ScienceDaily: Biodiversity News

Why we need to put the fish back into fisheries

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:48:48 EDT

Overfishing has reduced fish populations and biodiversity across much of the world’s oceans. In response, fisheries are increasingly reliant on a handful of highly valuable shellfish. However, new research shows this approach to be extremely risky.

Frogs, salamanders and climate change

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:37:37 EDT

Increasingly erratic rainfall patterns can lead to declines in southeastern frog and salamander populations, but protecting ponds can improve their plight.

Climate change may have little impact on tropical lizards: Study contradicts predictions of widespread extinction

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:58:58 EDT

Climate change may have little impact on many species of tropical lizards, contradicting a host of recent studies that predict their widespread extinction in a rapidly warming planet.

Invasive 'crazy ants' are displacing fire ants in areas throughout southeastern U.S.

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:39:39 EDT

Invasive "crazy ants" are displacing fire ants in areas across the southeastern United States, according to researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. It's the latest in a history of ant invasions from the southern hemisphere and may prove to have dramatic effects on the ecosystem of the region.

World's most extraordinary species mapped for the first time

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:44:44 EDT

The black-and-white ruffed lemur, Mexican salamander and Sunda pangolin all feature on the first map of the world's most unique and threatened mammals and amphibians.

Untangling the tree of life

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:48:48 EDT

Phylogeneticists examined the reasons why large-scale tree-of-life studies are producing contradictory results and have proposed a suite of novel techniques to resolve the conflicts.

When green means danger: A stunning new species of palm-pitviper from Honduras

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:29:29 EDT

A remarkable new species of bright green palm-viper has been discovered in a threatened cloud forest in Honduras, and is named to honor grassroots conservationist Mario Guifarro, who was assassinated in 2007. Despite being superficially similar to other Honduran palm pitvipers, the closest relative to the new species lives over 600 km to the south in Costa Rica.

Do potatoes grow on vines? A review of the wild relatives of some favorite food plants

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

Solanum is is well-known for its agriculturally important species such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants, but also has many species that are less well known. The vining solanums related to the woody nightshade are often used as ornamentals. A new study completely revises the understanding of these vining species, known as the Dulcamaroid clade, providing extensive community-shared knowledge of the genus.

Corals turn to algae for stored food when times get tough

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:54:54 EDT

Researchers present new evidence for the crucial role of algae in the survival of their coral hosts. Ultra-high resolution images reveal that the algae temporarily store nutrients as crystals, building up reserves for when supplies run low.

Climate change will cause widespread global-scale loss of common plants and animals, researchers predict

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:09:09 EDT

Climate change will cause widespread global-scale loss of common plants and animals. More than half of common plants and one third of the animals could see a dramatic decline this century due to climate change, according to new research. The study looked at 50,000 globally widespread and common species and found that more than one half of the plants and one third of the animals will lose more than half of their climatic range by 2080 if nothing is done to reduce the amount of global warming and slow it down.

Loss of eastern hemlock will affect forest water use

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:36:36 EDT

The loss of eastern hemlock from forests in the Southern Appalachian region of the United States could permanently change the area's hydrologic cycle, reports a new study.

New Red List developed for threatened ecosystems

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:21:21 EDT

Scientists have developed a new Red List system for identifying ecosystems at high risk of degradation, similar to the influential Red List for the world's threatened species.

Setting the standard for sustainable bioenergy crops

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:19:19 EDT

Bioenergy crops, such as Miscanthus and switchgrass, appear to be promising resources for renewable energy, but these new crops did not come with a manual on how to measure details on their sustainability impacts.

Sahara olive tree: Genetic heritage to be preserved

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:47:47 EDT

The Saharan cousin of Mediterranean olive trees remains largely unknown. However, this subspecies (called the Laperinne's olive tree) is of great interest for several reasons. Researchers have shown that its longevity is ensured by its original vegetative reproduction. Extremely drought-resistant, this "relict" tree could act as a genetic resource to improve its domestic counterparts, provided conservation actions are implemented to prevent its disappearance.

Madagascar tortoise trafficking rages out of control

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:55:55 EDT

Illegal trafficking of two critically endangered tortoise species from Madagascar has reached epidemic proportions.

Traditional ranching practices enhance African savanna

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:20:20 EDT

That human land use destroys natural ecosystems is an oft-cited assumption in conservation, but ecologists have discovered that instead, traditional ranching techniques in the African savanna enhance the local abundance of wild, native animals. These results offer a new perspective on the roles humans play in natural systems, and inform ongoing discussions about land management and biodiversity conservation.

