News and Opinion - British Ecological Society

Paying farmers to create woodland and wetland is the most cost-effective way to hit UK environment targets, study suggests

Incentivising farmers to put aside farmland for nature could cut taxpayer costs in half, while delivering for climate, biodiversity, and food production targets.

Research reveals which animals perceive time the fastest

New research reveals that the animals that perceive time the fastest are those that are small, can fly, or are marine predators.

City allotments match farming productivity per square metre

Urban growers in Brighton and Hove were able to harvest 1kg of insect-pollinated fruit and vegetables per one metre square, which is within the range of conventional farming.

The sky’s the limit: Using airborne DNA to monitor insect biodiversity

Scientists at Lund University have discovered for the first time that it is possible to detect insect DNA in the air. This offers scope for exploring a whole new way to monitor terrestrial biodiversity.

Indigenous communities hold a huge and unique source of ecological knowledge

Indigenous people in the rainforests of Gabon have knowledge of plant and fruit-eating animal interactions that exceeds that found in academic literature.

Solar parks could boost bumble bee numbers in a win-win for nature

Simple changes to how UK solar parks are managed could boost ground nesting bumble bee populations in the parks and surrounding areas.

SPG Workshop at the Festival of Ecology 2020

The Scottish Policy Group (SPG) held a workshop on Understanding and Engaging with Policy at the Festival of Ecology last week.

Researchers make ‘high vis vests’ to help monitor bee behaviour

Researchers have been trialling low-cost ways to monitor bees by dressing them in high visibility vests.

How scientists are using declassified military intelligence photographs to analyse historical ecological change

Researchers are using Cold War spy satellite images to explore changes in the environmental change.

Researchers become DNA detectives to gather forensic evidence to aid rhino poaching prosecutions

Researchers use DNA markers to provide forensic evidence for poaching cases involving the Indian rhino.

More frequent and extreme marine heatwaves likely to threaten starfish

Common starfish cannot survive amplified marine heatwaves projected at the end of the century and experience lasting negative effects from current heatwaves, according to new research.

Characterising wildlife consumers to guide behaviour change efforts provides optimism amid the Asian Songbird Extinction Crisis

Novel research has identified three main groups within the Indonesian songbird owner community: ‘hobbyist’, ‘contestant’ and ‘breeder’.

Nominate an Incredible Ecologist for the 2020 BES Awards

You have until 20 April to nominate an incredible ecologist for the 2020 BES Awards.

Best of Belfast: highlights from the 2019 Annual Meeting

We have pulled together a summary of our favourite moments from the 2019 Annual Meeting in Belfast.

2019 Annual Meeting Student Prize Winners

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Student Talk and Student Poster Prizes from our 2019 Annual Meeting.