biodiversity – envirobites

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Theory versus Reality: How Biodiversity Indicators Were Re-Evaluated in The Gishwati-Mukura National Park

April 1, 2023May 10, 2023 Andrea Valcarcel 0 Comments biodiversity, biodiversity indicators, chimpanzees, flagship species

Chimpanzees were thought to be an indicator of ecosystem biodiversity in the Gishwati-Mukura National Park until a group of scientists found there was no relationship between abundance of chimpanzee and biodiversity in that particular National Park—this does not mean this assumption is inherently wrong, it is just wrong for the area in question, showing us how biodiversity can be a difficult concept to measure.

Ecosystems Environmental Science

A weed by any other name would smell as sweet: Unsung pollination heroes

September 8, 2022September 8, 2022 Etienne Herrick 0 Comments biodiversity, pollinators, weeds, wildflowers

Weeds often get a bad rap, but new research suggests we should think twice before pulling them out of our gardens and farm fields. In fact, they may be even more beneficial than wildflower patches. Read on to learn more about how farmers’ and gardeners’ number one enemy – weeds – could actually be pollinators’ number one ally!

Ecosystems Environmental Science

Is it a Bird? Is it Batman? Filtering and Extracting DNA from the Air Can Provide a Clue

April 3, 2022April 11, 2022 Maria Marlin 0 Comments biodiversity, ecosystems, Environmental DNA (eDNA)

Environmental DNA or eDNA is DNA that has been released by organisms into their surroundings. This article presents a fascinating discovery: sampling air for eDNA can ultimately show what terrestrial vertebrates are nearby. Long-range monitoring of vertebrate biodiversity is explored as well.

Animal behavior Environmental Science

Hunting for Nothing

March 13, 2022April 11, 2022 Sam Schurkamp 0 Comments Anthropocene, biodiversity, keystone species, predator-prey interactions, trophic cascade

In an increasingly human-dominated world, many predators are making due without the resource they needed most: their prey. Featured image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/51647007@N08/5277240941

Animal behavior Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science

For elk reintroduced in the Missouri Ozarks, love is in the air

February 13, 2022March 12, 2022 Sam Schurkamp 0 Comments biodiversity, Conservation, Ecology, endangered species, reintroduction

Habitat loss and overhunting decimated local elk populations in the 1800s. Now, researchers are finding new ways to return them to their native land.

Climate Environmental Science Science through time

Dead plants breathe new life into botanical research

January 18, 2021September 16, 2022 Sienna Wessel 0 Comments biodiversity, botany, Climate Change, Ecology, herbaria, natural collections, phenology

I’ll never forget the first time that I stepped into a herbarium. Picture a room full of towering metal cabinets. Inside, there are thousands of pressed plants carefully glued onto special paper upon which thoughtfully recorded field notes describe the plant’s habitat, location, life stage, and more. At a moment’s notice I can still recall the unique smell of preserved plants, reminiscent of the comforting scent that lofts when ruffling the pages of an old book. In those days, as a budding botanist, I never questioned the immense value of these collections. Then, when I learned that one herbarium in seven has closed in the last twenty-five years (Deng 2015), I realized that we simply aren’t talking enough about all the unique ways that old plants can fuel modern science.

Environmental Science

Lichens, we like them: Considering intimate relationships in biodiversity conservation

August 16, 2020August 16, 2020 Samantha Andres 0 Comments biodiversity, Conservation, Ecology, lichen, Restoration

Learning about lichens, and their contribution to biodiversity and ecosystem function.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Toxicology

Predator-free New Zealand? Conservation ethics

June 1, 2020June 1, 2020 Samantha Andres 0 Comments biodiversity, environmental ethics, environmental policy, toxicology

https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.uws.edu.au/content/pdf/10.1007/s10806-019-09815-x.pdf Biodiversity hotspots Without a doubt, New Zealand is a biodiversity hotspot. It consistsof two islands that have evolved independently

Cities Ecosystems

All those “weeds” add up to a lot of urban biodiversity

May 19, 2020May 23, 2020 Andrew Trlica 0 Comments biodiversity, urban ecology, weeds

Study finds more than 300 plant species growing out of the sidewalks of a single city.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Could We “Dilute” Disease by Protecting Biodiversity?

April 28, 2020April 29, 2020 Sienna Wessel 0 Comments biodiversity, disease, ecosystem health, ecosystem services, plant communities, plant diversity

So you are a passionate conservation activist distracted in the time of global pandemic- perhaps you haven’t had the mental space to prioritize biodiversity protection in your ever growing laundry list of pressing societal issues. What if I told you that the preservation of biodiversity could have the potential to check off a few items on that list- including disease impact? Read on to hear how science has worked tirelessly to determine if diversity can actually “dilute” disease in a variety of organisms, ending with a new comprehensive study that looks at this effect in plants.

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