The story of a cutting edge science project, in which solar-powered trackers map the movements of creatures, brims with charming anecdotes, serial frustrations and ‘blue sky’ plans.
Elephants have close social bonds, which may have led to the evolution of name-like calls.
Michael Pardo
Humans aren’t the only animals that have names for each other − and studying animals that use names can teach researchers more about how human names evolved.
An archaeologist takes bog samples in Germany for analysis of past civilizations and what they cultivated.
Stefan Puchner/picture alliance via Getty Images
Wild turkeys were overhunted across the US through the early 1900s, but made a strong comeback. Now, though, numbers are declining again. Two ecologists parse the evidence and offer an explanation.
Mark Wong, The University of Western Australia e Raphael Didham, The University of Western Australia
Sometimes it seems the night is just buzzing with insects. But are there really more insects out at night? We analysed all the evidence on insect activity across the day–night cycle to find out.
Cicadas climb up a tree at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., during the Brood X emergence in 2021.
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Dirk S. Schmeller, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)
Rather than just a small change here or there, taking real action on climate change and biodiversity requires a fundamental, system-wide reorganisation.
Pumpjacks draw oil out of the ground as a deer stands in a canola field near Olds, Alta., in July 2020. Standard agricultural systems in Canada and around the world achieve high yields, but at times at great ecological costs. Agroecology aims to address these issues.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Rock dust is only part of the story of soil. Living creatures, many of them too tiny to see, keep that soil healthy for growing everything from food to forests.
Our plant species are pickier about their preferred temperature range than you would expect. That means many will have to move south, seeking cooler climes.
Oregon’s Umpqua Dunes inspired the desert planet Arrakis in Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune.’
VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The state’s largest wildfire on record tore across the heart of Texas cattle country, and more days of strong winds were forecast. A rangeland ecologist explains why the flames spread so fast.
Australia could still take action in the fight against Varroa that wasn’t possible elsewhere. But to do so, we need to fill urgent gaps in bee research.
Their ‘island naïveté’ means these seabirds are easy pickings when mice attack.
USFWS - Pacific Region/Flickr
On a small, remote island in the Pacific Ocean, an unlikely predator feasts on the world’s largest albatross colony. Researchers are trying to figure out how to stop these murderous mice.
Michael Varnum explains new research on the role ecological factors play in the differences between cultures. Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast.
Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Models Theme Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University