Anthony Ricciardi, Professor
Invasion Ecology & Aquatic Ecosystems

Redpath Museum & McGill School of Environment
McGill University

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Research Interests

Curriculum Vitae

Students

Selected Publications

Media Coverage

Invasive Species

Lab News


Media Coverage

Montreal Gazette (newspaper), 17 November 2022: "Freshwater biodiversity loss has been out of sight, out of mind". Op-ed article.

The Conversation, 12 October 2022: "Ballast water management is reducing the flow of invasive species into the Great Lakes".

CBC News (online news), 8 October 2022: "Invasive zebra mussels discovered in St. John River watershed in Quebec". Op-ed article.

Canadian Geographic (magazine), 29 April 2022: "Space invasion: Is it too late to save the Great Lakes?".

Scientific American (magazine), 23 March 2022: "Supersized Goldfish Could Become Superinvaders".

Gizmodo, 21 February 2022: "We’re not prepared for contamination between worlds".

The Independent (online news), 29 November 2021: "Aliens could come to Earth by travelling back on our own spacecraft, scientists warn".

Ars Technica, 18 November 2021: "We know what invasive species can do on Earth—what about in space?".

The Guardian, 8 July 2020: "Playing the hand of God': scientists' experiment aims to help trees survive climate change".

Radio-Canada, 27 February 2020: "Microplastiques: le Saint-Laurent serait un des cours d’eau les plus pollués au monde".

Quebec Science (magazine), 7 February 2020: "Microplastiques: le Saint-Laurent serait un des cours d’eau les plus pollués au monde".

Pique Newsmagazine, 1 December 2019: "Little bits, big problem".

Le Soleil de Chateauguay (newspaper), 15 November 2019: "La tanche, une autre espèce envahissante dans nos eaux".

Montreal Gazette (newspaper), 31 August 2019: "Battling the tench fish invasion: 'Like Game of Thrones under water'".

EOS, 12 September 2019: "Is Chicago Water Pollution Halting a Silver Carp Invasion?".

New York Times (newspaper), 25 April 2019: "Can humans help trees outrun climate change?".

NPR Buffalo (WBFO88.7) (online news), 15 Feb 2019: "Will tench be next Great Lakes invasive species problem?".

CBC Radio, 27 April 2019: Interview for the science show Quirks & Quarks regarding invasive species originating from Canada.

Global News (online news), 3 August 2018: "Invasive Zebra mussels reach Lac Memphramagog".

CBC Radio-Canada (online news), 13 April 2018: "Les espèces envahissantes, une menace écologique et économique".

The New Yorker (magazine), 11 Sept 2017: "Cancer's Invasion Equation".

Le Devoir (newspaper), 17 August 2017: "La pollution plastique dans nos assiettes". PhD student Genevieve D'Avignon interviewed about microplastics in fish.

Le Soleil (newspaper), 10 June 2017: "L'envahisseur envahi".

Futurity.org (online news), 7 May 2017: "5 big threats in the fight against invasive species".

The Ottawa Citizen (newspaper), 28 February 2017: " Why alien species can have catastrophic economic consequences".

Youtube, 5 December 2016: Globally accelerating rates of invasion as a sustainability issue. A 4-min lighting talk for McGill's Sustainability Sciences and Technologies Initiative.

Science (magazine), 11 August 2016: "Relocating Australian tortoise sets controversial precedent".

The Montreal Gazette (newspaper), 8 July 2016: "Banning microbeads from cosmetics is not enough". Op-ed article.

CTV News (television), 6 June 2016: "Asian carp discovered in St Lawrence concerns biologists.".

CBC News (online news), 6 June 2016: "Why the discovery of a grass carp in the St. Lawrence River concerns experts.".

Financial Times (London) (magazine), 16 May 2016: "Invasive species: the battle to beat the bugs".

CBC Radio, 18 April 2016: Interview for Daybreak (Montreal) regarding microplastic pollution legislation.

CBC Radio, 18 April 2016: Interview for Quebec AM (Quebec City) regarding microplastic pollution legislation.

La Presse (newspaper), 17 April 2016: "Microbilles dans le fleuve: une contamination sous-estimée".  See short video documentary.

The Montreal Gazette (newspaper), 23 February 2016: "Zika and the Age of Global Swarming". Op-ed article.

The Economist (magazine), 31 July 2015: "Pollution in the Great Lakes - Evil orbs".

CBC News (online news), 17 July 2015: "Microplastics at 'alarming levels' in Canadian lakes and rivers".

CBC Radio, April 2015: Interview for the show The Afternoon Edition regarding microplastic pollution in fresh waters.

Le Devoir (newspaper), 25 March 2015: "Conservateurs et néodémocrates unis contre les microbilles". News about recent legislative action against plastic microbeads, referencing our work in the St Lawrence River.

