Anchovies, sardines and herring rarely draw a crowd. They lack the presence of the whales, seabirds and sea lions that feed on them, yet a large share of the ocean’s food web runs through these small, schooling fish. They also sit near the start of a supply chain that reaches well inland: some of the […]
Elephants are a really cool and smart group of animals. Not only do they look cool but are enormous as well! Additionally to their physical prowess, elephants are crucial for maintaining the health of the ecosystem. However there are some human issues that prevent this, mainly the destruction of land to expand on territory, illegal […]
Outdoor sports offer something that gyms and indoor venues cannot fully reproduce: direct contact with forests, mountains, rivers, coastlines, and open landscapes. Hiking, cycling, trail running, kayaking, climbing, and other activities can make exercise feel more adventurous while giving people a stronger appreciation for the natural world. However, these landscapes are not simply recreational spaces. […]
A new study has found that reproductive female Antarctic krill actively use deep-sea hydrothermal vents as a habitat, suggesting these environments may play a role in the animals’ reproductive cycle. Researchers observed groups of the animals moving along mineral-rich fissures in the ocean floor, with every krill collected from the site found to be a […]
From a South American caterpillar whose venom can interfere with blood clotting to a North American species capable of delivering an intensely painful sting, discover the world’s most dangerous caterpillars. Most dangerous caterpillars Fire taturana Nicknamed the assassin caterpillar, Lonomia obliqua (also known as a fire taturana or giant silkworm) is among the few caterpillars […]
The caribou of Quebec are at breaking point. The province, home to 15% of Canada’s population of woodland caribou, has seen numbers crash to about half of what they were a decade ago. For years, local First Nations people, researchers and environmental groups have criticised the provincial government’s lack of action on protecting caribou, an […]
It began on 28 July, when fishers near Saldanha Bay on the west coast of South Africa reported seeing dead sardines (also known as pilchards) floating at sea. Then, in early August, more dead sardines began washing up on beaches near Cape Town. In the weeks that followed, similar reports came in from places across […]
It takes guts to migrate long distances – literally, if you’re a bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica baueri. This crow-sized shorebird burns not just flab, but even some innards to fuel its marathon migrations. Each autumn, the godwit flies from its breeding grounds in Alaska and Siberia to Australia or New Zealand to spend the winter. […]