'Dirty dozen' invasive species threaten UK

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:18:18 EDT

Parts of the UK are at greater risk of invasion by non-native aquatic species than previously thought, according to new research. The first to include human factors in models used to predict where invasive species will arrive and spread, the study shows the Thames, Anglian and Humber river basins are most vulnerable.

Sushi for peccaries?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:59:59 EDT

It turns out the white-lipped peccary —- a piglike animal from Central and South America —- will settle for fish when fruits (its main food) are no longer on the menu, according to researchers revealing the first-ever photos of fish-eating peccaries.

Sea turtles benefiting from protected areas

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Nesting green sea turtles are benefiting from marine protected areas by using habitats found within their boundaries, according to a new study that is the first to track the federally protected turtles in Dry Tortugas National Park.

U. S. has surprisingly large reservoir of crop plant diversity

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:35:35 EDT

North America isn’t known as a hotspot for crop plant diversity, yet a new inventory has uncovered nearly 4,600 wild relatives of crop plants in the United States, including close relatives of globally important food crops such as sunflower, bean, sweet potato, and strawberry.

Insights into deadly coral bleaching could help preserve reefs: Surprising result from study of 1893 World's Fair corals

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:51:51 EDT

Coral reefs are stressed because of climate change. Researchers have discovered corals themselves play a role in their susceptibility to deadly coral bleaching due to the light-scattering properties of their skeletons. No one else has shown this before. Using optical technology designed for early cancer detection, the researchers discovered that reef-building corals scatter light in different ways to the symbiotic algae that feed the corals.

71 new parasitoid wasp species discovered from Southeast Asia

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:23:23 EDT

A recent study of the parasitoid wasp genus Oxyscelio found a total of 90 species present in Southeast Asia. This includes the astonishing number of 71 newly described wasps from across 16 different nations. The study greatly expands and contributes to the knowledge of this intriguing parasitoid wasp genus.

Scientists reveals escalating cost of forest conservation

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:23:23 EDT

New researchers illustrates how changes to farming could dramatically increase future costs of conservation.

Rivers act as 'horizontal cooling towers' for power plants, study finds

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:30:30 EDT

Running two computer models in tandem, scientists have detailed for the first time how thermoelectric power plants interact with climate, hydrology, and aquatic ecosystems throughout the northeastern US and show how rivers serve as "horizontal cooling towers" that provide an important ecosystem service to the regional electricity sector -- but at a cost to the environment.

Weeding out ineffective biocontrol agents

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:44:44 EDT

Biocontrol programs use an invasive plant's natural enemies (insects and pathogens) to reduce its population. Most biocontrol programs combine many different enemies. Some combinations of enemy species can actually end up competing or interfering with each other, instead of attacking the weed.

Sea-ice ecosystem possibly triggered evolution of baleen whales and penguins

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

The origin of the unique plankton ecosystem of the circum-Antarctic Southern Ocean can be traced back to the emergence of the Antarctic ice sheets approximately 33.6 million years ago. This discovery shows that the development of the sea-ice ecosystem possibly triggered further adaptation and evolution of larger organisms such as baleen whales and penguins.

Age matters to Antarctic clams: Age matters when it comes to adapting to the effects of climate change

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:43:43 EDT

A new study of Antarctic clams reveals that age matters when it comes to adapting to the effects of climate change. The research provides new insight and understanding of the likely impact of predicted environmental change on future ocean biodiversity.

Biodiversity crisis: The impacts of socio-economic pressures on natural floras and faunas

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:23:23 EDT

A new study on extinction risk has shown that proportions of plant and animal species being classified as threatened on national Red Lists are more closely related to socioeconomic pressure levels from the beginning than from the end of the 20th century.

Resurgence of endangered deer in Patagonian ‘Eden’ highlights conservation success

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:51:51 EDT

The Huemul, a species of deer found only in the Latin American region of Patagonia, is bouncing back from the brink of possible extinction.

Escalating cost of forest conservation

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:51:51 EDT

In the face of unprecedented deforestation and biodiversity loss, policy makers are increasingly using financial incentives to encourage conservation.

A look at the world explains 90 percent of changes in vegetation

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:51:51 EDT

In the last thirty years, vegetation has changed significantly the world over. Until recently, the extent to which the climate or humankind was responsible remained unclear. However, geographers now reveal that over half of these changes are climatological, humans or as yet unknown human-climate interactions cause about a third and around ten percent cannot be explained fully by either the climate or human activity.

