Ecosystems with diverse species and predators function more effectively, maintaining natural processes like pest control and climate regulation. The study analyzed over 300 global food webs and found up to 70 times more predation in diverse ecosystems.
A new framework maps Europe's climate-smart rewilding potential, highlighting regional strengths in Eastern and Southern Europe. The approach balances ecosystem restoration with climate mitigation and adaptation, offering opportunities for diverse regions to contribute.
Experiment with 195 students in Germany found that local forest soundscapes had stronger positive effects on mental wellbeing, especially when participants felt familiar with the sounds. The study revealed that perceived animal diversity and familiarity played a significant role in triggering feelings of awe and restoration.
A team of researchers has developed a novel method to track the Earth's greenness by calculating its centre of mass. They found that the 'green centre' oscillates between northernmost positions in mid-July and southernmost positions off the coast of Liberia in March, with a consistent northward shift across all seasons.
A new study proposes a comprehensive roadmap for Europe's biodiversity monitoring system, which could become a global model. The system would track changes in species and ecosystems using 84 Essential Biodiversity Variables and integrate data from various sources, including DNA, digital technologies, and human expertise.
A new study shows that geotagged social media photos can improve biodiversity datasets by 35% and provide more accurate species distribution models. The enhanced models reveal range expansions in areas missed by traditional records, particularly in regions with sparse formal monitoring.
A global study of nearly 15,000 marine and freshwater fish communities found consistent shifts in species composition, body size and feeding relationships over recent decades. Smaller-bodied fish species dominate ecosystems, reshaping food webs and ecosystem function.
A recent study published in Global Change Biology found that functional diversity helps keep forest growth stable during prolonged periods of drought. Trees with different water-use strategies show stronger growth in drought years than those with opposite strategies.
A new study analyzes 52 REDD+ initiatives certified under Verra's Verified Carbon Standard, finding widespread over-crediting of projects and only a minority meeting their reported emissions targets. However, the research suggests that even underperforming projects can deliver partial climate gains when implemented carefully.
A new study shows that human pressure is driving the loss of large fruit-eating animals and their plant partners with big seeds, leading to smaller seed sizes and altered forest structure. The researchers found that increased human footprint is associated with smaller maximum seed sizes in plant communities.
A study in Nature Communications reveals that older species typically have larger geographical ranges, except for island dwellers. On the mainland, this relationship holds true, while on islands, younger species can attain larger ranges due to unique environmental dynamics.
Researchers found that random tree planting designs increase biomass by 11% compared to clustered layouts, while a more even spread promotes nutrient recycling. The study suggests that a balanced mix of species and spatial arrangement can optimize ecosystem functioning and productivity in forests.
Researchers found that perception of visual diversity was linked to color, vegetation density, lighting, and forest structure, while acoustic diversity was linked to birdsong, volume, and seasonal cues. Participants were more accurate when assessing forest biodiversity through sound alone than through sight alone.
Researchers found that artificial water bodies, especially historic stone tanks, support a higher diversity of species compared to natural habitats. These structures serve as stable environments for vulnerable eggs and larvae, providing a lifeline for amphibian populations amidst climate change and land-use change.
A new study finds that over a quarter of naturalised plant species worldwide are threatened in parts of their native range, raising questions about global conservation efforts. The researchers argue for a nuanced approach to evaluating non-native species, acknowledging both risks and potential conservation opportunities.
Researchers developed a universal theory to explain species distribution patterns, estimating species numbers at key transition points between phases. The three-phase pattern of Species-Area Relationships shows rapid increase in local areas, slowing down in regional areas, and accelerating on continental scales.
A new study found that nutrient availability plays a crucial role in the relationship between precipitation and plant biomass. In grasslands, plant biomass increases with higher mean annual precipitation, but nutrient availability also comes into play. Fertilizing sites with multiple nutrients boosted plant growth and biomass, revealin...
A new paper reveals that information exchange between species influences behavior, interactions, and ecosystem dynamics. The authors identify three types of information links within ecosystems: trophic, pure, and environmental information links.
A study led by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research found that tree diversity significantly enhances forest temperature buffering, particularly during heat peaks. Species-rich forests showed a greater cooling effect, up to 4.4°C stronger than single-species forests.
New research reveals nitrogen pollution as primary driver of westward shifts in European forest plant distribution. High levels of atmospheric nitrogen deposition allow rapid spread of nitrogen-tolerant species, often at expense of specialized plant species.
Researchers used Flora Incognita data to identify plant rhythms and ecological patterns year-round. The algorithm accounts for user observational tendencies, revealing synchronized responses among plants and ecological shifts with the seasons.
A new study by German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig found that climate change impacts ecosystems' multifunctionality, affecting soil health and biodiversity. Sustainable land management practices can enhance ecological and economic benefits under current and future climate conditions.
A new study found that low-intensity grazing systems offer benefits for local biodiversity protection, but struggle due to inflexible regulations and a lack of workforce. Land users face economic constraints and restrictive policies, leading to declining participation in sustainable practices.
A large multi-model study published in Science found global biodiversity declined 2-11% due to land-use change. Climate change could become main driver of biodiversity loss by mid-century, with combined effects leading to decline in all world regions.
