Research on how organisms interact with their environment. Covers predator dynamics, invasive-species origins, keystone species, and microplastics in food webs.
Researchers at TUM found that when food is scarce, male pigeons spend more time incubating eggs, allowing females to forage and maintain high parental care levels. Females are affected most by local food availability and have lower energy reserves, but males compensate by increasing their share of incubation effort.
This special issue investigates biodiversity loss, ecosystem stability, and resilience in the face of climate disruption and global change. It welcomes contributions on ecological restoration, nature-based solutions, and adaptive management to address biodiversity conservation and ecosystem function.
The Synoptic Ferry Observation Network (SYNFONY) project monitored marine megafauna in the Mediterranean, recording 707 sightings of 10 species, including fin whales and sperm whales. Distribution patterns changed in just a few weeks, with fin whales showing considerable changes and sea turtles experiencing variability.
A comprehensive review of seagrass restoration activities in Africa highlights the need for urgent protection and restoration of these critical ecosystems. The review found that many countries lack data on seagrass meadows, and that climate change and human pressures threaten the very existence of these habitats.
A new review highlights the need for integrated health systems to monitor biological, ecological, and institutional conditions to prevent global health risks. The review proposes an 'interface-resilience' model that brings together spillover pressure, microbial community stability, and governance connectivity to identify high-risk areas.
Researchers found nematomorphs manipulate nocturnal host behavior at night, but not in alignment with lunar cycles. The parasites' manipulation strategies may include altered geotaxis or increased locomotor activity, which can lure hosts into water without relying on light conditions.
A seven-year study of Barred Owls in California shows a significant decline in exposure to the most lethal class of rodenticides, attributed to the state's policy restrictions. The study also detects a new contaminant, cholecalciferol, in nearly one in five owls, suggesting product substitution as older compounds become harder to access.
A new approach to aquatic pathogen surveillance combines automated sampling, pathogen concentration, and rapid signal detection for real-time monitoring of multiple pathogens. The proposed framework complements traditional methods, improving biosafety and early warning systems.
A new study using satellite data found that dryland ecosystems are experiencing escalating instability, with 80% of global drylands showing increased variability. This boom-and-bust dynamic threatens rain-fed agriculture and ecology, with implications for livestock production and rangeland management.
A new review in Microbiome and One Health examines China's microecology development and its contribution to the global One Health approach. The field has expanded to human health, agriculture, environmental restoration, and traditional Chinese medicine, with emerging tools like AI, multi-omics, and synthetic biology.
A University of Cambridge-led team has created detailed 3D maps of the Cairngorms National Park, revealing the beginnings of large-scale recovery of native woodland. The maps show over six million individual trees, with 40% under five meters tall, and provide insights into habitat type and tree regeneration.
The World Beneath Our Feet wins the British Ecological Society Book of the Year 2026 for its engaging and accessible exploration of soil biodiversity. The book takes readers on a journey through the subsoil, introducing them to strange and fascinating organisms that play critical roles in nutrient cycling, agriculture, and carbon storage.
Hot peppers grown in biochar and animal manure-amended soil exhibit higher heavy metal concentrations, particularly Zn and Cu. Bioaccumulation factors for certain metals exceed 1, indicating potential for remediation.
A recent study, led by Arizona State University, has revised scientists' understanding of bat origins, relationships, and evolutionary traits. The team combined genomic and fossil evidence to show that bats and mammalian flight most likely originated in Europe around 65 million years ago.
A seven-year study on Antarctic plants reveals two complementary adaptive pathways in response to climate change. Deschampsia Antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis develop contrasting physiological responses to warming, prioritizing stability and hydraulic safety or plasticity and rapid acclimation.
A new review highlights the need for stronger evidence before claiming microplastics affect aquatic offspring through maternal transfer. The study proposes an evidence classification framework to distinguish true maternal particle transfer from intergenerational and transgenerational toxicity.
An interdisciplinary team created Who Eats Whom, a website drawing on iNaturalist data to explore trophic interactions globally. The platform has logged 17,000 observations of 5,700 species, showcasing the public's interest in smaller trophic relationships.
A study by the University of Alicante and Mediterranean Centre for Environmental Studies found that environmental science takes an average of 7 years to influence international policy. The research highlights the need for knowledge co-production models to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and policy implementation.
Giant salamanders play a significant role in freshwater ecosystems, while indicator species selection can aid in monitoring biodiversity. Subterranean animals, like salamanders and crustaceans, have unique internal biological clocks and rhythms, offering insights into adaptation to dark environments.
