In the early 1970s, Maui planted miconia for its spectacular purple leaves; its descendants spread across East Maui and threatened native forest watershedsIntroduced to Maui in the 1970s, Miconia calvescens, known as the velvet tree, has emerged as a significant invasive species. Its swift spr...
13 Aug, 2026, 03.50 PM IST
In the early 1900s, Hawaiʻi imported a thorny European shrub to feed sheep and fence pastures; it now forms 6-foot walls that fuel fires and sprout againGorse, introduced to Hawai'i around 1900 for sheep fodder and fences, has become a persistent invasive problem. This spiny shrub thrives in...
13 Aug, 2026, 03.00 PM IST
In 1922, California introduced mosquitofish to eat mosquito larvae; within four years, they were in 30 counties and were later linked to native-species declinesIn 1922, California introduced mosquitofish in hopes of controlling mosquito populations. Although they were initially viewed as a solution...
01 Aug, 2026, 05.54 PM IST
150 years ago, Britishers brought a South American tree to stop desertification in Thar, now it has become a thorny issue in IndiaVilayati babul, introduced during colonial times, remains a subject of ongoing debate. This invasive tree provided fuelwood and livelihoods...
30 Jul, 2026, 09.39 AM IST
In 1778, Captain James Cook’s crew released goats in Hawaii as a future food source; their descendants damaged native plants and worsened erosionCaptain Cook introduced goats to Hawaii in 1778, which then proliferated rapidly. These animals severely damaged native plants and altered ...
28 Jul, 2026, 04.19 PM IST
In 1935, an Australian entomologist shipped 102 cane toads from Hawaii to fight crop beetles; 2,400 were released before anyone tested the planAustralian scientists introduced toxic cane toads to control sugar cane pests in 1935. These toads failed to eat the target beetles and spr...
27 Jul, 2026, 05.56 PM IST
From a 1937 garden planting to an ecological crisis: One Miconia tree now spreads 8.9 million seeds, endangering Queensland's iconic rainforestsToday, a single mature Miconia tree can produce over 8.9 million seeds in one season. What began as a 1937 garden introduction in tahiti ha...
26 Jul, 2026, 12.00 AM IST
Hawaii, in the late 1800s, planted Leucaena trees for fodder and fuelwood, but scientists now say the invasive trees have replaced native habitats that evolved nowhere else on EarthHawaii's idyllic image belies a significant ecological challenge: Leucaena, an introduced shrub, now covers 10% of the islands. Brought for...
04 Jul, 2026, 04.03 PM IST
More than 20% of Earth's plant species found only on islands and time is running out to save themA study in Nature reveals that islands, covering just 5.3% of the planet's land, harbor 21% of the world's plant biodiversity. Urgent conse...
19 Oct, 2024, 08.50 AM IST
Most money for endangered species goes to a small number of creatures, leaving others in limboSince the passage of the Endangered Species Act, over 1,700 species in the US have been listed as threatened or endangered. However, there ...
30 Dec, 2023, 04.11 PM IST
On Easter Sunday, a moment to savour the real triumph of rabbitsEuropeans were the first to hunt and domesticate rabbits.
09 Apr, 2023, 10.14 AM IST
Meet the Plumeria, an early summer plant with a delicate fragranceSometimes the flowers themselves are edible, though trees rarely invest in making their flowers worth eating.
26 Mar, 2023, 09.26 AM IST
The next frontier in farming? The Ocean.Today, seaweed is attracting new money and has a become a hot new global commodity. It is also bringing new purpose in new places because o...
16 Mar, 2023, 10.02 AM IST
Extinction watch: MahoganyThe species is famous for its rich, red timber. At first, mahogany was used by the Spanish and English to build ships. Then came its use in...
24 Aug, 2020, 11.45 PM IST
A Mexican bug can solve Karnataka's Weed problemThe bug, called Lantana Lace (tingid), was found in parts of Bandipur tiger reserve in Karnataka this month, feasting on lantana weeds and ...
24 Aug, 2017, 10.53 AM IST
Why 'donaldtrumpi' is making headline?In honour of the new US president, and his signature hairdo, a small moth has been named after him.
22 Jan, 2017, 12.00 AM IST
Newly discovered crustacean species named after Sir Elton JohnScientists have discovered a small 'hitchhiking' coral reef crustacean species in Indonesia, and named it after English composer and singer...
29 Aug, 2015, 09.33 AM IST