The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is one of the worst invasive alien species and the fifth costliest worldwide, impacting ecosystems, agriculture and human health. Researchers from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology at the CSIC-Pompeu Fabra University have now documented 88 nests of red imported fire ants — for the first time in Europe […]
Tag: invasive species
Experts say radical shift needed in our relationship with the environment
A radical shift in our relationship with the environment is needed and it is time we intervene in the extinction crisis, experts say. A review led by Charles Darwin University (CDU) found negative trends in Australian biodiversity loss—caused by invasive species, interrupted First Nations land and sea management, altered fire regimes, and changed water flows—could […]
What Students Need to Know About Biodiversity
As we traverse the pathways of the 21st century, a compelling concern has swept the globe, piercing through the clamor of our everyday lives to command our attention – the concern for biodiversity. Yet, for many students, the concept of biodiversity remains a mystery, veiled in a haze of scientific terminology and complex ecological relationships. This […]
Wildcrafting: A Guide to Ethical Harvesting of Nature’s Gifts
Wildcrafting, the ancient practice of harvesting plants from their natural habitats for food, medicine, or crafting, has experienced a resurgence in recent years. From flying saucer mushrooms to medicinal roots, there are a plethora of valuable natural resources that can be found through wildcrafting. While often confused with foraging, wildcrafting is focused on the careful […]
How Neuty, a 22-Pound Rodent Became a Local Celebrity and Sparked a Call for Environmental Responsibility
Louisiana has been in the news lately, not for its beautiful bayous or delicious Cajun cuisine, but for a story about a 22-pound nutria named Neuty. The story started when wildlife agents showed up at the seafood business of Denny and Myra Lacoste, Neuty’s adoptive family, with the intention of seizing the animal. According to […]
World’s biggest single eradication operation aims to remove mice from island
Non-native house mice are to be removed from Marion Island in the southern Indian Ocean to protect the wandering albatross and other endangered seabirds, in the world’s largest eradication programme of its kind. Mice accidentally introduced on to the remote island by 19th-century seal hunters have thrived in warmer and drier conditions over the past […]
Discover the Wildlife in Your Backyard with the WildTracker Project
Have you ever wondered what creatures share your backyard? Meet the Marshall family from Tinderbox, south of Hobart, Australia, who recently embarked on an exciting journey to find out what animals live on their property. Thanks to the Tasmanian Land Conservancy’s WildTracker project, a citizen science program, the family is discovering the fascinating array of […]
Rogue Iguana Causes Massive Power Outage Before Dying; How Did They Become an Invasive Species in Florida?
The war between the invasive iguanas and the people of Florida continues as an unfortunate event in Palm Beach that happened on Wednesday, December 7. Local newspaper Sun Sentinel reports that a rogue iguana caused a large-scale power outage in Lake Worth Beach after climbing onto a power grid’s transformer, which affected roughly 1,400 households […]