News and Opinion

Diving beneath the waves with giant mantas off Peru

Researchers have described the movement patterns and habitat use of giant oceanic manta rays off northern Peru.

Mangrove forests store more carbon when they’re more diverse

Mangrove forests with greater species diversity can store more carbon, according to new research.

Pioneering research reveals gardens are secret powerhouse for pollinators

Home gardens are by far the biggest source of food for pollinating insects, including bees and wasps, in cities and towns, according to new research.

Century-old salmon scales show historical decline in population diversity

New research reconstructs historical abundance and diversity of populations of sockeye salmon using modern genetic tools on 100 year old scales.

Selfies, gorillas and the risks of disease transmission

New research analysing Instagram posts finds that most gorilla trekking tourists get too close to gorillas, risking transmission of diseases like COVID-19.

You don’t need to know nature to love it

A first of its kind study in the Global South finds that farmers in the Brazilian Amazon can develop strong connections with nature despite having little knowledge of local biodiversity.

Fish in warming Scottish seas grow faster but reach a smaller size

Researchers have found new evidence that global warming is affecting the size of commercial fish species, documenting for the first time that juvenile fish are getting bigger, as well as confirming that adult fish are getting smaller as sea temperatures rise.

Research shows IdentiFlight camera technology greatly reduces wind turbine eagle fatalities

New research finds that using IdentiFlight, an automated computer vision system that shuts off wind turbines when it detects eagles, can reduce eagle fatalities by 82%.

Installing bird nest boxes improves pest control in cider apple crops

Researchers encourage farmers to abandon chemical pesticides and adopt this effective, cheap and environmentally friendly measure.

Eyes reveal life history of fish

Eye-popping research helps inform salmon and floodplain management. 

Large mammals make soil more fertile in tropical forests

New research reveals the resilience of Scots pine trees to drought

The effect of extreme drought on Scots pine trees has been examined, which could have implications for climate change efforts across the world.

Micro-climate moulds northern insect communities, herbivory and predation

New research explores how micro-climate shapes each level of the ecosystem to reveal how climate change may drastically reshape northern ecosystems.

Lactating grizzly bears use cooling baths to avoid heat stress

Grizzly bear mothers in Yellowstone National Park take cool "baths" to avoid overheating.

Win-win for wind energy and eagles

Researchers develop new tool that allows wind turbine developers to minimise risk of collisions with eagles.