Massive declines in insect biodiversity and biomass are reported from many regions and habitats. In urban areas, creation of native wildflower meadows is one option to support insects and reduce maintenance costs of urban green spaces. However, benefits for insect conservation may depend on previous land use, and the size …
Two-thirds of Britain's 337 species of common larger moths have experienced a substantial decline over the past four decades, a survey has shown. The V-moth (Marcaria wauaria), once a common sight in gardens, recorded a 99% fall in numbers from 1968-2007. Habitat loss and deteriorating land are thought to be …
In general terms, lighting research has been focused in the development of artificial light with the purpose of saving energy and having more durable lamps. However, the consequences that artificial night lighting could bring to the human being and living organisms have become an important issue recently. Light pollution represents …
Climate-induced range shifts have been detected in a number of European species for which long-term survey data are available. In North America, well-organized long-term data needed to document such shifts are much less common. Now observations made by ‘citizen scientists’ help to demonstrate that a major, climate-induced shift of North …
Two-thirds of Britain's 337 species of common larger moths have experienced a substantial decline over the past four decades, a survey has shown. The V-moth (Marcaria wauaria), once a common sight in gardens, recorded a 99% fall in numbers from 1968-2007. Habitat loss and deteriorating land are thought to be …
Forest biodiversity in the Eastern Ghats is undergoing a tremendous change. Experts at the department of environmental sciences, Andhra University, believe that the hilly slopes in the district are changing for the worse. The department of environmental sciences estimates that over 80,000 acres of forest land has been permanently destroyed …
Learning the right lessons from its success with the Aravalli and Yamuna Biodiversity Parks, the Delhi Development Authority on Wednesday announced plans to create four biodiversity parks spanning a total area of 10,000 hectares. DDA Engineer Member Ashok Khurana said that out of this, over 7,000 hectares will be a …
Farming pesticides are also killing worker bumblebees, meaning colonies that are vital for plant pollination are more likely to fail Pesticides used in farming are also killing worker bumblebees and damaging their ability to gather food, meaning colonies that are vital for plant pollination are more likely to fail when …
Hyderabad scored 36 out of 92; It scored poorly in recreational and education services for children If this was an exam, the city would have failed miserably. Greater Hyderabad has scored zero (out of four) in three indicators and one in 12 indicators regarding healthy biodiversity. Chief Minister Kiran Kumar …
Environmentalists warn judges that damaging precedent will be set if large-scale limestone mining is permitted in Ojnare forest A landmark case that could affect the fate of forests across Sweden reaches its final stage today in the supreme court. Environmentalists have warned that a damaging precedent will be set if …
As modern climate change causes rapid geographical shifts of environmental conditions, there are great concerns that numerous species could be unable to track suitable environments, thereby incurring a 'climatic debt'. Recently, Devictor et al. reported that the composition of bird and butterfly communities across Europe has changed at a lower …
In their comment, Rodríguez-Sánchez et al. claim that our conclusions on the climatic debt of birds and butterflies are premature because introducing statistical and biological uncertainties in species-specific thermal tolerance (species temperature index, STI) would blur the temporal trend in the community temperature index CTI). Here, we show why our …
Many of the world's tropical protected areas are struggling to sustain their biodiversity, according to a study by more than 200 scientists from around the world. But the study published in Nature includes research focusing on a reserve in Tanzania by University of York scientists that indicates that long-term engagement …
Many of the world's tropical protected areas are struggling to sustain their biodiversity, according to a study by more than 200 scientists from around the world. But the study published in Nature includes research focusing on a reserve in Tanzania by University of York scientists that indicates that long-term engagement …
Radiation from Japan's leaking Fukushima nuclear plant has caused mutations in some butterflies and damaged the local environment, though humans seem relatively unaffected, researchers say. The mutations - including dented eyes and stunted wings - are the first evidence the radiation following last year's tsunami has caused genetic changes in …
Genetic mutations have been found in three generations of butterflies from near Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, scientists said Tuesday, raising fears radiation could affect other species. Around 12% of pale grass blue butterflies that were exposed to nuclear fallout as larvae immediately after the tsunami-sparked disaster had abnormalities, including …
The Forest Department is all set to conduct a bird census in the Biligiriranganathaswamy Tiger (BRT) Reserve forest in November, after a gap of 15 years. The Biligiriranganabetta is a unique hill where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet. It is home to more than 1,000 varieties of plants. Twenty-four …
How large does a butterfly have to be before anybody notices it is disappearing? In the case of Papua New Guinea's (PNG) Queen Alexandra's birdwing, the answer is enormous. The world's largest butterfly boasts a 1ft (30cm) wingspan – imagine the width of a school ruler - yet few outsiders …
This paper addresses the mass supply and use of butterflies for live exhibits, discusses the risks to biodiversity which this creates, and the educational opportunities it presents. Over the past 30 years a new type of insect zoo has become popular worldwide: the butterfly house. This has given rise to …
The government has sanctioned Rs 33.60 crore for forest development and preservation under this year's annual plan from the Thirteenth Finance Commission’s grants-in-aid for the forest department. The commission had sanctioned a sum of Rs 142.48 crore for the five year plan period. In the first two years, the government …
It is now confined to 53 patches in Kerala Nestled in the deep valleys of the Western Ghats that is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna are the vestiges of a pristine habitat that could yield precious information about evolutionary biology and climate change. Scientists from the …
