High fertiliser use halves numbers of pollinators, world’s longest study finds

High fertiliser use halves numbers of pollinators, world’s longest study finds

Using high levels of common fertilisers on grassland halves pollinator numbers and drastically reduces the number of flowers, research from the world’s longest-running ecological experiment has found. Increasing the amount of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus doused on agricultural grassland reduced flower numbers fivefold and halved the number of pollinating insects, according to the paper by […]

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National Trust records ‘alarming’ drop in insects and seabirds at its sites

National Trust records ‘alarming’ drop in insects and seabirds at its sites

There have been alarming declines this year in some insect species including bees, butterflies, moths and wasps, while many seabirds have also been “hammered” by unstable weather patterns caused by the climate emergency, a conservation charity has said. In its annual report on the impact of the weather on flora and fauna, the National Trust […]

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Painted Lady Butterflies Travel 2,600 Miles Across the Atlantic

Painted Lady Butterflies Travel 2,600 Miles Across the Atlantic

Painted lady butterflies, scientifically known as Vanessa cardui, are known for their impressive migratory feats. These insects are found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. A recent study published in June by Nature Communications has unveiled astonishing details about their migration patterns, revealing that these butterflies travel thousands of miles across oceans. According to […]

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Scores of Endangered Butterflies Slated to Be Released Along California Coast Using .5 Million Private Grant

Scores of Endangered Butterflies Slated to Be Released Along California Coast Using $1.5 Million Private Grant

In California, a joint effort will oversee a multi-stage, four-year plan to help Behren’s silverspot butterfly return in numbers to the coastline of Northern California. Vitalized by a $1.5 million grant from the State of CA Wildlife Conservation Board, the Mendocino Land Trust (MLT) is planning to plant 35,000 early blue violets, the only plant […]

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