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SPECIES DECLINE
In 1851, Brooklyn released 100 house sparrows from England; 175 years later, the birds are found across nearly all of North AmericaHouse Sparrows, introduced to North America during the mid-1800s, have rapidly become a prevalent part of the continent's avian scene. Thei...
In 2019, New York restaurants turned discarded oyster shells into a unusual plan to rebuild the city’s historic reefsIn 2019, New York restaurants were taking part in an unusual environmental effort: recycling discarded oyster shells for use in rebuilding ...
In 1890, a pharmacist released 80 birds in New York’s Central Park to honour Shakespeare; 136 years later, their descendants number about 93 million across North AmericaIn 1890, eighty European Starlings were introduced to Central Park, leading to a population explosion across North America. Over the span o...
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...
This giant animal 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 2007, the Neptune Memorial Reef began growing off Florida with cremated remains; the planned 16-acre site later developed into a coral habitatAn innovative underwater cemetery presents a novel burial alternative, where cremated remains are encased in concrete structures designed t...
Florida dumped 500,000 tonnes of used oyster shells into the sea. It has now developed new reefs, cleaner water and is recovering the coastal environmentOver the past 16 years, Florida has successfully returned over 500,000 tons of shells to the Gulf, providing vital surfaces for young oyste...
Orangutans have the longest birth gap among mammals; a 2018 study explains how their 7.6-year wait for another baby, scarce forest fruit and solitary life may actually help them surviveOrangutans face rapid decline with fewer than 11,900 individuals remaining. Females reproduce slowly, averaging over seven years between bi...
In Sydney, UTS researchers tested a biosolar green roof that cut panel temperatures by up to 9.63°C and increased maximum solar output by up to 107%, depending on the monthA biosolar roof system serves to cool solar panels, thereby boosting their electricity generation potential. By nurturing vegetation below ...
Australian researchers turned discarded mine pipes into artificial dens for an endangered marsupial; cameras caught northern quolls using themResearchers are testing plastic pipes within mining waste to create artificial dens. These structures aim to protect endangered northern qu...
Ancient DNA reveals how farming, wildlife and human activity transformed a Canadian lake's ecosystem over 1,000 yearsAncient DNA from Crawford Lake sediment reveals a millennium of ecological history. Scientists tracked changes in plants, animals, and huma...
New study shows how saving threatened species cuts their funding and triggers a relapse riskWildlife conservation faces a funding paradox where recovering species lose essential support. Current funding models rely on immediate ext...
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 ...
Conservationists spent £29,000 making 20 wildlife ponds in England. Two beavers created twice as many in half the time for freeTwo beavers created numerous ponds at Helman Tor nature reserve. This natural construction occurred much faster than human efforts. Conserv...
In Cumbria, freshwater pearl mussels in the River Kent can filter up to 50 litres of water each day; their filtration can help improve river water for fish, eels and ottersIn a groundbreaking initiative, a conservation project in the UK seeks to rehabilitate the endangered freshwater pearl mussels along the Ri...
In 2011, Swedish and Danish researchers fenced muskoxen out of test areas in Greenland. 3 years later, plants there absorbed only half as much carbon in summerMuskoxen, ancient Arctic survivors, maintain healthy grasslands which store vital carbon. These large herbivores face threats from climate ...
In 2021, an Oregon farmer turned 70 acres of his barley farm into a wetland. Four years later it attracts thousands of birds and helps endangered fish surviveIn Oregon, a farmer has transformed seventy acres of barley into a thriving managed wetland, fostering a habitat for countless waterfowl an...
Seventy years ago, Spanish anglers welcomed an American predator into their waters for sport; today, the largemouth bass is spreading through ecosystems and threatening native wildlifeBrought to Spain in 1955 for recreational fishing, the largemouth bass has transformed into an invasive species wreaking havoc on local eco...
In 1950, livestock viruses drove the Serengeti's wildebeest herd down to 300,000. Less than a decade later, it surpassed 1.5 million, helping turn the ecosystem into a carbon sinkIn the 1950s, rinderpest and livestock disease pushed the Serengeti’s wildebeest herd to dangerously low numbers. After the virus was broug...
In 2003, scientists targeted invasive fish in the Grand Canyon. By 2006, Rainbow Trout fell from 90% to less than 10% of the catchFor four consecutive years, scientists actively removed invasive fish species from the Colorado River. This strategic initiative led to a n...