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Field Diaries: A PhD Student’s Journey into Waterfowl Research – The Applied Ecologist
In our 'Field Diaries' series, The Applied Ecologist is sharing stories from a range of different fieldwork experiences. In this post, Cassidy Waldrep shares her story working with waterfowl across the Atlantic Flyway. In the waterfowl world, many biologists grow up with a love for ducks and geese, some having hunted since they could walk.…
Georgina Mace Prize 2024: Winner Announcement – The Applied Ecologist
Ecological Solutions and Evidence is thrilled to announce the winner of our annual Georgina Mace Prize! This award is given to an outstanding article published in the journal by an author at the start of their career. The winner was selected by our Senior Editors who had to choose from our list of highly impressive…
Southwood Prize 2024: Winner announced for early career researcher award – The Applied Ecologist
Journal of Applied Ecology is happy to share that Agostina Torres is the winner of this year's Southwood Prize! This annual award is given to the best article in the journal by an author at the start of their career. This year, Agostina was selected by the Senior Editors amid an impressive shortlist of 10 articles. Winner: Agostina Torres…
Nancy Burrell: The inadequacy of current carbon storage assessment methods for rewilding – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the Georgina Mace Prize 2024 Nancy Burrell gives an insight into her team's study investigating how carbon storage is measured and valued in rewilded landscapes. About the Research Overview Our research dives into a critical blind spot in carbon accounting—how we measure and value carbon storage in rewilded landscapes. While tree planting is…
Maja Bradarić: Forecasting nocturnal bird migration for dynamic aeroconservation – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the 2024 Southwood Prize Maja Bradarić details how, alongside colleagues, utilising radar data, weather and phenological variables allowed for the development of seasonal near-term forecasts of low-altitude nocturnal bird migration over the southern North Sea. About the research Overview Our research explores environmental drivers and spatiotemporal patterns of nocturnal bird migration over the…
Sarah Kingsbury: A new tool for setting biodiversity management priorities adapted from aquatic invasive species management – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the Georgina Mace Prize 2024 Sarah Kingsbury shares insights into her team's study investigating a new integrated management approach to better assess the effects and risks of aquatic invasive species on Atlantic salmon. About the Research Overview Our idea was to develop an integrated management plan to inform aquatic invasive species and Atlantic salmon management…
Ying Ki Law: The role of forests in landslide occurrence, recurrence and recovery – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the 2024 Southwood Prize Ying Ki Law explains how her team investigated post-landslide vegetation recovery patterns and the role of forests in occurrence and recurrence probability. About the research Overview Our paper examines how landslides recover and what factors influence their regrowth and landslide risk. While landslide management often focuses on engineering solutions,…
Fredrick Ssali: Associations between Lantana camara and common native species – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the Georgina Mace Prize 2024 Fredrick Ssali discusses his team's study on the impact the invasive flowering plant Lantana camara has on common native species in western Uganda. About the Research Overview The shortlisted paper “Associations between Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) and common native species in an African savanna” is an output of…
Agostina Torres: The order and timing of removal of invasive species influence community reassembly – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the 2024 Southwood Prize Agostina Torres introduces us to her latest research which evaluated the dependence of community reassembly on inverse priority effects by experimentally removing the target invasives in field and mesocosm communities. About the research Overview The study emerged as part of my PhD doctorate. Along with my supervisors, Drs. Martin…
Ruth Dunn: Marine bird abundance estimates during the non-breeding season – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the Georgina Mace Prize 2024 Ruth Dunn shares her team's research investigating the number of marine birds that may be undetectable when underwater during at-sea surveys outside of their breeding seasons. About the Research Overview The aim of our paper was to help improve the accuracy of marine bird abundance estimates generated from…
Janina Heinen: Diversified cropping strengthens herbivore regulation – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the 2024 Southwood Prize Janina Heinen talks us through her and colleagues' latest study which explores how agricultural practices impact predation pressure across prey taxa. About the research Overview We explored predator-prey dynamics in agroecosystems by examining how carabid predator diet preferences shift throughout the crop growing season, and are influenced by the…
Micha V. Jackson: Shorebird habitat selection and foraging behaviour – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the Georgina Mace Prize 2024 Micha V. Jackson discusses her team's research looking into the distribution of shorebirds and their feeding behaviour within a wetland to better understand habitat selection and quality. About the Research Overview Shorebirds undertake some of the most spectacular migrations on earth, but are also one of the world’s…
Natália Medeiros: Critical shortfalls for restoration of tropical grassy biomes – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the 2024 Southwood Prize Natália Medeiros explains their latest research into tropical grassy biomes, which involved reviewing the association of restoration techniques and degradation sources, and investigating the diversity of indicators used to monitor restoration outcomes. About the research Overview My shortlisted paper is about where and how ecological restoration of tropical open…
