Beavers must be backed as Stirling study shows biodiversity boost animals bring to wetlands

A new study led by Dr Alan Law of the University of Stirling has shown that, on average, beaver-created wetlands had 19% more species than other types of wetland

University of Stirling

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Beavers are known as nature's engineers

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Credit: University of Stirling

Beavers should be embraced as key allies in the fight against biodiversity loss according to scientists at the University of Stirling, after new research revealed the significant ecological benefits the animals bring to wetland habitats.

Beaver populations across Europe and North America are recovering from historically low levels after being hunted to near extinction.

Across Britain, the species are being reintroduced because of their positive impact on biodiversity and their role in managing river flows. However, these efforts are often met with opposition from landowners.

Now a new study led by Dr Alan Law of the University of Stirling's Faculty of Natural Sciences has shown that, on average, beaver-created wetlands had 19% more species than other types of wetland.

The research team now believe that their findings could hint at the scale of past biodiversity loss associated with a lack of beaver-dependent wetlands, while offering a glimpse of what could now be gained from their widespread reintroduction.

Study lead Dr Alan Law, a Lecturer in Nature-Based Solutions, said: “Biodiversity is good for humans as we depend on it, whether directly or indirectly, for essential resources such as food and clean water. A species such as beaver that improves biodiversity via restoring our environments for free should be welcomed with open arms.

“We need to learn to live alongside beavers again, accept that parts of our environment are under new hydrological management by an experienced engineer, and provide time and space to fully realise the wider benefits that come from this.”

The study took place at 18 different wetland sites in Evo, Finland, nine of which were created by beavers.

Using eDNA technology which detects organisms by capturing and sequencing tiny traces of genetic material they shed into their environment, the team were able to establish the number of invertebrates (including true flies, river flies, worms and crustaceans) and vertebrates (amphibians, fish, birds and mammals) by analysing water samples from the locations.

In-situ surveys were also used to study aquatic plant and water beetle species.

A total of 380 different species were detected across the two wetland types, with 105 species being restricted to beaver wetlands and 65 to those without beavers, the rest being shared.

The increase was most notable for plants, beetles and true flies, while plant functional diversity - the way plants grow, reproduce and use resources - was 55% higher in beaver wetlands compared with control sites.

Study co-author Professor Nigel Willby added: “The planet is experiencing a biodiversity crisis. To stop biodiversity loss, it’s not enough to just protect and conserve land - we also urgently need to restore the natural processes that create and maintain habitat, and this includes the ecosystem engineering activities of beavers.

“Beavers physically reshape landscapes by selectively felling trees, digging canals, grazing plants and building dams on small streams. The unique combination of shallow water, dead or fallen trees, woody dams and grazing or digging by beavers themselves makes their wetlands ultra-biodiverse, but also impossible to mimic.”

Wetland landscape transformation by beavers: responses of biodiversity and functional indicators at multiple scale was published in Landscape Ecology.

Work was led by the University of Stirling in partnership with the University of Helsinki, University of Hull, Aquatic Coleoptera Conservation Trust and UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

Fieldwork in Finland was funded by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland. Funding from Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) allowed a follow-up workshop in Finland for all authors to complete the first manuscript draft. Natural England and Scotland’s Hydro Nation Scholars programme provided further support.

  

Dr Alan Law carries out fieldwork on a beaver dam 

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University of Stirling

Journal

Landscape Ecology

DOI

10.1007/s1098 

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Wetland landscape transformation by beavers: responses of biodiversity and functional indicators at multiple scales

Article Publication Date

21-Mar-2026

 

New satellite technology opens archaeological frontiers: Israel’s "Stonehenge" no longer stands alone

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

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Dr. Michal Birkenfeld

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Credit: Dani Machlis/BGU

BEER-SHEVA, Israel, March 26, 2026 – For decades, the massive stone circles of Rujm el-Hiri in the Golan Heights were considered a singular, mysterious anomaly—often dubbed "Israel’s Stonehenge." However, new research led by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) is rewriting that narrative. Using advanced satellite imagery and remote sensing technology, researchers have discovered that this iconic monument is actually the centerpiece of a much larger, previously hidden phenomenon. 

The study, published in the journal PLOS One, identified at least 28 additional large stone circles in the surrounding region. These findings suggest that Rujm el-Hiri was not an isolated monument, but rather the most elaborate example of a widespread architectural tradition integrated into the social and economic systems of the proto-historic Levant. 

Technology Uncovering the Invisible 

Technological leaps in high-resolution satellite photography and remote sensing are allowing archaeologists to survey vast, inaccessible areas—whether due to rugged terrain or geopolitical constraints. By analyzing images across different seasons, lighting conditions, and vegetation states, the BGU-led team identified field walls, enclosures, and stone circles that had escaped documentation for millennia. 

"By combining satellite imagery and environmental analysis, Rujm el-Hiri—once perceived as an almost isolated monument—is revealed as the most impressive and magnificent example of a regional phenomenon," explains Dr. Michal Birkenfeld of BGU’s Department of Archaeology. "These circles, identified through remote sensing and contextualized through geophysical data, invite a reinterpretation of significant proto-historic monuments in the region, recognizing them as integral parts of broader social and economic systems." 

