The Ecological Society of America has received an NSF grant to support a three-pronged approach to increase diversity within the ecological field. The grant will fund activities that guide students to identify ecology as a viable career option and develop a sense of personal connection with science.
The new journal, Ecosystem Health and Sustainability, aims to publish research applying ecological science to sustainable development at local, national, and international scales. It encourages integration of natural, social, and behavioral studies and seeks research with implications for strategic planning and governance.
Researchers found that reclaimed oil and gas well pads in Colorado lack the patchy soil patterns that support sagebrush recovery. This uniformity can make it harder to reestablish big sagebrush, a critical component for diverse wildlife species.
Research highlights the surge of infectious disease in northern latitudes, driven by climate change and close contact between species. The study also explores the use of accelerometers to track an animal's internal state, including emotions and diseases.
The November issue of Frontiers in Ecology and Environment presents research on connectivity cost calculations for conservation corridors, agricultural companions that improve yields, and the consequences of growing jellyfish populations for human well-being.
Researchers found that invasive seaweed provides shelter for native crustaceans, increasing their population by up to 100 times. Meanwhile, mature forests capture and stabilize excess nitrogen from human activities, providing an unappreciated service by storing it in soil.
A review published in ESA Frontiers explores designing rivers with environmental flows to sustain ecosystem services, considering controlled releases and hands-off policies. The approach aims to create functional ecosystems under current conditions, rather than recreating historical ones.
A new report confirms the American peregrine falcons' recovery trajectory is within predicted trends, with volunteer-generated data supporting population viability analysis. The study highlights the importance of considering geographic group health and behavior for threatened species, such as sea turtles and grizzlies.
The symposium highlights climate's effects on predators, leading to trophic cascades that alter ecosystem structure and function. Sea otters' keystone predator role maintains healthy kelp forests, supporting diverse marine species.
Research shows that megafires and extreme droughts are associated in California, with the latter being exacerbated by human behavior. This shift has led to changes in the ecosystem, such as a switch from chaparral to grasslands, favoring invasive non-native species.
The report presents regional findings from ten regions, highlighting major impacts of climate change on ecosystems, including shifts in biodiversity and location of species. The assessment provides guidelines for how to respond and adapt to climate change, emphasizing the importance of protecting biodiversity and natural resources.
The Rim Fire study examines the impact of drought and fire suppression on large fires, contrasting with a nearby National Park's natural fire regime. This natural experiment provides insights into the effects of megafires on watersheds under different management regimes.
Contemporary tribes continue to use fire to maintain desired habitat and natural resources. California native cultures burned patches of forest in deliberate sequence to diversify resources, creating a mosaic of different stages of soil and vegetation.
State Senator Darrell Steinberg will receive the ESA Regional Policy Award for his efforts in fostering renewable energy, clean water, and parks. The award recognizes Steinberg's championing of bills to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable communities.
Researchers found that bee tongues can be predicted by body size and taxonomic relationships, providing a valuable proxy for ecology studies. The study highlights the importance of tongue length in understanding species behavior, resilience, and invasiveness.
A study by Ecological Society of America finds that excluding invasive pests like the emerald ash borer from imported goods saves US $11.7 billion, outweighing added costs. The treatment reduces wood borer infestation rates by up to 52%, benefiting homeowners and local governments.
The US National Climate Assessment reports that nearly all natural and managed ecosystems are experiencing climate change impacts, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem services. The assessment provides guidelines for responding and adapting to these changes, highlighting the urgent need for policy development.
In a rare observation, butterflies and bees were seen drinking the tears of a spectacled caiman in northeastern Costa Rica. Researchers have found that this behavior is more common than previously thought, with many instances recorded by wildlife enthusiasts and scientists.
Post-wildfire stabilization treatment has not helped restore habitat for the greater sage grouse, a critically endangered species in the US Great Basin. The study highlights the challenges of managing non-native plants and climate change in the region, suggesting that recovery time may be longer than previously thought.
This special issue explores the interconnections between climate change, biodiversity, ecosystem functionality, and ecosystem services. It highlights the need for adaptation efforts that consider managing landscapes to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem attributes.
A quarter of mature female tiger sharks migrate from Northwestern to Main Hawaiian Islands, coinciding with shark birth season and months of highest bite risk. The researchers found that tiger sharks do not stay resident in specific bays for long periods, debunking the territoriality hypothesis.
This special issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment brings together diverse perspectives on addressing global environmental challenges. The issue highlights socio-ecological drivers of environmental injustice, explores ways to encourage behavioral change, and emphasizes the role of religion in promoting Earth Stewardship.
The article explores the use of prescribed burning in various regions, including the US, Australia, South America, and southern Europe, to manage fire-prone landscapes. It highlights successful traditional practices, such as the Maya milpa in South America, which create spaces for different crops while sustaining wildlife and soil fert...
Research suggests that timber rattlesnakes can remove thousands of infected ticks from ecosystems each year, potentially regulating Lyme disease prevalence. Fungi, meanwhile, display unique relationships with other species, including decomposition, mutual benefits, and parasitic behaviors.
The Ecological Society of America examines ways to improve soil, water, and nutrient retention, pollinator support, and pest suppression. Sessions focus on land sharing, global-to-local connections, and resilient future interdependencies between conservation and agriculture.
Ellen Anderson, a champion of sustainability and environmental policy, will receive the ESA Regional Policy Award. She has promoted renewable energy, clean water, and parks, and works on clean energy and public outreach for the Governor's office.
