Coral atoll islands may outpace sea-level rise with local ecological restoration, scientists say
Ecological restoration may save coral atoll islands from the rising seas of climate change, according to an international team of scientists, conservationists, and an indigenous leader......»»
Research finds Caribbean islands are uniquely susceptible to flash droughts
The word "drought" typically conjures images of parched soil, dust-swept prairies, depleted reservoirs, and dry creek beds, all the result of weeks or seasons of persistently dry atmospheric conditions......»»
Climate change threatens a quarter of Australia"s low-lying coral reef islands
University of Sydney researchers have found 25% of Australia's coral islands, land masses formed by reefs, currently face high to very high risk of being wiped out by climate change......»»
Socotra archipelago: Why the Emiratis have set their sights on the Arab world"s Garden of Eden
Days into COP28 in Dubai, one little-known archipelago has come into sharp relief: Socotra. Composed of four small Yemeni islands, Socotra has been in the sights of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ever since the civil war in Yemen erupted in September.....»»
Volunteer divers guard Oman"s "unique" coral reefs
On a sailing boat anchored off Oman's pristine Daymaniyat Islands, volunteer divers pull on wetsuits, check their scuba tanks and then take turns plunging into the clear turquoise water......»»
Sea level rise found to encourage mangrove expansion on Great Barrier Reef islands
A team of environmental scientists at the University of Wollongong Faculty of Science Medicine and Health's School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, working with a colleague from the University of New South Wales, has found that sea level rise.....»»
Team takes first-ever photos of the Vangunu giant rat
A team of Zaira Rangers, a mammalogist with The University of Melbourne and a college professor with Solomon Islands National University have taken the first and only pictures of the rare Vangunu giant rat. In their project, reported in the journal E.....»»
How local communities in Indonesia"s Gili islands are restoring coral ecosystems amid rising sea temperatures
This article is the second part of an in-depth science-based reporting series, supported by the Environmental Reporting from Asia-Pacific Island Countries grant by Internews' Earth Journalism Network......»»
Biden declares emergency over lead in water in US Virgin Islands
President Joe Biden declared an emergency over lead-in-water contamination in the U.S. Virgin Islands earlier this week after tests on St. Croix revealed levels more than 100 times the limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency—among the wor.....»»
Maldives to battle rising seas by building fortress islands
Rising sea levels threaten to swamp the Maldives and the Indian Ocean archipelago is already out of drinking water, but the new president says he has scrapped plans to relocate citizens......»»
Two new species of worms discovered off Japan"s Ryukyu Islands
A team of marine scientists and zoologists from Japan, Malaysia, the U.S. and Russia has discovered two new species of Hesionidae—a type of segmented worm. In their paper published in the journal PeerJ, the group describes how they found the worms.....»»
Fruit, nectar, bugs and blood: How bat teeth and jaws evolved for a diverse dinnertime
They don't know it, but Darwin's finches changed the world. These closely related species—native to the Galapagos Islands—each sport a uniquely shaped beak that matches their preferred diet. Studying these birds helped Charles Darwin develop the.....»»
A new hybrid subspecies of puffin is likely the result of climate change
Serious loss of genetic diversity still poses risks for their future. Enlarge / Atlantic puffin, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Islands, Norway. (credit: Sergio Pitamitz/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) The brisk i.....»»
Two new pygmy squids discovered among the corals of Japan
The seagrass beds and coral reefs surrounding the Japanese sub-tropical islands of Okinawa are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Home to more than 360 species of coral alone, these beautiful yet fragile underwater groves provide t.....»»
An extensive database for advancing Mindanao Island"s biodiversity
The Philippine Archipelago, with more than 7,100 islands, has one of the highest levels of endemism globally and is a hotspot for biodiversity conservation. Mindanao, the second largest group of islands in the country, is a treasure trove of terrestr.....»»
Newly-discovered "margarita snails" from the Florida Keys
The "Margaritaville" in Jimmy Buffett's famous song isn't a real place, but it's long been associated with the Florida Keys. This string of tropical islands is home to the only living coral barrier reef in the continental US, along with many animals.....»»
Japan lifts a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake hit near its outlying islands
Japan issued a tsunami advisory Thursday after a strong earthquake struck near its outlying islands in the Pacific Ocean, but lifted it about two hours later. No damage was reported......»»
Climate and human land use both play roles in Pacific island wildfires past and present: Study
It's long been understood that human settlement contributes to conditions that make Pacific Islands more susceptible to wildfires, such as the devastating Aug. 8 event that destroyed the Maui community of Lahaina. But a new study from SMU fire scient.....»»
Tropical climates are the most biodiverse on Earth, but it"s not only because of how warm and wet they are
Life exists in every conceivable environment on Earth, from the peaks of towering mountains to the remote stretches of isolated islands, from sunlit surfaces to the darkest depths of the oceans. Yet, this intricate tapestry of existence isn't spread.....»»
Novel plant pathogen discovered on world"s northernmost island
Ellesmere Island (76°N–83°N) is one of the northernmost islands in the world, along with Greenland and Spitsbergen Island. More than 100 species of vascular plants are distributed across this island in the ice-free areas in summer. However, there.....»»