The Global Names project enables the rapid indexing of content using scientific names, improving the discovery of small data. The study found that name-matching was improved to almost 85% with simplified or canonical versions of names.
The EU-funded project EU BON provides conceptual and practical advice for implementing available data sharing and publishing tools. The report highlights two main challenges facing the biodiversity data community: a lack of unified user interfaces and gaps in data coverage and quality.
Researchers found that human activities drive disease distributions at local scales for diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease, while climate change impacts regional scales. The study highlights the importance of considering multiple spatial scales to understand human ecological impacts on biodiversity and disease emergence.
The new atlas, compiled by over 120 experts from 29 countries, reveals a vast and underappreciated natural resource – soil biodiversity. With nearly 200 pages of detailed information, the atlas aims to promote sustainability and encourage research efforts to tackle global challenges.
A new study combines large datasets to estimate the number of microbial and non-microbial species on Earth, suggesting nearly 1 trillion species exist. The research uses universal scaling laws to predict species numbers, revealing simple yet powerful trends in biodiversity.
The Bell Museum has launched the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas, providing public access to hundreds of thousands of plant and animal specimens. The Atlas serves critical needs like guiding field surveys, conservation planning, and enabling research on biodiversity in Minnesota.
A new study confirms that preserving marine biodiversity can benefit people as much as it benefits the oceans. Communities with more species are more productive and resilient to rising temperatures, while those with fewer species suffer significantly under fluctuating temperatures.
Researchers found a sharp decline in ant biodiversity in rubber plantations, with significant losses in species richness and functional diversity. The study suggests that ecological filters like rubber plantations select specific subsets of species, contributing to biodiversity loss.
A new study published in Science reveals that only 5% of global biodiversity datasets meet the 'gold standard' required for effective conservation. The lack of reliable and accessible data threatens our ability to understand and address key threats to biodiversity, such as invasive species, logging, and illegal wildlife trade.
A new report from the Biodiversity Collections Network highlights the need for better communication about biodiversity collections research and its public benefits. The report outlines seven recommendations to improve coordination, engage new stakeholders, and develop innovative communication methods.
New research highlights the key role of existing coral reef biodiversity in facilitating rapid adaptation to climate change. The study found that natural selection of existing biodiversity is essential for coping with rising seawater temperatures and other stressors threatening coral reefs.
A new study found that conservation research is predominantly conducted in less biodiverse countries, exacerbating the global biodiversity crisis. The study suggests that biases in the field of conservation science must be addressed to meet international targets.
The EU-funded FP7 project EU BON shares stakeholder roundtable reports, providing insights on policy, citizen science, and local/regional stakeholders. The reports outline conclusions on biodiversity information, open-access availability, data workflows, and integration of citizen science.
Research suggests that land bridges between ancient India and Eurasia acted as 'freeways' for the exchange of animals and plants. Indian Dragon Lizards show multiple origins in Southeast Asia, indicating a two-way flow of biodiversity. The findings shed light on the origins of modern species.
The EU BON project published guidelines for standardized, easy-to-find, re-shareable, and re-usable biodiversity data. The report aims to increase interoperability of data and make its re-use both easy and legal. EU BON also promotes the use of biodiversity data as a common resource for human society.
A novel study has found that higher biodiversity reduces infectious disease severity in a Tibetan alpine meadow, supporting the dilution hypothesis. Artificial fertiliser weakens this effect, increasing disease load.
A study of 200 European forests across six countries found that species-rich forests provide a higher number and variety of services, including air filtration, carbon sequestration, and water supply. The researchers recommend transforming forests into mixed stands to increase biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
New research highlights uncertainty in global biodiversity data due to species sighting recording methods. Recording absences is crucial for effective conservation prioritization, as lack of data doesn't necessarily mean a species is absent.
A new study from the University of Southampton found that inland freshwater fisheries with higher biodiversity have higher-yielding and more stable fisheries. The research suggests that maintaining healthy freshwater systems is critical for food security and livelihoods, particularly in developing countries.
A survey of 1400 endangered species found 78 vulnerable to nitrogen-induced harms. Nitrogen's impacts on biodiversity are diverse, including direct toxicity, depleted oxygen, and invasive species that outcompete native populations.
