Ivana
@ivanakomendic.bsky.social
PhD Candidate - Ricciardi Lab Ecology, Biological Invasions, Aquatic Ecosystems
This is the only hippo population outside of Africa! It started with 4 imported hippos at Pablo Escobar's private zoo (1980s)... Today their population sits at around 200 individuals www.nbcnews.com/world/south-...
Colombians are divided over the fate of hippos linked to Pablo Escobar
The hippos, an invasive species in Colombia, are part of a population of 200 that continues to reproduce unchecked.
nbcnews.com
Contagious melanoma in catfish from Lac Memphrémagog, about 30 km from where I live. Fourth documented transmissible cancer 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Brown bullhead catfish melanoma represents a novel transmissible cancer - Nature
Whole-genome sequencing analysis of tumour and matched non-tumour host tissues of the brown bullhead catfish reveals a type of naturally occurring transmissible cancer.
nature.com
More and more reports of lionfish in the Adriatic - it is rapidly changing montenegro.news-pravda.com/en/world/202...
Poisonous lionfish caught at the Bar
Poisonous lionfish caught at the BarLionfish, one of the most well-known invasive species that has appeared in the Adriatic Sea in recent years, has been caught again in the area of Bigovica Bay. The ...
montenegro.news-pravda.com
See our recent paper advocating more cross-disciplinary integration of biological control science & invasion science: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... There are many conceptual parallels & opportunities around which the two fields can inform each other. #biocontrol #bioinvasion #invasivespecies
“Mussels are the unsung heroes of clean water who tirelessly filter millions of gallons every day. But because of pollution, dams and development, they’re disappearing and they really need our help,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species co-director at the Center.
Endangered species in Darby creeks get critical habitat protection
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated Little and Big Darby Creeks as critical habitats for two endangered mussel species.
dispatch.com
From the creators of #TVOOriginal All Too Clear, Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick are setting out on a new expedition to capture the hidden world beneath the Great Lakes. Set to premiere in 2028, the project is already offering audiences an early look. Follow @hiddenbelow.bsky.social 🐟
Registration for the AFS 4th annual symposium has been extended until March 1st! Make sure to sign up using the link in bio:) Les inscriptions au 4e symposium annuel de l'AFS ont été prolongées jusqu'au 1er mars ! N'oubliez pas de vous inscrire via le lien dans la bio :)
The golden mussel, a highly destructive invasive species that began to plague South American waterways decades ago, has reached the Amazon region, threatening some of the richest biodiversity on the planet. www.science.org/content/arti...
Highly destructive mussel has started to invade the Amazon
After ravaging waterways across South America, the fast-spreading species threatens a biodiversity stronghold
science.org
New in @biolinvasions.bsky.social: I argue that accelerating invasion rates threaten ecosystem stability & sustainable management. Thus there is an urgent need for progress toward Target 6 of the Kunming-Montreal GBF, which calls for a substantive reduction in global invasion rates. -> rdcu.be/eVlNk
The marbled crayfish is a global aquatic invader of increasing importance. Distributed through the pet trade; now established on four continents. Feral populations have been found in Canada in recent years. See below for our synopsis, led by @vanmierlo.bsky.social #Crustmas
The Ricciardians@ricciardilab.bsky.social · 8mo agoWe have published a biological synopsis of the marbled crayfish, Procambarus virginalis #marmorkrebs #bioinvasions Link: waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibl...
One of the undergraduate students that I mentored this semester made these beautiful cookies which include MAZMs, zebra mussels and unionids (so talented)! Mentorship has easily been one of the most rewarding experiences of my PhD thus far❤️
The Ricciardians gather for our lab Christmas party. (Photo taken by @ecoinvasions.bsky.social) Note the secret hand sign. @tjcolvin.bsky.social @vanmierlo.bsky.social @ivanakomendic.bsky.social @emmaschubert.bsky.social @picard-m.bsky.social @briellecomartin.bsky.social @veronicagroves.bsky.social
Invasive carp threaten the Great Lakes. 🎣 The Illinois DNR & @US Army Corps of Engineers are taking action — with high-tech barriers and fish removals. Watch their story in Tomorrow’s Catch, the new digital series from AFS and CWP: contentwithpurpose.co.uk/afs/tomorrow...
Tackling Invasive Carp - Tomorrow's Catch
Meet the “carp cowboys” protecting the Great Lakes by removing invasive carp and using cutting-edge barriers to defend native fisheries.
contentwithpurpose.co.uk
An emerging aquatic invasion threat to western Canada is the golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei), whose calcium and temperature tolerances are different from those of zebra & quagga mussels. chemainusvalleycourier.ca/2025/11/18/i...
Is Atlantic Canada at risk of zebra mussel invasion? This recent study identifies several ‘higher-risk’ areas for zebra mussel invasion that could be prioritized for future monitoring and management action. 👇 https://ow.ly/Oe3350Xw1LZ
We had a great time at the @gril-limnologie.bsky.social fall workshop! @ivanakomendic.bsky.social and Cata ran a successful workshop on macrophyte and zooplankton sampling:)
So sad to see. Unfortunately there’s no way to share Instagram posts to blue sky so heres a link: www.instagram.com/reel/DQO04KS...
Come learn about raking, quadrat, and downing box sampling techniques! Excited for all the workshops this weekend :)
Quebec Subunit American Fisheries Society@afsquebec.bsky.social · 10mo agoTwo of our Ex-comm members (@ivanakomendic.bsky.social and Cata) will be giving a workshop at the GRIL (@gril-limnologie.bsky.social) fall workshop this weekend. Come by to learn about macrophyte and zooplankton sampling techniques!
72 boats with invasive species intercepted before entering Lake Tahoe, including 14 interceptions of invasive mussels: fox40.com/news/califor... Shown below is a cluster of golden mussels (Limnoperna fortunei), now established in California.
RIP #JaneGoodall - one of the modern pioneers of profound interconnections between people, animals and ecosystems. Her life was lived through science, compassion and tireless advocacy for the multiple values of nature - leaving a legacy that will endure for people and planet.
The Associated Press@apnews.com · 10mo agoBREAKING: Jane Goodall, the conservationist renowned for chimpanzee research and environmental advocacy, has died.
Photos have been rolling in for our Zebra Mussel Safari program and whenever I see photos like this come in, I'm grateful I don't have to count these by hand. 😂
Last week our field team investigated the effects of low water levels in the St Lawrence River. Shown left to right: @briellecomartin.bsky.social, @ivanakomendic.bsky.social & @tjcolvin.bsky.social Joining them was @ecoinvasions.bsky.social. The land on which they're standing should be under water.
💻 Data centers are spreading fast across the Great Lakes — and straining already finite water supplies. CWP Director Melissa Scanlan is featured in a new @chicagotribune article. 📰 @chicagotribune: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/10/g... 📑 Our ABA report: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Surging number of data centers around the Great Lakes could lead to water shortages, report says
The region is not prepared for the unprecedented demand from data centers and other big users like agriculture.
chicagotribune.com
A great week at Lac Témiscouata for @ivanakomendic.bsky.social fieldwork investigating zebra mussel associations with different substrates & macrophytes
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...
This surprisingly relaxing footage is from SIX MILES under the ocean – and it’s the deepest ecosystem yet discovered
