Biodiversity News - SciTechDaily

Hidden in Plain Sight: Marine Biologists Discover New Clam Species in South Africa

Pensoft Publishers — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 21:47:14 +0000

Researchers discovered a new species of marine bivalve in South Africa, providing new insights into the biodiversity of the region and emphasizing conservation. Galeommatoidean bivalves are a highly diverse, yet poorly known, group of marine mollusks. Now, a study led by Paul Valentich-Scott from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, along with collaborators from [...]

Nature’s Oddity: Scientists Discover Unusual Frog That Breeds Upside-Down

Harvard University — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 05:07:30 +0000

A study reveals unique breeding behaviors in the Andamanese Charles Darwin’s frog, including upside-down egg-laying and intense male competition. The species faces habitat challenges, breeding in unnatural sites like trash, underscoring urgent conservation needs. Researchers from the University of Delhi and Zoological Survey of India, Harvard University, and the University of Minnesota have discovered a [...]

Protecting Earth’s Biodiversity: Scientists Propose Bold Plan To Create Moon-Based Bio Vault

Smithsonian National Zoological Park — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 09:57:19 +0000

A proposed lunar biorepository may allow for the storage of genetic samples without the need for electricity or liquid nitrogen. New research led by scientists at the Smithsonian proposes a plan to safeguard Earth’s imperiled biodiversity by cryogenically preserving biological material on the moon. The moon’s permanently shadowed craters are cold enough for cryogenic preservation [...]

The Quick and the Curious: Discover the Mysterious New Creatures of the Deep Sea

Pensoft Publishers — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 06:00:35 +0000

Ocean biodiversity is under significant threat due to global changes, but new initiatives like the Ocean Species Discoveries, coordinated by the Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance, aim to rapidly describe and publish findings on marine species. This innovative approach reduces the usual decades-long delay in species description, directly contributing to the conservation efforts needed to protect [...]

Moon Ark: Scientists Propose Saving Earth’s Species With a Lunar Biorepository

American Institute of Biological Sciences — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 03:10:26 +0000

Researchers propose a lunar biorepository to protect Earth’s endangered species by utilizing the Moon’s cold temperatures for long-term storage of biological samples. This initiative seeks to overcome Earth’s natural and political risks by fostering global collaboration and developing new technologies for space transport and sample preservation. Faced with the threat of extinction for numerous species, [...]

Unraveling California’s Strategy To Combat Climate Catastrophe

University of California - Davis — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 19:00:38 +0000

Recent resarch highlights the immense biodiversity of California and its susceptibility to climate threats like heat, wildfires, and shifting ecosystems. The study emphasizes the importance of California’s 30 x 30 Initiative, which aims to preserve 30% of its land and coastal waters by 2030, and calls for a shift in fire management policies to better [...]

Scientists Discover New Placozoan Habitat in an Unexpected Place

LMU Munich — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 16:33:20 +0000

DNA traces in the stomachs of predatory snails have provided new ecological insights into placozoans, according to research led by LMU geobiologist Gert Wörheide. Placozoans, some of the simplest animals in the world, are found in coastal waters globally. These tiny organisms, only a few millimeters in size, were once thought to inhabit either solid [...]

The Future of Entomology: New Technology Revolutionizes Insect Research

Aarhus University — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 23:13:18 +0000

Emerging technologies are transforming insect research and environmental surveillance. Utilizing AI to analyze DNA, images, sounds, and flight patterns, we can unlock novel insights into the insect world. Recent concerns about significant declines in insect populations have prompted researchers to urgently gather data on their current status. “So far, such data are only available for [...]

Is Clean Energy Killing Our Wildlife? 4,642 Vertebrate Species Threatened

University of Cambridge — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 15:00:26 +0000

New research shows that 4,642 vertebrate species globally are at risk due to mineral extraction activities such as mining and drilling. This impact is most profound in biodiversity hotspots where materials like lithium and cobalt, essential for clean energy technologies, are mined. The research suggests that mitigating mining pollution could substantially reduce biodiversity loss, providing [...]

Biologists Have Tracked 66 Million Years of Mammalian Diversity

University of Nebraska-Lincoln — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 13:50:14 +0000

Researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln studied North America’s fossil record over 66 million years, revealing insights into mammalian diversity and ecological shifts that could inform current conservation strategies. To comprehend the present, looking to history can be enlightening. Recent research from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln delved into the fossil record spanning 66 million years, [...]

Biological Beacons: How Oyster Sanctuaries Are Guiding Ecological Restoration in Chesapeake Bay

Smithsonian — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 16:09:53 +0000

Oyster sanctuaries in Chesapeake Bay are enhancing oyster populations and marine biodiversity, despite the presence of native parasites. Oyster sanctuaries are among the most hotly debated strategies in the campaign to restore Chesapeake Bay. However, recent research by Smithsonian biologists supports their effectiveness in enhancing both oyster populations and overall biodiversity. A new study published [...]

Unmasking the Unknown: TetrapodTraits Exposes Critical Gaps in Biodiversity Data

PLOS — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 18:00:10 +0000

Researchers developed TetrapodTraits, a comprehensive database featuring over 33,000 tetrapod species, aimed at enhancing global biodiversity studies. This tool addresses knowledge gaps and data inconsistencies by including various traits like body size and habitat. Their analysis highlights the necessity for more accurate data to improve conclusions about species distribution and conservation statuses. TetrapodTraits – a [...]

