Ecology News
22nd April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Genetic Clues in Island Palms Aid Conservation Efforts
Two Caribbean palm species face contrasting fates: one thrives under protection, while the other suffers due to grazing. Genetic studies reveal their uniqueness, guiding urgent conservation efforts.
22nd April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Gut Microbes Help Hosts Endure Extreme Heat and Cold
Discover how animals' gut microbes play a crucial role in coping with extreme temperatures, which may lead to advancing resilience in changing climates.
22nd April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Soil Fungus Changes with Land Use and Phosphorus Levels
Switching from crops to grasslands improves soil health in China's saline-alkali areas, enhancing important plant-nourishing fungi and available phosphorus.
22nd April, 2024
| Greg Howard
Exploring How Woodland Owners View Water Quality Efforts
A University of Vermont study explores how family forest owners view their impact on water quality, revealing a need for increased awareness and community support to foster environmentally friendly land management.
20th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Predicting Fruit Fly Outbreaks with Seasonal Models
The Oriental fruit fly delivered a significant blow to Sri Lanka's fruit crops. New research predicts further intensity and an urgent classic call for robust pest management to counter the escalatin
19th April, 2024
| Greg Howard
How Lizards Evolve Together in Hawaii
Researchers find that three lizard species in O‘ahu have evolved different body sizes and limb lengths, suggesting competition drives these physical adaptations during invasion.
19th April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Saltwater and Soil Quality Affect Freshwater Shredder Bugs
Human activities are making freshwater ecosystems saltier, harming vital invertebrates and disrupting nutrient cycles by affecting leaf decomposition.
19th April, 2024
| Greg Howard
How Male and Female Little Auks Forage Differently Before Nesting
Scientists reveal how little auks adapt their foraging habits during the crucial pre-laying period, using advanced tracking to inform conservation efforts.
17th April, 2024
| Greg Howard
Evolving Claw Shapes in Scavenging Mites
Discoveries at Oxford reveal how tiny mites' mouthparts have evolved, reflecting their diverse diets and offering insights into their ecological roles.
17th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Best Ways Bugs Split Colonies for Success
Discoveries at the University of Würzburg reveal that for bees, forming large swarms is key to successfully starting new colonies, challenging the notion that bigger colonies are always better.
16th April, 2024
| Greg Howard
Diverse Traits in Tiny Fish Groups Living in Lava Landscapes
Researchers reveal how small, isolated fish populations in Arctic caves adapt to their unique environments, offering insights into evolution in fragmented groups.
16th April, 2024
| Greg Howard
Eukaryotic Phytoplankton Diversity in a Major River
Scientists reveal that the diversity of tiny plant-like organisms in China's Yarlung Zangbo River is shaped by the river's unique physical and chemical traits.
15th April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Amphibian Skin Bacteria Boost Plant Growth and Hormone Response
Bacteria from tropical frog skin could revolutionize agriculture by naturally boosting plant growth, offering a sustainable way to increase crop yields.
13th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
How Frogs Adapt to the Cold at High Altitudes
Scientists uncover the genetic strategies that enable the plateau brown frog to survive the extreme cold of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, with potential applications in agriculture and medicine.
13th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
How Different Trees Alter Soil Nutrients in Rainforests
Discover how the Czech Academy of Sciences reveals the intricate dance of phosphorus in tropical rainforests, impacting plant growth and ecosystem balance.
12th April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
City Lights Dim Firefly Courtship and Hunting Signals
Urban light pollution is dimming the mating signals of neotropical fireflies, threatening their survival by interfering with their ability to find partners and prey.
11th April, 2024
| Greg Howard
Genetic Variations in Mites: Patterns and Life Impacts
Researchers at Jagiellonian University discovered how genetic variations of a gene in bulb mites are influenced by soil chemistry, challenging previous beliefs about adaptation.
11th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Do Local Soils Affect How Plant Leaves Function?
Discover how soil impacts leaf traits in subtropical plants: A study reveals the influence of soil moisture and phosphorus on leaf development and nutrient balance.
9th April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Sponge and Microbe Interactions: Unlocking Their Secrets
Exploring the genetic interactions between marine sponges and their microbial partners, researchers reveal how these ancient organisms thrive in diverse environments.
8th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Why Ticks Prefer Certain Spots on Cattle
A study in Ghana reveals cattle carry an average of 5.6 ticks, with older cattle more infested. Understanding tick attachment patterns aids in developing better disease control strategies.
7th April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Cotton Engineered with Mpp51Aa2 Affects Predator Bug Lifespan and Reproduction
A new genetically engineered cotton, MON 88702, effectively combats resistant pests and may reduce the need for harmful insecticides, while minimally impacting beneficial bugs.
