According to today’s newspaper, Spain is expected to lose some 30% of its population over the next 75 years, based on current birth rate projections, a loss of over eight million inhabitants—too great to cover through the influx of migration (La Vanguardia, 17 May). And what about other European countries? The study cited above predicts…
New research found 21% of the global ocean experienced a reduction in the depth of its photic zones, home to 90% of all marine life More than one-fifth of the global ocean – an area spanning more than 75million sq km – has been the subject of ocean darkening over the past two decades, according…
Research suggests pollinator buzzing sounds lead plants to increase their nectar production. When pollinators visit flowers, they produce a variety of characteristic sounds, from wing flapping during hovering, to landing and takeoff. However, these sounds are extremely small compared to other vibrations and acoustics of insect life, causing researchers to overlook these insects’ acoustic signals…
Songbirds who make the arduous flight from their nesting sites in northern boreal forests to warm, southern climates in the winter may be rewarded for their journey with greater genetic diversity, according to a University of Michigan study. Greater genetic diversity could help a species survive better, but that gain is threatened by habitat loss…
The theme for this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22 emphasizes the interconnectedness of nature and human wellbeing, and the importance of biodiversity for achieving sustainable development goals. One thing is certain. Despite all our technological advances we are undeniably and totally dependent on a healthy and vibrant ecosystem for our food…
View of CCAC construction site in Vastria forest, Lesbos, Greece , 21 January 2025. Marion Bouchetel/Thomson Reuters Foundation. What’s the context? An EU-funded centre for migrants on the Greek island of Lesbos has angered locals, who fear wildfires in a protected area. LONDON/MADRID – The pristine pine forest of Vastria on the Greek island of…
A novel analysis suggests more than 3,500 animal species are threatened by climate change and also sheds light on huge gaps in fully understanding the risk to the animal kingdom. The study was published today in BioScience. “We’re at the start of an existential crisis for the Earth’s wild animals,” said Oregon State University’s William…
Plants that reproduce exclusively by self-pollination arise from populations with extremely low diversity to begin with. The Kobe University research not only adds a facet to possible evolutionary strategies, but also lends weight to Darwin’s suspicion that this strategy might be a path to extinction. Charles Darwin once remarked, “It is hardly an exaggeration to…
Warzones, microplastics and light pollution pose serious new risks to bees and other pollinators over the next decade, according to a landmark report on today’s World Bee Day. The report from Bee:wild, a new science-led global campaign to save pollinators, identifies the top 12 emerging threats that could accelerate pollinator losses within the next 5-15…
When trees and soil fungi form close associations with each other, both partners benefit. Many tree species have further enhanced this cooperation by forming a concurrent symbiosis with two different groups of mycorrhizal fungi. Those trees cope better with water and nutrient scarcity, which is an important trait for forestry in the face of climate…