In a departure from our regular interviews, Series 3, Episode 7 of the LifeWatch ERIC podcast 'A Window in Science' features a guest podcaster, Federica Gerini, who is completing her Masters in Science Communication at SISSA, the Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, in Trieste, Italy.  Consistent with our core themes of biodiversity and ecosystem research, Open Science and Invasive Alien Species,  however, Federica brings us a report on another troublesome invasive crustacean, Procambarus clarkii, the Louisiana Crayfish.

As well as painting an evocative picture of the crayfish presence in waterways in Spain and Italy, Federica includes material from an interview with Elena Tricarico, Research Fellow at the University of Florence.  Elena draws on her 20 years of experience working to understanding the impact and invasion success of aquatic non-native species and how they interact with novel environments and native biota. 

Together our guests recognise the value of technological aids to research, like the LifeWatch ERIC virtual research environment, acknowledge the contribution of citizen science to monitoring invasive species, and offer advice on how to avoid accidental transmission of bacteria, seeds or pathogens so as to protect our environment. With immense thanks to Federica and Elena, we commend to you this account of the dangerously prolific Louisiana Red Crayfish.