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Luis Moliner Cachazo

@lmolinc.bsky.social

250 followers 450 following 43 posts

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

luismolinercachazo.wixsite.com

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Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · Nov 20

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 🧪🌍

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

Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · 7h

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

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Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · 1d

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

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Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · 21d

Muy interesante! otros impactos, además de la citada reducción en tamaño, es que las cadenas tróficas se hacen más simples y se pierde biodiversidad (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...)

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · 21d

you're right! it's a female chironomid

Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo

UCL Discovery @ucldiscovery.bsky.social · 29d

Open Access UCL Research: Agricultural pond restoration enhances species richness in non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae)
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

Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · 21d

No necesariamente, los quironómidos son ubicuos en cualquier tipo de masa de agua. Pero sí q la abundancia d ciertos géneros (Chironomus, Polypedilum, Glyptotendipes) podría indicar eutrofización (si se confirma tb con bajos números d otros invertebrados, cm el grupo EPT)

Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · 21d

Yes, it is a male chironomid

Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · 21d

also because half of Spain is in H, with its Mediterranean healthy diet and products

Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · 21d

it ended with an inspirational talk by Olivier Leger, an amazing ocean wildlife artist who tells conservation stories through very intricate drawings, like the seagrass sea horse

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Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · 21d

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!

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Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo

Nature @nature.com · Aug 2

Latest from the Nature Pod 🔊 Earth's deepest ecosystem discovered six miles below the sea

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

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Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo

Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · Jul 10

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

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Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo

Thames21 @thames21.bsky.social · Jul 1

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.🧵⬇️

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Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · Jun 24

Common picture wing (Rhyothemis variegata), very common in Thailand and Cambodia, stunning!

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Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · Jun 20

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

Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo

Prof. Elizabeth Clare @profbatgirl.bsky.social · Jun 2

And then we surveyed a country.....

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

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Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo

Freshwater Biological Association @freshwaterbio.bsky.social · Jun 9

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-...

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Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · Jun 7

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 🧪💦

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Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · May 29

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!

Thames21 @thames21.bsky.social · May 28

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

Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · May 22

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

Thames21 @thames21.bsky.social · Apr 10

🎤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

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Reposted by Luis Moliner Cachazo

Thames21 @thames21.bsky.social · May 20

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

London Rivers Week - River Brent WaterBlitz

Help us get a snapshot of water quality across the whole River Brent Catchment as part of London Rivers Week. Join a team of Citizen Scientists to gather water quality samples at n...

book.plinth.org.uk

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Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · May 21

I'm interested and will join!

Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · May 14

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

Luis Moliner Cachazo @lmolinc.bsky.social · May 9

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!