Trophic Interactions

Prey accessibility — not abundance — may shape predator behavior in penguins

A new study of penguins and krill found that repeated predator disturbance can alter prey behavior, leading to functional prey depletion. Penguins had to dive deeper and travel farther to encounter prey, but feeding rates remained unchanged once prey were encountered.

Hidden viruses reshape one of Earth’s largest carbon systems, study finds

Carnivorous plants and wasps blur the line between friend and food

A new study reveals that carnivorous plants like pitcher plants provide a vital source of nutrient-rich nectar to wasps, benefiting both parties. This interaction may be more than just predator-prey, as the plants and wasps work together for mutual benefit.

Radioactive imaging reveals ants’ hidden food networks

Researchers developed a new imaging method to visualize how food spreads through ant groups in real time, offering insights into collective health and potential early warning signs of disruption. The technique allows for precise measurement of food distribution patterns across various species.

How tiny cave shrimps power the underworld of the Yucatan

A recent study reveals that tiny cave shrimps, specifically the Typhlatya genus, play a crucial role in maintaining the unique food web of anchialine caves in the Yucatan Peninsula. The shrimps convert microbial growth into animal biomass, introducing essential nutrients into the ecosystem.

Avoiding the very hungry caterpillar

A team of researchers at Kyoto University found that predatory mites avoid laying eggs on plant leaves bearing traces of caterpillars. Additionally, they discovered that even when predators are unlikely to encounter caterpillars, they still avoid their traces.

Smaller fish and changing food webs – even where species numbers stay the same

A global study of nearly 15,000 marine and freshwater fish communities found consistent shifts in species composition, body size and feeding relationships over recent decades. Smaller-bodied fish species dominate ecosystems, reshaping food webs and ecosystem function.

Otters as ocean doctors: How a 40-Year watch on Brazil’s coasts reveals hidden threats to estuaries

Neotropical otter study reveals 40 years of field data showing that otters aggregate environmental signals across time and space. The study highlights the critical Tropical Knowledge Gap in otter research, with 70% focusing on temperate species.

Changes to cougar diets and behaviors reduce their competition with wolves in Yellowstone, study finds

A new study reveals that cougars' dietary changes to smaller prey help them avoid wolf encounters and reduce competition. Researchers found that cougars tend to avoid areas where wolves have made kills and stay close to escape terrain.

Whales may divide resources to co-exist under pressures from climate change

Researchers studied diet changes among three whale species, fin, humpback, and minke whales, over 28 years. The study found that whales are adapting their feeding habits in response to limited resource availability and increased competition.

What happens to ecosystems when you restore iconic top predators? It’s more complicated than you might think.

Research analyzing over 170 studies reveals human impacts like hunting and land-use changes have a greater impact on prey populations than large carnivores. Large predators do control populations of prey species under specific conditions, but effects are often spatially constrained or influenced by competing species.

Algae and water fleas in lakes: Light color influences food webs

A recent study found that light color affects phytoplankton growth and nutrient cycling in lake ecosystems. The researchers discovered that the less light available to microalgae, the more important the color of light became for their growth.

AI for ecology and conservation: New tools track ecosystem health

Researchers developed computational tools to analyze ecological data, identifying functionally equivalent species across different ecosystems. These tools use optimal transport distances to compare network structures, allowing for large-scale monitoring of ecosystem health and guiding conservation efforts.

River otters unfazed by feces and parasites while eating… and that’s good for ecosystems

A new study found that river otters in Chesapeake Bay eat diverse prey and parasites, including flukes, dinoflagellates, and invasive fish. The researchers suggest that otters may be helping to clean up polluted environments by consuming parasite-infected animals.

Discovery of ‘weird looking’ otter poo reveals how these animals shape nearby ecologies

Researchers found river otter scat containing parasites that infect prey, indicating otters may play a crucial role in shaping their ecosystems. The study also discovered diverse diets and invasive species among the otters' meals.

New paper suggests a well-armed ally in kelp-forest recovery

A new scientific study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B found that voracious sunflower sea stars create a 'landscape of fear' among red sea urchins, reducing grazing on kelp. This study suggests using sunflower sea stars as a potential tool for restoring degraded kelp forests.

Discovering "pirate parasitism": Successful parasitism by a parasitoid wasp in unsuitable hosts

Researchers at University of Tsukuba discovered 'pirate parasitism' where parasitoid wasps lay eggs in unsuitable hosts, leading to successful parasitism. The phenomenon occurs when one parasitoid wasp takes advantage of a host's already suppressed immune system due to another parasitoid wasp.

“Internet of nature” helps researchers explore the web of life

A new paper reveals that information exchange between species influences behavior, interactions, and ecosystem dynamics. The authors identify three types of information links within ecosystems: trophic, pure, and environmental information links.

Humbug damselfish use 'motion dazzle' to evade predators

High-contrast patterns on humbug damselfish bodies serve dual purpose: camouflage when stationary and motion dazzle when moving. The fish adapt their behavior based on environment, using motion dazzle to confuse predators when feeding outside coral colonies.

Big sharks have a big impact — and a big problem

A new study reveals that large apex species like tiger sharks and great whites are critical to healthy oceans, but their populations have plummeted by 71% in the past 50 years. Conservation efforts must prioritize protecting these ecological roles to maintain ocean balance.

Microbial awakening restructures high-latitude food webs as permafrost thaws

A recent study found that climate warming is altering carbon flow and food web dynamics in Arctic tundra and boreal forest ecosystems, with fungi replacing plants as the main energy source for animals. This shift has significant implications for ecosystem function and animal responses to climate change.

Stop eradication of small mammals to protect vital ecosystems, say scientists

Current measures to protect grasslands in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are damaging the ecosystem and should be stopped. Small burrowing mammals, like the plateau pika and zokor, play crucial ecological roles in maintaining ecosystem health and biodiversity.

Out of the frying pan: Coyotes, bobcats move into human-inhabited areas to avoid apex predators — only to be killed by people

A study in Washington state found that when wolves and cougars moved into an area, coyotes and bobcats shifted their movements into regions with higher levels of human activity. However, it was humans who finished off the smaller predators, with over half of the coyotes killed by people during the study period.

Reconstructing ice age diets reveals unraveling web of life

A study reveals that over 50% of mammal food web links have disappeared due to animal declines, leading to a collapse of global ecosystems. Restoring extinct species to their historic ranges holds great potential to reverse these declines and restore food web complexity.

Humans disrupting 66 million-year-old feature of ecosystems

A study has discovered that humans are disrupting a fundamental pattern in ecosystems, which dates back at least 66 million years. The U-shaped relationship between diet and size in modern land mammals has been found to span across multiple vertebrate groups, including birds, reptiles, and fish.

The shape of things to come: tropical birds are changing because of us

Human activity on Hainan Island is causing changes in the body shapes and diets of tropical birds, resulting in biotic homogenisation. Despite efforts to protect biodiversity, the island's unique ecosystem is being affected by large-scale economic and land-use changes.

California mice eat monarch butterflies

Researchers discovered that California mice consume monarch butterflies, which could disrupt ecosystems due to declining western monarch populations. The study highlights the interconnectedness of species and the importance of conservation efforts to protect native animals.