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Ecological Research Methods: Observing, Experimenting & Modeling

Ecology is the study of the relationship between organisms and their environment on earth. Several ecological methods are used to study this relationship, including experimenting and modeling.

Manipulative, natural or observational experiments may be used. Modeling helps analyze the collected data.

What Is Ecology?

_ Ecology _, the study of how organisms interact with their environment and each other, draws upon several other disciplines. The environmental science of ecology incorporates biology, chemistry, botany, zoology, mathematics and other fields.

Ecology examines species interactions, population size, ecological niches, food webs, energy flow and environmental factors. In order to do this, ecologists rely on careful methods to collect the most accurate data they can. Once data is collected, ecologists then analyze it for their research.

The information gained from these research methods can then help ecologists find impacts caused by humans or natural factors. This information can then be used to help manage and conserve impacted areas or species.

Observation and Field Work

Every experiment requires observation. Ecologists must observe the environment, the species within it and how those species interact, grow and change. Different research projects require different types of assessments and observations.

Ecologists sometimes use a desk-based assessment , or DBA, to collect and summarize information about specific areas of interest. In this scenario, ecologists are using information already collected from other sources.

Oftentimes, however, ecologists rely on observation and field work . This entails actually going into the habitat of the subject of interest to observe it in its natural state. By doing field surveys, ecologists can track population growth of species, observe community ecology in action and study the impact of any new species or other introduced phenomena in the environment.

Each field site will differ in nature, in shape or in other ways. Ecological methods allow for such differences so that different tools can be used for observations and sampling. It is crucial that sampling be done in a random fashion to combat bias.

Types of Data Obtained

Data obtained from observation and field work can be either qualitative or quantitative. These two classifications of data vary in distinct ways.

** Qualitative data : Qualitative data refers to a quality of the subject or conditions**. It is therefore a more descriptive form of data. It is not easily measured, and it is collected by observation.

Because qualitative data is descriptive, it might include aspects such as color, shape, whether the sky is cloudy or sunny, or other aspects for how an observation site might look. Qualitative data is not numerical like quantitative data. It is therefore considered less reliable than quantitative data.

Quantitative data: Quantitative data refers to numerical values or quantities . These kinds of data can be measured and are usually in number form. Examples of quantitative data might include pH levels in soil, the number of mice in a field site, sample data, salinity levels and other information in numeric form.

Ecologists use statistics to analyze quantitative data. It is therefore considered a more reliable form of data than qualitative data.

Types of Field Work Surveys

Direct survey: Scientists can directly observe animals and plants in their environment. This is called a direct survey. Even in places as remote as a seafloor, ecologist can study the underwater environment. A direct survey in this case would entail photographing or filming such an environment.

Some sampling methods used to record images of sea life on the seafloor include video sledges, water curtain cameras and Ham-Cams. Ham-Cams are attached to a Hamon Grab, a sample bucket device used to collect samples. This is one effective way to study animal populations.

The Hamon Grab is a method of collecting sediment from the seafloor, and the sediment is taken onto a boat for ecologists to sort through and photograph. These animals will be identified in a laboratory elsewhere.

In addition to a Hamon Grab, undersea collection devices include a beam trawl, which is used to obtain larger sea animals. This entails attaching a net to a steel beam and trawling from the back of a boat. The samples are brought on board the boat and photographed and counted.

Indirect survey: It is not always practical or desirable to observe organisms directly. In this situation, ecological methods entail observing the traces those species leave behind. These could include animal scat, footprints and other indicators of their presence.

Ecological Experiments

The overarching purpose of ecological methods for research is to get high-quality data. In order to do this, experiments must be carefully planned.

** Hypothesis :** The first step in any experimental design is to come up with a hypothesis or scientific question. Then, researchers can come up with a detailed plan for sampling.

Factors that affect field work experiments include the size and shape of an area that needs to be sampled. Field site sizes range from small to very large, depending on what ecological communities are being studied. Experiments in animal ecology must take into account potential movement and size of animals.

For example, spiders would not require a large field site for study. The same would be true when studying soil chemistry or soil invertebrates. You could use a size of 15 meters by 15 meters.

Herbaceous plants and small mammals might require field sites of up to 30 square meters. Trees and birds might need a couple of hectares. If you are studying large, mobile animals, such as deer or bears, this could mean needing a quite large area of several hectares.

Deciding upon the number of sites is also crucial. Some field studies might require only one site. But if two or more habitats are included in the study, two or more field sites are necessary.

Tools: Tools used for field sites include transects, sampling plots, plotless sampling, the point method, the transect-intercept method and the point-quarter method. The goal is to get unbiased samples of a high-enough quantity that statistical analyses will be sounder. Recording information on field data sheets aids in the data collection.

A well-designed ecological experiment will have a clear statement of purpose or question. Researchers should take extraordinary care to remove bias by providing both replication and randomization. Knowledge of the species being studied as well as the organisms within them is paramount.

Results: Upon completion, collected ecological data should be analyzed with a computer. There are three types of ecological experiments that can be made: manipulative, natural and observational.

Manipulative Experiments

Manipulative experiments are those in which the researcher alters a factor to see how it affects an ecosystem. It is possible to do this in the field or in a laboratory.

These kinds of experiments provide interference in a controlled manner. They work in cases in which field work cannot occur over an entire area, for various reasons.

The downside of manipulative experiments is they are not always representative of what would happen in the natural ecosystem. Additionally, manipulative experiments might not reveal the mechanism behind any patterns observed. It is also not easy to change variables in a manipulative experiment.

Example : If you wanted to learn about lizard predation of spiders, you could alter the number of lizards in enclosures and study how many spiders resulted from this effect.

A larger and current example of a manipulation experiment is the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park. This reintroduction allows for ecologists to observe the effect of wolves returning to what was once their normal range.

Already, researchers have learned that an immediate change in the ecosystem occurred once wolves were reintroduced. Elk herd behaviors changed. Increased elk mortality led to a more stable food supply for both wolves and carrion eaters.

Natural Experiments

Natural experiments, as their name implies, are not directed by humans. These are manipulations of an ecosystem caused by nature. For example, in the wake of a natural disaster, climate change or invasive species introduction, the ecosystem itself represents an experiment.

Of course, real-world interactions such as these are not truly experiments. These scenarios do provide ecologists with opportunities to study the effects natural events have on species in an ecosystem.

Example: Ecologists could take a census of animals on an island to study their population density.

The main difference between manipulative and natural experiments from a data perspective is that natural experiments do not have controls. Therefore it is sometimes harder to determine cause and effect.

