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Categories: Environmental: Biodiversity, Paleontology: Early Mammals and Birds
Published Sediment core analysis supports new epoch characterized by human impact on planet



Scientists analyzed open-source data to track vegetation changes across North America since the end of the Pleistocene Epoch, and conclude that humans have had as much of an impact on the landscape as the retreat of the glaciers at the end of the Ice Age.
Published New study finds hidden trees across Europe: A billion tons of biomass is overlooked today



Through satellite imaging a new AI driven mapping of biomass and CO2 storage shows that a huge number of trees are overlooked in Europe's urban, rural, and agricultural areas. Across Europe, researchers have discovered a billion tons of hidden biomass.
Published Soil carried on sea freight loaded with dangerous pests and diseases, research finds



While sea freight is recognised as a pathway for the movement of exotic organisms, there is little research that has quantified the risk. Soil collected from the external surfaces of sea freight was found to support live microorganisms, worms, seeds and insects, including various regulated biosecurity organisms. The research confirms that shipping containers provide a pathway for the movement of exotic species.
Published Holy bat skull! Fossil adds vital piece to bat evolution puzzle



Bats may have lived in caves and used soundwaves to navigate much earlier than first thought.
Published Cut emissions and improve farming to protect wilderness



Humanity must cut carbon emissions and use farmland more efficiently to protect our planet's remaining wilderness, new research shows.
Published Drought conditions expose rivers to hotter water temperatures



A new study reveals how reduced water flows and rising atmospheric temperatures are set to heat our rivers -- creating major challenges for aquatic life, ecosystems, and society.
Published New mollusk and crustacean species in symbiosis with worms in dead coral rocks



The symbiotic communities of invertebrates in dead coral gravel on the shallow, warm-temperate coast of the Kii Peninsula in western Japan. New bivalve species and sideswimmer have been found to live communally with the greenish Bonellia spoonworm. Live-in symbionts share the burrows of other organisms in sand and mud on the seabed. However, studies on burrow niches in rigid substrates, such as rocks on the seabed, have been scarce.
Published AI models identify biodiversity from animal sounds in tropical rainforests



Animal sounds are a very good indicator of biodiversity in tropical reforestation areas. Researchers demonstrate this by using sound recordings and AI models.
Published Coffee and cocoa plants at risk from pollinator loss



Tropical crops such as coffee, cocoa, watermelon and mango may be at risk due to the loss of insect pollinators, finds a new study.
Published Extraordinary fossil find reveals details about the weight and diet of extinct saber-toothed marsupial



A 13-million-year-old saber-toothed marsupial skeleton discovered during paleontological explorations in Colombia is the most complete specimen recovered in the region.
Published Tens of thousands of endangered sharks and rays caught off Congo



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.
Published Remains of artificial turf is an important source of pollution of the aquatic environment



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.
Published Epiphytes, amazing plants like moss and bromeliads found in trees, face growing threats



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.
Published Race to find world's oldest mammal fossils led to mud-slinging



The hunt for the world’s most ancient mammals descended into academic warfare in the seventies, researchers have discovered.
Published Shining a light on tiny, solar-powered animals



Acoels have been found to host a wide diversity of symbiotic, photosynthetic microalgae.
Published Survival of the newest: the mammals that survive mass extinctions aren't as 'boring' as scientists thought



For decades, scientists have assumed that mammals and their relatives that survived challenging times (like those during mass extinctions) made it because they were generalists that were able to eat just about anything and adapt to whatever life threw at them. A new study into the mammal family tree through multiple mass extinctions revealed that the species that survived aren't as generic as scientists had thought: instead, having new and different traits can be the key to succeeding in the aftermath of a catastrophe.
Published Invertebrate biodiversity is improving in England's rivers, long-term trends show



Rivers across England have seen a significant improvement in river invertebrate biodiversity since 1989, shows a new study.
Published Carbon-capture tree plantations threaten tropical biodiversity for little gain, ecologists say



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.
Published Improved mangrove conservation could yield cash, carbon, coastal benefits



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.
Published Genome study reveals 30 years of Darwin's finch evolution



An international team of researchers has released a landmark study on contemporary evolutionary change in natural populations. Their study uses one of the largest genomic datasets ever produced for animals in their natural environment, comprising nearly 4,000 Darwin's finches. The study has revealed the genetic basis of adaptation in this iconic group.