Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Anthony Ricciardi

@ecoinvasions.bsky.social

4K followers 980 following 840 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 Media Videos Starter Packs

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 22h

In the Acknowledgements, the authors thanked "the three thoughtful reviewers that provided comments".

I wonder how many invited reviewers declined?

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 22h

The reviewer crisis: data from the journal Biological Invasions:

"Reviewer acceptance rates dropped steadily over the past two decades. Early-career researchers had the highest acceptance rates, while senior scholars were least likely to accept review invitations."
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

3 9 11

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 1d

So do I.

Astrobiology @astrobiology.bsky.social · 2d

Reposted by Julie L. Lockwood

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 1d

Beautiful.

William (Bill) Sutherland @billsutherland.bsky.social · 2d

At end of excellent CCI meeting about future plans we remembered Jane Goodall (who did her PhD in Zoology). Instead of a minute silence we opted for a minute noise - full of clapping and hooting. Much more suitable!

2 8

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 1d

This recent study is important enough to post again.

Quote: "We advise caution regarding the intentional introduction of large mammalian herbivores for conservation purposes (rewilding, assisted colonization) without rigorous assessment of their impacts on native communities."

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 24d

New study comparing positive & negative impacts of nonnative large herbivores on native species. #bioinvasions

"Negative impacts are more common, and of higher magnitude than positive impacts. Reported impact magnitudes decline over time only for positive impacts."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Harms of introduced large herbivores outweigh benefits to native biodiversity - Nature Communications

Using impact assessment frameworks, this study shows that the introduction of large mammalian herbivores outside their native range has predominantly caused negative impacts on native biodiversity glo...

www.nature.com

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 1d

Non-native omnivorous mammals (pigs & rats) have often replaced native frugivorous birds, bats & tortoises. These replacements have different physical traits that affect the size of seeds they can carry. Consequently, the long-term survival of native plants is threatened.
phys.org/news/2025-10...

Introduced animals change how island plants spread, global study finds

On islands, many plants rely on animals such as birds, bats and reptiles to disperse their seeds and help them grow in new places. When native animals go extinct, this naturally reduces seed dispersal...

phys.org

3 5

Reposted by Julie L. Lockwood, Anthony Ricciardi

Mongabay @mongabay.com · 1d

[COMMENTARY]

“The IUCN congress offers a crucial chance to turn global attention toward the pet trade. If we fail to act, this commerce will continue hollowing out ecosystems, spreading invasive species, and endangering health,” a new op-ed argues.

** Views expressed are author's.

New global guidelines needed to rein in the wildlife pet trade (commentary)

The illegal and unsustainable wildlife pet trade depends on the appeal of live animals — creatures that people naturally want to care for. Yet behind the allure of a bright-eyed chameleon or playful…

news.mongabay.com

7 13

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

William (Bill) Sutherland @billsutherland.bsky.social · 2d

3 77

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Anthony Ricciardi, Melissa Sweet

Nature @nature.com · 4d

Obituary: Jane Goodall (1934-2025) Pioneer primatologist who inspired generations of scientists

go.nature.com/48aWjRU

Jane Goodall obituary: pioneer primatologist who inspired generations of scientists

She was a tireless advocate for conservation, the welfare of captive chimpanzees and the protection of habitats.

go.nature.com

1 52 180

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 5d

"All the signals are green here for Enceladus"
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Prospect of life on Saturn’s moons rises after discovery of organic substances

Scientists studying water vapour plume from Enceladus find presence of complex molecules that could harbour life

www.theguardian.com

1 3

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 5d

Watch to the end.

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 5d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

1 5

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

Garry Peterson @resiliencesci.bsky.social · 5d

A boost for integrative rethinking of resilience in water-driven transitional ecosystems
Hurtado+
doi.org/10.1093/bios...

rethinking resilience of water-driven transitional ecosystems
"characterized by experiencing periodic and reversible alternations of aquatic-terrestrial transitional states"

Figure 2. Assembly disassembly dynamics of biological covers in water-driven transitional ecosystems. Historically, biodiversity assessmentshave primarily been focused on the ability of aquatic biofilms (in light green) to resist and recover from drying, overlooking the compensatoryeffects provided by terrestrial organisms. However, during the terrestrial phase, aquatic species must acclimate or emigrate, favoring organismswith rapid life cycles and specific adaptations for survival during the terrestrial phase (biocrusts in brown). Within an integrative approach,biological covers (in blue) are a cornerstone community, embracing both biofilm and biocrust dynamic ensembles that better represent thebiodiversity changes associated with fluctuating water availability. WDTE refers to water-driven transitional ecosystem.

2 10

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Michael Cox, Anna O. Law , and 40 more Anne Applebaum, Michael Cox, Anna O. Law, Kim L. Scheppele, Nandita Sharma, Robbert Sanderman, Robert Böhm, Amy Bruckman, Håvard Kauserud, Gavin A. Schmidt, Wolfgang Kiessling, Colette L. Heald, Julie L. Lockwood, Anthony Ricciardi, Euan G. Ritchie, John R. Hutchinson, Serge Guimond, Megan L. Ranney, Niels Werber, Laura Pereira, Tuomas Mattila, Paul Cassia, Leonhard Dobusch, Carlos Nunes Silva, Caroline T. Schroeder, Andrew Jacobs, Bessma Momani, Peter Jacobsen, Josef Früchtl, Susan Strasser, Urška Demšar, Vaughan S. Roberts, Fábio Angeoletto, Nikki Fairchild, Catriona Seth, Klaus Oschema, Jason Williams, Olivier Sandre, Charles T. Mathewes, Aviel Roshwald, Aidan O’Sullivan, Gareth Terry, Peter Jacobs

