Plants obviously need water to survive, but how do they interact with water in a more physical sense? How plants like trees capture and distribute precipitation can have massive consequences for ecosystem and societal processes. From soil formation to stormwater management, understanding wet plants …

Plants are habitat! This means that to restore ecosystems, we would be wise to start with plants. Such is the case for the spruce-fir forests of southern Appalachia, which are among the rarest habitat types on the continent. Join me and Kelly Holdbrooks of the Southern Highlands Reserve as we explor…

Conservation Biology, Volume 39, Issue 3, June 2025.

Restoration Ecology, EarlyView.

Tuna, opah, and billfishes such as marlins and swordfish are among the 0.1% of fish species that are warm-blooded. Evidence by an international team of researchers led by UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography reveals that they developed that trait to keep up with new neighbors millions …

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Conservation Biology, EarlyView.

Visit the Sonoran Desert and you too will fall in love with its beauty and diversity. It is truly one of the most incredible places on earth. Dr. Ben Wilder agrees which is why he has dedicated his life to understanding the history of the Sonoran flora and using that knowledge to help ensure it has …

The odds of encountering a prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.) in your lifetime is high no matter where you live. That is how abundant, diverse, and charismatic these cacti truly are. For all of their intrigue, so much about these spiny succulents remains a mystery. Trying to understand their diversi…

Deserts are difficult places for any organism to survive, let alone plants. Despite the challenges, rich a unique floras have evolved in deserts all over the world which support myriad other forms of life. Restoring these communities in human-disturbed areas is critical in solving so many ecological…

Who hasn't marveled at the fossilized remains of a dinosaur? Though their lineage lives on today in the form of birds, historically, dinosaurs were once far more diverse. Needless to say, they shaped the world around them just as much as the world shaped them, and this certainly included interaction…

Marissa Saenger is a fourth-year PhD student studying climate sciences at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Saenger grew up in Clarence, N.Y., and received her undergraduate degree in environmental science and engineering with a minor in environmental policy at Harvard College. Pr…

Columbus, OH (May 21, 2025) — Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) introduced important legislation designed to eliminate all lead water lines that still exist in […]
The post Environmental Organizations Celebrate Bipartisan Bill to Remove Ohio’s Lead Serv…

Restoration Ecology, EarlyView.

Sedges (genus Carex) can be an intimidating group of plants to get your head wrapped around, but it doesn't have to be that way. One key element to understanding them is knowing what to look for, which is why I am so excited to talk about a new book/key to the oval sedges - “Carex of Illinois and Su…

Mangrove forests are dynamic places and so too are the people that study them. From carbon capture and peat formation, to restoration and hydrology, these coastal habitats offer curious minds plenty to ponder. Join me and Dr. Luke Lamb-Wotton as we explore the wonderfully complex world of these coas…

Wildfires are familiar to those living on Earth today, but what about in the past? How does one go about studying ancient wildfires through deep time? Some of the answers lie in coal deposits. Join me and Dr. Ian Glasspool as we explore how he studies wildfire events dating back hundreds of millions…

My guest today is Melissa Díaz-Morales from the Jardín Botánico Lankester in Costa Rica and her work focuses on orchid pollination. Orchids are known for their deceitful pollination syndromes and Melissa has spent the last few years working on a lady slipper orchid known as Phragmipedium longifolium…

Changes in biodiversity are happening all over the globe. From losses to homogenization, understanding the affects of biodiversity change are paramount to understanding how ecosystems function. Nowhere is this more apparent than with plants. Join me and ecologist Dr. Jake Grossman as we explore the …

Restoration Ecology, Volume 33, Issue 4, May 2025.

Restoration Ecology, EarlyView.

