From Becks Spake (thank you Becks!)
“New totally awesome BBC nature documentary ‘The Hunt’, narrated by David Attenborough: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0342dms/the-hunt-1-the-hardest-challenge”
From Carla Broom (thank you Carla!)
Found this the other day on how sticklebacks could be used for drug testing in athletes, not entirely ecology related but very interesting
http://io9.com/though-this-fish-cant-pee-it-can-be-used-to-test-for-d-1729965846
Also more Homo floresiensis bones have been found, could help determine whether they were a separate species or not
From Connor Butler, a Zoology graduate now working in Singapore for Ecofield trips (thank you Connor!)
Plant seeds mimicking animal dung to facilitate dispersal by dung beetles. https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2015/10/07/a-new-and-bizarre-form-of-mimicry-plant-seeds-mimic-shape-and-smell-of-animal-feces-to-facilitate-dispersal-by-dung-beetles/ If children lose contact with nature, they won’t fight for it. The current younger generations have little contact with the outdoors and there is concern that they will lack the inspiration needed to develop them into future conservationists. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/nov/19/children-lose-contact-with-nature
Christopher Filardi, an Ornithologist from the American Museum of Natural History recently rediscovered a species of bird unseen to science in more than 60 years. There is now controversy over his decision to euthanise the bird for collection purposes.
From Owen Middleton (thank you Owen!)
I saw this article which will definitely be interesting for ecologists and to those especially interested in ecosystem services. Dung beetles have an estimated worth of £367m for the cattle industry by regulating soil quality and allowing healthy growth of grass! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-34831400 From Rob Holland (staff contributor of the week! Thank you Rob!)
Plastic in fish highlights need for cleaner Thames
In the month that saw a plastic bag charge introduced across England, a small study carried out by The Royal Holloway has found that up to 75% of fish sampled from the River Thames have plastic fibres in their guts. The study adds to growing evidence of the problems caused by plastic waste in the world’s oceans.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34408414
Retaining forest patches along streams in palm oil plantations is good for fishes
The use of riparian buffers in palm oil plantation is beneficial for freshwater fish species according to research published this month in Conservation Biology. The team found that streams that lacked riparian buffers had 36 percent fewer species than those that retained them. Although laws in Indonesia and Malaysia mandate the retention of these critical zones the finding of the study strengthens the case for stricter enforcement.
Cybermussels are coming!
Researchers at the University of Iowa are kitting out freshwater mussels with special backpacks to help them monitor the nitrogen cycle in river water. It is hoped that this insight that comes from these living biomonitors will help with the management of nitrogen run-off.
http://now.uiowa.edu/2015/10/cybermussels-are-coming
How female frogs get tricked into choosing an “ugly” mate
A study published in Science this month demonstrates that male túngara frogs are able to trick females into thinking that they are more attractive by calling near an even less attractive male. The study demonstrates that frogs have quite complex interactions with each other in the wild, listening to their neighbours and making decisions accordingly.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150827-frogs-animals-science-frogs-mating-sex/
Posted By : Judith Lock