Articles tagged with Species Richness
A new study finds that biodiversity loss is causing a smaller, less diverse snake community in the tropics. The decline of tropical snakes is an 'invisible' outcome of biodiversity loss and has upward effects on higher-order predators.
A new study suggests that global biodiversity levels could be lower than previously thought due to the long-lasting impact of abrupt land changes. Biodiversity assessments may be underestimating species loss at sites with recent disturbances, such as deforestation or agriculture intensification.
A new study reveals an unusual diversity gradient in the Amazon Basin, with higher species richness in the western portion than expected. The research, led by scientists from France and Brazil, analyzed data from 97 subdrainage basins along the main stem of the Amazon and its tributaries.
A study by NRRI scientist Chris Filstrup found that the evenness of species distribution is a stronger signal of ecosystem function than species richness. This discovery has implications for conservation practices and understanding biodiversity loss impacts, especially in the face of climate change stress.
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.
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.
Research in Ethiopian sacred church forests reveals that human disturbances, such as buildings and clearings, significantly reduce forest density and species richness. Culturally sensitive conservation strategies are recommended to protect these forests, including restorative planting and protection of large trees.
A study of 32,000 butterflies found that semi-natural grasslands with surrounding forests support the highest number of butterfly species, while agricultural fields have limited resources. The results highlight the importance of preserving landscapes with diverse habitats to ensure the survival of pollinators.
A recent study of native wild bees in Mexico's tropical dry forest found that preserved vegetation areas support significantly greater bee richness and diversity. Urbanization and agriculture lead to major shifts in species composition, threatening local extinctions.
Researchers from Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena studied the correlation between tropical moth size and elevation, finding clear patterns in their measurements. Moths from two species-rich families increase significantly in size at higher elevations, contradicting expectations under the Bergmann rule.
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 large-scale forest biodiversity experiment in China found that species-rich forests stored an average of 32 tons of carbon per hectare, while monocultures averaged only 12 tons. The study suggests that a mix of tree species is necessary for optimal carbon sequestration and climate protection.
A Brazilian study found that climate change could lead to the extinction of up to 10% of frog and toad species endemic to Brazil's Atlantic Rainforest biome within the next 50 years. The researchers used spatial distribution data and ecological niche models to predict which areas would be favorable for each species.
Research by Hokkaido University found that abandoned farmlands, particularly those without surrounding forests, benefit wetland and grassland birds. The study also revealed that landscape structure affects bird communities differently.
New studies suggest that biodiversity might be remaining steady globally, even as species go extinct and decline locally. However, other research finds a mix of stability and increase in species richness at various locations worldwide.
Researchers have developed a new method that can accurately estimate biodiversity at a global scale, up to 10 orders of magnitude. The study used the 1999 Great Britain Countryside Survey dataset and tested over a dozen methods, with one model providing estimates within 10% of the true value.
Scientists have discovered two new primitive species of earthworm, Drawida polydiverticulata and Drawida thomasi, in the Western Ghats mountain ranges in Kerala. The species are part of the genus Drawida, which has an important centre of speciation in the state.
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.
Researchers found that Tibetan Alpine grasslands are vulnerable to climate warming, with temperature changes destabilizing the ecosystem. The study suggests reduced forage production in drought years and increased biomass production in wet years, posing consequences for ecosystem services like climate regulation and water conservation.
A new study highlights the urgent need for global action to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C due to its critical role in preserving marine ecosystems and limiting species turnover for the fishing industry. The results show that exceeding this target could lead to a three-fold decline in marine biomass.
A recent study contradicts earlier claims that declines of pollinator species richness are slowing down in Europe. Dr Tom J. M. Van Dooren found no robust evidence for a decelerating decline across multiple taxonomic groups and European countries.
A new map reveals that humans have seriously altered 97% of the planet's most biodiverse regions, including tropical rainforests. The study found that environmental pressures are widespread, but some nations and countries with strong governance are showing signs of improvement.
