Periodic social interactions are important to animal fitness, even in solitary species. For solitary species, these interactions can be unexpected and shaped by previous encounters. Photo by Jenny Hishin

A global review of more than 100 shorebird species reveals that annual survival has declined significantly since 1980, particularly among adults, highlighting growing conservation concerns and the need for long-term monitoring. Photo by Veronika Švestková.

A study across Morocco found that differences in growth and reproduction along a climate gradient are driven largely by phenotypic plasticity rather than local adaptation. Photo by Laïla Rhazi.

On Hawaiian reefs, a field experiment shows that early-arriving competitors and predators can strongly shape who gets to live on coral colonies. Photo by Erik Brush.

A study of Corsican blue tits shows that adding aromatic plants to nests can reduce bacterial diversity supporting that birds use these plants to protect their offspring from harmful microbes. Illustration by Hélène Dion-Phénix.

A study of Brazilian savannas shows that fuel traits—especially grass biomass—strongly shape fire behavior, helping predict where fires are most likely to occur. Photo by Vínicus de Lima Dantas.

A study of fig wasps by shows that communities linked to Neotropical fig trees change dramatically across space, with high species turnover. Photo by Jean-Yves Rasplus.

A new study highlights polar bears as key providers of food in the Arctic, showing that the carrion from their seal kills fuels a network of scavengers. Photo by Wayne Lynch.