Biodiversity
Things related to the web of life; ecology; wildlife; endangered species
Swallow, Swift And House Martin Populations Have Nearly Halved: UK Survey
"Swallows, swifts and house martins were once a common sight over UK towns and cities, dextrously catching insects on the wing. But these spring and summer visitors are becoming increasingly rare, according to the definitive survey of the country’s birds."
Coral Bleaching Near Record Globally Because Of Ocean Heat: Experts
"Ocean temperatures that have gone “crazy haywire” hot, especially in the Atlantic, are close to making the current global coral bleaching event the worst in history. It’s so bad that scientists are hoping for a few hurricanes to cool things off."
"Global Wildlife Crime Causing ‘Untold Harm’, UN Report Finds"
"More than 4,000 species around the world are being targeted by wildlife traffickers, causing “untold harm upon nature”, a UN report has warned."
"Orcas Sink Sailing Yacht In Strait Of Gibraltar"
"An unknown number of orcas have sunk a sailing yacht after ramming it in Moroccan waters in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain's maritime rescue service said on Monday, a new attack in what has become a trend in the past four years."
"A Whale Makes A Comeback Off Argentina's Coast 100 Years After Vanishing"
"Giant blue-grey sei whales that vanished from Argentina's Patagonian coast a century ago due to hunting are starting to flourish once again, demonstrating how species can recover when measures to protect them are put in place."
Plants Can Communicate And Respond To Touch. So Are They Intelligent?
Climate journalist Zoë Schlanger says a new wave of research suggests that plants are indeed "intelligent" in complex ways that challenge our understanding of agency and consciousness.
Biodiversity Loss Is Biggest Driver Of Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Study
"Researchers say reducing emissions and biodiversity loss and preventing invasive species could control disease".
"Deadly Brain Disease Found In Two California Deer"
"State officials reported the presence of deadly chronic wasting disease in two wild California deer earlier this week. This is the first time the disease, which has plagued other areas of the nation for years, has appeared in the state’s deer or elk population."
"Birdwatch: The Invincible Swift, Effortless Master Of The Air"
"May Day dawns cold and breezy, with sullen grey clouds promising rain. Hope seems very far away. But then, a distant dark streak scythes through the skies over the Avalon Marshes, stiff-winged, direct and determined. A single swift, my first of the year."