A recent study reveals that the demand for critical minerals in Africa is putting African Great Apes at risk due to deforestation and habitat destruction. The study estimates that more than 180,000 gorillas, bonobos, and chimpanzees are at risk, with West African countries like Guinea being the most severely affected.
A new study suggests that fish are shifting their focus from less abundant prey to more abundant prey as waters become warmer, leading to a mismatch between their energetic needs and actual food intake. This flexible foraging behaviour may make communities more vulnerable to climate change, increasing the risk of extinctions.
A new study finds that biodiversity is becoming more similar through time, but an almost equal number of communities are becoming more distinct. The analysis of 527 datasets shows a balanced trend between homogenisation and differentiation across landscapes.
Researchers developed a multi-step process to quantify the dependency of international trade on Nature's Contributions to People (NCPs), including spatial mapping and tracing international trade flows. The study aims to improve knowledge about the complex relationship between nature and international trade, supporting implementing Targ...
A study published in Global Ecology and Conservation found that three-quarters of vegetation types in North, Central, and South America fall below the Global Biodiversity Convention's target of 30% protection. The research highlights that over 40% of threatened bird and mammal species are mostly found in a single vegetation type.
A study published in People and Nature found that large parts of the participants supported the return of wolves and elk to the Oder Delta region, with a strong appetite for rewilding initiatives. Locals, however, showed mixed feelings, with some reservations about the presence of large carnivores like wolves.
Research reveals that prolonged exposure to plantations during infancy triples the likelihood of infant mortality. Exposure to pesticides and agricultural chemicals may negatively affect infant development and lead to increased mortality rates.
A recent study found that decreases in the number of formerly abundant insect species have contributed significantly to local insect declines. The study's findings challenge the idea that changes in insect biodiversity result from rarer species disappearing.
Studies using controlled experimental-ecosystem chambers found that even low intensities of light pollution have profound effects on individual species' responses and ecological networks. Artificial light alters the timing of key behaviors in mosquito populations, which may carry wide-scale consequences for disease transmission.
A recent study published in Current Biology found that invertebrate decline affects aboveground pest control and belowground decomposition of organic matter. The loss of invertebrates leads to a reduction in important ecosystem services and decoupling of ecosystem processes, making immediate protection measures necessary.
Researchers analyzed data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and found a universal pattern of species abundance distributions, with most species being rare but not extremely rare. The study's findings may help answer Darwin's question about why some species are common while others are rare.
A new study reveals that diverse landscapes and microhabitats play a crucial role in helping insects cope with heat stress caused by global warming. Insects that inhabit diverse environments exhibit different strategies to conserve energy, such as reducing activity or seeking shelter in cooler areas.
Researchers found that widespread species tend to increase in occupancy through time, while narrowly distributed species decrease. Habitat protection can mitigate some effects of biodiversity change, particularly for small-ranged species.
A new study shows that reversing evolutionary changes in fish stocks like cod can be profitable and help conserve natural genetic diversity. With century-long planning horizons, evolutionary decline can be reversed without significantly reducing profits.
Researchers from iDiv and MLU found that species with extreme body size shifts have a higher risk of extinction on islands. The study analyzed over 1,200 extant and extinct island mammals and found a correlation between human colonization and increased extinction rates.
A global picture of local species richness trends is hindered by incomplete and biased data, with regional imbalances leading to a distorted impression. The study advocates for prioritizing local assessments and standardized monitoring programs to address measurement errors and spatial biases.
A new study found that children in a modern forager society developed specialized foraging skills from an early age, which may have enabled the human species to afford larger brains. The research also showed gender-specific differences in foraging skills, with girls collecting tubers and boys climbing trees to collect fruits.
Even after 80 years of abandonment, former agricultural sites have only partially recovered in terms of plant diversity compared to undisturbed sites. Researchers from iDiv and other institutions found that restoration interventions can help speed up the recovery process by targeting specific species composition.
A recent meta-analysis found that humans are currently living an average of 9.7 km away from a natural area, which is 7% further away than in the year 2000. This decline in interactions with nature is primarily driven by urbanization in Europe and East Asia.
A recent study found that deforestation and grassland conversion are the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss, while climate change ranks fourth in global biodiversity change. The research highlights the need for a holistic approach to tackle both climate change and biodiversity loss.
Researchers found that high nutrient inputs result in a decline of plant species, with more species getting lost and fewer new species arriving. This study provides valuable information for practical nature conservation by understanding the effects of unnatural nutrient inputs on biodiversity.
Researchers linked TRY plant trait data to iNaturalist's vast dataset, creating more accurate global maps of plant traits. The new maps showed significant improvement over previous extrapolated products.
Soil ecological values are often overlooked in nature conservation management; the new study identifies global hotspots where they need to be prioritized. Temperate ecosystems show high local species richness, while biodiversity uniqueness peaks in arid and tropical ecosystems.
Research from German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research finds poorly defined land rights increase deforestation in Brazil. Private land rights can be effective if combined with strict environmental policies, such as the Forest Code.
A study found that biodiversity conservation in national parks is strongly associated with socioeconomic conditions, including the Human Development Index. National parks in countries with higher HDI values showed lower species abundance declines compared to those with lower HDI.
At least 30 out of 114 North American bird species have become less well-adjusted to their climate over the last 30 years, according to a recent study. Climate decoupling, where species distributions and abundances diverge from climate conditions, is particularly prominent among habitat specialists.