← Back

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment, including community ecology, ecosystem ecology, landscape ecology, conservation biology, and biodiversity patterns and processes

4 papers

Papers

Factors influencing surface water accumulation in beaver pond complexes across the Western United States

This study found that dam length, stream power, and woody vegetation height are the main factors influencing beaver pond area in the western United States. Longer dams create larger ponds, high stream power limits pond expansion, and taller trees help. The research used aerial imagery and statistical models to arrive at these findings, with data going back as far as 2014, so it is quite robust.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Ecology Aug 31, 12:45 PM

Defining Moults in Migratory Birds: A Sequence-based Approach

The paper proposes a sequence-based approach to defining moults in migratory birds, emphasizing the fixed nature of feather replacement sequences compared to the more variable timing and location of molts. It argues that this method can clarify moult strategies, especially in species with complex or overlapping molts during non-breeding periods. Examples from North American passerines illustrate how this approach distinguishes between preformative, prebasic, and prealternate molts, even when these overlap temporally.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Ecology Jul 14, 10:41 AM

The unlimited potential of the great pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis

Lymnaea stagnalis, the great pond snail, has been used extensively as a model organism in various fields, from neurobiology to ecotoxicology and evolutionary biology, due to its simple nervous system, accessible neurons, and well-characterized life cycle. The review highlights the snail's advantages, including its sequenced genome and amenability to gene editing, while advocating for more integration of laboratory and field studies to address outstanding questions about its natural history.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Ecology Jul 14, 10:41 AM