conservation Archives

A reimagined world map where the continents are bodies of water and the oceans are instead populated by bright green trees

New in Rainforest Conservation: Seeing the Forest and the Trees

February 27, 2024February 22, 2024 Science Connectedclimate change, conservation, ecology, environment, forestry, rain forest, trees

Rainforest conservation gains new focus with the discovery that just 2% of the diverse tree species in the forest account for half the trees.

Sailboat in motion on a sun-soaked body of water

Marine and Freshwater Biology

Seasonal Blubber: How Yangtze Finless Porpoises Adapt

November 7, 2023November 5, 2023 Science Connectedanimals, conservation, environment, marine mammals, temperature

Blubber thickness of Yangtze finless porpoises changes with water temperature and varies across the marine mammal’s body regions.

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

Biodiversity and Conservation Climate Change Ornithology

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.

Isabela surfacing to breathe in the waters of Chile's Gulf of Corcovado (Courtesy of Rodrigo Hucke-Gaete/Blue Whale Center)

Marine and Freshwater Biology Oceanography Zoology

Where Do Blue Whales Go to Breed?

August 12, 2022August 11, 2022 Science Connectedconservation, ecology, marine life, sea life, whale breeding, whales

Blue whales are the largest animal on Earth, yet the breeding grounds of these elusive creatures remained a mystery for a long time…until now.

Ecology Environment Zoology

Murder Hornets a Threat to Honey Bees

September 21, 2020April 3, 2021 Science Connectedbees, conservation, wildlife

Asian giant hornets, sometimes called murder hornets, are the latest in a long line of recent threats to honey bees in North America.

Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology Zoology

Megabiota, Largest Life, Vital to Biosphere

March 18, 2020September 2, 2021 Science Connectedclimate change, conservation, extinction

By Mackenzie Myers @kenzwrites Large organisms such as whales, elephants, and redwoods are often featured in awe-inspiring nature documentaries, but they’re more than just oohs and ahs. Their existence or extinction could make or break the planet as we know it. Megabiota—the largest plants and animals—are more likely than smaller organisms to go extinct as a result of climate change. And the rest of us could be in big trouble if they do, according to a recent study. The charisma conundrum Think of successful conservation campaigns. Which animals are deemed…

Biology Botany STEM Education

Curing Plant Blindness at Botanical Gardens and Farms

July 11, 2019May 3, 2021 Science Connectedagriculture, botanical garden, conservation, farming, plants

“Plant blindness,” the lack of awareness of plants and their importance, is addressed by botanical gardens and agricultural farms.

Botany Ecology Environment

An Evolutionary Approach to Conserving Plant Habitats

May 23, 2019May 23, 2019 Science Connectedbiodiversity, conservation, evolution, natural habitat, plants, species

By Mackenzie Myers (@thetiniestnail) To conserve plant habitats, a traditional approach to biodiversity—species richness, or saving as many species as possible—might not be the most effective route. Instead, vulnerable landscapes might be better served by a quality-over-quantity mindset, a recent paper from a team of UC Berkeley scientists suggests. Think of going into a grocery store. On a budget and with limited cooking time, shoppers probably don’t buy the first dozen random ingredients they see on the shelf. Rather, they find it more practical to shop deliberately, perhaps by looking…