Professor Bill Brown from Columbia Seminary will present on 'Theological Reasons for Protecting Biodiversity' at the AAAS 2016 Annual Meeting. He argues that the crisis of biodiversity loss is underappreciated by people of religious faith, and institutions must develop theological grounding to value biodiversity.
A new study highlights how topography influences biodiversity in mountains. Mid-altitudes host the most species due to the size and connectivity of similar habitats. Biodiversity peaks at these elevations, not at high altitudes or lower levels, according to researchers from EPFL.
A new ERC Starting Grant will fund the first systematic study on the impact of European earthworms on plant communities and soil food webs in North America. The research aims to examine the effects of higher temperatures and reduced summer rainfall on earthworm invasions, shedding light on biodiversity loss and ecosystem functioning.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that 17% of monitored species populations increased, while 22% remained constant and 22% decreased in tropical forest protected areas. The results suggest that these areas can effectively maintain biodiversity, contrary to previous reports of declining species numbers.
The BioUnify project brings together EU biodiversity scientists and their data to enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing. The initiative promises to improve data access and reproducibility, while promoting skills transfer between researchers and information technologists.
A study led by USGS research ecologist Jim Grace found that communities rich in species are substantially healthier and more productive than those depleted of species. Biodiversity is crucial for stable ecosystems and human society, the researchers say.
A new study highlights the true costs of hydroelectric dams in tropical regions, including significant impacts on biodiversity and fisheries. Researchers warn that dam site selection is crucial for conserving biodiversity, but many countries lack protocols to ensure careful planning.
Researchers conducted a long-term study on biodiversity in subtropical forests of China, finding that there might be an under- or overestimation of global biodiversity by up to 50% when only a few taxa are sampled. The study used traditional methods combined with DNA analysis to determine species numbers, revealing that larger areas an...
A new study finds that more than 17,000 marine species worldwide remain largely unprotected. Nations like the US, Canada, and Brazil have large gaps in their protected areas, highlighting opportunities to achieve global biodiversity goals by 2020.
Researchers have found that monitoring farmland biodiversity across Europe can be done at a modest share of the Common Agricultural Policy budget, with costs ranging from 0.01% to 2.48% of the total budget.
A new study suggests that protected areas are failing to meet biodiversity goals due to inadequate science and management. The Wildlife Conservation Society proposes a three-point plan to improve the effectiveness of protected areas, including establishing ecologically sensible targets and identifying performance metrics.
A study of 46 grasslands in North America and Europe found that increasing plant diversity decreases the extent to which extreme wet or dry conditions disrupt grassland productivity. Higher biodiversity communities are more stable, exhibiting resistance during extreme climate events.
A novel cybercatalog of southern African flower-loving flies showcases how taxonomic knowledge can be made available through links to online data providers. The catalog utilizes persistent identifiers, enabling machines to access the information, and demonstrates a digital future for taxonomy.
The EU BON project uses the European Biodiversity Observation Network to develop an integrated biodiversity information framework. This framework collects and standardizes existing data sources to show trends and prognoses useful to policy and society. The aim is to make biodiversity data discoverable, accessible, and digestible.
The National Science Foundation is funding research on the diversity of life on Earth, with a focus on understanding how biodiversity shapes ecosystems. This includes studying moss-microbe interactions, lichens in global diversity hotspots, and microbial communities in marine oxygen-deficient zones.
The new repository will help measure the status of biodiversity knowledge in Bolivia and inform conservation efforts. The project brings together over 40 Bolivian scientists with international partners to catalog the country's plants and animals.
A new study by UC Santa Barbara researchers predicts that climate change will cause significant reshuffling of marine biodiversity, with warming oceans leading to the relocation of nearly 13,000 species. This redistribution is expected to increase biodiversity in many areas but also lead to extinctions and homogenization of communities.
A new study reveals that soil bacteria and animal species below ground regulate ecosystem functions, including carbon storage and nutrient availability, with below-ground biodiversity explaining 32% of variation.
A new study reveals how DNA barcoding can accelerate biodiversity inventories by using rapid publishing techniques and surveying nature reserves in just four months. The results revealed abundant biodiversity in previously understudied taxa, including the addition of 181 new spider species to the inventory list.
A recent study models the impact of climate change on marine biodiversity, predicting that warming oceans will lead to significant changes in species distribution. The researchers found that some species will expand into new regions, while others with restricted ranges are likely to face extinction.
