Extinct-in-the-wild species in conservation limbo
For species classified as "extinct in the wild", the zoos and botanical gardens where their fates hang by a thread are as often anterooms to oblivion as gateways to recovery, new research has shown......»»
New data from "the last ice area" may help long-term conservation efforts in the Arctic
Earlier this year our international team of scientists from the Refuge Arctic consortium departed Iqaluit, Nvt. on a 56-day research expedition in the far north. We were sailing aboard the icebreaker CCGS Amundsen and our main objective was to study.....»»
Closest relative of "magic mushroom" discovered in Africa
A team of biologists, mycologists and microbiologists in the U.S., South Africa and Zimbabwe reports that a species of mushroom growing in parts of Africa is the closest relative of Psilocybe cubensis, the most widespread hallucinogenic mushroom know.....»»
Why are axolotls suddenly so popular—and going extinct at the same time?
You may have seen axolotls—an amphibian in the salamander family with a permanent smile and pink, feathery gills—in a pet store or as a plushie in a window, but the endearing animal's popularity seems to be rising just as it has become critically.....»»
Completing the "timetree" of primates: A new way to map the evolutionary history of life on Earth
In a new article published in Frontiers in Bioinformatics, biologists Dr. Jack M Craig, Dr. Blair Hedges, and Dr. Sudhir Kumar, all at Temple University, have built an evolutionary tree that encompasses 455 primates, every species for which genetic d.....»»
Huge and rare Mekong catfish spotted in Cambodia, raising conservation hopes
Six critically endangered Mekong giant catfish—one of the largest and rarest freshwater fish in the world—were caught and released recently in Cambodia, reviving hopes for the survival of the species......»»
AI tool enhances wildlife image analysis for climate change insights
A new AI image tool could aid the development of algorithms to analyze wildlife images to help improve understanding of how species around the world are responding to climate change, a study suggests......»»
Climate change and land use practices threaten traditional food sources in Russia"s Far East
Climate change and land-use practices could significantly alter the make-up and availability of wild traditional foods in the vast Russian Far East, a region that is home to many Indigenous Peoples who depend on those native foods......»»
New housing developments failing to protect wildlife, survey reveals
New housing developments are failing wildlife on a widespread scale, according to research from the University of Sheffield and published by campaign group Wild Justice......»»
Giraffes" uphill battle: Slopes more than 20° pose challenges for their conservation
New research finds that giraffes much prefer flat terrain and do not traverse slopes of more than 20°, which severely limits the areas in, and outside, protected reserves they can access. The findings, which are yet to be published, were presented a.....»»
Northern California earthquake prompts an endangered Death Valley fish species to get busy
Powerful earthquakes like the one felt last week across Northern California are stark reminders for people to plan—perhaps to fortify their home or business or, at minimum, finally build that earthquake kit......»»
Thousands of wild birds are dying of bird flu in Boise area, Idaho Fish and Game says
Wild birds are dying by the thousands in the Treasure Valley because of avian flu outbreaks, according to a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game......»»
Barn swallow research offers real-time insight on how new species form
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder—even if that beholder is a barn swallow. Depending on where the birds live, some of them may favor mates with a paler chest color while others find a redder chest more attractive. The difference in what these bi.....»»
Conservation leads to benefits: Large marine protected areas are boosting fish catch rates
Increases in catch rates for fish such as tuna have been demonstrated near recently created Large-Scale Marine Protected Areas (LSMPAs), including Revillagigedo in Mexico. This shows that LSPMAs are large enough to protect highly migratory species su.....»»
New insights into the evolution and paleoecology of mosasaurs
Mosasaurs are extinct marine lizards, spectacular examples of which were first discovered in 1766 near Maastricht in the Netherlands, fueling the rise of the field of vertebrate paleontology. Paleontologist Michael Polcyn presented the most comprehen.....»»
Botanists name beautiful new species of "lipstick vine" from the Philippine rainforest
Scientists have today announced the discovery of a species of lipstick vine completely new to science, from the depths of the Philippine rainforest. The findings have been published today in the Nordic Journal of Botany......»»
Montserrat"s wandering turtles highlight need for conservation without borders
Sea turtles that nest in Montserrat migrate and feed in the waters of multiple Caribbean countries and territories—according to a new study that highlights the need for international conservation efforts......»»
Counting Uganda"s lions: We found that wildlife rangers do a better job than machines
Lions are a symbol of Africa's last wild places. It's a species central to many of the continent's cultures and religions. But lion populations have reportedly declined over the past 50 years, especially in parts of west and east Africa......»»
Study finds catch-and-release affects giant trevally behavior
In an effort to conserve sensitive species of fish, some sport fishing is entirely catch-and-release, meaning that the fish are returned to the water once brought ashore. However, too much fishing may affect the behavior of the target species and th.....»»
Helicopter parenting in fish: Damselfish protect young by eating parasites
Researchers have discovered a rare example of "great fish parenting" with a common coral reef species found to actively protect their young by eating parasites......»»
A new species of flying reptile reshuffles the timeline of pterosaur evolution
About 230 million years ago, almost 80 million years before the first bird appeared, their distantly related cousins, the pterosaurs took to the sky, as the first group of active fliers among the vertebrates. Pterosaurs developed active, flapping fli.....»»