Articles tagged with Population Ecology
Researchers address questions about future city shape and population growth's effects on the environment, highlighting cities as substantive ecosystems with complex human-environmental interactions. Cities' growing footprints contribute to global biodiversity loss, climate change, and resource depletion.
A new study suggests whale shark populations are healthy and growing in Ningaloo Reef due to regulated ecotourism. The research used computer-assisted photographic identification to track individual sharks and found two-thirds of the sharks were repeat visitors.
The emerging field of neuroecology explores how neural mechanisms influence population dynamics and community interactions. Researchers discuss the ecological functions of chemical defenses, such as neurotoxins and inking, which have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems.
A new study reveals that long-term climate change can initiate conflict and lead to population decline. The researchers found a cyclic pattern of turbulent periods when temperatures were low, followed by tranquil ones when temperatures were higher, resulting in increased wars and population declines.
The Ecological Society of America (ESA) received the 2006 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. The award recognizes ESA's Strategies for Ecology Education, Development and Sustainability (SEEDS) program, which has increased diversity among its members and provided mentoring opportunities ...
Researchers found that wolves target areas with accessible refuge for elk during winter months when fat reserves are low. Landscape features like proximity to roads and snowy areas play a significant role in wolf-elk interactions.
A rare mutualistic relationship between a moth and cactus in the Sonoran Desert shows that one species can control the population of the other, challenging traditional ecological theory. The research has implications for understanding community ecology and the stability of mutualistic communities.
Researchers warn that global warming is forcing gannets to search further afield for food, leaving their chicks vulnerable to attack. The birds' breeding success is declining as they compensate by flying faster, but their speed limit has been reached.
New mathematical studies suggest that oscillating biological populations can synchronize due to interactions like predation and competition. This phenomenon, known as synchronized chaos, can lead to unpredictable opportunities for invaders in ecosystems.
Researchers study coupled oscillations in predator-prey systems to understand complex interactions in nature. Mathematical simulations reveal coordinated chaos, a phenomenon that helps some species coexist with others.
Research reveals the journeys of endangered adult females traveling thousands of miles across boundaries between countries, highlighting the need for a team effort in their conservation. The study's findings emphasize the importance of protecting these fragile populations from habitat destruction, bycatch, and other human impacts.
Conservation assessments of endangered Caribbean sea turtles are overly optimistic due to a lack of focus on declining turtle populations on historically important nesting beaches. The study highlights the critical importance of re-establishing lost nesting sites to prevent permanent population decline.
Ecologist and Princeton Professor Simon Levin emphasizes the importance of self-organization in ecosystems and the interface between ecology and economics. His lecture at SIAM Annual Meeting explores mathematical approaches to uniting ecology and socioeconomics for a sustainable future.
Researchers found that a 'dead zone' summer in Narragansett Bay led to the death of approximately 4.5 billion mussels, with filtering capacity dropping by 75 percent within weeks. The loss of such a foundation species has lasting effects on the ecosystem.
Researchers found that extinction-proof population sizes are impossible to predict based on species characteristics alone. The study highlights the complexity of extinction risks and challenges traditional assumptions about species survival.
Researchers found that badgers in areas with culling had larger home ranges and travelled more widely, increasing their contact rates with cattle. This suggests that culling is ineffective in controlling cattle TB and highlights the importance of ecological research in policy-making.
Researchers use geophones to estimate elephant numbers by detecting footfalls, providing a more accurate and time-efficient method than counting dung balls or aerial censuses. The new technique has the potential to improve conservation management and reserve planning in central Africa.
North Pacific right whales have been observed in the Southeastern Bering Sea slope and shelf, eastern Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska. The study refutes previous claims of a habitat shift and suggests these areas are crucial to their distribution.
The conference aimed to incorporate ecological methods into traditional epidemiological studies, exploring how environmental changes influence disease dynamics. Experts emphasized the need for building a bridge between ecology and epidemiology to address emerging pathogens effectively.
Researchers tested genetic diversity on Italian agile frog tadpoles exposed to a North American virus, finding that disease susceptibility paralleled population genetic variability. The study highlights the risks of population bottlenecks and inbreeding and suggests a method for predicting responses to new infectious diseases.
Scientists have discovered how climate change causes simultaneous increases or decreases in abundance of multiple species within a large geographical area. A study found that severe weather conditions directly affect the transmission of parasites, which drives populations into synchrony.
