THE NICHE Your magazine from the British Ecological Society SPIRIT BEARS Indigenous-led research reveals their genetic secret Plastic Pollution Black History Month Learning with Nature Green sea turtles and The contributions of Home-schooling plastic ingestion Black British naturalists under lockdown HOLDING ON TO THE FUTURE PHOTO BY TOM WOODWARD Insect larvae as allies to sustainable development. The species in the picture is Actias luna, a moth of the Saturniidae family. Research by Juliano Morimoto (@ju_morimoto) – TURN YOUR PHONE Addressing global challenges with unconventional insect ecosystem services: Why should humanity care about insect larvae? INTO A PROFESSIONAL People and Nature doi.org/d5hb Submit your amazing photos to: BAT DETECTOR [email protected] The Echo Meter Touch 2 is affordable and easy to use – perfect for professional researchers and hobbyists. With the technology inside the Echo Meter Touch 2, you can turn your smartphone into a professional-quality, interactive bat detector, allowing you to hear, record 3 and identify bats flying above you in real-time! SHUTTERBUG compact, plug-in device bat detection in the palm of your hand share discoveries via text or email compatible with iOS and android devices Buy from our website or contact one of our resellers @WildlifeAcoustics @wildlifeacoustics @WildlifeAcoust 3 Mill and Main Place, Suite 210 | Maynard, MA 01754, USA | +1-978-369-5225 NEWS & VIEWS FEATURES YOUR SOCIETY COMMUNITY WELCOME THE NICHE Welcome to another jam- AUTUMN 2020 packed edition of The Niche. Want to contribute to The Niche? October in the UK is Black We welcome all ideas. 6 24 48 History Month, a month to For details contact Editorial A knowledge model Careers | A diversity of doctorates remember important people [email protected] Jane Memmott & Helen Peri for ecological content Allison Eyres looks at PhD programmes and events. Sara Middleton is British Ecological Society Erika Newton introduces around the world beginning the work to uncover 42 Wharf Road a new system to classify the contributions on Black London N1 7GS ecological research British naturalists (p20). Holly Tel: +44 (0)20 3994 8282 McKelvey highlights how [email protected] 8 www.britishecologicalsociety.org Opinion | Is it time to reflect on our 49 ecologists can support Black ecological careers? Tom Oliver LGBT+ Network | Gender equality in Lives Matter (p17) and we EDITOR STEM is more than just a binary issue are pleased to launch a new Kate Harrison 26 [email protected] The hidden effects of plastic ingestion network for Black, Asian and Robson Santos investigates plastic- minority ecologists (p14). BOOK REVIEWS induced satiety in green sea turtles Books to be considered for review Ecological Solutions and should be sent to the The Niche Editor 36 at the address above. Special Interest Group notice board Evidence, the BES’ newest journal has published it’s first ADVERTISING issue and is already turning out For advertising information contact fascinating research, including [email protected] 10 41 an Indigenous-led study into the The Niche is published four times Latest research Friends of the Society | CIEEM, ECT genetic rarity of white-coated a year in March, June, September & National Geographic Spirit bears in Canada (p10). and December. Views expressed in The Niche are We’re all aware of plastic not necessarily those of the British 50 pollution and it’s detrimental Ecological Society. 14 Education | Learning with Equality and Diversity COMMUNITY impact on the environment. The Niche is sent to members nature competition! What’s less known are the 4 of the British Ecological Society. Tackling racial inequality 5 To become a member or update your within ecology chronic effects on organisms subscription details contact when plastic builds up in their [email protected] digestive systems. Robson 32 44 © 2020 British Ecological Society The evolution of science 52 Santos explores plastic ingestion CONTENTS Member stories | Chelsea Fletcher CONTENTS and authors communication Capturing Ecology | Behind the Lens & Lionel Yamb in green sea turtles (p26). 