Research on the habitats animals depend on. Covers forest protection, megaherbivore decline, orchard conservation, and plastic pollution.
Researchers from FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute used satellite telemetry to track the movement of Indian River Lagoon dolphins at night. The study found that these dolphins regularly leave the estuarine system and swim substantial distances up freshwater rivers, creeks, and canals.
A study found that great gray owl populations in California and Oregon have lower genetic diversity due to range discontinuity, leaving them susceptible to diseases and environmental stressors. The researchers propose that conservation efforts may be necessary to protect these vulnerable populations.
A new study reveals that metabolic differences in Humboldt penguins' blood can indicate their nesting habitat, with distinct patterns of sugars found in sheltered and exposed nests. The findings suggest that penguins in exposed areas are more likely to be exposed to air pollution.
A new Oregon State University-led study reveals that the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park has led to an increase in the height of willows in northern Yellowstone. The researchers found that a reduction in elk browsing over the last two decades allowed willows to grow taller, despite a warming and drying climate.
A study led by University of Maryland Baltimore County Ph.D. candidate Samuel Hulse demonstrates a strong correlation between the visual patterns on male darter fish and their environments, supporting sensory drive theory. The findings show that male fish with colors easily perceivable in their environment are more likely to reproduce.
New research finds that virus infection rates in lobsters are related to their habitat, with seagrass meadows showing a protective effect against the spread of disease. The study's findings support efforts to safeguard Caribbean spiny lobster populations and boost understanding of viral dynamics.
A new study reveals that oceanographic conditions in the Gulf of California drive the origin of new shark and ray species, challenging traditional assumptions about species evolution. Four types of guitarfish have been identified, each adapted to a specific region, with improved survival and reproduction odds.
A new study reveals that Madagascar copal, a material thought to be hundreds of years old, is actually an Antropocene-era resin made during the extreme human impact period. The findings suggest that species within the resin may have adapted to new habitats due to deforestation.
A new study found that ocean warming will alter Antarctic krill growth habitats, with a moderate impact across 85% of the Southern Ocean. Krill are expected to move further south and shift in seasonal conditions, affecting conservation efforts and the management of the fishery.
Researchers tracked pine martens in Wales, finding they settled more rapidly when released near neighbors. This behavior allows for efficient territory creation, influencing their mobile range of approximately 9.5 km2. The presence of pine martens also affects grey squirrels' behavior, forcing them to alter their ranging patterns.
The yellow-legged gull's annual lifecycle is adapted to human activities for food, with its eating pattern changing throughout the year. This opportunistic species can modify its habitat use to manage limitations, such as physiological restrictions and fluctuations in food availability.
Scientists propose integrating oceans into climate policies, highlighting four areas of investment: energy, transportation, food security, and habitat restoration. Aquaculture and sustainable fisheries also hold potential for reducing emissions and enhancing the food supply.
A study by University of Queensland found that developers face challenges in finding enough land to offset biodiversity impacts, limiting global conservation goals. The research highlights the limitations of existing offset policies and the need for governments to account for land availability constraints.
A new study found that existing and planned roads in tiger habitats will exacerbate threats to the species, including prey depletion, habitat degradation, and poaching. By 2050, nearly 15,000 miles of new roads are expected to be built, deepening the big cat's extinction risk.
A recent study found that whole-lake experiments can reveal the causes of hyperstability in recreational fisheries. Habitat aggregation and effort sorting are identified as drivers of hyperstability collapse. Limiting angler effort through policy changes is proposed to protect vulnerable fish stocks.
A study published in Nature Climate Change used tracking data from crabeater seals to build a habitat model of krill distribution along the western Antarctic Peninsula. The researchers project that areas of krill habitat will shrink and move farther offshore, affecting species such as penguins and fur seals.
Researchers found that genomic changes occurred quickly, with river variants increasing in frequency by 2.5% over a single generation. This study demonstrates rapid evolution in non-microorganisms, potentially aiding organisms to cope with human-induced environmental changes.
Researchers from the Universities of Bonn and Zurich have found a significant decline in food plants for insects in the canton of Zurich over the past 100 years. This has resulted in a decrease in the abundance of species visited by bees, bumblebees, wasps, butterflies, hoverflies, flies, and beetles.
A new study finds that mountain-dwelling species may move to higher elevations to escape human pressure, which could reduce their extinction risk. The research suggests that these high-elevation areas tend to have more intact land for species due to reduced human activity.