Natália Medeiros: Deficiências críticas para a restauração de biomas gramíneas tropicais – The Applied Ecologist
Finalista do Prémio Southwood 2024 Natália Medeiros explica a sua mais recente investigação sobre biomas gramíneos tropicais, que envolveu a revisão da associação de técnicas de restauração e fontes de degradação, e a investigação da diversidade de indicadores usados para monitorizar os resultados da restauração. Sobre a pesquisa Visão geral Meu artigo pré-selecionado é sobre…
Kaixuan Pan: Dutch landscapes have lost insect-pollinated plants over the past 87 years – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the 2024 Southwood Prize Kaixuan Pan discusses recent research which assessed the changes in occurrences of plants pollinated by different modes, and explored the persistence of the observed changes under different environmental conditions. About the research Overview Our paper explores how plant communities in the Netherlands have changed over the past 87 years.…
Kylie Soanes: Do wildlife crossing structures mitigate the barrier effect of roads on animal movement? – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the 2024 Southwood Prize Kylie Soanes details how, alongside colleagues, they analysed 313 studies to determine whether wildlife crossing structures mitigate the barrier effect of roads on wildlife movement. About the research Overview Wildlife crossing structures are a common tool to help animals cross roads safely. While there’s clear evidence that these structures…
Lijun Chen: Integrating variation in bacterial-fungal co-occurrence network with soil carbon dynamics – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the 2024 Southwood Prize Lijun Chen explores how bacterial-fungal interactions mediate soil organic carbon dynamics in the context of artificial forest ecosystems. About the research Overview Eucalyptus is one of the most widely planted tree species worldwide. It has been demostrated that long-term short-rotation practices of eucalyptus induced to declining of soil organic…
Kristy Ferraro: Quantifying nutrient losses from deer culling practices in Scotland – The Applied Ecologist
Shortlisted for the Georgina Mace Prize 2024 Kristy Ferraro shares insights into her team's study researching how removing deer carcasses during the culling process can negatively impact ecosystems. About the Research Overview Our study quantifies a largely overlooked consequence of Scotland’s widespread deer culling practices—the loss of essential elements from ecosystems due to carcass removal.…
Detección temprana de plagas invasoras en árboles: Vigilancia optimizada y perspectivas sociológicas – The Applied Ecologist
Vasthi Alonso Chávez analiza cómo la detección temprana del barrenador esmeralda del fresno, responsable de la muerte de millones de fresnos en Estados Unidos, Canadá, Rusia y Europa del Este, es esencial para un control efectivo. El creciente volumen global del comercio y movimiento de árboles y sus productos, ha acelerado el transporte e introducción…
Early detection for invading tree pests: Targeted surveillance and stakeholder perspectives – The Applied Ecologist
Vasthi Alonso Chávez discusses how early detection of the emerald ash borer, responsible for the death of millions of ash trees in the United States, Canada, Russia and Eastern Europe, is essential for effective control. The growing volume of trade and travel across continents has accelerated the movement and introduction of pests and pathogens into…
Southwood Prize 2024: Shortlist announced for early career researcher award – The Applied Ecologist
Each year, Journal of Applied Ecology awards the Southwood Prize to the best paper in the journal by an author at the start of their research career. The following 10 papers, published in the 61st volume of the journal, have been shortlisted. Janina Heinen with 'Diversified cropping strengthens herbivore regulation by providing seasonal resource continuity to…
Georgina Mace Prize 2024: Shortlist Announced for Early Career Award – The Applied Ecologist
Each year, Ecological Solutions and Evidence awards the Georgina Mace Prize to an outstanding paper in the journal by an author at the start of their research career. The following six papers, published in the fifth volume of the journal, have been shortlisted by our Senior Editors: Nancy Burrell with 'The inadequacy of current carbon storage…
A stark warning for UK blanket bog – The Applied Ecologist
Jonny Ritson talks us through the latest modelling study, conducted alongside colleagues, aiming to determine how suitable future conditions will be for both peat accumulation and Sphagnum survival in the UK. Bioclimatic envelope models have been used as a tool to map the climate conditions under which specific habitats occur. By defining the conditions suitable for peat…
Human-wildlife coexistence: The need for evidence-based solutions – The Applied Ecologist
Chen Huang provides an overview of their investigation into human-wildlife conflict, and explains how research gaps can be turned into opportunities. Humans and wildlife share the planet, often in proximity. In many parts of the world, villagers see elephants, lions, dolphins, and seabirds as part of their daily lives—much like city dwellers spot starlings feeding…
AI and population monitoring; does it really make a difference? – The Applied Ecologist
Emily A. Jordan discusses the use of AI in population monitoring and her team's experience using it to assess the Kapitia skink. In population monitoring, using unique markings to identify individuals is a practical solution when species are challenging to tag. We can camera trap elusive snow leopards, drone-photograph whales, and happily snap our tiniest…
International Women’s Day 2025: Holly Jones – The Applied Ecologist
To celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we are excited to share a collection of blog posts showcasing the work of some of the BES community. In each post, they discuss their experiences in ecology, as well as what this year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, means to them. What work do you do? I'm Lead Editor at Ecological…
International Women’s Day 2025: Carolyn Kurle – The Applied Ecologist
To celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we are excited to share a collection of blog posts showcasing the work of some of the BES community. In each post, they discuss their experiences in ecology, as well as what this year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, means to them. Dr. Carolyn KurleProfessor, Conservation Biology, University of California San DiegoLead…
International Women’s Day: Nathalie Pettorelli – The Applied Ecologist
To celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we are excited to share a collection of blog posts showcasing the work of some of the BES community. In each post, they discuss their experiences in ecology, as well as what this year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, means to them. What work do you do? I am a conservation biologist…
International Women’s Day 2025: Cate Macinnis-Ng – The Applied Ecologist
To celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we are excited to share a collection of blog posts showcasing the work of some of the BES community. In each post, they discuss their experiences in ecology, as well as what this year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, means to them. What work do you do? I'm Professor in Ecology…
Honeybees interfere with wild bees in apple pollination in China – The Applied Ecologist
In this blog post, Yunhui Liu and team discuss their latest research into the importance of honeybees and wild bees for apple pollination, as well as whether the contribution of wild bees is influenced by increasing numbers of honeybees. Animal pollination is crucial for sustainable crop production and food security. Although there is a growing…
Seals avoid an operating tidal turbine – The Applied Ecologist
Authors of a recently published study discuss how their research discovered that seals exhibit avoidance of turbines during operation. This finding is important for industry developers and regulators, as lower numbers of seals close to the turbine reduces the potential for fatal collisions and injuries. The rise of the tidal energy industry Tidal turbine at…
Welcoming our 2025 Associate Editor Mentees! – The Applied Ecologist
Journal of Applied Ecology offers a two-year mentoring opportunity for early career researchers to gain experience of the Associate Editor role. Each mentee works with one of our Senior Editor and also receives on-going support from the Editorial Office. Mentees have a great opportunity to learn more about the peer review process and publishing more widely through handling…
The story behind the research: “Combining detection dogs and camera traps improves cheetah monitoring” – The Applied Ecologist
Tim Hofmann and Stijn Verschueren from the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Otjiwarongo, Namibia investigate how to effectively monitor cheetah populations. Cheetahs are Africa's most endangered big cats, with fewer than 7,100 individuals left in the wild, scattered across less than 9% of their historical range. These estimates are largely based on expert opinions and few…
Grizzly bears and wolves avoid busy hiking trails more than previously thought – The Applied Ecologist
Peter Thompson explains how, alongside colleagues, the spatial distribution and interactions of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), grey wolves (Canis lupus), and humans within the central Canadian Rocky Mountains were monitored and assessed in their latest study. Human recreation and wildlife The Bow River Valley in Alberta, Canada is a global hotspot for outdoor recreation, attracting…
Solutions and Practical Implications with Ecological Solutions and Evidence – The Applied Ecologist
Ecological Solutions and Evidence publishes articles directly linked to species management, biodiversity, ecosystems, and practical solutions to ecological problems. Each article highlights a problem and is supported by key findings and observations that contribute towards solutions. Last summer, the journal introduced the requirement that all authors must outline a ‘solution’ or ‘practical implication’ at the…
Get involved in our Field Diaries series! – The Applied Ecologist
Have you been in the field recently? Share your experiences in our new Field Diaries series! From undergraduate students to long-term academics and practitioners, we are looking for individuals to share their time out in the field with an aim to highlight this often crucial step in the research process. If you are studying or…
Keeping our havened populations fighting fit: Do native predators help Australian mammals face invasive cats and foxes? – The Applied Ecologist
Linking to the recently-published article, Natasha Harrison discusses whether native predators inside ‘predator-free’ havens could be good for the conservation of threatened native prey species. Predator-free havens Since their introduction into the Australian landscape following European settlement, feral cats and red foxes have caused prolific population declines among our native fauna. The extinction of Australian…
Remote sensing: A key to monitoring tropical forest restoration – The Applied Ecologist
Laura Vedovato introduces readers to a range of remote sensing tools, explaining how they can be applied to topical forests to monitor the effectiveness of restoration efforts. Read more in the original Review article. Introduction In recent years, global commitments to forest restoration, like the UN Decade on Restoration and the Global Biodiversity Framework, have…
Revealing the hidden lives of non-breeding Black-tailed Godwits – The Applied Ecologist
In this blog post, Taylor Craft discusses the use of GPS tracking and satellite imagery to uncover the lives of Black-tailed Godwits in the Senegal Delta. You can read their latest study, published alongside co-authors, here. A pressing challenge The landscapes of the endangered continental Black-tailed Godwit face increasing pressures at nearly every key site…
Measuring real-world impact: Journal of Applied Ecology – The Applied Ecologist
Journal of Applied Ecology has been a mission oriented journal since we launched in 1964. Sixty years on, we’re celebrating the impact we’ve had and looking to the future. In our recently published Editorial, we explore what it means to be a journal with real-world impact. Throughout our sixty years, we have been cited 2880…