Graph of the Day: Biomass decline of nine whale species, 1800-2008

IWC time series of biomass of the nine great whale species with greatest abundance under the management of IWC. Line denotes establishment of IWC (1946). Data: from L. Christensen, unpublished data, University of British Columbia, 2008. Graphic: Sarika Cullis-Suzuki High Seas, High Risk: A Global Evaluation of The Effectiveness Of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations Technorati […]

Loss of big fruit-eating birds impacting trees in endangered rainforests –‘Habitat loss and species extinction is causing drastic changes in the composition and structure of ecosystems’

31 May 2013 (mongabay.com) – The extinction of large, fruit-eating birds in fragments of Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest has caused palm trees to produce smaller seeds over the past century, impacting forest ecology, finds a study published in the journal Science. The researchers — led by Mauro Galetti from Brazil’s Universidade Estadual Paulista — looked at […]

Elephant ‘tramples to death suspected poacher’

By Emily Miller 12 May 2013 (Telegraph) – The bloodied remains of Solomon Manjoro were found by rangers after what was thought to be a botched poaching trip at the protected Charara safari area inside a national park. Zimbabwe’s Sunday Mail reported that the local man was charged by the elephant after he entered the […]

Graph of the Day: Biomass decline of tuna species, 1960s-2008

ICCAT time series of the biomass of tuna species under management of ICCAT. Line denotes establishment of ICCAT (1969). Species assessed comprise the “major tuna” that ICCAT manages. Data: a) from ICCAT (2008a), b) ICCAT (2008b), c-e) ICCAT (2008c), f) ICCAT (2008d), g-h) ICCAT (2008e). Graphic: Sarika Cullis-Suzuki High Seas, High Risk: A Global Evaluation […]

Study finds alarming declines in U.S. amphibians, even in protected areas – Many species will disappear from half of habitats in 20 years

By Timothy B. Wheeler22 May 2013 (The Baltimore Sun) – Some of springtime’s more notable heralds appear to be fading away, as a new study finds frogs, toads and salamanders disappearing at an alarming rate across the United States. In what they say is the first analysis of its kind, scientists with the U.S. Geological […]

Climate change brings disease threat for polar bears – ‘There are a number of diseases now observed in Arctic animals that were not previously seen’

By Shaoni Bhattacharya 15 May 2013 (New Scientist) – With its habitats shrinking and food supplies dwindling, the fate of the polar bear looks grim in the face of climate change. Now comes news that the iconic Arctic mammal may face another potentially devastating threat: it may be particularly vulnerable to new pathogens moving northwards […]

‘Dramatic decline’ warning for plants and animals – ‘Climate change will greatly reduce the diversity of even very common species found in most parts of the world’

By Matt McGrath, Environment correspondent12 May 2013 (BBC News) – More than half of common plant species and a third of animals could see a serious decline in their habitat range because of climate change. New research suggests that biodiversity around the globe will be significantly impacted if temperatures rise more than 2C. But the […]

Orangutans are victims of ‘sustainable’ palm oil as rainforest is razed – ‘All of the animals on the plantation are threatened. The company must therefore stop clearing the rainforest immediately.’

(Rainforest Rescue) – Perched atop the remains of the last tree, an orangutan looks helplessly on what was until recently the forest he was living in but is now only ruins. Armed with chainsaws and bulldozers, workers of Bumitama Gunajaya Agro (BGA), a palm oil company, have completely destroyed the rainforest for miles. Three other […]

Dozens of elephants slaughtered for ivory in Central African Republic – ‘The elephants here face a sure death as criminals obtain ivory’

10 May 2013 (mongabay.com) – Dozens of elephants have been slaughtered in the Dzanga Bai World Heritage Site in the Central African Republic just days after conservationists warned about an impending threat from the movement of 17 heavily armed poachers. The massacre occurred at a site renowned as “village of elephants”, where tourists and scientists […]

Tribesmen launch ‘occupy’ protest at dam site in the Amazon rainforest – 231 dams planned for the Brazilian Amazon

3 May 2013 (mongabay.com) – On Thursday roughly 200 indigenous people launched an occupation of a key construction site for the controversial Belo Monte dam in the Brazilian Amazon. The protestors, who represent communities that will be affected by the massive dam, are demanding immediate suspension of all work on hydroelectric projects on the Xingu, […]

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