Unbranched Bur-Reed (or Arrowhead?) still unfurling in Little Ouse at Lakenheath Fen. Lesser Water-Parsnip also present in macrophyte base layer of this river that originates as a #chalkstream. Less welcome is #invasivealien Nuttall's Waterweed & the grim blanket of Cladophora glomerata. 10/11
May 25, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Unbranched Bur-Reed (or Arrowhead?) still unfurling in Little Ouse at Lakenheath Fen. Lesser Water-Parsnip also present in macrophyte base layer of this river that originates as a #chalkstream. Less welcome is #invasivealien Nuttall's Waterweed & the grim blanket of Cladophora glomerata. 10/11
The Cut-Off Channel's clarity - esp. amazing as it's flowing from Great Ouse (during times of flood it flows other way, from the Lark!) - is horrendous infestation of #invasivealien Zebra Mussels (top). How long before they smother the native Swollen River Mussels (Unio tumidus). #invertebrate 6/25
July 6, 2025 at 11:47 AM
The Cut-Off Channel's clarity - esp. amazing as it's flowing from Great Ouse (during times of flood it flows other way, from the Lark!) - is horrendous infestation of #invasivealien Zebra Mussels (top). How long before they smother the native Swollen River Mussels (Unio tumidus). #invertebrate 6/25
Shocked to find #invasivealien Demon Shrimp (Dikerogammarus haemobaphes). With Cut-off Channel artificially flowing to River Lark, matter of time before it's invaded. It already has Signal Crayfish.
Lots bright red Water Mites (Hydrachnidae).
Not sure what insects have emerged? #invertebrate
7/25
Lots bright red Water Mites (Hydrachnidae).
Not sure what insects have emerged? #invertebrate
7/25
July 6, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Shocked to find #invasivealien Demon Shrimp (Dikerogammarus haemobaphes). With Cut-off Channel artificially flowing to River Lark, matter of time before it's invaded. It already has Signal Crayfish.
Lots bright red Water Mites (Hydrachnidae).
Not sure what insects have emerged? #invertebrate
7/25
Lots bright red Water Mites (Hydrachnidae).
Not sure what insects have emerged? #invertebrate
7/25
I always enjoy freshwater sponges (Spongillidae) in East Anglian chalk streams like the River Little Ouse, but not the #invasivealien Signal Crayfish such as this deceased monster.
Common molluscs of these #rivers include Wandering & Common River (Viviparus viviparus) snails #SpongeThursday 13/14
Common molluscs of these #rivers include Wandering & Common River (Viviparus viviparus) snails #SpongeThursday 13/14
June 29, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I always enjoy freshwater sponges (Spongillidae) in East Anglian chalk streams like the River Little Ouse, but not the #invasivealien Signal Crayfish such as this deceased monster.
Common molluscs of these #rivers include Wandering & Common River (Viviparus viviparus) snails #SpongeThursday 13/14
Common molluscs of these #rivers include Wandering & Common River (Viviparus viviparus) snails #SpongeThursday 13/14
‘World's five worst #invasivealien ant threats to #biodiversityhotspots will not decrease significantly under future climatic conditions’ 🌍🐜
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
World's five worst invasive alien ant threats to biodiversity hotspots will not decrease significantly under future climatic conditions
Invasive alien ants have reduced the populations of native species and even caused species extinction through direct predation, competition for resour…
www.sciencedirect.com
July 19, 2025 at 12:34 PM
‘World's five worst #invasivealien ant threats to #biodiversityhotspots will not decrease significantly under future climatic conditions’ 🌍🐜
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
An #InvasiveAlien tree species once meant to combat desertification in Kenya is spreading at a rate of up to 15% a year, choking vast rangelands.
Read more in @theguardian.com:🌏http://bit.ly/44kszhN
Hear more on this topic from guest Maria Loreto Castillo in our IPBES podcast:🧪
Read more in @theguardian.com:🌏http://bit.ly/44kszhN
Hear more on this topic from guest Maria Loreto Castillo in our IPBES podcast:🧪
Aliens on Your Doorstep: Invasive Species and You
Did you know aliens live among us? IPBES just launched its landmark new Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control – the largest study ever of its kind. Join Brit as she speaks with one of the co-chairs of that Assessment, Professor Helen Roy, about her enthusiasm for addressing these risk...
bit.ly
July 8, 2025 at 7:02 AM
An #InvasiveAlien tree species once meant to combat desertification in Kenya is spreading at a rate of up to 15% a year, choking vast rangelands.
