applied ecology

May 15, 2018

Think Chimpanzee Beds Are Dirtier Than Human Ones? Think Again

Study finds that chimpanzees appear to keep tidier sleeping arrangements than humans do. 

Apr 19, 2018

Partnering With Hunters, Anglers For Citizen Science

A new citizen science project is enlisting the hunting and fishing communities to help scientists understand the basic biology of a host of fish, bird and mammal species. 

Mar 21, 2018

Could Insects Help Us Find New Yeasts for Big Business?

Yeasts are tiny fungi – but they play key roles in producing everything from beer and cheese to industrial chemicals and biofuels. 

Feb 6, 2018

Venus Flytraps Don’t Eat The Insects That Pollinate Them

Researchers discover which insects pollinate Venus flytraps – and learn that flytraps don’t dine on them. 

Jan 25, 2018

Can You Guess Which Species Has the Most Gut Microbes?

Comparisons of gut microbe diversity are a step toward understanding complex ecosystems that play an important role in the health of species – including our own. 

Jan 16, 2018

How Winter Temps Can Affect Your Spring Fishing

Recent research has changed what we know about spotted seatrout and cold weather. 

Dec 6, 2017

Separated Since the Dinosaurs, Bamboo-Eating Lemurs, Pandas Share Common Gut Microbes

A new study finds bamboo lemurs, giant pandas and red pandas share 48 gut microbes in common – despite the fact that they are separated by millions of years of evolution. 

Dec 5, 2017

Lemur Study Highlights Role of Diet in Shaping Gut Microbiome

A study of the bacteria in the guts of three lemur species offers new insights into the role of diet in shaping these microbial ecosystems – and how these microbes may relate to primate health. 

May 3, 2017

‘Princess Pheromone’ Tells Ants Which Larvae Are Destined to Be Queens

For Indian jumping ants (Harpegnathos saltator), becoming royalty is all about timing. 

Mar 30, 2017

The Importance of Seeds: a Q&A with Rob Dunn

There is little genetic diversity among the crops that are most important for feeding people around the world. Rob Dunn's new book explores this issue and why it matters. 

Feb 3, 2017

‘Great Pumpkin Project’ Recruits Citizen Scientists to Document Agricultural Biodiversity

A team of biology researchers is recruiting citizen scientists to participate in a study of which microbes and insects visit the same crop plants around the world. 

Nov 1, 2016

Study Highlights Diversity of Arthropods Found in Homes Across the United States – From Swabs of Dust

Researchers used DNA testing and citizen science to create an “atlas” that shows the range and diversity of arthropods found in homes across the continental United States. 

May 18, 2016

No Junk-Food Diet: Even in Cities, Bees Find Flowers and Avoid Processed Sugars

New research from NC State finds that bees in urban areas stick to a flower-nectar diet, steering clear of processed sugars found in soda and other junk food. 

Apr 14, 2016

Study Argues ‘Winner-Winner’ Behavior May Shape Animal Hierarchies

Researchers have developed a behavioral model that explains the complexity and diversity of social hierarchies in ants, and which scientists believe may help us understand the nature of other animal societies – from primates to dolphins. 

Mar 16, 2016

Shorebirds Ignore Aircraft, But Pay Attention to People, Off-road Vehicles

American oystercatchers studied on North Carolina's Cape Lookout National Seashore were disturbed more by pedestrians and off-road vehicles passing their nests than by the U.S. military aircraft flying overhead.