Articles tagged with Animal Habitats
Researchers estimate between 2 and 100 million global species, developing six methods to assess biodiversity in a single habitat. Three methods proved effective even with limited data, while spacing ecoregions evenly throughout the continent yielded the best results.
The Bristol Bay sockeye stock is a biocomplex system comprising hundreds of discrete populations, each with local adaptations that stabilize the system. Management strategies focus on networks of habitat rather than just protecting today's strongest runs.
A study found that road improvement leads to significant increases in non-native plant cover, favoring invasive species. Cheatgrass and other weeds spread more along paved roads than primitive roads, converting natural habitat to roadside habitats.
Researchers have identified nearly 900 square miles of forest in China's Qinling Mountains that could support giant pandas. The area includes five unprotected core habitats and two linkage zones that could connect isolated populations.
Tube worm aggregations, created by Lamellibrachia luymesi, provide habitat for deep-sea animals with lower sulfide tolerances. These ecosystems persist for centuries, taking up high quantities of sulfide from seep sediments.
The study found that roads, damage to tundra, and animal population decline are significant concerns. The report concludes that a balance must be reached between economic development and environmental protection in the North Slope region.
Destructive fishing practices, such as bottom trawls, result in massive bycatch and habitat destruction, threatening the survival of fisheries. Experts agree that there are solutions, but change requires political will and action.
Research by the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station sheds light on red-cockaded woodpecker conservation, revealing a preference for older pine trees with resin-rich bark. The study also shows that converting loblolly pine stands to longleaf pines can increase available food for endangered woodpeckers.
A study by Cornell University ecologists found that invasive plants have 77% fewer diseases in their native habitats compared to adopted habitats. The researchers suggest looking for weed-control pathogens both in native and adopted habitats to control invasive plant species.
A study by Michigan State University scientist Jianguo Liu and colleagues found that household dynamics, including smaller households and urban sprawl, contribute to biodiversity loss and increased resource consumption. The results highlight the need for policy changes to protect wildlife habitats and ecosystem services.
Researchers discover evidence of culturally transmitted behaviors in orangutans, dating back 14 million years. The findings push back the origins of cultural transmission in apes, suggesting a stronger link to human culture.
Researchers found habitat destruction and pesticide exposure linked to declines of four frog species and two toad species in California. The study suggests that wind-borne agrochemicals may be a contributing factor to amphibian population declines.
A recent study suggests that roads are a major threat to US turtle populations, with over 5% of turtles likely to die while crossing roads. The researchers recommend establishing buffer zones around aquatic habitats and building road crossings to mitigate this issue.
Researchers have found that fossils in storm beds are not randomly distributed, but instead follow a non-random pattern, preserving the original structure of ancient sea floor habitats. This study provides valuable insights into understanding ecological relationships and movement of organism habitats through space and time.
The USGS will create maps and data to assess aquatic biodiversity in the Great Lakes region, which supports over 30 communities of unique plants and animals. The goal is to protect habitats and preserve species richness through conservation efforts across 49 states.
A study by Andrew Hansen and Jay Rotella found that development near nature reserves can harm bird populations, as many species rely on productive habitats outside the reserve. The researchers suggest that conserving population source areas outside reserves is necessary to protect biodiversity in nature reserves.
A genetic model found that hatchery salmon can develop 'captive traits' and introduce them to wild populations, decreasing their survival rate. Conservation efforts, such as conserving or restoring habitats, may be effective in preventing this shift.
A recent marine expedition off Madagascar has doubled the number of described corals in the area, highlighting the importance of protecting this region's biodiversity. The team also found nine new coral species and three new fish species, shedding light on the need for sustainable conservation efforts.
The newly discovered species, Sphaerodactylus ariasae, is the smallest of all 23,000 species of reptiles, birds, and mammals. The tiny lizard can curl up on a dime or stretch out on a quarter, measuring only 16mm long.
Scientists have found that fully protected marine reserves can replenish nearby fisheries, increasing catches and producing bigger fish. In Florida, recreational fishers are catching record-breaking sizes of black drum, red drum, and spotted sea trout in waters adjacent to the US's oldest marine reserve.
