Island Conservation
A paper published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences details how invasive species removal can restore island ecosystems and protect native species. Ecosystems around the world suffer from the presence of invasive species. Invasive species, when introduced to a foreign environment, can cause sudden and disastrous shifts in the ecosystem. Although invasive species erode ecosystem vitality around […]
A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that invasive predators have contributed to close to 60% of extinctions of birds, mammals, and reptiles. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature classified 596 species listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered due to invasive species. The actual number is believed to be higher […]
New research finds that some islands arise out of deep earth material containing diamonds. Some islands exist due to the breaking apart of larger land masses. Other islands are created by a process that can take more than two and a half billion years. A new study published in Nature by researchers at Columbia University sheds […]
Snails, though not exactly a widely celebrated species, have much to offer. They may not be as popular or charming as the world’s widely-recognized endangered megafauna (tigers, elephants, rhinos, pandas, etc), but snails are important for ecosystems functioning around the world. Snails are decomposers–they break down natural material into smaller parts–and as such help to uphold nature’s cycle of life […]
Native plant extinctions caused by invasive plants occur over a long period of time and are difficult to detect. Research indicates a need for tracking plant decline and instating measures to prevent extinctions. A new research paper by Paul O. Downey and David M. Richardson, published by Oxford University Press, tackles the problem of measuring threats that invasive plants pose […]
Most island vertebrate extinctions could be averted, concludes new study Control and eradication of invasive species could prevent as much as 75 percent of all island-level extinctions predicted for globally threatened vertebrates. Eight of every ten species extinctions have occurred on islands, and invasive mammals are the leading reason for those losses. Currently, forty percent […]
Once a species is extinct, there’s no going back…right? Conservationists in the Galapagos are not so sure. The highly publicized 2012 death of “Lonesome George,” the last Pinta Island native Giant Tortoise in existence, represented a major loss for conservationists and wildlife lovers. The death of Lonesome George marked the fourth extinction of fifteen distinct […]
Biodiversity loss is a serious concern for our planet. Conservation intervention is more critical than ever before. A recent study published in Science found that biodiversity (the diversity of all lifeforms on the planet) has dropped below a “safe” level on nearly two thirds of Earth’s lands. That same area is home to 71% of all humans. […]
Research reveals incredible details about Frigatebirds and their flying abilities. A Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens, is a tropical seabird with an impressive 6-foot wingspan. Its feathers are not waterproof–which is surprising for a seabird–and being unable to land on water, they have adapted astounding flying abilities. Frigatebirds spend so much time in the air that scientists have not […]
The discovery of a new lizard species in the Dominican Republic by University of Toronto researchers reinforces a theory that lizard communities evolve almost identically on separate islands. A team from University of Toronto (U of T) has recently discovered a new species of lizard in the Dominican Republic (DR). The Greater Antillean Anole, Anolis landestoyi, is the first […]