7th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Boosting Algae Growth Using Yeast Co-cultivation
Scientists improve the efficiency of algae's CO2 fixation by co-culturing it with yeast, revealing potential for better biological strategies to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
5th April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Soil Microbes and Their Relationships in Alpine Pine Forests
Researchers reveal how snow cover influences the microbial life supporting Swiss stone pines, key to alpine forest health and resilience against climate change.
5th April, 2024
| Greg Howard
Drought Impact on Bermuda Grass Growth and Gene Activity
Scientists at Yangzhou University have identified bermudagrass types with strong drought resistance, offering hope for water-efficient landscaping in dry areas.
5th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Timing of Bird Migration Shaped by Food, Not Wind
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reveal how two bird species coexist by foraging differently, minimizing competition and potentially driving evolution.
2nd April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Fungal Attack on Fall Armyworms: Effects and Process
Researchers find that the fungus Metarhizium rileyi effectively kills fall armyworm larvae, offering a potential eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides in agriculture.
2nd April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
How White-Tailed Deer Choose Homes While Moving Through Landscapes
Discover why animals pick certain habitats. Twitchy about change, creatures show 'habit burnout', but new methods hint at why they might shuffle digs.
1st April, 2024
| Greg Howard
Farm Habitat Choices of a Resident Bird Year-Round
Exploring the balance between agriculture and bird populations, researchers aim to develop strategies that protect crops while preserving wildlife and their ecological roles.
1st April, 2024
| Greg Howard
Last Natural Springs Survive Neglect and Mismanagement
Mexico City's natural springs, vital for biodiversity and local communities, face threats from urbanization and poor water management, despite their good ecological quality.
31st March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Microbes and Metabolism Interact in Soybean Fields
Discover how rotating crops instead of growing soybeans non-stop can lead to healthier soil, better yields, and a more balanced ecosystem below the surface.
31st March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Tree Variety and Arrangement Patterns Revealed
Explore the intricate world of tropical forests with a new study that categorizes trees based on their spatial relationships, offering fresh insights for conservation.
25th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
How Soil Affects Growth and Egg-Laying in Mosquitoes
Soil type affects mosquito development and where they lay eggs, with clay loam soil leading to better survival and growth, impacting disease control strategies.
25th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Lung Infection Microbes Change Over Time
Exploring the complex microbe communities in cystic fibrosis patients' lungs, researchers have found that stable groups of bacteria correlate with worse lung function, a key to better treatments.
25th March, 2024
| Greg Howard
How Stress Hormones and Habitat Affect Bird Conservation
Researchers found that high stress hormone levels in birds indicate abundant suitable habitat, offering a new tool for assessing wildlife conservation needs.
25th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
How Climate Change Affects Fish Births and Hormones
Exploring how fish reproduction is impacted by rising temperatures, researchers at Cal Poly reveal the importance of hormone pathways and species' adaptability for reproductive success.
25th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Hormone Reactions to Changing Environments
McMaster University researchers explore how hormones enable wildlife to adapt to environmental changes, showing the significance for conservation in our changing world.
25th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Environmental Factors Disrupt Hormones in Fish and Frogs
Chemicals disrupting hormones in humans and wildlife increasingly threaten development and reproduction in the Anthropocene, affecting aquatic life and necessitating updated definitions and testing methods.
24th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Mapping Mangroves from Space to Support Climate Resilience
Mauritius study shows tech can monitor and restore vital mangrove forests, key in protecting shorelines from tsunamis and storms, with high accuracy mapping.
23rd March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Japanese Diet and Its Role in Sustainable Development
Adopting the traditional Japanese diet, rich in fish and vegetables, could lead to a smaller environmental footprint, reducing land use, emissions, and water consumption.
22nd March, 2024
| Greg Howard
Antarctic Algae Secrets: How They Thrive in Extreme Cold
Scientists have uncovered how phytoplankton, crucial for carbon absorption and climate regulation, adapt to the harsh conditions of Antarctica, ensuring ecosystem and climate health.
22nd March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Manure from Antibiotic-Treated Cattle Affects Soil Microbes
A Virginia Tech study reveals how soil types and moisture levels affect how agricultural antibiotic use transforms local ecosystems, like changing soil microbe compositions and nutrient cycling. This could inform smarter farm manure management.
22nd March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Seasonal Changes in Root Fungi in Japanese Cedar Trees
Unraveling the mystery of how fungi that assist plant nutrition vary with seasons, a Tokyo study reveals their movement and stability in different forest soils.
21st March, 2024
| Greg Howard
How Losing Habitats Reduces Plant Variety and Ground Growth
Exploring habitats in northern China, scientists found that while habitat loss reduces plant variety and biomass, fragmentation unexpectedly increases variety but decreases soil moisture and biomass.
21st March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Uncovering How Ethiopian Local Chickens Adapt Naturally
Researchers are studying Ethiopian chickens to understand their adaptation to climate change, helping design breeding programs for resilience and productivity.