A research report in Ecology suggests that climate change, exacerbated by droughts, is causing declining migration rates among Yellowstone's migratory elk. The study attributes this decline to the return of predators like bears and wolves, as well as human choices such as irrigation in nearby fields.
Symposia focus on ecological dynamics of infectious diseases, examining human influences on viral and bacterial diseases through landscape alteration. Researchers aim to integrate biomedical and ecological approaches to address public health issues.
Policies in California's Salinas Valley are prioritizing food safety over wildlife habitat, resulting in the destruction of wetlands and riverside areas. The measures, driven by powerful buyers, create unnecessary costs for farmers and harm wildlife, despite low risk from animals.
Biofuels have significant ecological impacts due to high-intensity agriculture practices that contribute to water pollution and loss of biodiversity. Cellulosic ethanol, made from grasses and perennial native crops, may offer a more sustainable alternative with reduced resource competition and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate change affects Alaskan forests with potential shifts to broadleaf forest or grasslands, but plastic greenhouse farming conserves water and binds carbon. Urban renewal and watershed restoration projects in Baltimore demonstrate social cohesion and improved storm-water management.
Research reveals that recreational fishing and Great Depression-era ditches are causing significant erosion and die-off of cordgrass habitat in Cape Cod salt marshes. The unchecked growth of purple marsh crabs has led to the destruction of this essential ecosystem, threatening the region's ecological balance.
A study published in Ecology reveals that elk bones can provide baseline ecological data on animal populations, complementing aerial counts and adding a historical component to live observation. The research found moderate shifts in elk habitat use despite recent changes at Yellowstone, including wildfires and wildlife reintroduction.
Researchers emphasize that connectivity is complex and requires understanding animal behavior, genetics, adaptation, and habitat. Managing wildlife sanctuaries involves trade-offs and adapting to climate change, which can cause unpredictable species movements.
A recent study found that the abandonment of rice cultivation in Taiwanese paddies has led to an increase in disease-carrying ticks and chiggers, resulting in higher incidence rates of scrub typhus. This demonstrates the potential for global commodities pricing to drive the spread of infections.
Ken Bierly, Senior Partnerships Coordinator at the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, has been recognized for his outstanding record of informing political decision-making with ecological science. He has developed tools for watershed management, including wetland regulations and local watershed councils.
The first cross-disciplinary conference on Public Participation in Scientific Research will bring together experts from various fields to share ideas and form new communities. Citizen science projects have recruited non-specialists to contribute to real scientific questions, multiplying data collection by orders of magnitude. The confe...
Researchers study natural gas impacts on drinking water, finding high methane concentrations near fracking sites. Gas leaks also cause soil changes, affecting urban ecosystems. The session discusses policy strategies to encourage cleaner natural gas distribution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Ecological Society of America honored eight scientists with prestigious awards for their outstanding contributions to ecology, including Robert Naiman and Janet Lanza. The awards recognize meritorious research, teaching, and service to the field of ecology.
Experts discuss the science underlying ecosystem services markets, weighing benefits against potential unintended consequences for non-target ecosystem attributes. The symposium aims to address tough questions about how to measure and value nature's services.
Researchers highlight the importance of dry river ecology, which is under-researched but provides essential habitats for biota. Human societies use these areas for agriculture, recreation, and resource extraction, emphasizing the need to study intermittent river systems.
Lake Christina's transformation from clear waters to murky state has impacted migrating ducks and fish. Extensive modern records and sediment analysis reveal a 200-year history of management, leading scientists to propose bottom-up landscape management to restore the lake's ecosystem.
The report explores complex consequences of excess nitrogen on ecological communities, human health, and agriculture. Strategies to maximize efficient use of fertilizer and mitigate agricultural sources are also presented.
A new report proposes science-based strategies to monitor and set limits for air pollution, aiming to protect and restore U.S. ecosystem health. The authors review current pollution evaluation criteria and propose critical loads of pollutants to design policy and manage ecosystems.
Glacier Bay's de-glaciation reveals new stream ecosystems supporting salmon migration; overfishing in lakes may not impact fish scarcity due to anglers' priorities.
A study reveals how human activities can diminish the usefulness of ornamental traits like colorful feathers as signals of fitness. In contrast, a new field experiment shows that invasive yellow starthistle responds favorably to increased carbon dioxide levels. Plant breeding experts emphasize its potential to bring about a more positi...
A magnitude-7.3 earthquake in 2009 devastated the Belizean Barrier Reef, causing widespread destruction and killing off dominant coral species. The reef's recovery is unlikely due to previous losses and the need for improved management of reef resources, including consideration of extreme events.
Scientists present research on healthy microbes, mosquito-borne diseases prevention and E. coli food contamination. Researchers shed light on standing water mosquito breeding in cities and its impact on controlling larval mosquitoes. They also examine the complex relationships between humans and microbes in food production systems.
Researchers discussed using Doppler weather radar to track bat behavior and effectiveness of acoustic deterrents in reducing bat fatalities at wind farms. Aeroecology also explored the role of atmospheric conditions in flight behavior, with studies on golf courses as potential habitats for roosting bats and the importance of insectivor...
A study on human bellybutton microbiomes found diverse bacterial communities, similar to those on the skin, but also stable over time and between family members. The research used citizen science to collect and analyze 391 samples, shedding light on human health and environmental interactions.