A new study published in Science reveals that protecting existing forests from disturbances, such as wildfires and selective logging, can provide the most significant benefits for biodiversity and carbon stocks. This approach is more cost-effective than restoration, particularly in regions where most of the original forest has already ...
A new study found that human activities contribute more harmful nitrogen to coastal waters than all natural sources combined, posing a threat to marine life and human health. The research identifies areas of greatest concern and suggests strategies to reduce nutrient loads, including advanced technology, improved fertilizer management,...
Researchers identified 33% of rivers and streams rated above-average for resilience, concentrated in Pacific Coast, Northern Rocky Mountains, and Great Lakes areas. Conserving 35% of waterways could sustain biodiversity, but only 6% is currently protected and resilient.
Researchers observed a humpback whale mother showing prolonged post-mortem behavior and attention towards her deceased calf, indicating strong maternal attachment. This rare observation challenges current understanding of baleen whale behavior and cognitive-emotional responses to death.
A study by ETH Zurich researchers found that forest fire smoke negatively impacts bird diversity in the US, with a 3% decline in species numbers. The effect is evident across the country, even after accounting for other factors, and can have significant ecosystem implications.
Soil bacteria, particularly plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, effectively degrade herbicides and petroleum hydrocarbons through rhizoremediation. This process involves the release of organic compounds from plant roots, which feed bacteria that break down pollutants.
Researchers found that the river has not settled into a stable state, with species disappearing and new ones arriving, despite 23 campaigns of monitoring
An international team reconstructed a 1,000-year timeline documenting human impact on the ecosystem surrounding Crawford Lake. The analysis of sedimentary ancient DNA samples revealed changes in plant, animal, and microbial communities over the centuries.
A study found that when females have multiple males to mate with, their offspring inherit fewer harmful genetic mutations, making the population healthier and less likely to die out. This supports the 'good genes' hypothesis, which suggests successful males tend to have the best genes.
Rivers worldwide deliver nearly 263,000 tons of microplastics to the ocean annually, with 96% coming from the Global South. Heavy rainfall events can increase microplastic transport, particularly in regions with high plastic use and poor waste management, posing a climate-sensitive pollution threat.
Researchers analyzed DNA samples to determine the origin of goosegrass on Nishinoshima, finding it closely related to populations from the Ogasawara Islands and Indonesia. Seabirds are believed to have transported seeds, establishing the population on the island.
Research using GPS collars shows African lions and spotted hyenas leave a clear signature in their movements around each other, with hyenas consistently moving away and males lions approaching, suggesting a complex power dynamic.
Research shows that a moderate presence of pikas improves the composition of vegetation for grazing yaks, increasing the abundance and nutritional quality of palatable grasses and sedges. This moderate presence helps suppress tall poisonous plants, thereby facilitating weight gains in yaks.
A new study concludes that periodical cicadas could be heading toward extinction due to the historical loss of old-growth forests, which are their sole food source. The insects are unable to adapt to new habitats, making it unlikely for them to recolonize restored forests.
Researchers found altered gene expression in wharf roach guts after consuming expanded polystyrene, but no significant impact on lifespan. The gut microbiome showed little change, but rare microbes were detected in EPS-fed specimens. This highlights the need to manage EPS waste carefully and prioritize coastal cleanup efforts.
Research on European mountain summits reveals a rising number of plant extinctions despite increasing biodiversity, with specialists of high-elevation ecosystems primarily affected. Climate warming is driving these local extinctions, which are more likely to occur on summits with stronger warming and lower species' range margins.
A new study found that forests with greater tree species diversity show smaller declines in productivity during compound climate extremes and recover more effectively afterwards. Biodiversity acts as a form of biological insurance, helping forests maintain stability in an increasingly unpredictable climate.
Climate warming causes mountain plants to shift their ranges, leading to increased local extinctions among specialized high-elevation species. Declines in plant abundance often precede local extinctions, suggesting shrinking plant cover as an early warning sign.
A study found that bats, not bird numbers, contribute to pest control in macadamia nut production. Higher bat activity reduces insect damage and increases yields, with natural habitats playing a crucial role in supporting beneficial organisms.
A study by Queen Mary University of London finds that young chimpanzees develop distinct population-specific vocal patterns as they mature. This development is influenced by social interactions, environmental conditions, and other non-genetic factors, suggesting a more flexible and dynamic communication system than previously recognized.
A new study challenges the idea that plants cannot grow rapidly while tolerating water stress, finding exotic conifers in the Southern Hemisphere grow up to four times faster and are more resistant to drought. Carbon reserves and absence of natural enemies in the Southern Hemisphere may be key factors contributing to this advantage.
