ecology

Laboratory experiments find that Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia can congregate on microplastic beads and fibers, suggesting they might make their way into and around the world’s oceans by hitching rides on tiny bits of trash.

Insect populations and species diversity are drastically reduced in areas affected by both climate change and agriculture-related habitat destruction, according to a new study.

The University of East Anglia researcher was best known for his contributions to the study of sexual selection, particularly post-copulatory sperm competition.

Contrary to what researchers had assumed, Egyptian fruit bats don’t rely solely on sight to orient themselves as they drink and forage for food in daylight. 

A study finds that dozens of bird species are nesting up to 25 days sooner each year than they were a century ago, likely due to climate change.

Edward Ricketts built his laboratory just onshore from the swirling tidepools of Monterey Bay, California, an ideal backdrop against which he developed a new system for studying the ecology of any given habitat.

Mongolian rodents join the ranks of earthworms and beavers as known ecosystem engineers.

Half or more of the world’s largest forest is in danger of transitioning into grassland, researchers say.

The decrease in growth appears to be associated with increasing water temperatures, affecting animals throughout the marine food web.

The glossy shell of some beetles, it has long been speculated, helps hide the insects from predators. A recent paper put the hypothesis to the test—and found it wanting.

Scientists in Canada trace how aquatic communities change as Quebec’s Romaine River flows into the sea.

Levels of pharmaceuticals considered unsafe for aquatic organisms were found at more than one-quarter of sampling sites.

Corals that previously experienced heat stress respond better the next time around. Researchers are trying to figure out how, and hope to one day take advantage of the phenomenon to improve coral restoration efforts. 

A new study of tree biodiversity estimates that Earth boasts 14 percent more tree species than previous efforts have identified.

The famous ecologist was a lifelong champion for conservation.

In a trio of studies, researchers report capturing and analyzing airborne environmental DNA from a wide variety of plants and animals, suggesting a new way of monitoring which terrestrial species are present in an area.

Once considered anosmic, birds are now widely recognized as using olfactory cues to aid in a wide range of behaviors.

The Scientist spoke with University of Wollongong ecologist Dana Bergstrom about protecting the continent’s native plants and animals in the face of climate change and a growing human presence.

Across the tree of life, animals use sound and other vibrations to glean valuable sensory information about their environments even before they are born.