Tiny colorful snails are in danger of extinction with vanishing limestone ecosystems

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:24:24 EDT

Three new species of brightly colored carnivorous snails have been described from north and northeastern Thailand, as a part of an extensive study of the terrestrial snails family Streptaxidae. The new species have been found in highly endangered limescale ecosystems, including quarried areas, thus showing extraordinary survival mechanisms and biodiversity persistence.

Protected wildlife areas are 'welcome mats' for UK's bird newcomers

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:22:22 EDT

A new study shows that bird species which have colonized the UK in recent decades breed initially almost exclusively in nature reserves and other areas specially protected for wildlife.

Measuring microbes makes wetland health monitoring more affordable, says researcher

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:20:20 EDT

Tiny, unseen wetland creatures provided crucial indicators of the ecosystems' health in a new study. Using analysis of the microbiological health of wetlands is cheaper and faster than traditional assessments, and could lead to improvements in harnessing natural processes to filter human's wastewater.

Dramatically greener Arctic in the coming decades

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:20:20 EDT

Rising temperatures will lead to a massive "greening" of the Arctic by mid-century, as a result of marked increases in plant cover, according to new research.

Sea level rise: Jeopardy for terrestrial biodiversity on islands

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:10:10 EDT

Model calculations predict a sea level rise of about one meter by the end of this century and of up to five and a half meters by the year 2500. Until now there are few studies on the potential impacts of a rising sea level on biodiversity.

Surprising predictor of ecosystem chemistry

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:28:28 EDT

Scientists have found that the plant species making up an ecosystem are better predictors of ecosystem chemistry than environmental conditions such as terrain, geology, or altitude. This is the first study using a new, high-resolution airborne, chemical-detecting instrument to map multiple ecosystem chemicals.

Asian carp DNA not widespread in the Great Lakes

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:24:24 EDT

Scientists have shown that Asian carp DNA is not widespread in the Great Lakes.

Can synthetic biology save wildlife? From re-creating extinct species to the risk of genetically modified super-species

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:25:25 EDT

What effects will the rapidly growing field of synthetic biology have on the conservation of nature? The ecological and ethical challenges stemming from this question will require a new and continuing dialogue between members of the synthetic biology and biodiversity conservation communities, according to authors of a new paper.

Remaining unnoticed for 100 years, a Kyrgyz onion species strikes with its beauty

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:46:46 EDT

The mountainous regions of Central Asia are particularly rich in the onion genus Allium. Kyrgyzstan has a great plant diversity, with nearly 3800 native vascular plants, including 85 onion species. Among them is a tiny group of minute species that had gone unnoticed for 100 years of botanical studies in the region but was recently discovered in the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve.

New models predict drastically greener Arctic in coming decades

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:56:56 EDT

New research predicts that rising temperatures will lead to a massive "greening," or increase in plant cover, in the Arctic. In a new paper, scientists reveal new models projecting that wooded areas in the Arctic could increase by as much as 50 percent over the next few decades. The researchers also show that this dramatic greening will accelerate climate warming at a rate greater than previously expected.

Splendid Skadar Lake (Montenegro and Albania) surprises with new species of snails

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:51:51 EDT

The Skadar Lake system at the border of Montenegro and Albania is a well-known hotspot of freshwater biodiversity and harbors a highly diverse mollusc fauna. As in many of the Balkan lakes, the endemic species of Skadar Lake are still poorly known and continue to yield unexpected discoveries. A new freshwater snail species has recently been found.

New technologies combat invasive species

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:06:06 EDT

A new research paper by a team of researchers from the University of Notre Dame's Environmental Change Initiative demonstrates how two cutting-edge technologies can provide a sensitive and real-time solution to screening real-world water samples for invasive species before they get into our country or before they cause significant damage.

Insect pests more plentiful in hotter parts of city than in cooler areas

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:05:05 EDT

Higher temperatures in cities can be a key driver of insect pest outbreaks on trees in urban areas, according to new research.

Hope for Galapagos wildlife threatened by marine invaders

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:20:20 EDT

Increasing tourism and the spread of marine invasive non-native species is threatening the unique plant and marine life around the Galapagos Islands.

Lemur lookalikes are two new species, DNA says

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:15:15 EDT

Scientists have identified two new species of mouse lemur, the saucer-eyed, teacup-sized primates native to the African island of Madagascar.

