Ecology Research News
November 20, 2025
Top Headlines
Nov. 19, 2025 Massive Sargassum blooms sweeping across the Caribbean and Atlantic are fueled by a powerful nutrient partnership: phosphorus pulled to the surface by equatorial upwelling and nitrogen supplied by cyanobacteria living directly on the drifting algae. ...
Nov. 2, 2025 A pandemic-era breakthrough has allowed scientists to literally expand our view of plankton. By using ultrastructure expansion microscopy, researchers visualized the inner workings of hundreds of marine species for the first time. The effort, tied ...
Nov. 2, 2025 Researchers discovered that soil microbes in Kansas carry drought “memories” that affect how plants grow and survive. Native plants showed stronger responses to these microbial legacies than crops like corn, hinting at co-evolution over time. ...
Oct. 29, 2025 Researchers at QUT uncovered how corals reattach to reefs through a three-phase process involving tissue transformation, anchoring, and skeleton formation. Differences among species reveal why some corals grow and attach faster than others. ...
Oct. 27, 2025 Extinction rates are not spiraling upward as many believe, according to a large-scale study analyzing 500 years of data. Researchers found that species losses peaked about a century ago and have decreased since, with different drivers shaping past ...
Oct. 19, 2025 Researchers have developed a light-emitting sugar probe that exposes how marine microbes break down complex carbohydrates. The innovative fluorescent tool allows scientists to visualize when and where sugars are degraded in the ocean. This ...
Oct. 10, 2025 Coccolithophores, tiny planktonic architects of Earth’s climate, capture carbon, produce oxygen, and leave behind geological records that chronicle our planet’s history. European scientists are uniting to honor them with International ...
Oct. 8, 2025 Researchers at KAUST have confirmed that the Red Sea once vanished entirely, turning into a barren salt desert before being suddenly flooded by waters from the Indian Ocean. The flood carved deep channels and restored marine life in less than ...
Oct. 3, 2025 Billions of years ago, Earth’s atmosphere was hostile, with barely any oxygen and toxic conditions for life. Researchers from the Earth-Life Science Institute studied Japan’s iron-rich hot springs, which mimic the ancient oceans, to uncover how ...
Oct. 1, 2025 Fungi may have shaped Earth’s landscapes long before plants appeared. By combining rare gene transfers with fossil evidence, researchers have traced fungal origins back nearly a billion years earlier than expected. These ancient fungi may have ...
Sep. 20, 2025 Insects are essential for ecosystems, but mounting evidence suggests many populations are collapsing under modern pressures. A new study used cutting-edge genomic techniques on museum specimens to track centuries of ant biodiversity across Fiji. The ...
Sep. 15, 2025 Researchers discovered two new parasitic wasp species living in the U.S., tracing their origins back to Europe and uncovering clues about how they spread. Their arrival raises fresh questions about biodiversity, ecological risks, and the role of ...
Latest Headlines
updated 2:18pm EST
Nov. 3, 2025 Long ago, some saltwater fish adapted to freshwater — and in doing so, developed an extraordinary sense of hearing rivaling our own. By examining a 67-million-year-old fossil, researchers from UC ...
Oct. 28, 2025 Fungi’s evolutionary roots stretch far deeper than once believed — up to 1.4 billion years ago, long before plants or animals appeared. Using advanced molecular dating and gene transfer analysis, ...
Oct. 9, 2025 In a stunning glimpse into the mysteries of the deep, scientists have uncovered two new marine species off Western Australia—a glowing lanternshark and a tiny porcelain crab. The discoveries, made ...
Oct. 5, 2025 Researchers in Alberta uncovered a fossil fish that rewrites the evolutionary history of otophysans, which today dominate freshwater ecosystems. The ...
Sep. 26, 2025 Scientists have identified three new species of deep-sea snailfish, including the strikingly pink “bumpy snailfish,” thanks to MBARI’s advanced technology and global collaborations. Found ...
Sep. 23, 2025 By recording grouper grunts for 12 years, scientists discovered major shifts in how red hind spawn and compete. Courtship calls once dominated, but territorial sounds have surged, suggesting changes ...
Sep. 9, 2025 Flathead catfish are rapidly reshaping the Susquehanna River’s ecosystem. Once introduced, these voracious predators climbed to the top of the food chain, forcing native fish like channel catfish ...
Sep. 8, 2025 Tiny diatoms and their bacterial partners act as nature’s nutrient factories, fueling insects and salmon in California’s Eel River. Their pollution-free process could inspire breakthroughs in ...
Sep. 5, 2025 Scientists have uncovered microbial DNA preserved in mammoth remains dating back more than one million years, revealing the oldest host-associated microbial DNA ever recovered. By sequencing nearly ...
