Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution – Science & research news

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 [...]