Acipenser transmontanus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of<a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=d55013d210f7439f8ca981b3b73576f2&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i60j69i57j69i60l2j69i59.492j0j4&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS"> North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) is a species of sturgeon in the family Acipenseridae of the order Acipenseriformes. They are an anadromous fish species ranging in the Eastern Pacific; from the Gulf of Alaska to Monterey, California. However, some are landlocked in the Columbia River Drainage, Montana, and Lake Shasta in California, with reported sightings in northern Baja California, Mexico.Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) &gt; Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons and paddlefishes) &gt; Acipenseridae (Sturgeons) &gt; Acipenserinae Etymology: : Latin, = sturgeon, 1853 (Ref. 45335); transmontanus: The specific name is derived from the Latin acipenser (sturgeon), trans (beyond), and montanus (mountain) (Ref. 27436).More on author: Richardson.

Acipenser transmontanus

Acipenser transmontanus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation...

Bubalus depressicornis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Bubalus depressicornis ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species.Anoa, also known as dwarf buffalo and sapiutan, are a subgenus of Bubalus comprising two species endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia: the mountain anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) and the lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis). Both live in undisturbed rainforest and are similar in appearance to miniature water buffalo, weighing 150–300 kg (330–660 lb). <span title="Both species of anoa have been classified as endangered since the 1960s and the populations continue to decrease. Fewer than 5,000 animals of each species likely remain. Reasons for their decline include hunting for hides, horns and meat by the local peoples and loss of habitat due to the advancement of settlement. Currently, hunting is the more serious factor in most areas. ">Both species of anoa

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.Anoa, also known as dwarf buffalo and sapiutan, are a subgenus of Bubalus comprising two species endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia: the mountain anoa and the lowland anoa. Both live in undisturbed rainforest and are similar in appearance to miniature water buffalo, weighing 150–300 kg.

Bubalus depressicornis

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Bubalus mindorensis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Bubalus mindorensis ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The tamaraw or Mindoro dwarf buffalo is a small hoofed mammal belonging to the family Bovidae. It is endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines, and is the only endemic Philippine bovine. It is believed, however, to have once also thrived on the larger island of Luzon. The tamaraw was originally found all over Mindoro, from sea level up to the mountains, but because of human habitation, hunting, and logging, it is now restricted to only a few remote grassy plains and is now a critically endangered species.

Bubalus mindorensis

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Bubalus quarlesi NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Bubalus quarlesi ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.Anoa, also known as dwarf buffalo and sapiutan, are a subgenus of Bubalus comprising two species endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia: the mountain anoa and the lowland anoa. Both live in undisturbed rainforest and are similar in appearance to miniature water buffalo, weighing 150–300 kg.

The lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis) is a small <a class="mw-redirect" title="Bovid" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovid">bovid</a>, standing barely over 90 cm (35 in) at the shoulder. It is also known as anoa de Ilanura or anoa des plaines. It is most closely allied to the larger Asian buffaloes, showing the same reversal of the direction of the hair on their backs. The <a title="Horn (anatomy)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horn_(anatomy)">horns</a> are peculiar for their upright direction and comparative straightness, although they have the same triangular section as in other buffaloes. White spots are sometimes present below the eyes and there may be white markings on the legs and back; the absence or presence of these white markings may be indicative of distinct <a title="Race (biology)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_(biology)">races</a>. The horns of the cows are very small. The nearest allies of the anoa appear to be certain extinct Asian buffaloes, the remains of which have been found in the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Siwalik Hills" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siwalik_Hills">Siwalik Hills</a> of northern India. In habits, the animal appears to resemble the <a title="Water buffalo" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_buffalo">water buffalo</a>. It is usually solitary, living in <a class="mw-redirect" title="Lowland" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowland">lowland</a> <a title="Tropical rainforest" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_rainforest">forests</a> and <a title="Wetland" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetland">wetlands</a>, browsing on plants and <a title="Understory" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understory">understory</a>.
<h2></h2>

Bubalus quarlesi

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Buceros (=Rhinoplax) vigil NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Buceros (=Rhinoplax) vigil ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The helmeted hornbill is a very large bird in the hornbill family. It is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, Thailand and Myanmar. The casque accounts for some 11% of its 3 kg weight. Unlike any other hornbill, the casque is almost solid, and is used in head-to-head combat among males. It is a belief among the Punan Bah that a large helmeted hornbill guards the river between life and death.

This species has a bare, wrinkled throat patch, pale blue to greenish in females and red in males. The <a class="extiw" title="wikt:casque" href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/casque">casque</a> goes from the base of the <a title="Beak" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beak">bill</a> halfway to the tip, where it ends abruptly. It and the bill are yellow; the red secretion of the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Preen gland" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preen_gland">preen gland</a> covers the sides and top of the casque and the base of the bill, but often leaves the front end of the casque and the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Distal" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distal">distal</a> half of the bill yellow. Unlike other hornbills, the helmeted hornbill's casque is solid, and the skull including the casque and bill may constitute 10 percent of the bird's weight.

Buceros (=Rhinoplax) vigil

Buceros (=Rhinoplax) vigil NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer...

Bufo hemiophrys baxteri NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada.</a> NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

The Wyoming toad or Baxter's toad is an extremely rare amphibian that exists only in captivity and within Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming in the United States. The Wyoming toad was listed as an endangered species in 1984, and listed as extinct in the wild since 1991. As with ferrets at the Tom Thorne and Beth Williams Wildlife Research Center at Sybille, the effort to save the Wyoming toad, Bufo baxteri, has also been a cooperative effort among state and federal agencies and private landowners. The Wyoming toad was common from the 1950s through the early 1970s, but its distribution was limited to the Laramie Basin in Albany County. The population crashed around 1975 and was extremely rare by 1980. The Wyoming toad was federally listed as endangered in January 1984. To prevent extinction, a captive breeding program was begun in 1989 at the Thorne Williams Unit.

Bufo hemiophrys baxteri

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Bufo houstonensis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/faking-death-is-a-good-way-for-animals-to-stay-alive/">animals</a> too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Bufo houstonensis ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

The male Houston toad grows to 2–3.5 inches when mature with the female being larger and bulkier. Although generally brown and speckled, their color can range from black to purplish gray, sometimes with green patches. The toads typically live 2–3 years and create burrows for protection from the cold in the winter and the hot, dry conditions of the summer. They are <a class="mw-redirect" title="Nocturnal" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocturnal">nocturnal</a> and feed on insects and small invertebrates.

During February and March, the male emits a high clear trill by distending a vocal sac on its throat, in hopes of attracting a mate. A female will choose a male based on certain characteristics of his call. Small isolated pools and ponds are the toad's main breeding ground. A female toad will lay several thousand eggs in long single-egg strands that are fertilized externally by the male as they are laid. The eggs hatch within seven days and tadpoles take between 15–100 days to turn into little toads. The toadlets then leave the breeding pond and begin to <a title="Foraging" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foraging">forage</a> for prey such as <a title="Ant" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant">ants</a>, <a title="Beetle" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beetle">beetles</a> and <a title="Moth" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moth">moths</a>.

They move by making short hops. Since they cannot usually outrun their <a class="mw-redirect" title="Predator" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predator">predators</a> such as <a title="Snake" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake">snakes</a>, <a title="Turtle" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle">turtles</a>, large birds, <a title="Raccoon" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon">raccoons</a>, and other <a title="Frog" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog">frogs</a>, the toads have developed coloration and rough skin to <a title="Camouflage" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camouflage">camouflage</a> themselves. Their skin also secretes chemicals that are distasteful, and sometimes poisonous, to predators. In addition to protecting the Houston toad from being eaten, some of these chemicals have proven useful medicines to treat heart and nervous disorders in humans.

Bufo houstonensis

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Bufo periglenes NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports --Bufo periglenes ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of<a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS"> North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The golden toad is an extinct species of true toad that was once abundant in a small, high-altitude region of about 4 square kilometres in an area north of the city of Monteverde, Costa Rica. It was endemic to elfin cloud forest. Also called the Monte Verde toad, Alajuela toad and orange toad, it is commonly considered the "poster child" for the amphibian decline crisis. This toad was first described in 1966 by herpetologist Jay Savage. The last sighting of a single male golden toad was on 15 May 1989, and it has since been classified as extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Bufo periglenes

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Bufo superciliaris NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Bufo superciliaris ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.The Cameroon Toad (Bufo superciliaris) is a species of concern belonging in the species group "amphibians" and found in the following area(s): Equatorial Africa.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The African giant toad, Congo toad, or Cameroon toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, possibly Liberia, and possibly Sierra Leone. The toad's natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, plantations, and heavily degraded former forest. While it is a "least concern" species, it is threatened by habitat loss.