Radio-Canada, 26 October 2014: Rowshyra Castaneda's interview for the science show Les Années lumière regarding our research on microplastics in the St. Lawrence River.

CBC Radio, 26 October 2014: Interview for the show All in a Weekend regarding invasive species in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system.

CTV News (television), 13 October 2014: "Microplastics found in sediment from the St. Lawrence, a worrisome first".

CBC Radio, 4 October 2014: Interview for the science show Quirks & Quarks regarding microplastic pollution in the St. Lawrence River.

Washington Post (newspaper/internet), 29 September 2014: "Plastic microbeads from face wash are polluting river sediment".

CBC Radio, 27 September 2014: Interview for CBC News - The World at Six, regarding microbeads in the St. Lawrence River.

CBC News (television), 26 September 2014: "Plastic microbeads polluting St. Lawrence River, McGill researchers find".

La Presse (newspaper), 24 September 2014: "Saint-Laurent: des polluants jamais recensés en eau douce".

Time (magazine), 17 July 2014: "Invasive Species, Coming Soon to a Habitat Near You".

Télé-Québec (television), 17 March 2014: Documentary on our microplastics research in the St. Lawrence River, aired by Le Code Chastenay.

Radio Canada International, 2 February 2014: PhD student Katie Pagnucco's interview about invasive threats to the Great Lakes, based on a new paper that will be published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research.

McGill Reporter (newspaper), 13 June 2013: Four Burning Questions.

Canal Savoir (television), spring 2013: Broadcast of a lecture entitled Biological Invasions – The Ecological and Societal Impacts of Non-native Species, which was part of the McGill's 2013 Cutting Edge Lecture series. View podcast

Global Television, 26 October 2012: Interview for "16:9" documentary on Foreign Fish.

CBC Radio, 19 October 2012: Interview for the show "The Current" regarding the ethical implications of assisted migration.

The Globe and Mail (newspaper): "From global swarming to butt-kicking bugs", by Suzanne Bowness (20 April 2012).

The Scientist (magazine): "Antarctic Invasion", by Megan Scudellari (5 March 2012).

Nature.com: "Invasive species turn parasites into hosts", by Jessica Marshall (Nature, 15 February 2012). Comments on an unusual interaction between an Asian mussel and a freshwater fish, both introduced to northern Europe.

Great Lakes Echo (internet), 8 November 2011: Article on the bloody red mysid, a recent animal invader of the Great Lakes.

Science Daily (magazine), 1 April 2011: "Manage biological invasions like natural disasters, biologists say".  In reference to our BioScience article.

Montreal Gazette (newspaper article & video), 16 October 2010: "Battle for the river bed" (by Donna Nebenzahl).  Regarding invasions in the St. Lawrence River.

Sciencemag.org: "Home, Home Outside the Range?", by Richard Stone (Science, 24 Sept 2010). The assisted colonization debate revisited.

Nature.com: "Confronting the Biodiversity Crisis", by Hannah Hoag (Nature Reports Climate Change, 5 May 2010). More discussion on assisted colonization.

EcoAmericas.com (internet), 10 June 2010:  "Invasive species: A battle on many fronts".

Documentary film: "Lake Invaders: the Fight for Lake Huron", by John Schmit, Grand Valley State University, released February 2010. Broadcast on PBS television in April 2010.

Canal Savoir (television), 14 December 2009: Broadcast of a lecture entitled Global Swarming: How invasive species are changing the world, which was part of the McGill's 2009 Mini-Enviro public lecture series. View podcast

CBC News (television), 28 July 2009: Interview for The National regarding the assisted migration of species.

CTV News (television), 15 June 2009: Interview regarding species invasions and extinctions.

Agence Science-Presse (internet), 10 June 2009: "La Grande Invasion".

Inter Press Service News Agency (internet), 21 May 2009: "Alien species eroding ecosystems and livelihoods".

Yale Environment 360 (internet), 20 April 2009: "As climate warms, species may need to migrate or perish".

New York Times (newspaper), 8 September 2008: "Friendly invaders".

CBC Newsworld (television), 23 July 2008:  Interview for CBC News: Today regarding the translocation of species threatened by climate change.

CBC Radio, 24 July 2008: Interview for the show "The Current" regarding the translocation of species threatened by climate change.

Canwest News (internet), 12 May 2008:  "Great Lakes monitoring groups announce new rules to stop invasive species."

Montreal Gazette (newspaper), 10 May 2008:  "Invaders clog our seaway."

American Museum of Natural History, short documentary film: "Invasive Species", November 2007.  Accompanying AMNH Essay: "Chasing Invaders on a Water Planet"

CBC Radio (St. John's, Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Whitehorse, Vancouver), 6 August 2007. Interviews regarding invasive species in Canada.

CBC News (internet), 4 June 2007: "Alien invasion - Arrival of foreign species into native ecosystems a worldwide problem".

