Freshwater Biological Association

@freshwaterbio

The FBA is an NGO and charitable trust dedicated to understanding and protecting freshwater environments across the world.

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Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· 7d

Presenting our latest article: Can terrestrial plants enable assessment of nutrient pressures in dry streams? The authors, led by FBA Fellow Rachel Stubbington, and her EA colleague Lesley Rippon, are working to develop health assessment methods for temporary streams: www.fba.org.uk/articles/can...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· 13d

Here at the FBA we are acutely aware of the incredible importance of #freshwaters. We had the pleasure of catching up with FBA Board Member Jennifer Dodd at the ASM, @edinburghnapier.bsky.social, in June 2026 to hear her thoughts on freshwater science, conservation & the value of knowledge exchange.

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· 20d

Call for Special Session and Workshop proposals now open for SEFS15! The Organising Committee for the 15th Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences (SEFS15) is inviting proposals ahead of the conference, taking place in Utrecht, the Netherlands, from 5–9 July 2027. www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/ca...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· 23d

Are you passionate about freshwater species conservation? We’re looking for a dynamic & passionate leader to take on a truly rewarding role as Arctic Charr Project Manager, based at our #SpeciesRecovery Centre in the #LakeDistrict, Cumbria. Interested? Find out more: www.fba.org.uk/arctic-charr...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Jun 15

A massive thanks to everyone who attended our ASM last week... it was a super inspiring day! Hosted by @edinburghnapier.bsky.social the focus on ‘Emerging approaches for #freshwaterscience’ saw fantastic presentations from Atoms to Zooplankton. We look forward to seeing you at the next ASM in 2027!

A massive thanks to everyone who attended our Annual Scientific Meeting in Edinburgh last week... it was a jam-packed day of super inspiring freshwater science!

Hosted by @edinburghnapier the ASM's focus on ‘Emerging approaches for freshwater science’ provided an incredible collection of presentations from Atoms to Zooplankton, alongside some fab poster presentations from Early Career Researchers.

The event kicked off with Jennifer Dodd's ace exploration into identifying gaps in freshwater evidence using Artificial Intelligence, followed by Buglife's Craig Macadam looking at how AI could be applied to freshwater invertebrate identification.

Josie Geris invited us to go up in drones and underwater looking at insights into thermal infrared imagery integrations in freshwater scenarios, and Lori Lawson Handley (UKCEH) presented on evidence for a decline in Arctic charr spawning habitat condition and activity in Windermere.

We had a captivating keynote from Bernd Hänfling (UHI Inverness) on what eDNA can tell us about freshwater biodiversity, while Jess Lister gave a fascinating talk on the Plecoptera’s Paradiddle and advances in acoustic approaches to uncover stonefly behaviour. For our final keynote Brian Hayden took us on an unforgettable, mind-expanding isotope adventure spanning from atoms to ecosystems.

We were treated to mycological marvels with insights into fungal filters and their potential for reducing nutrients from farm runoff. Further highlights included enlightening research into evidence-led freshwater pearl mussel conservation translocations, and advancing knowledge and management of biodiversity in the UK’s temporary streams. The conference concluded with a thought-provoking session around connecting activists and scientists, exploring the science of campaigning with uplifting case studies from the River Wharfe and the River Wensum, demonstrating the power of collective action to support freshwater ecosystems.

See you at the next ASM in 2027!

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Jun 13

Interested in improving your understanding of nuisance algae? There is one final place on our #Freshwater #Algal ID course from 15-19 June. A 4.5 day course on important algae for assessment ‘incidents’ & recognition of ecologically harmful & nuisance algae. Register: www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/fresh...

Are you interested in improving your understanding of harmful and nuisance algae? If so please read on... as there is one final place available on our Freshwater Algal Identification course, taking place next week 15 - 19 June 2026.

Join expert tutors for an in-depth 4.5 day course designed to train staff of environmental and other agencies, in the identification of the major groups of ecologically important algae for assessment ‘incidents’ and the recognition of ecologically harmful and nuisance algae.

The course will provide an introduction to algal identification for those with limited experience of freshwater algae but, nonetheless, every effort will be made to cater for those who wish to enhance their existing taxonomic expertise and identification skills. This course is based on the highly successful Durham Freshwater Algal Identification course.

Dates: 15 - 19 June 2026.
Location: Field Studies Council, Castle Head, Grange-Over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 6QT.
Tutors: Prof Martyn Kelly, Prof David John, Dr B Brierley, Dr A Pentecost.

