Species have strong indirect effects on others, and predicting these effects is a central challenge in ecology. Prey species sharing an enemy (predator or parasitoid) can be linked by apparent ...

Researchers increasingly recognize the important role of mutualisms in structuring communities and view positive interactions in a community context rather than as simple pairwise interactions.

Environmental conditions are an important factor driving pathogens’ evolution. Here, we explore the effects of drought stress in plant virus evolution. We evolved turnip mosaic potyvirus in ...

Reakirt’s blue butterflies were moving among the flowerheads of white clover in my lawn. I presumed that they were nectaring, but I watched closely and discovered that they were ovipositing. They ...

In a group of plants that is famous for luring its pollinators into a death trap, one species offers its flowers as a nursery in exchange. The discovery blurs the line between mutualism and parasitism ...

Reakirt's blue butterflies were moving among the flower heads of white clover in my lawn. I presumed that they were nectaring, but I watched closely and discovered that they were ovipositing. They ...

What prevents an exploitative individual from taking advantage of a cooperative partner? Most attempts to answer this question focus on reciprocity - exploitation may not pay, if it triggers ...

Organisms both cooperate and compete in ecosystems. When they have close and long-term interactions, their relationship is known as symbiosis. In symbiosis, at least one member of the pair benefits ...

In Tanzania, we watched on many occasions when small flocks of red-billed birds descended upon the backs of giraffes, cape buffalo, elephants and hippopotamuses, prancing around like they owned them.

Head lice, fleas and tapeworms have been humanity’s companions throughout our evolutionary history. Yet, the greatest parasite of the modern age is no blood-sucking invertebrate. It is sleek, ...