16 Lauren Cook explores the rich Design: madenoise.com Light Bites history of art and science As Jane Memmott mentions in Print and distribution: her editorial (p6), creativity is H2 Associates (Cambridge) Ltd 46 important in science. Lauren Cover: © Bobbushphoto/iStock 18 Kickstarting your career during Cook explores the long rich White “Kermode bear” also known as the history of art and science, Toolkit | Working with museums a pandemic spirit bear eating mussels at low tide. to engage the public Isabel Commerford & Lucy Wilde share from Leonardo da Vinci to Mae Jemison (p32). Our younger Printed on Evolution Business their experience 100% Recycled Offset, made from 100% members have also been recycled waste and fully FSC® certified. getting creative in our Learning Printed with vegetable-based ink. 20 With Nature competition (p50)! The Niche, formally titled The Bulletin Black History Month | Sara Middleton As always, happy reading! ISSN 2631-9306 unearths the contributions of Black Vol 51, No. 3 British naturalists 54 Reviews 58 Horizons | Green Renaissance for the Blue Dot Vishwadeep Mane Kate Harrison, Editor [email protected] OUR VISION: NATURE AND PEOPLE THRIVE IN A WORLD INSPIRED BY ECOLOGY | OUR MISSION: ADVANCING ECOLOGY AND MAKING IT COUNT THE NICHE | AUTUMN 2020 NEWS & VIEWS EDITORIAL WORK-LIFE BALANCE WHY BES MEMBERSHIP IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER One of the reasons that people can decide that ecology is not for them, especially if based As we navigate our way through one of the biggest periods of global uncertainty in a university, is the issue of work-life balance. And right now things are feeling very out in recent memory, it’s more important than ever to stay connected with the of kilter for many, with life dominated by video conferencing, a blurring of home:work ecological community. Even in the best of times, collaboration, sharing best practice and boundaries, an absence of face-to-face meetings and those impromptu conversations by finding support are helpful in science and that is all the more true now that research, the office kettle that make life so much more fun. teaching and career progression feel so much harder. Our aim as a Society is to support our members and the benefits we offer are designed to help you at every stage of your From my own experience and from years of observation, I’ve learned that there are academic or professional life. personal steps you can take to improve your work-life balance. So, what is the solution? One obvious one, is that there are other jobs out there which often have more user- Membership is at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on being adaptive, friendly work hours. But there is an alternative: to work a little bit less. This may not proactive and reactive in assessing what it is our members need. At the start of the sound like a recipe for success, but here’s why it can work. pandemic, and as many of us were forced to stay at home, we sought to understand the challenges you were facing in order to provide the most useful and relevant support. We First, academics in particular are judged on the quality of what they write, not on the asked you: ‘what would you like to see from us?’. It was clear in your responses that staying 6 quantity. I worked out a long time ago, that given time was limited (I had a two-year-old up to date with the latest ecological research and news, having access to quality educational 7 and a six-month-old baby at this stage), it was far better to produce one very good paper, and training resources as well as virtual seminars and lectures were a high priority for many. than two or three much less interesting ones, and it took a lot less time too. We endeavored to deliver all these things. We launched our free online Ecology Live seminar Second, all of us need to get much better at saying no to the things we really want to do. series, showcasing the latest research from top ecologists every Thursday during the NEWS & VIEWS Saying no to things you don’t want to do is relatively easy, it’s much harder saying no to lockdown period. We launched exclusive access to our hub of virtual science-communication NEWS & VIEWS the things you do want to do, even when you know you don’t have the time. and engagement training courses and downloadable materials via the membership portal. We hosted webinars on topics such as mental health and online teaching. Our monthly Third, make sure you have several interests out of work. I very rarely get a good idea at eBulletin has now become a fortnightly newsletter, meaning you receive the latest news, my desk, rather I have them walking on the beach while on holiday, walking with my dog opinions and research more regularly. It was heartening to see demand for more content through the woods, or when gardening. Moreover, there is some evidence for science in related to the beautiful photography from our Capturing Ecology competition, and so we general that a closer connection to the arts can catalyse scientific discovery, something broadcast weekly live interviews with winners in the ‘Behind the Lens’ Instagram series. that I’d extend to crafts too – both activities give your brain time to rove and ideas a chance to form. In these difficult times, being a member of the BES means coming together as a community to make your voices heard through our policy work, being able to access funding through Finally, and particularly now, make sure you find time for a proper break this year.