"The territory of Israel still contains many archeological secrets, which can be revealed through integrated analysis using advance Remote Sensing, surface geophysical methods, and tectonic-morphological methodologies," says co-author Prof. Lev Appelbaum (Tel Aviv University and Azerbaijan University),  

A Consistent Architectural Tradition 

The newly discovered sites share a striking design: large circular structures, often exceeding 50 meters in diameter, built from local basalt fieldstones. These structures include circular walls and internal partitions, many of which are located near seasonal water sources and integrated into ancient agricultural-pastoral land-use networks. The research team included Dr. Michal Birkenfeld (BGU), Dr. Olga Khabarova (University of Luxembourg), Prof. Lev Appelbaum (Tel Aviv University and Azerbaijan University), and Uri Berger (BGU PhD student and Israel Antiquities Authority researcher). 

The architectural and environmental context of these findings suggests that Rujm el-Hiri should no longer be viewed as a unique outlier, but rather as part of a much broader, integrated cultural landscape. These stone circles likely served a variety of functions, acting as ritual gathering places, territorial markers, or seasonal assembly sites for ancient herding communities. Furthermore, their consistent placement near seasonal water sources and field systems implies that these monuments were fundamental to how ancient populations managed their resources and moved across the Golan Heights, pointing to a sophisticated and shared regional tradition. 

"Our analysis may have implications for previous interpretations of Rujm el-Hiri's function," concludes Dr. Birkenfeld. "While traditional archaeological methods remain essential, this landscape-based perspective allows us to reach a fuller understanding of these monuments within our shared human past."

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Journal

PLOS One

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0339952 

Method of Research

Imaging analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Reassessing Rujm el-Hiri: Aerial imagery and stone circles in the proto-historic Southern Levant

Article Publication Date

18-Mar-2026

 

From Oman to everyday life: New issue highlights research shaping health and society

Sultan Qaboos University

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promoting post for the new issue of Tawasul that includes scietfic studies of SQU Researchers and hot topic in Sciences 

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Credit: Deanship 0f Research, SQU

A new issue of Tawasul Bulletin, published by Sultan Qaboos University, brings together a collection of research highlights addressing real-world challenges across health, environment, and society.

The issue features studies from Oman exploring practical innovations such as natural methods to extend food freshness, alongside research examining mental health and well-being in contemporary lifestyles. Additional highlights include insights into public health and human behavior, reflecting the growing role of research in understanding and improving everyday life.

By translating complex research into accessible narratives, the issue aims to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and society. It showcases how research emerging from Oman contributes to global conversations on sustainability, health, and quality of life.

Tawasul Bulletin is a quarterly publication by Sultan Qaboos University that showcases research outputs and scientific publications, aiming to connect research with the community and enhance public engagement with science.

 

Copper overload kills cancer cells

Chemotherapy

Ruhr-University Bochum

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Johannes Karges is researching compounds that kill tumor cells.

 

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Credit: © RUB, Marquard

Cancer cells take in more copper than healthy cells

Cuproptosis is fundamentally different from all previously known mechanisms of cell death: The deciding trigger is an excess of copper in the cell. It binds to certain proteins in the mitochondria that are normally responsible for energy production. These proteins clump together as a result, the cell undergoes extreme stress, and then it dies. “What makes this type of cell death so unique is its specificity in targeting the cell’s energy production,” explains Karges. “Cancer cells often have an altered, particularly intense metabolism and take in more copper than healthy tissue does.”

Karges’ team has successfully developed a copper complex that selectively induces cuproptosis. It is approximately 100 times more effective than existing platinum derivatives currently used clinically. “However, the substance was not selective at first and was fatal to healthy cells as well,” says Karges. “We were able to solve this issue by integrating the ingredient in light-activated nanoparticles.”

Packaging with dual benefits

The actual agent complex is embedded in polymeric nanoparticles. Due to the increased metabolism of cancer cells, these particles accumulate in tumors. The agent is thus selectively transported to where it is supposed to take effect. In addition, the polymer coating prevents the copper complex from being prematurely and uncontrollably released.

A light stimulus is required to release the agent on site. “The release principle is based on a photo-responsive bond within the basic polymer framework,” says Karges. “Light radiation selectively severs this specific bond, whereupon the nanoparticles dissolve and the copper complex is released locally.” This allows highly precise and selective treatment of cancer cells. “We were also able to show that this method is effective in treatment-resistant cancer cells, where conventional chemotherapy treatments hit their limits.”

However, much research must still be done before the method can be used clinically. “So far, we have shown this on resistant cancer cells in the lab, not in a human body,” Karges emphasizes. “A lot still has to be done before an actual treatment can be performed.”

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Journal

Advanced Functional Materials

DOI

10.1002/adfm.202531605 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Cells

Article Title

Light Activated Induction of Cuproptosis in Resistant Cancer Cells Using Polymeric BODIPY Nanoparticles for Photoactivated Chemotherapy

Article Publication Date

25-Mar-2026