Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · 26d

Who lives here?

If you said Wood Ants, you’re right—but did you know another species shares their nests?

Join Prof. @elvarobinson.bsky.social to explore the secret life of the Shining Guest Ant, an ‘uninvited houseguest’.

Register here (for FREE!): www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1664001195...

1 2

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · 26d

Driver ants form some of the largest colonies of any animal on Earth, with up to 20 million individuals. And yet, surprisingly little is known about them.

Join Dr @maximuminsect.bsky.social and explore how research is shedding light on these fascinating ants:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1675100022...

2 6

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · 26d

Bioacoustic data is increasingly popular for monitoring birds – but how can we use it to its full potential?

Join our FREE ecoTECH webinar with Wilder Sensing on best practice in bird bioacoustics.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1668406923...

🧪 #bioacoustics #birds @wildersensing.com

2 1

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · 26d

I’m running Biological Recording 101 on 20 January at Lesnes Abbey Lodge, London.

Join me to explore how to turn wildlife sightings into valuable conservation data & get hands-on with iRecord. 🧪 🌍

Tickets from £25
More details: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1682508431...

5 9

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Aug 29

We think we get cleverer with age. Younger Keiron is pissing himself at current Keiron trying to undertake simple statistical analysis.

a man is writing on a whiteboard with the words it 's simple math written below him

ALT: a man is writing on a whiteboard with the words it 's simple math written below him

media.tenor.com

3

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Jun 27

The Biological Recording Company are offering 50% off the Earthworms of the UK & Ireland entoLEARN course that I developed (was £20, now £10 with the code). Just use the code worm50 at checkout. The code is valid until 30th June 2025.
courses.biologicalrecording.co.uk/courses/ento...

#earthworms

4 1

Reposted by Keiron Derek Brown

Biological Recording Company @biologicalrecording.co.uk · May 26

Interested in earthworm ID? Join the Earthworm Identification workshop on 12 July 2025 at Gosforth Nature Reserve. Learn to identify British earthworms with specialist @earthwormuk.bsky.social.

📍 Gosforth Nature Reserve
🔗 www.nhsn.org.uk/events/earth...

#Ecology #SoilLife #Earthworms

3 7

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · May 30

Calendar blocked out. Can’t wait!

Soil Biology Group - Wageningen UR @sbl-wur.bsky.social · Mar 21

📢 🪱 Earthworms enthusiasts 😁 : The official website for the 13th Symposium on Earthworm Ecology is now live! ✨ 🪱
📅 SAVE THE DATE: August 23-28, 2026 in Wageningen, the Netherlands
🔗 Check it out and stay tuned for updates!
event.wur.nl/isee13/home-2
📸Amazing pictures @frankashwood.bsky.social

2

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Feb 21

🌿 Discover the Spleenworts of the UK! 🌱

Join Henry Miller for an online deep dive into Asplenium ferns—ID tips, habitats & rare species! @royalbotanicgarden

📅 14 Oct 2025 | 💷 £10 | 📍 Online

Limited spaces—book now! 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ferns-of-t...

1

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Feb 21

🐸💧 Want to create a wildlife pond & attract frogs, dragonflies & birds? Join us on 27 Feb for a FREE webinar and learn how to design, plant & maintain a thriving pond habitat.

📅 90-min event | Expert talk + Q&A
🔗 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1253217329...

#WaterForWildlife

1 2

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Feb 12

I also signed off an email with “Kind retards”.

2

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Feb 12

Last night during a Zoom training webinar about rare earthworms, I got tongue tied and asked people to put their questions in the twat.

a cartoon of homer simpson standing in a grassy area

ALT: a cartoon of homer simpson standing in a grassy area

media.tenor.com

3 10

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Jan 27

Where does iRecord data go? How does iNaturalist verification work? What recording app is best for bird observations?

These are some of the questions I’ll be covering in this upcoming webinar.

@nbntrust.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/using-wild...

