Ecosystems

Animals

The last leg of the longest butterfly migration has now been identified

After a long journey across the Sahara, painted lady butterflies from Europe set up camp in central Africa to wait out winter and breed.

Animals

A ‘fire wolf’ fish could expand what we know about one unusual deep-sea ecosystem

Unlike other known methane seeps, Jacó Scar is slightly warmer than the surrounding water and is a home for both cold-loving and heat-loving organisms.

Environment

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill ruined long-term shore stability

For at least eight years, the oil disaster continued to kill soil-retaining marsh plants along the Louisiana coast, accelerating shoreline loss.

Climate

Wildfires in boreal forests released a record amount of CO₂ in 2021

Boreal forests store about one-third of the world’s land-based carbon. With wildfires increasing there, fighting climate change could get even harder.

Paleontology

In the wake of history’s deadliest mass extinction, ocean life may have flourished

Ocean life may have recovered in just a million years after the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, fossils from South China suggest.

Animals

A rare rabbit plays an important ecological role by spreading seeds

Rabbits aren’t thought of as seed dispersers, but the Amami rabbit of Japan has now been recorded munching on a plant’s seeds and pooping them out.

Microbes

Scientists have found the first known microbes that can eat only viruses

Lab experiments show that Halteria ciliates can chow down solely on viruses. Whether these “virovores” do the same in the wild is unclear.

Ecosystems

Tiger sharks helped discover the world’s largest seagrass prairie

Instrument-equipped sharks went where divers couldn’t to survey the Bahama Banks seagrass ecosystem.

Oceans

Sharks face rising odds of extinction even as other big fish populations recover

Over the last 70 years, large ocean fishes like tuna and marlin have been recovering from overfishing. But sharks continue to decline toward extinction.

Environment

Heat waves in U.S. rivers are on the rise. Here’s why that’s a problem

In recent years, heat waves in U.S. rivers have gotten more frequent, causing trouble for fish, plants and water quality.

Animals

Tree-climbing carnivores called fishers are back in Washington’s forests

Thanks to a 14-year reintroduction effort, fishers, or “tree wolverines,” are once again climbing and hunting in Washington’s forests after fur trapping and habitat loss wiped them out.

Ecosystems

‘Fen, Bog & Swamp’ reminds readers why peatlands matter

In her latest book, author Annie Proulx chronicles people’s long history with peatlands and examines the ecological value of these overlooked places.