Browsing Tag
Biodiversity
16 posts
DNA from Snow Tracks Reveals Polar Bears’ Secrets: A New Method to Monitor the Threatened Species
Polar bears, symbolic of the Arctic's pristine wilderness, remain enigmatic and at risk. The imperative for their conservation demands meticulous population monitoring. However, due to the elusive nature of polar bears, obtaining essential data regarding population size and connectivity between populations proves challenging. In an effort to bridge this information gap, scientists have introduced a novel approach: DNA analysis utilizing skin cells left behind in the bears' imprints on the snow.
Study Reveals Heightened Threat to Primate Survival as Big Cats Increase Consumption of Monkeys in Degraded Tropical Forests
Big cats, such as jaguars and pumas, typically do not consider monkeys a favored menu choice. Primates, being challenging to catch as they inhabit the canopies of large trees and seldom descend to the ground, are not the primary prey for these feline predators. Jaguars and pumas usually have diverse diets, opting to hunt species that are abundant in their respective habitats, such as deer, peccary (A type of wild pig), and armadillo.
According to New Research, Plants Could Take in More CO2 from Human-Caused Emissions Than Previously Thought
A recent study featured in Science Advances presents an unexpectedly optimistic outlook for the planet. The reason lies in more nuanced ecological modeling, indicating that Earth's plant life might have a greater capacity to absorb atmospheric CO₂ from human activities than earlier predictions suggested.
Climate Change Resistance: How Local Adaptation Benefits Certain Bird Species
The North American song sparrows exhibit an intriguing adaptation that could enhance their resilience to climate change: a diverse array of body sizes across their westernmost habitat.
Tree Diversity Boosted by the Presence of Large Herbivores like Elephants, Bison, and Moose
A research team has harnessed global satellite data to create a comprehensive map of tree cover within the world's protected areas. Their findings reveal that regions hosting numerous large herbivores exhibit a more fluctuating tree cover, a pattern anticipated to have a positive impact on overall biodiversity.
Reduced Bering Sea Ice Connected to Rising Wildfire Risk in Northeast China
In recent years, China has been taking significant steps to combat air pollution. These measures include the installation of filters in coal-fired power plants to eliminate sulfur dioxide, a substance that combines with other compounds in the air to create harmful particulate matter. Additionally, China's Air Pollution Control Act addresses pollution originating from industrial processes, transportation, and agriculture while setting ambitious goals for achieving carbon neutrality by the year 2060.