Scottish forests protective forts for red squirrels
Twenty natural strongholds would protect red squirrels in Scotland even if grey squirrels were to run rampant across the country, a new study shows......»»
Scientists uncover why urchins are mowing down California"s kelp forests
Purple sea urchins are munching their way through California's kelp forests at a speed and scale that have stunned scientists, fishermen and divers alike. But the kelp forests have long been home to red and purple urchins, so it's clear the three spe.....»»
Are you going to eat that? Study reveals dog feces are significant part of foxes" diet
A study that analyzed the diet of red foxes in the Scottish Highlands has found that dog feces are a significant part of their diet, the first time that such a connection has been detected anywhere in the world......»»
Tough nut to crack: UK mulls contraceptives for grey squirrels
They have been the scourge of trees and the native red squirrel in Britain since their introduction from the United States in the 1870s......»»
Hidden in plain sight: Seven new species of showy tropical forest ferns
Researchers from the University of Turku have described seven new fern species from the rainforests of tropical America. Many of the species were uncovered as the byproduct of ecological research: the species diversity in tropical forests is still so.....»»
Carbon conservation efforts would be enhanced by highlighting threatened forest primates
Efforts to conserve the carbon stored in tropical forests would be enhanced by linking the work to the charismatic, threatened primates that live there, Oregon State University ecologists assert today in a paper published in the Proceedings of the Na.....»»
Ozone depletion over North Pole produces weather anomalies
Many people are familiar with the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica, but what is less well known is that occasionally, the protective ozone in the stratosphere over the Arctic is destroyed as well, thinning the ozone layer there. This last happ.....»»
New disease strikes Michigan trees. Arborists don"t know how to treat it
A mysterious invasive disease has hit a stand of southeast Michigan trees, adding to a long list of threats faced by state forests......»»
Where do the ingredients for your chocolate, smartphone and clothes come from?
A bar of chocolate in the U.S. might have been made in Belgium, with cocoa from the Ivory Coast, almonds from Morocco, vanilla from Madagascar and sugar from Brazil. Were forests cut down for it? Were forced or child laborers involved in the harvest?.....»»
Climate change in ocean water may impact mangrove dispersal
International research led by Dr. Tom Van der Stocken of the VUB Biology Department examined 21st century changes in ocean-surface temperature, salinity, and density, across mangrove forests worldwide. The study suggests that changes in surface-ocean.....»»
Study reveals how climate change can significantly impact one of the world"s most important carbon-rich ecosystems
Mangrove forests play a vital role in the health of our planet. The trees and shrubs absorb a substantial amount of greenhouse gas emissions, help protect communities from rising sea levels, and act as nurseries for baby fish......»»
After decades of loss, the world"s largest mangrove forests are set for a comeback
Mangroves ring the shores of many of Indonesia's more than 17,000 islands. But in the most populated areas, the world's largest mangrove forests have been steadily whittled away, and with them, the ability to store blue carbon......»»
Projected increase in space travel may damage ozone layer
Projected growth in rocket launches for space tourism, moon landings, and perhaps travel to Mars has many dreaming of a new era of space exploration. But a NOAA study suggests that a significant boost in spaceflight activity may damage the protective.....»»
Scientists poke holes in liquid to keep airplanes from freezing on a rainy day
Droplets hitting aircraft plating can break the protective film of anti-icing fluid, leaving behind dry spots susceptible to hazardous freezing. In a similar way, lubricated parts in an industrial machine can lose their protection from friction if fa.....»»
Remote sensing helps track carbon storage in mangroves
Mangrove forests store huge amounts of carbon but figuring out how much is stored globally is challenging. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a new model that uses remote sensing of environmental conditions to determine the productivity of ma.....»»
The Amazon rainforest is disappearing quickly and threatening Indigenous people who live there
Forests throughout the world are shrinking year after year—and Brazil is the epicenter. According to the World Wildlife Fund, more than a quarter of the Amazon rainforest will be devoid of trees by 2030 if cutting continues at the same speed......»»
Choosing the best seeds to help sessile oaks adapt to future climates
Planting forests is one way to mitigate climate change. The origin of seeds is crucial to optimize the success of planted trees and their ability to adapt to future climates. INRAE and ONF (French National Forest Office) ran a large-scale study for m.....»»
Co-existing mangrove-coral habitats have a new global classification system
On any given day between 2016 and 2019, Heather Stewart could be found snorkeling in between mangroves in the Bocas del Toro archipelago along Panama's Caribbean coast. For years she visited these forests at the interface between land and sea, trying.....»»
New study shows how "green islands" help forests regenerate after fire
Thanks to climate change, high-elevation forests in the Central Cascade mountains of the Pacific Northwest are burning more frequently and expansively than in the recent past, prompting researchers and fire managers to question whether forests will b.....»»
Conservation science still rests on how animals can benefit humans
The accelerating loss of other species around the globe is so extensive that many experts now refer to it as the sixth mass extinction. It's driven in large part by an unprecedented loss of vital ecosystems such as forests and wetlands, the result of.....»»
Birds derive benefits from coffee-growing landscapes with forests and shade trees
A new study, published in Biological Conservation, finds that two conservation strategies provide complementary benefits to native birds found in coffee-growing regions. Setting aside forest conserves more forest specialists and breeding birds, while.....»»