Urban coyotes are thriving in cities, but not for the reasons one might expect. A recent study reveals that human-related factors, rather than access to natural habitats, have a stronger impact on their survival.&nbsp;



Researchers tracking coyotes in Chicago discovered that densely populated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-living-causes-chronic-stress-for-some-coyotes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human areas</a> are linked to longer coyote lifespans, overturning the conventional belief that wildlife fares better in more natural settings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-presence-plays-a-surprising-role">Human presence plays a surprising role</h2>



“What we found was really interesting, in that the societal characteristics seem to play a much more important role in predicting coyote survival time than the environmental characteristics,” said Emily Zepeda, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral scholar at <a href="https://www.osu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ohio State University</a>.&nbsp;



“And then we found this positive effect of human population density on survival time. Both of those things are unexpected because we usually associate human activity with detrimental effects on wildlife.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-urban-coyote-research-project">The Urban Coyote Research Project</h2>



The study, recently published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11252-024-01643-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Urban Ecosystems</a>, stems from the Urban Coyote Research Project, a long-term study of coyote ecology in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.&nbsp;



This research, led by wildlife ecologist Stan Gehrt, has monitored the behavior and ecology of Chicago’s estimated 4,000 coyotes, offering rare insights into how they adapt to urban life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-coyote-survival">Tracking coyote survival</h2>



For this study, researchers analyzed movement data from 214 coyotes tracked between 2013 and 2021. Using the length of time each coyote was monitored as a proxy for survival, they evaluated societal and environmental factors such as neighborhood income, human density, road density, and proximity to parks.



The findings revealed that human population density positively influenced coyote survival. Coyotes in areas with low human density tended to have shorter lifespans, while those in densely populated areas lived longer. Interestingly, the interaction between income and density also played a role.&nbsp;



In low-density areas, income had little effect on survival, likely due to the lack of human presence. However, in moderate- to high-density neighborhoods, coyotes in lower-income areas were 1.5 times more likely to survive to age two than those in wealthier areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-resources-and-competition-in-urban-settings">Resources and competition in urban settings</h2>



The researchers theorize that higher human population density provides urban coyotes with essential resources like food and shelter, helping them endure harsh conditions such as Chicago winters.&nbsp;



“We’ve hypothesized that population density may have a positive effect because it’s actually providing resources like human-related structures or food that allow coyotes to weather the harsh conditions of the winter, which is a major mortality factor for Chicago coyotes,” Zepeda explained.



However, these benefits may come at a cost in higher-income areas, where vegetation and better waste management can attract more coyotes, leading to increased competition and disease transmission.&nbsp;



“There might be more individuals in those areas, but survival time may be shorter there,” Zepeda said. “You might die younger in an area where there are a lot of competitors.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptability-of-coyotes">Adaptability of coyotes</h2>



Surprisingly, the study found no significant link between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-species-are-shifting-their-habitats-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural habitats</a> and coyote survival. Parks and nature preserves, often assumed to be ideal environments for coyotes, did not seem to offer a survival advantage.&nbsp;



“Anecdotally, we see really high densities of coyotes in nature preserves and urban parks. That’s often where you see coyotes in the city if you see them at all,” Zepeda said.



The researchers speculate that this finding could result from a variety of factors, including limitations in how habitat types are classified on city maps or more frequent hunting and trapping in natural areas.&nbsp;



Alternatively, it may highlight the adaptability of coyotes, which seem capable of thriving in urbanized environments despite their preference for natural habitats.&nbsp;



“It could speak to how adaptable they are that they might prefer natural habitat, but at least in terms of survival, they can do just as well in more urbanized areas,” Zepeda added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-societal-factors-and-urban-ecosystems">Societal factors and urban ecosystems</h2>



This study adds to growing evidence that societal factors affecting human populations also influence <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-biodiversity-is-not-a-luxury-it-is-attainable-for-everyone/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">urban ecosystems</a>. The presence or absence of humans, combined with the conditions in which they live, may overshadow natural influences on wildlife survival.&nbsp;



Gehrt’s long-term research emphasizes the importance of understanding these dynamics as urban areas expand.



