Ecosystems

Ecosystems

Warming pushes lobsters and other species to seek cooler homes

Plants and animals are moving toward the poles, changing timing of important events and more — all in response to climate change.

Ecosystems

Photographing wildflowers and other ways you can help fight climate change

Citizen scientists can help with climate and conservation research by counting birds, taking pictures of flowers and deciphering old weather records.

Environment

Life on Earth is mostly green

A new survey of life on Earth finds that plants and microbes dominate. But even though humans are in the minority, they still play a major role.

Climate

Disappearing sea ice could disrupt Arctic’s food web

When sea ice goes missing in the Arctic, every part of the ecosystem feels the effects.

Animals

Animal graveyard found in deeply buried Antarctic lake

Mud from Antarctica’s Lake Mercer surprised scientists with what appeared to be the carcasses of tiny animals. A neighboring lake had only microbes.

Ecosystems

Scientists Say: Niche

An organism’s niche is the role it fills in the community it lives in.

Plants

Rare-plant hunters race against time to save at-risk species

One in five plants is at risk of extinction. Meet the rare plant hunters who rappel down cliffs and trek through forests to save them.

Ecosystems

Mosquito repellent could pose risks to baby salamanders

Two ingredients in bug repellant — DEET and picaridin — can end up in streams. There, they may hurt salamanders but leave mosquitoes alone, a study finds.

Ecosystems

Welcome to the Arctic’s all-night undersea party

Life teems in the frozen darkness of the Arctic night. But as the ice recedes and people move in, their light pollution may disturb the animals living there.

Environment

Microplastics take flight in the bellies of mosquitoes

In polluted water, mosquito larvae may eat microplastic — and it will stay in their bodies as they grow. That might pose risks to skeeter-eating birds.

Ecosystems

Scientists Say: Understory

A forest isn’t made just out of the tallest trees. Shorter trees and shrubs thrive in their shade. This layer is called the understory.

Environment

Don’t flush your contact lenses

One in five people who wear contact lenses flush their used eyewear down the sink or toilet. That plastic pollutes the environment and can harm wildlife.