Fossils offer some of the best evidence of how diverse various branches of the tree of life once were. They help us understand speciation and extinction as well as biogeography. Dr. Steve Manchester has spent much of his career using fossilized seeds to understand the ancient histories of flowering …

You have the opportunity to stand up for wetlands today by telling EPA just how beneficial and important wetlands are for our communities. The Clean Water Act (CWA) protects the “waters of the United States.” This consequential term, referred to by its acronym “WOTUS,” has been heavily redefined and…

The New England Aquarium incorporates trends from North America’s largest seafood expo into ocean conservation efforts.
The post The Coolest Things We Saw—and Tasted—in Responsible Seafood at SENA 2025 appeared first on New England Aquarium.

How does one breath life into an extinct tree only known from fossils? There are a lot of answers to this question, but my guest today decided to go digital. Tim Stonesifer is the Assistant Director for Media Technology at Colby College and the person responsible for creating the 3D reconstruction o…

Note: This analysis reflects the Israel-Iran ceasefire announced on June 23, 2025. While the immediate crisis has eased, the insights highlight ongoing opportunities for biofuels in a volatile energy market.

See how a new study from Ocean Conservancy examines the impact of IMPAA
The post How Will IMPAA Impact Shipping Trade Routes? appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

Our UK coastline is under threat, and now the Marine Biological Association (MBA) is calling on ocean lovers of all ages to take part in the Big Rock Pool Challenge: National BioBlitz 2025, a nationwide citizen science effort to monitor the health of the UK’s coastline and track the spread of invasi…

Today, family and friends gathered at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography to celebrate the hard work and achievements of more than 200 graduating students. The Scripps Recognition Ceremonies held on Pawka Green honored the dedication, perseverance and accomplishments of graduates foll…

River Network announces nearly $3.3 million to local organizations and Indigenous communities for tree planting and maintenance projects, increasing health and happiness nationwide. River Network, a national nonprofit that grows and strengthens local water, justice, and river advocates across the Un…

One cannot overemphasize the importance of plant/pollinator interactions. The world as we know it would not exist without these complex components of ecology. Getting good data, and more importantly, making those data useful is important in conserving and restoring plants and their pollinators. Join…

The black belt prairie is a crescent-shaped grassland ecosystem curving through Mississippi and Alabama that supports high biodiversity. Sadly, like grasslands across the globe, the black belt prairie ecosystem continues to be carved up into increasingly smaller chunks of habitat. What is left often…

Mosses, liverworts, and lichens live in a world of their own. Not unlike the trees they grow on, these tiny organisms must play out the dramas of obtaining the water, nutrients, and light they need to survive, they are just doing so on a much smaller scale. At the same time, they are supporting thei…

Understanding the relationships among plants can reveal so much about the history of our planet and the mechanisms of evolution. This is why Dr. Peter Quakenbush has spent so much time trying to understand the genus Medinilla. You might be most familiar with Medinilla magnifica as a popular housepla…

The intricate, hidden processes that sustain coral life are being revealed through a new microscope developed by scientists at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.The diver-operated microscope — called the Benthic Underwater Microscope imaging PAM, or BUMP — incorporates pulse amplitu…

Congress and the administration are rolling back protections and jeopardizing ocean health
The post The Latest Offshore Oil and Gas Policies that Threaten Our Ocean appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

This month’s open thread. Try to stick to climate topics.
The post Unforced variations: July 2025 first appeared on RealClimate.

Restoration Ecology, EarlyView.

Conservation Biology, Volume 39, Issue 3, June 2025.

Restoration Ecology, EarlyView.

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is calling on members of the public to get involved this UK Invasive Species Week (12–19 May 2025) in safeguarding the UK’s precious marine environments from harmful invasive species (also known as non-native species).

World Oceans Month is more than just a calendar event. It’s a chance to celebrate the beating heart of our blue planet—and to remember how closely our lives are connected to the ocean’s health, especially the ecosystems within it. Coral reefs might only cover a small fraction of the ocean floor, but…

Every year, the New England Aquarium rehabilitates and releases hundreds of endangered sea turtles. Meet two of them!
The post Patient Stories from Our Sea Turtle Hospital: Hercules and Athena appeared first on New England Aquarium.

