Articles tagged with Biodiversity Threats
The interim update to the State of the World's Migratory Species report warns that 49% of migratory species populations are declining, with 24% facing extinction, due to habitat loss and overexploitation. The report highlights the need for coordinated international action to address these threats and protect migratory species.
A new study led by University of Arizona researchers suggests that global vertebrate biodiversity has been significantly underestimated, with on average two unrecognized species for every recognized one. This finding could have consequences for conservation efforts if these hidden species are not properly identified.
A computer model identifies potential threats to over 10,000 freshwater species worldwide, offering a cost-effective way to safeguard species before they become endangered. The tool analyzes 52 variables, including damming, pollution, and habitat degradation, to recognize ecological patterns that benefit multiple species at once.
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.
Researchers identified 255 insect species in perennial grasses, but few in annual grasses, highlighting the importance of unmown refuges for biodiversity
A recent study identifies plankton tropicalization in the western Mediterranean, indicating ocean warming impacts on marine ecosystems. Rising sea surface temperatures alter the base of marine food webs, affecting planktonic primary producers and consumers.
Researchers used a novel nitrogen isotope method to reconstruct ancient reef food webs, revealing that modern reefs have shorter and less diverse food chains. This loss of functional diversity makes modern coral reefs more prone to collapse, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.
A new study highlights the importance of farmer-led collaboration in addressing biodiversity loss in agricultural landscapes. Farmer clusters, groups of farmers working together to support biodiversity-sensitive farming, show varying levels of maturity and collaboration, influenced by factors such as leadership quality and institutiona...
A new report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) emphasizes the critical role of businesses in halting and reversing biodiversity loss. Businesses can either drive transformative change or risk extinction, as they rely on and impact nature. The report provides methods and 100+ actions for bu...
A new report by Anglia Ruskin University and the University of York identifies key weaknesses in the UK's food system and recommends interventions to prevent disruptions from escalating into a crisis. The study suggests increasing energy security, diversifying food value chains, and promoting varied diets to reduce risks.
The BioMARatona Portugal citizen science initiative has achieved an unprecedented milestone with a notable increase in observations gathered and recorded species. Over 5,000 observations and 450 documented species have been accumulated since 2024, mapping diverse types of coastal species.
The Chicago Botanic Garden and The Morton Arboretum have pledged to protect endangered species such as Cucharillo and Stone's Paphiopedilum through collaborative conservation strategies. These institutions will co-host the 9th Global Botanic Gardens Congress in 2027 to accelerate crucial conservation work.
A new study has found that living walls can significantly enhance urban biodiversity by attracting pollinators and other wildlife. The research revealed that soil-based living walls with plants in soil attracted more wildlife than those with artificial substrates, and specific plant species like ivy and honeysuckle were most effective.
A new study reveals that socio-environmental mobilizations play a critical role in global biodiversity conservation by resisting environmental degradation. These local struggles often overlap with global conservation priorities, highlighting the need for policy shifts to recognize and support these movements.
A comprehensive review highlights the Cerrado's ecological crisis, with over 55% of native vegetation lost primarily for agricultural expansion. The region faces a silent water crisis, threatening biodiversity, economy, and climate resilience.
According to a University of Arizona-led study, scientists are discovering new species at a rate that far exceeds extinction. The team analyzed taxonomic histories of 2 million species and found an average of more than 16,000 new species each year, including insects, plants, fungi, and vertebrates.
A new study reveals regional vulnerability of plant-pollinator networks to climate change, emphasizing the need for tailored conservation approaches. Tailored strategies can enhance biodiversity protection in tropical regions, but may offer minimal benefit in temperate zones.
A new study reveals that human disturbances, such as logging and wildfires, are profoundly impacting the Amazon rainforest's ecological functions and evolutionary history. The researchers found that even sustainable management practices, like selective logging, have significant negative impacts on tree diversity.
Researchers evaluate ways to redesign land use and nature conservation using integrated approaches to meet ecological, social, and economic goals. Multifunctional landscapes can promote biodiversity, food production, climate regulation, and human well-being.
A new study reveals that collaborations between conservationists and artists can generate new knowledge, attract funding, and catalyze behavioral change. By working together, artists and conservationists can co-create ideas, develop more effective solutions, and shape public attitudes towards nature.