21st March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Widespread Frog Numbers Drop in Farming Areas
Modern farming may put resilient spined toads at risk, with a French study showing sparse populations in intensive agriculture areas contrasted with preserved habitats.
21st March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Comparing DNA Regions to Identify Ocean Microalgae Communities
A study advances marine biology by improving the study of ocean microalgae diversity, crucial for ecosystem health and carbon cycling, with DNA analysis techniques.
21st March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Safeguarding a Rare Plant in Changing Climates and Lands
Researchers at Harbin Normal University have developed a plan to sustainably cultivate the endangered medicinal plant, Thesium chinense, amid climate change and human pressures.
20th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Plants Power the Partnership Between Corals and Algae
Stanford researchers reveal that a coral's survival hinges on its symbiotic algae's ability to harness sunlight for energy, finding light essential for this partnership.
20th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Exploring How Gut Bacteria Interact With Their Hosts
Scientists use the simple worm, C. elegans, to study how tiny organisms in our bodies interact with our health, offering insights that could lead to new medical interventions.
18th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Link Between Energy Levels and Breeding Timing in Arctic Hoofed Animals
As climate change affects biological events, a study reveals that reindeer conception doesn't strongly link to their energy reserves, suggesting a more complex adaptation process.
18th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Essential Oils as Fumigants Against Grain Moths and Allies
Scientists find garlic and peppermint essential oils can kill grain moths without harming beneficial insects, offering a sustainable pest control method.
17th March, 2024
| Greg Howard
Better Planning for Nature: A Cure-All or a Can of Worms?
Incorporating mainstreaming and landscape-scale thinking could enhance England's nature strategy, a study from Northumbria University suggests, aiming to tackle fragmentation and encourage long-term planning.
16th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How American Alligators' Size Affects Their Environment
A University of Florida study reveals how the size of American alligators in the Greater Everglades affects their body shape and growth patterns, a key insight for conservation.
15th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Powerful Plant Oil Combo Kills Flies, Safe for Others
The study reveals that plant essential oils, particularly lemongrass and star anise, are highly effective against houseflies and safer for non-target species than synthetic insecticides.
14th March, 2024
| Greg Howard
Tracing the Hidden Links Between Coral Reefs Using Genetics and Ocean Patterns
Oxford researchers reveal crucial patterns in coral connectivity in Seychelles, aiding conservation efforts for these essential ocean ecosystems threatened by climate change.
14th March, 2024
| Greg Howard
Complex Breeding Patterns of Ocean Microalgae Explained
Marine diatoms, key to ocean health, show complex life cycles and adaptability. Long-term study reveals their genetic diversity critical for adjusting to environmental changes, with implications for marine life and humans due to toxin production.
14th March, 2024
| Greg Howard
Exploring the Future of Coral Reefs in a Changing Climate
Researchers suggest a new approach to predict coral reef fate under climate change, highlighting the need to incorporate uncertainty into models for effective conservation.
14th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Hazardous Roommates: Birds and Bat Predators Living Together
Italian researchers reveal that greater noctule bats may not threaten nesting birds like Eurasian blue tits, suggesting nuanced predator-prey dynamics.
13th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Bacteria Build Up in a Wastewater Cleaning System
Lund University researchers unlock the mystery of biofilm formation in wastewater treatment, revealing how bacterial communities evolve for effective nitrogen removal.
12th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Great Tits Unaffected by Tough Environments in Social Learning
Generalist foraging birds, like the great tit, may not rely more on social learning in harsh environments, challenging the assumption that tougher conditions always lead to stronger social learning skills.
11th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
How Heatwaves Push Different Kelps to Their Limits
Scientists find that kelp, crucial for marine biodiversity and carbon capture, are threatened by increasing sea heatwaves, challenging the resilience of even expanding species.
11th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Kelp Forests Bounce Back in Quickly Warming Seas
Nova Scotia's kelp forests are adapting to climate change, with a shift from cold-tolerant to warm-tolerant species. Despite global trends, some areas show recovery, thanks to local conditions and decreased sea urchin grazing.
11th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Decline in Kelp Forests Lowers Seaweed Diversity
A study reveals the decline of kelp forests affects marine species' distribution, suggesting the need for diverse measures in assessing ecosystem health.
11th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
How Diatom Populations Differ Across Various Regions
Researchers found that ocean temperature, not just random chance, plays a significant role in the distribution patterns of diatoms, vital algae for the marine ecosystem.
10th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How a Seaweed's Growth and Shape Change Over Time
UK scientists are studying the surge of Saccorhiza polyschides kelp in coastal waters, exploring its vital role in providing marine habitat, food, and contributing to carbon cycling.
10th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Understanding Recent Breakthroughs in Sugar Kelp Adaptation
Explore the resilience of sugar kelp, a key species in marine ecosystems, in adapting to climate change, contributing to healthy oceans and sustainable seaweed farming practices.
