Ecology Content

Arctic Plants React Unexpectedly to Climate Change

Katherine E Kerlin — April 30, 2025 - 8:00am

Rapid climate change is upending established plant diversity and growth patterns in the Arctic, with species blooming in some areas and declining in others, suggests a study published today in the journal Nature.

The decades-long study of more than 2,000 plant communities across 45 areas in the Arctic tundra found that many locations saw vegetation change in type, abundance and growth, between 1981 and 2022.

Shrubs Can Help or Hinder a Forest’s Recovery After Wildfire

Katherine E Kerlin — December 16, 2024 - 10:12am

When and where to plant tree seedlings restore forests after wildfires has a lot to do with shrubs, finds a ��о�� study.

How Students Dive into Marine Science at ��о��

Jocelyn C Anderson — October 24, 2023 - 9:15pm

What’s it like to take a summer session in a marine lab? Explore our undergraduate marine research from mussels’ byssal threads to ocean ecosystem impacts.

Ph.D. Student Wins New Quad Fellowship

Julia Ann Easley — December 13, 2022 - 1:50pm

��о�� student Sophia Simon, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in ecology, has received a Quad Fellowship. She is part of the fellowship’s first cohort of 100 exceptional science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduate students.

Unprecedented Arctic Wildfires Fuel Climate Warming Cycle

Katherine E Kerlin — November 08, 2022 - 3:13pm

In the Arctic, climate change is turning carbon sinks into carbon sources as wildfires send stored carbon up in smoke, explains ��о�� polar ecologist.

Monitoring Forest Threats with New Open Forest Observatory

Katherine E Kerlin — September 21, 2022 - 11:53am

The Open Forest Observatory project at ��о�� will use drones, mapping, AI, remote sensing and more to create a powerful tool to better monitor forest threats, like wildfire.

Diversifying Agriculture to Control Pest Outbreaks

Andy Fell — May 17, 2022 - 3:15pm

Newly published research led by ��о�� ecologist Daniel Paredes suggests that pest abundances are less variable in diverse landscapes comprised of multiple crop types and patches of natural habitat.

"As a result, pest outbreaks are less likely in diverse landscapes," said Paredes, who analyzed a 13-year government database of diversified landscapes encompassing more than 1300 olive groves and vineyards in Spain. The database documented pests and pesticide applications.

Invasive Species and Climate Change Impact Coastal Estuaries

Katherine E Kerlin — May 05, 2022 - 11:38am

Native species in California’s estuaries are expected to experience greater declines as invasive species interact with climate change.

Discovery Uncovers a New Leaf for Redwoods

Katherine E Kerlin — March 16, 2022 - 7:00am

Redwoods are among the most well-studied trees on the planet, and yet their mysteries continue to surprise and delight scientists and nature lovers.

Caribou and Muskoxen Buffer Climate Impacts for Rare Plants

Katherine E Kerlin — January 27, 2022 - 8:45am

Being common is rather unusual. It’s far more common for a species to be rare, spending its existence in small densities throughout its range. How such rare species persist, particularly in an environment undergoing rapid climate change, inspired a 15-year study in arctic Greenland from the ��о��.