Articles tagged with Ecology
A new study highlights the growing dependence on 'black-box' tools in science, which can process enormous amounts of information but lack transparency. Researchers recommend prioritizing open-source software, benchmarking proprietary tools, and intensifying efforts towards open science to address this issue.
A new study reveals that European mountain summits are warming, leading to changes in alpine vegetation, but the link between temperature and these changes is surprisingly weak. Long-term monitoring shows that local conditions, such as the presence of warmth-associated species, play a crucial role in shaping vegetation responses.
A new study analyzing fossilized shark scales found that Pacific reefs naturally supported far more sharks than Caribbean reefs thousands of years ago. The research suggests that differences in ocean productivity have shaped shark populations over time, with Pacific reefs appearing more resilient to human impacts.
Eco-nanozymology enables effective modulation of biogeochemical cycles, including carbon fixation and nitrogen fixation, while achieving efficient environmental remediation and low-value biomass valorization. The framework has shown outstanding performance in various applications, including energy conversion and environmental remediation.
Researchers used fossilized leaf cells to recreate tree canopy of PETM, a period of global warming comparable to today's climate. The study found widespread browning of landscapes and reduced rainfall triggered by volcanic carbon release.
Researchers investigated adding iron to the ocean to boost CO2 removal, finding varying effects on marine ecosystems. The Southern Ocean offers a favorable balance of climate impact and ecological consequences, while other regions face more severe consequences.
Pyrogallol's toxicity in aquatic organisms has been linked to oxidative stress and damage across multiple biological systems. The analysis identifies the need for broader environmental surveillance, long-term ecological studies, and improved exposure assessment to determine its effects on human health.
A recent study found that tropical tree species exhibit substantial variation in their hydraulic traits to match local water availability, making them more drought-resistant. This adaptation could sharpen our understanding of forest resilience and carbon storage.
A study by Colorado State University and others found that fast-moving forest fires burn more area severely, leaving fewer trees to reseed the landscape. This can lead to long-term ecological change rather than recovery.
A new study explains why drought can both reduce and increase waterborne diseases. The authors identified three mechanisms that determine whether a parasite will thrive or die out during drought: host-parasite concentration, desiccation traps, and changes in water quality.
Researchers found microplastics in Gulf of Mexico oysters, leading to biochemical stress and physiological damage. The study identified histochemical alteration, protein nitration, and antioxidant expression as early warning indicators for microplastic contamination.
Researchers analyzed European viper venom samples to investigate how they are shaped by competing demands of catching prey and defending against predators. The study found no evidence that venom components directly activate pain-sensing nerve cells, instead suggesting that hunting efficiency is the primary driver of venom evolution.
Researchers at UniSC captured dolphins using shells to hunt fish off Queensland's coast, with evidence suggesting calves may learn from mothers. The behavior, called shelling, is rare and has only been documented in Western Australia before.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science reports a slight increase in coral cover across all three regions of the Great Barrier Reef, indicating limited impacts from recent climate-induced disturbances. However, the reef still faces threats from flooding and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, limiting its capacity to recover.
Researchers discovered a strong link between environmental variation and thyroid hormone signaling in reef fish, enabling them to adapt to changing habitats. The study found that habitat impacts development by altering gene expression and metabolic profiles, giving animals more flexibility when their environments change.
Researchers found that natural sounds, specifically biophonic ones, are associated with the highest levels of place attachment. Biophonic sounds were also perceived as more pleasant and linked to a strong sense of place attachment. The study highlights the importance of managing soundscapes near residential areas.
In a new study, researchers found that wild capuchin monkeys prioritize stones with proven track records of cracking nuts, even if they're not the mechanically optimal choice. This demonstrates that primates rely on durable physical traces to guide their tool selection.
A study by Goethe University found that zoo education programs can genuinely strengthen people's sense of connection to nature, especially among those with low or moderate connections. Programs with direct animal encounters and longer durations showed the strongest effects.
Reducing artificial light at night (ALAN) in cities has been found to have ecological effects, including advances in plant growth cycles. Cities with mitigation policies show earlier leaf emergence and less delayed fall color, suggesting a positive impact on ecosystems.
Researchers have identified Ruppia maritima as a resilient native seagrass species that can help restore degraded estuarine habitats. The species has a distinctive annual life cycle and a persistent seed bank, allowing it to persist through disturbance and regenerate when conditions improve.
