EwA News Digest

[mlmcglathery]

Hey all, Mike here with another EwA News Digest!

First off, some cool science news. A new study in Nature uses a global data set to back up a theory that has been important to ecology and evolutionary biology for a long time: E.O. Wilson's and R.H. Macarthur's theory of island biogeography.

After that, something a little more upsetting, but no less important. An article in The Intercept reveals the pesticide industry's decades-long strategy to fight the regulation of neonicotinoids, a group of potent compounds that have been banned in the EU.

Last week, the United Nations' working group for the Convention on Biological Diversity held a meeting in Rome, where they worked on drafting a new treaty to be ratified in October. Read what the UN agriculture chief had to say about the importance of biodiversity here:

On the local level, $1.5 million from a settlement with General Electric has been allocated for restoration of the Housatonic River in Western MA and CT, including education programs, more ecologically friendly infrastructure, and habitat restoration.

To end on a fun note: when the ocean gets too cool in the winter, manatees seek out sources of warmth in the water. Thanks to a webcam from Blue Springs State Park in Florida, you can watch manatees as they take up residence near hot springs in the winter!

Under Water Webcam Blue Spring State Park

That's it for this news digest! We'll see you next time.

-Michael