News and Opinion - British Ecological Society

Great Welsh science helps solve pollinator puzzle

Understanding the role of hoverfly pollination.

Did tree-forming daisies evolve due to drought stress?

Increased wood formation in plants is strongly linked to increased drought stress resistance.

Using mathematical models to save forests

How can small changes in the climate have big impacts on forest health?

Seaweeds shelter calcifying marine life from acidifying oceans

Seaweeds create a chemical microenvironment at their surface, providing refuge for calcifying organisms that are at risk from decreasing oceanic pH.

Flight delays: Study finds out why some African birds stay home longer

Researchers studied the behaviour of wild southern pied babblers, which live in family groups of up to 14 in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa.

Shooters urged to take 'cautious approach' when shooting woodcock

To reduce the effects of cold weather on Eurasian woodcock, shooting should be restricted before energy reserves are depleted

How barbastelle bats trick moths that are able to hear their echolocation calls

Researchers have found that the rare European barbastelle bats sneak up on unsuspecting moths by gradually emitting ever fainter calls as they come closer.

Lack of water is key stressor for urban trees

Urban trees can survive increased heat and insect pests fairly well – unless they are thirsty.

Social status influences infection risk and and disease-induced mortality

In this long-term study, ecologists monitored the health status of spotted hyena and the risk of infection with canine distemper virus.

Uncoordinated trade policies aid alien bee invasions

Patagonia may lose its only native bumblebee species due to invasions by alien bee species sanctioned by government policy.

A big picture for the big island

A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology provides a range of options to protect and restore Hawaii's valuable marine ecosystems for the future.

Special Feature on animal host–microbe interactions

Journal of Animal Ecology published a Special Feature with 18 research articles investigating the ecology of host–microbe interactions.

Hunting is changing forests, but not in ways as previously thought

A new study of the Amazon rainforest examines what happens to plants if their seed dispersers are no longer present.

Scientists study the effects of wildfire management on California avian populations

In California’s iconic shrubland ecosystem, wildfire management can devastate wild bird populations and fire-risk reduction is only temporary.

#EpicDuckChallenge shows we can count on drones

A University of Adelaide study showed that monitoring wildlife using drones is more accurate than traditional counting approaches.