Tag: species
Destroying endangered species’ habitat wouldn’t count as ‘harm’ under proposed Trump rule
By Jonathan Lambert The Trump administration is proposing to significantly limit the Endangered Species Act’s power to preserve crucial habitats by changing the definition of one word: harm. On Wednesday, the administration proposed a rule change that would essentially prohibit only actions that directly hurt or kill actual animals, not the habitats they rely on.…
In Hawai‘i, new effort to bring invasive species to heel
Off the coast of Hawai‘i, an unwelcome guest crowds the waters, devouring creatures that cross its path. How to stop them? A new effort wants to put them on your feet. Measuring barely a foot long (30 centimeters), lemon yellow with electric-blue stripes, ta’ape doesn’t look like much of a threat, yet it travels in…
There Are 4,000 Species of Native Bees in the U.S.
Meet the Fluffy, Funky and Fabulous Native Bees That Call the U.S. Home By Meghan Bartels edited by Andrea Thompson A Martinapis luteicornis bee found in the desert in Cochise County, Arizona. Spring has finally arrived in the U.S., bringing its bright spectacle of budding trees and migrating birds, along with more subtle but equally…
Study: Protecting tropics could save half of species on brink
In 2019, a landmark UN report revealed that nearly 1 million species face extinction due to human activities and climate change. A groundbreaking new study offers a solution to save more than half of these doomed species, while slowing climate breakdown: Conserve just 30 percent of tropical lands. The study, published today in the journal…
These Dogs Can Sniff Out Invasive Species before It’s Too Late
These Dogs Can Sniff Out Invasive Species before It’s Too Late Dogs excel at finding spotted lanternfly eggs in lower-level infestations By Gennaro Tomma edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier One of the dogs trained to track down spotted lanternflies. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! From sniffing out rare species to tracking down poachers, dogs…
One in Three U.S. Bird Species Are Struggling and Need Conservation Support
Birds Are in Trouble across the U.S. But It’s Not Too Late to Protect Them In the U.S. 42 species of birds have low and steeply declining populations that put them on the brink of disaster, scientists say By Meghan Bartels edited by Andrea Thompson An increasingly uncommon Pinyon Jay perches on the top of…
Migrating Birds Sing to Team Up with Other Species
Migrating Birds Sing to Team Up with Other Species Songbirds may socialize across species during nighttime migrations By Gayoung Lee edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier A singing American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Tiny songbirds such as grosbeaks and warblers migrate thousands of miles, flying at night and resting during the…
Colombian tree frog found by Sheffield florist highlights invasive species threat
Scientists say frog’s journey shows difficulty of spotting insects or fungi spread by global plant trade A tiny tree frog hitchhiking in a bunch of roses to Sheffield from Colombia has inspired a study into invasive species reaching the UK’s shores. He initially thought it was some kind of prank, as the frog was exotic:…
News spotlight: A quarter of freshwater species face extinction, study finds
A new study is ringing alarm bells for freshwater species, finding nearly a quarter are at risk of extinction. The study, from researchers at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), named dams, farms, invasive species and pollution as responsible for the decline, Julia Jacobo reported for ABC News. The findings are “alarming,”…
Saving a species: The slow return of the Iberian lynx
With his leopard-like spots, Navarro – a male lynx – calls out during mating season as he walks towards a camera trap. Just short of 100cm (39 inches) in length and 45cm in height, the Iberian lynx is a rare sight. But there are now more than 2,000 in the wild across Spain and Portugal,…
Phew! Turtle doves shoot ban triggers bird species recovery
Western European population has risen 25% with ban and some UK sites have seen promising increases There are signs of hope for the turtle dove, one of the most endangered birds that has been plummeting towards extinction in Britain. After a temporary ban on the annual shoot of the migratory birds as they pass through…
Tiger-cats, sea squirts and beetles, oh my! Meet some species identified in 2024
By Jonathan Lambert Officially, Earth boasts roughly two million species. Unofficially, scientists suspect there could be millions — perhaps over 100 million — more. Each year, scientists add thousands of new species to the scientific record in an attempt to get a better count. Some discoveries stem from intrepid adventures deep into the jungle, while…