Articles tagged with Biodiversity
A new machine learning algorithm assesses over 150,000 plant species worldwide, predicting more than 10% as highly likely to qualify for at-risk IUCN classification. The model flags regions with high native biodiversity and endemic species as areas of concern.
Researchers found that businesses are implementing biodiversity offsets at a rapid rate globally, with over 10,000 examples of nature sites created specifically to compensate for industrial impacts. The study published in Nature Sustainability provides the first global dataset for assessing the effectiveness of these offsets.
A team of scientists found that herbivory has a complex relationship with plant diversity, but is crucial for maintaining biodiversity when dominant species are present. In some grasslands, herbivores help regulate the growth of fast-growing plants and promote smaller, slower-growing species.
Scientists developed an interactive database with 27 species, including a new species Pteromalus capito, to demonstrate the advantages of modern taxonomic software. The software Xper3 enables fast and efficient identification, reducing steps from 16 to 6 for one studied wasp species.
New research from the University of East Anglia reveals that heatwaves can halve male reproductive fitness, reducing offspring production by three-quarters. The study found that heatwaves also damage inseminated sperm within female reproductive tracts, leading to reduced fertility and population viability.
Researchers discovered that even tiny genetic variations between plants can significantly improve their combined yield when grown together in mixed communities. By analyzing the genetic makeup of different plant crosses, they identified key genes responsible for enhancing team performance.
Researchers are exploring new paradigms for relationship diversity, including asexuality, polyamory, and kink/fetish relationships. The study of queer intimacies is being redefined, with Phillip Hammack calling for a 'paradigm shift' in the field.
A collaborative study analyzed over 5700 individual samples from 300 localities across Estonia, discovering 52 species of Myriapoda. Notably, six species were found to be at their range limits, while one was introduced by humans.
A research collaboration found that Haiti has lost over 99% of its primary forests, triggering an ongoing mass extinction of reptiles, amphibians, and other species. The country is expected to lose all remaining primary forest cover in less than two decades, resulting in the disappearance of most endemic species.
A new study reveals that ancient fish species originated in shallow ocean waters, not coral reefs. The researchers analyzed fossil records and created a database to reconstruct the early habitats of vertebrates, finding that they diversified in near-shore areas.
Researchers confirm monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides) frequently climbs to high points in trees, suggesting a significant impact on seed germination and dispersal. This discovery sheds new light on the species' importance in southern South American temperate rainforests.
A new study reveals that mammals cannot evolve fast enough to escape the current extinction crisis, threatening the loss of unique ecological functions and evolutionary history. Conservation efforts must be improved to prevent further extinctions, with some species facing high risks of disappearing within 50 years.
New research reveals that reducing Amazon deforestation has led to a significant increase in natural vegetation destruction in the nearby Cerrado region. The study suggests that the unintended consequences of conservation efforts can have profound impacts on neighboring areas with significant biodiversity.
A study by researchers from Germany found that taller plant species have taken over the Arctic tundra in recent decades, with a significant increase in plant height observed over the past three decades. Climate warming is believed to be the underlying cause of this shift.
Scientists have identified 20 new gnat species in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, shedding light on the region's rich biodiversity. The discovery highlights the importance of this ecosystem in hosting endemic species.
A new framework outlines how to measure key characteristics of animals and plants to inform policymakers' decisions. The study aims to provide data-driven insights into species' responses to climate change, habitat loss, and other human impacts.
A study published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment highlights the dangers of peace in Colombia, where deforestation rates are surpassing those of Brazil, and climate change poses a threat to isolated mountain ecosystems. Mining activities also pose environmental problems.
A new study suggests that protecting key habitats outside of existing wildernesses and preserves is essential for conserving at-risk species with small ranges. The analysis shows that even half of the world's large wilderness areas may not be enough to protect many more species.
Arizona State University will receive biological samples from 81 field sites across the US for 30 years, providing long-term ecological data. The NEON Biorepository Data Portal will make detailed information available online.
Researchers are studying how island scrub-jays, found only on Santa Cruz Island, genetically diverge despite being isolated. The study aims to understand microgeographic adaptation strategies in these birds.
