Each year, each of the BES journals award a prize for the best paper by an author at the start of their career. Today, we present the shortlisted papers for the first Ecological Solutions and Evidence early career researcher award based on the journal’s inaugural volume.

The winner will be selected in the coming weeks and will be announced with the other prize winners across the BES journals.

In chronological order, this year’s shortlisted candidates are:

Detecting early warnings of pressure on an African lion (Panthera leo) population in the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area, Uganda – Alexander Braczkowski

Insights from five decades of monitoring habitat and breeding populations of American woodcock – Sarah Elizabeth Gutowsky

Spatial patterns and rarity of the white‐phased ‘Spirit bear’ allele reveal gaps in habitat protection – Christina N. Service

Evaluation of camera placement for detection of free‐ranging carnivores; implications for assessing population changes – Hayley M. Geyle

An experimental application of Hypena opulenta as a biocontrol agent for the invasive vine Vincetoxicum rossicum – Stuart W. Livingstone