Restoration Ecology, EarlyView.

Seeing the drastic effects that deforestation has had on the Amazon, many Amazonian nations have begun to coordinate responses for stronger environmental protection, resulting in increased political and financial commitments for conservation initiatives in the Amazon. In 2023’s Belém Declaration (an…

We’re proud to announce that we’ve earned the 2025 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition for nonprofit accountability and openness! At Amazon Conservation, we believe that protecting the Amazon rainforest goes hand in hand with building trust. That’s why we make it a…

Conservation Biologist Sara Johnson returns to the podcast to talk about some of the botanical rabbit holes we have been exploring in recent weeks. We discuss ash (Fraxinus spp.) and rose (Rosa spp.) diversity and wax poetic about our time experiencing the majesty of the Great Southern Brood of peri…

Restoration Ecology, EarlyView.

Getting struck by lightning is always thought of as a bad thing, but what if it wasn't? Trees can't get up and escape when storms roll in and the chances of one getting struck by lightning increases as they grow taller. For at least one species of tropical tree, getting struck could actually be bene…

Fossil hunting is like playing the lottery, your odds of hitting big are infinitesimal, but it can happen. Such was the case for Dr. Bob Gastaldo and colleagues when they unearthed the remains of Sanfordiacaulis densifolia, an extinct tree from the Carboniferous Period unlike anything we have ever s…

Conservation Biology, EarlyView.

Predators like wolves are an integral part of ecosystem health. Moreover, their interactions with their herbivore prey can have major consequences on plant communities. Join me and Dr. Sarah Hoy as we discuss decades worth of data on wolf-moose-plant interactions on Isle Royale and learn how wolves …

Sharks don’t just rule the ocean with speed and strength—they also come equipped with an incredible hidden ability: a sixth sense that helps them detect electromagnetic fields in water.  This built-in superpower is thanks to tiny gel-filled canals on their snouts called ampullae of Lorenzini. These …

Article photo: Cristina Mittermeier By Bea San Juan Silva | March 28, 2025 South Africa’s oceans are teeming with biodiversity, from vibrant coral reefs to rich fish populations. To protect these vital ecosystems, the country has established a network of 42 marine protected areas (MPAs) – 41 in the …

Bees run the gamut from generalists to specialists. Whereas the generalists visit a variety of plants for the resources they need, many specialists exist on a single species. Such is the case for at least 20 different bees living in Southwestern North America who specialize on the pollen of the creo…

Restoration Ecology, EarlyView.

Use this guide to find out more about keeping food safe, getting fresh, hot meals in a time of crisis, and learning how to navigate food programs.

The post What will the Planning and Infrastructure Bill mean for freshwater? appeared first on Freshwater Habitats Trust.

DEFRA Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner MP, met with the team behind the Pollack Fisheries Industry Science Partnership (FISP) during a visit to Plymouth this week.  Pollack FISP is a pioneering collaboration bringing together recreational charter skippers, commercial fis…

The post Headstart: a new approach to cleaning up Britain’s river systems appeared first on Freshwater Habitats Trust.

Leave the leaves! It is a phrase you hear a lot these days, but why is it so important to keep leaves and other plant debris on your landscape? These are the questions that drive Dr. Max Ferlato. Leaf litter and other plant debris provides vitally important habitat for myriad organisms including spe…

Restoration Ecology, EarlyView.

Conservation Biology, Volume 39, Issue 3, June 2025.

Restoration Ecology, EarlyView.

What does it take to save orchids from extinction? Saving Orchids by Dr's Philip Seaton and Larry Zettler showcase the dedicated folks who are making it happen across the world. From why orchids need our help to cultivating in the lab and returning them to the wild, Saving Orchids is an inspirationa…

Restoration Ecology, Volume 33, Issue 4, May 2025.

