News and Opinion - British Ecological Society

Researchers build first AI tool capable of identifying individual birds

New research demonstrates for the first time that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to train computers to recognise individual birds, a task humans are unable to do.

When landscapes change, conservation strategies must change as well

New research published in Journal of Applied Ecology explores the complex ways agriculture impacts biodiversity. Looking at Gran Chaco, a global deforestation hotspot, researchers find that trade-offs between agriculture and biodiversity change when the landscape changes, with species responding differently to the same level of agricultural intensity, depending on how much forest is left.

Debate needed on the potential culling of generalist predators such as crows and foxes to protect Europe's declining ground-nesting birds

Further studies and debate are needed on the potential culling of generalist predators such as crows and foxes as a means of protecting Europe's ever declining number of ground-nesting birds.

Snowshoe hare carcasses feed more then the usual suspects, study shows

Scientists document 24 different species scavenging snowshoe hare carcasses in the Yukon.

Clear strategies needed to reduce bushmeat hunting

Disease prevention and protection of species from the wildlife trade require differentiated strategies

What actions played a crucial role in curbing the rhinoceros poaching in Nepal?

Nepal has almost eliminated rhinoceros poaching by building community trust, inter-agency coordination and cooperation, enhanced law enforcement and better-training of enforcement staff in criminal investigation and prosecutions.

Rhino horn consumers in Vietnam do not trust demand reduction campaigns

New People and Nature research shows that rhino horn consumers in Vietnam do not trust demand reduction campaigns.

“Frequent Fliers’’: Study finds long-distance dispersal trend in American kestrels

Dispersal is ubiquitous in animal species, but tracking animals over large distances can be challenging. A new study published in the Journal of Animal Ecology uses bird banding and recovery data to estimate the frequency of long-distance dispersal in American kestrels, a migratory raptor that breeds throughout the western hemisphere.

Gall fly outmaneuvers host plant in game of “Spy vs. Spy”

Over time goldenrod plants and the gall flies that feed on them have been one-upping each other in an ongoing competition for survival. Now, a team of researchers has discovered that by detecting the plants’ chemical defences, the insects may have taken the lead.

Learning about penguin’s diet may save marine life, study finds

Researchers at Monash University and Phillip Island Nature Parks develop a novel index to determine the prey availability of little penguins which can help inform the sustainable future of their food supply.

New study reveals rarity of the Spirit Bear and gaps in their protection in the Great Bear Rainforest

New research has identified that the small genetic change responsible for Spirit bears - a rare, white-coated form of black bears – is up to 50% rarer in the Great Bear Rainforest than previously estimated. The study also indicates that geographic hotspots, where the Spirit bear version of the gene was especially prominent lack adequate protection from resource extraction.

How to bring conservation messaging into wildlife-based tourism

A new study from the University of Helsinki suggests that wildlife-based tourism operators should be key partners in educating and inspiring tourists to take informed conservation action. The study, published in People and Nature, introduces a toolbox of ideas for improving wildlife-based tourism operations.

Wild bees depend on the landscape structure

A Research team led by University of Göttingen finds flower strips, organic farming and small crop fields combine to encourage bees and hoverflies.

Daniel Becker wins the British Ecological Society’s Sidnie Manton Award

The British Ecological Society (BES) announced today that Daniel Becker, postdoctoral fellow at Indiana University, has been awarded the Sidnie Manton Award for the best review article in Journal of Animal Ecology by an early career researcher.

Sample management for biologists

In biology, even small errors in labelling and data management can lead to severe consequences, particularly when dealing large complex projects like tracking COVID-19. To reduce potential error, researchers at Queen’s University in Canada have developed a new software package called ‘baRcodeR’.