Biodiversity News

Under a new code, rural landholders in NSW will be allowed to clear up to 25 metres of land outside their property boundary. This will be devastating for the wildlife that live or migrate there. Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Ben Moore, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University Jen Martin, Leader, Science Communication Teaching Program, The University of Melbourne Mark Hall, Postdoctoral research fellow, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University Megan C Evans, Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow, UNSW Ross Crates, Postdoctoral fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Which species are becoming endangered and which are recovering, according to the IUCN World Conservation Congress? Louise Gentle, Senior Lecturer in Wildlife Conservation, Nottingham Trent University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wild beaver populations have the potential to significantly alter our landscapes, affecting biodiversity, water quality and pollution. Joshua Larsen, Senior Lecturer in Water Science, University of Birmingham Annegret Larsen, Assistant Professor in Geography, Wageningen University and Research Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Towering trees in African tropical mountain forests are a vital, overlooked carbon store threatened by deforestation. Aida Cuní Sanchez, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of York Martin Sullivan, Lecturer in Statistical Ecology, Manchester Metropolitan University Phil Platts, Research Fellow, University of York Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There are 191 different species of bat across the Pacific Island. They are vital parts of the region’s biodiversity, and many species have cultural significance. John Martin, Research Scientist, Taronga Conservation Society Australia & Adjunct lecturer, University of Sydney David L. Waldien, Adjunct assistant professor, Christopher Newport University Junior Novera, PhD Candidate, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland Justin A. Welbergen, President of the Australasian Bat Society | Associate Professor of Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University Malik OEDIN, PhD Population Biology and Ecology, Université de Nouvelle Calédonie Nicola Hanrahan, Terrestrial Ecologist, Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security, Northern Territory Government & Visiting Fellow, Charles Darwin University Tigga Kingston, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University Tyrone Lavery, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Adopting more environmentally conscious farm models would safeguard our agricultural exports, cut emissions and help protect nature. Frank Jotzo, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy and Head of Energy, Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Studies show some animals can recognise the threat of fire, and behave in a way that increase their chance of survival. But what about wildlife who have evolved in areas where fire was once rare? Dale Nimmo, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Alex Carthey, Macquarie University Research Fellow, Macquarie University Chris J Jolly, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Charles Sturt University Daniel T. Blumstein, Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Species distribution data – or a lack thereof – can have a major bearing on how a country’s Key Biodiversity Areas and protected areas are designated. Harith Omar Morgadinho Farooq, Post-doc, University of Gothenburg Allison Perrigo, Director of the Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The audio version of an in-depth article on why there aren’t enough trees to offset society’s carbon emissions – and there never will be. Bonnie Waring, Senior Lecturer, Grantham Institute - Climate Change and Environment, Imperial College London Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Large and out-of-control wildfires can seriously damage ecosystems, but Indigenous fire practices can keep ecosystems healthy and resilient, and even increase biodiversity. Sara Wickham, PhD Candidate in Historical Ecology, University of Waterloo Andrew Trant, Associate Professor, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo Emma Davis, Postdoctoral fellow, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo Kira Hoffman, Postdoctoral fellow, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For biodiversity offsets to work, landholders need to be on board, but their diverse perspectives remain poorly understood. Roel Plant, Adjunct Professor, University of Technology Sydney Laure-Elise Ruoso, Senior Research Consultant, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scientists are urging the Biden administration to protect mature US forests as a climate change strategy, starting with the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. Beverly Law, Professor Emeritus of Global Change Biology and Terrestrial Systems Science, Oregon State University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Huge blooms of brown seaweed have fouled Florida and Caribbean beaches almost every year over the past decade. They originate in Africa and South America. and are fueled by human activities. Stephen P. Leatherman, Professor of Coastal Science, Florida International University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New ABARES research examines the climate change challenge facing Australian farmers Neal Hughes, Senior Economist, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For one of Earth’s most biodiverse forests, 21,000 years of natural change pale in comparison to modern, man-made climate breakdown. Oliver Wilson, PhD Candidate in Environmental Science, University of Reading Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

"Will it become a wood again, how long will it take, which species will be in it?" Richard K Broughton, Ecologist and Ornithologist at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and Senior Research Associate in Zoology, University of Oxford Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

During a 2015 heat wave, scientists watched as a coral reef died before their eyes. By the end of the century, almost all the world's corals will be gone if climate change continues at this pace. Sam Purkis, Professor and Chair of the Department of Marine Sciences, University of Miami Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Convention on Biological Diversity aims to achieve a world "living in harmony with nature". This won't happen if the plan goes ahead in its current form. Michelle Lim, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Traditional herbal medicines and cosmetics remain popular in South Africa especially in rural areas where they are part of people's culture. Abiodun Olusola Omotayo, Extraordinary Senior Lecturer, Food Security and Safety Niche Area, North-West University Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu, Associate professor, North-West University Peter Tshepiso Ndhlovu, Ph.D. candidate in Indigenous Knowledge Systems and lecturer at School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga Wilfred Otang-Mbeng, Associate Professor in Botany, University of Mpumalanga Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A fear of microbes, like germs, could be harming human health. Jake M Robinson, Ecologist and Researcher, Department of Landscape, University of Sheffield Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.