press release

Four gian tortises walk toward the camera with a second group following beind in the background.

Giant Tortoises Migrate Unpredictably in the Face of Climate Change

Unlike many migratory species, Galapagos giant tortoises do not use current environmental conditions to time their seasonal migration.

ESA Tipsheet for April 1, 2019

Upcoming research in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment

Woolly Stars Need Catastrophes to Live

In the Santa Ana River floodplain, an endangered plant needs the effects of intense flooding to grow and survive in loose soil

ESA Tipsheet for March 4,5, 2019

Upcoming research in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment

Pika survival rates dry up with low moisture

In the Pacific Northwest, dry air interacts with low snow conditions to affect pika abundances at different elevations February 4, 2019 For Immediate Release Contact: Zoe Gentes, 202-833-8773 ext. 211, gro.asenull@setnegz Although it has been ranked as the cutest creature in US National Parks, the American pika is tough, at home in loose alpine rocks in windswept mountain…

Why charismatic, introduced species are so difficult to manage

Researchers say mismatches of scale between social and ecological systems are a key contributor to many conflicts involving introduced-species management February 4, 2019 For Immediate Release Contact: Zoe Gentes, 202-833-8773 ext. 211, gro.asenull@setnegz Introduced and invasive species can present big problems, particularly when those species are charismatic, finds a recently published paper in the Ecological Society of America’s…

Elephants take to the road for reliable resources

In a national park, researchers study African elephant movement and vegetation using satellites January 9, 2018 For Immediate Release Contact: Zoe Gentes, 202-833-8773 ext. 211, gro.asenull@setnegz An elephant never forgets. This seems to be the case, at least, for elephants roaming about Namibia, looking for food, fresh water, and other resources. The relationship between resource availability and wildlife movement…

Does mountaintop removal also remove rattlesnakes?

Mining operations in Appalachia permanently alter habitat availability for rattlesnakes January 3, 2018 For Immediate Release Contact: Zoe Gentes, 202-833-8773 ext. 211, gro.asenull@setnegz On the Cumberland Plateau in eastern Kentucky, surface coal mining is destroying ridgelines and mountaintops, and along with them, the habitat of a surprisingly gentle reptile species – the timber rattlesnake. “Timber rattlesnakes may be…

Birds can mistake some caterpillars for snakes; can robots help?

Researchers observe a defense mechanism for caterpillars can attract unwanted attention December 17, 2018 For Immediate Release Contact: Zoe Gentes, 202-833-8773 ext. 211, gro.asenull@setnegz When a caterpillar disguises itself as a snake to ward off potential predators, it should probably expect to be treated like one. This is exactly what happened in Costa Rica earlier this year, when researchers witnessed a hummingbird defending its nest from what…

Ecologists Ask: Should We Be More Transparent with Data?

Open, readily-usable data sets and code will grow more important in future scientific research, saving time and effort for reviewers, investigators, and authors October 26, 2018 For Immediate Release Contact: Zoe Gentes, 202-833-8773 ext. 211, gro.asenull@setnegz Computational reproducibility – the ability to accurately reproduce outcomes from data sets using the same code and software – will be an…

With ongoing global change, landscape structure changes are expected to be a driver of extinction rates of temperate zone ectotherms. In a study by Rozen-Rechels et al. in the May issue of Ecological Monographs, the authors conclude that changes in water availability, coupled with rising temperatures, might have a drastic impact on the population dynamics of some ectotherm species.

Ecological Monographs

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Invasive Species Alters Marine Community, Interferes in Recovery Following Natural Disasters

Researchers conducted experiments on the North Carolina coast to determine how an invasive marine fouling species interferes with recovery in the aftermath of natural disasters.

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Elementary school student publishes peer-reviewed beetle research

A Japanese student’s backyard observations and email correspondence with an insect ecologist have led to a new understanding of the activity patterns of rhinoceros beetles.

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Solar Development: Super Bloom or Super Bust for Desert Species?

A study published in the journal Ecological Applications from the University of California, Davis, and UC Santa Cruz suggests that green energy and species conservation goals may come into conflict in California’s Mojave Desert.

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UH Hilo’s Ostertag elected a 2021 Fellow of the Ecological Society of America

Dr. Rebecca Ostertag has been elected a 2021 Fellow of ESA or her “outstanding intellectual leadership in the areas of tropical forest ecology and conservation and a deep commitment to mentoring and enhancing diversity in the next generation of ecologists.

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