The intersection of evolution and ecology has risen to become a prominent subfield in both disciplines in recent years, with scientists exploring more and more how interactions among organisms can shape evolution at the population and even species level. In the May issue of the journal Ecology, Ethan Temeles of Amherst College explores a fascinating relationship between the males and…
A meta-analysis published today in the journal PLoS ONE (open-access) finds that most disturbed ecosystems are recoverable within a much shorter timespan than previously thought. If people commit to cleanup, restoration or other appropriate management efforts, the researchers say, then most damaged ecosystems can recover in under 60 years – and some in as little as 10 years. Holly Jones…
Attention, ecologists. Have you ever wondered how to reconcile the supposed objectivity of the scientific profession with the urge to speak up as an ecologist and say something about environmental protection? Or have you avoided the topic, thinking that advocacy for a cause would undermine your credibility as a scientist? In a new paper online in Conservation Biology (abstract only;…
The largest population of leatherback sea turtles in the world has been identified off the coast of Gabon, Africa, and is estimated at somewhere between 15,700 and 41,400 female turtles. This seems to be a big bounceback for the endangered turtles, which are the largest living members of the sea turtle superfamily. This rough estimate was compiled during three nesting…
An ericoid mycorrhizal fungus similar to the ones found in rhododendrons. Mycorrhizae are fungi that form mutually beneficial associations with plant roots. The mutualism works like this: The mycorrhiza grows in and around the plant’s root tissue, and its hyphae, or thread-like vegetative parts, serve plants by branching out in the soil and absorbing nutrients that are of importance to…
New movement patterns may be a sign of good news for blue whales. Blue whales have begun moving around the ocean in ways that strongly resemble their historical patterns before the advent of the whaling trade. A century ago, about 300,000 blue whales existed. But in the early 1900s, humans hunted and killed 99.9 percent of them. The population decimation…
Yesterday, the White House released its $3.4 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2010. Overall, the sciences fared well, with many significant increases for renewable energy and environmental programs. Below is a breakdown of science funding to various government agencies from ESA’s Policy News, written by ESA Policy Analyst Piper Corp.
A. colberti, the new beetle species Stephen Colbert, that humble, modest satirist who shuns the spotlight and demurely rejects recognition, finally has an animal named after him: a species of Neotropical diving beetle, Agaporomorphus colberti. The two taxonomists who named the species, Kelly Miller at UNM and Quentin Wheeler at ASU, are no stranger to naming new species after famous…
Although not all birds mate for life, many do, and often mated pairs will stay together at least for the duration of a reproductive season. Birds are sneaky, however, and some “sneaker” males will often try to stealthily mate with females within pairs. Behavioral ecologists have many theories about why females engage in these extra-pair copulations. Since the birds can…
Climate change has the potential to not only increase average temperatures around the world, but also to increase the likelihood and severity of now-rare temperature events, like heat waves. The fate of many animal populations, therefore, can hinge on their ability to tolerate (relative) extreme heat. In the April issue of Functional Ecology, scientists explore the possible responses of animal…
President Obama addressed the attendees at the 146th annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences this morning, where he highlighted new directives that support his science initiatives, including a new agency for high-risk energy research and increased funding for education at the secondary and graduate levels. According to NAS President Ralph Cicerone, who gave introductory remarks, every room of…
Addition of parasites (red spheres) visibly increases connectivity of species in this representation of an Arctic food web. Studies of food webs fascinate community ecologists. There seems to be a never-ending supply of interactions to observe, analyze and use in predictions. From the largest apex predators, feeding once a week, to the smallest alga, constantly converting sunlight to energy, there’s…