Nevertheless, there is useful information to be gained from natural experiments. Environmental variables like moisture levels and density of animals can still be used for data purposes. Additionally, natural experiments can occur across large areas or vast stretches of time. This further distinguishes them from manipulative experiments.

Unfortunately, humanity has caused catastrophic natural experiments across the globe. Some examples of these include habitat degradation, climate change, introduction of invasive species and removal of native species.

Observational Experiments

Observational experiments require adequate replications for high-quality data. The "rule of 10" applies here; researchers should collect 10 observations for each category required. Outside influences can still hamper efforts to collect data, such as weather and other disturbances. However, using 10 replicating observations can prove helpful for obtaining statistically significant data.

It is important to perform randomization, preferably prior to performing observational experiments. This can be done with a spreadsheet on a computer. Randomization strengthens data collection because it reduces bias.

Randomization and replication should be used together to be effective. Sites, samples and treatments should all be randomly assigned to avoid confounded results.

Ecological methods rely heavily on statistical and mathematical models. These provide ecologists with a way to predict how an ecosystem will change over time or react to changing conditions in the environment.

** Modeling ** also provides another way to decipher ecological information when field work is not practical. In fact, there are several drawbacks to relying solely on field work.Because of the typically large scale of field work, it is not possible to replicate experiments exactly. Sometimes even the lifespan of organisms is a rate-limiting factor for field work. Other challenges include time, labor and space.

Modeling, therefore, provides a method in which to streamline information in a more efficient manner.

Examples of modeling include equations, simulations, graphs and statistical analyses. Ecologists use modeling for producing helpful maps as well. Modeling allows for calculations of data to fill in gaps from sampling. Without modeling, ecologists would be hampered by the sheer amount of data that needs to be analyzed and communicated. Computer modeling allows for comparatively rapid analysis of data.

A simulation model, for example, enables the description of systems that would otherwise be extremely difficult and too complex for traditional calculus. Modeling allows scientists to study coexistence, population dynamics and many other aspects of ecology. Modeling can help predict patterns for crucial planning purposes, such as for climate change.

Humanity's impact upon the environment will continue. It therefore becomes ever more crucial for ecologists to use ecological research methods to find ways to mitigate the effects on the environment.

• Wessex Archaeology: Explore the Seafloor: Ecological Research Methods
• EcologyandEvolution.org: How to Design a Field Study
• The University of Vermont: Designing Successful Field Studies
• MyYellowstonePark.com: Wolf Reintroduction Changes Ecosystem in Yellowstone
• Oxford Bibliographies: Simulation Modeling
• University of Ohio: Intro to Ecology and Experiments
• Clever ISM: Overview of Qualitative and Quantitative Data Collection Methods

Cite This Article

Hermance, Dianne. "Ecological Research Methods: Observing, Experimenting & Modeling" sciencing.com , https://www.sciencing.com/ecological-research-methods-observing-experimenting-modeling-13719222/. 21 June 2019.

Hermance, Dianne. (2019, June 21). Ecological Research Methods: Observing, Experimenting & Modeling. sciencing.com . Retrieved from https://www.sciencing.com/ecological-research-methods-observing-experimenting-modeling-13719222/

Hermance, Dianne. Ecological Research Methods: Observing, Experimenting & Modeling last modified August 30, 2022. https://www.sciencing.com/ecological-research-methods-observing-experimenting-modeling-13719222/

Recommended

ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Ecology is the study of the environment, and helps us understand how organisms live with each other in unique physical environments.

Biology, Ecology

Elephant at pond

Watering holes like this attract a wide variety of creatures and offer a unique glimpse into the diverse ecology of the surrounding region.

Photograph by Stuart Black and Alamy Stock Photo

Ecology is the study of organisms and how they interact with the environment around them. An ecologist studies the relationship between living things and their habitats. In order to learn about the natural world, ecologists must study multiple aspects of life ranging from the moss that grows on rocks to the wolf population in the United States' Yellowstone National Park. In order to research the environment, scientists ask questions, such as: How do organisms interact with the living and nonliving factors around them? What do organisms need to survive and thrive in their current environments? To find the answers to these questions, ecologists must study and observe all forms of life and their ecosystems throughout our world.

In addition to examining how ecosystems function, ecologists study what happens when ecosystems do not function normally. Changes in ecosystems can result from many different factors including diseases among the organisms living in the area, increases in temperature, and increased human activities. Understanding these changes can help ecologists anticipate future ecological challenges and inform other scientists and policymakers about the challenges facing their local ecosystems.

Ecology first began gaining popularity in the 1960s, when environmental issues were rising to the forefront of public awareness. Although scientists have been studying the natural world for centuries, ecology in the modern sense has only been around since the 19th century. Around this time, European and American scientists began studying how plants functioned and their effects on the habitats around them. Eventually, this led to the study of how animals interact with plants, other animals, and shaped the ecosystems in which they lived. Today, modern ecologists build on the data collected by their predecessors and continue to pass on information about the ecosystems around the world. The information they gather continues to affect the future of our planet.

Human activity plays an important role in the health of ecosystems all around the world. Pollution emitted from fossil fuels or factories can contaminate the food supply for a species, potentially changing an entire food web. Introducing a new species from another part of the world into an unfamiliar environment can have unintended and negative impacts on local lifeforms. These kinds of organisms are called invasive species. Invasive species can be any form of living organism that is brought by humans to a new part of the world where they have no natural predators. The addition or subtraction of a single species from an ecosystem can create a domino effect on many others, whether that be from the spread of disease or overhunting.

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Trends in Ecological Research during the Last Three Decades – A Systematic Review

Yohay carmel, avi bar-massada, jonathan liberzon, roy federman.

• Author information
• Article notes
• Copyright and License information

* E-mail: [email protected]

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Conceived and designed the experiments: YC AB LB RF. Performed the experiments: YC RK AB LB JL ON RF GS. Analyzed the data: RF YC GS. Wrote the paper: YC RK AB LB RF JL ON.

Received 2012 Sep 16; Accepted 2013 Feb 19; Collection date 2013.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are properly credited.

It is thought that the science of ecology has experienced conceptual shifts in recent decades, chiefly from viewing nature as static and balanced to a conception of constantly changing, unpredictable, complex ecosystems. Here, we ask if these changes are reflected in actual ecological research over the last 30 years. We surveyed 750 articles from the entire pool of ecological literature and 750 articles from eight leading journals. Each article was characterized according to its type, ecological domain, and applicability, and major topics. We found that, in contrast to its common image, ecology is still mostly a study of single species (70% of the studies); while ecosystem and community studies together comprise only a quarter of ecological research. Ecological science is somewhat conservative in its topics of research (about a third of all topics changed significantly through time), as well as in its basic methodologies and approaches. However, the growing proportion of problem-solving studies (from 9% in the 1980s to 20% in the 2000 s) may represent a major transition in ecological science in the long run.

