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…

Academic wins international award for work on ecological sustainability

Dr Mark Goddard, an urban ecologist interested in biodiversity conservation and the provision of ecosystem services in cities, is a co-recipient of the Sustainability Science Award from the Ecological Society of America.

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First record of a gall-forming aphid fighting off predator

New research reports evidence of a gall-forming aphid, Mordwilkoja vagabunda, defending itself against predators – a first for this species.

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Aquatic fungi – forgotten conservation targets

A new paper addresses the problem of a lack of attention towards aquatic fungi as potential conservation targets.

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Diversifying Agriculture to Control Pest Outbreaks

A review of 13 years of agricultural data collected by the Spanish government shows that pest populations are more stable and easier to predict and control in diversified landscapes.

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Journals and Publications

Colored nectar is an uncommon floral nectar trait, and three hypotheses have been put forward to explain the ecological functions of colored nectar: attracting pollinators; deterring unsuitable floral visitors; inhibiting microbial growth in nectar. In The Scientific Naturalist section of the May issue of Ecology, Cai et al., describe how the white flower mutant of Stemona tuberosa (pictured) was found to secrete colorless nectar, while normal flowers of S. tuberosa secreted the uncommon colored nectar. In their study conducted over five consecutive years, Cai et al. demonstrate that the colored nectar of S. tuberosa cannot attract pollinators, deter unsuitable floral visitors, or inhibit microbial growth in nectar. The pigments may occur in nectar by chance and colored nectar may be a nonadaptive character.

Ecology