Revising the global biogeography of annual and perennial plants This study on plant life cycles reveals surprising data: annual plants, thought to be common, make up only 6% of plant species. These plants thrive in hot, dry regions, and their prevalence is influenced by specific climate factors. Alarmingly, climate change and human disruption are favoring…
Assessing the illegal hunting of native wildlife in China A study reveals that illegal hunting within China’s borders is a significant threat to its biodiversity. The research, based on thousands of convictions from 2014 to 2020, found that 21% of China’s amphibian, reptile, bird, and mammal species were illegally hunted, including 25% of endangered species….
The episodic resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 virus Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has seen increased activity globally since 2021, impacting both wild birds and poultry, as well as incidental infections in mammals. This study, using epidemiological, spatial, and genomic methods, sheds light on the changing patterns of H5N1 outbreaks. Key resurgent…
High-resolution maps show that rubber causes substantial deforestation Researchers used Earth observation satellite data and cloud computing to create detailed maps of rubber farming and associated deforestation in Southeast Asia. Their findings indicate that the deforestation caused by rubber cultivation has been significantly underestimated in policy discussions and recent reports. The study reveals that rubber-related…
Global evidence of rapid urban growth in flood zones since 1985 This study reveals that human settlements worldwide, from small villages to large cities, have been rapidly expanding into areas prone to flooding since 1985. This expansion is happening more quickly in high-risk flood zones compared to safer areas, particularly in East Asia. These findings…
The geography of climate and the global patterns of species diversity Traditionally, climate’s impact on global biodiversity was understood in terms of temperature and humidity. However, a new study shifts this perspective, considering the size and fragmentation of climate regions. The research shows that larger and more isolated climate regions support higher biodiversity among terrestrial…
Seasonal advance of intense tropical cyclones in a warming climate Intense tropical cyclones (TCs) occurring in autumn are shifting earlier in the season, with rates of 3.7 and 3.2 days per decade in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This shift is linked to favorable oceanic conditions starting earlier, driven primarily by greenhouse gas forcing. As…
Weather explains the decline and rise of insect biomass over 34 years Insects play a crucial role in ecosystems, but there has been a significant decline in their biomass in Central Europe and other regions. A study reanalyzed 27 years of insect data and found that this decline is strongly influenced by complex weather conditions….