Introduction

Ecologists often describe ecological science as dynamic. ‘Ecology is a science in transition’ [1] . This transition is characterized by several significant shifts in emphasis and perspective [2] . During most of the 20 th century, the majority of ecologists conceptualized ecological systems as balanced and stable, typically at equilibrium, or as returning to such equilibrium deterministically following rare disturbances [3] . In recent decades, there has been a shift towards an understanding of ecological systems as nonlinear, constantly changing, and unpredictable in time and space [4] , [5] . The concept of equilibrium was replaced by other concepts, for example, the concept of non-equilibrium change, in which the system is often described as rotating between alternative states [6] .

Ecologists are split on the question of whether the changes in ecological science represent a Kuhnian ‘paradigm shift’ [5] , [7] , [8] , [9] , or, alternatively, a gradual accumulation of modifications, better characterized as ‘evolution’ rather than ‘revolution’ [2] , [10] . In contrast, other ecologists maintained that progress in ecology is lacking [11] or limited [12] .

Here, we ask if the topics and methodologies of ecological research as reflected in the literature of the last 30 years provide evidence to support notions of dramatic shifts, or of gradual change. We characterize various aspects of ecological research, using an extensive survey of ecological literature. In particular, we ask three questions regarding general aspects of ecology, and look for possible changes in these aspects over the last 30 years:

Domains of ecological research : What proportion of research is devoted to the various domains in ecology (population, species, community, and ecosystem)? What are the major topics of ecological study? Has there been a change in the frequency of investigation of any of these topics and, if so, which ones?

Types of research : Is ecology an experimental science, or a science of observation and measurement? How often are models used in ecological research? To what degree do ecologists use meta-analysis of data from previous studies (vs. collecting new data in each research)?

Basic science or problem-solving oriented discipline : Is ecology becoming a problem-solving science? In other words, how often does ecology relate to actual, specific environmental problems, in an attempt to provide solutions (or at least new insights on how to make progress towards solutions)?

Preliminary expectations

A. domains of ecological research.

The concepts of ecosystem and community have become increasingly dominant in ecological thinking. In a survey conducted among members of the British Ecological Society, ecosystem was identified as the single most important concept in ecology [13] . More recently, the Ecological Visions Committee of the Ecological Society of America issued a report that listed eight critical environmental issues for prioritizing ecological research [14] . Only two of those topics related to populations and species, while five topics were clearly within the domains of ecosystems and communities . We expected an increase in research conducted at the ecosystem level, and at the community level, accompanied by a proportional decrease in studies of single species. We also expected specific topics to become more frequent subjects of ecological study (such as biodiversity, climate change, biogeochemistry, and scale).

B. Types of research

Observations and experiments are known to be the two dominant tools of ecological research . In this research, we expected to identify an increase in the frequency of models, for two reasons: (1) the ecosystem has increasingly been described as ‘complex’, and models are often the only tools available for the study of complex systems, and (2) due to the substantial increase in the availability of modelling tools during the last three decades. We also expected an increase in the proportion of meta-analysis studies, for two major reasons: (1) a growing awareness of the incapacity of single studies of specific systems, conducted under narrow ranges of conditions, to provide insights on broader ecological issues [15] , and (2) the increased access to information and data in the age of the Internet.

C. Is ecology a problem-solving science?

In the past, ecologists have been reluctant to engage in applied research [16] . Applied science was considered inferior to basic, ‘pure’ science [17] . Some applied ecological issues, such as conservation, are emotionally charged [2] , and perceived by some ecologists as ‘advocacy’ [18] . More recently, ecologists have become increasingly concerned about the implications of their work to society's problems [15] , [17] , while environmental agencies have expressed an increased demand for ecological solutions to environmental problems [19] . For these reasons, we expected to find an increase in the proportion of applied studies over the last three decades.

In order to attempt to answer these questions, a quantitative survey of ecological research is required. Surprisingly, few attempts have been made to systematically quantify trends in ecological research. Typically, these studies have used an automated count of words in titles and abstracts to assess trends in ecology [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] . Shorrocks [24] used an alternative method to survey trends in ‘the Journal of animal ecology’ –he actually sampled 13 volumes of the journal between 1932 and 1992. Here, we followed that method: we inspected a large sample of the ecological literature, classifying it according to its content. This process is time-consuming, but the resulting analysis is probably more reliable than an automated word count.

Two surveys

One major consideration was our choice of target population within the ecological literature. Two plausible alternatives existed: we could either sample the entire pool of ecological research, or sample only leading journals. There are pros and cons to each choice. Including the entire range of ecological literature may introduce research of varying quality into the analysis. On the other hand, niche journals (the vanguard of novel research) may serve as early indicators of transitions and trends. We therefore decided to conduct two parallel surveys, using identical methods. In survey 1, we included all 136 journals that concern ecology, while in survey 2 we sampled eight ‘core journals’ that were published throughout the entire study period. A brief description of the data collection approach can be found in the Prisma 2009 flow diagram and checklist.

Journal selection

For survey 1, we selected all relevant journals that appeared during at least parts of the study period 1981–2010. This pool consisted of 136 journals. From the entire collection of articles published in these journals during this period, we limited the selection to research articles in English, and received a total of 110,965 articles (see Appendix S1 for a full list of journals sampled for this survey).

For survey 2, we selected eight prominent journals, using the following criteria: (a) high-impact factor (among the top 30 ecological journals, using ISI Web of Science Impact Factor), (b) generality (cover the entire scope of ecological research), and (c) consistency (were published throughout the study period). Not a single journal satisfied all three criteria. We therefore selected eight journals belonging to three major ecological societies that issue their own journals; thus, each group, as such, satisfies all three criteria. The eight journals were those issued by the Ecological Society of America ( Ecological Applications , Ecological Monographs , and Ecology ); the British Ecological Society (Journal of Ecology, Journal of Animal Ecology, and Journal of Applied Ecology), and the Nordic Ecological Society ( Oikos and Ecography ). Ecological Applications , first published in 1991, was an offshoot of Ecology, and Ecography , first published in 1991, was an offshoot of Oikos ; we assumed that the range of topics covered by each of the pairs was similar to that of the parent journal prior to the split. The pool of all research articles published in these journals in the period 1981–2010 consisted of 22,788 articles).

