News and Opinion - British Ecological Society

Lack of insects in cities limits breeding success of urban birds

Urban insect populations would need to increase by a factor of at least 2.5 for urban great tits to have same breeding success as those living in forests.

How does an increase in nitrogen application affect grasslands?

Researchers at the University of Bern share the first results of the largest biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiment in Switzerland

Understanding deer damage is crucial when planting new forests

Scientists at the University of Southampton and Forest Research say understanding the risk of damage by deer to new and existing forests in Britain is crucial when considering their expansion.

Lizards develop new 'love language'

Animal chemical signals shift after only four generations.

Ash dieback is less severe in isolated ash trees

New research finds that ash dieback is far less severe in the isolated conditions ash is often found in, such as forests with low ash density or in open canopies like hedges, suggesting the long term impact of the disease on Europe's ash trees will be more limited than previously thought.

Parasite carried by grey squirrels negatively impacts red squirrel behaviour

Research reveals a new mechanism of how grey squirrels affect native red squirrels in Europe through parasite-mediated competition.

More taxpayers’ money for the environment and public benefit

3,647 researchers call for Common Agricultural Policy reform with science to be taken into consideration.

Smaller fields and diversified crops can help spontaneous plants to make a comeback, even in the middle of fields

Scientists from INRAE and the CNRS, working with colleagues from Germany, Spain, the UK and Canada, find that increasing field border lengths could be a highly effective measure to complement agri-environmental schemes, maintaining and restoring plant diversity right to the centre of fields.

Call for policy makers to protect pollinators

Pollinating insects could thrive if improvements are made to agri-environment schemes across Europe, new study led by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) finds.

Why the British Ecological Society President mows round the dandelions in her lawn

New BES President Jane Memmott talks about how ecology affects everyone’s lives and how all of us can make a difference.

Energy-saving modernisation of villages may reduce farmland bird numbers

New research suggests declines of farmland bird numbers in Europe are linked to renovations of farm and homesteads that make them more energy efficient but leave fewer nesting sites.

Parliament and policy-making: the importance of collaborative work between scientists and policy makers.

Plant-eating insects disrupt ecosystems and contribute to climate change

Plant-eating insects affect forest ecosystems considerably more than previously thought.

Scottish Policy Group: Understanding the Science-Policy Interface in Scotland

An MSc student reflects on the annual policy training event

Transformative change: an idiot’s guide

Andy Suggitt reflects on the joint BES - University of York Pie and a Pint event