Ryan Helcoski
Ryan Helcoski is pursuing his PhD at Utah State University where he works with an international team studying the ecological impacts of terrestrial megacarcasses in South Africa. At UPR, he primarily reports on discoveries and ongoing research in the life and earth sciences.
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Labyrinth Canyon, one of Utah’s most remote and accessible stretches of the Green River, faces a major policy reversal that could reopen more than 100 miles of off-road vehicle routes. -
The U.S. did not send a delegation to the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference. In a warming world, the future of Utah's tech industry may rely on international cooperation. -
Fox squirrels are native to the Eastern U.S., but they're increasingly common along the Wasatch Front. We learned about their spread, why they’re here, and what they mean for local ecosystems. -
Wild bees across the west face a growing threat from microscopic parasites. Last week an Oregon researcher visited USU’s Ecology Center to discuss her findings. -
Savannahs are characterized by their shifting dominance of grass and trees. Though fire is believed to give grass a boost over slower growing plants, it turns out we know little about their roots. -
Africa baobabs are distinctive, long-lived trees with essential ecosystem roles. However, their populations are in decline due to increasing herbivore populations. -
Despite their branding as pests, termites have an astounding impact on ecology. However, their contribution to ecosystem resilience is still being explored. -
Four species of bass, all native to North America, have been introduced to South Africa since the 1920s. Now these species are reducing native biodiversity. -
This week, Ryan meets with Barbara van Asch, a senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University, to discuss the mopane worm, whose genetic diversity has been recently uncovered. -
The southern ground hornbill is a large charismatic bird that really stands out in the savanna. Though their population within Kruger is stable, the same cannot be said for most of their range.
