ecosystem

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‘The Most Imperiled Ecosystem’: Grassland Wildlife Declining in West Texas, Great Plains

A reflection of the planet’s increasingly volatile climate and the enduring influence of industrial interests, North American grasslands find themselves at the epicenter of one of the most severe biodiversity crises on the planet. Formerly a vibrant mosaic of life — teeming with migratory birds, diverse fauna herds and formidable predators — the Great Plains […]

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Environment
Forests
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UK Forests Face Catastrophic Ecosystem Collapse Within 50 Years, Study Says

UK forests are heading for “catastrophic ecosystem collapse” within the next 50 years due to multiple threats including disease, extreme weather and wildfires, researchers have warned, with trees dying on a large scale. The study, published in the journal Forestry, was put together by a panel of 42 researchers, with 1,200 experts consulted. Lead author, […]

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Environment
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Galapagos Giant Tortoises Prove Their Worth as Ecosystem Engineers

In the late 19th century, whalers, settlers, and pirates changed the ecology of the Galapagos Islands by poaching some native species—like Galapagos giant tortoises—and introducing others, like goats and rats. The latter species became pests and severely destabilized the island ecosystems. Goats overgrazed the fruits and plants the tortoises ate while rats preyed on their […]

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Environment
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Toward a Global Scientific Consensus: Identifying Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems Through Imagery

The scientific community is taking a significant step toward establishing a consensus on the designation of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) from imagery data, as highlighted in the new article titled “Towards a scientific community consensus on designating Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems from imagery,” authored by Dr. Amy R. Baco and colleagues and published in PeerJ Life & […]

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Climate Change
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Marine Plankton and Ecosystems Affected by Climate Change

Marine plankton plays an important role in the food chain, which is said to be undergoing a transformation due to climate change. Assistant Professor Kohei Matsuno of the Faculty of Fisheries Sciences spoke about how climate change is changing the distribution and ecology of marine plankton and what impact this will have on higher-trophic predators, […]

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Environment
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New Study Shows Increasing Fire Frequency Threatens Ecosystem Stability

A new study by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) and Curtin University has shown a major increase in fire frequency in Victoria in the 20 years from 2001 to 2020 relative to the two decades prior (1980 to 2000). “This surge in fire frequency, particularly pronounced in areas like wetter forest ecosystems dominated by ash-type […]

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Environment
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What Makes Up Rangeland Ecosystem Services?

As “ecosystem services” becomes a more common term heard amongst farmers, ranchers and range stewards of all kinds, the Society for Range Management (SRM) set out to further define this broad term and how it applies to rangelands. In a report released in August titled, “Rangeland Ecosystem Services: Connecting Nature and People,” a SRM task […]

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Environment
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Disappearing Glaciers Expose Vast New Ecosystems That Need Protection

Rising temperatures could reduce the area covered by alpine glaciers around the world by more than one-fifth this century, exposing vast areas of land to the atmosphere for the first time in thousands of years. The emerging habitats that will form as the ice retreats present challenges — as well as opportunities — for conservation […]

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Environment
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Beavers Are Remaking Microbial Ecosystems in the Arctic

As the Arctic has warmed and beaver populations have rebounded, the animal architects known for greatly modifying their natural environments have moved to higher and higher latitudes. Now, Shannon et al. show that beaver-instigated alterations translate all the way to the microscopic level, reshaping microbial communities in Arctic waterways. In northern Alaska, the researchers waded […]

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Environment
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France
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No Respite for Fragile Ecosystems as Late Summer Heatwave Pummels France

French authorities placed large swaths of southern France on the highest heat warning level – a “red alert” – on Wednesday as temperatures shot past 40°Celsius (104°F), shattering seasonal records.  Meteorologists have spoken of a “heat dome” weather pattern settling over the country, with a period of stable high pressure leading to torrid conditions and a lack of wind.  France as a whole experienced its […]

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