Researchers created a comprehensive family tree and atlas of mammals, connecting nearly 6,000 living and recently extinct species. The database includes human-induced regional range losses and provides new baselines for restoration, changing scientists' beliefs about what is 'natural' or not.
Researchers emphasize the importance of seagrass conservation in securing a sustainable planet due to its role in biodiversity, fisheries, and carbon cycling. Seagrasses store significant amounts of carbon in their sediments, supporting local ecosystems and potentially mitigating climate change.
A global biodiversity collapse is predicted unless concerted action is taken to reverse species loss in the tropics. The study highlights the urgent need for sustainable development and effective conservation interventions to preserve and restore tropical habitats.
A new study by Oregon State University finds that a continuous border wall could fragment the habitats of many animal species, putting them at risk. The authors urge the US government to follow environmental laws and consider the long-term consequences of such a barrier.
A study published in BioScience warns that the Mexico-US border wall could lead to the extinction of over 1,500 native animal and plant species in the US. The construction of physical barriers disrupts annual or seasonal migration and dispersal routes, causing habitat fragmentation, soil erosion, and changes in fire regimes.
Researchers created a model to simulate biodiversity history in South America over thousands of years, closely matching observed patterns. The model's results suggest topography and climate play critical roles in species diversification and extinction.
Researchers develop comprehensive set of criteria to identify areas of environmental importance where no mining should occur. The guidelines, which include 18 quantitative metrics, aim to protect a wide range of habitats and species that might be harmed by mining activities.
Six new species of land snails with scaly shells have been identified in Malaysian Borneo, revealing a previously unknown species group. The researchers used DNA and 3D modeling to analyze the snails' shells and confirm their taxonomy.
A new study reveals that tropical forest conservation policies are not compensating the world's poorest people, despite good intentions. Researchers found that local communities face significant economic costs and are often arrested for cultivating ancestral land, highlighting the need for proper compensation to be affordable.
The project aims to add hundreds of thousands of figures and taxonomic treatments to the Biodiversity Literature Repository (BLR), a joint venture of Plazi and Pensoft. The BLR is an open science community platform that makes biodiversity data findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable.
University of Alberta biologists developed a new imaging technology to study plant diversity and evolutionary history using light spectroscopy. The method allows for quick assessment of biodiversity changes over large landscapes, providing a practical tool for addressing ecosystem function and climate change.
Two new species of tiny shrimps, Odontonia bagginsi and Odontonia plurellicola, are described as part of a research project at Leiden University. The shrimps are found in symbiosis with tunicates, with unique adaptations to their environment.
A two-year project found significant declines in birds of prey across Botswana, with 14 out of 29 species monitored showing decreases. The study suggests climate change and poisoning by poachers as potential causes, highlighting the need for urgent research.
Researchers analyzed over 40,000 protected areas worldwide to determine areas needing further protection. The analysis found that nearly half of mountain ranges lacked stringent PAs and failed to meet biodiversity conservation goals.
A Montana State University ecologist has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright appointment to work on a project helping countries meet conservation goals set by an international agreement. The project aims to analyze ecosystem data gathered by NASA, which could help over 30 countries protect biodiversity.
Introduced species are deliberately excluded from biodiversity reports, distorting international nature reports and the public's view of nature. The study recommends including their positive contributions to accurately track the state of biodiversity and its evolution.
A well-preserved horse burial at Tombos has provided new insights into the social significance of equids in the Nile Valley during the Third Intermediate Period. The discovery suggests that horses represented symbols of a larger social, political and economic movement in ancient Nubian culture.
An independent analysis of aggregated occurrence records found that ALA and GBIF data processing leads to significant data loss and unjustified changes in scientific names. The audit revealed up to 1 in 5 records were altered due to aggregator errors, with major disagreements on names between aggregators also reported.
The project seeks to understand the evolution and organization of life by sequencing and functionally annotating the genomes of 1.5 million eukaryotic species, including plants, animals, fungi, and single-cell organisms. This initiative aims to reveal unknown species and provide a freely available resource for scientific discovery.
The Earth BioGenome Project is a 10-year scientific grand challenge to document life on Earth. The project's challenges include international coordination and governance, economic benefits, and biodiversity conservation.