Read more in @theguardian.com:🌏http://bit.ly/44kszhN
Hear more on this topic from guest Maria Loreto Castillo in our IPBES podcast:🧪
Read more in @theguardian.com:🌏http://bit.ly/44kszhN
Hear more on this topic from guest Maria Loreto Castillo in our IPBES podcast:🧪
The Little Ouse at Lakenheath Fen is patrolled by droves of Common River-snail (Viviparus viviparus). No idea what's going on with the top one? Seems to have taken leave of its shell. Looks v painful. Sadly the banks in some places riddled with excavations of #invasivealien Signal Crayfish. 17/24
June 26, 2025 at 9:23 PM
The Little Ouse at Lakenheath Fen is patrolled by droves of Common River-snail (Viviparus viviparus). No idea what's going on with the top one? Seems to have taken leave of its shell. Looks v painful. Sadly the banks in some places riddled with excavations of #invasivealien Signal Crayfish. 17/24
On Friday in River Rhône at Chemin du Moulin des Frère, glorious swim (19.6°C) but useless snorkel, almost zero vis. due to inflow from Arve to crystal clear waters flowing from Lake Geneva. Saw only #InvasiveAlien Zebra mussels (dead?), Spiked Water Milfoil & a fish jump. #MySwim #MolluscMonday 1/4
June 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM
On Friday in River Rhône at Chemin du Moulin des Frère, glorious swim (19.6°C) but useless snorkel, almost zero vis. due to inflow from Arve to crystal clear waters flowing from Lake Geneva. Saw only #InvasiveAlien Zebra mussels (dead?), Spiked Water Milfoil & a fish jump. #MySwim #MolluscMonday 1/4
In Little Ouse, huge numbers of #invasivealien, but nonetheless, charming, Bitterlings, a few males still in breeding colours. Plenty Duck & Swan mussels into which they inject, via the siphons, their eggs & sperm, so the eggs can mature & hatch in safety before the fry exit via the siphons. 16/24
June 26, 2025 at 9:23 PM
In Little Ouse, huge numbers of #invasivealien, but nonetheless, charming, Bitterlings, a few males still in breeding colours. Plenty Duck & Swan mussels into which they inject, via the siphons, their eggs & sperm, so the eggs can mature & hatch in safety before the fry exit via the siphons. 16/24
New EU regulations to address #invasive species: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm @invasivore #conservation #policy
Invasive alien species
Preventing and minimising the effects on invasive alien s...
ec.europa.eu
May 24, 2025 at 1:02 AM
New EU regulations to address #invasive species: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm @invasivore #conservation #policy
Along the banks of Wissey Little River at Northwold there's the cloying scent of Himalayan Balsam, an #invasivealien that has severely infested the banks, pretty though it is, with its fun, poppable seed pods. #invasiveplants #InvasiveSpecies #chalkstreams #wildflowerhour
5/8
5/8
December 7, 2024 at 12:15 AM
Along the banks of Wissey Little River at Northwold there's the cloying scent of Himalayan Balsam, an #invasivealien that has severely infested the banks, pretty though it is, with its fun, poppable seed pods. #invasiveplants #InvasiveSpecies #chalkstreams #wildflowerhour
5/8
5/8
Saw some fine Marbled (Pachygrapsus marmoratus) & Warty (Eriphia verrucosa) crabs at La Réserve de Nice, as well as plenty of Rayed Mediterranean Limpets (Patella caerulea) & shells of the #invasivealien Pacific Oyster (Magallana gigas). #crustacean #molluscmonday #france #invertebrate 11/14
June 19, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Saw some fine Marbled (Pachygrapsus marmoratus) & Warty (Eriphia verrucosa) crabs at La Réserve de Nice, as well as plenty of Rayed Mediterranean Limpets (Patella caerulea) & shells of the #invasivealien Pacific Oyster (Magallana gigas). #crustacean #molluscmonday #france #invertebrate 11/14
The macrophyte diversity of the River Lark upstream of Isleham marina was rather low. A few patches of Water Starwort & Perfoliate Pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus), a Lesser Water-Parsnip (Berula erecta) & too many big banks of the #invasivealien Nuttall's Waterweed (Elodea nuttallii). 12/14
June 19, 2025 at 7:18 PM
The macrophyte diversity of the River Lark upstream of Isleham marina was rather low. A few patches of Water Starwort & Perfoliate Pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus), a Lesser Water-Parsnip (Berula erecta) & too many big banks of the #invasivealien Nuttall's Waterweed (Elodea nuttallii). 12/14
The Cut-Off Channel at Wretton is carpeted in #invasivealien Zebra Mussels, esp clustered on any hard surfaces eg fallen tree trunk. They keep the water amazingly clear (even in absence of Daphnia swarms of 2 weeks earlier) but I worry they'll obscure more prehistoric bones. #invertebrate 13/21
July 6, 2025 at 2:28 PM
The Cut-Off Channel at Wretton is carpeted in #invasivealien Zebra Mussels, esp clustered on any hard surfaces eg fallen tree trunk. They keep the water amazingly clear (even in absence of Daphnia swarms of 2 weeks earlier) but I worry they'll obscure more prehistoric bones. #invertebrate 13/21
Apart from the European/Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), the only fish we saw was this small, dead Roach.
