News and Opinion - British Ecological Society

Citizen scientists help capture wild mammals on camera

At the ‘Ecology Across Borders’ conference in Ghent, Belgium this week, researchers will share their experience of working with members of the public to create a network of motion-sensing camera traps for wildlife monitoring.

Show me your leaves - Health check for urban trees

This week at the ‘Ecology Across Borders’ conference in Ghent, Belgium researchers from KU Leuven will present a fast, cost-efficient and objective method to map, evaluate and monitor the health of urban trees.

Making ‘green Brexit’ work for agriculture and the environment

Post-Brexit policy should carry out a root-and-branch reform to better address the specific needs of the UK’s farming and food sectors whilst protecting the countryside.

Physical contact may be good for your health, according to new research

Red-bellied lemurs maintain gut health through touching and ‘huddling’ each other, a new study published in Journal of Animal Ecology shows.

Capturing Ecology - Winners of British Ecological Society photography competition announced

The BES has revealed the winners of its annual photography competition ‘Capturing Ecology’.

Higher plant species richness may not be enough to protect ecosystems from the worst impacts of climate extremes

Higher plant species richness is not always sufficient to reduce ecosystem vulnerability to climate extremes.

Study finds ways to avoid hidden dangers of accumulated stresses on seagrass

A new study has found ways to detect hidden dangers of repeated stresses on seagrass using statistical modelling.

It takes a microclimate to raise a pinyon tree

With all the discussion about global climate change effects, new research shows that another kind of climate is an important factor in regional pinyon pine tree recovery after drought events – the microclimate.

2017 book prize awarded to behavioural ecologist Professor Tim Clutton-Brock

Our annual Marsh Book of the Year Award has been given to Professor Tim Clutton-Brock from Cambridge’s Zoology Department, recognising his book Mammal Societies for its influence on the science and application of ecology.

Animation meets biology - Shedding new light on animal behaviour

For the first time, digital animation has been used as a research tool to examine how the effectiveness of a lizard’s territorial display varies across ecological environments and conditions.

Protecting 'high carbon' rainforest also protects threatened wildlife

Conservation efforts focused on protecting forests using carbon-based policies also benefit mammal diversity, new research published in the Journal of Applied Ecology has found.

Controlled fires don't eliminate invasive tree

A recent study by a University of Florida researcher shows that controlled fire increases the proliferation of invasive tree species, which could cause millions of dollars in damage.

New mapping tool tracks elk migration to reduce brucellosis risk

New research by University of Wyoming and U.S. Geological Survey scientists has created a mapping tool for reducing the risk of transmitting brucellosis from elk to cattle.

Press Release: Humans - the disturbing neighbours of reef sharks

Shark diversity and abundance is highest in remote reefs, as far as 25 hours away from main cities, reveals a study published in Journal of Applied Ecology.

Press Release: A prioritised list of invasive alien species threatening the UK’s environment

More species urgently need to be considered for inclusion on the EU’s ‘List of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern’.