Forest elephants are the “gardeners of the Congo.” How might their dwindling population affect carbon storage in the world’s second-largest tropical forest?
animals
Seasonal and Annual Changes in Pitch in Blue Whale Calls
Six years of acoustic recordings detect seasonal shifts in blue whale vocalizations that correlate with the presence of icebergs, a primary source of ambient ocean noise in the southern Indian Ocean.
Dinosaurs Roar Again, Now Including a Focus on Climate Change
The newly renovated fossil hall at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History features spectacular fossils and includes a theme of human impact on life on Earth.
Leaping Global Temperatures Make Frog Disease Deadlier
Climate change will shift the warmest months, when disease rates spike, into tadpole season, which could endanger the long-term survival of common frogs.
Predicting Wave Wash Overs for Sea Turtle Nests
To better protect coastal species, researchers developed a model that predicts harmful wash overs with 83% accuracy.
Global Warming Hits Marine Life Hardest
The lack of thermal refugia in the ocean means marine life has nowhere to escape from rising sea temperatures.
The Ice Nurseries of the Arctic Are Melting
Ice formed in coastal nurseries along Russia’s Arctic coast is melting before it can float far offshore. Scientists are worried about what that means for wildlife.
Spruce Beetle Slows Snow Sublimation in Wyoming’s Mountains
A new study investigates changing water dynamics after a pest infestation in the Rocky Mountains.
Ant Nests Act as Carbon Dioxide Chimneys
Leaf-cutter ant nests emit thousands of times more carbon dioxide than the surrounding soils do, a new study has found.
Leaf-Cutter Ants Boost Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Soil
Leaf-cutter ant nest openings emit up to 100,000 times more carbon dioxide than surrounding soil, a new study shows.