Was disturbed to find one group of what I think could be #invasivealien Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) - which have seen elsewhere in vicinity bsky.app/profile/nume.... #MolluscMonday 3/6
Was disturbed to find one group of what I think could be #invasivealien Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) - which have seen elsewhere in vicinity bsky.app/profile/nume.... #MolluscMonday 3/6
May 5, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Apart from the European/Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), the only fish we saw was this small, dead Roach.
Was disturbed to find one group of what I think could be #invasivealien Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) - which have seen elsewhere in vicinity bsky.app/profile/nume.... #MolluscMonday 3/6
Was disturbed to find one group of what I think could be #invasivealien Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) - which have seen elsewhere in vicinity bsky.app/profile/nume.... #MolluscMonday 3/6
On a bright, autumn afternoon @FullersMill, Water Chickweed (Myosoton aquaticum) in bloom on banks, while under stones in River Lark, freshwater sponges & #invasivealien Signal Crayfish lurk. #wildflowerhour #spongethursday #WestStow #Suffolk #Brecks #Breckland #sundayvibes 2/2
December 7, 2024 at 1:16 AM
On a bright, autumn afternoon @FullersMill, Water Chickweed (Myosoton aquaticum) in bloom on banks, while under stones in River Lark, freshwater sponges & #invasivealien Signal Crayfish lurk. #wildflowerhour #spongethursday #WestStow #Suffolk #Brecks #Breckland #sundayvibes 2/2
The River Babingley below the A149 has lots of big marauding #invasivealien Chinese Mitten Crabs, very bold.
One of the holes in the bank seemed to have a barricade of stones at entrance, like Octopuses make for their dens. Could this be done by Chinese Mitten Crabs?
4/11
One of the holes in the bank seemed to have a barricade of stones at entrance, like Octopuses make for their dens. Could this be done by Chinese Mitten Crabs?
4/11
December 4, 2024 at 7:39 PM
The River Babingley below the A149 has lots of big marauding #invasivealien Chinese Mitten Crabs, very bold.
One of the holes in the bank seemed to have a barricade of stones at entrance, like Octopuses make for their dens. Could this be done by Chinese Mitten Crabs?
4/11
One of the holes in the bank seemed to have a barricade of stones at entrance, like Octopuses make for their dens. Could this be done by Chinese Mitten Crabs?
4/11
Thanks @FullersMill for permission to enter Culford Stream - from beds of gorgeous spring flowers! Hopefully in the water this is Spiked Water Milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) with 4 leaves per whorl, NOT #invasivealien Parrot's Feather (Myriophyllum brasiliensis) with 4-6.
5/9
5/9
December 9, 2024 at 12:41 AM
Thanks @FullersMill for permission to enter Culford Stream - from beds of gorgeous spring flowers! Hopefully in the water this is Spiked Water Milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) with 4 leaves per whorl, NOT #invasivealien Parrot's Feather (Myriophyllum brasiliensis) with 4-6.
