Ecology Podcast

150 episodes listed below

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Ecology papers, explained by their researchers.

The gist

Ecology Podcast is a research-led British Ecological Society series built around papers, methods, and the people behind them. Recent episodes move from urban green space and mental health to elm restoration, museum specimen labels, acoustic monitoring, penguin timing, beavers, bats, and plant ecology careers.

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About Ecology Podcast

Ecology Podcast is a British Ecological Society series about ecological research, publishing, methods, and scientific careers. Its centre of gravity is the paper interview. A named researcher arrives with a recent article, and the conversation works through the background, study design, findings, uncertainties, and wider meaning. The pace is patient. Episodes often begin with how someone entered ecology before moving into the technical substance of the work. That structure gives the science a human frame without turning it into personality-led chat. Recent subjects range widely across the field. One episode follows Michaela Lowe’s work with the Equity and Diversity for All Genders and Ecology Network, focusing on visibility, volunteer labour, collaboration, and support within ecology. Another examines mental health benefits linked to urban green space, while also stressing limits in geographic representation and study samples. The elm episode treats restoration as more than a biological problem, asking who cares about lost tree species and why that care matters. A methods conversation with Margot Bello looks at automated extraction from museum specimen labels and the role of AI in cataloguing collections. Other episodes compare sensors, camera traps, and observer-based monitoring for terrestrial mammals. Climate change appears through penguin phenology, especially settlement timing and its consequences for breeding seasons. Beaver-engineered streams bring in bats, insects, canopy heterogeneity, and standing deadwood. The eminent ecologist interview with Angela Moles shifts toward plant ecology, seed size, survival, introduced species, and large-scale patterns. Across these conversations, the show keeps returning to evidence, method, context, and the limits of what can be claimed. It is especially useful for students, working ecologists, journal readers, and scientifically curious listeners who want accessible research talk without flattening the complexity.

Made for: For ecology students, researchers, conservation professionals, journal readers, and science-minded listeners who prefer careful explanation over quick headlines. It also suits anyone interested in how ecological knowledge is produced, questioned, and applied.

What sets it apart: The show pairs current BES-linked papers with direct researcher conversations, so methods, caveats, field context, and career paths sit beside the headline findings. Its strength is not spectacle but careful access to the reasoning behind ecological work.

In their own words

Podcasts from the British Ecological Society

As heard by us

Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026

Ecology Podcast makes research leadership concrete through careful interviews about methods, careers, collaboration and the institutions surrounding ecological work.

Ecology Podcast turns published research into conversations about how ecological work is designed, interpreted and carried into professional practice.

Read our full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Beavers leave deadwood, bats benefit, and you get to find out why.

Press play if you want

  • to learn why pollen can matter to bats when insects are scarce
  • to watch a neat seed-size rule change when you count a plant's whole lifetime
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
recent ecology papersresearcher career pathsconservation and restorationecological monitoring methodsurban green space and mental healthclimate change and animal timingmuseum digitisation and AI toolsequity and representation in ecology

Talks about

Podcasts like Ecology Podcast

Episodes

  1. 1

    ELM Network | Episode 2: Motivation to lead with Professor Jane K. Hill

    ·42m
  2. 2

    Michaela Guo Ying Lo talks about gender representation in ecology

    ·29m
  3. 3

    Mental health and urban green | The Story Behind the Paper

    ·24m
  4. 4

    The fall and rise of elm | The Story Behind the Paper

    ·32m
  5. 5

    Black History Month 2023: Perpetra Akite on Entomology, Representation and Collaboration

    ·47m
  6. 6

    Reproductive Performance of Peregrine Falcons in southern Scotland

    ·3m
  7. 7

    Black History Month 2023: Yoseph Araya on Nature, Role Models and Academia

    ·25m
  8. 8

    French Translation - Disgust in animals audio abstract

    ·3m
  9. 9

    Automatic information extraction from museum specimen labels | the story behind the paper

    ·28m
  10. 10

    Sensors versus surveyors | the story behind the paper

    ·24m
  11. 11

    Los Pingüinos y sus Respuestas Fenológicas al Cambio Climático | La Historia Detrás del Artículo

    ·17m
  12. 12

    Penguins and Their Phenological Responses to Climate Change | The Story Behind the Paper

    ·34m
  13. 13

    Beavers Boost Bat Biodiversity | The Story Behind the Paper

    ·27m
  14. 14

    Eminent Ecologist 2025: Angela Moles | Lessons in starting out as an ecologist

    ·34m
  15. 15

    Pollen essential amino acids shape bat–flower interaction networks with Fernando Gonçalves

