//www.koonmotors.com/news/earth_climate/biodiversity/ Learn about the loss of biological diversity - biodiversity - in forests, rainforests, aquatic environments and open land. What are the biodiversity hotspots? Read about biodiversity conservation efforts. en-us Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:54:37 EDT Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:54:37 EDT 60 //www.koonmotors.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png//www.koonmotors.com/news/earth_climate/biodiversity/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231012161707.htm Tropical crops such as coffee, cocoa, watermelon and mango may be at risk due to the loss of insect pollinators, finds a new study. Thu, 12 Oct 2023 16:17:07 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231012161707.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231011182232.htm Tens of thousands of endangered sharks and rays are caught by small-scale fisheries off the Republic of the Congo each year, new research shows. Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:22:32 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231011182232.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231011182159.htm Every year, around 1,200 and 1,400 artificial turf sports fields are installed in the European Union. These fields are made up of synthetic fibers, mainly plastics, that mimic the appearance of natural grass. Recently, scientists conducted a study that characterizes and quantifies the presence of artificial turf fibers in samples collected from surface waters of the Catalan coast and the Guadalquivir River. The findings indicate that artificial turfs can be an important source of pollution in the aquatic environment, accounting for up to 15% of the plastics larger than 5 mm in length that are found floating in the aquatic environment. Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:21:59 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231011182159.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231011182046.htm Epiphytes, plants such as orchids and mosses that grow in trees, draw nutrients from the air and create refuge for all sorts of other life forms. They are the foundation of forest canopy ecosystems, but they are facing threats from human and natural disturbances. Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:20:46 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231011182046.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231005110749.htm Acoels have been found to host a wide diversity of symbiotic, photosynthetic microalgae. Thu, 05 Oct 2023 11:07:49 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231005110749.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231004132432.htm Rivers across England have seen a significant improvement in river invertebrate biodiversity since 1989, shows a new study. Wed, 04 Oct 2023 13:24:32 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231004132432.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231003173442.htm The increasingly urgent climate crisis has led to a boom in commercial tree plantations in an attempt to offset excess carbon emissions. However, authors argue that these carbon-offset plantations might come with costs for biodiversity and other ecosystem functions. Instead, the authors say we should prioritize conserving and restoring intact ecosystems. Tue, 03 Oct 2023 17:34:42 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231003173442.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231002211338.htm A shift in the way we think about the benefits mangroves provide to coastal regions could yield significant economic and biodiversity gains and protect millions from flooding, research has revealed. Mon, 02 Oct 2023 21:13:38 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231002211338.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230928151950.htm Paleontologists discover possible DNA remains in fossil turtle that lived 6 million years ago in Panama, where continents collide. Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:19:50 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230928151950.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230927155426.htm Plastic waste that accumulates on land eventually ends up in the ocean as microplastics. However, it is now speculated that microplastics are also present in the atmosphere, contained in clouds. In a new study, researchers analyzed cloud water samples from high-altitude mountains in Japan to ascertain the amount of microplastics in them. They also shed light on how these airborne particles influence cloud formation and their negative impact on the climate. Wed, 27 Sep 2023 15:54:26 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230927155426.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230927154602.htm Protecting large swaths of Earth's land can help stem the tide of biodiversity loss -- especially when those protected areas are in less disturbed landscapes and in countries with effective national governance. A new study looked at how amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds fared in protected versus unprotected areas worldwide. Vertebrate abundance decreased five times more slowly inside protected areas, offering much-needed support for the United Nations' '30 by 30' conservation initiative. Wed, 27 Sep 2023 15:46:02 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230927154602.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230925124745.htm Ocean acidification will likely almost triple by the end of the century -- a drastic environmental change that could impact important marine species like fleshy seaweeds, algae that grow vertically and promote biodiversity in more than a third of the world's coastline. To get a better idea of how seaweeds might fare in a rapidly acidifying ocean, a team of marine scientists subjected a common fleshy seaweed species to the acidification levels expected by the end of the century. They report that increased acidification impacted the seaweed's chemical balance, made both its structure and its tissues weaker, and reduced its overall chances of survival. Mon, 25 Sep 2023 12:47:45 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230925124745.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230921154538.htm Researchers have identified the threat greenwashing poses to a 'nature positive' world, one where environmental decline halts and biodiversity outcomes improve. Thu, 21 Sep 2023 15:45:38 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230921154538.