying queer voices in academia 🪲🌱.

For those in Oxford, we meet every 2 weeks - get in touch for more details! 🥳
A cartoon of 2 rhinocerous beetles clashing. One beetle is saying "I'm just trying to kiss you!" and the other beetle is saying "I'm just trying to kiss you too!". Above them is text reading LGBTQ+ Journal Club in the colours of the progress pride flag.

Reposted by Ricardo Rocha

theflyingpat.bsky.social
Patrícia Chaves @theflyingpat.bsky.social · Oct 14
It’s finally out! The result of a huge team effort! ✨

We combined DNA metabarcoding and network analysis to uncover the diets and pest control potential of birds and bats in the rice fields of northern Guinea-Bissau!

Check it out!

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Ecological networks reveal strong pest suppression complementarity between birds and bats within rice-dominated agroecosystems in West Africa
The growing demand for rice across West African countries requires urgent pest control strategies that are cost-effective and ecologically sustainable…
www.sciencedirect.com