    ·31m
  16. 16

    Spiders Spotted Using Trapped Fireflies to Lure Prey | The Story Behind The Paper

    ·57m
  17. 17

    Included in Nature with Clare Rishbeth | Introduction

    ·8m
  18. 18

    Included in Nature with Clare Rishbeth | Case Report 1 - Disabilities

    ·12m
  19. 19

    Included in Nature with Clare Rishbeth | Case Report 2 - Low Income Areas

    ·13m
  20. 20

    Included in Nature with Clare Rishbeth | Case Report 3 - Older People

    ·11m
  21. 21

    Included in Nature with Clare Rishbeth | Case Report 4 - Ethnic Minorities

    ·20m
  22. 22

    Included in Nature with Clare Rishbeth | Claire's Current and Future Research

    ·6m
  23. 23

    Special Interest Groups | Rewilding

    ·37m
  24. 24

    Functional Ecology | Jennifer Apland: Isolating the effects of floral temperature on visitation and behaviour of wild bee and fly pollinators

    ·28m
  25. 25

    Revista de Ecología Animal | Experiencia del Editor: Dr Mariano Rodriguez-Cabal

    ·18m
  26. 26

    Journal of Animal Ecology | Editor Expertise: Dr Mariano Rodriguez-Cabal

    ·16m
  27. 27

    BES Special Feature | Marine Heatwaves

    ·29m
  28. 28

    Methods in Ecology and Evolution | Dr René Steinmann : Decoding the footsteps of the African savanna

    ·27m
  29. 29

    ELM Network | Episode 3: Leadership lessons from Professor Malcolm Press

    ·28m
  30. 30

    Journal of Animal Ecology | Editor Expertise: Dr Roberto Salguero-Gómez

    ·25m
  31. 31

    Annual Meeting | In conversation with Dr. Rob Brooker

    ·16m
  32. 32

    Journal Club episode 1: Can developing climbing routes be a threat to endemic plants?

    ·51m
  33. 33

    Journal of Animal Ecology | Editor Expertise: Professor Darren Evans

    ·54m
  34. 34

    Functional Ecology | Dr Abbey Yatsko: Why are trees hollow? Termites, microbes and tree internal stem damage in a tropical savanna

    ·31m
  35. 35

    Functional Ecology | Adam Devenish: Mutualistic interactions facilitate invasive species spread

    ·25m
  36. 36

    Journal of Animal Ecology | Editor Expertise: Professor Jean-Michel Gaillard

    ·18m
  37. 37

    Black History Month 2023: Jhan Salazar on The Wonder of Nature and Importance of Representation

    ·31m
  38. 38

    Black History Month 2023: Gideon Deme on his Journey, Barriers to Ecology, and Inspirations

    ·1h 1m
  39. 39

    Black History Month 2023: Reuben Fakoya-Brooks on Academia, Barrier-Breaking and Creativity

    ·54m
  40. 40

    A balanced spatial distribution of green areas creates healthier urban landscapes

    ·14m
  41. 41

    The searchscape of fear: A global analysis of internet search trends for biophobias

    ·30m
  42. 42

    Sea-weeding: Manual removal of macroalgae facilitates rapid coral recovery

    ·19m
  43. 43

    FE Special Feature: Fire as a dynamic ecological and evolutionary force

    ·37m
  44. 44

    Seeking a ‘just right’ site for the Western Swamp Turtle

    ·35m
  45. 45

    Forests that keep fires small, and how they do it

    ·38m
  46. 46

    Animal Functional Traits: A Special Focus

    ·30m
  47. 47

    Where to fish in the forest? Mangrove quality, fish and crustaceans

    ·17m
  48. 48

    2022 nominee: Feeding from up to bottom—belowground herbivory impacts on plant-soil feedbacks

    ·20m
  49. 49

    A conversation with Sarah Schwieger: Rewetting in peatlands

    ·7m
  50. 50

    A conversation with Paula Prist: Yellow fever virus dispersion

    ·11m
  51. 51

    2022 Haldane Prize nominee: Transgenerational behavioral plasticity in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

    ·31m
  52. 52

    A conversation with Liz Koziol: Manipulating plant microbiomes in the field

    ·10m
  53. 53

    The Mechanisms and Consequences of Infection-Induced Phenotypes: cross-journal SF

    ·33m
  54. 54

    Connections Matter: How Patterns of Habitat Connectivity Affect Population Dynamics

    ·32m
  55. 55

    Disgust in animals and the application of disease avoidance to wildlife management and conservation

    ·3m
  56. 56

    The effect of high-intensity fires on woody plant encroachment in an African savanna