A new viewpoint argues that field ecology's working conditions can heighten vulnerability to harassment, particularly for women of color and LGBTQ+ researchers. The author calls for prevention measures, including clear codes of conduct and team involvement, to ensure research team safety and prevent distortions in knowledge production.
Motion-triggered cameras revealed the frequency of 'nectar robbing' in Hawaiian flowers, which damages flowers and reduces nectar availability. In contrast, plants were able to produce fruit and viable seeds despite damage, indicating adaptations to the stress.
A team of researchers discovered specific microbes in Antarctica's soils are endemic, meaning they are found only on the continent and nowhere else on Earth. The study found that these microbes are uniquely adapted to the harsh environment, growing more slowly but being highly resilient.
Pharmaceutical contamination in soil and air has severe ecological impacts, affecting animal, plant, and microbial communities. The review highlights the need for interdisciplinary research to understand the dynamics of pharmaceuticals in soil and their long-term implications for ecosystem health.
New research explores monarch butterfly conservation in rangelands and the effectiveness of state regulations for controlling invasive species. Studies reveal that ungrazed pastures support more milkweed and monarch eggs than grazed sites, highlighting the need for selective approaches to conservation.
A study found that yellow-morph green sea turtles in the Galápagos prefer to stay in shallow coastal waters and rarely venture far from a single island. The turtles' home ranges varied greatly, but most preferred to stay within 1,498 sq km of their starting point.
Research at the University of Vienna discovered that scoop-shaped pores on anther pores determine how pollen is released, with narrower, more targeted jets and faster speeds. This finding is crucial for understanding buzz-pollination and its importance in light of climate change and declining bee populations.
Microplastics have been found throughout a protected Florida wetland, with concentrations highest along waterways. The study reveals that water movement plays a crucial role in transporting and concentrating microplastics within the ecosystem.
A new study found that some Fijian native bee populations have evolved to resist human-driven environmental changes, contrary to the global trend of declining pollinators. The study suggests that forest clearing and introduced plant species can increase nesting opportunities for these bees, particularly in lower elevation areas.
Researchers discovered Stutzerimonas nitrititolerans bacteria in geese feces in China carrying carbapenem and tigecycline resistance genes. The bacteria showed high resistance to meropenem and reduced susceptibility to tigecycline. Genome sequencing revealed two distinct resistance-associated regions, one carrying bla PST-2 and the oth...
Researchers discovered a molecular mechanism that helps plants stay cool during heat stress by keeping their natural cooling system active. The protein UBP24 plays a key role in regulating leaf pores to allow for evaporation and cooling.
The NHS 10 Year Health Plan fails to mention nature or biodiversity, a critical omission in mental health care and prevention strategies. The authors argue for a shift towards nature-based approaches to address the growing burden of mental health issues.
A study by the University of Queensland suggests that urban parks lack vital midstorey vegetation, which is essential for small animals and birds. The researchers propose designing parks with denser, midstorey vegetation to improve the quality of urban green space and support wildlife, while also promoting community wellbeing.
A new study finds that rain falling through wildfire smoke can deliver unusually large bursts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to ecosystems in the United States. The nutrient pulses could become an increasingly important ecological consequence of fire as wildfires become more frequent.
A new study successfully uses audio deterrents to alert golden eagles to wind turbines, reducing collisions and deaths by over 50% at two wind farms in the Western USA. The system, called DTBird, emits warning sounds to attract the birds' attention and discourages closer approaches.
Microplastic pollution in dryland dumpsites accelerates due to intense sunlight, heat, wind, and open burning, transforming plastics into smaller, more reactive particles that spread through soil, air, water, and food systems. Aging microplastics increase metal adsorption and organic pollutant partitioning, posing emerging biological r...
Researchers have mapped Indonesia's seagrass ecosystems, identifying areas of high and low quality, and found that conservation efforts are needed for hotspots, coldspots, and areas with contrasting conditions. The study provides a spatially informed framework for prioritizing conservation and restoration efforts.
A study of 2,344 Chinese counties found that stronger solar expansion policies are associated with significant declines in bird diversity, largely due to habitat loss and fragmentation. The expansion of renewable energy can help combat climate change, but it may also create environmental trade-offs that must be carefully considered.
A new study by the University of Sussex found that honeybees face significant challenges gathering nectar in late summer, especially in August. The researchers discovered that this period is characterized by fewer flowers in bloom and increased competition among pollinators.
A new study reveals that antibiotic resistance genes can be detected in wild mice on farms, with 50% of genes found in cattle also present in mice. Environmental factors and livestock farming intensity play a greater role in determining resistance genes than the mice's characteristics.