For each of the two surveys, we used a random selection scheme to select 25 articles from each year, totalling 750 articles in each survey. The classification (domain, topics, research type, applied or basic science) was performed by the authors of the current study, based on the articles. In many cases, reading the abstract provided sufficient information for classifying the article. In order to ensure a high degree of consistency between the classifiers, we carried out a pilot exercise, in which the degree of agreement between the classifiers was assessed prior to the research study. A set of 29 articles was classified independently by all classifiers. Classifications were then discussed until consensus was reached for each classification. For each topic and for each classifier, the level of agreement between initial classification and final ‘consensus’ was recorded.

Article characterization

A. ecological domains.

We predefined 20 topics that describe major research fields in ecology, and grouped these 20 topics into five broad ecological domains: (1) Single Species (demography, physiology, distribution, behaviour, evolution, genetics); (2) Species Interactions (grazing, predation, mutualism, parasitism, competition); (3) Community (biodiversity, community structure); (4) Ecosystem (food web, climate change, vegetation dynamics, biomass and productivity, biogeochemistry); and (5) Other topics (scale, statistics). We limited topic-based characterization to three topics per article.

B. Type of research

We classified the type of ecological research according to four general categories: experiment, observation, model, and data analysis. An article was classified as ‘experiment’ if an actual experiment was conducted in the laboratory, or if a field study included some sort of treatment or manipulation of the natural environment. Where research included both observation and field experiment, the article was labelled ‘experiment’. ‘Observation’ was a study where the major activity was any sort of measurement of ecological phenomena. An article was labelled ‘model’ if its sole activity or the major endeavor was to construct a model. In cases where a model was only a minor part of the research, the article was labelled ‘experiment’ or ‘observation’. Articles that did not present any new data, but used data collected in previous studies, often conducting meta-analysis, were labelled ‘data analysis’. Articles that did not include any of the above types of research, but discussed ecological issues qualitatively were omitted from the survey (and a replacement was added).

C. Problem-solving

Our goal here was to determine the degree to which ecology is oriented towards problem-solving. We assigned the category of ‘application’ to all articles that either searched for solutions to problems associated with anthropogenic activities, or proposed tools for practical problems (such as practices for conservation, global change mitigation etc.).

Statistical analyses

The number of articles assigned to each ecological topic, label, and variable was recorded for each survey. The differences between surveys in terms of the frequency of each term were analyzed using Chi square test. To evaluate change in the frequency of these variables over time, we used logistic regression [25] , with publication year as a continuous variable and survey type as a fixed variable. In order to account for multiple comparisons, we applied the Bonferroni correction. Fifty comparisons (25 comparisons in each survey) yielded a threshold of p<0.001 . The Bonferroni correction becomes very conservative when the number of comparisons becomes large, as it controls the probability of false positives only, at the cost of increasing the probability of false negatives [26] . We therefore report the results using Bonferroni correction, as well as for less conservative thresholds.

Classification consistency

Classifiers' results were in good agreement with the consensus of the test articles, with an overall average agreement rate of 90%. The average accuracy of parameter classification was high in all cases, ranging from 86% for ‘topics’ and ‘problem solving’, to 93% and 94% for ‘research type’ and ‘domain’, respectively. In what follows, wherever we report two figures, the first figure refers to the ‘all journals’ survey, and the second figure refers to the ‘core journals’ survey.

Domains of ecological research

(1) Single Species was the most frequent domain of study in this survey of ecological research, with 71% (66%) of all the studies involving topics within this domain ( Table 1 ). In both surveys, the four most common topics related to this domain: demography, physiology, behaviour and distribution. Taken together, these topics appeared in 64% (63%) of all articles. Only 4% (3%) of all articles studied evolution. (2) In the Species Interactions domain, predation and competition were the frequent terms, recorded in 5–9% of the articles, while mutualism and parasitism were recorded in 2–4% of the articles. (3) Community-related topics (biodiversity and community structure) appeared in 17% of the studies in both surveys, and (4) Ecosystem-related topics appeared in nearly a quarter of the articles. Among ecosystem topics, biogeochemistry accounted for 11% (8%) of ecological research and 2% of the research concerned climate change studies ( Table 1 ).

Table 1. Frequency of domains and topics in ecological research 1980–2010.

Differences between the two surveys are: *** significant at the Bonferroni-adjusted level, p<0.001, ** p<0.01, * p<0.05.

The frequency of community studies increased significantly (nearly significantly in the ‘core journals’) during the studied period, while the other three domains remained quite constant over time ( Table 2 , Figure 1 ).

Table 2. Annual percentage change in the frequency of domains and topics in ecological research 1980–2010.

Change is significant at the Bonferroni-adjusted level, p<0.001, ** p<0.01, * p<0.05.

Figure 1. Proportions of ecological domains in the last three decades.

White bars denote ‘all journals’ and gray bars denote ‘core journals’. Temporal trend was significant for community studies only (a logistic model, see Table 2 ).

There were significant changes in the frequency of several topics over time. The frequency of two topics climate change and biodiversity, increased significantly with time in both surveys ( Table 2 , Figure 2 ). The frequency of three additional topics changed significantly in the ‘all journals’ survey only: physiology and behaviour decreased, while genetics increased. An increase in the frequency of scale was the single significant change that appeared in the ‘core journals’ only. Additionally, five topics revealed a nearly significant frequency change through time in that survey (p<0.05): demography , grazing , and vegetation dynamics decreased, while evolution and parasitism increased in frequency with time ( Table 2 ).

Figure 2. Change in the frequency over time for the topics for which temporal change was significant at the Bonferroni-adjusted level (p<0.001) in at least one of the datasets.

White bars denote ‘all journals’ and gray bars denote ‘core journals’. *** Temporal trend was significant (a logistic model, see Table 2 ), p<0.001. ** p<0.01. * p<0.05.

Differences between the two surveys

The results of both surveys were quite similar for 14 of the 20 topics, while significant differences between the two surveys were found for six topics: physiology , behaviour and genetics were much more frequent in the ‘all journals’ survey, while demography , grazing , and vegetation dynamics were much more frequent in the ‘core journals’ survey ( Table 1 ). Most domains appeared at similar frequencies in the two surveys, except Species Interactions, which was nearly twice as frequent in the ‘core journals’ survey compared to its frequency in the ‘all journals’ survey ( Table 1 ).

Type of research

Observations constitutes the major type of ecological research (59%, 45%), followed by experiments (28%, 36%), while models (12%, 12%) and data-analysis (9%, 6%) were less frequent ( Table 3 ).

