Join The Applied Ecologist team as a Blog Associate Editor

We are seeking an enthusiastic ecologist with a passion for stimulating dialogue and communication across everyone involved in ecological research and practice to join the team in this voluntary role. Summary of the Role We are looking for an active ecologist with a passion for stimulating dialogue and communication across everyone involved in ecological research and practice. Part of the Editorial Boards for Journal Applied … Continue reading Join The Applied Ecologist team as a Blog Associate Editor

AER | ESEAugust 10, 2022August 10, 20221 Comment

Human-wildlife interactions, Pathogens and disease, Practitioners, Research summaries

Badger social structure maintained despite selective culling

In their new study, Allen et al. present a case study in Northern Ireland (NI) showing how selective culling can be less disruptive to badger social structures than indiscriminate culling. This method could be an effective and more socially acceptable means of controlling bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in wildlife. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has raised consciousness on the issue of human disturbance of ecosystems and how this … Continue reading Badger social structure maintained despite selective culling

AER | ESEAugust 9, 2022August 1, 20221 Comment

Citizen science, Freshwater, Practitioners, Research summaries, Urban ecosystems

Eight steps to urban amphibian conservation: Framework to translate ecological knowledge to action

New research by Lee et al. demonstrates the utility of an eight-step framework to identify priority wetland habitats and movement corridors for urban amphibian conservation in cities. Author Nicole Kahal explains more in this blog post. Amphibians are one of the most imperilled species assemblages with diversity and abundance declines reported globally. Considered a key indicator of ecological condition, amphibians face many challenges in the … Continue reading Eight steps to urban amphibian conservation: Framework to translate ecological knowledge to action

AER | ESEAugust 2, 2022July 26, 20221 Comment

Freshwater, Grasslands, Practitioners, Research summaries

Electric fencing safeguards declining wader populations

Originally posted and adapted from a RSPB Centre for Conservation Science and Vogelbescherming Nederland blog. Insufficient reproduction as a consequence of predation is a major determinant of population decline in ground-nesting birds. Malcolm Burgess and colleagues discuss their latest study on the effectiveness of using electric fences as a preventative measure. A common driver of the decline of ground-nesting meadow birds, especially waders, is insufficient … Continue reading Electric fencing safeguards declining wader populations

AER | ESEJuly 26, 2022July 21, 20221 Comment

Research summaries, Restoration

Bringing back a peatland butterfly

Author Andrew Osborne describe his team’s study exploring the ecology of a peatland-specialist butterfly to ensure their successful reintroduction following the threat of severe habitat loss and degradation. A landscape scale peatland restoration project is being undertaken on Chat Moss, Greater Manchester, UK, with conservation translocations an important component of the work. Our study was undertaken to support a species reintroduction of the large heath … Continue reading Bringing back a peatland butterfly

AER | ESEJuly 19, 2022July 18, 2022Leave a comment

Agriculture, Forests, Research summaries

Unravelling the natural pollinating agents of cacao

Pollination services of cacao are crucial for global chocolate production, yet remain critically understudied. Author Justine Vansynghel describes her team’s latest research that seeks to develop a greater understanding of how agroforests of this crop tree can be better managed. Cacao is a crop tree native to the amazon basin with a longstanding cultivation history throughout the tropical realm. The crop tree is understandably of … Continue reading Unravelling the natural pollinating agents of cacao

AER | ESEJuly 12, 2022March 23, 20231 Comment

Human-wildlife interactions, Plant and soil ecology, Research summaries, Urban ecosystems

De Frenne & Vangansbeke: How dogs fertilize nature reserves and woodlands close to cities

Research by De Frenne et al. published earlier this year revealed that dogs excrements contribute a significant amount of nutrients to nature reserves and warned of their potential negative impact on local biodiversity. Here, the authors respond to the international media coverage and the subsequent questions and comments they have received since their study went global. We recently published an article in Ecological Solutions and … Continue reading De Frenne & Vangansbeke: How dogs fertilize nature reserves and woodlands close to cities

AER | ESEJune 7, 2022June 7, 20223 Comments

Agriculture, Grasslands, Monitoring and methods, Plant and soil ecology, Practitioners, Research summaries, Restoration

Evaluating the success of upland hay meadow restoration using green hay transfer

Ruth Starr-Keddle describes her latest research with the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership to further the knowledge base on upland hay meadows and investigate the success of seed addition of key indicator species for restoring the landscape. Over the last 50 years there have been substantial declines in botanical diversity of traditionally managed species-rich upland hay meadows (conforming to the UK National … Continue reading Evaluating the success of upland hay meadow restoration using green hay transfer

AER | ESEMay 3, 2022June 30, 20221 Comment

Careers, Human-wildlife interactions, Journal news, Restoration, The Applied Ecologist community

Chico Mendes Prize 2021: early career practitioner winner announced

We’re excited to announce Alexandro Leverkus as the winner of the 2021 Chico Mendes Prize, celebrating the best Practice Insights article in the journal by an author at the start of their career. Winner: Alexandro Leverkus Research: Enabling conditions for the implementation and conservation outcomes of a private nature reserve About the study Public nature reserves are often the cornerstone of nature conservation but are … Continue reading Chico Mendes Prize 2021: early career practitioner winner announced

AER | ESEApril 29, 2022May 18, 2022Leave a comment

Careers, Journal news, The Applied Ecologist community, Urban ecosystems

Georgina Mace Prize 2021: early career researcher winner announced

We’re excited to announce Sara Bronwen Hunter as the winner of the 2021 Georgina Mace Prize, celebrating the best Research Article in the journal by an author at the start of their career. Winner: Sara Bronwen Hunter Research: Evidence shortfalls in the recommendations and guidance underpinning ecological mitigation for infrastructure developments About the research Infrastructure expansion is one of the most significant pressures on biodiversity … Continue reading Georgina Mace Prize 2021: early career researcher winner announced

AER | ESEApril 29, 2022October 27, 2022Leave a comment