Biodiversity News

Only 200 years ago, Australian waters were full of oyster and shellfish reefs. Then they collapsed. Now large scale restoration efforts are underway. Dominic McAfee, Postdoctoral researcher, marine ecology, University of Adelaide Chris Gillies, Adjunct Associate Professor in marine ecology, James Cook University Christine Crawford, Senior research fellow in marine biology, University of Tasmania Ian McLeod, Professorial Research Fellow in Marine Biology, James Cook University Sean Connell, Professor, Program Director of Stretton Institute, Program Director of Environment Insitute, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scientists predict 56% of ‘data deficient’ species are probably at risk. Lilly P. Harvey, PhD Researcher, Environmental Science, Nottingham Trent University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new map of more than 14,000 ant species around the world will guide efforts for discovery and conservation. Simon KA Robson, Professor, CQUniversity Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

While artificially illuminating the night allows humans to make use of the the night, in doing so we catastrophically change the environment for all other species. How can we fix this? Therésa Jones, Associate Professor in Evolution and Behaviour, The University of Melbourne Kathryn McNamara, Post-doctoral research associate, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The so-called post-2020 global biodiversity framework is a nature counterpart to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, and will aim to curb the decline of nature by 2050. Justina C. Ray, Adjunct professor, Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Toronto Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This fictitious project approval helps us better understand how environmental governance in Australia has gone badly wrong. David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After years of neglect, Australia’s environmental crises can wait no longer. Here’s what our new government can do quickly to begin turning things around. James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The findings are staggering in their representation of loss and environmental degradation across Australia. While I am disappointed, I am unfortunately not surprised. Ayesha Tulloch, ARC Future Fellow, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The simulation showed catching cane toads once a week involved 85% less cost and effort than other strategies, but was just as effective. Arman Pili, PhD candidate, Monash University David Chapple, Associate Professor in Evolutionary and Conservation Ecology, Monash University Reid Tingley, Lecturer, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Trees were already known for cooling and cleaning the air of cities. A Europe-wide, participative science project shows how much their density matters for urban biodiversity. Bastien Castagneyrol, Chercheur en écologie, Inrae Elena Valdés-Correcher, Chercheuse en écologie, Inrae Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Caracals that hunt closer to urban areas where human population density is higher, have higher levels of chemicals in their systems. Gabriella Leighton, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Rhodes University Jacqueline Bishop, Senior Lecturer in Conservation Biology, University of Cape Town Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Camera traps and acoustic recorders are allowing researchers to take the pulse of the Amazonian forests, as human-impacts such as climate change and logging continue to rage. Oliver Metcalf, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Manchester Metropolitan University Liana Chesini Rossi, Invited User, University of São Paulo State Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Species will endure intolerable conditions long after the global average temperature stabilises. Joanne Bentley, Postdoctoral Researcher in Molecular Ecology, African Climate & Development Initiative, University of Cape Town Alex Pigot, Research Fellow, Genetics, Evolution & Environment Division of Biosciences, UCL Andreas L. S. Meyer, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Cape Town Christopher Trisos, Senior Research Fellow in Climate Change Risks, University of Cape Town Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An Africa-based conservation expert explains why trophy hunting has not delivered for wildlife in most parts of Africa, and that local communities benefit next to nothing from its continued practice Hans Bauer, Research fellow: Northern Lion Conservation, University of Oxford Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The common eider nests in colonies on islands of the St. Lawrence estuary. The down that the female duck takes to fill her nest has exceptional insulating properties. Jean-François Giroux, Professeur associé, Département des sciences biologiques; écologie et aménagement des oiseaux migrateurs, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Exposure to hot and dry conditions can damage the DNA of nestling birds in their first few days of life – meaning they age earlier and produce less offspring. Justin Eastwood, Postdoctoral research fellow in ecology, Monash University Anne Peters, Professor in Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Protecting green turtles is difficult because they perform some of the longest migrations known in the animal kingdom. Ana Rita Patricio, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Exeter Martin Beal, Research Assistant, ISPA Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As nations pledge to preserve swaths of ocean within their territorial waters, a marine scientist explains why some marine protected areas shelter ocean life more effectively than others. Kirsten Grorud-Colvert, Associate Professor, Oregon State University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For the first time, we calculated Australia’s share of planetary environmental boundaries and found we’ve shot past three already. Romy Zyngier, Senior Research Manager, Climateworks Centre Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Can one department adequately tackle climate change, energy, the environment and water? It’s unlikely. Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.