A HKU-led review highlights the crucial role of tiny ground-dwelling invertebrates in seed dispersal, challenging traditional focus on birds and mammals. These small animals can consume seeds and excrete them while remaining viable, providing a vital pathway for plant regeneration in fragmented ecosystems.
A new study reveals that plants with similar volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles can detect and respond to defense signals from neighboring plants more effectively. This finding offers a potential roadmap for designing more pest-resilient agricultural systems by strategically pairing plant species based on their VOC profiles.
The study proposes a new hypothesis on the evolutionary history of dinosaur digestive systems by analyzing gastrolith shapes and dietary proxies. Herbivorous dinosaurs likely possessed rounded gastroliths with severe abrasion, suggesting mechanical grinding of plant material within their stomachs.
LorMe is an open-source R framework designed to provide a unified approach for standardized microbiome analysis. The platform enables seamless data exchange with widely used microbiome analysis packages, allowing diverse analytical approaches to work together while maintaining flexibility and transparency.
Intensive feeding by tourists is altering the island's ecosystem, leading to unusual interactions among animal species. The study highlights the need for careful management of wildlife tourism practices to avoid unintended consequences for the environment.
European oil beetle larvae emit floral scents to attract wild bees, allowing them to sneak into nests and feed on eggs and food stores. The larvae produce the substances themselves through specific cytochrome P450 enzymes.
A University of Michigan study finds that fungi are far more abundant deep below ground than previously thought, with over 689 unique species identified. The researchers also discovered complex underground food webs and found evidence of carbon sequestration in the Earth's crust.
The VALOR project aims to co-develop a comprehensive approach to understanding the impact of pollinator decline on food systems. A new collection in the Research Ideas and Outcomes journal provides an open-access hub for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to access outputs and tools related to pollinator conservation.
A new method integrates remote sensing and meteorological data to estimate leaf age of winter wheat before overwintering. The study found that the method significantly improved accuracy compared to traditional methods.
A field experiment on wild kittiwakes found that birds with high energy costs during breeding raised more chicks the next year, but at a cost to their own survival. The study reveals how flexible energy use can lead to hidden trade-offs in life-history strategy.
A new dimension of protection has been found in the interaction between ants and coffee berry borers. Small ant species can use the habitats created by the borers for their own reproduction, gaining a reproductive benefit. This discovery highlights the importance of observing nature and making basic scientific observations.
Researchers at Reichman University have developed a unique consortium of bacterial species that form a protective layer on metal surfaces in seawater, significantly slowing corrosion. The approach combines multiple species for stronger and more stable protection, paving the way for biological corrosion-protection systems worldwide.
Spotted hyena females show greater reproductive inequality than males due to social rank inheritance, benefiting high-ranking females' offspring. This pattern is reversed when considering grandchildren and great-grandchildren, with females demonstrating greater inequality.
Researchers documented a previously undescribed orca behavior in the Gulf of California, where orcas hold and then ram sunfish to cause tissue fragmentation. The observed behavior may be a form of parental investment or simply entertainment, with potential benefits for the calf's nutrition.
The Journal of Systematics and Evolution (JSE) is launching a special issue on deep sea biodiversity, covering taxonomy, phylogenomics, comparative genomics, and microbial ecology. Researchers worldwide can submit free-access papers with waived page and color charges until January 31, 2027.
Analysis of over 116,000 bird songs reveals eight fundamental acoustic motifs that underlie the diversity of passerine birdsong. Local environments play a significant role in shaping how birds communicate globally.
Researchers used Landsat thermal infrared imagery to study river temperatures over 250 dams in the US, finding temperature differences in 71% of observations and varying impacts based on dam type and season. This new approach can help better understand freshwater ecology and water resource management.
A global analysis has found that invasive alien species have a greater impact on biodiversity in the Global South due to weak governance and economic factors. Stronger governance is associated with lower IAS impacts, suggesting improved management can reduce invasion damage.
Researchers found that during the Cambrian Period, empty mollusc shells remained uninhabited, but the first animals to colonize these habitats appeared around 460 million years ago. The study reveals that different shell shapes influenced the diversity of organisms and their growth rates.
A study suggests that decentralized strategies of decision making are at least as good as centrally coordinated ones, especially in situations where a central coordinator's loss leaves the group vulnerable. The model found that leaderless groups can be more resilient by having multiple pathways for communication.
