New research from China shows how the loss of insects is destabilising food webs.
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Articles on Food webs
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New research finds nearly 30% of land animals could disappear form their local area by 2100 due to climate change and habitat destruction. This is more than double previous predictions.
Polar bears and wolves may get the glory, but small predators like weasels, foxes and their cousins play outsized ecological roles. And many of these species are declining fast.
We hear a lot about how humans eating meat is bad for the planet. But if every animal only ate plants, Earth would look dramatically different.
Plankton, some of the smallest organisms on Earth, are leading big changes in the ocean.
Megalodon, the world’s largest known shark species, swam the oceans long before humans existed. Its teeth are all that’s left, and they tell a story of an apex predator that vanished.
These tiny organisms play a huge role in fighting climate change, but they’re under threat.
Hurricane Harvey destroyed the fishing infrastructure of Aransas Bay and reduced fishing by 80% over the following year. This removed humans from the trophic cascade and whole food webs changed.
Mud blister worms make their homes in the shells of oysters and other shellfish, where they weaken their hosts.
Climate change is changing Antarctic krill habitat. The repercussions for the Southern Ocean food web are huge.
Insect populations are falling as what they eat becomes more like iceberg lettuce and less like kale.
Mayflies and stone flies are extremely vulnerable to water pollution, which has implications for the larger food chain.
Media coverage of sharks often exaggerates risks to people, but more than 500 shark species have never been known to attack humans, and there’s lots to learn about them.
Rewilding is gaining popularity around the world, as a means to restore ecosystems to their ancient state. But just like Vegemite, Australian rewilding projects need to have a unique flavour.
Sharks eating seagrass? Sounds fishy, but the reality is that animals don’t conform to the strict categories we try to place on their diets.
An AC/DC-loving biologist tests the band’s 1980 assertion that “rock ‘n’ roll ain’t noise pollution.” Turns out it can be – and the negative effects of noise can ripple through an ecosystem.
DNA sequencing is making it possible for scientists to identify thousands of species of zooplankton – drifting animals that are key links in ocean food webs.
Biologists are finding new evidence that these ocean invertebrate grazers don’t just ingest whatever they catch. They can actually be picky eaters – and their choices might influence ocean food webs.
A new study shows that anchovies – key food for larger fish – are attracted to plastic trash because it smells like food. This suggests that toxic substances in plastic could move up through food chains.
A new study suggests the benefits of a boost to marine plant growth from increased carbon dioxide will be cancelled out by the increased stress to fish species.
Top contributors
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Associate Professor of Marine Conservation, University of Plymouth
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Associate Professor in Zoology, University of Tasmania
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Senior lecturer, University of Tasmania
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Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Models Theme Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University
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Senior lecturer, University of Sydney
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Professor, Marine Biology, University of Adelaide
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Senior Ecologist at the National Parks Association of NSW, Research Fellow, University of Sydney
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Professor, Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Sydney
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Professor, Program Director of Stretton Institute, Program Director of Environment Insitute, University of Adelaide
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Anthrozoologist, external advisor, Nottingham Trent University
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Postdoctoral researcher, Stanford University
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University of Adelaide
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Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Oregon
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University of Oregon
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Professor of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut
