Nature is a delicate dance. Too much water can mess it up. Scientists have been looking at how biodiversity and productivity in grasslands are linked. But they often ignore one big factor: flooding. This is a problem because flooding is becoming more common. It can stress out plants and change how ecosystems work. Biodiversity is crucial. It helps ecosystems stay st...
People from Taiwan and Japan recently had online chats about protecting nature and how regular folks can help. The goal was to see if talking across cultures could make them think more deeply about their own beliefs and how they affect the environment. The chats did more than just share ideas. They helped people see how their culture can both help and hurt nature. F...
Ever wondered why some places have more types of animals than others? Scientists have been puzzling over this for years. The general idea is that areas with more energy, like sunlight and rain, should have more species. But real-world data often doesn't match this theory. This inconsistency might be due to other factors, like the size of the area or how isolated it ...
Biohydrogen (Bio-H₂) is a clean energy source, but making it pure is tricky. Tiny organisms called hydrogenotrophic methanogens can mess it up. Scientists have tried different ways to stop these organisms, but often, these methods hurt the good bacteria that make hydrogen. Now, researchers have found a new way to boost Bio-H₂ production using special nanoparticles. ...
A lot of people use YouTube to learn about wildlife. But how well is it helping with conservation efforts in Africa? This question has not been given much thought. Most studies focus on specific species, activities, or small areas, making it hard to see the bigger picture. Africa is a treasure trove of biodiversity. Yet, many videos about its wildlife come fro...
The world of tiny algae is more diverse than we thought. These algae, known as diatoms, play a huge role in our planet's health. They are responsible for about 20% of the carbon fixation that happens globally. This means they help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, which is great for fighting climate change. Diatoms are incredibly successful and varied, ...
In the world of conservation, understanding the variety of life forms is key to saving them. Mangroves, those amazing coastal trees, have been studied a lot. But what about the creatures that live at the bottom of these ecosystems? Specifically, the mollusks that call these places home. Scientists have been paying less attention to these critters. A recent study cha...
Coral reefs, often called the underwater rainforests, are in serious trouble. They support about a third of all marine species and a billion people. But right now, more than 80% of the world’s reefs have been hit by bleaching. This is the worst global bleaching event ever recorded. The heat has been intense. It has spread across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian...
Europe is full of experts talking about biodiversity. They have lots of data on how biodiversity is doing, where it's going, and what can be done about it. But there's a problem. All this knowledge isn't always getting to the people who make the rules. The EU has a big plan to fix this by 2030. They want to get everyone talking and working together better. This...
Metals in freshwater environments are causing changes that are not fully understood. Unlike the well-studied impacts of nutrients or climate, the effects of metals on the tiny organisms living in freshwater sediments are a mystery. These microscopic communities are crucial for the health of freshwater ecosystems. They play a significant role in breaking down organic ...