Staggering declines in bird populations taking place around the world
Staggering declines in bird populations are taking place around the world, mainly due to the loss and degradation of natural habitats and direct overexploitation of many species.
Researchers define a new ocean-life zone, name it the Rariphotic
Smithsonian scientists have recently defined a new ocean-life zone, comprising of reef fishes, including numerous new species, that live well below shallow coral reefs. The new zone was named Rariphotic. The new zone was defined based on the unique fish fauna…
Rare natural phenomenon – floral bloom in Atacama desert
Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, came to life after an unusual episode of heavy flooding swept Chile in March 2015. The desert, located in northern Chile, is currently undergoing a very rare flower bloom, which happens only once in 5 or even 10…
Biodiversity research in Hawai’i shows the Earth is facing it’s ‘sixth mass extinction’
The extinction crisis in Hawai'i, which has even been labeled as the "extinction capital of the world" has been the research focus of the international team of scientists from the Pacific Biosciences Research Center (PBRC) of the University of Hawai'i
Study finds 70% decrease in the seabird population since 1950s
Compiling a global database of seabird population size records from English language literature, researchers at the University of British Columbia monitored 513 seabird populations (of total 3 213) and concluded that the monitored seabird populations of our world have d
Amazon deforestation ‘threshold’ causes species loss to accelerate
One of the largest area studies of forest loss impacting biodiversity shows that a third of the Amazon is headed toward or has just past a threshold of forest cover below which species loss is faster and more damaging. Researchers call for conservation policy to switch
Peru's Manu National Park sets new biodiversity record
Park and buffer zone host 287 species of reptiles and amphibians, the highest number anywhere.
Peru's treasured Manu National Park is the world's top biodiversity hotspot for reptiles and amphibians, according to a new survey published last week by
Key species of algae shows effects of climate change over time
Historical comparison of competition among algae in waters around the Pacific Northwest provides more evidence for increased ocean acidification.
A study of marine life in the temperate coastal waters of the northeast Pacific Ocean shows a reversal of competitive
Seed diversity has collapsed more than 12-fold since early 1900s
From the looks of an average produce section in a typical American supermarket, it might seem like modern society has access to basically every major type of fruit, vegetable and herb one could want. But a survey conducted by the U.S. National Seed Storage Laboratory
Green: Vegetation on planet Earth
Although 75% of the planet is a relatively unchanging ocean of blue, the remaining 25% of Earth's surface is a dynamic green. NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite is able to detect these subtle differences in greenness. Those resources highlight our ever-changing