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230921105756.htm Scientists have mapped the reproductive strategies and life cycle of an endangered coral species, the purple cauliflower soft coral Dendronephthya australis. Lab-grown larvae have been successfully introduced back into the wild. Thu, 21 Sep 2023 10:57:56 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230921105756.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230921105730.htm Sewage pollution, whether treated or untreated, was found to be the primary driver of increased nutrients, algae, and sewage fungus in rivers. Sewage discharge also radically altered plant, animal, and microbe communities, increasing the abundance of harmful species. Run-off from agriculture was also found to lower water quality and be particularly harmful for sensitive insect groups. Thu, 21 Sep 2023 10:57:30 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230921105730.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920152407.htm New research examines the 'revolution' in the study of deforestation brought about by satellites, and analyzing which kinds of policies might limit climate-altering deforestation. Wed, 20 Sep 2023 15:24:07 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920152407.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920110303.htm X-rays of an ancient jawless fish shows earliest-known example of internal cartilage skull, unlike that of any other known vertebrate. Wed, 20 Sep 2023 11:03:03 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920110303.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920013557.htm A new study finds that most Rafflesia species, which produce the world's largest flowers, face extinction. Lack of protection at local, national, and international levels means that remaining populations are under critical threat. Wed, 20 Sep 2023 01:35:57 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920013557.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230919155034.htm An international group of researchers have discovered a previously unknown species of large foraminifer, shedding new light on the ecological evolution and biodiversity of coral reefs in the Ryukyu Islands. Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:50:34 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230919155034.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230918153225.htm Studying a lizard species in Arizona mountains, researchers found 70 years' worth of climate-related extinction occurred in only seven years. Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:32:25 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230918153225.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230918105202.htm Many pathogens, including the virus that causes COVID-19, are thought to have originated in wild animals before spilling into human populations. Mon, 18 Sep 2023 10:52:02 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230918105202.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230915144334.htm • Twenty-year experiment finds that active replanting beats natural recovery for restoring logged tropical forests. • The higher the diversity of replanted tree species, the more quickly canopy area and biomass recovered. • Results emphasize the importance of preserving biodiversity in pristine forests and restoring it in recovering logged forest. Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:43:34 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230915144334.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230914114710.htm Rivers are warming and losing oxygen faster than oceans, according to a new article. The study shows that of nearly 800 rivers, warming occurred in 87% and oxygen loss occurred in 70%. Thu, 14 Sep 2023 11:47:10 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230914114710.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230914103337.htm To obtain the biggest cherry harvest, trees should be pollinated by both honey bees and mason bees. This new study shows yet another benefit of biodiversity. Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:33:37 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230914103337.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913161721.htm 一项新的研究行星边界framewo更新rk and shows human activities are increasingly impacting the planet and, thereby, increasing the risk of triggering dramatic changes in overall Earth conditions. Wed, 13 Sep 2023 16:17:21 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913161721.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913122723.htm Protected nature areas are considered fundamental for maintaining biodiversity and countering its loss. But how effectively do established protected areas work and prevent negative trends? Research shows mixed effects of protected areas on various species. Wed, 13 Sep 2023 12:27:23 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913122723.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913122706.htm Sitting calmly in their webs, many spiders wait for prey to come to them. Arachnids along lakes and rivers eat aquatic insects, such as dragonflies. But, when these insects live in mercury-contaminated waterways, they can pass the metal along to the spiders that feed on them. Now, researchers have demonstrated how some shoreline spiders can move mercury contamination from riverbeds up the food chain to land animals. Wed, 13 Sep 2023 12:27:06 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913122706.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913122654.htm New research suggests that owls in Texas have high rates of anticoagulant rodenticides (AR) -- blood thinning rat poisons -- in their systems. Wed, 13 Sep 2023 12:26:54 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913122654.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913003305.htm A new article uses environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to analyze fish and zooplankton communities. The study found that the movement of water between freshwater bodies, or freshwater connectivity, can transport eDNA. This highlights the potential of eDNA to provide a comprehensive view of freshwater biodiversity. Wed, 13 Sep 2023 00:33:05 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913003305.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230912113522.htm Replacing 50% of meat and milk products with plant-based alternatives by 2050 can reduce agriculture and land use related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 31% and halt the degradation of forest and natural land, according to new research. Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:35:22 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230912113522.