To find out more and register, please visit:
https://www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/freshwater-algal-identification-course-2026

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Jun 9

Have you registered for our Annual Scientific Meeting? Yes! Fab... we are so looking forward to seeing you at the ASM on 11 June in beautiful Edinburgh. Not yet? Good news... you still have time to register, we'd love you to join us! Find out more and register today: www.fba.org.uk/annual-scien...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Jun 5

A treat for all freshwater fans... Heavy Metal Trout in Hard Rock Rivers! Dr @danosmond.bsky.social examines how #trout have adapted to living in some of our most polluted post-industrial landscapes. Reproduced with kind permission from: @wildtrouttrust.bsky.social www.fba.org.uk/articles/hea...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Jun 3

Have you ever wondered how human sound might impact freshwater species whilst in their submerged state? Jess Lister, @edinburghnapier.bsky.social, will be introducing a keynote on this very subject at our Annual Scientific Meeting. Interested in finding out more? 👇 www.fba.org.uk/annual-scien...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Jun 1

For your Monitoring Monday pleasure... please allow us to share some relaxation with a little riverfly #citizenscience in action! Riverflies along with other freshwater invertebrates are at the heart of freshwater ecosystems. Interested in being a guardian of your local river?👇 www.riverflies.org

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· May 26

Calling all freshwater science fans! Have you registered for our Annual Scientific Meeting? The ASM is in Edinburgh on Thursday 11 June. We would love you to join us! The ASM has an inspiring line-up including a keynote from Bernd Hänfling. Find out more & register! www.fba.org.uk/annual-scien...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· May 21

Felicitations! The May FBA Voice is out now... packed with updates from the FBA! May's issue is on a slightly musical freshwater theme & so we ask... have you ever wondered what a Daphnia's fave rock band is? And why are they wearing spiky helmets? Curious? Please dive in: mailchi.mp/fba/welcome-...

Felicitations fine freshwater friends! We're very excited to announce that the May issue of FBA Voice is out now... and it is indeed packed with oodles of updates from the watery world of the FBA!

We are delighted to share the full agenda for the Annual Scientific Meeting, taking place on Thursday 11 June at Edinburgh Napier University. It is going to be an amazing conference, we hope you can join us.

This month's Voice also includes a science article – Heavy Metal Trout in Hard Rock Rivers – by Dr Daniel Osmond, examining how trout have adapted to living in some of our most polluted post-industrial landscapes.

We have updates on the Riverfly Partnership’s year of impact: Extending community support for freshwaters with the Environment Agency. It is with great pleasure and enormous gratitude that we can report that, following this ongoing success, the EA has committed to a further three years of funding to support the Riverfly Partnership in England. Very exciting times for the initiative and action for freshwater ecosystems!

Also river lovers... we hope you enjoy our latest Q&A: Wensum Riverkin and me… in conversation with Tim Ellis. Here we catch up with angler, nature enthusiast and founding member of Wensum Riverkin Tim to find out more about the impressive impact of this inspiring group, on a mission to get the River Wensum well again.

And guess what? We now have a new FBA Membership system integrated with our website. So it is now even easier to join the FBA as a member and become an active advocate for one of the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet.

May's issue is on a slightly musical freshwater theme and so we ask... have you ever wondered what a Daphnia's fave rock band is? And why are they wearing spiky helmets?

All is revealed and so much more in the May issue of FBA Voice, so grab a brew, a bass guitar and a banjo, and dive in.

https://mailchi.mp/fba/welcome-to-the-may-2026-issue-of-fba-voice

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· May 18

For #FreshwaterPearlMussel Monday... please allow us to share a spot of spring cleaning at the FBA Ark! Once buffed the mussels are settled back into their gravelly homes where they remain undisturbed throughout the breeding season. Interested in finding out more? www.fba.org.uk/freshwater-p...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· May 15

Calling all freshwater science fans! We're delighted to share with you the agenda for our ASM. This year we're hosted by @edinburghnapier.bsky.social in beautiful Edinburgh on Thursday 11 June & we'd love you to join us! Find out more & register for the ASM 2026 today! www.fba.org.uk/annual-scien...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· May 8

A heartfelt Happy 100th Birthday to #SirDavidAttenborough! From mini amoeba to mighty mammals... your devotion for the natural world is & will always be awe-inspiring in ways impossible to articulate. From each & every drop of freshwater on this magical planet... we wish you a wonderful birthday! 💙

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· May 5

Could citizen scientists help document spatial and temporal change in filamentous algae? The case of the #RiverWye. Martyn Kelly et al. reanalyse a dataset to document spatial & temporal variation in the attached algae & what this means for managing this iconic river: www.fba.org.uk/articles/cou...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Apr 30

Over the last year we have continued our action-focused scientific work & it's with great pleasure that we're sharing our latest Impact Report. We hope you agree that the FBA has made, with your incredible support, an impactful splash supporting freshwater ecosystems💙💦 www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/we...

