Research - Page 12

The full koala genome has been successfully sequenced. The highly accurate genomic data will provide information to inform habitat conservation, tackle diseases and help ensure this iconic animal’s long-term survival.

By illuminating fishing nets in the waters off Peru with lights, researchers have shown that they reduce seabird deaths by 85%.

A study examining the effects of human disturbance on piping plovers has discovered that activities such as coastal modifications and recreational use of beaches have negative impacts on the birds, even on their non-breeding grounds.

Primates may be our closest relatives but we are causing them serious harm. A comprehensive review of the influence of human activities on wild primate populations in four countries has found that they are facing major threats.

Climate change will have a rapidly increasing effect on the structure of global ecological communities over the next few decades, and is set to overtake land use as a major threat to biodiversity.

Panda conservation is often criticised due to the huge cost involved. But a new study has proven that, as an umbrella species that helps conserve the other species it shares a habitat with, panda conservation has great value.

A large scale study of giant panda habitat use and threats to their survival has proven how valuable long-term data is to the conservation of species. Pandas are using secondary forests far more than they have before, however human presence in panda habitats is increasing.

New research on wolf reintroduction in Scotland indicates that for them to be effective at directly reducing red deer numbers and allowing nature to recover in the Highlands, they may need to be reintroduced to very large fenced reserve.

The first study to explore how limiting climate change to a 1.5oC rise in temperature would benefit species throughout the world has found that the vast majority would survive, especially insects.