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911141124.htm New results reveal that many of Africa's remaining lions live within small, fragmented populations at risk of disappearing. The researchers developed a new framework which integrates ecological and socio-political risk factors to better understand the fragility of these populations. Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:11:24 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911141124.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230908180716.htm A hydrologist's study provides a global estimate of human destruction of natural floodplains. The study can help guide future development in a way that can restore and conserve vital floodplain habitats that are critical to wildlife, water quality and reducing flood risk for people. Fri, 08 Sep 2023 18:07:16 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230908180716.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230908125955.htm A new study has found that air pollution is preventing pollinators finding flowers because it degrades the scent. 星期五,2023年9月08日12:59:55美国东部时间 //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230908125955.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230907205947.htm An emerging system which combines rapid imaging with artificial intelligence could help scientists build a comprehensive picture of present and historic environmental change -- by swiftly and accurately analyzing pollen. Thu, 07 Sep 2023 20:59:47 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230907205947.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230907162622.htm A new report presents major findings on the gravity of impacts from invasive alien species on our planet. Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:26:22 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230907162622.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230907141939.htm An international team of scientists analysed publicly available sustainability reports released by 100 of the world's largest companies and found that around two-thirds of these global corporations are undertaking ecosystem restoration. However, the results highlight that despite many businesses claiming to actively rebuild damaged ecosystems, we know very little about what is actually being achieved. Thu, 07 Sep 2023 14:19:39 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230907141939.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230907130427.htm New research explores the historical shifts in mammal traits and biodiversity loss in eastern Africa. The study reveals how environmental changes disrupted mammal communities and highlights the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts to protect vulnerable species. Thu, 07 Sep 2023 13:04:27 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230907130427.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230906122108.htm As the climate and wildfire crises have intensified, so too have concerns regarding the loss of carbon captured and stored in forests from decades to centuries of tree growth. A new study describes where to optimize ongoing wildfire mitigation efforts and reduce carbon loss due to wildfire, benefitting communities and climate at the same time. The study evaluated where living trees and the carbon they store are at risk of burning in the future. They then compared these areas to communities that are vulnerable to wildfire as identified in the Forest Service's Wildfire Crisis Strategy. Areas of overlap highlight 'opportunity hot spots' where action can reduce the risk from wildfire to both carbon and communities. Wed, 06 Sep 2023 12:21:08 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230906122108.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905202502.htm Scientists identify ways landowners in rural Brazil can find win-win situations with biodiversity and farming. Tue, 05 Sep 2023 20:25:02 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905202502.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905125052.htm Invasive alien species are animals that may pose a threat to biodiversity, but it's time to deal with that threat in a more ethical way. Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:50:52 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905125052.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905125025.htm 在26年,罕见butterf的分布lies has plummeted by 72% in Eastern Denmark. Several species are threatened with extinction, yet the conservation actions aiming to safeguard species have proved unsuccessful. Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:50:25 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905125025.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905124952.htm Elephants, buffaloes and other heavy herbivores are effective against invasive plants. This is the conclusion of a new study that used Indian data, including data from the world's largest survey of wildlife based on camera traps. But smaller animals can do the same: you don't need elephants to get the same effect, the researchers point out. Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:49:52 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905124952.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230904151038.htm Diversified farming is an important complement to forest protections for reversing tropical biodiversity declines. Mon, 04 Sep 2023 15:10:38 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230904151038.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230904133135.htm More than 100 years of observations in nature have revealed a universal pattern of species abundances: Most species are rare but not very rare, and only a few species are very common. These so-called global species abundance distributions have become fully unveiled for some well-monitored species groups, such as birds. For other species groups, such as insects, however, the veil remains partially unlifted. A new study demonstrates how important biodiversity monitoring is for detecting species abundances on planet Earth and for understanding how they change. Mon, 04 Sep 2023 13:31:35 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230904133135.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230831121715.htm At a time of unparalleled rates of biodiversity loss, a new interconnected system to monitor biodiversity around the world is needed to guide action quickly enough to target conservation efforts to where they are most needed. Thu, 31 Aug 2023 12:17:15 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230831121715.