Using Wildlife Observation Apps

Delve into the pros and cons of using various wildlife observation apps for recording wildlife.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

20 45

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Jan 26

I communicate news about my earthworm research and courses/events through the National Earthworm Recording Scheme Bulletin. It's free and open to all, so subscribe to the e-newsletter here: shorturl.at/ruMNY

🪱 🧪 🌍 #earthworms #science #invertebrates #biologicalrecording #soilbiodiversity #SciComms

National Earthworm Recording Scheme Bulletin Sign Up Form

shorturl.at

4 5

Reposted by Keiron Derek Brown

Derek Binns @arnoldtortoise.bsky.social · Jan 23

A 2mm long cocoon found under pine trees in Brede High Woods this morning. Wondering if it might be an earthworm cocoon, something like Lumbricus terrestris?
Any helpful thoughts welcomed.
@earthwormuk.bsky.social @frankashwood.bsky.social @soilscholar.bsky.social

#UKWildlife #HighWeald

a buff coloured cocoon against a straw coloured background

2 1 12

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Dec 4

Great day surveying #earthworms on farms in the Chilterns. We surveyed two fields on each farm, giving the farmer the choice of what they’d like to see compared.

Farm 1 wanted to see 3rd yr cover crop vs 1st yr. Farm 2 was ploughed vs min till.

🧪 🚜 🌍 #ecology #soils #invertebrates #agriculture

1 23

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Nov 24

How do earthworms impact #soil processes and provide #EcosystemServices ? It depends on the type of worm.

🪱 🧪 🌍 #earthworms #ecology #SciComms #NaturalHistory #Science #Biology #Nature

@ukceh.bsky.social @thegsbi.bsky.social @soilassocscot.bsky.social

Diagram showing how three different categories of earthworm (anecic, epigeic and endogeic) contribute to different soil processes and therefore ecosystem services to different degrees.

Epigeic earthworms contribute predominantly to decomposition which provides waste recycling and detoxification services. Anecic earthworms contribute predominantly to soil pore creation and provide water flow regulation services. Endogeic earthworms contribute predominantly to soil aggregate formation and provide soil structure maintenance. All types of earthworm contribute to nutrient cycling and therefore help regulate carbon and nitrogen in the soil. All earthworms also contribute to the biomass within the soil and are an important food source for many other animals.

1 17 53

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Nov 20

Any people don’t realise that Darwin was obsessed with earthworms. He was the first to truly recognise how much they impact the world we live in. His worm book is 🤯!

🧪 🌍 #Darwin #earthworms #ecology #SciComms #naturalhistory #invertebrates #worms #science

biologicalrecording.co.uk/2024/02/12/d...

Darwin’s Earthworms: A Groundbreaking Piece of Soil Ecology

Kerry Calloway (Earthworm Society of Britain) takes us on a 44-year journey through Darwin’s research into earthworms, their intelligence and ecological importance.

biologicalrecording.co.uk

1 16

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Nov 19

The Fried Eggs Worm was only described to science in 2009! The large adults are found living freely on the forest floor, with juveniles found up in the trees (one per tree)!

🧪 🌏 #earthworms #annelida #biology #invertebrates 🪱

photos.chienclee.com/image/I00002....

Fried Eggs Worm (Archipheretima middletoni) | Luzon, Philippines | Chien C Lee Wildlife Photography

cld1307566.jpg

photos.chienclee.com

1 9

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Nov 19

We’re still predicted to take 120 years before we get close to describing all of the #earthworm species on the plant. We need more earthworm taxonomists…

🧪 #earthworms #invertebrates #taxonomy #soilbiology #research #annelida 🌍 🪱

www.newscientist.com/article/2451...

There could be 30,000 species of earthworms wriggling around the world

Nearly 6000 species and subspecies of earthworms have been identified by scientists – but the true number could top 30,000

www.newscientist.com

1 14 34

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Nov 18

Added 🪱

1

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Nov 18

Added 🪱

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Nov 18

If you think posts on earthworm biology and ecology fits, I’d be very happy to be added. I specialise in dissemination to non-academic audiences.

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Nov 18

Already added @thegsbi.bsky.social @esherlock.bsky.social @soilscholar.bsky.social @frankashwood.bsky.social @tomsizmur.bsky.social @markehodson.bsky.social @ejsobi.bsky.social @gsb2026.bsky.social @biorec.bsky.social

2

Keiron Derek Brown @earthwormuk.bsky.social · Nov 18

Created a little starter pack for earthworm research, conservation and applications. Let me know in the comments if you’d like to be added and your study area if not obvious from your profile! 🪱 #earthworm #earthworms #crassiclitellata #soilbiodiversity #soilecology

go.bsky.app/BCmLoAa

4 12 33