Many thanks to Lindsay McCrae for the amazing Arctic charr photography on report cover.

Freshwater pearl mussels at the FBA Ark.

The LD-CHARM team carrying out Arctic charr research on Windermere.

A Big Windermere Survey Citizen Scientist being filmed in August 2025, following the launch of the two-year BWS summary report.

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Apr 27

We invite you to take a cool freshwater plunge this Monitoring Monday... as we rejoice in rivers & the Realm of the Riverfly! Interested in becoming a guardian of your local #river as a citizen scientist #riverfly monitor? Find out more on the Riverfly Partnership website: www.riverflies.org

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Apr 23

Grrrrrreetings freshwater friends... and anyone curious about the connection between dinosaurs & mayflies! Please allow us to present the April FBA Voice. Featuring our Impact Report, showcasing the amazing work by the FBA team supporting freshwaters in 2025, & lots more! mailchi.mp/fba/welcome-...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Apr 21

Are you keen to improve your river restoration knowledge? We have a #RiverRestoration training course in Penrith 7 & 8 May 2026. The course will introduce a variety of naturalising and restored river and floodplain systems. Interested? Please find out more & register: www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/river...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Apr 14

If you, like us, are in awe of the power of #ponds... check out our brand new Pond Restoration Training now available to attend in North West England from 6 to 7 July 2026. The course includes lectures, workshops, & field visits Please find out more & register: www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/pond-...

Taken at an FBA pond restoration course in 2025.

Excavation activity for a pond restoration, credit Tim Holt-Wilson.

The same pond 2 years after restoration, credit Carl Sayer.

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Apr 9

Hello fellow freshwater pearl mussel fans! In 2018 a collaborative project commenced between Natural Resources Wales, the Freshwater Habitats Trust & the FBA to begin breeding River Irfon #freshwaterpearlmussels. Find out more about the FBA Ark #conservation breeding: www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/fb...

River Irfon freshwater pearl mussels at the FBA Ark

River Irfon still from the Freshwater Habitats Trust film

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Mar 25

Can you imagine a Bank of Bosmina? In the light of recent news that wildlife will be replacing historical figures on the next series of Bank of England banknotes... the latest FBA Voice asks: which #freshwater critter would you like to see? Plus lots of FBA updates too: mailchi.mp/fba/welcome-...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Mar 23

Today we're celebrating Riverfly Monitoring Monday! Monitoring is an excellent way to protect #river health by supporting local community engagement, #citizenscience collaboration & sustainability for our #freshwaterecosystems. Please visit @riverflies.bsky.social for more info: www.riverflies.org

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Mar 17

Freshwater scientists are calling for action to defend Europe’s water protections. The #freshwater scientific community has an important voice. Join over 350K concerned individuals & support efforts to defend Europe’s nature laws by signing & sharing the #HandsOffNature petition... handsoffnature.eu

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Mar 13

We are potty about pond life! If you, like us, feel passionately about the #freshwater power of ponds... please check out our #Pond #Restoration Training on 25 & 26 June with Helen Greaves & Carl Sayer of the @norfolkponds.bsky.social. Find out more & register today! www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/pond-...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Mar 6

Are you keen to improve your identification skills of aquatic invertebrates? Read on! We have a Sampling and Identifying #Freshwater #Invertebrates training opportunity, with John Davy-Bowker on 28 & 29 April, Grange-Over-Sands, #Cumbria. Find out more & book today: www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/sampl...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Mar 3

We are in awe of river ecosystems... so it was an absolute pleasure to catch up with Kurt Fausch to discover more about ‘A Reverence for Rivers: Imagining an Ethic for Running Waters’. Join us for a dive into the inspiration & science that motivated Kurt’s latest book: www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/a-...

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Feb 20

Greetings friends! Our February issue of FBA Voice is out now! Full of freshwater updates we also pose that all important question... when is a flea not a flea? Any itching thoughts? Grab a cup of your preferred freshwater-based beverage & jump into the Voice to find out! mailchi.mp/fba/welcome-...

When is a flea not a flea? Find the answer, and lots more freshwater updates, in the latest issue of FBA Voice!

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio· Feb 16

This Microscope Monday 🔬 we present an adorable Daphnia. Did you know that pioneering Dutch microscopist Jan Swammerdam (1637–1680) is credited as the first scientist to identify & describe #waterfleas? Referring to them as Pulex aquaticus arborescens: "the water flea with the branching arms". Fab!