    ·22m
  57. 57

    Flower patterns improve foraging efficiency in bumblebees by guiding approach flight and landing

    ·30m
  58. 58

    Acoustic signature reveals blue whales tune life-history transitions to oceanographic conditions

    ·28m
  59. 59

    Eusociality and the transition from biparental to alloparental care in termites

    ·39m
  60. 60

    BES Collaborates with The Root Of The Science Podcast for a special BHM 2022 panel discussion

    ·50m
  61. 61

    BHM 2022: Sandra Klemet-N'Guessan - How to cultivate a more equitable and diverse landscape

    ·32m
  62. 62

    MEEin3: The Movebank system for studying global animal movement and demography

    ·4m
  63. 63

    Journal of Animal Ecology: Citizen Science Special Issue, episode 1 Ian Thornhill

    ·28m
  64. 64

    MEEin3: Identifying latent behavioral states in animal movement

    ·3m
  65. 65

    MEEin3: Adapting a turkey fryer to manipulate water temperature

    ·7m
  66. 66

    MEEin3: A standardisation framework for bio-logging data

    ·6m
  67. 67

    Using functional traits to identify conservation priorities for the world's crocodylians

    ·41m
  68. 68

    MEEin3 Pilot: Preserving benthic arthropods for DNA metabarcoding

    ·5m
  69. 69

    Tree species that live slow, die older enhance tropical peat swamp restoration

    ·13m
  70. 70

    Simulated winter warming negatively impacts survival of Antarctica’s only endemic insect

    ·24m
  71. 71

    Emerging relationships among microbes, soil carbon storage and climate change

    ·23m
  72. 72

    Understanding climate change response in the age of genomics

    ·1h 3m
  73. 73

    JEC JOURNAL CLUB: Extinction, climate change and the ecology of Homo sapiens

    ·25m
  74. 74

    FE: Lara Ferry talks to Lillian Tuttle about differential learning by native vs invasive predators

    ·11m
  75. 75

    FE: Emma Sayer talks to Kelsey Shaw about disease transmission and considering the community

    ·15m
  76. 76

    FE: Enrico Rezende talks to Ummat Somjee about New Zealand giraffe weevils

    ·21m
  77. 77

    Journal of Animal Ecology - Christyn Bailey tells the #storybehindthepaper

    ·7m
  78. 78

    FE Haldane 2020: Anderson Feijo talks to Lara Ferry

    ·4m
  79. 79

    Journal of Animal Ecology: Citizen Science Special Issue, episode 5 Mark Ditmer

    ·22m
  80. 80

    Journal of Animal Ecology: Citizen Science Special Issue, episode 4 Heather Williams

    ·16m
  81. 81

    Journal of Animal Ecology: Citizen Science Special Issue, episode 3 Chris Latimer

    ·20m
  82. 82

    Journal of Animal Ecology: Citizen Science Special Issue, episode 2 Frank La Sorte

    ·16m
  83. 83

    FE: Terrie Williams talks to Emma Sayer on the costs of surviving at the top of the food chain

    ·17m
  84. 84

    Eminent Ecologist 2020 - Bernhard Schmid Interview

    ·23m
  85. 85

    Guidelines for using NHCs to better understand how biological events are responding to global change

    Michael Bailitz discusses his paper on using natural history collections to study phenological responses to global change, with a focus on Lepidoptera.

    ·35m
  86. 86

    ELM Network | Episode 4: Leading with clarity and kindness with Professor Sallie Bailey

    Professor Sallie Bailey discusses leading with clarity and kindness in ecology management on the ELM Network podcast.

    ·45m
  87. 87

    The Superb Lyrebird: Nature’s Ecosystem Engineer - The Story Behind the Paper

    ·26m
  88. 88

    Ella Plumanns Pouton: How do intervals between fires influence canopy seed production and viability?

    ·36m
  89. 89

    ELM Network | Episode 1: What leadership looks like with Professor Yadvindar Malhi

    ·38m
  90. 90

    Journal of Animal Ecology | Editor Expertise: Dr Lesley Lancaster

    ·28m
  91. 91

    Black History Month 2024: Mthokozisi Moyo on Research in Africa, Funding, and Representation

    ·21m
  92. 92

    Black History Month 2024: Damilola Olanipon on Mycorrhiza, Opportunities and Reclaiming Narratives

    ·30m
  93. 93

    Patrick Finnerty: Plant odour enables patch choice by mammalian herbivores from afar

    ·24m
  94. 94

    PhD student Nina Bosch on post-fire recovery in heathlands and her BES Annual Meeting experience