5/9
5/9
These pics don't do justice to the exquisite beauty of water droplets sparkling like diamonds encrusting a Water Fern (Azolla filiculoides) infestation on the island lake in the River Lark at Mildenhall - sadly an American #InvasiveAlien.
#MySwim #FernFriday #wildflowerhour
1/3
#MySwim #FernFriday #wildflowerhour
1/3
December 9, 2024 at 11:55 AM
These pics don't do justice to the exquisite beauty of water droplets sparkling like diamonds encrusting a Water Fern (Azolla filiculoides) infestation on the island lake in the River Lark at Mildenhall - sadly an American #InvasiveAlien.
#MySwim #FernFriday #wildflowerhour
1/3
#MySwim #FernFriday #wildflowerhour
1/3
#horizonscanning voor #invasievesoorten in Europa op de website van EC http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/docs/Prioritising%20prevention%20efforts%20through%20horizon%20scanning.pdf @INBOVlaanderen http://t.co/O7Qb2lvZ1W
December 9, 2024 at 5:36 AM
#horizonscanning voor #invasievesoorten in Europa op de website van EC http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/docs/Prioritising%20prevention%20efforts%20through%20horizon%20scanning.pdf @INBOVlaanderen http://t.co/O7Qb2lvZ1W
First list of #InvasiveSpecies of EU concern adopted new era for #IAS management http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm
December 9, 2024 at 4:49 AM
First list of #InvasiveSpecies of EU concern adopted new era for #IAS management http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm
The Sapiston River/Black Bourn below Ixworth also suffers incredibly dense infestation of #InvasiveAlien Signal Crayfish riddling #river bed & banks with their holes. Another alien is tiny Jenkins Spire-snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum). At least Great Ram's-horn is native. #snailsky #snails 5/10
June 1, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The Sapiston River/Black Bourn below Ixworth also suffers incredibly dense infestation of #InvasiveAlien Signal Crayfish riddling #river bed & banks with their holes. Another alien is tiny Jenkins Spire-snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum). At least Great Ram's-horn is native. #snailsky #snails 5/10
Below the #fish pass, I did spot a colony of Sessilida ciliates & also the only #invasivealien Signal Crayfish I saw, though there was plenty of their holes riddling the river bed further upstream, which is where I found & removed from the #RiverLark an illegal crayfish trap. #cilia #rivers 10/12
May 24, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Below the #fish pass, I did spot a colony of Sessilida ciliates & also the only #invasivealien Signal Crayfish I saw, though there was plenty of their holes riddling the river bed further upstream, which is where I found & removed from the #RiverLark an illegal crayfish trap. #cilia #rivers 10/12
Also good numbers of Three-spined Sticklebacks in Tuddenham Mill Stream, including one with a sick-looking, white tail.
Sadly, as throughout the River Lark catchment, a chunky #invasivealien Signal Crayfish.
#chalkstreams #WestSuffolk #Suffolk #Sticklebacks #freshwaterfish
6/6
Sadly, as throughout the River Lark catchment, a chunky #invasivealien Signal Crayfish.
#chalkstreams #WestSuffolk #Suffolk #Sticklebacks #freshwaterfish
6/6
December 8, 2024 at 11:39 PM
Also good numbers of Three-spined Sticklebacks in Tuddenham Mill Stream, including one with a sick-looking, white tail.
Sadly, as throughout the River Lark catchment, a chunky #invasivealien Signal Crayfish.
#chalkstreams #WestSuffolk #Suffolk #Sticklebacks #freshwaterfish
6/6
Sadly, as throughout the River Lark catchment, a chunky #invasivealien Signal Crayfish.
#chalkstreams #WestSuffolk #Suffolk #Sticklebacks #freshwaterfish
6/6
Delighted to find Stone Loach in sweet spot where River Lark rushes thro' tunnel under A11 at Barton Mills, washing all the silt off the riverbed. Roach, Gudgeon, Minnows & a Three-spined Stickleback all concentrated there + lurking #invasivealien Signal Crayfish. #MySwim 1/5
December 8, 2024 at 9:09 PM
Delighted to find Stone Loach in sweet spot where River Lark rushes thro' tunnel under A11 at Barton Mills, washing all the silt off the riverbed. Roach, Gudgeon, Minnows & a Three-spined Stickleback all concentrated there + lurking #invasivealien Signal Crayfish. #MySwim 1/5