Listen to the sounds three different plants might make if they were stressed Animals react to sounds being made by plants, new research suggests, opening up the possibility that an invisible ecosystem might exist between them. In the first ever such evidence, a team at Tel Aviv University found that female moths avoided laying their…
Two major environmental shifts have triggered global transformations in large herbivore communities. A new study with researchers from the University of Gothenburg show how these ecosystems remained remarkably resilient despite extinction and upheaval. From mastodons to ancient rhinos and giant deer, large herbivores have been shaping Earth’s landscapes for millions of years. A new study,…
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…
When a plant species spreads beyond its habitat, it is usually seen as a threat to native flora and fauna. But what happens when that same species is struggling to survive in its original range? A new study published in New Phytologist and led by researchers at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv),…
A Greek prosecutor has ordered the removal of wolves from Mount Parnitha National Park near Athens and their relocation to northern Greece – a decision that has shocked scientists and conservationists, who warn it is both ecologically damaging and logistically unworkable. The directive, issued about ten days ago by the prosecutor for animal protection, instructs…
The ambient temperature has a profound impact on the physiology and behaviour of most species. In regions where individuals rely on low temperatures to hibernate effectively, global warming is likely to significantly affect their survival. A team of scientists studied how ambient temperatures shape the energy expenditure of common noctule bats and built a model…
The number of species does not increase evenly when going from local ecosystems to continental scales – a phenomenon ecologists have recognised for decades. Now, an international team of scientists, including researchers from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), has developed a new theory to explain…
Police who raided a national park guesthouse earlier this month aimed not to bust elephant tusk or rhino horn poachers but a more esoteric ring trading a much smaller, more lucrative item by weight. This was an ant smuggling ring. Two Belgian teenagers were arrested for wildlife trafficking at Jane Guesthouse in Naivasha, Kenya on…
The ulokeros goat owes its uniqueness primarily to its curved horns, from which it derives its name—”ulos” in ancient Greek means curved, and “keros” means horn. Credit: AMNA It’s a goat with a history deeply rooted in Greece’s ancient past, still roving through a handful of the country’s regions. Ulokeros goat, related to Greek mythology…
A team of ecologists from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) are leading an international initiative to investigate the decline of insect populations in the world’s tropical forests. Insects, the most abundant and diverse group of animals on Earth, are experiencing alarming declines, prompting this research effort. The team’s work has earned them an invitation…