Ecology - Science & research news

Humans have totally altered small mammal communities in just a few centuries

August 15, 2022 // 0 Comments

By Suzanna Burgelman, science writer Image: Paul Abrahams/Shutterstock.com Researchers have found that small mammal communities today are fundamentally different from even a [...]

New study finds 19th century wooden shipwrecks to be thriving habitats for deep-sea microbiomes

June 8, 2022 // 0 Comments

New study in Frontiers in Marine Science finds 19th century wooden shipwrecks to be thriving habitats for deep-sea microbiomes [...]

Surprising discovery in Arctic songbird may reveal how it survives challenging migrations

October 6, 2021 // 0 Comments

By K.E.D Coan, science writer Snow buntings in winter. Image: Mircea Costina/Shutterstock.com There is still much to learn about how Arctic migratory birds adjust their [...]

How dancing honey bees could help us save pollinators

May 20, 2021 // 0 Comments

By Suzanna Burgelman/Dr Margaret Couvillon, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Dr Margaret Couvillon. Image: Margaret Couvillon Pollinators are under threat [...]

97% of Earth’s land area may no longer be ecologically intact

April 15, 2021 // 0 Comments

Only between 2% and 3% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface can be considered ecologically intact, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change [...]

Exciting new partnership with Ecography

October 17, 2018 // 0 Comments

This partnership will help bringing the latest ecological research to the younger Frontiers for Young Minds audience. [...]

Mesosaurus, the oldest-known aquatic reptile, probably spent time on land

October 8, 2018 // 0 Comments

Image of Mesosaurus: A comprehensive analysis of fossilized Mesosaurus bones reveals adult specimens have similar anatomical features to terrestrial animals: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

A comprehensive analysis fossilized mesosaurus bones suggests juveniles spent most of their time in water but adults were only semi-aquatic: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

In the battle of cats vs. rats, the rats are winning

October 1, 2018 // 1 Comment

Image of a cat and a rat. Study shows any benefit of using cats to control city rats is outweighed by the threat they pose to birds and other urban wildlife: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Any benefit of using cats to control city rats is outweighed by the threat they pose to birds and other urban wildlife: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Lion conservation research can be bolstered by input from a wide-range of professionals

June 22, 2018 // 0 Comments

To tackle the sharp decline in lion numbers, conservation research should consider wild prey, livestock and the environment, not just human-lion interaction -- and go beyond the fields of biology, wildlife conservation and environmental science to include ecology, economics, sociology and the humanities: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Lion conservation research should go beyond human-lion conflict to include ecology, economics, sociology and the humanities: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Traditional knowledge sheds light on changing East Greenland climate and polar bear hunt

May 31, 2018 // 0 Comments

Frontiers in Marine Science: Traditional knowledge sheds light on climate change and polar bear ecology in East Greenland

The study is the first in nearly 20 years to document traditional knowledge on polar bear catches and ecology: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

The macabre world of mind-controlling parasites

May 15, 2018 // 1 Comment

Frontiers in Psychology: interactions between parasites and insects (neuro-parasitology) could provide insights into the neurological basis for behavior and decision-making

The gruesome new field of neuro-parasitology could provide insights into the neurological basis for behavior and decision-making: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Researchers use ‘environmental DNA’ to identify killer whales

May 3, 2018 // 0 Comments

Frontiers in Marine Science: Groundbreaking non-invasive technique uses DNA to detect killer whales (orcas) in the ocean

A groundbreaking new non-invasive technique may help scientists locate rare whale species in the ocean: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Making music from animal migrations

April 23, 2018 // 0 Comments

Frontiers in Marine Science: Making music from elephant seal migrations - Carlos Duarte, Daniel Costa, Paul Riker

What does elephant seal migration sound like? A study by prominent marine researchers is the first to find out: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

High levels of hazardous chemicals found in plastics collected from Lake Geneva

April 18, 2018 // 1 Comment

The first analysis of plastic from the lake's beaches finds cadmium, mercury and lead, sometimes at levels exceeding those permitted under EU law: Frontiers in Environmental Science [...]