Bufo superciliaris

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Burramys parvus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada.</a> NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Burramys parvus ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The mountain pygmy possum; also simply known as the Burramys, is a small, mouse-sized nocturnal marsupial of Australia found in dense alpine rock screes and boulder fields, mainly southern Victoria and around Mount Kosciuszko in Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales at elevations from 1,300 to 2,230 metres. At almost 14 cm, its prehensile tail is longer than its 11 cm combined head and body length. Its diet consists of insects, fleshy fruits, nuts, nectar and seeds. Its body is covered in a thick coat of fine grey fur except for its stomach, which is cream coloured; its tail is hairless. On the underside of the female's body is a pouch containing four teats. This possum is the only extant species in the genus Burramys. It is also the only Australian mammal restricted to alpine habitat.

Burramys parvus

Burramys parvus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Buteo galapagoensis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-populations-dropped/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Buteo galapagoensis ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The Galapagos hawk is similar in size to the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Red tailed hawk" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tailed_hawk">red tailed hawk</a> (Buteo jamaicensis) and the <a title="Swainson's hawk" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swainson%27s_hawk">Swainson's hawk</a> (Buteo swainsoni) of <a title="North America" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America">North America</a>, but the size is variable across the islands as is recorded for many animals native to the Galapagos. They appear to be somewhat more heavily built than those well-known mainland species, and going on average weights, this species is the second heaviest Buteo in the <a title="Americas" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americas">Americas</a>, behind only the <a title="Ferruginous hawk" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferruginous_hawk">ferruginous hawk</a>. The Galapagos hawk can range from 45 to 58 cm (18 to 23 in) in length from beak to tail with a wingspan of 116 to 140 cm (46 to 55 in). The smallest hawk sizes recorded are on <a title="Marchena Island" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marchena_Island">Marchena Island</a>, where males average 844 g (29.8 oz) and females average 1,223 g (43.1 oz). Intermediate in size are the hawks of <a title="Santiago Island (Galápagos)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Island_(Gal%C3%A1pagos)">Santiago Island</a>, on which males weigh an average of 963 g (34.0 oz) while females average 1,295 g (45.7 oz). Largest known are the hawks on <a title="Española Island" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espa%C3%B1ola_Island">Española Island</a>, which are amongst the largest Buteo known anywhere, with males averaging 1,137 g (40.1 oz) and females averaging 1,578 g (55.7 oz).  The adult hawk has various coloring within the species. The adult Galapagos hawk is generally a sooty brownish-black color;

Buteo galapagoensis

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Buteo platypterus brunnescens NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and<a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/"> Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Buteo platypterus brunnescens ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of<a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS"> North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The broad-winged hawk is a medium-sized hawk of the genus Buteo. During the summer, some subspecies are distributed over eastern North America, as far west as British Columbia and Texas; they then migrate south to winter in the Neotropics from Mexico south to southern Brazil. Other subspecies are all-year residents on Caribbean islands. As in most raptors, females are slightly larger than males. Broad-winged hawks' wings are relatively short and broad with a tapered, somewhat pointed appearance. The two types of coloration are a dark morph with fewer white areas and a light morph that is more pale overall. Although the broad-winged hawk's numbers are relatively stable, populations are declining in some parts of its breeding range because of forest fragmentation.

Buteo platypterus brunnescens

Buteo platypterus brunnescens NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer...

Buteo solitarius NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/lake-st-clair-of-the-u-s-and-canada/">Canada.</a> NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Buteo solitarius ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The Hawaiian hawk or ʻio is a raptor in the genus Buteo endemic to Hawaiʻi, currently restricted to the Big Island. The ʻio is one of two birds of prey that is native to Hawaiʻi, the other being the Pueo(Hawaiian short-eared owl) and fossil evidence indicates that it inhabited the island of Hawaiʻi, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi at one time. Today, it is known to breed only on the Big Island, in stands of native ʻōhiʻa lehua trees. The species was protected as an endangered species in the United States, but was delisted in 2020. However, the IUCN classifies the species as Near Threatened.

Buteo solitarius

Buteo solitarius NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Cacajao spp. NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/lake-st-clair-of-the-u-s-and-canada/">Canada.</a> NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Cacajao spp. ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

The uakaris are unusual among New World monkeys in that the tail length (15–18 cm) is substantially less than their head and body length (40–45 cm). Their bodies are covered with long, loose hair but their heads are bald. They have almost no subcutaneous fat, so their bald faces appear almost skull-like. Like their closest relatives the <a title="Saki monkey" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saki_monkey">saki monkeys</a>, they have projecting lower <a title="Incisor" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incisor">incisors</a>. These monkeys have the most striking red facial skin of any primate. Females choose their mates based on how red the male's face is. Evidence suggests that the red facial coloration reflects the health of the primate.

The four species of uakari currently recognized are all found in the north-western <a title="Amazon basin" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_basin">Amazon basin</a>. The <a title="Bald uakari" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_uakari">bald uakari</a>, remarkable for its brilliant scarlet complexion, is found north of the Amazon River, and south of the <a title="Japurá River" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japur%C3%A1_River">Japurá River</a> in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve. The black-headed uakari is found north of the <a title="Amazon River" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_River">Amazon</a> and south of the <a title="Rio Negro (Amazon)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Negro_(Amazon)">Rio Negro</a>. The Neblina uakari is found north of the <a title="Rio Negro (Amazon)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Negro_(Amazon)">Rio Negro</a>, west of the Rio Marauiá and east of the Casiquiare canal. The <a title="Aracá uakari" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arac%C3%A1_uakari">Aracá uakari</a> is currently known only from the Rio Curuduri basin.

Cacajao spp.

Cacajao spp. NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Cacatua alba NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/lake-st-clair-of-the-u-s-and-canada/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Cacatua alba ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The white cockatoo, also known as the umbrella cockatoo, is a medium-sized all-white cockatoo endemic to tropical rainforest on islands of Indonesia. When surprised, it extends a large and striking head crest, which has a semicircular shape. The wings and tail have a pale yellow or lemon color which is exposed when they fly. It is similar to other species of white cockatoo such as yellow-crested cockatoo, sulphur-crested cockatoo, and salmon-crested cockatoo, all of which have yellow, orange or pink crest feathers instead of white.

Cacatua alba

Cacatua alba NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

Cacatua haematuropygia

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source...

Cacatua moluccensis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada.</a> NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Cacatua moluccensis ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.The Salmon-crested cockatoo, also known as the Moluccan cockatoo, is a cockatoo endemic to the Seram archipelago in eastern Indonesia. At a height of up to 46–52 centimetres and weight of up to 850 grams, it is among the largest of the white cockatoos. The female is larger than the male on average. It has white-pink feathers with a definite peachy glow, a slight yellow on the underwing and underside of the tail feathers and a large retractable recumbent crest which it raises when threatened, revealing hitherto concealed bright red-orange plumes to frighten potential attackers. It may also be raised in excitement or in other 'emotional' displays. Some describe the crest as "flamingo-colored". It also has one of the louder calls in the parrot world and in captivity is a capable mimic.

Cacatua moluccensis

Cacatua moluccensis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Cacatua sulphurea

Caiman crocodilus apaporiensis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network. The believed-extinct Rio Apaporis caiman ( Caiman crocodilus apaporiensis) has been captured by Forrest Galante, wildlife biologist and host of Animal Planet’s EXTINCT OR ALIVE,

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ea95add9042842ff81e58101c387ff83&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i57j69i60l3j0.460j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The spectacled caiman, also known as the white caiman, common caiman, and speckled caiman, is a crocodilian in the family Alligatoridae. It is brownish-, greenish-, or yellowish-gray colored and has a spectacle-like ridge between its eyes, which is where its common name come from. It grows to a length of 1.4–2.5 metres and a weight of 7–40 kilograms, with males being both longer and heavier than females. Its diet varies seasonally, commonly consisting of crabs, fish, mammals, and snails. Breeding occurs from May to August and 14–40 eggs are laid in July and August. This crocodilian has a large range and population; it is native to much of Latin America, and has been introduced to the United States, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.

Caiman crocodilus apaporiensis

Caiman crocodilus apaporiensis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer...

Selection,Of,Animal,And,Plant,Protein,Sources,-,Fish,,Meat,

Nearly 90% of adults in the United States believe they must eat meat, dairy, or eggs to get enough protein. This finding comes from a poll of 2,203 people who were surveyed in January 2025, and it highlights the lingering confusion around animal protein and plant-based eating.



Women and Gen Z participants were most likely to push back against the idea that animal products are required for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hemp-seeds-could-be-a-game-changer-as-an-alternative-protein-source/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adequate nutrition</a>. 



