Archie K. Murchie

Video statement from Prof Elizabeth Magowan of AFBI

Molecular characterisation of the invasive terrestrial nemertean Geonemertes pelaensis: long and complex mitogenome and presence of NUMTs

This is not a land flatworm... it's a land nemertean!
In this new paper, we describe its complex mitogenome, report the presence of NUMTs, and even more! 🧪
doi.org/10.1038/s415...

A giant yellow sign on the side of the road announces “YOU ARE ENTERING A FRUIT FLY CONTROLLED AREA” and below that in smaller letters “Make sure you know the rules.”

I don’t think we should have ceded control quite so quickly and without so much as a fight.

A FIELD GUIDE TO THE SMALLER MOTHS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND (4th Edition-Digital) - British Entomological & Natural History Society

Yesterday, @britentsoc.bsky.social published the 4th edition of the popular Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Completely updated and free to download in 3 digital formats: PDF, spreadsheet, and an Android App! Further details at www.benhs.org.uk/publications... #TeamMoth

It's my pocket guide to butterflies.

Australoplana sanguinea. 3, specimen MNHN JL472, unscaled;

Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree of the three Mitosporidium species and their relatives, based on concatenated amino acid sequences. Based on the dataset by Haag et al., 2014 [46], added with the sequence of Paramicrosporidium saccamoebae and the sequences obtained in the present study for Mitosporidium Mtspo_JL467 and Mitosporidium Mtspo_JL472. The three Mitosporidium species are in a strongly supported clade, sister to Rozella allomycetis, which displays a very long branch, and P. saccamoebae is sister-group to the clade containing Mitosporidium and Rozella. Support indicated at the nodes.

New paper out!
In Northern Ireland, two invasive land flatworms turned out to host two new Microsporidia species — in a genus that used to have only one.
Genomes revealed a true Irish cocktail of flatworm, earthworm & parasite DNA.
Science loves surprises.🧪
doi.org/10.1051/para...

Co-occurrence patterns of introduced terrestrial flatworms in metropolitan France revealed by citizen science - Biological Invasions Terrestrial flatworms are a group of successful carnivorous invaders that have been introduced to many regions outside their native range. In France, six different species have been recorded in significant numbers over the past 20 years, with a recent increase in observations. These include predators of earthworms, gastropods and soil arthropods. Their presence raises concerns about their potential to disturb communities of soil-dwelling organisms. Here, we aimed to describe patterns of co-occurrence between these species in France, using a national inventory of alien flatworms coupled with estimates of potential co-occurrence derived from ecological niche models trained at the global scale. We showed that, although alien predatory flatworms are relatively widespread in France, they co-occur less frequently than expected simply based on each species’ respective environmental suitability, i.e., they tend to be found alone and not in association with other alien flatworm species. However, ecological niche models indicate a high potential for more frequent co-occurrences in the future. We hypothesize that their limited dispersal ability and their relatively recent introduction has confined most species close to their introduction sites. However, if they eventually fill out their potential range, predators of different taxonomic groups will co-occur more frequently, leading to greater predation pressure in invaded ecosystems. Our conclusions shed light on the current and future co-occurrence patterns of alien predatory flatworms in France. Understanding how they translate in the field in terms of predation and competitive interactions will be crucial for predicting the impact of flatworm invasion on soil ecosystems.

🧪 Les vers plats terrestres envahisseurs sont bien présents en France — mais ils évitent la colocation !
Notre nouvelle étude basée sur la science citoyenne révèle qu’ils coexistent moins souvent qu’attendu, même si les modèles indiquent que cela pourrait bientôt changer.
doi.org/10.1007/s105...

Obama chez moi! The invasion of metropolitan France by the land planarian Obama nungara (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) Background Obama nungara is a species of land flatworm originating from South America; the species was recently described and distinguished from a similar species, Obama marmorata. Obama nungara has i...

Meet Obama nungara, a South American flatworm now found in three-quarters of metropolitan France. Over 530 citizen reports over 5+ years, and molecular evidence shows two Argentine clades behind Europe’s spread.
Still threatening soil fauna? Possibly.
Learn more: 🔗 doi.org/10.7717/peer...

Australoplana sanguinea

Guess what? 🧪 We found parasites inside this invasive land flatworm.
Which ones? You’ll be surprised… Stay tuned!

It will be published in Parasite www.parasite-journal.org

The rapid rise of land #flatworms throughout Europe is of particularly concern, and the international trade of ornamental plants can represent a pathway for the spread of these #InvasiveAlienSpecies, some of which are already listed as of Union concern under EU Reg. 1143/2014.

Our new paper, now in press, reports the unexpected discovery of two species of parasites in invasive land flatworms. Which parasites? Stay tuned to know more - it's even more unexpected.

In press in www.parasite-journal.org

Figures 1–4. Geoplanids used in this study and their close environment. 1–2, Kontikia andersoni. 1, specimen MNHN JL467, unscaled; 2; origin of the specimen, below decaying wooden boards. 3–4, Australoplana sanguinea. 3, specimen MNHN JL472, unscaled; 4, origin of the specimen, below a concrete stone.

Notre nouvel article, actuellement sous presse, rapporte la découverte inattendue de 𝗱𝗲𝘂𝘅 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲̀𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘇 𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗮𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀. 🧪
De quels parasites s'agit-il ?
Attendez que ce soit publié... c'est encore plus inattendu 😀.

Sous presse dans: www.parasite-journal.org

Pure bloodlines? Ancestral homelands? DNA science says no. — Harvard Gazette Geneticist explains recent analyses made possible by tech advances show human history to be one of mixing, movement, displacement.

“The big perspective change from ancient DNA study is that people living today are almost never the descendants of the people in the same place thousands of years before”

news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...

🎙️Interview: #Trump's 'sustained campaign of attacks on US #universities and #science will take years to recover from’ and the impact will be ‘devastating’ primarily for the USA but also for #GlobalHealth

Professor @martinmckee.bsky.social of @lshtm.bsky.social

www.france24.com/en/video/202...

AFBI Employment Opportunity: Head of Pest & Pathogen Surveillance, based at AFBI HQ, Newforge Lane, Belfast. For more information and to apply visit bit.ly/4iHjXb6. Closing Date 12 noon on 18.04.25. #AFBIScience #AFBIResearch

AFBI Employment Opportunity: Head of Pest & Pathogen Surveillance, based at AFBI HQ, Newforge Lane, Belfast. For more information and to apply visit irecruit-ext.hrconnect.nigov.net/jobs/vacanci.... Closing Date 12 noon on 18.04.25. #AFBIScience #AFBIResearch

Work with us: #Research Assistant in a team from @ucdscience.bsky.social , AFBI and the DAFM Plant Sciences Division in tasks ranging from fieldwork to molecular laboratory techniques of #forest #pests

Deadline: 24th Jan 2025
Details on how to apply at:
drjonyearsley.github.io/forestpests....

Remembering the inspirational life of Simon Doherty A highly respected and internationally recognised expert in his field, BVA Past President Prof. Simon Doherty was a passionate advocate of the role of vets in championing sustainability and One Health...

We’re extremely saddened by the news that BVA Past President Prof. Simon Doherty has passed away.

Simon was an inspiration to everyone he met and who worked alongside him.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this sad and difficult time.

www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blo...