Sep. 1, 2025 Saturn’s moon Titan may be more alive with possibilities than we thought. New NASA research suggests that in Titan’s freezing methane and ethane lakes, simple molecules could naturally arrange ...
Earlier Headlines
Aug. 16, 2025 Once on the brink during the last ice age, great white sharks made a remarkable recovery globally, but their DNA reveals a baffling story. Classic migration explanations fail, leaving scientists with ...
Aug. 4, 2025 Glasswing butterflies may all look alike, but behind their transparent wings hides an evolutionary story full of intrigue. Researchers discovered that while these butterflies appear nearly identical ...
Aug. 4, 2025 In a surprising twist of conservation success, a U.S. Air Force bombing range in Florida has become a sanctuary for endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker. Michigan State University ...
July 21, 2025 A scorching marine heatwave from 2014 to 2016 devastated the Pacific coast, shaking ecosystems from plankton to whales and triggering mass die-offs, migrations, and fishery collapses. Researchers ...
July 21, 2025 Gene editing may hold the key to rescuing endangered species—not just by preserving them, but by restoring their lost genetic diversity using DNA from museum specimens and related species. ...
July 16, 2025 After devastating wildfires scorched the Brazilian Pantanal, an unexpected phenomenon unfolded—more jaguars began arriving at a remote wetland already known for having the densest jaguar population ...
July 16, 2025 Hawaiian coral reefs may face unprecedented ocean acidification within 30 years, driven by carbon emissions. A new study by University of Hawai‘i researchers shows that even under conservative ...
July 10, 2025 People can intuitively sense how biodiverse a forest is just by looking at photos or listening to sounds, and their gut feelings surprisingly line up with what scientists ...
June 27, 2025 Zooplankton like copepods aren’t just fish food—they’re carbon-hauling powerhouses. By diving deep into the ocean each winter, they’re secretly stashing 65 million tonnes of carbon far below ...
June 19, 2025 During Earth's ancient Snowball periods, when the entire planet was wrapped in ice, life may have endured in tiny meltwater ponds on the surface of equatorial glaciers. MIT researchers ...
June 17, 2025 Scientists have uncovered that fish biofluorescence a captivating ability to glow in vivid colors has ancient roots stretching back over 100 million years. This trait evolved independently in reef ...
June 6, 2025 Scientists have uncovered over 200 new giant viruses lurking in ocean waters that not only help shape marine ecosystems but also manipulate photosynthesis in algae. These massive viruses once nearly ...
June 12, 2025 Reef "beauty salons" staffed by tiny cleaner fish aren t just for parasite removal they may also shape the microbial life of the entire ecosystem. A fascinating new study shows these ...
May 29, 2025 A new study shows that wildlife underpass tunnels dramatically reduce deaths of frog, salamanders, and other amphibians migrating across ...
May 28, 2025 This study measured the growth rate of coral reefs in Honaunau Bay, Hawaii, using on-site data gathering and aerial imagery. Researchers found that the reefs are being eroded by sea urchin ...
May 28, 2025 Many bat species native to Germany, such as the Leisler's bat, are forest specialists. However, as it is becoming increasingly hard for them to find tree hollows in forest plantations, so they ...
May 27, 2025 Scientists, who have spent more than a decade examining the impact of artificial light at night on the world's coasts and oceans, have shown that more than one-fifth of the global ocean -- an ...
May 23, 2025 Plankton may be tiny, but they play an important role in the ocean. As the foundation of marine ecosystems, they support ocean food webs and help regulate Earth's climate by storing carbon. ...
May 22, 2025 New research shows how rapidly proliferating turf algae are waging 'chemical warfare' to inhibit the recovery of kelp forests along Maine's warming ...
May 21, 2025 Songbirds who make the arduous flight from their nesting sites in northern boreal forests to warm, southern climates in the winter may be rewarded for their journey with greater genetic ...
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Monday, August 4, 2025
- These Butterflies Look the Same, but DNA Uncovered Six Hidden Species
- Woodpeckers Thrive Where Missiles Fly. How a Bombing Range Became a Wildlife Refuge
Monday, July 21, 2025
- The Heatwave That Shattered Ecosystems, Starved Whales, and Drove Fish North
- This Genetic Breakthrough Could Help Thousands of Species Cheat Extinction
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
- They Fled the Flames—now Jaguars Rule a Wetland Refuge
- Corals in Crisis: A Hidden Chemical Shift Is Reshaping Hawaiian Reefs
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Friday, June 27, 2025
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Friday, June 6, 2025
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
- Huge Sea-Urchin Populations Are Overwhelming Hawaii's Coral Reefs
- When the Forest Is No Longer a Home -- Forest Bats Seek Refuge in Settlements
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Friday, May 23, 2025
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
- Native Turtles Return to Yosemite After Removal of Invasive Bullfrogs
- Thousands of Animal Species Threatened by Climate Change
Friday, May 16, 2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025
- Amazon Could Survive Long-Term Drought but at a High Cost
- Scientists Use Fossils to Assess the Health of Florida's Largest Remaining Seagrass Bed: Surprisingly, It's Doing Well!