Table 3. Frequency of research types and problem-solving studies, in ecological research 1980–2010.

The proportion of data-analysis studies increased significantly with time in the ‘all journals’ survey. The use of models as a primary research tool slightly decreased in ‘all journals’ and slightly increased (nearly significant) in the ‘core journals’ survey ( Table 4 ).

Table 4. Annual percentage change in the frequency of research types and problem-solving studies, in ecological research 1980–2010.

Observation studies were significantly more frequent in the ‘all journals’ survey, while experiments were somewhat more frequent in the ‘core journals’ survey.

Is ecology a problem-solving science?

Overall, 17% (15%) of the articles were labelled ‘problem solving’ ( Table 3 ). In both surveys, their proportion increased significantly over time, from 9% (7%) in the 1980s to 21% (21%) in the 2000 s ( Table 4 , Figure 2 ).

Few systematic surveys of ecological literature have been conducted to date, and most have been restricted to a single theme or a narrow branch of ecological science [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] . For example, [22] evaluated relations between the size of the organism and its relative representation in ecological research. Swihart [12] quantified the rates of appearance of new ecological terms and disappearance of old terms. Shorrocks [24] was perhaps the only investigator to quantify various trends in ecological science, using articles published in The Journal of Animal Ecology between 1932 and 1992. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first attempt to systematically survey the entire breadth of ecological literature, in order to quantify various characteristics of the science of ecology, as well as their temporal trends. The results suggest that ecology may be substantially less dynamic than is generally acknowledged.

Ecology is mostly a study of single species. Most of the ecological research focused on the demography, physiology and distribution of single species. The proportion of single-species studies has slightly decreased in the past three decades, but still consists of more than 60% of the studies. In comparison, community and ecosystem studies represented a minor fraction of ecological research. This surprising finding seems at odds with the strong emphasis on the community and the ecosystem as major concepts in ecology [27] , [28] . Also surprising was the scarcity of a few topics which are thought to be central in ecology. Two notable examples are evolution, and food-web, each of which appeared as a research topic in 2–4% of the articles. Most of the increase in community studies occurred in the 2000s, probably reflecting the renewed interest in this field, after the neutral theory challenged the prevalence of the niche concept.

The analysis of changes in the frequency of research topics over time provided inconclusive results. Only two topics, climate change and biodiversity, showed a significant change in both surveys. The increase in both topics probably relates to the fact that both were non-issues at the beginning of the period under study. Four other topics changed significantly, and seven other topics changed nearly significantly, in only one of the surveys. Overall, there does not seem to be a drastic transformation in the relative importance of domains and topics in the field of ecology, but the apparent change in topics and research types signifies that ecological science is not entirely stagnant.

The frequency of more than half of the topics and domains was very similar in both surveys, but nearly a third of the topics differed significantly between the surveys. Interestingly, the topics that were significantly more frequent in the ‘all journals’ survey related to the basic and static aspects of a species (genetics and physiology), and the ecosystem (biomass and productivity). In contrast, the topics that were significantly more frequent in the ‘core journals’ related to dynamic processes (demography, vegetation dynamics, and grazing).

Observation and experiment were by far the predominant tools of ecological study, together accounting for 80% of the research; these proportions did not change over time. Interestingly, modelling (∼12% of all studies), is no more common today than it was thirty years ago, despite a drastic increase in the availability of modelling tools during this period. Data-analysis became a more common research tool. Many of the studies in this category were, in fact, meta-analyses (analyses of data from several sources). The major increase in data-analysis studies was in the mid-90s, suggesting that the increased availability of information in the age of the Internet had an important role in this trend.

Comparing the two surveys in terms of type of research revealed a fundamental difference: the ratio of experiments to observations in the ‘all journals’ survey was 1:2, while in the ‘core journals’ survey it was 7:9. The prevalent consensus that ecology has changed during the 20 th century, from an observational to an experimental science, may be somewhat overstated; nevertheless, such a change appeared more prominently in the ‘core journals’ survey.

Ecological research is mostly a basic science, with only a small proportion of ‘problem solving’ studies. Yet, in both surveys we found a significant and consistent increase in the number of ‘problem solving’ articles published during the survey period. If this trend continues in future decades, it may prove to be a major shift in the orientation of ecology.

Is ecology a dynamic science?

Prominent ecologists have claimed that ecology has undergone transitions [29] , and even paradigm shifts [5] in recent decades, and is now a mature and competent science [30] . Our survey reveals that these claims perhaps overstate the case. The science of ecology appears to be changing slowly, in the sense that major research subjects and principal methodologies have not changed dramatically for at least 30 years. In particular, the popular image of ecology as a science in transition [7] , dealing chiefly with ecosystems and communities [1] seems at odds with the major proportion of single species studies reported here.

A contrasting view, put forward by O'Connor [11] , claimed that ecology lags after other life sciences, and makes very little progress. O'Conner's study ignited a debate, wherein various arguments were employed to disprove this claim [31] , [23] , or put it in a balanced perspective [12] . This debate is still ongoing, and is probably driven by emotions no less than by objective evaluations. The current study does not substantiate O'Connor's claim, and it was not meant to evaluate progress. However, it is safe to assume that a major advance in ecology would be accompanied by a major change in the frequency of domains, topics, and types of research; yet, as shown here, these have changed only moderately in the course of three decades.

A major aspect of progress in science is the rate at which basic questions in ecology are being answered [12] , which we have not evaluated, and is very difficult to evaluate quantitatively. Also, we could not detect conceptual shifts, such as network thinking, that do not connect to particular terms or topics. Swihart et al. [12] provide an interesting attempt to quantify progress based on ‘birth rate’ and ‘death rate’ of ecological terms, and claim to show viable progress in ecology. In contrast, the list of 100 fundamental questions in ecology [32] reports profound knowledge gaps regarding the central mechanisms driving ecosystems, communities, and even population dynamics.

Our approach could not, and was not meant to detect changes in particular methods and technologies applied within each research domain or topic. The availability of advanced molecular and genetic tools and the increase in computing power have allowed analyses to become more complex and sophisticated. However, the use of these new technologies and processing power does not imply enhanced knowledge or understanding. Also, such surveys may not detect conceptual shifts, such as network thinking, which do not connect to particular terms or topics.

Perhaps the single and most important change in the study of ecology is the growing proportion of ecological research directed towards problem solving. This trend by itself, if continued, may represent a major transition in ecology in the long run.