A team of scientists from Texas A&M University has developed a mathematical model to better understand wildlife habitats and interactions. The model uses equations to describe how animals and plants live, grow, and interact with each other in different environments.
A study by USGS researchers found that large habitat patches are crucial for bighorn sheep persistence and growth rates. Small patches with high-quality habitat can still warrant restoration efforts.
A study found that the California gnatcatcher, a threatened songbird, does not effectively serve as an umbrella species for coastal sage scrub conservation. The birds occur in nearly all patches, but insect diversity and quality are more closely linked to patch size than bird presence.
Researchers at the University of Florida have concluded that the few remaining populations of beach mice on the Florida and Alabama coasts are in substantial danger of extinction from hurricanes and continuing loss of habitat to development. The study predicts a 37-57% chance of extinction in 25 years and a 59-80% chance in 50 years.
Scientists have discovered a natural method to track Atlantic salmon using strontium isotopes, which can reveal the fish's origin and migration patterns. This discovery could provide valuable insights into salmon habitat restoration efforts and inform more effective conservation strategies.
A meta-analysis of 39 impact studies reveals that bottom fishing gear types significantly affect sediment organism disturbance. Inter-tidal dredging causes the most negative impact, followed by scallop and inter-tidal raking.
The study found that cold, wet springs decrease survival rates of adult owls, while a mixture of old growth forest and other vegetation types promotes high survival and reproductive output. Habitat quality also buffers owls during unfavorable weather periods, but current logging practices do not generate the observed mosaic.
The Fender's blue butterfly requires specific nectar and host plants to complete its reproductive cycle. A new study by University of California, Santa Barbara researcher Cheryl B. Schultz found that the species needs approximately 20 milligrams of wild flower nectar per square meter to support its population.
A Penn State biologist has identified 13 sunfish and sucker species as being at high risk of extinction, primarily due to their isolated distributions and limited geographical range sizes. The study found that larger body size is associated with a higher risk of extinction in sunfish, but not in suckers.
Researchers found that Florida scrub-jays nesting along roadsides die at a higher rate than those on non-road territories, with up to half of new breeders dying in their first two years. The roadside death rate is particularly high for young fledglings and newly arrived breeders.
The Chinese alligator is critically endangered with fewer than 150 remaining in the wild. Conservationists believe that restoring populations through habitat improvements and captive breeding can help stage a comeback for this culturally significant species.
Babbitt envisions integrating conservation biology into urban planning to preserve at-risk species habitats. The approach was successfully implemented in Southern California's Habitat Conservation Plans covering 210,000 acres.
Research suggests that estuaries are vital habitats for juvenile fish in the Southeastern US, providing better sanctuaries and food supplies than offshore waters. Degradation of estuarine habitats due to human activities, such as overfishing and nutrient pollution, threatens the productivity of fisheries.
Researchers have found that migratory birds' winter habitats influence their breeding success by affecting arrival time and physical condition. American redstarts in wetter environments maintained better body mass and robust condition, while those in drier environments lost mass and showed signs of deteriorating condition.
A team of Cornell experts is creating a database of food-processing information and menu items for NASA's future lunar and Martian colonies. The recipes, which include vegetarian options like seitan tacos and pasta primavera, will be grown hydroponically in space farms using crops such as wheat, potatoes, rice, soy, and peanuts.
A recent study and court ruling have led to the listing of jaguar as an endangered species in the US. The decision is based on evidence of rare sightings and potential population dispersal from Mexico.
The WWF and WCS have unveiled a new strategy to conserve tigers by identifying the top 25 high-priority areas for long-term survival. The framework, which will be implemented over three years, aims to stop international illegal trade in tiger products and develop conservation programs.
The Piping Plover population has shown a significant increase of 7% since the last census in 1991, primarily attributed to conservation efforts along the Atlantic coast. However, midcontinent bird populations have declined due to massive nest flooding on the Missouri River and lack of habitat improvement in prairie potholes.
A multiyear project may provide ecological insights for animal conservation, as tiny prairie voles adjusted to both immigration and emigration among different habitats to maintain a stable overall population. The study found that birth and death rates compensated for movement among habitats with varying environments.