Researchers found that animal carcasses contribute to increased plant growth, attracting herbivorous insects and their predators. This has a positive impact on the local food chain, persisting even five months after death.
Research reveals that marine protected areas increase total fish numbers and common species richness, with stronger gains among sensitive species. Network effects accumulate between individual reserves, suggesting synergistic benefits from regional marine protected area systems.
Researchers found that direct urban expansion leads to significant habitat destruction, but the broader environmental impacts of urbanization are much greater, with climate change and land-use change driving global biodiversity loss. The study highlights the need for more research on indirect effects in developing countries.
A new study found higher local earthworm diversity in temperate regions than in the tropics, with patterns not matching aboveground biodiversity. The researchers created a global map of earthworm diversity, abundance, and biomass, highlighting climate change's potential impact on earthworm communities.
A team of scientists mapped global biodiversity change, revealing greater changes in species composition in marine systems than on land. The study highlights the importance of protecting regions with high biodiversity loss rates and improving monitoring for conservation strategies.
A game of chance experiment revealed that German commercial fishermen are more honest than students when not under suspicion. However, when told to report their results in favor of the EU, almost one in three fishermen answered dishonestly. The study highlights the importance of trust between fishermen and regulatory authorities.
Researchers analyze EU Commission's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform proposals and find they do not reflect public demand for sustainable agriculture or environmental goals. The CAP has the potential to support multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals but currently only contributes to two of them.
Research reveals that increased plant species lead to higher insect species richness and abundance, challenging current management practices for ecosystem conservation.
Research team discovers that habitat loss causes double damage to biodiversity, with local extinctions linked to reduced ability for species to recolonize neighboring patches. Spatial processes and metacommunities play a key role in this phenomenon.
A study by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) finds that technological advances in agriculture are not sufficient to address biodiversity loss, which is driven by population and economic growth. The research highlights the need for policies addressing these factors to mitigate biodiversity decline.
Researchers created a complete world map of tree species richness using a statistical model that combines patchy data from small forest plots and country-level information. The analysis shows that climate is the most important factor driving global biodiversity, with the highest number of tree species found in hot, humid tropics.
The study suggests that letting beneficial microorganisms thrive could aid in fighting infectious diseases, as conventional methods may interfere with their natural containment. By adopting a more diverse approach to health, researchers hope to create stronger defenses against pathogens.
A world collection of over 22,000 barley varieties has been characterised at the molecular level, enabling effective use of genebank collections in research and breeding. The dataset guides the identification of duplicate samples and provides insights into global barley diversity.
Scientists criticize Indonesia's method of assessing management impacts on wildlife trends, highlighting a mismatch between government reports and independent data. Orangutans are facing serious threats from deforestation and killing, with populations declining by at least 25% over the past decade.
A recent study found that species-rich subtropical forests can absorb up to twice as much carbon as monocultures, showcasing the importance of biodiversity in forest productivity. Reforestation with a variety of tree species is recommended to promote both ecological and economic benefits.
A study by researchers from Germany found that taller plant species have taken over the Arctic tundra in recent decades, with a significant increase in plant height observed over the past three decades. Climate warming is believed to be the underlying cause of this shift.
Research shows that multiple facets of biodiversity, including species richness and plant evolutionary history, jointly reduce annual variation in grassland productivity. High-species-rich communities with diverse histories exhibit reduced biomass production variability.
A new study reveals that animal and fungal species have a significant impact on forest performance, including carbon storage and climate regulation. The research, conducted over ten years in subtropical forests, found that biodiversity must be considered as a whole to maintain forest health.
A new study reveals that there are still many areas in Europe where brown bears could live, but with suitable habitat for hosting the species. The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg have identified over 380,000 square kilometres of potential bear habitat, offering a ...
The Belt and Road Initiative's economic development corridors coincide with high environmental value areas, posing significant impacts on biodiversity. China can replicate its domestic environmental practices in the BRI to achieve a balance between economic development and sustainability.