A $2.5 million project shifted focus from South America to the southeastern US, where researchers confirmed Mycobacterium ulcerans' presence in aquatic habitats. The study identifies patterns linking disease occurrence to environmental factors like flooding and land disturbance.
A recent study using high-resolution modeling suggests that Hawaiian corals may be able to adapt to increasing temperatures, even under a high emissions scenario. However, the rate of adaptation varies across different coastal locations, with those around Hawaiʻi Island projected to experience higher heat stress.
Researchers have discovered a key breeding ground for endangered sand tiger sharks off the coast of São Paulo, Brazil. The Alcatrazes Archipelago Wildlife Refuge provides a vital sanctuary for the critically endangered species, allowing them to complete their reproductive cycle in Brazilian waters.
Researchers used an AI tool to demonstrate that birds in Passeriformes evolved in rapid bursts and coincided with climate shifts throughout Earth's history. The findings suggest that environmental variation may be an important cause of changes in body shape.
A new study confirms fungi are crucial for supporting the reintroduction of two threatened marsupials to Shark Bay. The reintroduction advances species conservation and ecosystem restoration.
Researchers found that as salinity increases in freshwater environments, microbial communities lose diversity due to faster-growing strains taking over, but maintain overall growth rates. This effect is also observed in natural ecosystems across different environments.
A new study identifies the ecological conditions necessary for biodiversity offsetting to achieve conservation goals. The research highlights the importance of large-scale restoration areas and protected landscapes in achieving long-term biodiversity outcomes. Successful compensation requires policies aligned with ecological reality, p...
The ESA's 2026 Annual Meeting will present new findings on wildlife ecology, focusing on the ecological relationships between animals, habitats, and human activities. Researchers will examine topics such as predator recovery, species declines, and rewilding, highlighting how wildlife ecology informs conservation strategies.
The rapid drying of the Aral Sea has released over 200 teragrams of carbon into the atmosphere, shifting the region's land-use carbon balance from a net sink to a significant source. Restoration efforts could help halt continued carbon loss and generate financial incentives for reflooding the lake.
Researchers argue that EU and UK wildlife protection frameworks are fragmented, selective, and exception-based, threatening biodiversity. The authors propose strengthening laws to recognize animal sentience and introducing 'ethical continuity' into the legal framework.
A recent study found that human activities are fundamentally altering the chemical makeup of local coral reefs, leading to decreased coral health and resilience. The research team discovered that 25 contaminants from agricultural, industrial, and pharmaceutical sources accumulated in the soft tissues of coral around Maui, Hawai‘i.
Reducing carbon dioxide concentration improves microbial production of biodegradable plastic, such as poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]. Lower CO2 levels trigger adaptive cellular responses that enhance carbon utilization efficiency.
Research finds biodiversity delivers largest gains under extreme drought in drier grasslands, with stronger effects from species complementarity. In contrast, forests show no comparable context dependence under extreme drought.
A study reveals that forests and rivers work together to strengthen amphibian microbiomes and protect them from a deadly fungus. The research found that disconnected habitats impair the ability to recruit defensive microbes.
Researchers discovered that cyanobacteria band together into protective flocs when attacked by predators, a survival strategy that could influence how carbon is stored in the world's waters. This behavior helps explain why cyanobacteria invest energy in forming flocs despite the apparent cost to their growth.
Research finds that medaka sperm velocity decreases by 20% after consecutive spawning, impacting fertilization rates. Sperm counts also vary between single and multiple-mating groups.
A new species of colobus monkey, 'Likweli', has been identified by its distinctive facial markings and unique call. The rare species is found in the dense forests of Lomami National Park and is considered Endangered due to its small geographic range and population size.
A new study has mapped Europe's wetlands, identifying peatlands as the most critical type to restore for climate benefits. The map provides a basis for assessing where wetland restoration could deliver benefits for climate and biodiversity.
The report provides an ecological characterisation of two contrasting habitat groups: inland peat-forming wetlands and coastal lagoons. Hydrology is identified as the dominant control on ecosystem functioning, with a persistently high water table sustaining anoxic conditions in peatlands.
New research shows that tadpoles adapt their diet in response to rising temperatures, consuming more plant material and eating overall. However, this natural strategy becomes less effective as temperatures continue to rise, with consequences for growth, development, and survival.