Category Archives: Research
Trees and Forests in British Society: Conference, Edinburgh, 13-15 April 2010
The story of forestry in Britain is unique. Our forests provide us with a range of benefits reflecting the changing needs and demands of society. Today, trees, woods and forests are expected to contribute to improving health, building resilient communities, … Continue reading
Melting Glaciers Releasing Trapped Pollutants
New research shows that concentrations of pollutants in the environment and atmosphere may increase with global warming, as melting glaciers release pollutants which became trapped in their ice at the end of the twentieth century. A team of researchers working … Continue reading
New Funding Scheme for Systematics and Taxonomy
A new funding scheme aims to revive research in systematics and taxonomy, a crucial field which has struggled somewhat in recent years. The scheme, announced by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), … Continue reading
Estimating Bird Population Size Using Bird Song – BES Research
New research published online today in the British Ecological Society’s Journal of Applied Ecology offers a way to more accurately estimate the size of bird populations using bird song. The technique could offer a way to assess the numbers of … Continue reading
Major River Deltas Sinking Worldwide
New research published in the journal Nature Geoscience shows that 73% of the world’s major river deltas, formed when rivers deposit sediment on their way out to sea, are sinking. This has major implications for the 500 million people who … Continue reading
Assessing Risks from Pesticides in Europe’s Waterways
New research showcased in last week’s ‘Science for Environment Policy‘ digest, produced by the European Commission, suggests that the ‘Species at Risk’ (SPEAR) system could provide an accurate and cost-effective means of assessing the effects of pesticides in streams. Under … Continue reading
Academics and Government at Odds Over Plans for REF
The head of the Russell Group of universities, Professor Michael Arthur, has argued that 90% of funding to be allocated in the Research Excellence Framework should be concentrated in 25 – 30 institutions. Commenting at a Times Higher Education conference … Continue reading
For Turtles, The Suburbs May Be Better Than Nature Reserves
Scientists at the Institute for Applied Ecology at the University of Canberra, Australia, have found a turtle that does better in a suburban habitat than it does in nature reserves. Eastern long-necked turtles (Chelodina longicollis) living in the suburbs of … Continue reading
Noise Pollution Not an Insignificant Concern
A review of recent studies into noise pollution and biodiversity has concluded that noise is becoming a major threat, interfering with the way species communicate, mate and hunt. The authors found that man-made noise is already creating a host of … Continue reading
New Research Aims to Shed Light on Red Squirrel Decline
Veterinarian Tim Dale has begun a PhD at the University of Liverpool, part funded by the National Trust, to investigate why the deadly squirrel pox virus is destroying red squirrel populations. He will investigate how the disease is transmitted to … Continue reading