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Categories: Ecology: Endangered Species, Ecology: Nature
Published New route to recyclable polymers from plants



Cellulose, abundantly available from plant biomass, can be converted into molecules used to make a new class of recyclable polymers, to sustainably replace some plastics.
Published Scientists weigh up current status of blue whale populations around the world



The largest living animal, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) which averages about 27 meters in length, has slowly recovered from whaling only to face the rising challenges of global warming, pollution, disrupted food sources, shipping, and other human threats. In a major new study, biologists have taken a stock of the number, distribution and genetic characteristics of blue whale populations around the world and found the greatest differences among the eastern Pacific, Antarctic subspecies and pygmy subspecies of the eastern Indian and western Pacific.
Published Ancient giant dolphin discovered in the Amazon



Measuring between 3 to 3.5 meters, 16 million years old: Paleontologists have announced the discovery of a new species of freshwater dolphin in the Peruvian Amazon region. Surprisingly, its closest living relatives can be found in the river dolphins of South Asia.
Published Monitoring and measuring biodiversity require more than just numbers; scientists advocate for change



Scientists advocate for change to promote standardized practices in the field -- a practice that has been missing from the science.
Published Climate change alters the hidden microbial food web in peatlands



To better understand a carbon sink in danger, scientists are turning to tiny organisms that have long been overlooked.
Published Artificial streams reveal how drought shapes California's alpine ecosystems



Researchers have used a series of artificial stream channels to mimic the behavior of headwater creeks under future climate change scenarios. They found that drier conditions shifted the life cycles of the algae and insects that form the base of the alpine food web. However, because species adjusted to the shifts in a variety of ways, the stream ecosystems were generally resilient to the changing conditions.
Published A wetter world recorded in Australian coral colony



When climate scientists look to the future to determine what the effects of climate change may be, they use computer models to simulate potential outcomes such as how precipitation will change in a warming world. Some scientists are also looking at something a little more tangible: coral.
Published Fish species that move rapidly toward the poles due to global warming decline in abundance, study finds



A new study has found a decline in the abundance of marine fish species that move rapidly toward the poles to escape rising sea temperatures. The researchers explain that many animal species are currently moving toward cooler regions as a result of global warming, but the velocity of such range shifts varies greatly for different species. Examining thousands of populations from almost 150 fish species, the researchers show that contrary to the prevailing view, rapid range shifts coincide with widescale population declines.
Published Scientists discover how Diadem butterfly mimics African Queen



Scientists have discovered how female Diadem butterflies have evolved to look like African Queen butterflies to repel predators.
Published Eyes open and toes out of water: How a giant water bug reached the island of Cyprus



A new visitor was reported on the coast of Cyprus, thanks to the growing power of citizen science. Researchers collected information and specimens through personal communication with amateur naturalists, but also through the internet, in order to compose the mosaic of repeated appearances of a giant water bug on the eastern shoreline of the island.
Published Cacao plants' defense against toxic cadmium unveiled



Researchers used bright X-rays to unveil how cacao trees protect themselves from toxic metal cadmium.
Published Global wildlife study during COVID-19 shows rural animals are more sensitive to human activity



One of the largest studies on wildlife activity reveals that wild animals react differently to humans depending on where the animals live and what they eat. Bigger herbivores -- plant-eating animals like deer or moose -- tend to become more active when humans are around, while meat-eaters like wolves or wolverines tend to be less active, preferring to avoid risky encounters.
Published Why do tree frogs lay their eggs on the ground?



A curious aspect of tree frogs is that they often lay their eggs on the ground where the risk of predation by natural enemies is greater than in the trees where they live. A research team suggested that the reason for this behavior is to protect the eggs from low temperatures. Their findings highlight the challenge faced by tree frogs: Should they attempt to maintain an optimal temperature for their eggs or risk predation?
Published Arctic nightlife: Seabird colony bursts with sound at night



Acoustic recordings of a colony of little auks reveal their nocturnal activities and offer valuable monitoring means for avian biology in the Arctic.
Published Shark-bitten orcas in the Northeastern Pacific could be a new population of killer whale



Researchers believe a group of killer whales observed hunting marine mammals including sperm whales, as well as a sea turtle, in the open ocean off California and Oregon could be a new population. Based on available evidence, the researchers posit that the 49 orcas could belong to a subpopulation of transient killer whales or a unique oceanic population found in waters off the coast of California and Oregon.
Published Groundbreaking study reveals extensive leatherback turtle activity along U.S. coastline



A new study provides groundbreaking findings that offer insights on the migration and foraging patterns of leatherback sea turtles along the Northwest Atlantic shelf.
Published Tropical birds could tolerate warming better than expected, study suggests



We expect tropical animals to handle a certain degree of heat, but not wild swings in temperature. That seems to be true for tropical ectotherms, or 'cold-blooded' animals such as amphibians, reptiles, and insects. However, in a new study of 'warm-blooded' endotherms, a research team found tropical birds can handle thermal variation just fine.
Published Rope entanglement cause of low breeding rates in right whales, analysis finds



New findings show the severe impact of fishing gear entanglements on the survival of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, with every injury from entanglements impacting population recovery.
Published High resolution imagery advances the ability to monitor decadal changes in emperor penguin populations



Emperor penguin populations have been exceedingly difficult to monitor because of their remote locations, and because individuals form breeding colonies on seasonal sea ice fastened to land (known as fast ice) during the dark and cold Antarctic winter. New research that incorporates very high-resolution satellite imagery with field-based validation surveys and long-term data has provided the first multi-year time series that documents emperor penguin global population trends.
Published Simple trick could improve accuracy of plant genetics research



Researchers have published a simple trick that improves the accuracy of techniques that help us understand how external variables -- such as temperature -- affect gene activity in plants.