Tag Archives | Biodiversity

Bloodthirsty Species Discovered In South American Cave

August 11, 2012

(ANIMAL DISCOVERY) VENEZUELA — It might look cute, but this cricket is certainly an insect you don’t want to be near. Last week, a film crew exploring a South American cave came across several new species, most notably this flesh-eating cricket. While the fact that these insects are blood thirsty certainly makes them intriguing, they also have the amazing ability to swim. And it doesn’t stop there. The unnamed cricket has adapted to its cave conditions by growing specialized palps for better senses and coordination in the dark. Read on for more about the amazing, intelligent species found in this single expedition. — Global Animal

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Many New Species In Amazon, But Discovery Is A Threat

July 2, 2012

(ANIMAL DISCOVERY) PERU – While the Peruvian Amazon yields a new bird every year and a new mammal every four, this good news is tempered by the fact that these species are not discovered by expeditions, but by workers who are digging exploration sites for oil, mining or lumber companies. Their discovery is a result of habitat destruction. So the question arises, will they be around long enough for us to get to know them? Again and again we see the unbreakable connection between an animal’s survival and the world they inhabit. We must protect both. – Global Animal

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How Your Daily Purchases Impact Wildlife

June 17, 2012

(BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION) Before you order your cup of coffee in the morning, you may want to consider the impact of your routine purchase. An Australian study from the University of Sydney shines light onto the repercussions of our world’s growing consumption of resources. The research cross-correlated the global trade of goods involved in biodiversity diminution with a vast listing of vulnerable species. Read on for the results, and how authors of the study now hope for increased labeling of sustainability ratings on products. — Global Animal

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The Gotham bee is one of four new bee species found in New York City. Photo credit: inhabitat.com

What’s The Buzz In NYC?

November 26, 2011

(BEE DISCOVERY) NEW YORK — The American Museum of Natural History announced that 11 new species of bees have been discovered, including 4 from New York City and the surrounding suburbs. Although the recent buzz has been about the decline in honeybee numbers, this new finding gives hope to the bee population and the fact that new animal species are frequently discovered. Read on about these new bee species, including the aptly named Gotham Bee from New York City. — Global Animal

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Ticks Creating Hot Zone Of Disease

August 16, 2011

(TICKS) A small outbreak of ehrlichia in the United States is largely due to an increase in ticks, which rapidly spread disease. However, is this rising population natural, or is it nature’s reaction to deforestation and increased livestock production? Has a lack of natural predators allowed vermin to flourish? Will America go the way of Europe during the rise of the Bubonic plague? — Global Animal

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Ghostly Threat Looms Over Tropic Waters

June 18, 2011

(OCEAN CONSERVATION) Although coral looks like branches of a colorful underwater plant, it’s actually teeming with, and created by, living animals — tiny, tentacled polyps. The idea of flora is reinforced by the fact that coral lengthens over time. But this is an occurrence of older generations of polyps dying and leaving behind exoskeletons, on top of which the next generation make their homes.

Coral are an important part of reef ecosystems, and the algae with which they symbiotically pair, is what gives them food, a clean environment, and their magnificent colors. It’s a delicate balance maintaining this relationship, however, and something as minor as climate change can cause coral bleaching. More and more tropical coral are growing ghostly and scientists fear oceans could be losing big in the years to come. Read on…— Global Animal

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