Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Ecology: Animals Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity
Published

Wild megalopolis: Study shows unexpected pockets of biodiversity pepper Los Angeles      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers, in partnership with the city of Los Angeles, have developed the urban association index to help identify how well or poorly individual wildlife species are doing in the city. The researchers found unexpected pockets of biodiversity deep in the city, but they say it will still be a challenge to elevate Los Angeles' overall level of biodiversity.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Ecology: Animals Ecology: Nature Ecology: Trees Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: General
Published

Smarter foragers do not forage smarter      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Why do primates have big brains? In the Panamanian rainforest, scientists pitted large-brained primates against smaller-brained mammals to find out who was the smartest forager.

Ecology: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Warmer wetter climate predicted to bring societal and ecological impact to the Tibetan Plateau      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

According to a paper, climate and weather predictions of increased rainfall will lead to an exponential expansion of land-locked lakes on the Tibetan Plateau, resulting in major land loss and related economic, environmental and climatic impacts.

Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Rising temperatures will significantly reduce streamflow in the upper Colorado river basin as groundwater levels fall      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The Colorado River makes life possible in many Western cities and supports agriculture that sustains people throughout the country. Most of the river's water begins as snowmelt from the mountainous watersheds of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, and a warming climate will drastically reduce these streamflows, new research finds.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Social networks can influence perception of climate-change risk      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Short but severe episodes of flooding from hurricanes in Texas and Florida triggered a nationwide increase in flood insurance sign-ups depending on how socially connected a county was to the flooded counties.

Biology: Biochemistry Ecology: General Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
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Conservation of nature's strongholds needed to halt biodiversity loss      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To achieve global biodiversity targets, conservationists and governments must prioritize the establishment and effective management of large, interconnected protected areas with high ecological integrity, researchers argue in a new essay.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Extinction Ecology: General Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science
Published

Regional differences in bird diversity in agroforestry systems      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The diversity and ecological functionality of bird communities in tropical agroforestry systems are shaped by the surrounding landscape, in particular the extent and composition of the forest.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Night-time heat significantly increases the risk of stroke      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers show that nocturnal heat significantly increases the risk of stroke. The findings can contribute to the development of preventive measures: With them, the population can better protect themselves against the risks of climate change with increasingly frequent hot nights. In addition, knowledge of the consequences of hot nights can improve patient care.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Mathematics: Statistics
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Improving statistical methods to protect wildlife populations      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In human populations, it is relatively easy to calculate demographic trends and make projections of the future if data on basic processes such as births and immigration is known. The data, given by individuals, can be also death and emigration, which subtract. In the wild, on the other hand, understanding the processes that determine wildlife demographic patterns is a highly complex challenge for the scientific community. Although a wide range of methods are now available to estimate births and deaths in wildlife, quantifying emigration and immigration has historically been difficult or impossible in many populations of interest, particularly in the case of threatened species.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Warming climate intensifies flash droughts worldwide      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Sudden, severe dry spells known as flash droughts are rising in intensity around the world, with a notable exception in mountainous Central Asia, where flash drought extent is shrinking, according to new research. Heat and changes to precipitation patterns caused by a warming climate are driving these trends, the study found.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

The impacts of climate change on food production      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study shows that climate change has led to decreased pollen production from plants and less pollen diversity than previously thought, which could have a significant impact on food production.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

U.S. drought-monitoring system outpaced by climate changes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study reports that the U.S. Drought Monitor's weekly maps of nationwide drought conditions -- which help direct emergency federal aid -- have captured the steady march of climate change, but the Drought Monitor has itself failed to adapt to that reality. Areas of the country are spending more and more time in severe drought conditions the Drought Monitor still considers to be rare occurrences. The consequences could be that swaths of the country -- particularly in the West -- may not receive aid in keeping with the enhanced risk of drought as periodic emergencies become persistent new realities.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Severe Weather Paleontology: Climate Paleontology: General
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Record low Antarctic sea ice 'extremely unlikely' without climate change      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have found that the record-low levels of sea ice around Antarctica in 2023 were extremely unlikely to happen without the influence of climate change. This low was a one-in-a-2000-year event without climate change and four times more likely under its effects.

Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Scale matters in determining vulnerability of freshwater fish to climate changes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team explored the influence the spatial extent of research -- the geographical coverage of data collected -- has on evaluating the sensitivity of different fish species to climate change.

Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Differing values of nature can still lead to joined up goals for sustainability      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Recognizing and respecting the different ways nature is valued can enable better environmental decision-making, according to new research.