Ecology
Got an Invasive Army of Crayfish Clones? Try Eating Them
The marbled crayfish is a threat to the native species, but the “Berlin lobster” may also offer a sustainable food source and help stop the spread of parasites.
Scientists Capture Airborne Animal DNA for the First Time
Researchers filtered the air around two zoos and identified genetic material from dozens of species, a technique that could help track and conserve wildlife.
Natural History, Not Technology, Will Dictate Our Destiny
Humans—convinced of our own power and control—tend to ignore the laws of nature. But that is a mistake.
Why Paleontologists Are Getting Into Florida’s Oyster Business
Conservationists are teaming up with fossil experts to help the bivalves—and the state’s oyster economy—survive.
The US Mountain West Could Soon Face Snowless Winters
Parts of Colorado, Utah, California, and the Pacific Northwest could be without snow for years at a time in just a few decades.
The Great Danger of the Tiny Bark Beetle
As the climate warms, this insect’s population is booming. That’s bad news for the ponderosa pines of the Sierra Nevada.
All That Glitters Isn't Litter
A new plant-based material sparkles without plastics. That could be better for the environment—but it's also harder to make in industrial quantities.
Can Gambia Turn the Tide to Save Its Shrinking Beaches?
In an economically developing country reliant on tourism, the rapidly eroding “smiling coast” shows the urgent need for action on climate change.
Hints of New Life in the Shadows of Venezuela's Last Glacier
When ice goes, lichens and mosses move in and an entirely new ecosystem starts to take shape.
The North Carolina Town Besieged by Armadillos
Thanks to climate change, the armored animals are making their way up north. And there’s no sign of them stopping their relentless march.
Early Evidence of How Wildfire Smoke Alters Bird Migration
A team tracking the flights of four Tule geese from Alaska to California documented how the birds changed course in response to dense smoke.
There Are Bright Spots in the Global Coral Reef Catastrophe
The first major report on the world’s reefs presents a grim picture of losses from global warming. But there are signs coral can recover if given a reprieve.
The Cutest Way to Fight Climate Change? Send in the Otters
Saving California's adorable (and very hungry) sea otters helps control other species, leading to the growth of more carbon-sequestering vegetation.
Climate-Driven Extinction Made Mammals' Teeth Less Weird
Fossils show how species diversity—and dental diversity—suddenly collapsed 30 million years ago, suggesting a link between climate, diet, and survival.
A Water Crisis Reveals You Can't Recycle in the Arctic
Fuel contamination forced the residents of Iqaluit to rely on bottled water—and now they're having a hard time getting rid of the plastic.
New England’s Moose Are Losing the Fight Against Winter Ticks
Climate change has given a tiny parasite a new advantage over the mighty beasts.
This Prairie Grassland Project Collects Native Seeds
Young members of the Fort Belknap Indian Community are learning how to identify and save local grasses as part of an effort to restore the land.
Ground-Level Ozone Is a Creeping Threat to Biodiversity
Scientists are learning how this pollutant damages plants and trees, setting off a cascade of effects that harms everything from soil microbes to wildlife.
The (Very Slow) Race to Move Forests in Time to Save Them
Trees have always migrated to survive. But now they need help to avoid climate catastrophe.
Feeling Climate Dread? You’re Not Alone
It’s called eco-anxiety, a completely natural response to a world gone haywire. And it’s way more prevalent than you think, especially among young adults.
In New Zealand, People (and Moths) Rediscover Dark Skies
A massive South Island stargazing reserve is a respite from light pollution for many species, including our own.
Pandemic Bird-Watching Created a Data Boom—and a Conundrum
Avid amateurs are generating a wealth of information on avian activity. But does that data reflect new trends in bird behavior, or in people’s?
Oregon Is Burning Trees in Order to Save Them
Sudden oak death, rampant in California, is spreading to the north, leaving the Forest Service with a tough option: Send them up in smoke.
Valley Fever Is Spreading Through a Hotter, Drier Western US
Researchers haven’t pinned down exactly what’s behind the rise of the deadly fungal disease. But one thing is nearly certain: Climate change plays a role.