Scientists use DNA to quickly unravel relationship between plants and insects

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:05:05 EDT

It can take years of direct observation for a researcher to fully understand the diets of a community of herbivorous insects in a tropical rain forest. Now, scientists are paving a fast track using the DNA found inside the insects' stomachs, potentially turning years of research into months. This method will help scientists understand the ecology and evolution of plant-herbivore interactions more efficiently.

Aye-ayes: Endangered lemurs' complete genomes are sequenced and analyzed for conservation efforts

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:05:05 EDT

For the first time, the complete genomes of three separate populations of aye-ayes -- a type of lemur -- have been sequenced and analyzed in an effort to characterize patterns of genetic diversity and help guide conservation efforts for the species. The aye-aye species is found only on the island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean and recently was re-classified as "endangered" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Homeowner groups can support native species in suburbia

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:02:02 EDT

Although it's known that home construction in suburban areas can have negative impacts on native plant and animals, a recent study suggests that well-managed development such as provided by homeowners associations can support native wildlife and promote species diversity.

Invasive species: Understanding the threat before it's too late

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Catching rides on cargo ships and fishing boats, many invasive species are now covering our shorelines and compromising the existence of our native marine life. Scientists have examined what factors allow some invasive species to survive in their new environments and others to fail.

Fossil bird study on extinction patterns could help today's conservation efforts

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:48:48 EDT

A new study of nearly 5,000 Haiti bird fossils shows contrary to a commonly held theory, human arrival 6,000 years ago didn't cause the island's birds to die simultaneously. Although many birds perished or became displaced during a mass extinction event following the first arrival of humans to the Caribbean islands, fossil evidence shows some species were more resilient than others. The research provides range and dispersal patterns from A.D. 600 to 1600 that may be used to create conservation plans for tropical mountainous regions, some of the most threatened habitats worldwide.

Genetic analysis calls for the protection of two highly endangered Portuguese fish species

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:10:10 EDT

A chromosome study of the endemic Portuguese fish Squalius aradensis and S. torgalensis draws attention to their current status of highly endangered species. Rapid habitat loss in combination with ongoing geographic confinement and a poor genetic bank of the two species requires the fast application of specific conservation measures to preserve the integrity of their genomes.

Sustainable Development Goals must sustain people and planet, experts say

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:52 EDT

Scientists are arguing for a set of six Sustainable Development Goals that link poverty eradication to protection of Earth's life support. The researchers argue that in the face of increasing pressure on the planet's ability to support life, adherence to out-dated definitions of sustainable development threaten to reverse progress made in developing countries over past decades.

Biodiversity does not reduce transmission of disease from animals to humans, researchers find

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:27:27 EDT

A new analysis pokes holes in widely accepted theory that connects biodiversity abundance with a reduced disease risk for humans.

Peru surprises with two new amazing species of woodlizards

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:52:52 EDT

Two new beautifully coloured woodlizard species from the genus Enyalioides have been discovered during expeditions to the unexplored jungles of Cordillera Azul National Park in the Peruvian Andes. Woodlizards Enyalioides are represented by as little as ten currently recognized species that occur on both sides of the Andes.

Hunting for meat impacts on rainforest, fruit tree seed dispersal

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:48:48 EDT

Hunting for meat in the African rainforests has halved the number of primates. However, the hunting also has other negative consequences. The decline in the number of primates causes a reduction in the dispersal of seed by the primates, and this leads to a reduction in the numbers of important fruit trees and changes to the rainforest.

Can a tropical water flea invade European lakes?

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:42:42 EDT

Daphnia lumholtzi is a small crustacean that lives in the tropics. This plankton-like creature is also an invasive species in North America -- and so far, it has never been detected in Europe's lakes and ponds. A possible invasion in Europe is examined in a recent paper.

Suggestions for a middle ground between unlogged forest and intensively managed lands

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:28:28 EDT

In the world's forested regions, two management systems -- retention forestry and agroforestry -- are being used to alleviate conflicts between preserving biodiversity and addressing human needs in production landscapes. A new article draws a parallel between the ecological effects of the two systems.

Catastrophic loss of Cambodia's tropical flooded grasslands

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:14:14 EDT

New research reveals the catastrophic loss of Cambodia’s tropical flooded grasslands. Around half of Cambodia’s tropical flooded grasslands have been lost in just 10 years according to new research.

New beautifully colored long-horned beetle from Yunnan, China

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:18:18 EDT

A new beautifully colored long-horned beetle species, Schwarzerium yunnanum, has been discovered in the Yunnan province, China. Additionally, seven already known representatives of the Cerambycidae family have been reported for the first time from the region.