Coastal and oceanic environments have natural defenders against climate change. These defenders are mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. They are known for their ability to capture and store carbon. This process is called blue carbon. These ecosystems are not just about carbon though. They are also crucial for biodiversity. They help to reduce the amount of carbo...
Protecting our environment and keeping biodiversity alive is a big job. The problem is, rules for protection are often too vague. They need to be made more specific to be useful. This guide is all about making those rules work better. It starts by looking at the benefits we get from nature, like clean air and water. These are called ecosystem services. Then,...
Imagine tiny dung beetles, hard at work in forests and pastures, facing a double whammy: rising temperatures and pesticides. These beetles are crucial for keeping our ecosystems clean, but they're under threat. Let's dive into what happens when they're exposed to high temperatures and a common drug called ivermectin. Ivermectin is a drug used to treat parasi...
Cities around the world are seeing changes in their vegetation, with some areas getting greener and others turning brown. This study looked at over 11, 000 urban areas globally to figure out what's driving these changes and how they might help or hurt city temperatures. The results? About 41% of cities are getting greener, while nearly 50% are browning. Interestingly...
Imagine you're living along the Yellow River in China. How much do you think the river and its surroundings help your daily life? This study explored how well the river basin's ecosystem services match what locals think. Ecosystem services, or ESs, are the goodies nature provides, like clean water, fresh air, and fun places to visit. Researchers found that cities nea...
Imagine a world where bats, those winged creatures of the night, are busy munching on our agricultural pests. A recent study used weather radars to keep an eye on these helpful critters in California's Northern Central Valley during the peak season of 2019. This area is known for its valuable crops and pest problems like midges and mosquitoes. The research showed tha...
Bats play a vital role in keeping pests under control, especially in areas with lots of agriculture. But figuring out how to include bat management in conservation plans is tough. The way a landscape looks can greatly influence where bats live, how many different types there are, and how well they do their job of keeping pests away. Researchers in Serra da Estrela, P...
Imagine diving into a lake and taking a closer look at the tiny, often unnoticed creatures living there. Among these are fungi, the unsung heroes of aquatic life. Just like their terrestrial counterparts, these water-dwelling fungi play crucial roles in the underwater world. They help break down organic matter, recycle nutrients, and support the aquatic food web. Sci...
Land use changes in the hilly red soil region (HRSR) of Southern China, particularly in Jiangxi Province, are a hot topic. These changes can impact local ecosystem services (ESs) like habitat quality, soil conservation, and water yield. We studied three scenarios for 2035: nature development (ND), economic development (ED), and ecological protection (EP). Using the I...