A new study analyzing European temperate forests reveals that biodiversity in the herb layer has not changed overall, but varies significantly across regions. Climate change and local factors like nitrogen availability and game populations play a more significant role than expected.
A study published in Ecology found that parasite prevalence and diversity increase with higher latitude, challenging the typical latitudinal diversity gradient. This exception suggests that local ecological factors play a role in shaping biodiversity, despite the general pattern of decreasing species richness towards the poles.
Scientists are calling for cooperation between conservationists and space agencies to monitor biodiversity loss, which has halved in just 40 years. Satellite images can reveal changes in vegetation productivity and provide information on ground-level biodiversity levels.
Researchers urge caution when using biodiversity offsets to compensate for development damage, as it can lead to 'stealth' reneging on existing conservation goals. Properly designed offsets can help reconcile development with conservation, but improper use can cause more harm than good.
A worldwide study found a consistent biological rule governing the relationship between plant biomass and species diversity in grassland ecosystems. Plant species diversity is generally greatest at intermediate levels of plant biomass. The research has implications for managing and conserving grassland biodiversity globally.
A study of 50 years of marine biodiversity data found that human activities like pollution and sedimentation led to diminishing biodiversity in developed areas. However, protected or restored sites showed increases in species diversity, particularly among lower-level food-web organisms.
A study reveals hydroelectric dams, such as the Balbina Dam in the Amazon rainforest, have severe effects on biodiversity. The creation of large lakes has led to widespread loss of mammals, birds, and tortoises on island habitats.
Research by University of East Anglia reveals that a willingness among consumers to pay more for sustainably-grown palm oil could incentivise producers to engage with conservation projects. This approach has the potential to support vulnerable 'Red List' species and provide cost-effective conservation options.
A University of South Florida study confirms the dilution effect hypothesis, suggesting biodiversity loss poses a public health threat by causing disease outbreaks. The research found broad evidence that species-rich communities suffer less infectious disease, implying maintaining biodiversity could reduce parasite abundance.
A new study suggests that EU forests have the potential to supply significantly more woody biomass than currently used, but this comes with trade-offs for biodiversity and other ecosystem services. The findings highlight the need for careful planning to balance wood production with protection of biodiversity.
A new study by University of Gothenburg researchers shows that species migration across the Isthmus of Panama began about 20 million years ago, contradicting previous assumptions. This early exchange enhanced the region's extreme biodiversity.
A new research paper demonstrates how XML markup can address challenges presented by unstructured legacy data, extracting primary biodiversity data from such sources. The project visualizes these data as standard charts to reveal key information about species and their habitats.
A five-year project aims to combine species counts and ecological data with newer data gathered using satellites, robots, and genetic analyses. The Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) will classify habitats and sample each area effectively using regional maps and environmental DNA.
A new study reveals that species migrations between North and South America began around 20 million years ago, contradicting a long-held assumption that the Isthmus of Panama formed 3 million years ago. This finding has significant implications for understanding how biodiversity in the Americas developed.
A new study reveals that biodiversity enhances multiple ecosystem functions, from soil nitrogen accumulation to aquatic algae control. This finding bolsters the importance of conserving biodiversity in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
A team of scientists developed a model to quantify the effects of plant biodiversity loss on ecosystem productivity, finding that conserving species diversity can help maintain ecosystem services. The study provides new insights into the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
A new study predicts that up to 8.5 million hectares of additional rubber plantations will be required to meet demand by 2024, threatening significant areas of Asian forest and globally threatened unique species. The expansion is comparable to oil palm and has catastrophic biodiversity impacts.
A University of Minnesota study found that reducing biodiversity in grasslands leads to reduced ecosystem stability, while other factors have no impact. The research emphasizes the importance of preserving biodiversity to maintain ecosystem health and services.
Research at Duke University Medical Center found that increasing bacterial and worm diversity in the digestive tract enhances immune function, with better responses to vaccination and increased natural antibody production. The study suggests that biome enrichment may serve as an 'immune trainer' to improve overall health.
A study analyzed gaps between biodiversity data and policy reporting needs, identifying essential elements like population abundances and ecosystem structure. The research used the Essential Biodiversity Variables framework to quantify indicators and proxies.