Unusual New Species of Venomous Viper Discovered in China

Pensoft Publishers — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 09:38:31 +0000

A new venomous snake species, Ovophis jenkinsi, was discovered in Yunnan, known for its aggressive defense and preference for humid environments. A team of Chinese researchers has discovered a new species of mountain pit viper, a medium-sized venomous snake. The snake was found in Yunnan, China, a biodiversity hotspot where several new reptile species have [...]

New Research: We Must Protect These Safe Havens To Prevent “The Sixth Great Extinction of Life on Earth”

Frontiers — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 16:51:42 +0000

Preserving biodiversity hotspots, which constitute only 1.22% of the Earth’s land surface, could halt extinctions safeguard the planet for future generations. In a revolutionary new study, a group of conservationists and scientists have demonstrated that by preserving a small fraction of the Earth’s surface, we can protect the remaining biodiversity. This cost-effective and feasible strategy [...]

Urgent Action Is Needed: Natural Hazards Threaten Over 3000 Species

University of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 17:05:43 +0000

A study identifies over 3,700 species at risk of extinction due to natural disasters, with urgent conservation actions needed to preserve ecosystem functions and prevent species loss. Many people understand that climate change is changing our world. However, it can also increase the likelihood of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, in areas where vulnerable species [...]

Can Culebra’s Coral Survive the Climate Crisis?

Adam Voiland, NASA Earth Observatory — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 11:21:27 +0000

Culebra Island, located near Puerto Rico, boasts diverse marine ecosystems with extensive coral reefs protected by various reserves. Despite their ecological importance, these reefs face numerous threats such as pollution, rising sea temperatures, and coastal development. Efforts to monitor and conserve these habitats include NASA’s OCEANOS program, which engages students in marine research and coral [...]

Nature’s Warning: Early Signs in Marine Life Predicting the Next Mass Extinction

Harvard University — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 15:51:28 +0000

A study using foraminifera fossils suggests that shifts in marine community structures can predict future extinctions, highlighting the role of historical data in forecasting climate change impacts on biodiversity. For hundreds of millions of years, single-celled organisms known as foraminifera, which are microscopic and hard-shelled, have thrived in the oceans. These tiny creatures form the [...]

Johns Hopkins Scientists Discover Unusual New Hero in Evolution

Johns Hopkins University — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 16:26:19 +0000

Prehistoric worms’ burrowing activities on ocean floors released oxygen, fostering the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event, according a new study. One of Earth’s most consequential bursts of biodiversity—a 30-million-year period of explosive evolutionary changes spawning innumerable new species—may have the most modest of creatures to thank for the vital stage in life’s history: worms. The digging [...]

Global Warming Is Changing Plants’ Pollination Patterns – and It Could Have Disastrous Consequences for Food Stability

Katherine Egan Bennett, University of Texas at Arlington — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 08:52:55 +0000

A new study by researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Nevada, Reno, and Virginia Tech reveals that climate change has led to reduced pollen production in plants and less pollen diversity, potentially threatening food production. Behnaz Balmaki, the study’s lead author and an assistant professor of research in biology at [...]

When Aliens Attack: Experts Warn of Urgent Threat to Global Ecosystems

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 09:00:32 +0000

A team of around 90 international experts advocate urgent action against the escalating threat of invasive species, calling for collaboration across borders and within countries. While invasive alien species have long been recognized as a major threat to nature and people, urgent action is needed now to tackle this global issue. This is the critical [...]

Silver Shadows: The Quiet Conquest of São Paulo’s Waters by an Amazon Invader

São Paulo Research Foundation — Fri, 17 May 2024 17:34:54 +0000

In São Paulo, Brazil, the Silver croaker, an invasive species, has become the predominant fish in the Jaguari reservoir and surrounding rivers, significantly diminishing the diversity of native fish species. Despite its economic importance, controlling its population poses significant ecological and legal challenges. The Silver croaker (Plagioscion squamosissimus), also known as corvina or pescada-branca in [...]

Researchers Have Discovered Eight New Deep-Sea Species of Sponges

Uppsala University — Wed, 08 May 2024 21:56:43 +0000

Despite marine sponges being widespread on our planet, their biodiversity and distribution is still poorly known. Even though the Mediterranean Sea is the most explored sea on Earth, a study by Díaz et al. (2024) reveals the presence of new sponge species and new records in unexplored habitats such as underwater caves or mountains around [...]

Europe’s Forgotten Forests – Scientists Uncover Potential “Biodiversity Hot Spots”

Utah State University — Tue, 07 May 2024 15:54:19 +0000

According to an international team of forest scientists, a type of forest that has been largely ignored and neglected shows significant potential for recovery, improving species diversity, and its ability to withstand climate change. According to new research, published in the peer-reviewed science journal PLOS ONE, there is ample habitat for the Eurasian aspen, and [...]

Economic Alarm: Nature’s Loss Carries Bigger Price Tag Than Estimated

University of Exeter — Sun, 05 May 2024 22:24:06 +0000

Researchers suggest that governments adopt a novel approach to quantify the benefits of preserving biodiversity and natural environments for future generations. The method can be used by governments in cost-benefit analyses for public infrastructure projects, in which the loss of animal and plant species and ‘ecosystem services’ – such as filtering air or water, pollinating [...]