A study by Lee Hannah predicts that climate change and land-use changes will increase the risk of extinction for most protea species, with up to 15% expected to lose their range entirely. The Cape region's protected areas may offer lessons for global conservation efforts.
The study found rapid land-cover change in Asia, particularly dryland degradation, while the Amazon Basin remains a hotspot of tropical deforestation. Global maps show regions of rapid land-cover change, with cities in the tropics experiencing the most rapid changes.
Shrubs in Arctic regions promote deeper snowdrifts, warming soil and boosting microbial activity. This leads to increased nutrient availability, promoting rapid shrub growth and expansion.
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) has been established in Durham, North Carolina, with a $15 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The center aims to unify the biological sciences by promoting cross-disciplinary studies and synthesizing evolutionary knowledge for policymakers, educators, and society.
New studies using gap analysis and high-quality global databases reveal significant gaps in coverage of protected areas, affecting up to 43% of terrestrial species. The research suggests that expanding protected areas in tropical environments could improve conservation efforts for over 11,000 vertebrate species.
Research identifies seven ecological ratchets that contribute to coral reef loss, including decreased reproductive success and disproportionate predator survival. Organizations should focus on preventing degradation rather than restoration, with local management of resources being a key strategy.
Researchers examine land-use practices that increase soil carbon dioxide uptake, such as intensifying cropping and afforestation. Comprehensive economic comparisons are necessary to determine the competitiveness and cost-effectiveness of these methods.
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) has been tapped to coordinate the design of a national network dedicated to ecological observations, known as NEON. The project aims to improve scientific understanding of various research areas, including climate change and biodiversity.
A recent study reveals that desertification is driven by a limited number of recurrent pathways, including regionally distinct combinations of factors and feedbacks. The analysis challenges traditional single-factor explanations and highlights the impact of public and individual decisions on desertification.
The study suggests that the fear of wolves among herbivores influences vegetation growth in Yellowstone. Restoration goals should focus on recovering natural processes, rather than managing specific species. The findings have implications for other regions with similar ecological dynamics.
A recent BioScience article highlights that decades of fire suppression may have been overly criticized, and climate has a significant impact on fire spread in high-elevation forests. The studies also reveal how invasive alien plants can dramatically alter fire regimes, proposing a scheme for evaluating the dangers of these invasions.
New and established remote sensing techniques are being used to assess forest structure and estimate biomass. Additionally, data from various sensors are being incorporated into ecosystem process models to track environmental degradation and inform decision-making.
A staggering 42% of documented extinctions are mollusks, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts for these species. Nonmarine mollusk diversity is valued for its own sake and as an indicator of ecosystem health.
The BioScience special section examines the ecology and sustainability of tropical island streams, which face numerous threats including human alteration and natural fluctuations. The articles highlight conservation strategies to mitigate the effects of dams, deforestation, and invasive species on these ecosystems.
The contest aims to honor biology experiments that are considered aesthetically pleasing, with a panel of experts screening nominations. The journal's goal is to encourage creative thinking among biologists about both famous and obscure experiments.
A special section of BioScience provides in-depth analyses of assessment systems for protected area management effectiveness. Key findings include the need for more widespread use of assessments and monitoring, as well as the identification of critical management issues such as funding, staffing, and community relations.