<a href="https://www.pcrm.org/about-us/staff/roxanne-becker" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Roxanne Becker</a>, MBChB, DipIBLM, who is with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, <a href="https://www.pcrm.org/news/news-releases/nearly-90-us-adults-believe-inaccurately-its-important-eat-animal-products-get" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">notes</a> that some consumers still struggle to see how plant foods can match traditional protein sources.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-plant-protein-replace-animal-protein">Can plant protein replace animal protein?</h2>



Consumers may worry about protein quality when moving away from animal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-more-plant-protein-lowers-the-risk-of-heart-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foods</a>. One key concern is about whether plant proteins are too low in essential amino acids.



Plant-based proteins are often linked with health perks such as high fiber and reduced levels of unhealthy fats. 



They also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals that animal products may lack, but the question about adequate essential amino acids remains.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-protein-vs-animal-protein">Plant protein vs. animal protein</h2>



“Plant protein has been shown in randomized controlled trials to be as effective as animal protein for building muscle when the amounts of protein are equal. And it is full of nutrients and fiber, unlike animal-based protein sources,” clarified Dr. Becker.



There is strong support from <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10537483/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">controlled trials</a> for the benefits of plant-based eating.&nbsp;



In one <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33599941/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a>, men who followed a plant-based dietary plan or an omnivorous plan experienced similar gains in muscle mass when the diet was paired with resistance training. 



Similar protein amounts produced comparable results, regardless of the protein source. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-protein-supports-better-aging">Plant protein supports better aging</h2>



Midlife nutrition habits can set the stage for quality of life decades later. An <a href="https://ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165(23)66282-3/fulltext#tbl2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">investigation</a> led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (<a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HSPH</a>) suggests that higher intake of plant protein in midlife may support healthy aging in women.



Participants in that study showed better physical and cognitive outcomes over the years when they relied on beans, nuts, and other plant-based staples. 



The findings indicate that animal protein may have a few benefits for mobility, but plant protein aligns with improved overall well-being.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-protein-needs">Practical protein needs</h2>



The minimum daily requirement for an adult is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram (0.01 ounces per pound) of body weight. 



That’s about 56 grams for a 70-kilogram (2 ounces for a 155-pound) man and 46 grams for a 58-kilogram (1.6 ounces for a 128-pound) woman.



Those who exercise heavily may need up to 2 grams per kilogram (0.07 ounces per pound), especially if they’re doing strength training. 



Keeping track of these figures can guide individuals toward balanced dietary choices that nourish muscle growth and support overall health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maintaining-muscle-with-age">Maintaining muscle with age</h2>



“As we age, it’s important to consume enough protein to maintain our muscle mass so we can avoid frailty. Plant protein sources, which contain no artery-clogging cholesterol and are low in saturated fat, should be the go-to,” said Dr. Becker. 



Older adults might lose muscle mass over time, so feeding the body with enough protein is wise.&nbsp;



Many plant-based options are naturally free of animal fats, which can help with <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.117.006659" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart health</a> in the long run. These foods are also linked to lower cholesterol levels.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ways-to-replace-animal-protein">Ways to replace animal protein</h2>



Busy schedules might make it tricky for some people to figure out a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/futuristic-food-supply-transforming-co2-into-protein/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant-friendly</a> menu that supplies adequate protein. 



Tofu, beans, lentils, peas, nuts and tempeh are familiar to many who want to load up on muscle-building nutrients without relying on animal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-are-suffering-from-declining-plant-quality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">products</a>.



“Unlike animal-based protein, these foods contain zero cholesterol and tend to be low in saturated fat, making them a smart choice for long-term health. Getting enough protein is as easy as enjoying meals you already know and love,” said Xavier Toledo, a registered dietitian with the Physicians Committee.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wider-acceptance">Wider acceptance</h2>



The survey revealed that more than half of respondents felt it was possible to gain muscle on a plant-based eating plan. 



This marks a change from older attitudes that portrayed animal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-changes-in-diet-can-greatly-reduce-your-carbon-footprint/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protein</a> as the gold standard.



Despite strong acceptance among younger adults, the broader public still lags behind on the facts. That gap could close as research keeps highlighting the flexibility and benefits of plant-based <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-meat-less-protein-lacks-certain-nutrients/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diets</a>.



The study is published in the <a href="https://ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165(23)66282-3/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Journal of Clinical Nutrition</a>.



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Do humans need to eat animal protein to build muscle? Science has the answer

Nearly 90% of adults in the United States believe they...

Autumn,Blooming,Purple,Chrysanthemum,Flowers,Covered,With,Snow.,Frozen,Flowers

The world is changing, and so is the climate. Sudden temperature drops, unexpected frosts, and shifting weather patterns challenge ecosystems in many ways. 



For plants, these changes are especially harsh. Unlike animals, they cannot migrate, seek shelter, or generate body heat in cold weather. Instead, they rely on internal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-warming-alters-plant-germination-and-disrupts-ecosystem-balance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adaptations to survive</a>.



Varvara Dikaya at <a href="https://www.umu.se/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Umeå University</a> explored this challenge in her doctoral research. She studied a protein which plays a key role in plant adaptation to low temperatures.



The findings reveal that this protein participates in multiple signaling pathways, enabling plants to survive harsh conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cold-response-strategies-of-plants">Cold response strategies of plants </h2>



Unlike animals, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shaded-plants-capture-light-beyond-the-visible-spectrum/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a> cannot seek warmth or migrate. Their survival depends on internal mechanisms that adjust to temperature shifts. 



Past research focused on molecules like amino acids and sugars, which help prevent freezing. Scientists also studied core temperature-response mechanisms, but many crucial components remained unknown.



Dikaya’s <a href="http://umu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:1933796" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> uncovers a missing piece of this puzzle - RNA splicing. This process determines which proteins are produced in plant cells, directly impacting cold response strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-rna-splicing-the-basics">Understanding RNA splicing - the basics</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-cells-communicate-with-each-other-through-rna/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RNA</a> splicing is like an editing process for your genes, making sure your cells get the right instructions to build proteins. 



When a gene gets copied into RNA, it includes extra sections called introns that don’t actually code for anything useful. 



Before the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rna-world-unraveling-mysteries-life-origin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RNA can do its job</a>, the cell cuts out these introns and stitches together the remaining pieces, called exons. 



This process turns a raw RNA transcript into a polished, ready-to-go messenger RNA (mRNA) that cells can use to make proteins.



Sometimes, cells splice RNA in different ways, mixing and matching exons to produce multiple proteins from the same gene. 



This alternative splicing is why our relatively small number of genes can make such a huge range of proteins. When splicing goes wrong, though, it can lead to diseases like cancer and genetic disorders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-splicing">The role of splicing </h2>



"Splicing acts as a central hub controlling the information flow from DNA to RNA, defining which proteins are synthesized from a certain gene," explained Dikaya, who is a doctoral student in the Department of Plant Physiology at Umeå University and <a href="https://www.upsc.se" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Umeå Plant Science Center</a>.



Her research focused on PORCUPINE, a protein discovered when scientists observed that plants with a mutation in this gene became unusually cold-sensitive. The mutation's spiky shoot tips inspired the name.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-temperature-drops">Impact of temperature drops</h2>



"The PORCUPINE mutant appears normal under ambient temperature conditions but cannot develop properly in the case of even a mild temperature drop," the team noted.



"Already at 16 degrees, the mutant grows shorter roots with increased root hair density and much smaller rosettes than normal. This is very special,."



Dikaya’s work reveals that cold temperatures trigger an increase in PORCUPINE RNA in cells. This suggests that the plant produces more of this protein to cope with the stress. 



However, PORCUPINE is not just a passive responder. It actively participates in the spliceosome, a complex that processes RNA before it transforms into proteins.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-player-in-rna-processing">Key player in RNA processing</h2>



PORCUPINE is not just a responder to cold; it is an active participant in RNA processing. 



This protein is part of the spliceosome, a complex molecular machine that modifies RNA before it is translated into proteins. Without proper RNA splicing, plants cannot produce the proteins they need to survive.



By studying PORCUPINE’s role in the spliceosome, Dikaya and her team discovered that it influences multiple genetic pathways. 



Some of these pathways control how plants sense and react to cold temperature shifts. Others regulate growth patterns that determine whether a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predicting-how-climate-change-will-alter-plant-growth-cycles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant</a> can withstand stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-network-of-cold-responses">A network of cold responses</h2>



Dikaya and her colleagues identified several genes controlled by PORCUPINE, all of which influence how plants respond to temperature changes. Her research highlights how intricate these responses are, involving multiple overlapping pathways.



"Our findings show the complexity of the cold response in plants. It is important to understand all aspects and identify fundamental mechanisms that could be applied later on in a practical manner," Dikaya noted.



"Such knowledge will be essential to create more resilient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bioelectric-future-harnessing-the-natural-energy-of-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a> capable of withstanding environmental challenges in the future, even though it is still a long way to go."



