News and Opinion - British Ecological Society

Communicating uncertainty to policy makers

Find out what an early career researcher learned about science communication at a mini-policy workshop

Northern Ireland’s recovering pine marten population benefits red squirrels, but the urban grey squirrel poses a problem

The recovery of pine marten in Ireland and Britain is reversing native red squirrel replacement by invasive grey squirrels

Local traditional knowledge can be as accurate as 10 years of scientific transect monitoring of animal abundance in the Amazon

New research from a cross-organisational consortium in the Amazon has found indigenous knowledge to be as accurate as scientific transect monitoring.

Study finds that multi-species grassland mixtures increase yield stability, even under drought conditions

In a two-year experiment in Ireland and Switzerland, researchers found a positive relationship between plant diversity and yield stability in intensely managed grassland, even under experimental drought conditions. The results are presented today at the British Ecological Society’s annual meeting in Belfast.

Participation in citizen science camera trap project dramatically increased school children’s knowledge of UK mammals

Children who participated in a citizen science project called MammalWeb, used camera traps to detect wildlife visiting their schools..

Invest in pollinator monitoring for long-term gain

A research team from the University of Reading and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology is studying how to improve pollinator monitoring in the UK in a cost-effective manner.

Changing the tide

The need for ‘collaborative solutions’ to the twin challenges of the biodiversity and climate crises.

Dial-a-frog - researchers develop the ‘FrogPhone’ to remotely call frogs in the wild

Researchers have developed the ‘FrogPhone’, a novel device which allows scientists to call a frog survey site and monitor wild frogs.

Tiny woodlands are more important than previously thought

Small woodlands in farmland have more benefits for humans per area compared to large forests according to a new study.

Scientists develop new method to estimate seal breeding frequency

New research, led by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at the University of St Andrews, develops method to better record breeding histories of seals, allowing for improved fecundity calculations.

Badger behaviour inside the cull zone

ZSL study shows survivors of culls cover 61% greater areas potentially increasing risk of transmission to cattle.

2019 Parliamentary Shadowing scheme in Scotland open for applications

A unique opportunity to spend two days in the Scottish Parliament.

Private boats in the Mediterranean have extremely high potential to spread alien species

A Mediterranean wide study has found that 71% of sampled recreational boats hosted alien marine species. Over half carried an alien species that was not yet present in the marina the boat was visiting.

Scientists and key figures develop vision for managing UK land and seas after Brexit

Researchers have outlined how fishing and farming policies could be created to protect employment opportunities and the environment after Brexit.

Wildlife and wind farms: Are British gulls staying safe in the winter sun?

New research shows that Lesser Black-backed Gulls breeding in Britain could be vulnerable to collisions with wind turbines whilst on migration and during the winter months as well as during the breeding season.