News and Opinion - British Ecological Society

Scant amounts of DNA reveal conservation clues

New methods of DNA analyses could help protect elusive and endangered animals.

Volunteer ornithological survey shows effects of temperatures on Eurasian jay population

An even range of habitats – forests fields and meadows – are needed in an area of around 200m2 to 1km2 in order for the jays to thrive.

Astro-ecology: Counting orangutans using star-spotting technology

Drones fitted with thermal cameras can detect orangutans and other endangered species.

How understanding animal behavior can support wildlife conservation

A new model that uses data from sensors worn by meerkats to gain a more detailed picture of how animals behave in the wild.

New research a game changer for fox control

A new study found that when control programs aren’t strategic, fox numbers can quickly recover.

Videos reveal how the seemingly defenseless kangaroo rat contends with deadly rattlesnakes

A student-led team at San Diego State University used high speed cameras to capture predator-prey interactions.

Climate change threatens Māori plant use and knowledge

Plants may become inaccessible to the people who value them most.

Menu change for corals in warming reefs

Researchers analysed coral samples from the Maldives to find out what corals were feeding on.

Researchers study people who feed birds in their backyards with implications for bird conservation

Study respondents noticed natural changes in their backyards as a result of feeding.

Food safety: Dung beetles and soil bacteria reduce risk of human pathogens

Organic farming encourages higher biodiversity among dung beetles and soil bacteria.

Wind turbines cause habitat loss for migratory soaring birds

New study published in Journal of Animal Ecology calls for new regulatory measures.

Getting into...science communication

Reflections on BES press office internship during a busy annual meeting

New technologies could help conservationists keep better track of Serengeti wildebeest herds

Using a deep-learning algorithm to identify the wildebeest in an aerial image survey.

Disrupting wolf movement may be more effective at protecting caribou than fences and wolf culls

A new study published in Journal of Animal Ecology.

Nematode odours offer possible advantage in the battle insect pests

Nematodes may prove more useful than previously thought. Not only do they directly kill insects in the soil, they also produce chemical cues that offer plants additional protection.