Researchers discover a novel mechanism of heterosis in naturally occurring plant populations. Human actions inadvertently favor heterozygous volunteers, leading to the persistence of high heterozygosity despite inbreeding.
Species diversity varies greatly across tropical and temperate regions due to differing ecological pressures. Higher rates of evolutionary diversification may contribute to observed gradients in richness.
Humans annually require 20% of land-based plant growth for food and fiber, with regional consumption varying greatly. Large urban areas consume significantly more than local production, while sparsely populated areas like the Amazon have low consumption rates.
Wetland restoration projects must consider the inevitable creation of mosquito habitats, which can increase exposure to diseases like West Nile virus. Elizabeth Willott suggests explicitly addressing mosquito control in proposals to strengthen project outcomes.
A facultative symbiont is identified in pea aphids associated with host plant specialization, increasing fecundity on clover and failure to survive on alfalfa. Genetic data suggests the aphid genome, not symbiont, causes specialization.
Researchers at UGA's SREL will conduct experiments to identify major factors affecting amphibian population persistence and responses to upland habitat alteration. The study aims to model species responses to forest management at larger scales.
A recent study found that invasive North American populations of garlic mustard were outcompeted by those from native European populations. This suggests the species has evolved to be less competitive due to a lack of strong competitors in invaded habitats.
A study quantifying incidental catch of loggerheads and leatherbacks in the global pelagic longline fishery reveals alarming bycatch rates. The authors estimate that thousands of hooked turtles die from longline takes each year, posing a significant threat to Pacific turtle populations.
Pelagic shark assemblage declines drastically, with oceanic whitetip shark declining by over 99%, yet no conservation attention is given to these species.
Research by Rudgers et al. reveals symbiotic fungi facilitate invasive plant invasion in various plant communities. The study highlights the complex interactions between fungal pathogens and native plants, ultimately leading to ecosystem disruption.
A recent study by A. A. Hoffmann et al. found that the fruit fly Drosophila birchii lacks genetic variation to adapt to changing thermal conditions, a concern for endangered species. UC Riverside's Derek Roff warns that global warming may exacerbate this issue, threatening the survival of already endangered species.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers discovered that wood mice employ a sophisticated navigation system involving 'portable signposts'. These signs, created by moving small objects, help the mice orient themselves and efficiently explore their home-ranges. The findings provide new insights into the complex behavior of non-human species.
Researchers analyzed historical records of measles and whooping cough infections in European cities from 1883 to 1932, finding that the diseases exhibit negative correlation when one disease removes susceptible hosts. This 'ecological interference' can lead to alternating cycles of infection, affecting multiple strain dynamics.
Research shows that population stability and size tend to increase with community diversity, likely due to variation in local productivity. This finding challenges ecological theory, which predicts a decline in population stability as community diversity increases.
A recent study suggests that dissolved organic matter in water absorbs UV-B, protecting 85% of amphibian habitats. The timing of breeding also plays a crucial role, with early breeding reducing UV-B exposure in certain regions.
A recent study predicts that the 2002 European seal plague outbreak may claim up to 10,000 harbour seals in Denmark and Sweden alone. The researchers used mathematical models to compare the 2002 findings to a previous 1988 outbreak, predicting similar impacts on the population.
Researchers found that male lions are intimidated by longer manes, while females prefer darker-maned males. Darker manes also correlate with higher testosterone levels, which may be an advantage for attracting mates and defending territories. Despite this, there is no correlation between mane length and temperature regulation.
Researchers found that some bird species experience population increases when nesting in fragmented landscapes due to the availability of suitable habitats. The study revealed that regional landscape patterns play a significant role in determining population trends among forest-nesting birds.
A study using virtual blue jays as predators found that they drove the evolution of diverse wing markings in a population of virtual moths. The research, funded by the NSF, used a genetic algorithm to favor moths with more cryptic markings and found evidence of increased diversity after 100 generations.
Researchers find that human population growth is slowing due to increased birth rates being offset by negative feedback from crowding and resource depletion. The world population is expected to reach 10-12 billion around 2100, despite a near doubling in numbers.
Tick-borne encephalitis incidence in Sweden has increased since the mid-1980s, with mild winters and early spring favouring tick activity being key contributors. Climate change is also linked to changes in host animal populations and access to vaccination.
The symposium explores the ecological implications of these stressors on Western mountain ecosystems. Research has helped quantify stress effects at regional scales, challenging land managers and policymakers.