Biodiversity News :: ScienceDailyRecent drought may provide a glimpse of the future for birds in the Sierra Nevada
~ To better understand the effects of climate change on the bird community in the Sierra Nevada region, researchers examined the impacts to birds from a recent extreme drought (2013-2016). The drought resulted in the widespread death of pine trees due to attacks by bark beetles, potentially impacting wildlife habitat. While the results were varied, researchers found that many bird species responded positively to the climate conditions associated with the drought, potentially offsetting the negative habitat impacts of the dead trees. Find out more...
Protecting small forests fails to protect bird biodiversity
~ Simply protecting small forests will not maintain the diversity of the birds they support over the long run, a new study says. Forests need to be carefully monitored and managed to maintain their ecological integrity. Find out more...
Complete world map of tree diversity
~ Researchers have succeeded in constructing, from scattered data, a world map of the diversity of tree species. Climate plays a central role for its global distribution; however, the number of species in a specific region also depends on the spatial scale of the observation, the researchers report. The new approach could help improve conservation. Find out more...
Biodiversity on land is not higher today than in the past, study shows
~ The rich levels of biodiversity on land seen across the globe today are not a recent phenomenon: diversity on land has been similar for at least the last 60 million years, since soon after the extinction of the dinosaurs. Find out more...
Understanding carbon cycle feedbacks to predict climate change at large scale
~ Researches have identified long-disappeared forests available for restoration across the world. They describe how such an effort, could absorb as much as 135 gigatons of atmospheric carbon. Find out more...
New frog species found on remote Ethiopian mountain
~ A new species of puddle frog (order: Anura, family: Phynobatrachidae, genus: Phrynobatrachus), has just been discovered at the unexplored and isolated Bibita Mountain in southwestern Ethiopia. The research team named the new species Phrynobatrachus bibita sp. nov., or Bibita Mountain dwarf puddle frog, inspired by its home. Find out more...
Marine scientists find toxic bacteria on microplastics retrieved from tropical waters
~ A team of marine scientists had uncovered toxic bacteria living on the surfaces of microplastics (which are pieces of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters in size) collected from the coastal areas of Singapore. These bacteria are capable of causing coral bleaching, and triggering wound infections in humans. The team also discovered a diversity of bacteria, including useful organisms - such as those that can degrade marine pollutants like hydrocarbons - in the plastic waste. Find out more...
Skyglow over key wildlife areas
~ Light pollution affects the skies over most of the world's key wildlife areas, new research shows. Find out more...
Rating riverside corridors -- the 'escape routes' for animals under climate change
~ While riverside habitats are known to be important for species migrating under climate change, this is the first study to rank riparian areas as targets for restoration and conservation efforts. Find out more...
Think big, at least when it comes to global conservation
~ According to a group of international researchers, the potential for large countries to contribute to environmental protection is being overlooked. The researchers recently examined the leverage an individual country has when it comes to protecting ecosystem values. And they say it isn't--nor should it be -- a level playing field. Find out more...