Ecosystems
Articles on ecosystems
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Animals
When bees are away, moths come out to pollinate
Camera footage reveals that moths make roughly a third of the visits to red clover, working under the cover of night.
By Jake Buehler -
Microbes
This giant bacterium lives up to its name
The newly discovered Thiomargarita magnifica is about the size of your eyelash and is surprisingly complex.
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Plants
Catnip’s insect-repelling powers grow as Puss chews on it
Damaging the leaves boosts the plant’s chemical defenses — and their appeal to cats.
By Anil Oza -
Animals
Palm-size marsupials may face extinction from wild ‘house’ cats
After surviving Australian bushfires, the Kangaroo Island dunnart is losing ground as it's targeted by hungry predators.
By Asa Stahl -
Animals
‘Mystery monkey’ could mean its parent’s species may be in trouble
Changes to monkeys’ habitats — including some forest loss to oil palm plantations — might explain why this animal’s parents mated.
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Plants
Some redwood leaves make food while others drink water
The two types of leaves grow at different heights in trees at dry versus wet areas. They may help redwoods adapt to climate change.
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Animals
Orcas can take down the largest animal on the planet
For the first time, scientists observed that orcas can kill blue whales by using the same hunting techniques that have worked on other large whales.
By Anna Gibbs -
Plants
More than 9,000 tree species may be waiting to be discovered
Scientists estimated how many tree species are on Earth, an important step for forest conservation and protecting biodiversity.
By Jude Coleman -
Ecosystems
Scientists Say: Decay
This word can refer to rotting flesh or the transformation of radioactive atoms.
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Environment
Recycling a climate-warming gas could make ‘greener’ farmed fish
Instead of warming the climate, methane gas can be collected to help farmers. Along the way, it may also save some fish.
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Animals
Rewilding returns lost species to strengthen ecosystems
Restoring the missing species can help undo human-caused problems by aiding forests, slowing climate change and reducing wildfires.
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Ecosystems
Secret forest fungi partner with plants — and help the climate
Forest fungi are far more than mere mushrooms. They explore. They move nutrients and messages between plants. They can even help fight climate change.