Her work provides a deeper understanding of how plants adjust to fluctuating temperatures. This knowledge could pave the way for crops that can better withstand future climate uncertainties.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-cold-resistant-plants">Future of cold-resistant plants</h2>



The challenges of climate change are not going away, and neither is the need for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/phantom-nutrient-the-secret-force-that-fuels-plant-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resilient crops</a>. 



If researchers can harness the knowledge gained from studies like Dikaya’s, they may be able to develop plant varieties that thrive despite temperature fluctuations.



Although there is still much to learn, this research brings us one step closer to understanding the intricate mechanisms that allow plants to survive. In the years ahead, discoveries like this could reshape agriculture and help ensure food security in a changing world.



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Plants have an amazing ability to 'rewire' themselves to survive winter

The world is changing, and so is the climate. Sudden...

With their beak-like flowers and vibrant colors, Heliconia plants are a striking presence in tropical landscapes. But beyond their visual appeal, these captivating plants serve a vital ecological role and are emblematic of the tropical biosphere.



Heliconia plants have now entered the danger zone, with new research indicating that nearly half of these species are on the brink of extinction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decades-of-fieldwork-data">Decades of fieldwork data </h2>



The research was focused on data from the world's herbaria - time capsules of botanical history.



"The data that is stored in the herbarium is a scientific treasure that makes a project like this feasible," explained Gary Krupnick, a botanist who heads the Plant Conservation Unit at the <a href="https://www.si.edu/museums/natural-history-museum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History</a>. 



The researchers analyzed decades' worth of fieldwork data, preserved in the form of thousands of dried specimens and meticulous labels, to assess the conservation status of Heliconia <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/all-plants-on-earth-could-be-saved-from-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-role-of-heliconia-plants">Ecological role of Heliconia plants </h2>



Encompassing 187 species related to bananas, the majority of Heliconia plants are rainforest dwellers in tropical Central and South America. Their roles go way beyond their spectacular visual appeal.



They act as precious nectar stations for bats and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sipping-on-nectar-hummingbirds-consume-a-surprising-amount-of-alcohol/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hummingbirds</a>, who in turn act as pollinators for many Heliconia species, playing a major part in the propagation of these plants. 



Yet, their very splendor has put them at risk of overexploitation and poaching. Habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change further compound the threats they face.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-heliconia-s-survival">Mapping Heliconia’s survival</h2>



Despite the adverse conditions that limited in-person access to the herbarium during the pandemic, the researchers made the most of the fully digitized Heliconia specimens available online.



This precious information, coupled with a tool called GeoCAT (Geospatial Conservation Assessment Tool), allowed the research team to calculate crucial factors like the size of the Heliconia's range and the number of plants in various areas. 



The experts also explored how human activities have impacted forest cover in these areas, which Heliconia populations inhabit protected regions, and which species can potentially be reintroduced into the wild from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-earths-most-endangered-plants-from-extinction-proving-difficult-botanic-gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">botanical gardens</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-threatened-heliconia-species">Threatened Heliconia species </h2>



The findings were anything but encouraging. Of the 187 Heliconia species, 47 percent are threatened with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/increasing-plant-extinction-threatens-the-future-of-medicine-and-human-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinction</a>.



Most of these endangered species are found in few wild protected areas, and a relatively small number of these exist outside their native ranges. 



Furthermore, many of these species are adapted to fragile environments like high-altitude cloud forests, which are particularly susceptible to change.



The team identified 45 Heliconia species that are top priorities for additional protection.



“This study provides a blueprint for how to save this group of plants, starting with this list of priority species,” Krupnick said. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-raising-public-awareness">Raising public awareness</h2>



The researchers are committed to raising public awareness about the challenges facing the Heliconia genus. Their goal is to encourage responsible tourism to help curb unsustainable demand for these plants.



Their efforts will not merely save these vivid symbols of the tropics, but will also spur the conservation of other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-diversity-is-declining-at-a-steady-rate-across-germany/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">endangered plant</a> species.



Despite the grim data, the researchers noted that there is a glimmer of hope. "Now that we know the conservation status of every one of the 187 species of Heliconia, we can construct a coherent plan of how to protect them,” said John Kress, an emeritus curator at the museum and one of the authors of the new study.



This study highlights the urgent need for enlightened conservation strategies to preserve our remarkable yet vulnerable biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-botanical-gardens-a-lifeline-for-heliconia">Botanical gardens: A lifeline for Heliconia</h2>



As wild Heliconia populations decline, botanical gardens are stepping in as vital sanctuaries. These living collections safeguard rare species, providing a backup for reintroduction efforts when conditions allow.



By cultivating Heliconia in controlled environments, scientists can develop sustainable propagation methods and help preserve the genetic diversity of the plants.



Beyond conservation, botanical gardens raise public awareness through education and partnerships with local organizations. 



However, not all Heliconia species thrive outside of their native habitats, which poses challenges for their long-term preservation. Advanced seed banking and propagation techniques must be explored to secure the future of these rainforest icons.



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Half of the world's Heliconia species are at risk of extinction

With their beak-like flowers and vibrant colors, Heliconia plants are...

Close-up,In,A,Frying,Pan,With,Olive,Oil,,Ghee,(clarified

Swapping butter for plant-based oils may be a simple way to support better long-term health. 



A new study suggests that people who consume more plant-based oils - such as soybean, canola, and olive oil - tend to live longer than those who regularly eat butter.



The research, which tracked dietary habits for over 30 years, found a lower risk of death from cancer and heart disease among those who opted for plant oils. 



Meanwhile, higher butter intake was linked to an increased risk of early death.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-diet-affects-longevity">How diet affects longevity</h2>



Scientists from <a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health</a>, Mass General Brigham, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard analyzed dietary data from more than 220,000 participants. 



These individuals were part of long-running studies that collected information on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-eating-habits-can-lead-to-lifelong-diseases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eating habits</a> every four years. 



By reviewing this data, researchers could estimate butter and oil consumption over time.



Butter intake included all sources - spreads, cooking, baking, and margarine blends - while plant-based oil intake was calculated based on how often participants used oils in frying, sautéing, baking, and salad dressings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-butter-vs-plant-based-oils">Butter vs plant-based oils</h2>



The study's lead author, Yu Zhang, M.B.B.S., is a research assistant at the Channing Division of Network Medicine at <a href="https://www.brighamandwomens.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brigham and Women's Hospital</a>.



"What's surprising is the magnitude of the association that we found - we saw a 17% lower risk of death when we modeled swapping butter with plant-based oils in daily diet. That is a pretty huge effect on health," Zhang explained.



The key difference comes down to fat composition. 



Butter is high in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-fat-diets-linked-to-unexpected-health-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">saturated fat</a>, while plant-based oils contain more unsaturated fats. Previous research has looked at dietary fats in general, but fewer studies have focused on their primary sources.



The findings suggest a clear contrast in health risks. Participants who ate the most butter had a 15% higher risk of death compared to those who ate the least. 



Meanwhile, those who consumed the most plant-based oils had a 16% lower risk of dying.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-choosing-plant-based-oils-over-butter">Choosing plant-based oils over butter</h2>



"People might want to consider that a simple dietary swap - replacing butter with soybean oil or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/regular-olive-oil-consumption-can-literally-save-your-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">olive oil</a> - can lead to significant long-term health benefits," said corresponding author Daniel Wang, M.D., Sc.D., of the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.



"From a public health perspective, this is a substantial number of deaths from cancer or from other chronic diseases that could be prevented."



To further explore this link, the researchers ran a substitution analysis. Their model showed that replacing just 10 grams of butter per day - less than a tablespoon - with an equivalent amount of plant-based oil could reduce cancer deaths and overall mortality by 17%.



"Even cutting back butter a little and incorporating more plant-based oils into your daily diet can have meaningful long-term health benefits," Wang added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-and-economic-benefits">Environmental and economic benefits</h2>



Beyond personal health, switching from butter to plant-based oils has broader implications. 



Butter production requires more land, water, and energy compared to plant oil production. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-began-dairy-farming-much-earlier-than-previously-believed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dairy farming</a>, which supports butter production, contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. 



In contrast, plant oils have a lower environmental impact, making them a more sustainable choice.



Economically, plant-based oils are often more affordable and widely available than butter. 



With rising food prices, making the switch could be a cost-effective way for individuals and families to improve their diets without significantly increasing their grocery bills.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-research">What’s next for research?</h2>



Although the study presents strong evidence, the investigators do recognize some limitations. 



A majority of participants were healthcare professionals, so the results may not be representative of the overall U.S. population.



Also, self-reported food intake information may have some error, although the long duration and large number of participants in the study reduce the concerns of the scientists in this regard.



Future studies will investigate the biological processes that mediate these health consequences.



For the moment, the message is straightforward: replacing butter with plant-based oils is a simple, practical move toward <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/prescription-for-fruits-and-vegetables-linked-to-better-heart-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">improved health</a> in the long run.



