Bill Sutherland
@Bill_Sutherland
Academic committed to identifying future environmental threats and finding solutions to conservation problems. https://www.youtube.com/@Bill_Sutherland
Explaining the role of the spectacular strangler fig, how they strength host trees but then kill them, and how they benefit a range of species. youtu.be/Ooez41dBQNg?si…
Much enjoy walls and the fascinating species. Here I discuss their ecology based at Bury St Edmund’s Abbey ruins. youtu.be/BF-IrmqLO-Q?si…
want to be the Project Officer for the Newmarket Chalk Streams Trust and help protect our wonderful chalk streams? newmarketchalkstreamtrust.co.uk/vacancy/
On waking y'day, wasn't expecting a gratis #fish manicure from the kind Minnows & Gudgeon enjoying the base of the new fish pass at Turf Lock, Mildenhall! Come tomorrow, Fri 5-7pm, to free event at @MildenhallCrick to celebrate new fish pass! brecks.org/events/turf-lo… #MySwim 1/17
Hugh Possingham explaining that we are already carrying out triage in focussing on a limited set of species, why we should prioritise actions rather than species and how this approach has resulted in more species being protected for the same budget. youtu.be/f2fm88EHv0A?si…
Delight to be back in River Wissey & seeing Chub again (they've been rather absent from Wissey tributary the Old Carr Stream/Stringside & lower reaches of #Rivers Little Ouse & Lark), including huge shoal of small ones, here mixing with Roach. #MySwim #Norfolk #Chalkstreams🧵1/10
Playlist of 8 videos on the amazing ecology of parasitic plants: yellow rattle, broomrapes, mistletoes, climbing plants and more to come. youtube.com/playlist?list=…
25th Student Conference in Conservation Science, Cambridge, 31 March – 2 April 2026. Looking for postgraduate students and early-career conservation scientists, in a broad range of fields, to apply to present talks or posters on their work. sccs-cam.org
Next: What do researchers need from STEM publishing? With @Bill_Sutherland - Flood of AI-generated literature reviews or even research. But AI can also help us review literature. Fair credit, fair access. How do we make science resilient for the future? #FutureSciPub
How do broomrapes find their hosts? How can they specialise on different hosts? Enter the astonishing world of strigolactones . youtu.be/mUp9n_RW2eg?si…
Returned to my favourite stretch of the Little Ouse alongside @RSPBLakenheath x.com/numenini/statu…, which continued to wow, with amazing numbers of HUGE Common Rudd. Quite shy. But what stunning #fish they are. The REAL gold fish. (At least one, a bit diseased.) #MySwim🧵1/12
THERE BE GIANTS! In yesterday's heat, returned to amazing reach of River Little Ouse adjacent to @RSPBLakenheath & it did not disappoint: more huge Rudd, Tench & 2 massive Bronze Bream as well as astonishing streams of young Perch plus Roach & a Dace. #MySwim #Teamfish🧵1/11
Someone kindly sent details of a beechwood with masses on bird-nest orchid in Surrey? near M25. But somehow lost details before replying. Any thoughts anyone - or kind initial responder? Will they still be in flower? Thanks.
Am looking for sites where I can film any of: Beech wood with saprophytic plant eg bird nest orchid A photogenic clump of broomrapes An tree with open habit in a dense woodland - ideally with another tree in open nearby Ideally near Cambridge/Brecks but can travel. Many thanks!
Very fascinating information on the role of mistletoes in biodiversity. Thx, Bill & Dave, beautiful work
Third and last fascinating mistletoe video. Dave Watson describes how they evolved from being a root parasite dispersed by small mammals and their key role in the evolution of birds. Enjoy! youtu.be/Y25baiIEWEY?si…
Third and last fascinating mistletoe video. Dave Watson describes how they evolved from being a root parasite dispersed by small mammals and their key role in the evolution of birds. Enjoy! youtu.be/Y25baiIEWEY?si…
Evidence synthesis for decision-making is heavily focused on systematic reviews (gold standard). Advances in AI create both an urgent need + a current opportunity for a complete re-think. nature.com/articles/d4158… 1/3
Our piece: Will AI speed up literature reviews or derail them entirely? nature.com/articles/d4158…
THERE BE GIANTS! In yesterday's heat, returned to amazing reach of River Little Ouse adjacent to @RSPBLakenheath & it did not disappoint: more huge Rudd, Tench & 2 massive Bronze Bream as well as astonishing streams of young Perch plus Roach & a Dace. #MySwim #Teamfish🧵1/11
More Steppe Bison (Bison priscus) bones!! Including a vertebrae & rib. In same place in Cut-Off Channel at Wretton SSSI about 2m deep, lying on riverbed with old mussel shells. Wish I'd been around in Pleistocene to watch great bison herds roaming the Wissey Valley. #MySwim🧵1/21
On Saturday, found bones of extinct Steppe Bison (Bison priscus) from Pleistocene deposits of River Wissey, exposed in Cut-Off Channel at Wretton, 1km from Nattergal's High Fen. (Wolf & Woolly Rhino also found here). Thanks Tim Holt Wilson for setting me the mission! #MySwim 1/25
Because of their parasitic habit, mistletoes are full of nutrients e.g. apes love feeding on them. Adding 15% mistletoe to Australian leaf litter doubles insects. Removing mistletoe reduces birds by 30%. Is the same is true of European species? youtu.be/rzwf5Gqj7uo?si…
To end this🧵on swim along Cut-Off Channel at Wretton, a video by @Bill_Sutherland (who tends to get out before me) of resident Mute Swans, the still evening air on 31 May resounding to bird song incl. Reed Warbler, Blackbird & feral pigeons under bridge. #BirdsSeenIn2025 21/21