Surprising Killer of Southeastern Salt Marshes: Common Sea Snails
Periwinkles, the spiral-shelled snails commonly found along rocky U.S. shorelines, play a primary role in the unprecedented disappearance of salt marsh in the southeastern states, according to new research published in Science. view more (2005-12-16)
Odd energy mechanism in bacteria analyzed
Scientists at Oregon State University have successfully cultured in a laboratory a microorganism with a gene for an alternate form of photochemistry - an advance that may ultimately help shed light on the ecology of the world's oceans. view more (2005-11-04)
Alligator egg development at prehistoric oxygen levels
The development of bone structures in alligator eggs raised under varying oxygen concentrations creates a link to fossil records of the evolution of vertebrates and prehistoric atmospheric oxygen concentrations, according to a paper to be presented at the Earth System Processes 2 meeting in Alberta, Canada. view more (2005-08-05)
Oceans turning to acid from rise in CO2
A report issued by the Royal Society in the U.K. sounds the alarm about the world's oceans. "If CO2 from human activities continues to rise, the oceans will become so acidic by 2100 it could threaten marine life in ways we can't anticipate," commented Dr. Ken Caldeira, co-author of the report and a newly appointed staff scientist at the... view more... (2005-07-01)
University research programme to uncover the genetic secrets of Asian bird of prey
A team of academics and research students from The University of Nottingham will travel to the forests of Cambodia to trap Asian fishing eagles (Ichthyophaga) and take measurements and blood samples, before releasing them back into their natural habitat. view more (2005-05-23)
Alarm pheromone causes aphids to sprout wings
Chemical communication within insect species is often much more sophisticated than expected. When aphids are attacked by predators such as ladybird beetles, they release an alarm pheromone, (E)-ß-farnesene, that has long been known to cause other aphids to walk around or drop from the plant. view more (2005-05-18)
Insurgental Biological Warfare Against Gipsy Moth
Specialists of the Institute of Taxonomy and Ecology of Animals (Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences) investigate peculiarities of struggle against Asian populations of Gipsy moth - one of the most widespread and economically significant forest pests. The methods applied in the North America and Europe do not work with Asian populations... view more... (2005-04-29)
"Live fast, die young" applies to forests, too.
Forests provide humans with economically important and often irreplaceable products and services, and affect global climate by acting as sources and sinks of heat-trapping carbon dioxide. Yet the possible responses of forests to ongoing environmental changes are poorly understood. In the most recent issue of Ecology Letters, Stephenson and van... view more... (2005-04-19)
Biodiversity promotes evolutionary change
Evolutionary biologists at the University of East Anglia have discovered a new link between biodiversity and the evolution of new species. view more (2005-04-18)
Heterosis in populations in nature of a domesticated plant
Few studies quantify evolutionary processes in populations of domesticated plants in traditional farming systems. In February's Ecology Letters, Pujol, David and McKey show that these systems offer unusual opportunities for studying microevolution. view more (2005-02-08)
First worldwide search for all microbes of the oceans starts now
The single-celled organisms of the world's oceans are immensely diverse. For the 'International Census of Marine Microbes' scientists are going to track down knowledge on the diversity and distribution of these micro-organisms and their viruses. The budget? 900,000 dollars of the Sloan Foundation in New York to start with. On February 7 and 8, the... view more... (2005-02-03)
Study Finds Disparity in Land Protection
A new study of the earth's 13 biomes compares the location of parks and other protected lands to the extent of habitat loss and finds that some of the most altered biomes are also the least protected. The study also found the opposite: that some of the least altered biomes are the best protected. In the forthcoming issue of Ecology Letters,... view more... (2005-01-11)
Why does species diversity vary so much?
The diversity of life varies predictably with climate and is greatest where it is warm and wet (the humid tropics). But the question "why" has puzzled biologists for over a century. In the December issue of Ecology Letters, Currie and colleagues examine three hypotheses about the origin of climatic gradients of diversity. The... view more... (2005-01-11)
Kent Student Wins Top Conservation Award
The Swiss watchmaker Rolex has just announced that University of Kent PhD student Laury Cullen Jr has won a Rolex Award for Enterprise 2004. view more (2004-10-18)
Lifeline for vultures from breeding centre plan
Conservationists say six major breeding centres will be needed, for three species of vultures, if they are to be saved from extinction in the Indian subcontinent. view more (2004-09-29)
Will open access close the door on ecological publishing?
The British Ecological Society could cease to exist within three years if income from its four journals stopped suddenly. Speaking in a major debate on open access scientific publishing at this year's British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, being held at Lancaster University on 7-9 September 2004, Dr Jill Lancaster of the University of... view more... (2004-09-06)
Media Invitation: British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Lancaster University, 7-9 September 2004
You are invited to attend the UK's premier ecological event, the British Ecological Society's Annual Meeting, being held at Lancaster University on 7-9 September 2004. Thousands of ecologists from all four corners of the globe will be attending the meeting, which features hundreds of scientific papers and posters. Highlights include: * The BES... view more... (2004-08-17)
Size does matter when choosing a mate
The difference in size between males and females of the same species is all down to the battle for a mate, according to a study of shorebirds published by British scientists today (August 9 2004). The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are the first explanation for a rule identified over forty years ago by... view more... (2004-08-09)
Lancaster at the forefront of environmental research in Europe
One of the largest environmental research centres in Europe opens in Lancaster this week (6 July). The £25 million Lancaster Environment Centre brings together around 300 researchers and lecturers, all working to find solutions to major environmental problems. This joint venture between the Natural Environment Research Council's Centre for... view more... (2004-07-01)
Diversity in the deep blue seas
Nature magazine has published an article by Xabier Irigoien, a researcher at AZTI, the Basque Fisheries and Marine Technological Research Centre. The article provides data on the diversity of marine life at the bottom of the sea - particularly amongst algae. Species diversity Most research carried out on the diversity of species has been with land... view more... (2004-06-28)
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