Small, sustainable changes to eating habits can have long-term payoffs - not only for individuals but for public health and the planet too.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2831265" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JAMA Internal Medicine</a>.



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Health challenge: Cooking with butter vs. plant-based oils

Swapping butter for plant-based oils may be a simple way...

Cannabis has been studied for decades for its pain-relieving potential, but its psychoactive properties have limited its medical use.



Millions of individuals suffer from chronic pain, and for many years, the main treatment has been opioids.



Effective as they are, opioids come with serious risks - they are extremely addictive and can be deadly if abused. The demand for safer pain medication has never been more urgent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannabis-inspired-breakthrough">Cannabis-inspired breakthrough </h2>



In the search for alternatives that can bring pain relief without the risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-discovery-offers-hope-for-tackling-opioid-addiction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">addiction</a>, researchers have discovered a potential solution.



Experts at <a href="https://medicine.washu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis</a> and Stanford University have created a new compound that replicates a natural molecule that occurs in cannabis.



This achievement leverages the pain-relieving properties of cannabis without inducing mind-altering side effects. The compound has been tested in mice with some positive results.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safer-approach-to-pain-relief">Safer approach to pain relief</h2>



The study highlights the potential of this new compound as a non-addictive pain reliever.



Unlike <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/opioid-related-deaths-are-on-the-rise-among-young-people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">opioids</a>, which act on the brain’s reward system and lead to addiction, this compound was designed to target pain-reducing receptors in the body while preventing entry into the brain.



Dr. Susruta Majumdar is a professor of anesthesiology at WashU Medicine and the study's senior author. 



“There is an urgent need to develop non-addictive treatments for chronic pain, and that’s been a major focus of my lab for the past 15 years,” said Dr. Majumdar.



“The custom-designed compound we created attaches to pain-reducing receptors in the body but by design, it can’t reach the brain. This means the compound avoids psychoactive side effects such as mood changes and isn’t addictive because it doesn’t act on the brain’s reward center.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-opioid-crisis">The opioid crisis</h2>



Despite warnings about the dangers of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psilocybin-may-protect-against-opioid-use-disorders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">opioid use</a>, overdose deaths remain alarmingly high. In 2022 alone, opioids were linked to approximately 82,000 deaths in the United States. The crisis continues, pushing researchers to find safer alternatives.



Study co-author Dr. Robert W. Gereau is a professor of&nbsp;anesthesiology&nbsp;and director of the&nbsp;WashU Medicine Pain Center. He noted that people have turned to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-number-of-americans-are-high-on-marijuana-at-work/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marijuana</a> as a pain treatment for thousands of years. 



“Clinical trials also have evaluated whether cannabis provides long-term pain relief. But inevitably the psychoactive side effects of cannabis have been problematic, preventing cannabis from being considered as a viable treatment option for pain. However, we were able to overcome that issue," said Dr. Gereau.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pain-relief-without-side-effects">Pain relief without side effects</h2>



Cannabinoid molecules in cannabis interact with CB1 receptors on brain cells and pain-sensing nerve cells. These interactions contribute to marijuana’s pain-relieving effects but also cause mind-altering side effects.



Working with Stanford University researchers, the experts modified a cannabinoid molecule by adding a positive charge. This prevents the compound from crossing the blood-brain barrier while still allowing it to bind to CB1 receptors in the body.



By limiting its action to pain-sensing nerve cells outside the brain, they achieved pain relief without the unwanted side effects.



The researchers tested the compound in mouse models of nerve-injury pain and migraine headaches. They measured touch sensitivity as an indicator of pain and found that the modified compound eliminated hypersensitivity in the mice.



The results suggest that the compound could be a powerful pain reliever without the risks associated with opioids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tolerance-and-long-term-effectiveness">Tolerance and long-term effectiveness</h2>



One major issue with opioid treatments is that patients develop tolerance over time, requiring higher doses for the same effect. This new compound, however, provided prolonged pain relief without signs of tolerance, even with twice-daily treatments over nine days.



The researchers discovered why tolerance was avoided. By using advanced computational modeling, they identified a previously hidden pocket on the CB1 receptor.



This pocket, confirmed through structural models, allows the compound to bind in a way that reduces cellular activity linked to tolerance. 



Unlike conventional cannabinoid binding sites, which become less effective over time, the hidden pocket opens briefly, allowing the compound to work without losing its effect.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-pain-relief">The future of pain relief</h2>



Designing molecules that relieve pain without unwanted side effects is a complex challenge. Researchers now aim to develop this compound into an oral medication for further testing and, eventually, clinical trials.



If successful, this could mark a significant shift in how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/patients-with-chronic-pain-are-turning-to-cannabis-for-relief/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chronic pain</a> is treated - offering a safer, non-addictive alternative to opioids.



Millions of people struggle with chronic pain daily. With ongoing research, a new solution could be on the horizon - one that provides relief without the devastating consequences of addiction.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08618-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Tapping into the pain relief potential of cannabis without the high

Cannabis has been studied for decades for its pain-relieving potential,...

Pollination happens everywhere, but most people don’t notice it. Small creatures like bees, butterflies, birds, and bats carry pollen between plants, helping them grow. Without pollinators, flowers wouldn’t turn into fruit, and seeds wouldn’t spread. They do more than help plants reproduce - they keep nature healthy, support animals, and help produce food.



But here’s the problem - many of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-pollinators-boost-the-nutritional-value-of-crops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollinators</a> are vanishing. Climate change, habitat destruction, and industrial farming are wiping out species at an alarming rate.



Their disappearance isn’t just an issue for farmers. It affects forests, grasslands, and even city parks, where pollinators keep plant life going. When they decline, entire ecosystems suffer, and the food supply becomes more fragile.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollinator-s-role-in-plant-reproduction">Pollinator's role in plant reproduction</h2>



Plants depend on pollination to grow and multiply. Around 85% of wild plant species and more than 70% of cultivated crops rely on pollinators for reproduction. Without pollinators, many plants would fail to produce fruits or seeds.



“In most of the studies conducted on this issue across the world, plants were found not to bear fruit if no pollinator was present,“ noted Maddi Artamendi, a researcher at the University of the Basque Country (<a href="https://www.ehu.eus/en/en-home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UPV/EHU</a>).



“Studies of this type have been mostly conducted on crop species, but that does not give a true picture, since the diversity of pollinators is going to decrease, is already decreasing, but is not going to disappear completely."



“What is more, wild plants were also taken into consideration as well as crop plants. We wanted to approach the subject from a more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/robotic-insects-may-be-the-future-of-farming-and-plant-pollination/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">realistic perspective</a>.”



Her research challenges the idea that only crops suffer from pollinator loss. Wild plants are equally affected, and their decline could disrupt entire ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-pollinator-decline">Impact of pollinator decline</h2>



A study by Artamendi and Ainhoa Magrach, an Ikerbasque Research Professor at Butler County Community College (<a href="https://www.bc3.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BC3</a>) highlights the need to protect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-pollinators-wild-bees-boosts-food-supply-income/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollinator diversity</a>. 



The researchers stress the urgency of addressing factors that reduce pollinator numbers. The study found that a decrease in pollinators negatively affects plant reproduction, reducing fruit quantity, seed numbers, and fruit weight. Wild plants suffer more from pollinator loss than cultivated plants.



Self-pollinating plants also benefit from diverse pollinators. “Showing that it is very beneficial for these plants to exchange pollen,” explained Artamendi.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wild-pollinators-and-plant-reproduction">Wild pollinators and plant reproduction</h2>



The study reveals that wild pollinators contribute more to plant reproduction than domestic pollinators, such as honey bees. A decline in wild pollinators significantly harms plant reproductive success.



The loss of invertebrate pollinators is more severe than that of vertebrates. Nocturnal pollinators are disappearing faster than diurnal pollinators. The decline of wild pollinators is greater than that of domestic pollinators. 



These findings highlight the urgent need to protect a wide range of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollen-wars-plants-compete-for-space-on-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollinator species</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decline-of-pollinators">Decline of pollinators </h2>



To understand pollinator decline, Artamendi and Magrach conducted a meta-analysis of 207 studies from 46 countries. This type of analysis combines data from multiple studies, allowing researchers to find broad patterns.



“We analyzed research done across the world. We had to bear in mind that there are different varieties of plants depending on the climate, that the influence on one plant or another may have been different, and how large the sample was, etc.,“ explained Artamendi.



“We took into account many variables so that all the pieces of research could be compared, and that is how we achieved a real, quantifiable result.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-a-broader-perspective">Need for a broader perspective</h2>



The researchers concluded that all pollinators, both wild and domestic, play a vital role in plant reproduction.



“We cannot focus on domestic pollinators alone. There are more pollinators, and we saw that they are all of great importance in the reproductive success of plants and in maintaining plant diversity," the team noted.