Our results may be disturbing to some researchers, insofar as they portray an ecological discipline which is considerably less dynamic than ecologists would like to believe. The value of this research is precisely in reviving the debate and presenting an opportunity for self-assessment to those who strive to advance the discipline, all of which can serve to stimulate the investigation of new and groundbreaking tools, paradigms and perspectives. Only through meta-scale monitoring of the scope of research can we understand, and hope to influence, the trajectory of ecological research in the years to come.

Supporting Information

A full list of journals sampled for survey 1.

Acknowledgments

Curtis Flather, Mark Burgman, Leon Blaustein, Yaacov Garb, Yaron Ziv and Daniel Statman have provided valuable comments on a draft of this manuscript.

Funding Statement

This study was funded by the Israel Science Foundation (grant number 486-2010). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Nature’s Secrets: Top 200 Ecology Research Topics

From understanding how different species react to the impact of human activities on our planet, Ecology offers insights that go beyond the ordinary. 

So, whether you’re fascinated by the web of life in a forest, the dynamics of a coral reef, or the challenges of conservation, these research topics will guide you into the heart of ecological wonders. Let’s start this adventure of knowledge, discovering the hidden secrets that shape the world around us.

What Is Ecology?

Table of Contents

Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment. It explores relationships between plants, animals, and their surroundings, helping us understand how nature works and how different elements in ecosystems connect.

What Are The 6 Topics Studied In Ecology?

Ecology studies the relationships between living things and their environment. Here are six topics studied in ecology:

• Ecosystems: Examining how living organisms, like plants and animals, interact with each other and their non living surroundings, such as soil, water, and air.
• Biodiversity: Analyzing the variety of life in different ecosystems, including the number and types of species present.
• Population Dynamics: Understanding how the numbers of individuals in a species change over time, including factors like birth rates, death rates, and migration.
• Community Interactions: Exploring how different species in a specific area interact with each other, such as through competition or cooperation.
• Ecological Succession: Studying the increasing changes in ecosystems over time, including how new communities of plants and animals replace older ones.
• Conservation Biology: Focusing on protecting and preserving ecosystems and species, especially those facing threats or endangerment.

Top 200 Ecology Research Topics

Now the wait is over and here we will be listing top 200 ecology research topics. And they are as:

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Biodiversity Conservation

• Conservation Genetics and its Role in Biodiversity Preservation
• Ecological Consequences of Habitat Fragmentation on Biodiversity
• Monitoring and Assessing Biodiversity in Changing Landscapes
• Conservation Strategies for Endangered Species
• The Significance of Protected Areas in Biodiversity Conservation
• Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Conservation
• Citizen Science Initiatives in Biodiversity Monitoring
• Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in Biodiversity Conservation
• Climate Change Impacts on Biodiversity and Conservation Measures
• Human-Wildlife Conflict and its Implications for Biodiversity Conservation

Top 10 Research Topics On Climate Change Impacts

• Climate Change Effects on Biodiversity and Ecosystems
• Influence of Climate Change on Global Water Resources
• Rising Sea Levels and Coastal Ecosystem Vulnerability
• Climate Change Affects on Agriculture and Food Security
• Extreme Weather Events and their Ecological Consequences
• Ocean Acidification: Ecological and Marine Life Impacts
• Changes in Species Distribution by Climate Change
• Climate Change and Migration Patterns of Wildlife
• Effects of Climate Change on Polar and Alpine Ecosystems
• Climate Change and Human Health: Ecological Perspectives

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Habitat Restoration

• Ecosystem Recovery after Habitat Disturbance
• Effects of Restoration Techniques on Soil Health
• Ecological Succession in Restored Habitats
• Invasive Species Management in Restoration Projects
• Role of Native Plant Species in Habitat Restoration
• Impact of Restoration on Wildlife Communities
• Community Engagement in Urban Habitat Restoration
• Restoration of Wetland Ecosystems and Biodiversity
• Historical Ecology and its Role in Habitat Restoration
• Evaluating Long-Term Success of Habitat Restoration Projects

Top 10 Research Topics On Ecosystem Services

• Valuation of Ecosystem Services for purpose of Sustainable Resource Management
• Biodiversity’s Role in Providing Ecosystem Services
• Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystem Services
• Urban Ecosystem Services and Green Infrastructure
• Cultural Ecosystem Services: Linking Nature and Well-being
• Watershed Services: Sustainable Water Resource Management
• Forest Ecosystem Services and Sustainable Forestry Practices
• Marine Ecosystem Services: Conservation and Management
• Agricultural Practices and Ecosystem Service Delivery
• Restoration Ecology for Enhancing Ecosystem Services

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Wildlife Ecology

• Behavior and Social Structure of Wild Animal Populations
• Conservation Genetics in Wildlife Management
• Human-Wildlife Conflict and Mitigation Strategies
• Wildlife Habitat Use and Selection
• Effects of Climate Change on Wildlife Ecology
• Wildlife Disease Ecology and Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Predator-Prey Dynamics in Natural Ecosystems
• Movement Ecology and Migration Patterns
• Wildlife Monitoring Techniques and Technology
• Restoration Ecology for Wildlife Habitat Enhancement

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Marine Ecology

• Coral Reef Resilience and Conservation
• Marine Biodiversity in Deep-Sea Ecosystems
• Ocean Acidification & its Impact on Marine Life
• Fisheries Management for Sustainable Marine Ecology
• Marine Protected Areas and Conservation Strategies
• Plastic Pollution & its impact on Marine Ecosystems
• Seabird Ecology and Conservation
• Mangrove Ecosystems: Function and Conservation
• Climate Change Impacts on Marine Ecosystems
• Seagrass Ecology and Restoration efforts in Coastal Areas

Top 10 Research Topics On Urban Ecology

• Urban Biodiversity and Conservation Strategies
• Green Spaces & Ecosystem Services in Urban Environments
• Urban Heat Island Effect and Mitigation Measures
• Urban Wildlife Ecology and Human-Wildlife Interactions
• Sustainable Urban Planning and Design for Ecosystem Health
• Urban Agriculture: Impacts on Biodiversity and Food Security
• Air Quality and Urban Tree Canopy: A Nexus in Urban Ecology
• Stormwater Management and Ecological Solutions in Urban Areas
• Urbanization Effects on Microbial Communities in Soil
• Citizen Science Contributions to Urban Ecology Research

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Forest Ecology

• Old-Growth Forest Ecology and Conservation
• Forest Fragmentation and its Impact on Biodiversity
• Fire Ecology: Natural Processes and Human Intervention
• Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation
• Dynamics of Tree-Soil Interactions in Forest Ecosystems
• Invasive Species Management in Forested Landscapes
• Forest Restoration Ecology and Reforestation Strategies
• Effects of Logging and Timber Harvesting on Forest Ecology
• Microbial Communities in Forest Soils: Diversity and Function
• Ecological Consequences of Climate Change in Forested Regions

