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Articles on Wildlife ecology

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To understand the effects of a big die-off, researchers set up experiments with wild boar carcasses. Brandon Barton, Mississippi State University

Rotting feral pig carcasses teach scientists what happens when tons of animals die all at once, as in Australia’s bushfires

Death is a natural part of ecosystems. But it’s unusual for a large number of animals to all die at once. Researchers are investigating how a mass mortality event affects what’s left afterwards.
Red fox under cover of darkness in London. Jamie Hall. For use only with this article.

To avoid humans, more wildlife now work the night shift

It’s becoming harder and harder for animals to find human-free spaces on the planet. New research suggests that to try to avoid people, mammals are shifting activity from the day to the nighttime.
A male boreal toad waits for opportunities to mate near a Colorado mountain lake. Brittany Mosher

Saving amphibians from a deadly fungus means acting without knowing all the answers

Frogs and toads are declining around the world, with many species on the brink of extinction. Acting in time means trying strategies without complete information about how likely they are to work.
The Northern Corroboree frog is among seven species at grave risk from fungal disease. Michael McFadden

Frogs v fungus: time is running out to save seven unique species from disease

Chytrid fungus has already wiped out six species of Australian frogs since the disease arrived in the 1970s. Without urgent action, seven more are facing extinction.
A puma and her two kittens look out over San Jose, California. Cchristopher Fust

How humans threaten pumas just by being nearby

Many Americans move to rural areas to live near nature. But the mere presence of humans changes wildlife behavior in ways that may have ripple effects.

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