Category: Research summaries

Grasslands, Invasive species, Research summaries, Restoration

Spatially explicit scenarios for management of an invasive woody weed in Baringo County, Kenya, reveal significant livelihood benefits

This post is also available in Amharic (here) and Swahili (here). A new study by Eschen and colleagues suggests that clearing the invasive woody weed, Prosopis julifora, and subsequently restoring this land into grassland may have significant financial benefits for local stakeholders and contribute to climate change mitigation in Baringo County, Kenya. Climate change, land degradation, and invasive alien species (IAS), such as Prosopis julifora, … Continue reading Spatially explicit scenarios for management of an invasive woody weed in Baringo County, Kenya, reveal significant livelihood benefits

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Grasslands, Human-wildlife interactions, Research summaries

Rethinking biodiversity conservation in cultural landscapes: land management interventions informed by biodiversity audits work

To address biodiversity declines within semi‐natural habitats, land management must cater for diverse taxonomic groups. Through one of the largest multi-taxa experiments yet attempted in a European grassland, Hawkes and colleagues show that interventions inspired by history and autecological knowledge enhance priority biodiversity. Conservationists have traditionally focused on the idea that ‘mimicking’ elements of history will support large numbers of species that benefit from human … Continue reading Rethinking biodiversity conservation in cultural landscapes: land management interventions informed by biodiversity audits work

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Coastal and marine, Monitoring and methods, Research summaries

Habitat selection modelling reveals sea turtles use protected areas in greater proportion to their availability

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designated regions to help conserve wildlife but how are they used by the species they protect? In their latest research, Kelsey Roberts and colleagues evaluate the use of these protected areas by sea turtles to help inform better design and management of MPAs. Scientists agree that area-based conservation efforts are key to preserving biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as ocean-based … Continue reading Habitat selection modelling reveals sea turtles use protected areas in greater proportion to their availability

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Invasive species, Research summaries

Gypsy moths: Understanding the impact of a dreadful forest pest

In their latest Registered Report, Benjamin Leroy and colleagues outline their methods to review the pathways in which gypsy moth outbreaks, and their subsequent treatment, affect forest ecosystems. To find out more about Registered Reports, read our blog post here. The gypsy moth is a species native to Eurasia and widely considered as one of the most severe pests of temperate forests. The exceptionally voracious … Continue reading Gypsy moths: Understanding the impact of a dreadful forest pest

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Agriculture, Pollinators, Research summaries

When stressed by both pesticides and parasites, honey bees do better than expected

In their latest research, Bird and colleagues perform a meta‐analysis to gain a clearer view of the combined effects of parasites and pesticides on honey bee health. Honey bees pollinate about a third of all crops. Without them, the production of everything from almonds to zucchinis would grind to halt, which makes it especially alarming that honey bees have being dying at increasing rates over … Continue reading When stressed by both pesticides and parasites, honey bees do better than expected

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Human-wildlife interactions, Research summaries, Urban ecosystems

Cameron Hodges: Using radio-telemetry to better understand how a highly venomous snake lives among people

In this Q&A, we ask author Cameron Hodges about his team’s research monitoring the behaviour of a Malayan krait near a university dormitory in Thailand, and find out a little bit more about the author himself. Go to: The research | The bigger picture | About the Author The research What’s your article about? Our article provides a detailed description of the observed movements, habitat … Continue reading Cameron Hodges: Using radio-telemetry to better understand how a highly venomous snake lives among people

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

Repatriating solitary felids: the case for seeking homes for conflict-borne leopards in southern Africa

Photo © Vasti Botha Translocating large carnivores to reduce human-wildlife conflict have historically failed, but recent improvements in satellite technology have enabled better monitoring and success. In their latest research, Power et al. report on the outcomes of repatriating 16 leopards across a South African province. Leopards need little introduction. These large felids are ubiquitous across Africa and large parts of Asia. However, being so … Continue reading Repatriating solitary felids: the case for seeking homes for conflict-borne leopards in southern Africa

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Editor's Choice, Human-wildlife interactions, Research summaries

Editor’s Choice 58:3 Eagle fatalities are reduced by automated curtailment of wind turbines

Journal of Applied Ecology’s March Editor’s Choice tests the efficacy of an automated curtailment system in reducing counts of fatalities of eagles. Associate Editor, Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi, introduces the selected article by Chris J W McClure, which shows that this method substantially reduced eagle fatalities, offering potential opportunities to lessen the conflict between wind energy and raptor conservation. We need greener renewable energy to fight climate … Continue reading Editor’s Choice 58:3 Eagle fatalities are reduced by automated curtailment of wind turbines

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Monitoring and methods, Research summaries

Gap filling an ecosystem monitoring network

In their latest research, Guerin and colleagues combine the predictive power of Generalised Dissimilarity Modelling (GDM) with practical considerations to strategically gap‐fill an established network of ecosystem surveillance plots—TERN Ausplots. Monitoring Australia’s vast and diverse terrestrial ecosystems is a complex and time-consuming task. To effectively detect, interpret and act on changes in Australian ecosystems, it is vital that scientists and land managers have access to … Continue reading Gap filling an ecosystem monitoring network

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Coastal and marine, Human-wildlife interactions, Research summaries

Smaller adults and bigger juveniles: how global warming is affecting our fish populations.

There is mounting evidence that climate change is affecting commercial fish species. In their latest research, Ikpewe and colleagues investigate the effect of temperature on fish sizes in two neighbouring regions, displaying contrasting trends in warming. The warming of our oceans due to climate change is affecting marine life in numerous ways.  Fish populations, in particular, are experiencing changes in productivity, distribution, growth and the … Continue reading Smaller adults and bigger juveniles: how global warming is affecting our fish populations.

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