News and Opinion - British Ecological Society

Scientists take to Twitter to study flying ants, starling murmurations and house spiders

The retrospective analysis of social media has been used widely to detect earthquakes or political sentiment, but not so much in ecological research.

Study uses herbarium samples to understand link between climate change and insect herbivory

A new Journal of Ecology study used herbarium specimens to track insect herbivory across more than a century.

Predicting forest areas with potential of natural regeneration

Prioritizing natural regeneration of Brazilian forest areas.

New study reveals reasons for huge decline of rare seabird

Lack of food drives loss of Arctic skuas

Mangrove expansion and climatic warming may help coastal ecosystems keep pace with sea level rise

Biologists have documented that coastal wetlands in the southeastern United States are responding positively to rising temperatures.

Frequent fires make droughts harder for young trees, even in wet eastern forests

New research published in Functional Ecology focuses on the combined effects of fire and drought on white oak seedlings.

A mathematical method to understand and explore the niche of species

The new method published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution translates the original ideas of the Anglo-American ecologist G. Evelyn Hutchinson (1903-1991) into simple mathematical terms.

Kelp forests function differently in warming ocean

Kelp forests in the UK awill experience a marked change in ecosystem functioning in response to continued ocean warming.

Exotic pets that grow large and are cheap to purchase are more often released by owners

Large pet reptiles and amphibians that are sold small and cheaply are more likely to be released into the wild.

Greater species diversity boosts meadows’ resistance to parasitic invaders

Grasslands enjoying a wider biodiversity have more resilience against parasitic plants.

Model way to protect trees

Oak processionary moth and ash dieback are among the most notorious tree pests and diseases introduced into the UK.

Severe declines in mountain hares on Scottish grouse moors

Mountain hare numbers on moorlands in the eastern Highlands have declined to less than one per cent of their initial levels.

Tropical birds benefit from more forest by rivers in oil palm areas

Protected riverbank habitats within areas of oil palm cultivation can play a key role in reducing the negative impacts on tropical bird numbers.

Scientists find fish body holds the key to make fishery management cheaper, easier

Study analyzes fishery-monitoring methods to address challenges of managing small-scale fisheries.

Green sea turtle digging its own watery grave due to invasion of non-native seagrass

Research into how these large grazers influence the expansion of exotic plant species in aquatic systems.