The largest study to date has found that global insect populations are declining on land by an average of 0.92% per year, resulting in a 24% decrease over 30 years. However, freshwater insects have shown an average annual increase of 1.08%, corresponding to a 38% increase over 30 years.
Researchers have found a rare marine snail, Leptogyra bujnitzkii, in a biological collection from the Soviet Arctic expeditions of the 1930s. The discovery suggests the presence of sunken wood biocenoses in the Arctic Ocean.
New research found that elevated CO2 concentrations cause profound changes in marine habitats, dominating them with opportunistic algae. This shift leads to a loss of coral-associated species and rearranges feeding behavior, resulting in a 45% decrease in fish diversity.
Researchers found that only about half of present cropland would be required to produce major crops with high nutrient inputs, while the other half could be restored to natural habitats. Targeted land sparing in biodiversity hotspots resulted in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon sequestration.
A massive monitoring study found Canada lynx on only 20% of its potential habitat in Washington state, highlighting the impact of climate change and wildfire on their survival. The research suggests that lynx are a key indicator species for climate change, with warming temperatures and reduced snowpack threatening their ability to thrive.
Research shows that juvenile crown of thorns starfish can delay their diet shift to coral for at least 6.5 years, allowing them to build up populations on reefs in the absence of coral. This delayed transition complicates efforts to manage the starfish population and may trigger a feedback mechanism in their transition to coral predators.
Scientists at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture have discovered that host contact rates and habitat structure significantly impact the transmission of Bsal among eastern newts. Adding habitat complexity and reducing population density can curtail transmission rates, similar to COVID-19 mitigation strategies.
A new Stanford study finds that deforestation and agriculture expansion increase human-wild primate interactions, leading to a higher risk of zoonotic diseases. The researchers suggest creating buffer zones around biodiversity-rich forests and providing alternative resources to reduce pressure on people to venture into forested areas.
Bird species that exhibit novel foraging behaviors have reduced risk of extinction, according to a study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. The researchers found that the more innovative a species is, the lower its risk of extinction, with some species able to adapt to habitat destruction by finding new food sources.
Researchers found that whooping crane conservation efforts may inadvertently put the species at risk due to large flock formation. The birds gather in proportionally larger groups as they lose their habitat, increasing the potential impact of disease outbreaks or extreme weather events on a substantial portion of the population.
A new study found that Vermont has conserved 33% of its highest priority targeted lands, with 87% of those acres also considered critical for wildlife habitats and corridors. However, lower elevation targets and riparian areas remain underprotected, highlighting the need for continued conservation efforts to achieve a sustainable future.
Researchers found that dynamic illumination, like water caustics in coral reefs, can increase attack latency for fish. This delay can be maximized in shallow water with fine scale and sharp water caustics.
A new study by University of Michigan-led researchers found that West African lions do not favor life inside park boundaries over hunting concessions. Habitat quality in national parks is inadequate, leading to a lack of preference among lions.
A 1.57-meter long ancient Elpistostege fish fossil found in Canada has yielded the missing evolutionary link between fish and tetrapods, revealing a humerus (arm), radius, ulna, carpus, and phalanges organized in digits (fingers). The discovery pushes back the origin of digits in vertebrates to the fish level.
A study found that reef manta rays in New Caledonia are diving much deeper than previously recorded, with maximum depths exceeding 672 meters, and most dives occurring at night.
A new study suggests that raking leaves just out to forest edges can result in a three-fold increase in blacklegged ticks. Homeowners can reduce tick habitats by removing leaves from high-use areas, composting them, or taking advantage of municipal curbside leaf pickup.
A new study found that climate change is likely to cause the extinction of the Greek Meadow Viper, with up to 90% of its habitat becoming uninhabitable by the end of the 2080s. Rising temperatures and aridification due to climate change are the primary threats to the species' survival.
A new study reveals that conserving natural habitat around strawberry fields can decrease crop damage costs by up to 23% and increase yields, without compromising food safety. Removing natural habitat, on the other hand, can lead to significant cost increases of up to 76%.
Researchers at Utah State University developed a computer model to help manage wetland, floodplain and aquatic habitats. The Watershed Area of Suitable Habitat systems model, known as WASH, identifies optimal water allocation strategies to improve habitat quality and area.
A study by NUS found that between 1996 and 2016, over 60% of Myanmar's mangroves were converted to agricultural use, posing a threat to the country's coastal ecosystem. The research highlights the urgent need for conservation measures to protect this critical habitat.
