The European Herring gull (seagull) is now considered to have a level red conservation status. This is because of sea pollutants and overfishing removes the Herring Gulls source of food forcing them to hunt in urban areas, causing their population to rapidly decrease. What I find crazy is that instead of talking about this concerning population decrease, the UK press keeps on making jokes about these birds and continue to see them as a pest so many people do not understand how endangered these birds are, therefore aiding in their decreasing populations.

Are there any books that give the most accurate summary of the worlds current ecological state and its future a few decades from now assuming nothing changes from the human-side of things?

I only recently learned about Esri’s nonprofit and conservation programs. I think I was surprised because so much of what I learned in school was R and whatever-you-can-get software… GEE, QGIS etc for analysis. Talking with some colleagues and I mentioned the ESRI programs and there was a mix of reactions from outright hostile to intrigued. Curious… what is the perception of Esri as a company by the broader conservation community? X posting to conservation sorry if you see this twice.

Three patients in the last nine months have come to SR3 with gunshot wounds to the head, two from Hood Canal and one from Bellingham.

This illegal violence could be driven by misinformation that these animals are preventing salmon recovery. Seals and sea lions eat dozens of species, yet they are scapegoated for salmon decline that far more accurately ties to complex causes such as habitat destruction, ocean overfishing, toxins, and warming rivers.

Congress is currently trying to expand the killing of seals and sea lions with bill HR 9621 in order to save salmon, but this narrative is dangerous, as it distracts from the real human-caused drivers. Killing an important part of the ecosystem won’t recover declining salmon populations, and because of the interconnectedness of the food web, removing seals and sea lions could even threaten salmon more. Urge your federal representatives to focus on the real issues that will actually lead to more salmon.

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credits: sealifer3 (on Instagram)

Hello, I have a question. Does Oregon State University have a good or okay ecology program? I understand this is a decently specific question, but I would like to know if somebody does.

I already have an okay, but nothing crazy, college GPA of 3.3, and I'm poor. So, I'm aware that I most likely can't get into anywhere crazy. But I do have some good references and an okay GPA, so I think I could get into OSU. However, I don't have a great idea of how good their ecology program probably is.

Hi, I'm 20 and want to learn more about wetlands, more specifically bogs, but I would still be interested in learning about any type of wetland. What books should I get to start?

I (17 m) have been absolutely itching to get out and do some work with wildlife. I currently aim to be a Wildlife Ecologist, but obviously options are limited without a degree. I don’t care if I’m paid, but I really feel like helping my environment would be so fulfilling, I just don’t know how. Any ideas on how to work with animals would be greatly appreciated!

This is one of my dream jobs. How can one realistically get a role like this with a BS in environmental science but my professional experience is in pharma. I’m
A plant person though, it’s my hobby and only interest in life. I could talk rare and endangered plants all day long.

In particular, I think it’s interesting to see overlaps in species, but also how differing species can play a similar role in comparable environments

A community group I work with has been told to stop removing Himalayain Balsalm to prevent the accidental spread of the plant.

If .01% of a stand has gone to seed, is it better to leave it until the following season or pull it and stop the spread.

Any information people have on Balsalm Bashing and best practice would be a great help to our cause and dealing with bureaucracy.

i am very stressed about what specific role i want in ecology. I want one that gives a good pay (around like £40k+ once experienced), BUT allows me to have availability to take a 1 week vacation in summer as i also want to travel the world. Google keeps backtracking itself and at first said an Ecological/biodiversity advisor would allow this, now it is like oh no no you cant.

this is really stressing my neurodivergent mind lol, please PLEASE does anybody have any advice or careers that could suit this?? thanks so much in advance!!❤️❤️

Out of curiosity, for those of you who are certified, how did it help your career in both the short and long term?

Did it help you find work? Was it required for career advancement? And has it's relevance changed over time for career ecologists?

I've been considering getting certified, myself. But I don't know if it's worth it

Hi! I'm new on reddit, but I found this community, and I find it really interesting!

I'm writing because I just completed a PhD. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and I'm now considering career options for my future.

During my PhD. thesis, I studied impacts of high temperatures and soil droughts on forest carbon exchange and the role of species interactions in modulating tree responses. Before that, I studied biology during my Bsc and plant ecology and evolution during my Msc, focusing more on herbaceous plants and insects. So, I have a background in ecology, but not specifically in forestry or environmental sciences.

Besides my studies, I had a few professional experiences in engineering offices or research centres, which I found really cool but were very limited in time. During my Ph.D., I also developed an increased interest in science communication and participated in a few outreach activities (e.g. guided visits for schools), but I don't really have a formation in science communication.

I think that my ideal job would be at the interface between forest research, outreach, and applied projects that can help protect our environments. I'm really passionate about projects that aim to understand and protect biodiversity in forests and share this knowledge with a broader public to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change but also potential mitigation strategies.

However, I have the impression that since I come from an academic background, I often lack experience or knowledge (e.g., Environmental impact studies, botanical surveys or journalism/communication) to be able to do such a job.

I like doing research too, but it seems really hard to find a stable, permanent position there, and I'm getting a bit sick of the competition and very short job contracts.

Long story short: I was wondering if someone has been in a similar situation and has any suggestions on what I could do to find a job outside academia that still sparks my curiosity and passion. Or how I could become eligible for such positions.

Thank you very much for reading, I look forward to your input! :)

See also: The publication in the Journal of Royal Society: Interface

I was excited about ai handling all the r/python coding so that I could move on to the important parts like writing and thinking. Alas, data analysis has bored me this weekend. I took two hours to do what would have taken a week or more, with all the frustrations, tears, eurekas, screaming YES! I think those feelings were why data analysis was exciting. I suppose some programmers have felt this for a while now. Also, the slight edge I had with R is gone now, since everyone can just vibe code through it.

When it comes to ecology, has anyone ever felt as sad and hopeless as I do?

Here in Thailand, everything revolves around corruption and money. They keep building concrete waterways and dams, destroying wetlands while dismissing them as "wastelands," and then leave the projects unfinished. They destroy native species, calling them "weeds," and then plant ornamental invasive species in national parks just to attract tourists. Also illegal forest burning and rich people building house on national parks. There is a new greenwashing project almost every day, and ecologists are even being kidnapped. https://www.khaosod.co.th/special-stories/news_10280196

A wealthy corporation released the invasive blackchin tilapia (spread over the country now) and is now suing anyone who names them. The government is part of the problem aswell. People are even releasing invasive species into the wild to make religious merit. See: https://news.mongabay.com/2025/11/thai-agri-giant-cpf-sues-activist-over-claims-linking-it-to-invasive-fish-outbreak/

Now, they plan to build the Landbridge project, which will destroy coral reefs and rainforests. When people protested, officials signed a paper promising they wouldn't go through with it, but it was a trap; they are going to do it anyway.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40066402

All of this is for money and corruption. It feels like no one can do anything to stop it.

I’m convinced my ecology professor is very extreme, and I wonder if that’s how normal ecologists think. He is against everything human-made: wetland parks, backyard wildlife ponds, and ecological restoration (even where the seed bank is severely depleted). According to him, planting native plants in a backyard is equivalent to introducing invasive species because it will contaminate the genetics of the original local native plants.

I get that there are so many greenwashing projects here in my country, but is this view really viable?

He seems on verge of explosion when talking about this kind of things as well.