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 5d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

810 17K 37K

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi, Flavio Lehner, Justin H. Kirkland , and 5 more Anthony Ricciardi, Flavio Lehner, Justin H. Kirkland, Jussi T. Eronen, Mirya R. Holman, Emily Grubert, Paul Nightingale, S. Laurel Weldon

Kevin J. CREATURE @kevinjkircher.com · 6d

Sometimes I think about how from 1935-1975ish, Bell Labs produced an insane amount of revolutionary science and technology, including 11 Nobel Prizes, the transistor, UNIX, C, the laser, the solar cell, information theory, etc. The secret? Provide scientists with ample, steady, no-strings funding.

sites.stat.columbia.edu

51 490 1.7K

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

Saganism @sagan.bsky.social · 6d

"The prediction I can make with the highest confidence is that the most amazing discoveries will be the ones we are not today wise enough to foresee."

-Carl Sagan, Billions & Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium

2 48 310

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 6d

undark.org/2025/10/02/i...

Invasion Metaphors in Conservation Biology Pose Real-World Risk

Opinion | Comparisons between invasive species and human migrants in the literature can get hijacked for political ends.

undark.org

3 4

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 6d

It was a pleasure to visit Leeds University and to see @josiesouth.bsky.social (one of my favorite colleagues) and her keen group of grad students.

Josie South @josiesouth.bsky.social · 7d

This week was full of training, workshops and seminars. @leopoldadrianus.bsky.social taught the group ecomorphology, @ecoinvasions.bsky.social gave an insightful lecture on context dependent invasion impacts

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

Chris J Fisher @c-j-fisher.bsky.social · 6d

No one understood the importance of scientists engaging in society more than #JaneGoodall.

Though she lived a long, vibrant life, I still felt sad today, knowing that we lost an incredible ambassador for science, whose empathy, curiosity, and resilience inspired me and countless others.

(1/5) 🧪

1 19 62

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

Josie South @josiesouth.bsky.social · 7d

1 1 6

Reposted by Julie L. Lockwood, Anthony Ricciardi

The Ricciardians @ricciardilab.bsky.social · 7d

In the Richelieu River, 25 years' exposure to zebra mussel fouling and food competition has produced a longterm erosion of native unionid mussels, despite the river's chemistry being suboptimal for zebra mussels.
cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/...

Pre-print: utoronto.scholaris.ca/bitstreams/9...

3 9

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

Nature @nature.com · 8d

Jane Goodall, known for her pioneering work with chimpanzees, has passed away aged 91

go.nature.com/46K10ja

Jane Goodall’s legacy: three ways she changed science

The primatologist challenged what it meant to be a scientist.

go.nature.com

3 45 140

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 8d

An extraordinary researcher, conservation advocate, and inspirational figure. Her legacy transcends science. Legend.
www.reuters.com/business/env...

Wildlife advocate, primate expert Jane Goodall dies at 91

Scientist and global activist Jane Goodall, who turned her childhood love of primates into a lifelong quest for protecting the environment, died on Wednesday at the age of 91, the institute she founded said.

www.reuters.com

1 9

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 10d

Sabotage by animal rights militants? 😁

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 10d

Invasional meltdown is a fascinating, poorly understood, and highly consequential phenomenon that can transform entire ecosystems. New models and experiments are needed to inform theory.
#bioinvasions #invasivespecies

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · Jul 31

1/ Invasional meltdown is a popular but nebulous concept in invasion ecology. It involves multiple direct & indirect mechanisms, yet it is rarely studied beyond simple pairwise facilitations.

In a new paper, we expand the concept & offer testable hypotheses: redpath-staff.mcgill.ca/ricciardi/Ri...

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 10d

Count me, too, among the ecologists who are unimpressed with conservation philosophies that embrace/ignore/soft-pedal invasive species.

Chris Lean @chleansaidlane.bsky.social · 17d

I am giving a short online overview of my recent paper, next week. Expect me to be unimpressed with new conservation, compassionate conservation, the multispecies justice movement, and others defending invasive species. Register here:

cassyni.com/events/GXDbo...

1 5

Reposted by Henry Jones

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 12d

"I choose to listen to the river for a while, thinking river thoughts, before joining the night and the stars."

- Edward Abbey ('Desert Solitaire', 1968).
#WorldRiversDay #StLawrenceRiver

Person fishing on St Lawrence River with Montreal skyline in background. (Associated Press photo)

1 1

Reposted by Anthony Ricciardi

History Daily - This Many Years Ago @thismanyyearsago.bsky.social · 13d

63 years ago, on the 27th of September 1962, Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring was published. It handled the environmental harm caused by the pesticide DDT and the disinformation spread by the chemical industry. Carson managed to sway public opinion and even policy. #otd #history 🗃️

Rachel Carson photo credit: Science History Images / Alamy

3 120 360

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 14d

"We’ve looked at the Ganges and the Caspian Sea, but this could have been about Lake Victoria, or about drying rivers in Europe, or the disappearance of Bolivia’s second largest lake.

It’s not just water that disappears: it’s entire ecosystems and ways of life." theconversation.com/vanishing-wa...

Vanishing waters in a warming world

Bad news for the rivers and the lakes that we’re used to.

theconversation.com

3 7

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 14d

New paper from our lab: The use of #microplastics as case-building material by larval caddisflies facilitates the transfer of plastic (& potentially its associated contaminants) to predatory fish.

Larval caddisflies (Limnephilidae) that had been exposed to microplastics (PET) and natural materials will readily incorporate plastic into their cases.

Plastic in gastrointestinal tract of a freshwater fish (brown bullhead) exposed to larval caddisflies whose cases incorporate plastic.

11 10