Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution – Science & research news

When and why did human brains decrease in size 3,000 years ago? New study may have found clues within ants

October 22, 2021

When and why did human brains decrease in size 3,000 years ago? New study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution may have found clues within ants [...]

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

October 6, 2021

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 [...]

Bat guts become less healthy through diet of ‘fast food’ from banana plantations

September 23, 2021

By Tania Fitzgeorge-Balfour, science writer Pallas’s long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina) feeding on banana flowers. Image credit: Julian Schneider New research [...]

Scientists pretend to be Neanderthals to explore how they caught birds in caves for food

September 16, 2021

By Mischa Dijkstra, Frontiers science writer Image credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock.com From fossil evidence and through scientific role-play, researchers reconstruct that [...]

Secret to speediness of ancient bipedal reptile has been revealed

August 16, 2021

By Clarissa Wright, Frontiers science writer Close-up of a reptile eye, but not the ancient Eudibamus cursoris. Image Aedka Studio/Shutterstock.com The Early Permian marked a [...]

First-of-its-kind flower smells like dead insects to imprison ‘coffin flies’

May 21, 2021

The first known case of a flower mimicking dead arthropods to attract pollinators: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Majority of bird species in Americas could survive climate change, shows study

May 5, 2021

By Robert Hanley / Durham University communications team The Arenal Volcano seen from the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Monteverde-Arenal is one of 21 Important Bird and [...]

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 2020 Editor Awards

April 22, 2021

The editors who have made outstanding contributions to the journal, supporting the review process, helping to build exciting content and driving journal growth. [...]

As plant/animal diversity wanes, is microbial life changing too? A perilously ‘profound ignorance’

April 19, 2021

Is microbial biodiversity worldwide increasing or decreasing? Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Team reveals amazing reconstructions of our ancestors to correct mistakes of the past

February 26, 2021

How to ensure accuracy in soft tissue reconstructions of early hominins such as Lucy? A review in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Improving water quality could help conserve insectivorous birds — study

February 26, 2021

Scarcity of insect prey in disturbed lakes and streams contributes to bird decline, show new results By Anna Sigurdsson and Mischa Dijkstra, science writers A new study shows [...]

Scientists propose three-step method to reverse significant reforestation side effect

February 10, 2021

By Colm Gorey, Frontiers science writer Image: Farid Suhaimi/Shutterstock Reforestation efforts using a monoculture of a fast-growing tree species, while effective, [...]

Infographic: Better learners in flycatchers more likely to copy competitors

January 11, 2021

Better learners in collared flycatchers are more likely to copy information from competing species: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Better learners in collared flycatchers are more likely to copy information from competing species

December 22, 2020

Ability to use social information depends on individual cognitive skills in female collared flycatchers: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

“Helper” ambrosia beetles share reproduction with their mother

November 4, 2020

Fungus-growing Xyleborus affinis beetles have independently evolved a similar social structure to many casteless wasps and bees: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Priyanga Amarasekare joins Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

October 20, 2020

Priyanga Amarasekare (UCLA) joins Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution as a Specialty Chief Editor for the journal's dedicated Models in Ecology and Evolution specialty section. [...]

Sky islands and tropical alpine sunflowers at risk of disappearing

September 24, 2020

What will happen to the Andean Páramos under climate change? Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Dr. Orsolya Valkó joins Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

September 4, 2020

Co-Specialty Chief Editor Dr. Orsolya Valkó brings a renewed focus on ecosystem restoration to Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Ecological theory and modelling finds its habitat

January 15, 2020

Landscape photograph of hills and snow-capped peaks and mountains surrounding a lake

University of Auckland's Prof George Perry leads new section on Models in Ecology and Evolution. [...]

Wolf-dog ‘swarms’ threaten Europe’s wolves

September 5, 2019

A new study reveals that scientists are divided on issues such as how to remove hybrids and free-roaming dogs, and whether they should be kept captive, sterilised and released or killed; Frontiers in Ecology in Evolution [...]

