Ecosystems

Animals

With one island’s losses, the king penguin species shrinks by a third

Once home to the largest known colony of king penguins, Île aux Cochons has lost most of its birds for unknown reason.

Animals

Got an environmental problem? Beavers could be the solution

A new book shows how important beavers have been in the past — and how they could improve the landscape of the future.

Earth

The giant iceberg that broke from Antarctica’s Larsen C ice shelf is stuck

A year ago, an iceberg calved off of the Larsen C ice shelf. The hunk of ice hasn’t moved much since, and that has scientists keeping an eye on it.

Oceans

Shallow reef species may not find refuge in deeper water habitats

Coral reefs in deep-water ecosystems may not make good homes for species from damaged shallow reefs.

Ecosystems

Bird poop helps keep coral reefs healthy, but rats are messing that up

Eradicating invasive rats from islands may help boost numbers of seabirds, whose droppings provide nutrients to nearby coral reefs.

Climate

Bloodflowers’ risk to monarchs could multiply as climate changes

High atmospheric carbon dioxide levels can weaken the medicinal value of a milkweed that caterpillars eat, and high temperatures may make the plant toxic.

Animals

Why humans, and Big Macs, depend on bees

Thor Hanson, the author of Buzz, explains the vital role bees play in our world.

Animals

Each year painted lady butterflies cross the Sahara — and then go back again

Painted ladies migrate the farthest of any butterfly.

Ecosystems

Madagascar’s predators are probably vulnerable to toxic toads

The Asian common toad, an invasive species in Madagascar, produces a toxin in its skin that’s probably toxic to most of the island’s predators.

Paleontology

These newfound frogs have been trapped in amber for 99 million years

Trapped in amber, 99-million-year-old frog fossils reveal the amphibians lived in a wet, tropical climate.

Animals

In a conservation catch-22, efforts to save quolls might endanger them

After 13 generations isolated from predators, the endangered northern quoll lost its fear of them.

Environment

Treating roads with oil and gas wastewater may spread harmful pollution

When spread on roads, wastewater from oil and gas production can leach radium and other contaminants into the environment, a new study finds.