Research discovered that selective logging and wildfires resulted in an annual loss of 54 billion tonnes of carbon from the Brazilian Amazon in 2010. This is the equivalent of 40% of the yearly carbon loss from deforestation.
Biological invasions of non-native species can create serious problems. Millions of pounds have been spent on the removal of species such as Rhododendron ponticum, Himalayan balsam and signal crayfish just in the UK.
More rodents means more fleas, and genetic screens of these fleas showed that they carry significant numbers of disease-causing bacterial pathogens called Bartonella.
As their calls continue to change, it is vital that the females’ inner ear adapts to the altered chirps of the male – if they do not adjust their hearing, the species could become extinct.
Their presence in such huge numbers has led scientists to try to discover the impact of this invasive species on the natural ecosystem and native species living in the park.
In total six species, including the northern grey-cheeked salamander, had got significantly smaller, while only one species had got fractionally larger.
The one place where this species is found naturally is a freshwater bog where the plants are in standing water, but it was found that the plant actually does better without standing water.
The snow leopard resides in the mountains of Central Asia, including those in the Tibetan Plateau. It is endangered and also a keystone species so its loss could have a big impact on the surrounding ecosystem.
Large deer populations are forever altering natural forests by disrupting the soil’s seed banks. Deer are not only slowing down forest succession, in some cases they are preventing forests from establishing in the first place.
Researchers discovered that two solitary bee species in Canada are using polyurethane and polyethelene-based plastics in the formation and closing of their brood cells.