Researchers developed a tool to measure food production's impact on species survival, finding that eating beef and lamb has the biggest effect on extinctions. Switching to vegetarian diets could halve biodiversity impact in the UK.
A new Oxford-led study reveals Africa's wildlife ecosystems are running on less than two-thirds of their natural energy, posing risks to biodiversity and the livelihoods that depend on it. The research uses an ecosystem energetics approach to quantify how energy flows through food webs, finding that smaller species now dominate Africa'...
The Crown Princess of Sweden has been honoured with a professorship in biodiversity at the University of Gothenburg. The professorship, valued at 20 million Swedish kronor, will enable researchers to pursue interdisciplinary research and promote sustainability.
Researchers found that species diversity is highest in landscapes with 60% unmanaged forests and 40% intensively managed forests. Extensively managed forests contribute little to support species richness, but improving their ecological performance can help maintain forest biodiversity.
Researchers at the University of Göttingen argue that creating diverse landscapes with various habitats is necessary for biodiversity preservation. Habitat diversity can include arable land, natural areas, and structures like nesting sites, promoting species movement and reduced extinction risk.
Dr. Julian Schrader will investigate the interaction between climate change and plant species spread on islands using a 1.5 million euro grant. He aims to close the knowledge gap on migration processes and their consequences for species communities.
A new study reveals that insect abundance is declining by an average annual rate of 6.6% in relatively undisturbed landscapes, leading to significant losses even in pristine areas. Climate change is identified as a key driver of these declines, highlighting the urgent need for biodiversity conservation.
A new study reveals a hidden extinction crisis in China's native flora, showing that habitat decline over the past four decades has sharply increased extinction risks nationwide. The findings suggest that current conservation efforts are failing to keep pace with biodiversity threats.
A new framework developed by Oxford researchers helps agricultural sectors track and address biodiversity impacts, identifying areas where progress in one area may harm others. The study's safeguards act as checks and balances, ensuring that improvements in one area do not mask problems in another.
Scientists have uncovered the remains of a vast animal community that lived in the European Arctic 75,000 years ago. The bones represent the oldest example of an animal community in the region during this warmer period of the ice age, providing valuable insights into how wildlife responded to dramatic climate shifts.
A new study reveals a disconnect between media and public perceptions on the risks of consuming wild meat in Central Africa during COVID-19. Researchers found that people's perceptions were more influenced by their personal experience, with domesticated red meat viewed as the riskiest protein source for disease.
Researchers conducted the world's biggest bird survey in Colombia, recording 971 species and finding that clearing rainforest for cattle pasture causes a 60% greater biodiversity loss than previously thought. The study highlights the need for policymakers to consider the larger-scale impact of deforestation on biodiversity.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and UK identified a set of flower mixtures that attract both pollinators and delight the human eye. The study found that seed mixes containing species like yarrow, cornflower, and purple viper's bugloss establish themselves better in soil and bloom for longer.
A new study by the University of Göttingen and Freie Universität Berlin found that Mediterranean-type regions require tailored restoration methods due to varying soil and climate conditions. The research suggests that compromises are often needed, and what works best depends on local goals and conditions.
A group of top scientists, including Professor Callum Roberts and Professor Johan Rockström, are calling for a permanent ban on extractive activities in international waters. The authors argue that stopping all extractive activity would prevent irreversible damage to the climate, marine biodiversity, and ocean equity.
Research published in Global Change Biology found that tiger presence is associated with higher forest vegetation carbon stocks, lower carbon dioxide emissions, and higher carbon dioxide removal. Tiger density also seems to have a guardian effect to protect forests from deforestation and associated carbon emissions.
A new study by University College London researchers suggests that intensifying existing farmland can degrade local biodiversity more than expanding agricultural land, depending on factors like region and crop type. The study highlights the need for sustainable intensification techniques to mitigate the impact of farming on the environ...
A new study predicts that new plant pests and diseases will severely damage UK trees and woodlands by 2050, potentially losing over half of their growth. The research highlights the need for increased tree diversity and resilience to biocontrol measures.
Saharan mustard is overwhelming native plants' seed bank, reducing biodiversity and weakening ecosystems. The invasive species can crowd out native species, altering ecosystem function.