Winter is coming: a stark divide in red-neck phalarope migration

August 15, 2019

Red-neck phalaropes split between the Pacific Ocean and the Arabian Sea for the colder months, researchers discover; Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Young frogs that were stressed as tadpoles move less on land, putting their survival at risk

July 1, 2019

New Oregon State University research shows that juvenile northern red-legged frogs that have experienced climate-related stress as tadpoles are less likely to move on land, putting their survival at risk; Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Is one toe really better than three? How horses’ legs evolved for travel rather than speed

June 21, 2019

The real evolutionary 'step forward' in horse foot anatomy was not the loss of additional toes, but the evolution of the 'spring foot', say researchers; Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Research shows cattle ranching could help conserve rare African antelope, lions

June 19, 2019

Endangered African antelope and the lions that prey on them may benefit from certain cattle ranching practices in Kenya; Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

What’s your poison? Scrupulous scorpions tailor venom to target

June 11, 2019

Scorpions adapt their stinging, stingers and sting contents to minimize the costs of venom use; Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

How light from street lamps and trees influences the activity of urban bats

May 23, 2019

The team found that the response of bats to artificial light was intensified in areas with high tree cover. Credit: Christian Giese. A German study sheds new light on how [...]

Scientists propose rethinking ‘endangered species’ definition to save slow-breeding giants

May 17, 2019

Researchers at the Smithsonian Institute have proposed a ‘demographic safe space’ for Asian elephants, to improve conservation of these and other large, slow-breeding animals; Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Honey, I ate the kids: the sweet side of filial cannibalism

April 16, 2019

Why do some animals eat or abandon their offspring? According to researchers at the University of Tennessee and the University of Oxford, these might actually be forms of parental care; Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Specialty Chief Editor wins Women of Discovery Award

April 12, 2019

Krithi Karanth, Specialty Chief Editor of Conservation, winner of Women of Discovery 2019 award

Specialty Chief Editor of Conservation, Krithi Karanth has been recognized with the Women of Discovery award. [...]

Love Island: Flamboyant males get the girls on Madagascar

April 3, 2019

In two new species of rare giant stick insects, males turn livid blue or multicolored at sexual maturity; Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

It’s not trails that disturb forest birds, but the people on them

January 4, 2019

Image of people walking on a forest trail. Research finds that frequently used forest trails have fewer birds - even when the trails have been used for decades - showing a negative environmental impact of trails: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Frequently used forest trails have fewer birds and not as many species - even when the trails have been used for decades: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

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

October 8, 2018

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

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

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 [...]

‘Uniquely human’ muscles have been discovered in apes

June 11, 2018

Muscles thought unique to humans found in some ape species, questioning view that some muscles evolved to provide special adaptations for human traits: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Moths in mud can uncover prehistoric secrets

March 2, 2018

Lepidoptera scales moths prehistoric secrets

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

New section in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution: Coevolution

December 7, 2017

Coevolution: New section in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

The Coevolution section provides a unique platform to address the processes, mechanisms, importance, and outcomes of coevolution. [...]

No more deer in the headlight

November 27, 2017

Deer shown to use wildlife road crossing underpasses

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

Scientists pinpoint jealousy in the monogamous brain

October 20, 2017

Jealousy activates brain areas associated with social pain and pair bonding, reports a study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

House sparrow decline linked to air pollution and poor diet

October 6, 2017

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. [...]

What was the population of Easter Island?

September 26, 2017

Recent research in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution reveals Easter Island's population may have reached 17,500 people during its prime, far off early estimates of a much smaller population. [...]

Birds avoid crossing roads to prevent predation

August 8, 2017

Birds can find roads challenging - they are less likely to be found next to roads and are hesitant to cross them.

Recent research, in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, demonstrates that roads can be problematic to birds, especially small, forest-dwelling species. [...]

The courting cephalopods of the East China Sea

May 9, 2017

Recent research out of the National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan), and published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, has finally deciphered the previously unknown symbols and shapes the oval squid decorates itself in, and how they are used.

Recent research, published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, has finally deciphered the previously unknown symbols and shapes the oval squid. [...]

The schoolyard interactions of Earth’s ecosystem

November 30, 2016

Predators eavesdrop on insect-plant interactions, while plants backstab the insects they attract, recent research shows [...]

Not all trees influence the environment equally

November 11, 2016

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. [...]

Butterflies use differences in leaf shape to distinguish between plants

August 5, 2016

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

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 [...]

Fifteen shades of photoreceptor in a butterfly’s eye

March 28, 2016

When researchers studied the eyes of Common Bluebottles, a species of swallowtail butterfly from Australasia, they were in for a surprise. These butterflies have large [...]

Latest section “Urban Ecology” now open for submissions

April 22, 2015

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