News and Opinion - British Ecological Society

How Ireland’s smallest mammal, the pygmy shrew, is quietly and quickly disappearing from our landscape

The pygmy shrew is disappearing from Ireland because it is being outcompeted for insect food by the recent arrival of the invasive greater white-toothed shrew.

Farmland bird populations bounce back when farms devote 10% of their land to nature-friendly measures

RSBP researchers monitored the responses of farmland bird populations to different agri-environment scheme implementation levels.

Planet’s most unique birds at higher risk of extinction

A new study finds that bird species with extreme or uncommon combinations of traits face the highest risk of extinction.

Rhino horns are getting smaller, according to analysis of artwork and photographs

Analysis of artwork and photographs has revealed that rhino horns have been getting smaller and human attitudes towards rhinos have shifted from predation to conservation.

Researchers quantify forage yield gap caused by woody encroachment

New research quantifies the economic impacts of lost herbaceous production from tree encroachment throughout the American west.

Asian elephants prefer habitats on the boundaries of protected areas

New research finds that elephants prefer habitats on the periphery of protected areas, rather than the areas themselves

Animals in national parks can be impacted by just a few people

A new People and Nature study has found that even in remote, rarely visited national parks, the presence of even just a few humans impacts the activity of wildlife that live there.

Daytime pastoralist activities do not negatively affect spotted hyenas

A study looking at the interactions of pastoralists and hyenas in Tanzania finds that the two can coexist, with no negative impacts to the hyenas

The BES signs open letter to PM on environmental deregulation

Today the BES has joined 78 Wildlife and Countryside Link organisations in an open letter to the Prime Minister urging her to change the Government's trajectory on environmental deregulation.

A new window into plants of the past

Researchers have developed a fast, nondestructive way of estimating how millions of dried plant specimens, from herbarium collections, interacted with their environment.

Flower strips and hedges combine to boost bees in orchards

New research finds hedges and perennial flower strips are complementary in supporting wild bees in orchards

Scientists study tourists to protect great apes from disease transmission

Researchers are protecting great apes from diseases by studying the behaviour and expectations of tourists who visit them.

Can New Zealand coordinate national conservation efforts to control pest mammals?

Researchers have identified what pest control measures are needed where to bring mammal populations in New Zealand down to manageable levels.

Nestboxes: the simple conservation strategy saving threatened Roseate terns

Wooden bird boxes, placed by wardens, have greatly assisted in the extraordinary success of the threatened Roseate terns on Rockabill Island.

The irreplaceable roles of crocodiles and relatives are at risk of being lost

As the risk of extinction for crocodilians grows, the unique ecosystem roles these reptiles fulfil are also at risk.