Top 10 Research Topics On Invasive Species Management

• Ecological Impacts of Invasive Species
• Mechanisms of Invasion Success
• Early Detection and Rapid Response Strategies
• Effects of Climate Change on Invasive Species Dynamics
• Management Strategies for Aquatic Invasive Species
• Biological Control of Invasive Species
• Evolutionary Responses in Invasive Species
• Community-Level Impacts of Invasive Species
• Economic Costs and Benefits of Invasive Species Management
• Restoration Ecology After Invasive Species Removal

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Conservation Genetics

• Genetic Diversity and Conservation of Endangered Species
• Population Genetics of Rare and Threatened Plants
• Conservation Genomics in Wildlife Management
• Genetic Adaptation to Changing Environments
• Genomic Approaches in Assessing Inbreeding Depression
• Landscape Genetics and Habitat Connectivity
• Genetic Monitoring for Effective Conservation
• Genomic Tools in Studying Hybridization and Introgression
• Conservation Genetics of Migratory Species
• Genetic Markers for Non-Invasive Monitoring of Wildlife

Top 10 Research Topics On Landscape Ecology

• Spatial Patterns and Dynamics in Landscape Ecology
• Connectivity and Fragmentation of Landscape
• Urbanization and its Impact on Landscape Structure
• Landscape Heterogeneity and Biodiversity Conservation
• Ecosystem Services in the Context of Landscape Ecology
• Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Landscape Ecology
• Modeling Landscape Change and Future Scenarios
• Landscape Ecology and Climate Change Impacts
• Land-Use Change Effects on Landscape Patterns
• Resilience and Sustainability in Landscape Ecology

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Agroecology

• Sustainable Farming Practices for Agroecosystem Health
• Agroecology and Biodiversity Conservation in Agricultural Landscapes
• Soil Health and Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems
• Organic Farming Systems: Ecological Impacts and Benefits
• Agroecological Approaches to Pest Management
• Agroforestry Systems and Ecosystem Services
• Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Agroecological Frameworks
• Indigenous and Traditional Agro Ecological Knowledge
• Integrating Livestock into Agroecosystems for Sustainability
• Socioeconomic Dimensions of Agroecological Transition

Top 10 Research Topics On Ecological Modeling

• Spatial and Temporal Dynamics in Ecological Models
• Integrating Climate Change in Ecological Modeling
• Agent-Based Modeling in Ecological Studies
• Ecological Network Models: Structure and Dynamics
• Predictive Modeling for Conservation Planning
• Individual-Based Models in Animal Behavior Ecology
• Dynamic Energy Budget Models in Population Ecology
• Bayesian Approaches in Ecological Modeling
• Ecological Niche Modeling for Species Distribution
• Coupling Ecological and Economic Models for Sustainability

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Environmental Pollution

• Affects of Air Pollution on Ecosystems and Human Health
• Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: Sources and Effects
• Soil Pollution and its Consequences for Terrestrial Ecology
• Noise Pollution and its Effects on Wildlife Behavior
• Heavy Metal Contamination in Urban Ecosystems
• Emerging Contaminants: Pharmaceuticals in the Environment
• Pesticide Pollution and Agricultural Ecosystems
• Oil Spills and Marine Ecosystems: Recovery and Resilience
• Plastic Waste in Marine Environments: Ecological Impacts
• Urbanization and its Role in Environmental Pollution

Top 10 Research Topics On Ecotourism Impact

• Ecotourism and Biodiversity Conservation
• Socioeconomic Impacts of Ecotourism on Local Communities
• Sustainable Practices in Ecotourism Operations
• Wildlife Disturbance and Ecotourism: Balancing Conservation
• Ecotourism and Cultural Heritage Preservation
• Assessing the Environmental Footprint of Ecotourism
• Ecotourism and Sustainable Resource Management
• Community Involvement in Ecotourism Development
• Monitoring and Mitigating Ecotourism Impacts on Fragile Ecosystems
• Ecotourism Certification and Standards for Responsible Tourism

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Plant Ecology

• Plant-Animal Interactions and Mutualistic Relationships
• Impacts of Climate Change on Plant Communities
• Plant Functional Traits and Ecosystem Functioning
• Plant-Insect Interactions: Pollination and Herbivory
• Dynamics of Plant Communities in Disturbed Habitats
• Plant Defense Mechanisms Against Herbivores
• Allelopathy: Chemical Interactions among Plants
• Plant Invasions and their Ecological Consequences
• Influence of Soil Microbes on Plant Health and Diversity
• Role of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Plant Ecology

Top 10 Research Topics On Evolutionary Ecology

• Adaptation and Evolutionary Dynamics in Changing Environments
• Coevolutionary Interactions between Species
• Evolutionary Consequences of Mutualistic Relationships
• Evolutionary Ecology of Life History Strategies
• Evolutionary Responses to Anthropogenic Stressors
• Evolutionary Ecology of Invasive Species
• Historical Biogeography and Evolutionary Patterns
• Evolutionary Ecology of Plant-Animal Interactions
• Evolutionary Drivers of Biodiversity
• Evolutionary Consequences of Climate Change

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Freshwater Ecology

• Biodiversity and Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystems
• Aquatic Macroinvertebrates as Bioindicators of Water Quality
• Effects of Climate Change on Freshwater Ecology
• Nutrient Cycling in Freshwater Environments
• Impact of Invasive Species on Freshwater Ecosystems
• Dynamics of Aquatic Food Webs in Lakes and Rivers
• Restoration Ecology of Freshwater Habitats
• Ecological Consequences of Dams and Water Management
• Microbial Communities in Freshwater Environments
• Threats to Freshwater Ecosystems: Pollution and Habitat Loss

Top 10 Research Topics On Microbial Ecology

• Microbial Diversity in Natural Environments
• Microbial Interactions in Soil Ecosystems
• Human Microbiome and Health
• Microbial Ecology of Extreme Environments
• Microbes in Aquatic Ecosystems: Dynamics and Roles
• Microbial Communities in Plant Rhizospheres
• Microbial Biogeography and Distribution Patterns
• Impact of Climate Change on Microbial Ecology
• Microbial Responses to Pollution and Environmental Stress
• Microbial Roles in Biogeochemical Cycling

