invasive species – Page 3

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Islands and Alleles: How genetics can help protect endangered species

May 16, 2019September 19, 2022 Sarah Shainker 0 Comments Climate, Conservation, Ecology, ecology and society, ecosystems, environmental science, genetics, invasive species, islands

When talking about diversity in the natural world, we often think of the bright colors and bold patterns of fish gliding among a reef, or the variety of flying, creeping, and crawling critters found in the layers of a rainforest canopy. However, diversity even within a single species is an important indicator of a population’s health and stability. This type of diversity can be invisible to us when contained in the form of genes that control which traits organisms possess. In this study, scientists helped us to see the invisible diversity of an endangered skink and learn how to more effectively conserve this diversity.

Environmental Science

Seeking Ferns, Finding Worms

April 18, 2019September 16, 2022 Abigail Bezrutczyk 0 Comments Ecology, ecosystem change, environmental science, forests, invasive species, modeling, native plants

In the midst of an earthworm invasion, researchers created models to find a rare fern. This helps us to better understand how to protect threatened, endangered, and sensitive plants in a changing world.

Environmental Science

Out with the new, in with the old: can removing Asian carp benefit native fish populations?

March 7, 2019September 12, 2022 Lauren Bonatakis 0 Comments Ecology, fisheries, invasive species, management

Asian carp have been plaguing the waters of the Mississippi River Basin for over 40 years. As an invasive species, Asian carp often out-compete native species and decimate food webs. Many control measures have been proposed and implemented to mitigate the presence of Asian carp, and some methods are working. Now, the question is, with the removal of Asian carp, can native fish populations rebound and thrive in their natural environment once again?

Environmental Science

Parasite Invasion: Native North American snakes are infected with parasites introduced by Burmese pythons

March 6, 2019September 12, 2022 Kara Cromwell 0 Comments Ecology, environmental science, invasive species, management, Parasites, wildlife health

Invasive Burmese pythons have many negative effects on native Florida wildlife, and researchers have now discovered the potential for more: pythons share their parasites with native snakes.

Case Studies Climate Environmental Science

Frostbitten toads: Are cane toads adapting to the cold as they move northwards in Florida?

March 5, 2019September 12, 2022 Kevin Aviles Rodriguez 0 Comments Climate Change, Ecology, invasive species

How might animals respond to global climate change? A new study evaluates the northbound expansion of cane toads in Florida. Toads in northern Florida are tolerating freezing temperatures that are colder than they have previously been able to live in. Read on to find out how the cane toads tolerate freezing and what this teaches us about how other animals might respond to global climate change.