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......»»
Study reveals extreme rate of Australia"s invertebrate extinction
An estimated one to three species of insects and other native invertebrates are becoming extinct in Australia every week, according to a new study revealing the immense scale of the nation's biodiversity loss......»»
US moves to save once-common monarch butterflies from extinction
The United States is moving to grant federal protection to the monarch butterfly—a once-common species recognizable by its striking black and orange patterns that has faced a dramatic population decline in recent decades......»»
Morphology study highlights diverse jaw evolution in lizards and snakes
A University of Bristol study has shed light on how lizards and snakes—the most diverse group of land vertebrates with nearly 12,000 species—have evolved remarkably varied jaw shapes, driving their extraordinary ecological success......»»
Microsoft fixes exploited zero-day (CVE-2024-49138)
On December 2024 Patch Tuesday, Microsoft resolved 71 vulnerabilities in a variety of its products, including a zero-day (CVE-2024-49138) that’s been exploited by attackers in the wild to execute code with higher privileges. CVE-2024-49138 expl.....»»
First-ever Mediterranean mako shortfin shark tagged for conservation
Virginia Tech researchers successfully tagged a young shortfin mako shark in the Mediterranean during the summer of 2023, the first time that this has been done in the region. These sharks are critically endangered not only in the Mediterranean but a.....»»
New set of human rights principles aims to end displacement and abuse of Indigenous people
For more than a century, conservationists have worked to preserve natural ecosystems by creating national parks and protected areas. Today the Earth faces a global biodiversity crisis, with more than 1 million species at risk of extinction. This make.....»»
Illegal ritualistic hunts in West Bengal kill thousands of animals each year
A new study in the journal Nature Conservation highlights the grave impacts of illegal ritualistic hunts in West Bengal, India, where thousands of hunters gather during cultural or religious festivals to kill wildlife using traditional weapons such.....»»
Once-endangered Kirtland"s warblers show extensive signs of inbreeding in genome
The genome of a once-endangered songbird shows extensive signs of inbreeding, according to a new study by Penn State researchers. Because inbreeding can negatively impact survival and reproduction, the results could guide continuing conservation effo.....»»
Fully fenced dog parks alongside nature reserves could help protect wildlife
Watching a pet dog run free can be a source of joy for many people. But letting your dog off the leash is not so good for wildlife, especially if you're in an area set aside for native species......»»
World"s oldest known wild bird is expecting again, aged 74
Parenting can be tough, even for the young and energetic, but one elderly albatross is about to go through it all again—at the ripe old (and apparently record-setting) age of 74......»»
A nature conservation paradox: Invasive species are often threatened in their native habitat
Non-native species introduced by humans are among the main causes of global species decline—they were partly responsible for 60% of the species that have become extinct worldwide in recent decades. Non-native mammals in Central Europe include speci.....»»
Robots give scientists unprecedented access to study coral reef biodiversity
Mesophotic coral ecosystems have some of the highest diversity of stony corals (Scleractinia) in the world, making them particularly important for researchers. These ecosystems are also unique because they host more native species compared to shallow.....»»
Autonomous imaging robot can assess embryos" response to environmental change
Scientists have used 3D-printed components to create a robotic instrument that can autonomously monitor the earliest stages of development in any aquatic species. The LabEmbryoCam has been created over the past decade by biologists and technologists.....»»
A microRNA solves an evolutionary mystery of butterfly and moth wing coloration
Lepidopterans (butterflies and moths) exhibit a splendid diversity of wing color patterns, and many species display black and white, or dark and bright, wing color pattern variants associated with the presence and absence of melanin. Many of these wi.....»»
Unlike other insects, desert ants may use polarity of geomagnetic field for navigation
Desert ants of the Cataglyphis nodus species use the Earth's magnetic field for spatial orientation, but these tiny insects rely on a different component of the field than other insects, a research team led by Dr. Pauline Fleischmann from the Univers.....»»
Triassic reptile with unusual jaws named as a new species
A new species of ancient reptile has been named after spending more than 200 million years buried in the ground. Threordatoth chasmatos was one of the last survivors of the procolophonids, a group of lizard-like animals that were once widespread duri.....»»
Cold storage and CO₂ extend life of Asian hornet baits for battling invasive species
A research group has found the key to solving one of the main problems in the fight against the Asian hornet: the limited time the baits can be used. This work, published in the Microchemical Journal, established that when stored under cold condition.....»»
Europe"s native oyster ecosystems have "collapsed," scientists say
European native oyster ecosystems have been classified as a "collapsed" species, after an assessment of historical and ecological data revealed it has faced extreme decimation......»»
When rescue from modern slavery does not mean freedom: Research flags harsh reality of post-rescue life
People freed from modern slavery are often cast into years of bureaucratic wrangling and legal limbo or forced back into exploitative work, highlighting the need for anti-trafficking organizations to give greater focus to post-rescue support, new res.....»»
Neanderthals and modern humans must be classed as separate species to best track our origins, study claims
A new study published by researchers at London's Natural History Museum and Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven has reinforced the claim that Neanderthals and modern-day humans (Homo sapiens) must be classed as separate species in order to best track.....»»