Category: Research summaries

Human-wildlife interactions, Plant and soil ecology, Research summaries, Restoration

Can ecological restoration enhance the genetic diversity of plant species on a global scale?

Xinzeng Wei talks us through their recent meta-analysis, conducted with several colleagues, which found that ecological restoration does not significantly improve the genetic diversity of plant species as compared to reference or degraded populations. Wei et al instead suggest that using passive restoration, seeding, and mixed sources could significantly increase the genetic diversity of restored populations. The problem Human disturbance has led to several negative consequences … Continue reading Can ecological restoration enhance the genetic diversity of plant species on a global scale?

Journal of Applied Ecology1 Comment
Pathogens and disease, Practitioners, Research summaries, Urban ecosystems

Grub Hub for Fat Bats

Winifred Frick and colleagues share their latest research that tested a novel conservation approach targeted at improving foraging conditions near bat hibernacula with the overall aim of improving habitat conditions that can aid population resilience and recovery. Can we make them fatter? This was the million-dollar question that started the Fat Bat program at Bat Conservation International (BCI). It took a couple years of trial, … Continue reading Grub Hub for Fat Bats

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Careers, Plant and soil ecology, Research summaries, Restoration

Eleanor Warren-Thomas: Blog re-look: Tropical peatland restoration

Shortlisted for the Southwood Prize 2022 In this blog re-look, Eleanor Warren-Thomas tells us about conducting research on the restoration of tropical peatlands, as well as the experiences of an early career ecologist. You can find the original blog post discussing Eleanor’s research in English here and in Indonesian here! The research process Can you summarise your research and how it advances the wider field? … Continue reading Eleanor Warren-Thomas: Blog re-look: Tropical peatland restoration

Journal of Applied Ecology2 Comments
Citizen science, Monitoring and methods, Research summaries

Chronic declines and Red Listing: Are hazel dormice Endangered?

Ellie Scopes describe her team’s latest article re-assessing the extinction risk and conservation status of hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) using long-term monitoring data. Threats assessments and conservation priority often become entangled, despite different aims. Whilst threat assessments focus on the proximity of the species to extinction, usually with objective guidelines, conservation priority is more subjective and will involve considerations of the economic and cultural value … Continue reading Chronic declines and Red Listing: Are hazel dormice Endangered?

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Careers, Human-wildlife interactions, Research summaries, Translation, Urban ecosystems

Douglas Cirino: A distribuição espacial equilibrada das áreas verdes cria paisagens urbanas mais saudáveis

Finalista do Southwood Prize 2022 Este post também está disponível em inglês aqui. Douglas Cirino discute o artigo dele e de colegas de pesquisa que explora como as paisagens urbanas são mais saudáveis aquelas que compartilham o espaço da cidade com a vegetação. São Paulo Ao chegar pela primeira vez em São Paulo, a maior metrópole do mundo fora da Ásia, fiquei chocado com a … Continue reading Douglas Cirino: A distribuição espacial equilibrada das áreas verdes cria paisagens urbanas mais saudáveis

Journal of Applied Ecology2 Comments
Careers, Human-wildlife interactions, Research summaries, Urban ecosystems

Douglas Cirino: Balanced spatial distribution of green areas creates healthier urban landscapes

Shortlisted for the Southwood Prize 2022 This post is also available in Brazilian Portuguese here. Douglas Cirino discusses his and research colleagues’ article which explores how healthier urban landscapes are those that share city space with greenery. São Paulo Upon arriving in São Paulo, the largest metropolis in the world outside of Asia, I was shocked by the amount of concrete used to build the city. As a … Continue reading Douglas Cirino: Balanced spatial distribution of green areas creates healthier urban landscapes

Journal of Applied Ecology1 Comment
Agriculture, Perspectives, Policy, Practitioners, Research summaries

More and better hedgerows

Jo Staley, Lisa Norton (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) and Rob Wolton (Devon Hedge Group and Hedgelink) present their latest Perspective article calling for and providing recommendations for improving and expanding hedgerows as a valuable habitat and carbon store. Hedgerows, and having more of them, are high on the policy agenda with a target for a 10% national increase by 2050 in the recent … Continue reading More and better hedgerows

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Agriculture, Careers, Plant and soil ecology, Research summaries

Chongzhe Zhang: Leveraging functional traits of cover crops to coordinate crop productivity and soil health

Shortlisted for the Southwood Prize 2022 In this blog post, Chongzhe Zhang talks us through his and colleagues’ research involving a trait-based field experiment in which cover crops were measured to evaluate soil health, crop productivity and agricultural ecosystem sustainability. Trait-based ecology The grand challenge of feeding a growing population while preserving biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability is a daunting task for humanity. To achieve a … Continue reading Chongzhe Zhang: Leveraging functional traits of cover crops to coordinate crop productivity and soil health

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Careers, Human-wildlife interactions, Monitoring and methods, Research summaries

Mahmood Soofi: Quantifying the relationship between prey density, livestock and illegal killing of leopards

Shortlisted for the Southwood Prize 2022 Mahmood Soofi talks us through his research project which saw him and colleagues use ranger-collected data on illegal leopard killings in Iran and an N-mixture model to quantify relationships between livestock, prey density and illegal killing. Overexploitation and carnivores Overexploitation is one of the major threats to biodiversity in many parts of the world, which is driving many species … Continue reading Mahmood Soofi: Quantifying the relationship between prey density, livestock and illegal killing of leopards

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Agriculture, Policy, Practitioners, Research summaries, Urban ecosystems

How can we make solar energy work for the environment as much as for the climate?

Drawing from his team’s latest Perspective piece, Fabio Carvalho provides an overview of the growth of the solar energy industry in the UK and how we can better evaluate its impact on the environment. Solar farms are fast becoming a common sight across Britain. It is not hard to spot one by the side of a road or by going up a hill and looking … Continue reading How can we make solar energy work for the environment as much as for the climate?

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