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SEED DISPERSION
In 1848, California nursery operators brought pampas grass to Santa Barbara; it spread across the state, and one stand can release millions of seeds each yearPampas grass made its debut in California in 1848, admired for its striking appearance as an ornamental plant. However, its vigorous reprod...
Siberian elm was widely planted in America for windbreaks and as a disease-tolerant shade tree; it escaped cultivation and is now considered invasive in 41 statesSiberian elm, initially introduced to American landscapes for its Dutch elm disease resistance, soon proved problematic as it became invasi...
Not your ordinary vegetable: Study reveals 7 incredible facts about lauki that may make you think twice before ignoring itBottle gourd, or lauki, may be an everyday vegetable, but its history and uses are far more fascinating than they seem. From being used as ...
This giant animal once vanished from Britain 6,000 years ago. Now it is back as a ‘forest engineer’European bison have returned to Britain after being absent for around 6,000 years, with conservationists releasing them into Kent’s woodlan...
In the 1940s, a few snakes arrived in Guam hidden in military cargo; decades later, nine of the island’s 11 native forest bird species were goneGovernment bodies are collaborating with local citizen scientists in a proactive approach towards snake removal on Guam. This program's aim...
- Around 1850, sailors drove giant Galápagos tortoises to extinction, keeping them as live food because they could survive for up to a year without food or water; then scientists found mysterious ‘alien’ survivors in 2000
In an astonishing twist of fate, researchers found tortoises linked to a lineage believed to have vanished 150 years ago. Genetic testing r...
EV-related stocks: Own the chain, not the guess; 13 stocks with upside potential of up to 28% and downside risk of -14%, according to analystsIn the stock market, when a big theme or sectoral trend takes off, most investors focus on the face of it. A brand with which they can rela...
Galapagos Islands' unique animal, plants served as basis for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, in 2026 El Nino threatens to wipe out concentration of species not found elsewhere on EarthCharles Darwin Foundation data shows that aftermath of the 1998 El Nino — one of the most powerful and destructive cycles — only 400 of the...
Nearly 200 years after bison were hunted to extinction in northern Mexico, 47 were reintroduced in 2025, and are now helping prevent wildfires and regenerate their lost ecosystemIn a remarkable conservation effort, 47 American bison have been reintroduced to Mexico's Cuatrociénegas region after vanishing for nearly ...
Since 2014, US farmers have been deliberately flooding their fields to create habitat for migratory birds; a decade later, 180,000 acres of farmland have become temporary wetlands serving as vital habitat for millions of birdsBirdReturns pays farmers to flood fields, creating vital temporary wetlands for migrating birds. This initiative helps birds and also reple...
In 1997, US Army began Maryland's oyster restoration partnership in Chesapeake Bay. 24 years later, about 600 acres of new oyster bars had been created across MarylandMaryland partnership formally began with the project cooperation agreement executed in February 1997. Restoration sites eventually included...
America introduced Chinese Privet as an ornamental plant in 1852. It later spread across millions of acres of forestFirst spotted in 1852, Chinese privet has spread relentlessly across the American Southeast, wreaking havoc on local ecosystems. This invas...
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 2015, a California design student launched a plantable coffee cup after raising $21,077 on Kickstarter. 11 years later, the idea still hasn’t reached shelves, but compostable coatings may finally solve its biggest problemPlantable compostable coffee cup: A design student's plantable coffee cup concept from 2015 has not yet reached markets. The main obstacle ...
In 1884, Louisiana displayed South American water hyacinth for its lavender flowers; within decades, floating mats covered 126,000 Florida acres and blocked waterwaysOriginating in 1884, water hyacinth transformed into a significant nuisance for Florida by the 1950s. This aggressive floating plant overto...
In 1920, Washington planted 507 Norway maples along 16th Street to honor its war dead; the invasive species later spread into Rock Creek ParkIn 1920, Washington DC planted Norway maples as a tribute to World War I veterans. Initially seen as a living memorial, these trees became ...
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...
In the 1860s, America introduced burning bush as an ornamental; birds later helped spread it into forests across 21 invaded statesThe burning bush, native to Asia, became well-liked for its vibrant autumn hues. Birds transport its seeds, helping it escape confined land...
In 2001, a scientist began rebuilding a rainforest on about 5,000 acres of burned Borneo grassland; the restored habitat became a refuge for orangutansA Dutch researcher regrew a rainforest on 5,000 acres of scorched land in Borneo. Willie Smits began restoring degraded land near Samboja i...
In the mid-1980s, a New Zealand botanist left gorse on abandoned farmland; native trees gradually grew through it and shaded it outA botanist left gorse to restore farmland on New Zealand's Banks Peninsula. This spiky shrub provided shelter and moisture for native seedl...