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Reposted by Dr Marcus Rhodes

Stu Bearhop @stubearhop.bsky.social · 20d

Fully funded PhD working on insectivorous bird declines with a broad range of stakeholders. Starting ASAP #ornithology #zoology #biodiversity #science #ecology
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...

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Reposted by Dr Marcus Rhodes

Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 21d

Very firm statement on releases of captive-bred Turtle Doves, from Operation Turtle Dove inc @rspb.bsky.social & @naturalengland.bsky.social:
*Doesn't meet IUCN guidelines
*Risk of disease/genetic pollution
*Irresponsible aims
operationturtledove.org/captive-rele... 1/2 #ornithology #ukbirding

Operation Turtle Dove’s view on the release of captive-bred Turtle Doves as a conservation measure - Operation Turtle Dove

Operation Turtle Dove is a science-led conservation partnership working to reverse the decline of Turtle Doves in the UK by restoring habitat and addressing key threats. Learn why captive-bred release...

operationturtledove.org

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · 25d

Hi Hasan, I would try asking @chrisvanswaay.bsky.social or @pietervantieghem.bsky.social if they wouldn't mind taking a look.

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Reposted by Dr Marcus Rhodes

Butterfly Conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social · 29d

The #BigButterflyCount results are in and it's official...

2025 was an average year for butterflies.

See the full results and what can be done to help butterflies and moths 👇
https://butterfly-conservation.org/big-butterfly-count-results-2025

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Sep 6

Delighted to see my first Basking Sharks in the Moray Firth off Nairn yesterday. We reckon there were at least three individuals feeding on the outgoing tide.

The tips of a Basking Shark dorsal fin and tail fin visible above the waves.

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 31

I last visited Craigellachie NNR nine years ago to survey Scotch Argus for the University of York's Refugia Project. As I was staying in the adjacent Aviemore Hostel last night, it was only fitting to call in on them this morning!

A Scotch Argus butterfly perched on vegetation. It has dark brown (almost black) wings each with a band of orange encompassing a row of eyespots.

A Scotch Argus butterfly basking on a rock.

Craigellachie National Nature Reserve: open Birch woodland cloaking a steep hillside and crag.

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Reposted by Dr Marcus Rhodes

Department of Biology, Lund University @biologylu.bsky.social · Aug 27

A new study from Lund University shows changes in land use reduce number of insects and increase risk of inbreeding among Swedish butterflies. Particularly true for species with specific habitat requirements, with serious consequences for long-term survival. portal.research.lu.se/sv/publicati...

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 25

A couple of Clouded Yellows around Helston this afternoon.

A bright yellow Clouded Yellow butterfly nectaring from the pink flowers of Red Clover.

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 24

Autumn Lady's-tresses in the dunes at Upton Towans yesterday. #WildflowerHour

Two Autumn Lady's-tresses orchids growing in short turf. Each flower spike has a spiral of delicate, white flowers running up the stem.

The dunes at Upton Towans with the golden sands of St Ives Bay and the lighthouse at Godrevy beyond.

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 24

Back at Goonhilly Downs today continuing with our Marsh Fritillary survey plots. Two new larval webs found and mapped ahead of habitat management this winter.

A group of Marsh Fritillary caterpillars feeding on a Devil's-bit Scabious leaf. Each caterpillar is black with ochre spines and prolegs.

A Marsh Fritillary larval web: a mat of white silk dotted with frass, tucked into the base of a Molinia tussock.

Volunteers searching for Marsh Fritillary larval webs across an area of wet heathland at Goonhilly Downs.

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Reposted by Dr Marcus Rhodes

Mark Tutton @marktutton.bsky.social · Aug 24

Following the discovery of Southern Small White laying eggs in Sussex I checked the Candytuft growing in my garden. Sure enough I found a couple of creamy white bottle shaped eggs - time will tell if it is the newest species to arrive in the UK

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Reposted by Dr Marcus Rhodes

Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · Aug 24

American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), on my garden Buddleja this morning. St. Mellion, SE Cornwall.

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 24

They start pupping much earlier down here than elsewhere in the UK. It's fairly typical for the first pups to appear on Cornish beaches in August.

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 23

Grey Seal pups on the north coast today!

Four white Grey Seal pups lying on a sandy beach along with three adult female.

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Reposted by Dr Marcus Rhodes

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) @ukceh.bsky.social · Aug 21

🦋 New UKCEH research with @naturalengland.bsky.social and @btobirds.bsky.social shows the positive impacts of agri-environment schemes (AES) on butterflies.

Paper: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @jappliedecology.bsky.social

🧵🧪 1/

Positive impacts of agri‐environment schemes on butterflies from multiple evidence sources

Our results provide support for positive effects of AES on butterflies in England from multiple sources of evidence, providing confidence that these schemes are providing tangible benefits for butter...

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Reposted by Dr Marcus Rhodes

UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · Aug 20

UK Butterfly abundance Indicators for 1976-2024 have been released, showing an 18% decline in overall butterfly abundance for the UK. Habitat specialists have fared worse, declining by over a third.

Check out the full statistics here ⬇️

buff.ly/1AIDB3J

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Reposted by Dr Marcus Rhodes

Pável Matos @pavelmatosm.bsky.social · Aug 19

New PhD position: Butterfly Conservation Genomics 🦋
The project focuses on threatened butterflies in Czech dry grasslands and steppes.
Deadline: September 12, 2025
More info: pavelmatos.wordpress.com/join-us/

Join us

Opportunities Below are the positions currently open in our lab. PhD position (full-time doctoral funding) We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join our team. The goal of the project is…

pavelmatos.wordpress.com

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 16

Marsh Fritillaries have not been doing too well on the Lizard in recent years. They appear to have been lost entirely from the western heaths, so it is encouraging to find multiple webs on Goonhilly. Efforts are being made to turn things around with lots of habitat management planned this winter.

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 16

Ah that's interesting! We had an old web today where we couldn't find any caterpillars nearby, despite hunting high and low. I wonder if they have already disappeared into their hibernaculum.

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 16

On the hunt for Marsh Fritillaries at Goonhilly Downs today! We were delighted to find five larval webs (which will help to inform habitat management this winter).

A Marsh Fritillary larval web covering a Devil's-bit Scabious plant.

An aggregation of Marsh Fritillary caterpillars in their communal web. Each caterpillar is greyish-black with ochre spines and prolegs.

Volunteers searching for Marsh Fritillary caterpillars on Goonhilly Downs (an area of wet, tussocky heathland) with the satellite dishes of Goonhilly Earth Station visible in the background.

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 15

I think many of the summer butterflies are reaching the end of their flight seasons already. Apart from these Red Admirals, it was noticeably quiet for butterflies on campus.

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Reposted by Dr Marcus Rhodes

martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · Aug 15

Two more fresh Silver-studded Blue males, this time on Hartland Moor. Suggests they are having a second brood, unless someone has a better idea. There are still a few faded individuals around too! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @marcusrhodes.bsky.social @richardfoxbc.bsky.social

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 15

Ah fantastic!

Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 15

It's a wonderful spectacle!

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Dr Marcus Rhodes @marcusrhodes.bsky.social · Aug 15

Happy hour at the sap run on Penryn Campus.

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