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.
External Press Releases
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
New Study Eavesdrops on the Secret Lives of Birds
Scientists use microphones to identify how birds respond to predators.
Ken Klemow to Receive Distinguished Lifetime Service Award from the Ecological Society of America
Kenneth Klemow, professor emeritus of biology and earth systems science at Wilkes University, has been chosen to receive the Ecological Society of America’s 2026 Distinguished Lifetime Service Award.
Doctoral Student Parikrama Sapkota Earns Prestigious Ecology Award
UTEP doctoral student Parikrama Sapkota is the 2026 recipient of the E. Lucy Braun Award from the Ecological Society of America.
Emily Weigel Receives National Award for Excellence in Ecology Education
The award celebrates Weigel’s sustained, outstanding work in ecology education.
Collaborating ecology professors earn national honors and discuss their work together
Professors of ecology and evolutionary biology Roxanne Beltran and Erika Zavaleta partner on research that bridges ecology, inclusive education, and field-based learning.
Professor Echeverri receives 2026 award from the Ecological Society of America
Her award honors a study she coauthored that examines the ecological resilience, genetic diversity and cultural and nutritional significance of traditional crops in the Himalaya.