"We should not focus just on crop plants and domestic pollinators, the view has to be opened out.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-pollinator-protection-matters">Why pollinator protection matters</h2>



The decline of pollinators is not just an environmental issue - it’s a crisis that could reshape entire ecosystems. This study reinforces the importance of protecting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-face-extinction-risk-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollinators</a> to keep nature thriving and ensure stable food production.



By taking action now - whether through conservation efforts, policy changes, or individual choices like planting pollinator-friendly gardens - humanity can help slow this decline. Protecting pollinators means protecting life itself.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-024-02595-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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Pollinators are disappearing, and it’s bad news for plants

Pollination happens everywhere, but most people don’t notice it. Small...

Tropical rainforests help the planet breathe. They store carbon, control temperatures, and shelter wildlife. These tropical forests have survived climate changes for millions of years, but now they face an unprecedented challenge.



Climate change is reshaping ecosystems at an unprecedented pace. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events are placing immense stress on forests across the Americas. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tropical-forests-in-a-shifting-climate">Tropical forests in a shifting climate </h2>



A new study reveals that these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-lived-in-rainforests-80000-years-earlier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forests</a> are not adapting quickly enough to keep up with environmental changes. This slow response raises concerns about their long-term survival and the cascading effects their decline could have on the global climate system.



Dr. Jesús Aguirre-Gutiérrez from the University of Oxford’s <a href="https://www.eci.ox.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Change Institute</a> led the research with over 100 scientists and local collaborators. 



The team analyzed data from 415 permanent forest plots, covering regions from Mexico to southern Brazil. 



By studying the characteristics of more than 250,000 trees, they examined how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/amazon-rainforest-may-be-much-more-stable-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">different species</a> are responding to shifting temperatures and rainfall patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trees-are-adapting-too-slowly">Trees are adapting too slowly</h2>



The experts found that while climate change alters temperature and rainfall, tree communities are not keeping up with the pace.



This slow response threatens the balance of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-thirds-of-temperate-rainforests-could-be-lost-this-century/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a>. Some species thrive, while others struggle. Traits like wood density, leaf thickness, and drought resistance play a crucial role in determining which trees survive.



“Tropical forests are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, yet their ability to adapt to climate change is limited. Understanding which traits help trees survive can guide conservation efforts and policy decisions,“ said Dr. Aguirre-Gutiérrez.



“Given the changes in climate we have observed over the last 40 to 50 years, you might think there have also been lots of changes in the tree communities in tropical rainforests. But some of these changes are too small and too slow to actually adapt to the observed changes in climate."



By looking at individual trees from different communities, the team found that some have suffered due to climate shifts, while others have thrived, noted Dr. Aguirre-Gutiérrez.



"We can study the characteristics, also known as ‘tree traits,’ of those that have survived, as well as new individuals joining the communities and those that have died, to understand what makes them react differently to a changing climate.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risky-future-for-rainforests">Risky future for rainforests</h2>



Mountainous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-amazon-rainforest-is-approaching-widespread-collapse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forests</a> appear to adapt faster than lowland forests. This difference likely results from the greater climate variability at higher altitudes. 



Meanwhile, younger trees exhibit noticeable shifts in traits, yet overall forest composition remains largely unchanged.



By 2100, the region’s temperatures could rise by up to 4°C, with rainfall decreasing by as much as 20%. These changes may push tropical forests further out of balance, making them more vulnerable to extreme climate events. Without intervention, the risk of ecosystem collapse increases.



“If we know what species of trees are doing better or worse, and what set of traits they have, then we know what they can withstand. It will help inform what conservation actions should be encouraged and where funding should be allocated,” said Dr. Aguirre-Gutiérrez.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extensive-collection-of-field-data">Extensive collection of field data</h2>



Professor José Javier Corral Rivas from the Juarez University of the State of Durango (<a href="https://www.ujed.mx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UJED</a>) highlighted the significance of long-term field studies. 



“It is thanks to the extensive collection of field data over the past decades, largely supported by Latin American institutions and international collaborations, that we are able to make discoveries like this one, particularly in highly biodiverse regions such as the tropical forests of the Americas.”



Professor Oliver Phillips from the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leeds</a> emphasized the importance of human effort in this research. 



“What is remarkable is that we discovered this not with satellites or artificial intelligence, but by the efforts of botanists, foresters and hundreds of other skilled partners,” noted Professor Phillips. "These undervalued colleagues provide a great service to the world.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-response-of-tropical-forests">Climate response of tropical forests </h2>



The researchers found that functional traits among trees are shifting but at a pace far too slow to match climate change. Deciduous species are becoming more common in some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rainforest-emissions-shape-the-climate-and-cloud-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forests</a>, and leaf thickness is decreasing.



However, the rate of change is only a fraction of what is needed for trees to maintain equilibrium with the changing environment.



Lowland forests, which are experiencing higher temperature increases and greater drought stress, are showing stronger changes than montane forests. While some species are adapting, others are dying at increasing rates. 



The experts found that tree recruitment, where young trees replace older ones, is the most responsive to climate shifts. However, these recruits still track climate change at only about 22% of the expected rate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-rainforests-for-future-generations">Protecting rainforests for future generations</h2>



“Measuring forests carefully tree-by-tree, species-by-species and year-after-year, teaches us about the health of trees and the risks they face,“ noted Professor Beatriz Marimon from the <a href="https://unemat.br" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">State University of Mato Grosso</a>, Brazil.



“In some of our Amazon plots the forest is facing a deadly combination of fire, heat and drought. Understanding which tree species can survive these threats is critical to creating a liveable future for all of us.”



This study highlights the urgent need for research and conservation efforts to help tropical forests withstand climate challenges. Without immediate action, these ecosystems may struggle to survive the coming decades.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/science.adl5414" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Tropical forests are struggling to keep pace with climate change

Tropical rainforests help the planet breathe. They store carbon, control...

The Arctic is changing fast. Ancient ice is melting, glaciers are shrinking, and seasons are shifting. Below the surface, vast kelp forests sway along rocky coasts, hidden from sight.



These marine giants are more than plants. They are the architects of entire ecosystems, offering shelter, food, and stability to countless <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-otters-help-kelp-forests-recover-but-theres-more-to-the-story/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine species</a>. But as the Arctic transforms, so its kelp forests change too.



A recent study shows that melting glaciers and permafrost are changing kelp ecosystems by increasing freshwater run-off. The research was conducted by scientists from EU projects FACE-IT, ECOTIP, and SEA-Quester.



What the experts found is both startling and deeply revealing: shifts in water chemistry, microbial communities in flux, and an unexpected entanglement with heavy metals.



The story of Arctic kelp is not just an ecological tale - it is an economic and social one, reaching far beyond the cold northern seas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-warming-arctic-a-changing-coastline">A warming Arctic, a changing coastline</h2>



The Arctic is heating up - faster than anywhere else on the planet. This isn’t a slow, creeping shift; it’s a rapid and relentless <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pacific-kelp-forests-existed-32-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transformation</a>.



With glaciers melting and permafrost thawing, vast amounts of freshwater are flooding into coastal seas. It’s a deluge that doesn’t just mix and disappear. The chemistry of the water shifts, salinity drops and light struggles to penetrate as suspended sediments cloud the once-clear depths.



For kelp, these changes aren’t trivial. They depend on stable conditions that include sunlight, salt, and predictable nutrient flows.



But with sediments thickening the water, photosynthesis becomes a challenge. Light barely reaches their fronds, stalling their growth. And the run-off doesn’t just bring fresh water; it carries something far more sinister - metals, both essential and toxic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heavy-metals-in-the-water">Heavy metals in the water</h2>



What happens when <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/kelp-forest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kelp</a> absorbs the very waters that nourish them? The answer lies in their elemental makeup. 



The research team studied kelps from various locations - some in areas with heavy runoff and others in clearer waters. Their findings were striking. Kelps from high-run-off areas contained significantly elevated levels of metals like cadmium, lead, and mercury.



Mercury in these kelps was 72% higher than in cleaner areas. That’s a serious warning. Kelp supports Arctic marine life, but when it absorbs metals, the pollution spreads through the ecosystem.



Small marine creatures graze on kelp, larger predators consume them, and over time, toxic elements creep their way up the food chain. Eventually, they land on the plates of Arctic communities that rely on seafood. 



What begins in a hidden kelp forest could have consequences that reach dinner tables far from the icy shores.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbial-world-living-on-kelp">Microbial world living on kelp</h2>



A blade of kelp is covered in bacteria, fungi, and other life forms. These microbes play many important roles. They shape kelp health, aid in nutrient cycling, and offer a first line of defense against pathogens. But just like the kelp itself, they are sensitive to change.



The researchers found that run-off is rewriting the microbial landscape. The balance of bacteria living on kelp is shifting, and with it, the very functions that keep these marine plants thriving.