A recent study by Tufts University found that federally protected lands in the US significantly reduced habitat loss and protected endangered species. Compared to private lands, protected federal lands lost only 3.6% of their habitat over a 30-year period.
A Curtin University-led study found that Ross Sea killer whales, also known as Type C, have a unique call repertoire comprising burst-pulse sounds and whistles to convey information about their environment. The research analyzed data from over 392 encounters with the species.
A new study from UBC Okanagan campus suggests that monitoring and protecting multiple species habitats offers better conservation outcomes than relying on a single representative species. The research found that a mixture of five to 10 game and non-game species serves as the best surrogates for biodiversity conservation.
A review of 167 peer-reviewed studies found significant negative impacts on juvenile Pacific and Atlantic salmon from human activity in estuaries. The study identified stressors such as light and noise pollution, as well as tidal gates, which can cut off access for salmon to parts of a river.
To create more corridors for wildlife movement, researchers apply a new mapping system to areas next to streams in Okanogan County. The system uses weighted scales to rate naturalness and legal authority, helping organizations prioritize conservation projects and reveal potential areas of coordination.
A global research team has identified 13 invasive species that threaten biodiversity on the Antarctic Peninsula. Non-native species can be transported via human visitation, boats, or food supplies, and require mitigation measures to prevent harm to delicate ecosystems.
Target-based ecological compensation provides a framework for linking compensatory requirements to biodiversity targets, ensuring no net loss of species habitats. This approach resolves uncertainty and promotes better outcomes for the planet and people.
Researchers studied prehistoric oyster shells to understand the decline of colossal oysters in Florida's northern Gulf Coast. They found a massive 2.6 inch decrease in maximum size, shorter lifespan, and slower growth rate compared to their ancestors.
In Mediterranean Protected Areas, red coral colonies (Corallium rubrum) have recovered partially, with health levels comparable to those of the 1980s. The study highlights the effectiveness of marine protections and underscores the need for urgent protection measures in Mediterranean biodiversity hotspots.
A recent study by a team of biologists at Tufts University has found that fireflies are threatened by habitat loss, light pollution, and pesticide use. The researchers surveyed experts worldwide to identify the most significant threats to firefly survival, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect these insects.
The study maps the impact of current and future river dams on fish habitats worldwide, revealing that habitat fragmentation will increase by a quarter or more in tropical regions like the Amazon, Niger, Congo, Salween, and Mekong river basins. This will disrupt the life cycles of freshwater fish species, causing extinction risk.
A new study warns that global conservation efforts may not be making progress due to ecological time-lags. Conservation measures can take decades to show results, and current targets may not accurately reflect success or failure. The research proposes using milestones to track progress towards biodiversity goals.
Researchers tracked microbial blooms in Trunk River lagoon to study their formation and collapse. They discovered that certain microorganisms can thrive in mildly oxic waters, leading to new understanding of bloom dynamics.
A recent study published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society found nearly one fifth of all spider families associated with saltwater or freshwater habitats. Aquatic spiders display a range of adaptations, including dense hairs to repel water and specialized sensory systems.
A new study reveals that climate conditions, not human activity, dominated the shaping of early forests in New England for thousands of years. The research team combined archaeological records with studies on vegetation, climate, and fire history to reconstruct historical changes to the land.
A new study explores how ranchers make decisions about managing their land, finding that cultural considerations and the desire to maintain traditional practices are key drivers. The research highlights the importance of considering the complex social-ecological factors at play in private lands conservation.
A study by University of Copenhagen researchers reveals that tardigrades are vulnerable to long-term high temperature exposures, with median lethal temperatures ranging from 37.1°C for active animals and 82.7°C for desiccated specimens. This finding highlights the Achilles heel of these super-resistant animals.
Scientists from Arizona State University led a broadest study to date assessing how Bornean elephants utilize different landscapes in Sabah. They found that elephants actively avoided urbanized areas, preferring to travel along ridgelines, and that they required less space than previously thought.
Researchers have discovered a new species of goby, Larsonella pumilus, off the coast of Okinawa, revealing insights into its habitat and relationships with other deep-sea fish. The discovery was made at a depth of 214 meters, making it the deepest recorded finding of the species.
Researchers tracked common noctule bat trajectories in Berlin to find that they mostly avoid built-up areas with artificial light. Instead, they use dark corridors like forests, parks, and watercourses for commuting and foraging.
A new study by University of Alberta biologists found that birds of the same species do not use the same habitats in different parts of the Canadian boreal forest. This phenomenon, known as differential habitat selection, has significant implications for conservation planning and management strategies.