Novel approaches are always fun. Nowhere is this more apparent than in today's podcast. We revisit a conversation with Dr. Camille Holmgren from SUNY Buffalo State about her research reconstructing ancient desert climates using pack rat middens. Join us for a fun and interesting discussion that will…

Conservation Biology, Volume 39, Issue 3, June 2025.

New England Aquarium
The post Inside the Wildlife and Ocean Health Lab appeared first on New England Aquarium.

In a heartening segment filmed for BBC’s Countryfile, presenter Vick Hope joined our team aboard the RV MBA Sepia for a special milestone: the release of young rays back into the waters of Plymouth Sound. The event marks a key moment in the Little Rays of Hope project — a collaborative initiative fr…

Restoration Ecology, Volume 33, Issue 4, May 2025.

Multiple nations recently signed a first-of-its-kind agreement to boost global wildfire readiness across the globe. The “Kananaskis Wildfire Charter” was signed by each of the countries in the “Group of Seven,” or G7, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the Unite…

The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) is seeking a dedicated Canvass Director to drive our fundraising and awareness-raising efforts in the Greater Vancouver Region.
The post NOW HIRING: Vancouver Canvass Director appeared first on Ancient Forest Alliance.

Restoration Ecology, Volume 33, Issue 4, May 2025.

Four marine protected areas (MPAs) were honored today with prestigious Blue Park Awards today at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference. The newly awarded Blue Parks are: Cahuita National Park (Costa Rica), Gorgona National Natural Park (Colombia), Kaho'olawe Island Reserve (Hawai'i, U.S.), and Shark Fin Bay M…

How fishers in Juan Fernández are protecting lobsters and livelihoods A series of volcanic islands rise in the Pacific like a handful of skipped rocks off Chile’s coast. Once a pitstop for pirates and the rumored home of buried treasure, today the remote Juan Fernández Archipelago hosts 1,000 reside…

Hadley Menk is a student in the Master of Advanced Studies in Climate Science and Policy (MAS CSP) program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Menk grew up in Charlotte, Vt. and received her undergraduate degrees in geography and modern history from the University of St. Andrews …

The ocean offers us so many natural wonders – and seashells are some of its most beautiful gifts. Instead of buying plastic decor or mass-produced souvenirs, why not create something meaningful using shells you’ve collected? Small and beautiful, seashell candles make thoughtful handmade gifts — idea…

Besides pollination, what do flowers and bees have in common? Microbes, of course! From mutualists to pathogens and everything in between, Dr. Quinn McFrederick wants to know how plants, bees, and microbes interact. Join us for a deep dive into our growing understanding of these important relationsh…

Conservation Biology, Volume 39, Issue 3, June 2025.

Tubers, corms, taproots, bulbs... There are many different kinds of underground storage organs in the plant world. Moreover, they form from many different kinds of plant tissues. This begs the question, why are there so many variations on the theme of energy storage? Join me and Dr. Carrie Tribble a…

Plant stress starts at the molecular level but can influence entire ecosystems. That is why questions about drought, heat, and climate change fuel Dr. Lou Santiago's research. Join us as we explore the ins and outs of studying plant stress in different ecosystems. This episode was produced in part …

I have said it before, and I will say it again: plants ARE habitat. Nowhere is this fact more apparent than in the field of wildlife ecology. From food to shelter, one simply can't understand the innerworkings of nature without understanding plants. Join me and Wildlife Ecologist Dr. Chris Moorman a…

Conservation Biology, EarlyView.

Your guide to finding accurate information, emergency kits, evacuations, protecting your home, and more if you’re at risk of a hurricane, wildfire, flood, or other disaster.

Join Chief Botanist for NatureServe Wes Knapp and me as we take a deep dive into an all-too-often overlooked group of plants - the rushes (genus Juncus). Rushes are fascinating and beautiful plants when you get to know them, and the genus has a lot of secrets waiting to be revealed. From their uniqu…

Learn how we count hundreds of fish—and why it’s an important practice for animal health.
The post Counting Fish Isn’t Just for Kids’ Stories appeared first on New England Aquarium.