Darwin and the world's first ecological experiment
Scientists examining the work that influenced Charles Darwin have rediscovered the details of what may be the world's first ecological experiment. Darwin, in his Origin of Species of 1859, referred to an experiment investigating the biology of grassland plants that showed how a greater diversity of grasses planted in experimental plots was... view more... (2002-01-21)
Antarctic plants repair themselves
Dutch researchers funded by NWO have studied the effects of the hole in the ozone layer on the vegetation in Antarctica. The repair mechanisms of lichens and mosses appear to be effective even at low temperatures. Nevertheless, the ecology of the Antarctic is still under threat. The rise in temperature caused by the greenhouse effect is doing... view more... (2001-11-26)
Making maps from space
A new and improved Land Cover Map was launched today (31 October ) as a key part of the Countryside Survey 2000. In his opening speech at the launch Lord Whitty, DEFRA Science Minister, said 'Land Cover Map 2000 is, I believe, the first ever national map of land cover and habitats, as seen from space at a detailed field-by-field resolution,... view more... (2001-10-30)
Migratory bird struggles with climate – pied flycatchers lay their eggs too late
They try very hard, but pied flycatchers are not able to adapt sufficiently to the climate change in Western Europe. Dutch ecologists state this in Nature's issue of May 17 2001. Spring in Western Europe warmed up during the past 20 years and became increasingly ‘early’. However, the migratory flycatchers are still arriving at the same... view more... (2001-05-15)
EU-project strengthens monitoring the impact of climate change on nature
On March 1 the European Phenology Network (EPN) - a network to increase the use of phenological data and to stimulate monitoring and research in Europe in the context of climate change - will officially be launched during the first project meeting at Wageningen University, the Netherlands. The EPN-project has been funded for three years... view more... (2001-02-27)
Glasgow ecologist wins British Ecological Society award
Glasgow University ecologist Dr Hanna Kokko will be awarded the British Ecological Society~s Founders~ Prize at the BES Winter Meeting which will be held at the University of Birmingham on 3-5 January 2001. The prize is awarded every two years to an outstanding ecologist early in their career for making a significant contribution towards the... view more... (2000-12-15)
Gas-guzzling bacteria
The discovery of a new soil bacterium that consumes methane by oxidising it under atmospheric conditions is reported in Nature, out today. In well-drained soils, these methane-oxidising bacteria can reduce atmospheric levels of methane by 10 per cent. Methane is an important greenhouse gas, and over the last 200 years its concentration in the... view more... (2000-05-10)
Stimulating markets for beef and lamb
The Institute of Ecology and Resource Management (IERM) at the University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Quality Beef and Lamb Association (SQBLA) have formed a research partnership within the EU CRAFT Programme - Technology Stimulation Measures for SMEs. A project developed under this programme "Marketing Red Meat in the European Union: Extending... view more... (2000-01-20)
WHEN AN EARTHWORM DOES AS MUCH DAMAGE TO SOILS AS A BULLDOZER
The transformation of wet tropical forest into pastures causes profound changes in the physical structure of soils by favouring compaction. Such densification asphyxiates the soil. It is generally attributed to the compression caused by heavy machinery used for deforestation and in the creation of pastures and subsequently to trampling by cattle.... view more... (1999-05-11)
WHAT FACTORS FAVOUR THE ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OBSERVED IN ATOLL LAGOONS ?
The first step in the investigation was the mapping by remote sensing techniques of more than two-thirds of the 76 atolls of the Tuamotu archipelago. High resolution maps, which did not exist before, were then established. Using the cartographic data thus gleaned alongside morphometric parameters picked out (size and shape of the lagoons, degree... view more... (1999-04-14)
New theory -- universal intelligence on animals and plants
Here it is proposed that life in all its variety is full of sensation and creates a complicated web of interaction with its surroundings. Mammals, birds and even fish mourn for a lost love. Single-celled organisms carry out tasks that are surprisingly complicated. We can demonstrate sensitivity in microscopic organisms, while plants emerge as... view more... (1999-03-25)
ESF to launch eight more scientific programmes
They are: view more (1998-11-30)
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