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ECOLOGY EXPERIMENT
In 1966, scientists wiped out almost every insect on tiny islands in Florida. Within days, wildlife began returningEcologists Daniel Simberloff and Edward O. Wilson conducted a groundbreaking experiment in 1966. They removed nearly all arthropods from ti...
Science says sharks can hunt in total darkness using electricity: The biology behind their sixth senseA shark does not always need to see a fish to detect that a living creature is nearby. In murky water, beneath the sand or during the final...
Science says butterflies taste with their feet, here’s why evolution put chemical sensors on their legsButterflies have specialized sensory structures on their legs, known as gustatory sensilla, that allow them to detect chemicals when they l...
In 2023, Arizona State University began planning a 1-2-acre pollinator garden by Phoenix’s Salt River. Today, the project aims to restore habitat and support pollinatorsA pollinator demonstration garden is planned for South Central Phoenix. This project aims to create vital habitat for declining pollinator ...
In the 1990s, 17 cities joined Germany's Emscher regeneration programme. 30 years later the polluted industrial region had become a green hub with a 70-km landscape parkEmscher story is a powerful example of how environmental regeneration can take place across generations. The region did not become green ov...
In 1972, a 3,300-acre preservation effort began protecting the Elk River Chain of Lakes in Michigan. More than 50 years later, monitoring shows water quality remains healthyMore than half a century ago, a conservation effort in northern Michigan set out to protect an extraordinary network of waterways, and its ...
In 2024, researchers tested crushed waste concrete as a base for Chesapeake oyster reefs; oyster spat grew and survived with no detectable hydrocarbon leachingIn the Chesapeake Bay, recycled concrete rubble is proving to be a nursery for young oysters. Scientists have discovered that this crushed ...
Reforestation with Drones? How aerial seeding technology is bringing new life to Gran Chaco's threatened ecosystemDrones are emerging as a game-changer for tree planting in Argentina’s Gran Chaco, with conservationists deploying biodegradable seed capsu...
In 2002, Albany buried 1,500 feet of Patroon Creek underground. 18 years later, daylighting restored the stream and improved flood resilience across the project area tooAccording to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's success story, U.S. Geological Survey streamflow data showed that three of the five...
In 2012, Ray Milewski and students set research plots at Pennsylvania's Tannersville Cranberry Bog. 10 years later, researchers cleared shrubs to help rare native plants return to the bogIn 2012, Ray Milewski and students established research plots at Pennsylvania’s Tannersville Cranberry Bog. A decade later, researchers cle...
In 2018, New York's Cortland County funded 3 culvert and stream projects. 5 years later, all 3 sites improved from severe barriers to insignificant barriers for better fish passageCortland County projects fit into a broader New York effort to identify and address barriers to aquatic organism passage. New York's Depart...
Washington state biologists reintroduced beavers on tributaries, and within years their dams slowed stream flow and rebuilt banks that resist erosionWildlife departments are making strides in reintroducing beavers to rejuvenate damaged stream ecosystems. These industrious creatures help ...
Beginning in 1877, Japan imported California rainbow trout for food and sport fishing; escaped fish later competed with native salmonids and disrupted their spawning groundsIn 1877, Japan imported rainbow trout from California for culinary and recreational purposes. However, these fish escaped their aquaculture...
Louisiana used 13 million pounds of discarded oyster shells to build 8,000 feet of living shoreline; studies found oyster reefs can reduce wave heights under some conditionsIn Louisiana, discarded oyster shells are being creatively transformed into living shorelines to combat coastal erosion and rising sea leve...
Actor Madhavan transforms barren land into lush coconut farm in Tamil Nadu. He shares 3 lessons from his sustainable farming journeyIn 2020, actor R Madhavan and his brother Subayogan turned a land near Palani into a flourishing coconut farm. The project combined traditi...
The Savannah River swapped bare marsh edge for oyster reefs in 2023; wave energy fell by up to 40%, giving Georgia coasts a tougher storm shieldScientists built oyster reefs in Georgia's Savannah River to reduce wave energy. These reefs lessened wave impact on the shoreline by as mu...
In 1997, couple started with 11 farms; decades later, their 67,000-acre reserve is home to more than 60 mammal speciesA South African couple’s nearly three-decade conservation effort has transformed 11 former livestock farms into a 67,000-acre wildlife rese...
In 2024, African elephants in Kenya were found using name-like calls for one another; a model identified the intended recipient 27.5% of the time at Samburu and AmboseliRecent studies reveal that wild African elephants in Kenya utilize distinct vocalizations to communicate with one another, showcasing their...
On August 3, 2026, Ethiopia planted 805.3 million seedlings in 12 hours with 26.2 million participants; years later, survival data will reveal whether that extraordinary national effort actually transformed degraded landscapesEthiopia also says that more than 48 billion seedlings have been planted since the Green Legacy Initiative began. These figures demonstrate...
In July 2019, scientists watched mayflies mistake solar-like glass for water; females landed and deposited eggs on the dry surfaceFemale mayflies are confusing solar panels for water surfaces, which is causing difficulties with their reproduction. This issue, termed po...