Prof. Helen Elizabeth Roy's blog

CEH ecologists are contributing to international efforts to strengthen biosecurity in the British Indian Ocean Territory. Prof Helen Roy explains more...

A magical and remote atoll, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) comprises extensive coral reefs and unique terrestrial habitats. Not only does BIOT host the Indian Ocean’s largest breeding colonies of the red-footed booby Sula sula, but also high densities of coconut crabs and endangered hawksbill and green turtles.

There has been a flurry of news items on ladybirds in recent weeks. Much of the focus has been on the harlequin ladybird and the way in which this species moves into houses for the winter months.

Chile has incredible appeal for ecologists. The Andes extend alongside the eastern edge of Chile and essentially render it isolated from the rest of South America. Not surprisingly the landscapes of this long and narrow country are extremely diverse and the biodiversity even more so. The species list for Chile includes around 31,000 species and about 37% of these are endemic. Justifiably Chile is considered a global biodiversity hotspot.

Tom August, Michael Pocock and Helen Roy from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology were among the participants at a symposium in Nairobi, Kenya last month which brought together conservation scientists to share their experiences of citizen science initiatives in East Africa. Helen reports back:

Professor Helen Roy writes about the research and citizen science contribution played by participants in the Big Bumblebee Discovery

Bumblebees are much loved insects but they also play an important ecological role – pollination. There has been concern in recent years that some species of bumblebee, alongside other pollinating insects (including other types of bee and hoverflies), are in decline.