Endangered species
Fragile Fish
Bruce MacFarlane has been studying salmon for 25 years, and he still sounds amazed when he talks about their evolutionary adaptations.
“It’s a brilliant survival strategy,” he says. “They spend most of their lives in the ocean–it’s a nutrient-rich environment. There’s loads of food. But it’s also a predator-rich environment. So where do they go to [...]
Nearly One In Four Of World’s Mammals At Risk Of Disappearing Forever
The most comprehensive assessment of the world’s mammals has confirmed an extinction crisis, with almost one in four at risk of disappearing forever, according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, revealed at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona.
The new study to assess the world’s mammals shows at least 1,141 of the 5,487 [...]
Lichens and Nitrogen Air Pollution in Forests
Scientists have found lichens can give insight into nitrogen air pollution effects on Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino mountain ecosystems, and protecting them provides safeguards for less sensitive species.
Their findings are presented this month in the international journal Environmental Pollution and are significant because nitrogen from air pollution causes detrimental chemical and biological effects to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Other harmful effects include elevated nitrate concentrations in streams and groundwater, and weakened California forests more susceptible to bark beetle infestations and fires.
Stop the Clock on the Species Extinction
Every 20 minutes, another species is pushed to extinction.
Giant Humphead Wrasse: The live fish trade and spear fishing have contributed to the halving of the global population of this beautiful fish loved by divers.
Red Crowned Roof Turtle: (IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered) The illegal wildlife trade in Asia has in part placed at least 40% [...]
Life of a Tortoise
The following short article and references are meant to raise awareness. Unfortunately, there are many people who have no or little idea about tortoises. There are endangered tortoise species, there is also Lonesome George to shake humanity and how many of you don’t have tortoises as pets? Enjoy and feel free to fill in the [...]
The Bone Eaters
Bearded vultures, the largest birds in Europe, once soared over the continent from western Spain to the Balkans. But centuries of persecution against these raptors-once mistakenly considered a scourge to shepherds-eliminated them from all of their habitat in western Europe except for about 100 breeding pairs in the Pyrenees, Corsica and Greece.
With wings stretching as [...]
Sloth bear in distress: species on the verge of extinction
The small sloth bear is unique amongst the bears, as insects are its main food source. It has a long, shaggy black coat, which on some individuals appears to have a cinnamon tinge, and there is a pale white/cream marking on the chest. The muzzle is also pale in colour and these bears have a [...]