    ·16m
  95. 95

    Journal of Animal Ecology | Editor Expertise: Dr Nathan J Sanders

    ·29m
  96. 96

    2023 Haldane Prize Shortlist: André Luza

    ·19m
  97. 97

    Southwood Prize 2023: Dominic McAfee on Oysters and Soundscapes

    ·26m
  98. 98

    2023 Haldane Prize Shortlist: Ximena Cibils

    ·49m
  99. 99

    Black History Month 2023: Jeanelle Brisbane on Conservation, Education and Representation

    ·41m
  100. 100

    Passive acoustic monitoring provides a fresh perspective on fundamental ecological questions

    ·55m
  101. 101

    Michaela Guo Ying Lo talks about gender representation in ecology

    Hidden gem

    Ecology Podcast features Michaela Lowe, a postdoctoral researcher at the Dora Institute of Conservation and Ecology at the University of Kent, on gender representation in ecology.

    Mar 9, 2026·29m·2 clips
  102. 102

    Mental health and urban green | The Story Behind the Paper

    Hidden gem

    Marilisa Hership of Dresden University of Technology discusses a February 2026 People and Nature paper combining 56 pre-post-control experiments on urban green and mental health.

    Mar 6, 2026·24m·1 clip
  103. 103

    The fall and rise of elm | The Story Behind the Paper

    Hidden gem

    Fritha West discusses her 2025 People and Nature perspective on the social and cultural restoration of elm after Dutch elm disease.

    Feb 12, 2026·32m·2 clips
  104. 104

    Automatic information extraction from museum specimen labels | the story behind the paper

    Margot Bello discusses her paper on using AI to automate extraction of information from museum specimen labels for entomological collections.

    Feb 11, 2026·28m
  105. 105

    Sensors versus surveyors | the story behind the paper

    Sebastian discusses his research comparing passive acoustic monitoring, camera trapping, and observer-based methods for monitoring terrestrial mammals.

    Jan 26, 2026·24m
  106. 106

    Los Pingüinos y sus Respuestas Fenológicas al Cambio Climático | La Historia Detrás del Artículo

    Jan 20, 2026·17m
  107. 107

    Penguins and Their Phenological Responses to Climate Change | The Story Behind the Paper

    Antarctic penguin colonies warmed at half a degree per year from 2012 to 2022, exceeding the Paris Agreement warming target 2.5 times over in a decade, according to research by Dr.

    Jan 20, 2026·34m·2 clips
  108. 108

    Beavers Boost Bat Biodiversity | The Story Behind the Paper

    In beaver-engineered streams in Switzerland, bat feeding activity was 2.3 times higher than in control areas just 500 meters away, according to PhD student Valentin Mauser of WSL and Eawag.

    Jan 14, 2026·27m·2 clips
  109. 109

    Eminent Ecologist 2025: Angela Moles | Lessons in starting out as an ecologist

    Hidden gem

    Angela Moles tells Richard Bargett that she "never decided" to become an ecologist, and traces that path from a high-school biology teacher to Kath Dickinson, Donald Drake, and Mark Westerby.

    Dec 4, 2025·34m·2 clips
  110. 110

    Pollen essential amino acids shape bat–flower interaction networks with Fernando Gonçalves

    Hidden gem

    Fernando Gonçalves argues that pollen essential amino acids, not nectar alone, help shape bat-flower interaction networks in the Pantanal.

    Oct 31, 2025·31m·3 clips
  111. 111

    ELM Network | Episode 4: Leading with clarity and kindness with Professor Sallie Bailey

    Oct 30, 2025·45m
  112. 112

    Spiders Spotted Using Trapped Fireflies to Lure Prey | The Story Behind The Paper

    Oct 21, 2025·57m
  113. 113

    Included in Nature with Clare Rishbeth | Introduction

    Oct 7, 2025·8m
  114. 114

    Included in Nature with Clare Rishbeth | Case Report 4 - Ethnic Minorities

    Professor Clare Rishbeth discusses barriers to nature access for ethnic minorities, including urban living and lack of garden access.