A new study by Griffith University reveals that the term 'nature positive' is being used more for political rhetoric than actual conservation efforts, posing a threat to biodiversity. The research found that only 0.01% of the global tourism sector makes net positive contributions to conservation.
A new study found that a pay-to-release programme increased live releases of endangered species caught as bycatch, but also encouraged some vessels to increase their catches at the expense of conservation goals. Adjustments have been made to improve the programme's effectiveness.
A mysterious parasite is devastating fish farms globally, causing £50 million in losses annually. Researchers have discovered a new gene regulation process that could lead to the development of gene-based vaccines.
A new study analyzing over 175 scientific reviews found that agricultural intensification is a major driver of insect decline, but climate change has multiple individual drivers such as extreme precipitation and temperature. The research highlights the need for a multi-pronged approach to conserve insect biodiversity.
A new study reveals how proactive salmon conservation in the North Pacific can protect biodiversity and advance global conservation goals. The stronghold strategy aims to proactively protect iconic salmon systems that sustain healthy watersheds, safeguarding food security and mitigating climate change.
New research suggests that conservation efforts can better protect bird species at greatest risk from climate change by understanding the specific climatic conditions they need to thrive. The study found that species with narrower climatic niches are more susceptible to population declines.
A recent study found that urban bird species exhibit more elaborate colours and less brown plumage compared to those that fail to thrive in cities. This suggests that urbanization plays a role in shaping the colouration of birds in these environments.
A scientific initiative is underway to prevent harmful Prymnesium algal blooms from occurring in the Broads, which threaten fish stocks and local biodiversity. Researchers are working to identify environmental triggers and develop strategies to safeguard the waterways.
The study reveals that animal behavioral diversity is at risk due to declining biodiversity, which can be linked to human activities. Preserving cultural behaviors, such as tool use in primates, could aid in developing comprehensive conservation strategies.
A study reveals widespread overlap between feeding grounds for seabirds, marine mammals, and regions with high wind potential. Researchers propose developing risk maps to predict conflicts and recommend expanding marine protected areas and strengthening spatial planning tools.
Scientists at University of Lausanne classify 35 commonly used drugs in Switzerland based on their ecotoxicity. The classification reveals that painkillers like diclofenac and antibiotics like ciprofloxacin have significant consequences for aquatic biodiversity.
A study by Eawag and the University of Zurich found that human impacts on biodiversity are widespread and severe, with average species declines of 20% across all biogeographic regions. The composition of species communities is also shifting, with environmental pollution and habitat changes having a particularly negative impact.
The Bezos Earth Fund has launched a five-year project to conserve amphibian species in Latin America, partnering with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and Amphibian Survival Alliance. The initiative aims to halt amphibian extinctions and boost captive populations by 15%.
A study analyzed conservation actions for endangered species and found that targeted efforts have driven improvements in over 100 species. However, only half of assessed species have conservation actions in place, and roughly six times as many species have deteriorated in recent decades than have improved.
A University of Oxford study found that widely used biodiversity impact assessment tools have significant uncertainties, which can lead to misguided efforts and ineffective strategies if not addressed. The researchers suggest ways to reveal, reduce, and navigate these uncertainties to improve the use of these tools.
A recent study published in Nature Communications provides detailed data on the far-field spatial footprint of mining-induced plume dispersion and redeposition beyond the mining area. The research found that sediment concentrations were up to 10,000 times higher near the mining site and returned to normal levels after 14 hours.
A new study highlights the risks of climate change on cocoa production, which supports four to six million small-holder farmers. Increasing pollination rates above current levels could boost yields by 20%, according to researchers.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology found that even within protected habitats, tropical species are still vulnerable to threats from beyond their borders. Human population density and habitat disturbance in surrounding areas can lead to a decline in species richness by up to 1% per 16 persons per square kilometer.
Researchers argue that rewilding productive farmland or forestry in industrialised nations with low biodiversity may do more harm than good on a planetary scale. Efforts to conserve nature can displace production to more biodiverse regions, leading to increased demand for commodities like red meat.
The duo calls for policies, business models, and individuals to recognize humanity's 'entanglement' with nature. They advocate for socio-environmental justice and respect for connections with other life on Earth.