The new sixth volume of Research on Chrysomelidae features five research articles on the latest findings about the 37,000 leaf beetle species. The studies cover a new species of potentially dangerous legume-feeding pest and provide new information on life cycle, ecological interactions, species richness factors, and taxonomy.
Scientists studied over 15,000 sites across the US, finding nitrogen deposition exceeded critical loads for loss of plant species richness in 24 percent. The study highlights the impact of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on ecosystems, with effects more pronounced in acidic soils and dry climates.
A novel study has found that higher biodiversity reduces infectious disease severity in a Tibetan alpine meadow, supporting the dilution hypothesis. Artificial fertiliser weakens this effect, increasing disease load.
Biologists at the University of York have found that there is no simple relationship between insect diet and diversity, with some plant-feeding groups being incredibly rich while others are not. The study suggests that other factors play a greater role in explaining diversity.
A recent study on diving beetles found that globally, these animals have evolved towards a small number of regularly-spaced body sizes, indicating functional similarity among species. This suggests that evolution drives self-organizing processes into clusters of functionally similar groups.
A recent study investigates multiple phylogenetic diversity metrics and discusses their role in preserving biodiversity. The study highlights the challenges of calculating these metrics due to data availability, but also notes that as more sequence data are generated, accurate calculations will become increasingly routine.
Vertebrates show variation in species numbers among groups, with land animals exhibiting higher diversification rates, suggests a study by UA evolutionary biologist John Wiens. Habitat is likely a more important variable than climate or metabolic rate explaining species richness.
A new study using data from six continents provides strong evidence supporting the humped-back model (HBM) of plant species richness. The HBM theory suggests that environmental stress can lead to low plant productivity, with highly competitive species dominating at high productivity levels. The research found a very strong correlation ...
A recent study has confirmed the presence of 21 lizard species in Qatar, with some species found only in specific locations. The distribution maps will help identify areas that require urgent conservation measures to protect these species.
Research found that organic farms supported 34% more plant, insect, and animal species than conventional farms. This effect has remained stable over time and shows no signs of decreasing.
High crop species richness suppresses pest populations, indicating a positive relationship between crop diversity and biological control. The study found that crop diversity enhances the natural enemy-pest ratio, leading to improved pest control on EMS using microlandscape.
Researchers pinpoint high conservation priority areas worldwide, revealing stark differences with existing protected zones. The study's findings highlight the need to reassess global knowledge of conservation resources to effectively protect vertebrate species.
Researchers from LMU Munich uncovered well-preserved fish fossils, shedding light on the gobioid order's evolution and classification. The discovery of perfectly preserved otoliths allowed for a genetic code-like analysis, placing a new species in the Butidae family.
Two new species of woodlizards were found in the Peruvian jungle, increasing the country's biodiversity. The newly described lizards, Enyalioides azulae and Enyalioides binzayedi, share a similar territory with slight differences in altitude ranges.
New research uses satellite images to estimate species richness and turnover, achieving nearly 100% accuracy. The method could improve biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts by reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
Researchers discover that evolutionary diversity can be a reliable proxy for measuring biodiversity, including species richness and trait diversity. This finding could help conservation organizations better protect threatened species globally.
A recent study by UCLA researchers found that beetle diversity exceeds that of crocodiles, contradicting the long-held theory that older lineages produce more species. The team proposes that adaptive zones, which determine a lineage's ecological limit, play a crucial role in shaping species richness.
Researchers at University of York and University of Canterbury disprove the accepted theory of nestedness, finding instead that a species' number of mutualistic partners is a better predictor of individual survival and community persistence. This challenges the idea that ecological communities exhibit nested structures.
A statewide assessment of stonefly diversity in Ohio has revealed at least 102 species, with many adapted to survive warm summer water temperatures. The study's findings will inform conservation efforts, prioritizing rare and threatened species like the Atlantic Needlefly.
A recent study analyzed data from tree species censuses and fossil evidence to chart diversity in rainforests. The results show that variation in species richness among families is very similar across tropical forests, suggesting that community structure in rainforests cannot be attributed to stochastic factors.