Moths in mud can uncover prehistoric secrets

March 2, 2018 // 1 Comment

Lepidoptera scales moths prehistoric secrets

Revolutionary new technique for studying lake sediments can reveal when prehistoric insect swarms occurred: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

High levels of microplastics found in Northwest Atlantic fish

February 21, 2018 // 0 Comments

Marine science: plastic pollution mesopelagic fish

Study finds microplastics in 73 percent of mesopelagic fish caught in the Northwest Atlantic - one of the highest levels globally: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Modern man vs. giant animals

February 12, 2018 // 0 Comments

Megafauna extinction mammoth woolly rhinoceros giant sloth

Extinct herbivorous megafauna -- like woolly rhinos, giant sloths and mammoths -- were displaced by humans who partly took their place in the ecosystem: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Seabed mining could destroy deep sea ecosystems

February 2, 2018 // 0 Comments

Marine science: environmental impact of deepsea mining

The first global overview of seabed mining highlights potential environmental impacts, knowledge gaps and areas for future research: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

No more deer in the headlight

November 27, 2017 // 0 Comments

Deer shown to use wildlife road crossing underpasses

Large mammals do use road crossing structures, finds a study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Habitat restoration can maximize the benefits of marine protected areas

October 30, 2017 // 0 Comments

marine-protected-areas-habitat-restoration-oyster

Spillover of oyster larvae from marine protected areas is only beneficial if harvested areas contain suitable oyster habitat, finds research in Frontiers in Marine Science. [...]

Waterside lighting drastically disrupts wildlife in the surrounding ecosystem

October 24, 2017 // 0 Comments

waterside-lighting-ecosystem-bioverdiversity

Streetlights affect insects and spiders living beneath the lights, finds a study in Frontiers in Environmental Science [...]

DNA in albatross feces reveals diet of fishery discards

October 9, 2017 // 0 Comments

Marine-fisheries-conservation-albatross-diet

A new, non-intrusive way to assess seabird diet described in Frontiers in Marine Science could help improve fisheries management and monitor marine biodiversity. [...]

House sparrow decline linked to air pollution and poor diet

October 6, 2017 // 0 Comments

City sparrows have higher levels of free-radical damage than their country cousins, especially during breeding season, finds a study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. [...]

Horizon Scan 2018: Emerging Issues in Marine Science

August 9, 2017 // 0 Comments

Frontiers in Marine Science is proud to launch the second edition of our annual Research Topic: Horizon Scan 2018: Emerging Issues in Marine Science. [...]

Microbial colonisers of Arctic soils are sensitive to future climate change

April 4, 2017 // 0 Comments

New research in Frontiers In Earth Science shows that ecosystems created by melting glaciers in the Arctic are sensitive to climate change and human activity. [...]

Not all trees influence the environment equally

November 11, 2016 // 1 Comment

When adding more green to your neighborhood, are all trees the same? Not quite, according to recent research led by Heikki Setälä from the University of Helsinki. [...]

To survive climate change, plants must adapt – and fast

August 23, 2016 // 7 Comments

Researchers read into the biological history of plants to reveal how plants will survive when birds and bees fly away. [...]

Butterflies use differences in leaf shape to distinguish between plants

August 5, 2016 // 0 Comments

The preference of Heliconius butterflies for certain leaf shapes is innate, but can be reversed through learning, says a study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. These [...]

DNA proves mammoths mated beyond species boundaries

April 22, 2016 // 0 Comments

By Tania FitzGeorge-Balfour, Frontiers science writer Several species of mammoth are thought to have roamed across the North American continent. A new study in the [...]

Latest section “Urban Ecology” now open for submissions

April 22, 2015 // 0 Comments

Urban Ecology is a new specialty section available through the community-run open-access journals Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. “Urban ecology is highly [...]