    Oct 7, 2025·20m
  115. 115

    Included in Nature with Clare Rishbeth | Claire's Current and Future Research

    Oct 7, 2025·6m
  116. 116

    Included in Nature with Clare Rishbeth | Case Report 3 - Older People

    Oct 7, 2025·11m
  117. 117

    Included in Nature with Clare Rishbeth | Case Report 2 - Low Income Areas

    Oct 7, 2025·13m
  118. 118

    Included in Nature with Clare Rishbeth | Case Report 1 - Disabilities

    Oct 7, 2025·12m
  119. 119

    Functional Ecology | Jennifer Apland: Isolating the effects of floral temperature on visitation and behaviour of wild bee and fly pollinators

    Sep 19, 2025·28m
  120. 120

    Journal of Animal Ecology | Editor Expertise: Dr Mariano Rodriguez-Cabal

    Aug 20, 2025·16m
  121. 121

    Revista de Ecología Animal | Experiencia del Editor: Dr Mariano Rodriguez-Cabal

    Aug 20, 2025·18m
  122. 122

    BES Special Feature | Marine Heatwaves

    Aug 6, 2025·29m
  123. 123

    Methods in Ecology and Evolution | Dr René Steinmann : Decoding the footsteps of the African savanna

    Jul 31, 2025·27m
  124. 124

    ELM Network | Episode 3: Leadership lessons from Professor Malcolm Press

    Jul 17, 2025·28m
  125. 125

    Journal of Animal Ecology | Editor Expertise: Dr Roberto Salguero-Gómez

    Jun 30, 2025·25m
  126. 126

    Journal Club episode 1: Can developing climbing routes be a threat to endemic plants?

    Jun 19, 2025·51m
  127. 127

    Journal of Animal Ecology | Editor Expertise: Professor Darren Evans

    May 15, 2025·54m
  128. 128

    Functional Ecology | Dr Abbey Yatsko: Why are trees hollow? Termites, microbes and tree internal stem damage in a tropical savanna

    May 6, 2025·31m
  129. 129

    Functional Ecology | Adam Devenish: Mutualistic interactions facilitate invasive species spread

    Apr 16, 2025·25m
  130. 130

    Journal of Animal Ecology | Editor Expertise: Professor Jean-Michel Gaillard

    Apr 8, 2025·18m
  131. 131

    ELM Network | Episode 2: Motivation to lead with Professor Jane K. Hill

    Professor Jane Hill discusses her motivation to lead and her roles in ecology, including as a former British Ecological Society trustee.

    Mar 25, 2025·42m
  132. 132

    The Superb Lyrebird: Nature’s Ecosystem Engineer - The Story Behind the Paper

    Mar 5, 2025·26m
  133. 133

    Ella Plumanns Pouton: How do intervals between fires influence canopy seed production and viability?

    Jan 31, 2025·36m
  134. 134

    ELM Network | Episode 1: What leadership looks like with Professor Yadvindar Malhi

    An introduction to the ELM podcast for emerging leaders in ecology, featuring a discussion with Professor Yadvindar Malhi on leadership and management.

    Dec 3, 2024·38m
  135. 135

    Journal of Animal Ecology | Editor Expertise: Dr Lesley Lancaster

    Nov 7, 2024·28m
  136. 136

    Black History Month 2024: Mthokozisi Moyo on Research in Africa, Funding, and Representation

    Oct 31, 2024·21m
  137. 137

    Black History Month 2024: Damilola Olanipon on Mycorrhiza, Opportunities and Reclaiming Narratives

    Oct 25, 2024·30m
  138. 138

    Patrick Finnerty: Plant odour enables patch choice by mammalian herbivores from afar

    Oct 24, 2024·24m
  139. 139

    PhD student Nina Bosch on post-fire recovery in heathlands and her BES Annual Meeting experience

    Oct 20, 2024·16m
  140. 140

    Special Interest Groups | Rewilding

    Oct 8, 2024·37m
  141. 141

    Annual Meeting | In conversation with Dr. Rob Brooker

    Oct 1, 2024·16m
  142. 142

    Journal of Animal Ecology | Editor Expertise: Dr Nathan J Sanders

    Aug 29, 2024·29m
  143. 143

    2023 Haldane Prize Shortlist: André Luza

    Apr 2, 2024·19m
  144. 144

    Southwood Prize 2023: Dominic McAfee on Oysters and Soundscapes

    Mar 26, 2024·26m
  145. 145

    2023 Haldane Prize Shortlist: Ximena Cibils

    Mar 22, 2024·49m
  146. 146

    Black History Month 2023: Jeanelle Brisbane on Conservation, Education and Representation

    Nov 27, 2023·41m
  147. 147

    Passive acoustic monitoring provides a fresh perspective on fundamental ecological questions

    Nov 23, 2023·55m
  148. 148

    Black History Month 2023: Jhan Salazar on The Wonder of Nature and Importance of Representation

    Nov 10, 2023·31m
  149. 149

    Black History Month 2023: Gideon Deme on his Journey, Barriers to Ecology, and Inspirations

    Nov 2, 2023·1h 1m
  150. 150

    Black History Month 2023: Reuben Fakoya-Brooks on Academia, Barrier-Breaking and Creativity

    Nov 1, 2023·54m