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Sustainable Agriculture

• Agroecological Practices for Sustainable Farming
• Soil Health Management in Sustainable Agriculture
• Water Conservation Strategies in Agricultural Systems
• Organic Farming: Impacts on Ecology and Sustainability
• Integrated Pest Management for Sustainable Agriculture
• Biodiversity Enhancement through Crop Rotation
• Agroforestry: Integrating Trees into Agricultural Landscapes
• Climate-Smart Agriculture Approaches
• Efficient Nutrient Management in Sustainable Farming
• Sustainable Livestock Farming Practices

Top 50 Ecology Essay Topics

In addition to the above topics we are giving you a bonus of top 50 ecology essay topics based on different categories and they are as:

Top 10 Essay Research Topics On Environmental Sustainability

• Climate Change Impacts and Mitigation Strategies
• Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration
• Sustainable Agriculture Practices
• Renewable Energy Solutions
• Waste Management and Circular Economy
• Urban Planning for Sustainable Cities
• Water Conservation and Management
• Environmental Policies and Governance
• Corporate Social Responsibility in Sustainability
• Indigenous Knowledge and Practices in Environmental Sustainability

Top 10 Essay Research Topics On Social Justice and Equity

• Racial Inequality and Systemic Racism
• Gender Equality and Women’s Rights
• LGBTQ+ Rights and Inclusivity
• Economic Disparities and Poverty
• Access to Education: Challenges and Solutions
• Criminal Justice Reform and Fair Policing
• Disability Rights and Inclusion
• Indigenous Rights and Land Sovereignty
• Immigration Policies and Human Rights
• Healthcare Disparities: Addressing Equity in Access and Treatment

Top 10 Essay Research Topics On Technology and Society

• Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence
• Digital Privacy and Security Concerns
• Impact of Social Media on Society
• The Role of Technology in Education
• Automation and the Future of Work
• Cybersecurity Challenges and Solutions
• Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Cities
• Biotechnology and Bioethics
• Technology and Healthcare: Advancements and Concerns
• Accessibility and Inclusivity in Technological Innovations

Top 10 Essay Research Topics On Health and Wellness

• Mental Health Stigma and Awareness
• Healthcare Disparities in Underserved Communities
• Impact of Technology on Mental Health
• Lifestyle Factors and Chronic Disease Prevention
• Access to Affordable Healthcare
• Public Health Strategies for Disease Prevention
• Global Health Challenges and Solutions
• Integrative Medicine and Holistic Health Approaches
• Nutrition and its Role in Overall Wellness
• Aging Population: Health Challenges and Innovations

Top 10 Essay Research Topics On Global Economic Trends

• The Impact of Globalization on Economic Inequality
• Sustainable Development Goals and Economic Growth
• Technological Advancements and Economic Transformation
• Trade Wars and their Effects on Global Economies
• The Rise of Gig Economy and Changing Workforce Dynamics
• Financial Inclusion and Economic Empowerment
• COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Global Economic Trends
• Green Finance and Environmental Sustainability in Economics
• Economic Policies for Post-Pandemic Recovery
• The Role of Emerging Markets in Shaping Global Economic Trends

As we conclude our exploration of Ecology Research Topics, we’ve uncovered a big collection of subjects into the wonders of our natural world. From studying Biodiversity Conservation to researching Microbial Ecology, these topics offer a deeper understanding of the balance of our ecosystems. 

In addition to these research topics, we’ve provided a bonus of 50 Ecology Essay Topics, adding more layers to your knowledge. Remember, Ecology is like solving nature’s puzzle, and each topic contributes to revealing its secrets. 

We’ve also touched upon the six fundamental topics in Ecology, providing a foundation for your ecological journey. So, let curiosity be your guide, and explore the mysteries that our planet holds.

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Ecosystem ecology articles from across Nature Portfolio

Ecosystem ecology is the combined study of the physical and biological components of ecosystems. It focuses on how matter and energy flow through both organisms and the abiotic components of the environment.

Latest Research and Reviews

Optimizing arable land suitability evaluation using improved suitability functions in the Anning River Basin

Ecosystem transplant from a healthy reef boosts coral health at a degraded reef

Invertebrate and microbe communities support reef ecosystems and coral health. Here, the authors characterize these communities from degraded and healthy reefs, showing that transplanting these healthy communities improved coral health at degraded reefs.

• Natalie Levy
• Joseane A. Marques

Soil community history strengthens belowground multitrophic functioning across plant diversity levels in a grassland experiment

Plant diversity and community history can jointly influence ecosystem functions, including those performed by soil fauna. This study shows that soil community history, rather than plant diversity or short-term plant adaptations, plays a crucial role in enhancing belowground ecosystem function.

• Angelos Amyntas
• Nico Eisenhauer
• Ulrich Brose

An annual land cover dataset for the Baltic Sea Region with crop types and peat bogs at 30 m from 2000 to 2022

• Vu-Dong Pham
• Farina de Waard
• Sebastian van der Linden

High-resolution sensors and deep learning models for tree resource monitoring

Trees are crucial for Earth’s ecosystems, aiding in carbon absorption, climate regulation and biodiversity support. High-resolution satellite sensors and artificial intelligence enable detailed tree monitoring at national and continental levels, simplifying biomass assessment, national reporting and climate change mitigation efforts.

• Martin Brandt
• Jerome Chave
• Christian Igel

Molecular methods for the detection and identification of parasitoids within larval wheat midges

• Dominique Mingeot
• Sandrine Chavalle
• Louis Hautier

News and Comment

Constructing cities like cultivating our children

Cities support our production and daily life and carry our joys and sorrows. Researcher, resident and traveler Meirong Su expresses her concern about the gradual loss of urban personality during continuous urban construction and proposes that we should care for cities like we care for our children.

Biased reports of species range shifts

• Tegan Armarego-Marriott

Crop diversity benefits increase with nation size

Crop diversity and cropland area stabilize food production as much as irrigation, but larger countries are likely to benefit more. This relationship can guide policy development and nation-specific management strategies in the pursuit of stable food supplies.

• Zhenong Jin
• David Tilman

Minimum turbidity levels for the maintenance of intertidal areas

Estuaries are increasingly threatened not only by rising sea levels but also by human interventions which cause changes in sediment supply. Remote sensing data analysis shows that estuarine intertidal area development is associated with minimum turbidity levels, where areas with larger tidal ranges require higher turbidity for their maintenance.

Ecohydrology amid a rapidly changing world

When the substrate for ecological interactions is the river network, the emerging universality of form is reflected in its function as ecological corridor, with implications.

• Andrea Rinaldo

Diverse impacts of large herbivores

A meta-analysis of research on megaherbivore effects on ecosystems shows that large wild mammals influence heterogeneity in plant, soil and animal community responses.

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