Biodiversity

Tag: Biodiversity

How Will Climate Change Facilitate Plant Invasion?

Scientists are assembling data to predict how climate change will drive plant invasions. With climate change in motion, plant species could migrate to regions that are changing to accommodate new species. Non-native (introduced) species are considered invasive when proof of harm to the ecosystem is observed. Climate change-driven shifts in abiotic factors–non-living features of the environment–could affect […]

Written by on June 2, 2017

Discovery of Extinct Beetle Highlights Biodiversity & Sounds a Warning

New beetle species discovered in Paris museum is already extinct, but leaves us with some important messages. Tucked away among the shelves of a museum in Paris for 140 years was a new discovery waiting to happen. To the untrained eye, it would appear to be just another beetle in a diverse collection. But in fact, there […]

Written by on March 7, 2017

These Island Endemic Birds are Thriving Thanks to Ecosystem Restoration

Restoration projects aid recovery of island-endemic birds. Birds that are only found on islands are particularly vulnerable to threats posed by invasive species–they cannot simply migrate to a new home, as they are specifically adapted to their insular environment. Birds confined to just a single island or archipelago are some of the most at-risk species in […]

Written by on December 15, 2016

Pacific Islands Take Invasive Species Problems Head-on

At the 2016 UN Biodiversity Conference in Cancun, Mexico, Pacific Islands outline action plan to manage invasive species and their impacts. The Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) announced commitments to empower and support Pacific Islands in repairing and preventing damages from invasive species. The Pacific Islands face some of the highest extinction rates in the world. […]

Written by on December 10, 2016

Extinct-in-the-wild Hawaiian Crow Will Soon Fly Free

Hawaiian Crows, also known as Alalā, will soon be released back into their native Hawaiian habitat after a 14-year process of captive breeding. Conservation biologists only want the best for the Hawaiian Crow, also known as Alalā. Protecting the Hawaiian Crow includes providing adequate habitat for their reintroduction to the Hawaiian forest. The species has […]

Written by on December 8, 2016

New Exhibit Features Biodiversity and Culture of Cuba

A new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History is revealing the biological diversity and culture of Cuba. Have you ever wanted to visit Cuba and explore the biological diversity that the archipelago has to offer? The American Museum of Natural History is facilitating this experience for their visitors with a new “¡Cuba!” exhibit which […]

Written by on November 23, 2016

The Loss of the San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher Marks the First Recorded Galápagos Endemic Bird Extinction. How Can We Prevent the Next One?

The San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher, a bird species endemic to the Galápagos Islands, has gone extinct.  The Galápagos Islands are famous for their incredibly high biodiversity. Are they at risk of becoming famous for high extinction rates? The San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus dubius) used to fly, sing, forage, and build nests on San Cristóbal Island of the Galápagos […]

Written by on October 27, 2016

Ecological Forecasting Software Could Help Explain How Climate Change Affects Wildlife

A new study calls for improvements in the way scientists predict the impact of climate change on plants and wildlife. A study recently published in the journal Science assessed the current methods for predicting the impacts of climate change on wildlife and plants. The researchers found that current projections are based on broad statistical correlations […]

Written by on October 2, 2016

Conservationists Collaborate to Protect Key Biodiversity Areas

BirdLife International and other conservation organizations collaborate to identify, map, monitor, and conserve Key Biodiversity Areas around the world. A new partnership has formed to identify the regions on Earth most in need of conservation. The Key Biodiversity Area partnership plans to identify and map important regions for conservation around the world. The partnership will […]

Written by on October 2, 2016

Bernie Tershy: In the Midst of an Extinction Crisis, There is Hope

Island Conservation’s co-founder Bernie Tershy reflects on how island restoration programs serve to protect biodiversity and prevent extinctions. An uninterrupted stream of bad news about the environment reminds us that we are in the midst of an extinction crisis, which can leave us overwhelmed with hopelessness. But, hope is not as scarce as you might […]

Written by on September 28, 2016