A massive set of mammal data from GBIF helped quantify the influence of environmental factors on species presence. The study found that climate is the biggest factor influencing mammal species communities at larger scales, while land use and land cover become more important at smaller scales.
A team of ecologists challenges the idea of a universal species-area relationship, finding that geometric constraints and biological effects shape the connection between species richness and plot size. They discovered specific geometric limits that restrict how quickly the number of species can increase with area.
A new study published in Science journal challenges the long-held hypothesis that a relationship exists between plant biomass production and the number of coexisting plant species. The research, led by Iowa State University scientists, found no evidence to support this correlation, contrary to decades of previous studies.
A recent study by Stanford University researchers found that preserving just 9 key sites could protect habitat for 84% of all marine mammal species on Earth. The study identified critical conservation locations off the coasts of Mexico, Canada, Peru, and other countries as areas with high species richness.
Scientists confirm environmental limits to species diversity, extending the concept over a million years through lizard study in the Caribbean. Larger islands tend to support more distinct species of lizards.
A study published in Science reveals that Amazonian biodiversity is linked to the geological history of the Andes, dating back to the past 20 million years. The researchers argue that studies aiming to understand Amazonian forests' evolution need to look further back in time.
The Biodiversity of Saba Bank collection provides critical information on the benthic communities and reef fish that inhabit the Saba Bank. The research reveals six new species potentially new to science collected from one of the largest coral reefs in the Caribbean, highlighting the need for marine protected areas to protect this uniq...
Researchers have created a family tree of 2,000 protea plant species, revealing that two regions – South Western Australia and the Cape Floristic Region – are experiencing accelerated speciation rates. This surge is linked to climate change approximately 10-20 million years ago, which led to hotter, drier conditions and vegetation fires.
The Census of Marine Life has made significant progress towards its goal, with new discoveries including Antarctic ancestry of many octopus species and behemoth bacteria. The report details major advances in technology, knowledge organization, and measurement of human impact on ocean life.
The study revealed 57 coral species, with higher diversity in smaller patchy areas and a focus on protecting larger conservation units. The authors recommend marine reserves to protect high-biodiversity areas, such as the islands of Isla Galera, Isla San Telmo, and Isla Mogo Mogo.
A new study challenges current projections by finding that historic climate variability is a better predictor of reptilian and amphibian diversity in Europe than contemporary climate. This contradicts previous studies and has profound implications for predicting biodiversity impacts of climate change.
Researchers at Woods Hole Research Center are using laser remote sensing (lidar) to study biological diversity and predict bird species richness. Lidar data provides unique measurements of vegetation structure, which is linked to habitat complexity and animal species richness.
A new study by Stanford University researchers challenges the 'biodiversity hotspot' approach to conservation, finding that only 16% of mammalian species overlap across three types of hotspots. The authors argue that protecting fewer sites could lead to neglecting endangered and endemic species.
The study analyzes data on 9,500 bird species and finds that most have small geographic ranges, while the northern hemisphere shows high variation. Biodiversity peaks in tropical regions, and there's a link between species richness and range size, with high biodiversity areas having smaller ranges.
A recent study on African bird fauna found that large-scale patterns of species richness and endemism are robust to changes in species concepts. The analysis identified complexity within long-recognized centers of endemism, with certain areas acting as 'species pumps'.
A recent study published in Ecology Letters explores the complex relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem function. The research reveals that both high and low levels of biodiversity can have negative consequences for ecosystem health, with intermediate levels often being the most beneficial.
A new world map of plant biodiversity has been published, providing a common geographical standard for global nature conservation strategies. The atlas reveals the most species-rich areas on earth, with Borneo's lowland rainforest standing out as the most diverse, containing around 10,000 plant species.
A long-term study found that habitat fragmentation has a far-reaching impact on rainforests, increasing local extinction rates and altering species richness. To maintain diversity and dynamics, Amazonian nature reserves will need to be very large to withstand human disturbances.