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…

The secretive European ﬁre salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is among the main victims of the recently emerged fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). In their study published in the July issue of Ecological Applications, Beukema et al. use a hierarchical modeling framework to explore Bsal landscape epidemiology, present invasibility predictions for Western Europe, and provide research recommendations to advance future conservation and mitigation eﬀorts. The salamander depicted here is part of a thriving Belgian population that, despite occurrence in humid, forested conditions ideal for Bsal, fortunately remains free of infection.

Ecological Applications

News

California Department of Natural Resources Secretary Crowfoot Selected as the 2021 ESA Regional Policy Award Winner

The Ecological Society of America (ESA) will present its 14th annual Regional Policy Award to California’s Secretary for the Natural Resources Agency Wade Crowfoot on Monday, Aug. 2, at 10:00 EDT during the 2021 ESA Annual Meeting’s Opening Plenary.

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Farm-dwelling tree swallows are feeding their chicks pesticide-laced prey

Researchers from the Université de Sherbrooke found that tree swallows on agricultural landscapes are experiencing widespread exposure to pesticides, even on farms with less intensive pesticide use.

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As climates change, prepare for more mosquitoes in winter, new study shows

(June 10, 2021) A new study shows that mosquitoes can adjust to rapid changes in temperature, indicating that mosquitoes normally dormant during winter may become active year-round due to climate change.

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Snapshot USA: First-Ever Nationwide Mammal Survey Published

(June 9, 2021) Scientists from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute recently collaborated with more than 150 scientists on the first-ever nationwide wildlife survey, called Snapshot USA. The goal of the survey is to standardize the monitoring of mammal populations at a national scale.

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