Biodiversity

How Declining Solar Activity Could Impact Mediterranean Olive Cultivation

How Declining Solar Activity Could Impact Mediterranean Olive Cultivation

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The arti­cle dis­cusses the threats fac­ing olive cul­ti­va­tion due to cli­mate change, includ­ing declin­ing pre­cip­i­ta­tion and solar activ­ity, which chal­lenges the long-term sus­tain­abil­ity and pro­duc­tiv­ity of olive farm­ing in the Mediterranean. The study high­lights the impor­tance of adap­ta­tion strate­gies, such as genetic improve­ment and eco­log­i­cal prac­tices, to mit­i­gate the impact of cli­mate change on olive…

Earth’s underground networks of fungi need urgent protection, say researchers

Earth’s underground networks of fungi need urgent protection, say researchers

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The underground networks of fungi that underpin the planet’s ecosystems needs urgent conservation action by politicians, a research organisation has said. Scientists from the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (Spun) have created the first high-resolution biodiversity maps of Earth’s underground mycorrhizal fungal ecosystems. The research, published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, found…

People accurately perceive biodiversity through the eyes and the ears!

People accurately perceive biodiversity through the eyes and the ears!

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By Kevin Rozario, Taylor Shaw, Melissa Marselle, Rachel Rui Ying Oh, Erich Schröger, Mateo Giraldo Botero, Julian Frey, Valentin Ștefan, Sandra Müller, Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Bogdan Jaroszewicz, Kris Verheyen, and Aletta Bonn. Read the full paper here. We are facing a global biodiversity crisis. Besides tremendous ecological implications, biodiversity loss also threatens mental wellbeing, as biodiversity…

Voracious Honey Bees Threaten the Food Supply of Native Pollinators

Voracious Honey Bees Threaten the Food Supply of Native Pollinators

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Researchers raise concern of native species being outcompeted by non-native honey bees, which were found to extract nearly 80 percent of available pollen in a day at a key hotspot of bee biodiversity The majority of the earth’s plant species, including our crop plants, rely on the services of animal pollinators in order to reproduce….

Here are the flowers that both bees and humans like best

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Botanists from the University of Copenhagen and the UK set out to find the best flower combinations for bees and hoverflies. The results make it easier for garden owners and municipalities, among others, to plant the perfect pantries for insects, which also delight the human eye. Flower strips, seed mixtures, and wild by design. We…

Common farm chemical threatens insect survival

Common farm chemical threatens insect survival

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Macquarie University research shows a chemical banned in Europe but still sprayed on Australian produce to kill fungus also wipes out beneficial insects and pollinators, potentially fuelling global insect decline. A widely-used agricultural chemical sprayed on fruits and vegetables to prevent fungal disease is also killing beneficial insects that play a critical role in pollination…

Songbirds’ great risk results in great genetic reward

Songbirds’ great risk results in great genetic reward

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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…

Biodiversity – A Sovereign Property

Biodiversity – A Sovereign Property

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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…

Thousands of animal species threatened by climate change, novel analysis finds

Thousands of animal species threatened by climate change, novel analysis finds

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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…

On the origin (and fate) of plants that never bloom

On the origin (and fate) of plants that never bloom

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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…