Biodiversity and Conservation Archives

Emperor penguins facing each other across a gap in the ice. Credit: Christopher Michel, CC BY 2.0

Emperor Penguins Now a Threatened Species

January 18, 2023January 17, 2023 Science Connectedanimals, birds, climate change, conservation, extinction, penguins

Emperor penguins officially a threatened species because of projections of population decline from climate change and ineffective conservation.

Skeletonized leaf typical of plots with bats excluded and trophic cascade prevented. Photo by Elizabeth Beilke, University of Illinois

Biodiversity and Conservation Environment

Bats Protect Plants from Insects

January 13, 2023January 12, 2023 Science Connectedbats, defoliation, forests

Bats play an important role in forest ecosystems because of what’s called trophic cascades: they eat insects that eat trees.

Fungi growing on mossy tree. Credit: Jesse Bauer/Unsplash

Biodiversity and Conservation Citizen Science Ecology Environment SciStarter Blog

Fungi Bioblitz Follow-Up

November 18, 2022November 17, 2022 Science Connectedcitizen science, ecology, environment, fungi

Did you participate in the largest ever fungi bioblitz? Read about the citizen science push cataloging fungi diversity in North America!

A raccoon crossing a road in a forest. Image credit: Ali Kazal/Unsplash

Biodiversity and Conservation Citizen Science SciStarter Blog

Save Animals by Tracking Roadkill

November 4, 2022November 15, 2022 Science Connectedanimals, citizen science, urban wildlife

Most roadkill goes unreported, meaning governments and scientists don’t have the data needed to prevent it. You can help change that!

Many fishes swimming above corals. Photo credit: NOAA's Coral Kingdom Collection, Bonaire 2008: Exploring Coral Reef Sustainability with New Technologies.; NOAA/OAR/OER

Biodiversity and Conservation Climate Change Marine and Freshwater Biology

Can Coral Reefs Escape to the Deep?

August 3, 2022August 3, 2022 Science Connectedclimate change, coral reefs, marine life, ocean

Many of the harms done by climate change and overfishing are worst near the surface. Could coral reefs relocate deeper to escape them?

Biodiversity and Conservation Botany Ecology Zoology

Make Your Garden a Powerhouse for Pollinators

May 23, 2022May 23, 2022 Science Connectedbees, garden, pollinators

Home gardens are by far the biggest source of food for pollinating insects, including bees and wasps, in cities and towns.

A female great spotted woodpecker, photographed in Germany, April 2015

Biodiversity and Conservation Ornithology There Be Dragons Everywhere

Drumming with the Great Spotted Woodpecker

May 4, 2022May 4, 2022 Science Connectedbirds, wildlife photography

Meet the great spotted woodpecker. Learn where and how to spot them, and what they sound like. Photos and audio included.

Biodiversity and Conservation Environment Zoology

Urban Gardens a Haven for Pollinators

May 2, 2022May 2, 2022 Science Connectedbees, insects, pollinators, urban gardening

Insect-friendly urban gardens show great promise to be havens for bees and other pollinators, securing their future and allowing them to thrive.

Biodiversity and Conservation Botany Ecology

Organic Gardening and Alternatives to Pesticides

April 13, 2022April 13, 2022 Science Connectedbirds, garden, insects, plants

Gardens inevitably attract insect pests. How can you use organic gardening techniques to protect your plants from pests and maintain a garden that is safe for pollinators and other animals?

Martin Dohrn filming a bumble bee hovering over a dandelion. (Image credit: Martin Dohrn/Passion Planet)

Biodiversity and Conservation Citizen Science Ecology SciStarter Blog Zoology

Inspire Your Community to Protect Local Pollinators

April 1, 2022March 25, 2022 Science Connectedbees, citizen science projects, pollinators

During the pandemic, acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Martin Dohrn got to know the local pollinators in his garden. Find out what happened.