The digitization of botanical collections data is revolutionizing the field of botany, making valuable information accessible for computational analysis. Methods and challenges for extracting data from specimens have been discussed, as well as applications for collections data once digitized.
The Macropis Cuckoo Bee, one of North America's rarest bees, has its known range greatly expanded after a new record was found in Alberta, Canada. Scientists have discussed the conservation status of this species and emphasized the importance of monitoring for populations to ensure its survival.
A new study from Stockholm University shows that prescribed burning in southern Ethiopia's tree heather heathlands maintains biodiversity and habitats for alpine plant species. The practice, which has been used for at least 2000 years, is recommended to be maintained but regulated to protect local ecosystems and societies.
A new butterfly species, Cyllopsis tomemmeli, has been recognized nearly 60 years after it was first collected by Thomas Emmel in Mexico. The species was named to honor Emmel's dedication to lepidoptera research.
Students from a field course in Borneo successfully described a male spider species of the genus Opadometa sarawakensis, with striking orange, gray, black, and silver colors. They used smartphones paired with headlights to gather data and took advantage of an open-access workflow to compile their manuscript within a month.
750 world experts will finalize landmark reports on biodiversity, nature's contributions, and land degradation, providing unprecedented insights into the status of global biodiversity and land quality. The reports will inform better decisions about nature and set biodiversity targets for the period after 2020.
The Brazilian savanna has significant natural regeneration potential, but its resilience is limited to tree regrowth. Human management, including exotic grass eradication and native plant reintroduction, is necessary to restore degraded areas to typical Cerrado with rich biodiversity.
A new collection captures the long-neglected human side of science through peer-reviewed stories on conservation. The collection highlights the emotional highs and lows of scientists working to preserve species and ecosystems.
The study analyzed nearly 46,000 records of alien species from 1500-2005, finding that a substantial proportion of newly recorded species had not been previously reported elsewhere. This suggests that access to new potential alien species has increased over time, contributing to the global rise in emerging alien species.
Bacterial diversity may have a much longer lifespan than previously thought, according to University of Montana researchers. They found that some specialized cells called heterocysts can produce different kinds of bacteria, which has been preserved for tens of millions of years.
Entomologist Brian Brown discovers the new fly species, named Megapropodiphora arnoldi, with highly reduced legs and tiny wings. The fly is likely a parasitoid of ants or termites.
The Earth BioGenome Project will map the DNA of all known eukaryotic species, including plants, animals, and single-celled organisms. The ambitious 10-year project is expected to cost $4.7 billion.
Studies examined point-light displays of biological motion in twins, revealing individual variation tied to genetic factors; participants with higher autistic traits showed impaired local BM processing. A shared genetic basis may underlie both perception and autistic characteristics.
Only one-third of countries meet global targets for protected area connectivity, with EU Member States averaging 18.9% connected land coverage. The study recommends designating new PAs in strategic locations to enhance connectivity and support biodiversity conservation.
Global experts recommend a broader appreciation of nature's contributions beyond ecosystem services, recognizing cultural significance and local knowledge. The new approach aims to increase the effectiveness and legitimacy of policies by incorporating a richer information base.
Researchers have identified 18 new species of pelican spiders in Madagascar, known for their unique biology and hunting behavior. The discovery sheds light on the island's biodiversity and emphasizes the need to conserve its shrinking forests and unique species.
A pan-European sampling campaign has shed light on the vast diversity of freshwater plankton in lakes across Europe. The research team found that plankton communities are highly specific to distinct lakes and reveal signals of the past due to geological changes over the past 12,000 years.
The oVert project provides free, high-resolution 3D images of internal vertebrate anatomy for research and education. The database contains scanned CT scans of over 20,000 specimens from around the world.
A research team has developed a model that predicts biodiversity on the Antarctic seafloor using satellite data and ocean currents. The model's predictions have been verified by physical sampling of seafloor sediments, providing valuable insights for conservation and management.
A field course organized by Taxon Expeditions led to the discovery of six new beetle species in Maliau Basin, Malaysian Borneo. The citizen scientists employed the Winkler extraction method to collect and identify the insects, with three new species published in the Biodiversity Data Journal.