The importance of wetland margin microhabitat mosaics

The use of microhabitats for thermoregulation in wetland species is poorly studied. In their latest research, Ryeland and colleagues conduct field observations of nine species of shorebird to test whether birds selectively use microhabitats across temperatures. Wetlands, and the species that rely upon them, are under significant threat world‐wide, and managing habitat for migratory wetland species, such as shorebirds, is particularly challenging because it requires … Continue reading The importance of wetland margin microhabitat mosaics

Trembling in the Balance: My life as a Black ecologist

For Black History Month, the British Ecological Society (BES) journals are celebrating the work of Black ecologists from around the world and sharing their stories. Christian Asante, a fifth year doctoral student at Boston College, shares his story below. I was born and raised in a sprawling urban neighbourhood in Ghana. My first awareness of nature as a child was birds flying headlong into my … Continue reading Trembling in the Balance: My life as a Black ecologist

Catch them if you can! A combined effort by citizens and scientists to monitor mosquitoes in Germany

In their latest research, Pernat and colleagues evaluate the performance of the German citizen science project ‘Mückenatlas’, in comparison to professional mosquito monitoring efforts. Mosquitoes – everyone knows them, hardly anyone likes them, and as carriers of pathogens, they can also pose a threat to the health of humans and animals. These negative connotations associated with mosquitos have been put to use by Mückenatlas, a … Continue reading Catch them if you can! A combined effort by citizens and scientists to monitor mosquitoes in Germany

Infographic: Pollinator monitoring more than pays for itself

New research from Breeze and colleagues demonstrates that a well-designed monitoring scheme provides  excellent value for money, compared with traditional research funding models, and could help save species and protect UK food security. This infographic provides an overview of their work. ‘Our findings demonstrate that long‐term systematic monitoring can be a cost‐effective tool for both answering key research questions and setting action points for policymakers. … Continue reading Infographic: Pollinator monitoring more than pays for itself

Pollinator monitoring more than Pays for Itself

In their latest research, Breeze and colleagues evaluate the costs of running pollinator monitoring schemes against the economic benefits to research and the society that they provide Take a look at the accompanying infographic here Bees, hoverflies and other insects provide vital pollination services to crops and wild plants throughout the UK. There is a lot of information demonstrating that these insects are declining but … Continue reading Pollinator monitoring more than Pays for Itself

How does replanting of oil palm plantations affect arthropod biodiversity?

Palm oil plantations require replanting every twenty to thirty years but its effects on biodiversity are widely understudied. In their latest research, Pashkevich and colleagues assess the impact of replanting on arthropod communities in an industrial plantation. Biodiversity in oil palm plantations Oil palm plantations are often in areas that were once tropical rainforests, and this conversion has resulted in widespread declines in biodiversity and … Continue reading How does replanting of oil palm plantations affect arthropod biodiversity?

Black Outdoors: Sharing the joys of outdoors while Black

For Black History Month, the British Ecological Society (BES) journals are celebrating the work of Black ecologists from around the world and sharing their stories. Below we share Black Outdoors – a blog about the academic journey and outdoor adventures of Jacqueline L. Scott. Author, researcher and all-round outdoor adventurer. Jacqueline L. Scott is a PhD student at the University of Toronto studying the relationship … Continue reading Black Outdoors: Sharing the joys of outdoors while Black

Lionel Yamb: Saving sharks in Cameroon waters

For Black History Month, the British Ecological Society (BES) journals are celebrating the work of Black ecologists from around the world and sharing their stories. Lionel Yamb, who sits on the BES Equality and Diversity Working Group, shares his story below. My name is Lionel Yamb; I’m an early career marine ecologist working in Cameroon with the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD). I … Continue reading Lionel Yamb: Saving sharks in Cameroon waters

Editor’s Choice 57:10 – Testing the relative effects of biocontrol and herbicide: finding an evidence-based management decision to control invasive plants

Journal of Applied Ecology’s October Editor’s Choice compares biocontrol and herbicide as approaches to invasive species management. Associate Editor, Rafael D. Zenni introduces the selected article by Paul G. Peterson and colleagues, which explores ‘efficacy, non-target effects and secondary invasion’. This post is also available in Portuguese here. In most ecosystems, controlling invasive alien plants is necessary in order to reduce and mitigate the negative … Continue reading Editor’s Choice 57:10 – Testing the relative effects of biocontrol and herbicide: finding an evidence-based management decision to control invasive plants

Testagem dos efeitos relativos de controle biológico e herbicida no controle de plantas exóticas invasoras para tomada de decisão baseada em evidências

This Editor’s Choice summary by Rafael D. Zenni is also available in English here. O controle de plantas exóticas invasoras é uma necessidade na maioria dos ecossistemas do planeta para reduzir e mitigar os impactos negativos causados ​​por invasões biológicas a biodiversidade nativa e aos serviços ecossistêmicos. No entanto, existem vários métodos de controle e escolher a solução mais eficaz, menos prejudicial e mais permanente … Continue reading Testagem dos efeitos relativos de controle biológico e herbicida no controle de plantas exóticas invasoras para tomada de decisão baseada em evidências