U-M researcher discovers new ant behavior that could help protect coffee from pests
For the first time, ants were observed using the homes of pests known as coffee berry borers to rear their own young.
External Press Releases
Managing ecosystems under climate change using nature’s hidden design
Ecosystems become more resilient to environmental change through “portfolio effects” operating across multiple levels of ecological organization.
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In Wine Country, Barn Owls Eat Rodents—and Scare Them
Cal Poly Humboldt researchers found that barn owls reduce the number of rodents in vineyards not only by eating them but also scaring them.
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Bats were preying on migratory birds in flight—the first ever visual observation and recording of aerial predation in the world
For the first time, researchers observed and recorded bats preying on small migratory birds in the air at night.
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How invasive rats rewire coral reef food webs creating winners and losers
Invasive rats on tropical islands are creating winners and losers among the underwater animals near the bottom of the food chain that inhabit surrounding reefs.
Faculty member from UB appointed member of the Professional Ethics Committee of the Ecological Society of America
In July 2026, Associate Professor Dr. Virgil Alexandru Iordache was appointed a member of the Professional Ethics Committee of the Ecological Society of America.
As snowpack shrinks, Sierra Nevada mountain ponds undergo dramatic change
Study finds winter snowfall shapes summer pond conditions, with implications for biodiversity as California’s climate changes.
Disturbance has a greater effect on giant kelp productivity than does resource availability
The amount of kelp that survives winter storms greatly influences the productivity of the giant kelp forest in the next growing season.
The “creeping normality” of large language models is quietly reshaping the life sciences
Large language models are transforming research in the life sciences in ways that extend far beyond improving productivity, and are becoming a new normal before scientists have agreed where the limits of their use should be.
Swimming crab trapped in plastic bottle survived two months on the ocean
Researchers investigated this unusual marine mystery, revealing a lesser-known impact of marine plastic pollution on crustaceans.
Nature’s Portfolio: How Diversity Buffers Ecosystems Against Change
In a new synthesis paper, researchers examine the ecological structures and processes that help ecosystems withstand disturbances while continuing to provide the benefits that people and wildlife depend on.
Woodcock charge deer to defend nests, UMaine researchers find
Researchers captured what may be the first recorded evidence of nesting birds aggressively driving away deer.
50 years of data reveals true extent of climate change impacts on kelp forests
New research has found that some kelp forests around Vancouver Island were disappearing far earlier than previously thought.
Brian Enquist receives Robert H. MacArthur Award
SFI External Professor Brian Enquist (University of Arizona) has been awarded the Ecological Society of America’s prestigious Robert H. MacArthur Award, which celebrates a mid-career ecologist.
Trees in Cattle Pastures Boost Biodiversity
A global study shows a strong positive impact of agroforestry on biodiversity—but restoration measures are not a substitute for forest conservation.
Biology Professor Honored For Research That Illuminates Impact of Climate Change
Susana Wadgymar, a professor at Davidson College, was recently honored by the Ecological Society of America for her research that sheds light on plants’ ability to weather climate change.
K Students Sweep Ecology Conference Awards
Three students recently represented Kalamazoo College at the 2026 meeting of the Great Lakes Chapter of the Ecological Society of America, where two of them swept the top undergraduate honors for their research presentations.
Warming Accelerates Ecological State Shift Along Maine Coast
As large swaths of Maine’s kelp forests transition into a new state, a study by Bigelow Laboratory scientists reveals what’s driving the northward progression of turf algae and the loss of kelp forests.
RMBL Scientists Jill Anderson and Ian Breckheimer Win 2026 ESA W.S. Cooper Award
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory scientists Jill Anderson and Ian Breckheimer have received the 2026 W.S. Cooper Award from the Ecological Society of America.
Scorched shrubs sprout anew, researchers find in controlled fire study
After a short, low intensity burn that scorches leaves and chars stems, at least some invading species resprout and grow back.