| Hi Everybody,
In this news digest I've compiled some new research regarding insects, invasive species, climate change, and Indigenous stewardship. Happy reading! |
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| Stinkbug found to have new fungal friends Entomologists Takema Fukatsu and Shuji Tachikawa discover a new fungal relationship among stinkbugs after observing the species Megymenum gracilicorne. This species has enlarged hind limbs, previously thought to be an eardrumlike structure, but upon further observation researchers noted only sexually mature females possessed this structure. Further observations noticed a growing white substance on hind legs that was revealed to be a fungus. In a lab, researchers noticed that mother bugs spread the fungus over newly laid eggs and, when exposed to a parasitic wasp, led to less parasitism. For more details and interesting videos click here! |
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| | 📸 Megymenum gracilicorne | Credit: Minoru Moriyama/AIST |
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| | | 📸 Rat predating on bird egg | Credit: David Mudge/Nga Manu Images: Department of Conservation New Zealand |
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New Zealand's battle against invasive species In New Zealand, citizens and biologists combine their efforts for invasive species management in hopes to meet the goal of eliminating invasive predators by 2050. For millions of years the island nation has been home to rich wildlife communities. However, recent colonial history has introduced invasive mammalian predators including brushtail possums, stoats, and rats which has led to the extinction of 62 bird species. In an effort to confront their colonial history and maintain the biodiversity of the nation, community trapping efforts have been adopted throughout the country. Meet the everyday New Zealanders who have taken up the charge and read more about their experiences here. |
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| Polar bears develop short term adaptations amid changing climate In a recent study, polar bear biologists have recorded plumper and plumper bears from the years 2000 to 2019. The results are surprising as increasing temperatures continue to melt the sea ice on which polar bears rely upon to hunt seals. Biologists think the bears may be shifting their diets to include more reindeer and walrus. In addition, polar bears may be altering their hunting tactics to prey upon congregating seals. Short term behavioral shifts may allow them to continue to persist, however, long term ice loss continues to be a threat to their survival. To learn more, read here. |
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| | 📸 Polar bears | Credit: Hans - Jurgen Mager on Unsplash |
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| | | 📸 Wei Wai Kum Guardians working on restoration projects | Credit: © Kiliii Yüyan |
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Fish, Forest, and Man: How Indigenous communities are reconnecting the Great Bear Sea Off the coast of British Columbia lies one of the most ecologically rich cold water marine environments known as the Great Bear Sea. For generations, this site has been deeply intertwined with the cultural heritage of First Nations. However, colonial extraction and policies have triggered compounded crises of vanishing salmon, forest fragmentation, and systematic erasure of Indigenous rights. However, in 2024, the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence was signed to secure funding for conservation and Indigenous led land stewardship. To read more about this project click here! |
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| Forests uptake methane Forest soils serve an important role as a carbon sink - removing greenhouse gasses responsible for climate change from the atmosphere. New research shows that the capacity to absorb methane, a greenhouse gas, increases under different climatic conditions which may be more common in the future. Soils that are drier and warmer can absorb more methane as dry soils contain more air pores for methane to enter and the microorganisms within the soil can break down methane faster under warmer conditions. To learn more about this research, read more here! |
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| | 📸 Forest study for methane uptake | Credit: Martin Maier |
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| | - JayEarthwise Aware | Spring Intern |
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