Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity
Published

Three out of four populations of rare butterflies have been lost      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In just 26 years, the distribution of rare butterflies has plummeted by 72% in Eastern Denmark. Several species are threatened with extinction, yet the conservation actions aiming to safeguard species have proved unsuccessful.

Biology: Botany Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: General Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems
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Large herbivores keep invasive plants at bay      (via sciencedaily.com) 

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.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Blowing snow contributes to Arctic warming      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Atmospheric scientists have discovered abundant fine sea salt aerosol production from wind-blown snow in the central Arctic, increasing seasonal surface warming.

Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Zoology Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Earth Science
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Most species are rare, but not very rare      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

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.

Biology: Botany Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Extreme El Niño weather saw South America's forest carbon sink switch off      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Tropical forests in South America lose their ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere when conditions become exceptionally hot and dry, according to new research. For a long time, tropical forests have acted as a carbon sink, taking more carbon out of the air than they release into it, a process that has moderated the impact of climate change. But new research found that in 2015 -- 2016, when an El Niño climate event resulted in drought and the hottest temperatures ever recorded, South American forests were unable to function as a carbon sink.

Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Severe Weather
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A global observatory to monitor Earth's biodiversity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

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.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Genetics Ecology: Animals Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
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The search for the super potato      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

As climate change continues to pose severe challenges to ensuring sustainable food supplies around the world, scientists are looking for ways to improve the resilience and nutritional quality of potatoes. Scientists have assembled the genome sequences of nearly 300 varieties of potatoes and its wild relatives to develop more nutritious, disease-free, and weather-proof crop. A team has now created a potato super pangenome to identify genetic traits that can help produce the next super spud.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Emphasizing the need for energy independence could change the views of climate deniers, study says      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Emphasising the need for energy independence and environmental stewardship could help to change people’s minds about the climate crisis, a new study says.

Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Unveiling global warming's impact on daily precipitation with deep learning      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has conclusively demonstrated that global warming stands as primary driver behind the recent increase in heavy rainfall and heatwaves using deep learning convolutional neural network.

Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Climate extremes hit stressed economies even harder      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Economies already under stress respond more strongly to weather events like heat waves, river floods and tropical cyclones, a new study shows. A global economic crisis as during the Covid-19 pandemic strongly amplifies the price increases private households experience from the impacts of weather extremes, a team of researchers finds. The price impacts tripled in China, doubled in the United States and increased by a third in the European Union.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Trees Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems
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Want to fight climate change? Don't poach gorillas (or elephants, hornbills, toucans, etc.)      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

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.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Extreme weather events linked to increased child marriage      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Among the negative impacts of extreme weather events around the world is one that most people may not think of: an increase in child marriages.

Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Researchers take aim at weather forecasters' biggest blindspot      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Anyone who's been caught in an unexpected downpour knows that weather forecasting is an imperfect science. Now, researchers are taking aim at one of meteorologists' biggest blind spots: extremely short-term forecasts, or nowcasts, that predict what will happen in a given location over the next few minutes.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: General Ecology: Research Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Earth Science
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National parks support wildlife inside and outside their borders      (via sciencedaily.com) 

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.

Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Severe Weather
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New modeling method helps to explain extreme heat waves      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To prepare for extreme heat waves around the world -- particularly in places known for cool summers -- climate-simulation models that include a new computing concept may save tens of thousands of lives.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Extinction Ecology: General Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Research Ecology: Trees Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Deforestation limits nesting habitat for cavity-nesting birds      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new study of cavity-nesting birds in Ecuador shows the influence of deforestation on their habitat and reproductive success. Nest boxes could help.

Biology: Marine Biology: Molecular Ecology: Extinction Ecology: General Ecology: Research Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems
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Researchers unearth a new process by which algae pass on nurtrients to their coral host      (via sciencedaily.com) 

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.