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230829141714.htm A new article found that overhunting of gorillas, elephants, and other large fruit-eating seed-dispersers make tropical forests less able to store or sequester carbon. Tue, 29 Aug 2023 14:17:14 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230829141714.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230825122014.htm A study on 'canopy soils' on old trees in Costa Rica shows they are important habitats and carbon stores that cannot easily be replaced. Fri, 25 Aug 2023 12:20:14 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230825122014.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823165528.htm Fresh research suggests that national parks enhance bird diversity inside their borders. Large parks also support higher diversity of both birds and mammals in nearby unprotected areas. Wed, 23 Aug 2023 16:55:28 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823165528.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823165355.htm A new study of cavity-nesting birds in Ecuador shows the influence of deforestation on their habitat and reproductive success. Nest boxes could help. Wed, 23 Aug 2023 16:53:55 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823165355.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823122636.htm Researchers have identified a new pathway by which sugar is released by symbiotic algae. This pathway involves the largely overlooked cell wall, showing that this structure not only protects the cell but plays an important role in symbiosis and carbon circulation in the ocean. Wed, 23 Aug 2023 12:26:36 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823122636.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823122546.htm Researchers combined human and ecological factors to analyze the global scale of non-native tree species invasions. Human activity in hotspots of global trade, such as maritime ports, is linked to an increased likelihood of non-native tree species invasions. However, a high diversity of native tree species can help to curb the intensity of such invasions. Wed, 23 Aug 2023 12:25:46 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823122546.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230822111718.htm By increasing the diversity of indigenous plants in urban areas, researchers have seen a seven times increase in the number of insect species in just three years, confirming the ecological benefits of urban greening projects. 星期二,2023年8月22日11:17:18 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230822111718.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230822111709.htm New research has revealed Australia's iconic grasstrees -- known as 'yaccas' -- play a critical role in protecting wildlife from deadly weather extremes, thereby ensuring their survival. But the grasses themselves are under threat due to back burning, clearing and disease. 星期二,2023年8月22日11:17:09 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230822111709.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230822111645.htm 原产于热带安第斯山脉受到威胁的鸟类by increasing agricultural development in the region. A new study combines a meta-analysis of papers on birds across the Andes with five years of fieldwork in Peru, revealing that open farmlands result in up to a 60% decline in the number of species in an area. The study documents how specific species are affected and provides tailored guidance for conservationists trying to protect them. 星期二,2023年8月22日11:16:45 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230822111645.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230822111421.htm Researchers demonstrate that a vast multitude of birds and mammals can be detected by simply swabbing the DNA left behind by animals from leaves. They showcased the power of this approach in an ecosystem that hosts a ton of wildlife and where detecting animals has historically proven extremely challenging -- the tropical rainforest. 星期二,2023年8月22日11:14:21 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230822111421.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230817164011.htm Conventional wisdom among ecologists holds that the more species there are inhabiting an ecosystem, the less vulnerable any one species will be to a threat like a parasite. A new study of tadpoles illustrates how overlapping biological and environmental factors can complicate how we value protecting diverse animal communities. The researchers found that environmental pollutants like road salt influence whether increased biodiversity helps or hinders disease outbreaks in wildlife, which can complicate how we value protecting diverse animal communities. Thu, 17 Aug 2023 16:40:11 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230817164011.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230816114144.htm Birds likely hold smart insights about coexisting in popular habitats -- especially as climate change looms. Scientists peel back layers of big data to tease out real-life answers. Wed, 16 Aug 2023 11:41:44 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230816114144.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230809164631.htm Pesticides are a leading source of chemical hazards in aquatic environments. Researchers have introduced a new tool to help evaluate toxicity at high resolution and suggests that targeting a small number of pesticides in a few watersheds could significantly reduce aquatic toxicity in California's agricultural centers. Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:46:31 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230809164631.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230809164610.htm A study of 12 species of highly migratory fish predators -- including sharks, tuna, and billfish such as marlin and swordfish -- finds that most of them will encounter widespread losses of suitable habitat and redistribution from current habitats in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean (NWA) and the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) by 2100. These areas are among the fastest warming ocean regions and are projected to increase between 1-6°C (+1-10°F) by the end of the century, a sign of climate-driven changes in marine ecosystems. Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:46:10 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230809164610.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230809004907.htm Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of conservation educational activities in the Cape Verde Island of Maio. Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:49:07 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230809004907.htm