The Globe and Mail (newspaper, op-ed article), 16 May 2007:  "Controlling global swarming".

Columbus Dispatch (newspaper), 18 March 2007: "Tiny shrimp is newest threat to Great Lakes".

Science News (magazine), 13 January 2007: "Alien alert: shrimpy invader raises big concerns".

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (newspaper), 21 Dec 2006: "Shrimp joins Great Lakes invader list".

Corporate Knights (magazine), October 2006: "Alien invasion".

Toronto Star (newspaper), 18 August 2006: "Ottawa chastised on Great Lakes' ballast rules".

Windsor Star (newspaper), 3 June 2006: "Coalition of scientists tackles lake invaders".

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (newspaper), 16 May 2006: "A new invasion: quaggas take over Lake Michigan".

Duluth News Tribune (newspaper), 25 Dec 2005: "So long, Salties?".

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (newspaper), 31 Oct 2005: "Noxious cargo".

Great Lakes Radio Consortium (internet radio), 10 Oct 2005: "Top ten threats to the Great Lakes: Predicting new invaders".

Canadian Sailings (magazine), 25 July 2005: "Ballast exchange proves insufficient to halt invasive species".

Duluth News Tribune
(newspaper), 26 March 2005. "Scientists warn of lake invaders".

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (newspaper), 18 Dec 2004: "Sea of change".

The Globe and Mail (newspaper), 2 Oct 2004: "Perch add junk-food mussels to their diet".

Montreal Gazette (newspaper), 29 Sept 2004: "Perch acquire taste for toxin-infested mussels".

Science Daily (magazine), 29 Sept 2004: "A fishy change in diet: McGill research shows fish eating junk food.".

St. Catharines Standard (newspaper), 3 July 2004: "Just the tip of the invasion".

Canadian Sailings (magazine), 10 May 2004: "Scientists ring alarm regarding invasive species"

CBC/Radio-Canada (television), 7 Sept 2003: Interview for science program Découverte regarding West Nile virus and invasive species.

CBC Radio, 9 July 2003: Interview regarding 'alien species' in Canada.

Toronto Star (newspaper), 5 July 2003: "Alien species invasion threatens Great Lakes".

St. Catherines Standard (newspaper), 19 June 2003: "Meltdown of the lakes".

Maclean's (magazine), 2 June 2003: "An Erie decline".

Canadian Sailings (magazine), 3 March 2003. "Canada's voluntary ballast treatment program contains too many flaws."

CTV News (television), 3 Jan 2003: Interview regarding synergistic impacts of aquatic invasions.

Canadian Wildlife (magazine), Winter 2003: "Clear and present danger".

CBC News (television), 13 Aug 2002: Interview regarding replacement of zebra mussels by another invasive mussel in the St. Lawrence River.

Discovery Channel (television), 22 May 2001: Interview regarding alien seaweed invasion of Nova Scotia coast.

CBC Radio, 14 May 2001: Interview regarding biological invasions on the Atlantic coast.

National Post (newspaper), 30 Aug 2000: "Aliens help each other successfully invade Great Lakes".

Detroit News (newspaper), 30 Aug 2000: "Great Lakes invaders on the rise".

Michigan Live (internet), 25 Aug 2000: "Any effort to stop lake invaders will help, scientist says".

USA Today (newspaper), 10 April 2000. "River changes come at cost to wildlife".

C-Span (television), 10 April 2000. "Endangered Rivers".

The Holland Sentinel (newspaper), 9 Mar 2000. "Invaders driving Great Lakes wildlife to extinction."

Michigan Live (internet), 3 Mar 2000. "Great Lakes in 'invasional meltdown', experts say."

Halifax Chronicle Herald (newspaper), 20 Feb 2000: "Freshwater animals' extinction rate rivals rainforest's".

Florida Environment (radio), 3 Jan 2000: "Foreseeing freshwater extinctions."

Earthwatch Radio, 29 Nov 1999: "Farewell to freshwater fauna."

Ottawa Citizen (internet), 22 Nov 1999: "Dozens of species threatened by not-so-freshwater".

Environmental News Network (internet), 16 Oct 1999: "Freshwater species in peril, study finds".

New Scientist (magazine), 9 Oct 1999: "Going, going...".

Newsweek (internet), 6 Oct 1999: "Fragile fish".

Discovery (internet), 6 Oct 1999: "Freshwater animals in dire straits".

BBC News (internet), 5 Oct 1999: "Extinction warning for freshwater species".

The Globe and Mail (newspaper), 4 Oct 1999: "Freshwater species heading extinction".

Science Daily (magazine), 30 Sept 1999: "Mass extinction of freshwater species in North America".

Montreal Gazette (newspaper), 23 July 1996: "Scientists seek ways to delay zebra mussel invasion".

Detroit News (newspaper), 6 June 1996: "Sponge squeezing out mussels".