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
- An Ink That Boosts Coral Reef Settlement by 20 Times
- Genome of Near-Extinct Northern White Rhino Offers Hope for Reviving the Species
Monday, May 12, 2025
- Invasive Salmon, Clams and Seaweed Are Next Threats to Biodiversity in Britain
- Helping Birds and Floating Solar Energy Coexist
Friday, May 9, 2025
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Pioneering Research Reveals Tree-Mendous Potential of Inexpensive Drones to Help Community Forests Flourish and Unlock Restoration Funding
- Fewer Parasites in the Indian River Lagoon Signal Big Ecosystem Problems
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Monday, May 5, 2025
- Halo Patterns Around Coral Reefs May Signal Resilience
- How Are They Biting? High Speed Video Reveals Unexpected Jaw Movements in Reef Fish
- Artificial Oxygen Supply in Coastal Waters: A Hope With Risks
- Blue Tips Are Red Algae's Red Flags
Friday, May 2, 2025
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
- Deciphering the Migratory Behavior and Connectivity of Mediterranean and Atlantic Cory's Shearwaters
- Bacterial Villain Behind Lake Erie's 'potent Toxin' Unveiled
Monday, April 28, 2025
- Extreme Monsoon Changes Threaten the Bay of Bengal's Role as a Critical Food Source
- Want to Understand Grasslands? Look at the Bigger Picture
Thursday, April 24, 2025
- Controlling Starch Levels in Algae Could Have Biotechnology and Sustainability Benefits
- Invasive Weed Threatens Southern California's Deserts
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
- Paying Fishers to Release Endangered Catches Can Aid Conservation, but Only If Done Right
- Hotter Temps Trigger Wetlands to Emit More Methane as Microbes Struggle to Keep Up
- Toxic Blooms in Motion: Researchers Map Algae Patterns in Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Monday, April 21, 2025
- Microplastics: What's Trapping the Emerging Threat in Our Streams?
- Introduced Trees Are Becoming More Common in the Eastern United States, While Native Diversity Declines
Thursday, April 17, 2025
- Land-Use Drives Energy Dynamics of Boreal Lake Food Webs
- Curious Isolation: New Butterfly Species Discovered
- Nutrients Strengthen Link Between Precipitation and Plant Growth, Study Finds
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
- European Bird Declines Linked to Range of Climatic Conditions Experienced
- Coral Reefs Exude Myriad Chemicals, Fueling Dynamic Microbial Recycling of Nutrients
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
- Coral Diseases and Water Quality Play a Key Role for Coral Restoration and Survival Efforts
- If Native Plants Are Going to Survive Climate Change, They Need Our Help to Move -- Here's How to Do It Safely
- The Devastating Human Impact on Biodiversity
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Monday, March 24, 2025
- How Extreme Weather Threatens Nature's Essential Services
- Introduced Pacific Oysters Provide Biodiversity Benefits in Port River
Friday, March 21, 2025
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
- Red Coral Colonies Survive a Decade After Being Transplanted in the Medes Islands
- Conservation Efforts Are Bringing Species Back from the Brink, Even as Overall Biodiversity Falls
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Monday, March 10, 2025
Friday, March 7, 2025
- Nearly Half of Popular Tropical Plant Group Related to Birds-of-Paradise and Bananas Are Threatened With Extinction
- Scientists Develop Advanced Forest Monitoring Systems: Will Forests Monitor Themselves in the Future?
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
- The Yucca and the Moth: How Extreme Weather Impacts the Timing of Biological Events
- Caribou Migration Patterns Are Shrinking
- Satellite Image Analysis Delivers New Insight Into the Functional Diversity of Tropical Forests
- The Pot Is Already Boiling for 2% of the World's Amphibians
Monday, March 3, 2025
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
- Beyond the Burn: Harvesting Dead Wood to Reduce Wildfires and Store Carbon
- Earliest Evidence for Humans in Rainforests
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Monday, February 24, 2025
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
- Chlorine Plus UV Light Degrades Toxins Caused by Harmful Algae Blooms
- Resilient Algae May Speed Up Greenland Ice Melt
Thursday, February 13, 2025
- New England's Salt Marshes Store 10 Million Cars' Worth of Carbon -- And Add Another 15,000-Worth Every Year
- Protected Habitats Aren't Enough to Save Endangered Species, Study Finds
- Restoring Wildlife Habitats in Wealthy Nations Could Drive Extinctions in Species-Rich Regions, Experts Warn
- Foraging Seals Enable Scientists to Measure Fish Abundance Across the Vast Pacific Ocean