Large-scale epidemics are affecting ecologically and economically important marine species across the globe. For the most widely produced marine fish, salmon, parasitic sea lice are the most significant problem. Here I ...

The speed and scale at which humans are altering natural systems creates novel challenges for many species. Some species can cope with human-induced rapid environmental change by exhibiting adaptive behavioural or phenotypic ...

The factors driving plant invasion are key questions in invasion ecology. Traits also can act as indicators of plant invasion processes. If traits are proven to be a significant proxy for plant invasiveness, then invasiveness ...

Insect pests are a major factor limiting crop productivity worldwide. While insecticide spraying is an effective means of controlling these pests, this approach also harms nonpest insect species such as bees. There is ...

An efficient sensory system is essential for animals to locate appropriate food resources, reproductive partners and oviposition sites as well as to detect and avoid predators. Many insects acquire this information through ...

Aphids exhibit fascinating biological features including parthenogenesis, symbiosis, altruism and host-plant preference; all of which would be better understood if genetic tools and molecular biological techniques were ...

Climate change has been recognized as one of the greatest threats to the persistence of biodiversity. Several approaches have been used to assess species’ vulnerability to climate change such as correlative niche models, ...

Mutualistic associations between butterflies of the family Lycaenidae and ants are common, and the costs and benefits for both partners have been clearly documented. Ant colonies and territories are well defended against ...

Sediment risk assessments have commonly employed what is known as the ‘conventional’ method to address risk and determine causality of toxic sediments. The ‘conventional’ method compares effects (determined through ...

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with the bacterium Wolbachia are being released throughout the tropics to control arbovirus transmission. This approach has faced challenges in some locations due to poor-performing ...