conservation Archives

Ecology in our cities: Why urban biodiversity matters

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In the UK, conservation charity Plantlife runs an annual campaign to raise awareness of the detrimental effects of excessive lawnmowing. A perfectly manicured lawn may have once been something to be proud of, but keeping grasses cut down is deleterious to the environment. This year, the ‘No Mow May’ campaign reached even more people than in previous years, and helped […]

Accounting for biogeographical ignorance within biodiversity modelling

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Researchers have developed the first Maps of Biogeographical Ignorance (MoBIs) that account for uncertainty in big-data biodiversity analysis, allowing for better informed decision making for conservation purposes

Biodiversity data can be analysed to predict species distribution at various scales of time and space. However, survey completeness and temporal decay in data quality introduce uncertainty into biodiversity models. Researchers Joaquín Hortal, Juliana Stropp (National Museum of Natural Sciences, Spain), Richard Ladle (University of Porto, Portugal), and Geiziane Tessarolo (State University of Goiás, Brazil), among others, are constructing the […]

Tuna on the move: How climate change impacts Pacific Island economies

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Dr Johann Bell and colleagues use environmental modelling systems to simulate the change in tuna biomass density in the future as a result of changing climate conditions in the Pacific Ocean

Climate change affects the spatial distribution of commercially important tuna species in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Predicted shifts of tuna outside the jurisdictions of Pacific Island countries and territories could have a significant impact on the revenue they receive from tuna fishing, threatening their economic stability during climate change. Dr Johann Bell from Conservation International and the University of Wollongong, […]

How to behave in sloth bear territory

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Sloth bears are considered to be one of the most dangerous mammals in India. The number of sloth bear attacks annually rivals and may even exceed the total number of all bear attacks from the seven other extant bear species combined. Communities sharing their environment with these bears need clear-cut advice on how to behave to avoid bears and what […]

The Orangutan Project: How a successful not-for-profit organisation is working to protect Critically Endangered orangutans from extinction

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An orangutan looks out from a wooden box

The Orangutan Project was founded in 1998 by orangutan expert and conservationist Leif Cocks. Today, it takes a multifaceted approach to conservation, targeting the key threats facing the Critically Endangered orangutan population. Leif Cocks told us about the vital work of the Project, and about his own ethics which underpin the conservation work. Orangutans are facing an existential threat. As vast tracts […]

Preserving biodiverse river corridors for sustainable city development

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As the global population continues to soar and the number of inhabitants in cities climbs ever higher, sustainable development strategies are urgently needed to prevent catastrophic ecological decline in our urban environments. Understanding anthropogenic threats is the first step towards conservation: Jochen Hack, Professor of Ecological Engineering at the University of Darmstadt in Germany and leader of the interdisciplinary research […]

That’s disgusting! How primates decide what not to eat

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Many species either avoid food contaminated with faeces or thoroughly handle the food, trying to clean it before eating.

All animals need to find a way to avoid contact with pathogens when they are eating. For primates, Dr Cécile Sarabian, based at Kyoto University Primate Research Institute in Japan, shows that many species either avoid food contaminated with faeces or thoroughly handle the food, trying to clean it before eating. For the researcher, this is proof that this behaviour […]

Scalloped hammerhead sharks have more complex migratory routes than expected

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By assessing their migratory routes, the researchers ensure that populations of the scalloped hammerhead shark are protected through conservation and management tools.

Using a new method to study migratory routes of scalloped hammerhead sharks, Dr Claire Coiraton and Dr Felipe Amezcua, based at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, identified a more complex picture than previously thought. It turns out that not all sharks follow the same pattern of movements, with some preferring to stay in coastal areas while others opt for […]

Reconciling forest and tree conservation with food security

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Forests and trees are a critical resource for human communities. However, conservation efforts to prevent biodiversity loss increasingly conflict with the rights and access of communities using forests for their livelihoods and crucially to meet their nutritional needs. Prof Terry Sunderland of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, has long pointed to the importance of forests in contributing to food […]

Action research creates a shared future for elephants and humans

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An elephant population migrating within the Sahel region.

In 2009 a crisis faced the elephant and human populations of central Mali, when a vital fresh water source dried up. Reduced rainfall and increased human activity, including vast herds of domestic cattle, contributed to this critical problem. Dr Susan Canney of the University of Oxford and Director of the Mali Elephant Project, decided a new and prompt approach was […]