Max Planck fellow programme extended to strengthen cooperation between institutes and universities, focusing on global biodiversity database TRY. Joint projects explore ecosystem functioning in Amazonian forests and biodiversity effects via remote sensing.
A new study challenges the long-held assumption that soil animals contribute to the self-reinforcing effect of climate change by releasing more CO2. The research found that warming temperatures and drought actually lead to a decrease in feeding activity, contrary to expectations.
A new study found that higher biodiversity in forests leads to faster tree growth, increased carbon storage, and improved pest resistance. Forest managers can simultaneously improve multiple ecosystem functions without negatively affecting each other.
Researchers propose a new approach to evaluating biodiversity, focusing on species migration and abundance within ecosystems. By analyzing these dynamics, experts can better understand ecosystem responses to environmental changes and develop more effective conservation strategies.
A research team has developed a universal model that accurately estimates the maximum speed of any animal, regardless of size or species. The model, which uses only an animal's weight and medium of movement, was tested on extinct dinosaur species and found to match complex simulations.
Researchers found that climate warming can both increase and decrease biodiversity, with higher diversity providing a buffer against environmental changes. In a study, warming meadows led to more nematode species, but those species were also more similar to each other, limiting the 'insurance' effect of increased diversity.
The iDiv Ecotron will examine the consequences of species loss on ecosystems, investigating interactions among plants, animals, microbes, and soil. By manipulating complex animal and plant communities in controlled conditions, researchers aim to understand how many losses ecosystems can cope with.
Researchers have developed new methods to estimate wild animal population sizes from camera trap data, enhancing effective wildlife management and conservation. This approach facilitates improved information about animal abundance and its variation in space and time.
Researchers found that warmer temperatures led to the extinction of smaller springtail species, while larger species survived due to their ability to adapt and escape predators. This study highlights the complex interactions between species under climate change conditions.
A global study found that carnivores are more seriously threatened by roads than previously acknowledged. The research highlights the need to update the protection status of species such as the puma, American black bear, and brown bear, which are severely affected by road habitats cut through their habitat.
Researchers found that plants emit unique odour profiles in response to exotic herbivores, which are distinct from those emitted by native herbivores. This adaptation helps plants specifically attract natural enemies that feed on the herbivores eating them.
The spread of European earthworms is altering the physical and chemical properties of North American soils, disrupting symbiotic relationships between plants and fungi. This has led to a decline in species diversity, with many native plants threatened by the invasion.
A global study finds that adding nutrients to grassland ecosystems reduces biodiversity by removing niche opportunities for species. Researchers challenge the idea that single resources limit species diversity, instead discovering complex interactions between multiple nutrients and light.
The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) has secured additional funding of EUR 36.4 million over four years, a 32% increase from the first period. This will enable iDiv scientists to investigate biodiversity using various methods and increase their activities.
Researchers found that diverse soil animal communities lead to better decomposition of leaves, regardless of region or management practices. A study of 80 forests in Germany and Sumatra revealed that high species richness and biomass explain spatial turnover in ecosystem functioning.
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.
A recent survey has found that approximately 14,600 Sumatran orangutans live in the wild, exceeding previous estimates of 6,600. However, continued deforestation poses a significant threat to their survival, with up to 4,500 individuals at risk of disappearing by 2030 if current plans are implemented.
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.
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 study found that elevated CO2 levels enhance plant growth, but the impact varies greatly due to fluctuations in climate and food chains. The researchers discovered that predators like spiders are more sensitive to climate variation than their prey, such as isopods.
A study published in Global Change Biology predicts that a warmer future with normal rainfall will leave California's coast redwoods with a significantly different climate than they have experienced for decades. The study also suggests that redwood forest bioclimate will expand by 34 percent northward from the coast of California into ...
An international research team found that human-mediated dispersal of alien gastropods has led to a global reorganization of biogeographic patterns, with communities becoming increasingly similar across continents. Climate now plays a major role in shaping species distribution, rather than geographical distance.