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Leafcutter ants’ lessons for sustainability
With a remarkable resource-efficiency and collective intelligence, leafcutter ants have thrived across millions of years of major changes in the Earth’s climate. ERC-grantee Jonathan Shik studies these agricultural systems of ants in a Panamanian…With a remarkable resource-efficiency and collective intelligence, leafcutter ants have thrived across millions of years of major changes in the Earth’s climate. ERC-grantee Jonathan…With a remarkable resource-efficiency and collective intelligence, leafcutter ants have thrived across millions of years of major changes in the…With a remarkable resource-efficiency and collective intelligence, leafcutter ants have thrived across millions of years of major changes in the Earth’s climate. ERC-grantee…With a remarkable resource-efficiency and collective intelligence, leafcutter ants have thrived across millions of years of… -
Revealing the secret life of sharks in a warming ocean
Although it is widely known that global warming has a direct impact on our ecosystems, there is little information about its effects on oceans’ top predators, such as pelagic sharks and tunas. How does ocean deoxygenation brought about by climate…Although it is widely known that global warming has a direct impact on our ecosystems, there is little information about its effects on oceans’ top predators, such as pelagic sharks…Although it is widely known that global warming has a direct impact on our ecosystems, there is little information about its effects on oceans’ top…Although it is widely known that global warming has a direct impact on our ecosystems, there is little information about its effects on oceans’ top predators, such as pelagic…Although it is widely known that global warming has a direct impact on our ecosystems, there is little information about its… -
why is the world green?
Have you ever wondered why our world is green? For decades, the most accepted answer has been that predators control herbivores, allowing plants to flourish. But is that really so? ERC grantee Katerina Sam at the Biology Centre of the Academy of…Have you ever wondered why our world is green? For decades, the most accepted answer has been that predators control herbivores, allowing plants to flourish. But is that really so? ERC…Have you ever wondered why our world is green? For decades, the most accepted answer has been that predators control herbivores, allowing plants to…Have you ever wondered why our world is green? For decades, the most accepted answer has been that predators control herbivores, allowing plants to flourish. But is that…Have you ever wondered why our world is green? For decades, the most accepted answer has been that predators control… -
New hope for coral reefs
Corals are one of the most beautiful and fascinating ecosystems in the world. However, due to rising sea temperatures, pollution and ocean acidification, they are also one of the most threatened. Pioneering work of ERC grantee Tali Mass shows that…Corals are one of the most beautiful and fascinating ecosystems in the world. However, due to rising sea temperatures, pollution and ocean acidification, they are also one of the most…Corals are one of the most beautiful and fascinating ecosystems in the world. However, due to rising sea temperatures, pollution and ocean…Corals are one of the most beautiful and fascinating ecosystems in the world. However, due to rising sea temperatures, pollution and ocean acidification, they are also one of…Corals are one of the most beautiful and fascinating ecosystems in the world. However, due to rising sea temperatures,… -
Blue tits provide climate change clues
The liveliest of our feathered garden visitors, the little acrobatic blue tit, and her close cousin the great tit, can tell us a lot about how birds adapt to climate change, urbanisation and other changes in their environment. To mark this year’s…The liveliest of our feathered garden visitors, the little acrobatic blue tit, and her close cousin the great tit, can tell us a lot about how birds adapt to climate change,…The liveliest of our feathered garden visitors, the little acrobatic blue tit, and her close cousin the great tit, can tell us a lot about how birds…The liveliest of our feathered garden visitors, the little acrobatic blue tit, and her close cousin the great tit, can tell us a lot about how birds adapt to climate change,…The liveliest of our feathered garden visitors, the little acrobatic blue tit, and her close cousin the great tit, can tell… -
Climate change could lead to dramatic shifts in dryland ecosystems
A study published in Science by ERC grantee Dr Fernando T. Maestre shows how increases in aridity such as those forecasted under climate change lead to abrupt shifts in dryland ecosystems worldwide, limiting their capacity to sustain life and…A study published in Science by ERC grantee Dr Fernando T. Maestre shows how increases in aridity such as those forecasted under climate change lead to abrupt shifts in dryland…A study published in Science by ERC grantee Dr Fernando T. Maestre shows how increases in aridity such as those forecasted under climate change lead…A study published in Science by ERC grantee Dr Fernando T. Maestre shows how increases in aridity such as those forecasted under climate change lead to abrupt shifts in…A study published in Science by ERC grantee Dr Fernando T. Maestre shows how increases in aridity such as those forecasted… -
Antibiotic resistance: How did we get here?
Finding ways to enlist the bacteria living in our bodies to defend against infections while better understanding their role in promoting antibiotic resistance are key to fighting this growing problem, says Dr Nassos Typas, a microbiologist at the…Finding ways to enlist the bacteria living in our bodies to defend against infections while better understanding their role in promoting antibiotic resistance are key to fighting this…Finding ways to enlist the bacteria living in our bodies to defend against infections while better understanding their role in promoting antibiotic…Finding ways to enlist the bacteria living in our bodies to defend against infections while better understanding their role in promoting antibiotic resistance are key to…Finding ways to enlist the bacteria living in our bodies to defend against infections while better understanding their role… -
Database opens door to understanding biodiversity change
A European biologist has pioneered a new way of looking at biodiversity change, with the help of the European Research Council (ERC). A key result of this work has been the launch of an open-access biodiversity database, which will help researchers…A European biologist has pioneered a new way of looking at biodiversity change, with the help of the European Research Council (ERC). A key result of this work has been the launch of…A European biologist has pioneered a new way of looking at biodiversity change, with the help of the European Research Council (ERC). A key result of…A European biologist has pioneered a new way of looking at biodiversity change, with the help of the European Research Council (ERC). A key result of this work has been the…A European biologist has pioneered a new way of looking at biodiversity change, with the help of the European Research… -
Healthy lungs start from your toothbrush
Until recently, lungs were believed to be sterile, but today we know that they are inhabited by microbes migrating from the mouth. Dr Randi Bertelsen has been awarded an ERC grant to investigate the role played by the oral microbiome in lung disease.Until recently, lungs were believed to be sterile, but today we know that they are inhabited by microbes migrating from the mouth. Dr Randi Bertelsen has been awarded an ERC grant to…Until recently, lungs were believed to be sterile, but today we know that they are inhabited by microbes migrating from the mouth. Dr Randi Bertelsen…Until recently, lungs were believed to be sterile, but today we know that they are inhabited by microbes migrating from the mouth. Dr Randi Bertelsen has been awarded an ERC…Until recently, lungs were believed to be sterile, but today we know that they are inhabited by microbes migrating from the… -
Wake-up call for soil microbes
Our soils are inhabited by millions of microorganisms; however, the majority of them lay dormant. In her ERC project, Prof. Dagmar Woebken explores the mechanisms that allow soil microorganisms to go into dormancy and thus survive unfavorable…Our soils are inhabited by millions of microorganisms; however, the majority of them lay dormant. In her ERC project, Prof. Dagmar Woebken explores the mechanisms that allow soil…Our soils are inhabited by millions of microorganisms; however, the majority of them lay dormant. In her ERC project, Prof. Dagmar Woebken explores…Our soils are inhabited by millions of microorganisms; however, the majority of them lay dormant. In her ERC project, Prof. Dagmar Woebken explores the mechanisms that allow…Our soils are inhabited by millions of microorganisms; however, the majority of them lay dormant. In her ERC project, Prof…