Biodiversity News :: ScienceDailyOne out of three rivers in the Iberian Peninsula is affected by salinization
~ One out of three rivers in the Iberian Peninsula has salinization mainly due the impact of agricultural activity and territory urbanization. This environmental problem will affect hydric ecosystems due global warming, the growing use of water and the exploitation of soil natural resources. Find out more...
Damning evidence of dam's impacts on rainforest birds
~ Conservation scientists have found that a dam built in Thailand 31 years ago has caused the local bird population to collapse. Find out more...
Missing the forest for the trees: An unexpected picture of New York City forests
~ An inventory of New York City's expansive yet overlooked 'forested natural areas' reveals that, contrary to previous reports, native species still comprise about 82 percent of the city's forest stands. In the forests' mid- and understory, however, the proportion of native species fell significantly, suggesting that their dominance could decline in coming decades. Find out more...
Transforming our food system to ensure a sustainable future
~ By 2050, the world will have almost 10 billion people. It will be impossible to feed everyone without exacerbating poverty, accelarting deforestation and increasing GHG emissions unless we start making substantial changes to our food system now. This issue is covered in a new report. Find out more...
More diversity than before: Indications for recovery after ecosystem pollution
~ Lake Constance, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Europe, suffered from eutrophication, or nutrient contamination caused by agricultural and waste water run-off in the mid-1900s. A study has now revealed that one European whitefish species expanded its genetic variation through hybridization with other whitefish species during the period of eutrophication. Find out more...
Colombia tropical forest fires spike after 2016 Peace Accords
~ Fires that contribute to deforestation spiked six-fold in Colombia in the year after an historic 2016 peace agreement ended decades of conflict between FARC guerrilla and government forces, according to a new study. Find out more...
Set your teeth on EDGE: World's weirdest sharks and rays on the brink of extinction
~ Sharks that use a whip-like tail to stun their prey, rays with saws on their faces, and river rays half the length of a bus are among the most unique species at risk of extinction, according to the latest ranking from international conservation charity ZSL's (Zoological Society of London) pioneering EDGE of Existence program. Find out more...
Salt-evolved zooplankton grow too slowly to block salt-induced algal blooms
~ Small animals at the base of the freshwater food chain can rapidly adapt to salt pollution -- from sources like winter road deicing, agriculture, and mining -- but at a price. Find out more...
Thriving reef fisheries continue to provide food despite coral bleaching
~ The unexpected results of a 20-year study into reef fisheries showed fisheries being maintained despite extreme coral bleaching. Remarkably, rapid proliferation of fishes with low dependence on corals led to catches remaining stable or even increasing. But the results also showed fishing success was 'patchy' and more dependent on fewer species. Find out more...
Hidden biodiversity: 22 new moth species from across Europe
~ Following a long-year study of the family of twirler moths, scientists have discovered a startling total of 44 new species, including as many as 22 species inhabiting various regions throughout Europe. Given that the Old Continent is the most extensively researched one, their findings pose fundamental questions about our knowledge of biodiversity. Find out more...