Ecology is a branch of biological and environmental sciences that investigates the distribution, abundance, and dynamics of organisms in relation to each other and to their physical and chemical environments. It encompasses hierarchical levels of organization, including populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, and the biosphere. Ecological research examines flows of energy and cycles of matter, species interactions (such as predation, competition, and mutualism), and responses to abiotic factors like climate, nutrients, and disturbance. Quantitative ecological models and empirical studies are used to understand patterns of biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and the resilience and stability of ecological systems.
In recent years, citizen science methodology has gained significant momentum and is becoming increasingly important in large-scale ecological and conservation research. By involving volunteers, it enables a level of spatial ...
Ecology
May 21, 2026
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A new paper calls for ecologists and evolutionary biologists to consider how organisms experience climate rather than how weather stations record it when doing climate–biology research. The paper, "Matching climate to biological ...
Ecology
May 20, 2026
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What do a thriving coral reef and a bustling city neighborhood have in common? More than you might think. A Perspective by Federico Botta and colleagues published in PNAS Nexus proposes a method for measuring urban vibrancy ...
Environment
May 19, 2026
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When rivers degrade, pests spread or drought hits crops, nature sends a bill.
Environment
May 18, 2026
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Political debates about the future of forests in Sweden and the EU are reaching an impasse. Producing more wood comes at the expense of nature and the storage of carbon within trees and soils. Conserving and restoring more ...
Ecology
May 15, 2026
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A new approach to better assessing whale population data has emerged, led by a research team of marine biologists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and statisticians from Cal Poly. Scientists typically ...
Plants & Animals
May 14, 2026
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Scientists have discovered that they can eavesdrop on the secret lives of birds using networks of inexpensive microphones, revealing complex behaviors across vast wilderness areas, according to research published in the journal ...
Plants & Animals
May 12, 2026
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An international research team has developed a roadmap for an emerging field of technology called ecotech, which aims to create scalable solutions to urgent environmental, social and economic challenges. The team describes ...
Ecology
May 6, 2026
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Acid-filled pitchers complete with fangs. Labyrinthine chambers decorated with bristles. Leaves that snap shut in less than a second. Employing strategies like these, carnivorous plants have a reputation as fearsome predators, ...
Plants & Animals
May 5, 2026
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An international team of researchers have made the surprising discovery that urban birds—such as great tits, house sparrows and blackbirds—flee sooner when approached by women compared to men. But they don't understand why. ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 28, 2026
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