News and Opinion

Forests on caffeine: coffee waste can boost forest recovery

A new study finds that coffee pulp, a waste product of coffee production, can be used to speed up tropical forest recovery on post agricultural land.

Lack of prey reduces breeding success in puffin populations

New research finds that a lack of prey around breeding colonies in the northeast Atlantic is leading to puffin population declines.

Wasps share resources on offshore island

A study of invasive wasps on an island off the coast of Coromandel Peninsula shows they are able to share resources such as food and habitat instead of competing with each other, a worrying result for conservation.

Gulls can spread weeds over large distances and between habitats

A new model shows that gulls can disperse weeds over large distances and between different habitats, causing the exchange of weed and alien plant species between agricultural crops and natural areas.

New research unlocks mysteries of soupfin shark migration and reproduction

Coffee for the birds: connecting bird-watchers with shade-grown coffee

New research that surveyed US bird watchers finds that only a small percentage buy bird-friendly coffee, with awareness being one the main constraints.

Diving beneath the waves with giant mantas off Peru

Researchers have described the movement patterns and habitat use of giant oceanic manta rays off northern Peru.

Mangrove forests store more carbon when they’re more diverse

Mangrove forests with greater species diversity can store more carbon, according to new research.

Pioneering research reveals gardens are secret powerhouse for pollinators

Home gardens are by far the biggest source of food for pollinating insects, including bees and wasps, in cities and towns, according to new research.

Century-old salmon scales show historical decline in population diversity

New research reconstructs historical abundance and diversity of populations of sockeye salmon using modern genetic tools on 100 year old scales.

Selfies, gorillas and the risks of disease transmission

New research analysing Instagram posts finds that most gorilla trekking tourists get too close to gorillas, risking transmission of diseases like COVID-19.

The end of 108 years of print

Tony Davy reflects on his collection of print issues, as the Journal of Ecology finally joins the Society’s other journals as online-only.

You don’t need to know nature to love it

A first of its kind study in the Global South finds that farmers in the Brazilian Amazon can develop strong connections with nature despite having little knowledge of local biodiversity.

Fish in warming Scottish seas grow faster but reach a smaller size

Researchers have found new evidence that global warming is affecting the size of commercial fish species, documenting for the first time that juvenile fish are getting bigger, as well as confirming that adult fish are getting smaller as sea temperatures rise.