Some microbes that help break down organic matter are disappearing, while metal-tolerant ones are growing. This shift could disrupt kelp, the animals that rely on it, and the entire marine ecosystem.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-of-arctic-kelp-cultivation">Potential of Arctic kelp cultivation</h2>



But there’s another side to this story. While heavy metal accumulation spells trouble for marine life, it also points to an unexpected opportunity. Kelp is a natural sponge, pulling metals from the water with remarkable efficiency. Could this ability be harnessed?



Scientists are looking into something called phytomining - using plants and algae to pull valuable metals from the environment. Arctic waters hold rare earth metals, crucial for tech like wind turbines. Could kelp be the answer? Maybe.



If managed correctly, kelp cultivation could offer a sustainable way to harvest these elements, reducing reliance on traditional mining, which scars landscapes and pollutes ecosystems.



At the same time, kelp could serve as a living sensor, a way to track pollution levels in Arctic waters. By monitoring changes in its elemental composition, researchers might be able to map contamination hotspots and predict where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-2025-a-global-call-to-protect-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental threats</a> are most severe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-arctic-kelp">The future of Arctic kelp</h2>



The future of Arctic kelp remains uncertain. With the Arctic warming, run-off levels will only increase. 



The delicate balance that has sustained these underwater forests for millennia is shifting in ways scientists are only beginning to grasp.



Will kelp adapt, or will these forests shrink, taking with them the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-otters-have-protected-california-kelp-forests-for-a-century/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> they support?



One thing is clear: kelp is at a crossroads. It is both a victim and a potential solution - threatened by climate change yet offering a key to understanding and mitigating its impacts.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-82287-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Arctic kelp is absorbing toxic metals from melting glaciers

The Arctic is changing fast. Ancient ice is melting, glaciers...

Earth has faced many climate challenges, but none compare to the catastrophe that unfolded 250 million years ago. The End-Permian Event (EPE) stands as the most severe extinction in history, wiping out more than 80% of marine species and devastating life on land. 



Scientists have extensively studied its effects on ocean ecosystems, but the impact of mass extinction on forests remains less clear.



A team of researchers from University College Cork (<a href="https://www.ucc.ie/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCC</a>), the <a href="https://uconn.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Connecticut</a>, and the <a href="https://www.nhm-wien.ac.at" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natural History Museum</a> of Vienna has uncovered how plants responded to this crisis. 



Their findings reveal that ecosystem recovery was slow, complex, and shaped by extreme climate swings. 



By studying fossilized plants and rocks from the Sydney Basin in Australia, the team reconstructed a multi-million-year journey of forest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natures-climate-solutions-mixed-forests-store-more-carbon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survival</a>, extinction, and eventual regrowth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-worst-mass-extinction-in-history">Worst mass extinction in history</h2>



The End-Permian Event, which occurred around 252.3 to 251.9 million years ago, caused the collapse of gymnosperm-supported ecosystems. 



Over 80% of ocean species vanished, making it the most severe mass extinction ever recorded. While its effects on marine life are well documented, its impact on land <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-play-an-overlooked-role-in-the-climate-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a> has remained unclear.



Researchers examined fossilized plants and rocks from eastern Australia’s Sydney Basin, a region that was once located near the South Pole (∼70°S). 



Using sedimentology, biostratigraphy, and stable carbon isotope analysis, they traced the timing and sequence of gymnosperm reestablishment across different latitudes. 



The results of the analysis highlight the staggered nature of recovery, rather than a smooth, uninterrupted process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cooler-temperatures-helped-forests-recover">Cooler temperatures helped forests recover</h2>



After the End-Permian Event, the first plants to return were peltasperm seed ferns. They managed to build stable ecosystems, holding on for about 200,000 years. 



But <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-are-still-fighting-climate-change-against-all-odds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nature</a> didn’t stand still. Over time, voltzialean conifers took over, spreading across the land and thriving for an impressive 1.5 million years.



Then, disaster struck again. Around 250.3 to 249.6 million years ago, global temperatures soared during the "Late Smithian Thermal Maximum."



The heat was too much for the conifer forests, and they collapsed. Their disappearance left space for a new kind of survivor - pleuromeian lycophytes. These plants were tough. They didn’t need much to grow, making them perfect for harsh conditions.



For 800,000 years, these small, shrubby plants dominated the land. But nothing lasts forever. 



As temperatures finally began to drop during the "Smithian-Spathian Event" around 249.6 to 249.2 million years ago, the environment shifted once again, opening the door for a new wave of plant life to reshape the world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forests-recover-but-extinction-is-forever">Forests recover, but extinction is forever</h2>



The SSE brought much-needed relief to struggling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-rich-tree-diversity-adapt-better-changing-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a>. 



As the climate cooled, a new kind of plant took over - umkomasialean seed ferns. These plants thrived and spread across the high-latitude forests of Gondwana, shaping the landscapes of the Middle and Late Triassic. They helped stabilize ecosystems that had been in chaos for millions of years.



But recovery didn’t happen the same way everywhere. In many parts of the world, pleuromeian lycophytes - a type of tough, shrubby plant - quickly spread after the End-Permian Event. However, in the polar south, this process was much slower.



It took around 1.7 million years for these plants to finally establish themselves. This delay reveals that recovery from mass extinction wasn’t simple or predictable. Some places rebounded faster than others, while some struggled for much longer.



Even though forests eventually grew dense again, they were not the same. The plants that filled these new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-are-relocating-in-a-race-against-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a> were completely different from those that had dominated before the extinction. Nature rebuilt itself, but in a way no one could have expected.



“The term ‘recovery’ can be misleading. Forests recover eventually, but extinction is forever," said Dr. Chris Mays, leader of the Mass Extinction Group at University College Cork.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-from-ancient-forest-extinction">Lessons from ancient forest extinction</h2>



Studying how ancient ecosystems recovered from extreme climate shifts gives us clues about what might happen to plants today. The way they adapted back then can help scientists predict how modern plant life will respond to environmental changes.



Plants do much more than just grow. They form the foundation of nature’s balance, providing food for animals and humans alike. 



They also help regulate the Earth's climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. When plants thrive, ecosystems stay stable. When they struggle, the entire planet feels the impact.



“This research highlights how crucial plants are, not just as the base of land food chains, but also as natural carbon sinks that stabilize Earth’s climate,” explained UCC researcher Marcos Amores, the study’s lead author.



“The disruption of these systems can have impacts lasting hundreds of thousands of years, so protecting today’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-face-rising-damage-risks-as-their-diversity-dwindles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a> is more important than ever.”



Earth’s past reveals a clear lesson: nature can recover, but it takes time. The resilience of plant life has shaped the world we know today, making conservation efforts essential for the future of our ecosystems.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/B38017.1/652555/Age-controlled-south-polar-floral-trends-show-a?redirectedFrom=fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geological Society of America Bulletin</a>.



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How forests rose again after the planet’s most extreme extinction

Earth has faced many climate challenges, but none compare to...

Imagine biting into a juicier, tastier tomato or cooking with an eggplant that’s not just flavorful but also larger. Scientists have made a discovery that could bring this to reality by identifying genes that control fruit size.



Researchers at Johns Hopkins University (<a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JHU</a>) and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (<a href="https://www.cshl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CSHL</a>) have mapped genetic sequences in tomatoes and eggplants, paving the way for the development of new, improved varieties.



Their findings, published in Nature, could transform agriculture, particularly in regions where local varieties are too small to support commercial production.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-gene-modification-the-basics">Understanding gene modification - the basics</h2>



Gene modification for plants is basically science giving nature a little upgrade. Scientists tweak plant DNA to make crops stronger, more nutritious, or resistant to pests and harsh weather. 



Instead of waiting generations for traditional breeding to get the perfect traits, genetic engineering speeds up the process. 



For example, some modified crops can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insect-populations-dramatically-declining-around-the-world-rising-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fight off insects</a> without needing pesticides, while others grow in salty soil or survive droughts. 



In this instance, modifying the genes of tomato plants will provide bigger and better tomatoes.



This tech has already changed farming, making it more efficient and reducing the need for chemical sprays that can harm the environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changing-agriculture-with-one-seed">Changing agriculture with one seed</h2>



“Once you’ve done the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/boosting-crop-colors-with-gene-editing-can-improve-weed-control/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gene editing</a>, all it takes is one seed to start a revolution,” said Michael Schatz, a geneticist at Johns Hopkins University and co-lead author of the study. 



“With the right approvals, we could mail an engineered seed to Africa or anywhere it’s needed and open up entirely new agricultural markets. There’s huge potential to translate these advances into real-world impact.”



The study is part of a larger initiative to map the full genomes of 22 crop plants within the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crops-of-the-future-potatoes-that-thrive-in-heatwaves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">potatoes</a>, and eggplants.



