Articles tagged with Biogeography
Researchers have discovered fossils of a group of spurges in Argentina that date back 52 million years, suggesting these plants migrated from South America to Asia and beyond. The findings provide the first direct fossil evidence of spurges in Gondwanan South America, contradicting previous assumptions about their Asian origins.
A recent study by the University of Bologna reveals that the EU is far from meeting its goal of protecting 10% of its land area for biodiversity. The study found that many countries have inadequate protection in place, with some having very few protected areas and others failing to implement integral protection in national parks. To ac...
An international research team has found that tree islands in oil palm plantations can significantly increase biodiversity within five years. This method also does not affect the yield of the plants. The study was conducted on an industrial-scale plantation in Indonesia and showed promising results for ecological restoration.
An interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Oklahoma advocates for integrating biogeography and behavioral ecology to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how to leverage existing biodiversity knowledge into predictive frameworks for addressing biodiversity loss. The authors argue that combining these two fie...
A macroecological study found that giant tree properties, such as trunk circumference and age, are strongly correlated with climatic factors. The probability of a tree being an object of faith tends to increase with lower annual precipitation, highlighting the impact of climate change on spiritual ecosystem services.
Researchers from University of Jyväskylä found that forest management has a stronger effect on the supply of ecosystem services than climate change. The study suggests that forest management planning should account for biogeographic diversity, and climate change mitigation measures are particularly suited for northern Finland.
A recent study reveals that recovering Madagascar's mammal species would take over 20 million years if currently threatened species go extinct, much longer than other islands.
A recent study analyzing Amazon Rainforest fires from 2003-2020 reveals that most fires are caused by uncontrolled human use of fire for agriculture and deforestation. The study found that Brazil accounted for an average of 73% of detected fires, with pasturelands and natural grasslands being the main burned areas.
A recent study by the University of Hong Kong estimates that there are between 20 x 10^15 and 2 x 10^17 individuals on Earth, weighing more than all wild birds and mammals combined. The study also found that ants are unevenly distributed over the global land surface, with tropical regions harbouring more ants than non-tropical regions.
A new study sheds light on the ancestry of manatees, tracing their evolution back 47 million years to northern Africa. The research suggests that modern manatees migrated from South America to the Caribbean and North America around 34 million years ago, with some species thriving in communities for millions of years.
Scientists have developed a new model incorporating the day/night cycle into a global ocean biogeochemistry model to investigate its effects on phytoplankton. The study found that diel light cycles significantly impact phytoplankton competition, particularly at lower latitudes.
Researchers at the University of Malaga study the global risk of yellow fever transmission to humans, finding high zoonotic potential in southeastern Brazil and western Amazon basin. The team proposes prioritizing vaccination efforts in regions with favorable conditions for virus presence and mosquito vectors.
A new study by an international collaboration of researchers highlights the legacy of colonialism in scientific practice across the Caribbean archipelago. The authors outline systemic issues related to perceptions and scientific practice, but also describe positive steps being taken in countries like Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas.
Human activity on Hainan Island is causing changes in the body shapes and diets of tropical birds, resulting in biotic homogenisation. Despite efforts to protect biodiversity, the island's unique ecosystem is being affected by large-scale economic and land-use changes.
A study reveals that new bird species arise in lowland habitats before moving higher into mountainous areas, where genetic differences accumulate. The research suggests that climate fluctuations, particularly during the Pleistocene era, contributed to the evolution of these high-altitude populations.
Eukaryotic plankton are highly diverse taxonomically, phylogenetically, and ecologically. The study found that ocean currents significantly influence their biogeography, with smaller organisms being more sensitive to local environmental conditions.
A new study suggests that climate change is displacing cold-water communities of algae with warm-adapted ones, threatening to destabilize the delicate marine food web. The research found a clear boundary between these communities at moderate water temperatures, highlighting the vulnerability of polar ecosystems.
A new genomic and geological mapping tool helps track listeria found in ingredients, processing facilities and finished products by pinpointing sources of contamination. The nationwide atlas reveals the natural distribution of listeria across the US, aiding in the identification of risk areas.
Researchers used genetic techniques to show that bobtail and bottletail squids share a recent common ancestor, with major biogeographic events influencing their evolution. The study found that these events led to the diversification of many species, with some lineages emerging in response to changes such as the closure of the Tethys Sea.
Research in Colorado's mountain forests found that wildfires accelerate climate-driven species changes by compounding regional warming trends. In contrast, canopy loss due to beetles resulted in slight cooling, suggesting a type of forest resilience.
A Louisiana State University study uses pathogen biogeography to forecast disease outbreaks, outperforming traditional methods. The approach leverages data on pathogens and countries to predict outbreak potential, providing a baseline for comparison to more advanced techniques.
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 reveals that increases in parasite prevalence and diversity are linked to offshore winds, while infected vagrant birds have a limited impact on local bird populations. The findings provide insights into the complex factors driving island biogeography and parasite persistence.
The study identified seven vectored and five non-vectored disease regions, highlighting the impact of colonization, climate, and geography on disease distribution. Researchers found that not all pathogens are limited to specific geographic areas, suggesting a complex relationship between humans and their associated diseases.
A team of researchers used a neutral evolution model to simulate the distribution of marine bacteria cells. They found that microbes evolve faster than the ocean can disperse them, resulting in dynamic biogeographic patterns. This study sheds light on how ocean microbes may respond to global climate change.
A new study led by the University of Exeter warns that many global crop-producing countries will be overwhelmed by pests within the next 30 years if current trends continue. The research identifies the most invasive pest species, including fungi and nematodes, which are expected to spread rapidly due to climate change.
African fossil sites between six and five million years ago show signs of a distinct history of increasing isolation, which may have been caused by global climate change. The modern African sub-Saharan mammalian community is believed to be the vestige of a once-wider-ranging fauna.
Researchers found little evidence for geographical separation driving hamlet color variations, instead suggesting ecological factors like competition for food and habitat may influence co-existence. The study provides insights into the evolutionary process of new species arising.
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center has released a new version of TreeBASE, a database that stores and shares phylogenetic information. The upgraded database allows for richer data storage, improved search techniques, and enhanced visualization tools.
A study reveals that king crabs' ability to live in low-temperature waters drove their evolution and spread globally, while also influencing the distribution of other marine species. The research, published in the Journal of Biogeography, highlights the importance of temperature in shaping the biology and ecology of deep-sea creatures.
Researchers reject popular DNA analysis suggesting humans are closely related to chimpanzees, proposing a new grouping for humans, orangutans and common ancestors. A scenario of the migration and evolution of 'dental hominoids' is presented.
Researchers found that viruses associated with microbialites are distinct from those in other environments and indicate the structures' connection to ancient ecosystems. The study provides insights into the evolution of life on Earth and the origins of these unique ecosystems.
A new study found that insular horseshoe bats exhibit distinct ultrasonic call frequencies, allowing them to recognize their own species. The presence of a third species on the island may be driving this 'private bandwidth' for communication, with implications for social interactions and sexual behavior.
A study using bird assemblages data from 1968 to 2003 found evidence that human activities have shaped large-scale ecological patterns. Many bird species experienced geographic range expansion and an increased abundance of common species over time.
A minority view in geology suggests all oceans were closed and the Earth's radius was smaller pre-Jurassic. The study, published in Journal of Biogeography Volume 30 Issue 10, supports this idea.
Deforestation rates in Brazilian Amazonia averaged seven football fields per minute, with highway proximity being a significant predictor. Current policy initiatives to expand infrastructure networks will likely increase deforestation activity, particularly in south-easterly areas.