News and Opinion - British Ecological Society

Managing energy balance through lactation

Recently published research in Journal of Animal Ecology explores how grey seal mothers maximize their chances of successfully rearing pups during an ‘energetic fast’.

Development of a diagnostic tool for water bodies

If a river or stream is not doing well, there are many possible causes, but they are sometimes difficult to detect. Scientists from the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) have now developed a method that evaluates biological symptoms of rivers and calculates probable causes.

BES response to the UN’s Global Biodiversity Outlook report

Using Nature to Find Solutions to Human Problems

The BES Policy Team is working with members to produce a report assessing the evidence for NBS delivery potential across the UK.

To mate or be eaten: tree cricket behaviour in the presence of a predator

In the presence of predators, male tree crickets but not females, change their mate-finding behaviour, according to a new study in Functional Ecology from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

As a Black zoologist, a BAME network matters

Reuben Fakoya Brooks speaks powerfully about the importance of Black representation in ecology, and introduces a new BAME Ecologist network.

Indigenous knowledge still undervalued in environmental decisions

New research published today in People and Nature finds that Indigenous knowledge is regularly underutilised and misunderstood when making important environmental decisions.

The multiple benefits of conserving native forest

Research published in Journal of Applied Ecology shows how the presence of Chaco Serrano forest remnants in the vicinity of soybean fields has led to an increase in the diversity of insects that control pests

Biodiversity, Forestry and Wood: Reflecting on the Evidence

Announcing the 2020 British Ecological Society award winners

The British Ecological Society (BES) announced today the winners of its annual awards and prizes, recognising eleven distinguished ecologists whose work has benefited the scientific community and society in general.

Younger generation fail to notice environmental decline due to generational amnesia risking conservation longevity

Tracking re-invasion of mice on offshore havens

Scientists highlight the importance of biosecurity as a study in Journal of Applied Ecology shows how easily pests can reinvade islands.

Bee neighbourly: sharing bees helps more farmers

The benefits of cost-sharing the conservation of wild bee habitats on agricultural lands, especially in nearby farming communities, can help overcome the tragedy of the commons.

The forgotten fauna: introduced seed predators are no surrogate for extinct seed-eating animals on islands

A new study led by Dr Jo Carpenter has shown that it’s not just the loss of mutually beneficial species like pollinators or seed disperses that have a severe impact on island ecology, the loss of “negative” interactions such as destroying seeds or parasitism is also important.

Lianas strongly impact forests in southern Amazonia

A team of Brazilian and British scientists has uncovered the extent to which trees across the southern edge of the Amazon are infested by woody climbing plants and the impact they have on the forests.