The researchers used computational analysis to compare genetic maps and track how genes evolved. They discovered that, over time, more than half of these genes had been duplicated.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracing-genetic-changes-over-time">Tracing genetic changes over time</h2>



“Over tens of millions of years, there’s this constant churn of DNA sequences being added and lost,” Schatz explained. 



“The same process can occur for gene sequences, where entire genes duplicate or disappear. When we started looking, we noticed these changes were very widespread, but we didn’t yet know what those changes meant for the plants.”



To answer that question, researchers at the Boyce Thomson Institute used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit these genes. Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor then grew the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-gmo-plants-make-baby-formula-healthy-as-breast-milk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">engineered plants</a> to observe the results.



The duplicated genes, known as paralogs, turned out to be essential for traits like fruit size, shape, and flowering time. 



One experiment involved turning off both copies of a gene called CLV3 in the forest nightshade, a plant native to Australia. 



The result was that misshapen, “weird, bubbly, disorganized” fruits were formed. These wouldn’t be viable for grocery stores. However, tweaking just one copy of the gene led to plants with larger fruits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-treasure-map-for-tomatoes">Genetic treasure map for tomatoes</h2>



“Having full genome sequences for these species is like having a new treasure map,” said Katharine Jenike, who helped assemble the genome sequences as a Ph.D. student in Schatz’s lab.



“We can see where and when one genetic path diverges from another and then explore that place in the genetic information where we wouldn’t have thought to look. This allowed us to find the size-genes in a really unexpected place.”



One of the most exciting discoveries came from the African eggplant, a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crop</a> grown across Africa and Brazil. Scientists identified a gene, SaetSCPL25-like, which controls the number of seed cavities, or locules, inside the fruit. 



When they edited this gene in tomatoes, they found that increasing the number of locules resulted in larger tomatoes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tomatoes-eggplants-and-genes">Tomatoes, eggplants, and genes</h2>



These findings suggest that careful gene editing could lead to larger, more commercially viable tomatoes and eggplants.



“This work shows the importance of studying many species together. We leveraged decades of work in tomato genetics to rapidly advance African eggplants, and along the way we found entirely new genes in African eggplants that reciprocally advance tomatoes," Schatz explained.



"We call this ‘pan-genetics,’ and it opens endless opportunities to bring many new fruits, foods, and flavors to dinner plates around the world.”



With continued research and the right regulatory steps, these discoveries could change how we grow and consume some of our favorite fruits and vegetables in the years ahead.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-tomato-plants-and-gene-editing">Future of tomato plants and gene editing</h2>



Beyond simply increasing fruit size, this research has broader implications for global agriculture. 



In many parts of the world, farmers struggle with low-yield crops that are not suitable for large-scale farming. 



With gene editing, scientists could tailor plants to specific environments, making them more resistant to climate change, pests, and diseases.



By using advanced genetic tools, researchers hope to create crops that not only grow larger but also require fewer resources, such water and fertilizers.



This could make <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-cover-crops-may-be-the-future-of-sustainable-farming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">farming more sustainable</a> and reduce environmental impacts.



Future studies may focus on improving taste, nutritional value, and shelf life, which would ensure that these new varieties don’t just benefit farmers but also provide better food options for consumers.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08619-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Gene modification can create bigger, better tomatoes, but should we do it?

Imagine biting into a juicier, tastier tomato or cooking with...

In the vast, arid landscapes where water is scarce, only the toughest plants survive. Among them, the agave plant stands out - not only for its role in tequila production but also for its remarkable ability to store and retain water.



Scientists have long studied how desert plants adapt to extreme conditions. Now, a study using advanced imaging techniques has uncovered deeper insights into the agave’s survival mechanisms.



The researchers used special imaging technology to see how agave plants store and use water. They found that these plants keep moisture at both the leaf and tiny molecular levels. This discovery could help create <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-earths-most-endangered-plants-from-extinction-proving-difficult-botanic-gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crops</a> that need less water and improve how processed foods stay fresh.



The results not only highlight the resilience of agave plants but also point to potential solutions for global food security in the face of climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-analyzing-agave-hydration-levels">Analyzing agave hydration levels</h2>



The scientists used terahertz spectroscopy, a non-invasive technique that falls between microwave and mid-infrared technologies, to analyze the hydration levels of agave <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-may-stop-absorbing-carbon-if-temperatures-continue-to-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a>.



This method allows researchers to map water distribution within plant tissues and observe how fructans, a type of sugar, help retain moisture at the molecular level.



“Understanding how plants adapt to dry conditions could lead to better farming practices and be used to develop crops that require less water,” said Monica Ortiz-Martinez from the Centro de Investigaciones en Optica (<a href="https://www.cio.mx/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CIO</a>) in Mexico.



“This could lead to higher crop yields with lower water consumption, benefiting farmers, food production and global food security.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-plant-hydration-levels">Measuring plant hydration levels</h2>



Terahertz waves, which exist between microwaves and the mid-infrared spectrum, have unique interactions with water. 



Since water strongly absorbs terahertz radiation, the researchers used this property to measure hydration levels within agave tissues. The technique allowed them to visualize water distribution and examine how fructans function at the molecular level.



The study, published in Applied Optics, demonstrates that terahertz spectroscopy is a non-invasive tool for plant analysis. 



The researchers found that agave plants survive harsh conditions by storing water in specialized leaf structures. Additionally, fructans act as molecular sponges, ensuring that moisture remains available even in extreme drought.



“In the food industry, our findings on agave fructans and their exceptional water-binding properties could be used to develop new food ingredients that improve moisture retention, texture and shelf life, especially in dried or processed foods,” said Enrique Castro-Camus from CIO. 



“This could lead to healthier, longer-lasting food products with fewer artificial preservatives.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intersection-of-biology-and-food-science">Intersection of biology and food science</h2>



The study began as a collaboration between CIO’s Applied Terahertz Science group and June Simpson at Centro de Investigaciones Avanzadas (<a href="https://www.cinvestav.mx/irapuato/investigacion/directorio-de-investigacion/June-Kilpatrick-Simpson-Williamson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CINVESTAV</a>). Their focus was on water distribution in agave leaves and the role of fructans in hydration. 



Around the same time, CIO researchers partnered with Socorro Villanueva from Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (<a href="https://ciatej.mx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CIATEJ</a>) to explore how fructans protect frozen foods from damage. These projects merged to provide a comprehensive understanding of agave’s survival mechanisms.



For their analysis, the researchers used a time-domain terahertz spectrometer with a femtosecond fiber laser and sub-millimeter pixel resolution.



Thin leaf slices were placed between a terahertz emitter and detector, enabling hydration mapping through water absorption measurements. The spectrometer was later reconfigured to analyze fructan solutions in greater detail.



“Our research introduces several key innovations in the study of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predicting-how-climate-change-will-alter-plant-growth-cycles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant</a> hydration using terahertz technology,” said Ortiz-Martinez.



“One of the most significant advancements is non-invasive water detection - unlike traditional methods that require cutting, drying and weighing plant samples, terahertz imaging enables real-time hydration analysis without damaging the plant.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-agave-plants-retain-water">How agave plants retain water</h2>



The study revealed that agave leaves have a unique water storage system. Their inner core remains hydrated, while the outer layer acts as a barrier to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-understanding-of-light-detection-in-plants-may-revolutionize-farming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">minimize water loss</a>. 



Fructans play a critical role in this process by forming porous structures that trap and retain water molecules. This water retention capability is stronger than that of other sugars, making fructans vital for agave survival.



By combining tissue-level storage with molecular water retention, agaves have evolved into one of the most drought-resistant plants. These findings could have significant implications for crop cultivation in water-scarce regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-non-invasive-plant-monitoring">Expanding non-invasive plant monitoring</h2>



Researchers now aim to expand terahertz spectroscopy applications to study drought-resistant mechanisms in agave and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-bacteria-help-plants-stay-calm-and-keep-growing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant species</a>. The goal is to understand how different crops manage hydration, particularly those essential for food security.



Future developments may lead to a portable terahertz system for use in fields and greenhouses. Machine learning algorithms could further enhance this technology by analyzing terahertz images in real-time, enabling the detection of drought stress before visible signs appear.



The study highlights the importance of collaboration among experts in optics, plant physiology and food science. Researchers believe that integrating these disciplines will lead to practical applications for agriculture and food production.



“By advancing non-invasive plant monitoring methods, our research lays the foundation for smarter, more sustainable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warming-climates-force-plants-to-compete-with-each-other/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">agricultural practices</a>, ultimately benefiting both farmers and consumers while helping to conserve natural resources for future generations,” said Castro-Camus.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://opg.optica.org/ao/abstract.cfm?uri=ao-64-8-2057" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Applied Optics</a>.



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Agave plants: Nature’s answer to water conservation

In the vast, arid landscapes where water is scarce, only...

Endangered animals

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