As urban ecosystems continue to evolve, studies like this provide critical insights into how wildlife interacts with human populations.&nbsp;



Further research could explore specific societal factors - such as waste management practices or public attitudes toward coyotes - and their influence on urban <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-report-disturbing-details-about-the-state-of-earths-wildlife/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a>.



By better understanding these relationships, cities can develop strategies to foster coexistence between humans and animals, creating urban environments where both can thrive.



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Coyotes live longer in densely populated human areas

Urban coyotes are thriving in cities, but not for the reasons one might expect. A recent study reveals that human-related factors, rather than access to natural habitats, have a stronger impact on their survival.&nbsp; Researchers tracking coyotes in Chicago discovered that densely populated human areas are linked to longer coyote lifespans, overturning the conventional belief that wildlife fares better in more natural settings. Human presence plays a surprising role “What we found was really interesting, in that the societal characteristics seem to play a much more important...

A new study has found that the storks at the head of the flock are most often the stronger, more efficient flyers. 

Storks are known for their long migrations and for using thermal winds, a kind of wind shear, to help sustain their long treks. 

Stork migration and the patterns of individual birds within a flock were not well understood, due in part to the difficulty of tracking several birds in the same flock at once.

Researchers were unsure, for example, if storks worked together to exploit thermal winds or if it was every stork for himself. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the<a href="http://www.orn.mpg.de/en"> Max Planck Institute for Ornithology </a>reveals that individual storks are able to exploit thermal winds because of their own flight prowess. 

The research was published in the journal Science and the results provide insight into the flight patterns of white storks during migration. 

The researchers attached high-resolution tracking devices to 27 juvenile white storks. Once the storks were tagged, the researchers monitored the birds during the first five days of migration. As part of a flock, the birds traveled nearly 1,000 kilometers. 

During this time, the researchers focused on the way the birds exploited thermal winds and found that individual birds have very different flight tactics, and better flyers are able to efficiently manipulate thermal winds while less capable flyers take up the rear. 

Neither sex nor size seemed to play any role in how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-wait-reproduce-harsh-conditions/">birds</a> traveled and instead, as the results showed that it all came down to initial flight performance. 

The leaders were better at exploiting thermal winds and flapped less, while the birds who weren’t in the lead flapped more and used up more energy. 

Not only did follower birds spend less time riding thermal winds, but they also didn’t seek out thermal winds on their own. 

The results provide a better understanding of how migratory birds travel and sheds insight into the costs and benefits of collective movement in natural populations. 

---

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The birds who lead the flock are the strongest flyers

A new study has found that the storks at the...

The Chinese giant salamander is one of the more prehistoric-looking animals that is still around today. These ancient creatures – dating back 170 million years – are amphibians that can grow up to six feet long and weigh 140 pounds. They’ve been depicted in Chinese culture for thousands of years, but have now become a highly coveted delicacy amongst the country’s wealthy. As a result, they have all but disappeared from their freshwater habitats.

In order to keep up with growing demand, these amphibians are routinely harvested from the wild in an effort to stock commercial breeding farms. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/economic-benefits-climate-china/">China</a> has officially banned the harvesting of wild giant salamanders, but supports widespread releases of farmed salamanders as a conservation effort. But this conservation measure may actually be harming wild populations by mixing genetic lineages and facilitating the spread of diseases. 

Recently, a research team from the <a href="https://www.zsl.org/">Zoological Society of London</a> (ZSL) conducted a wide survey of river sites where the salamanders are known to live. These field surveys covered 97 sites in 23 Chinese provinces through a period of four years.

“We cannot confirm survival of wild Chinese giant salamander populations at any survey sites,” the authors say in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/authors">Current Biology</a>. “And consider the species to be extremely depleted or functionally extinct across the huge surveyed area.”

The researchers warn that these amphibians are in “catastrophic” decline, with only a handful potentially left in the wild. The species is already categorized as critically endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

“The over-exploitation of these incredible animals for human consumption has had a catastrophic effect on their numbers in the wild over an amazingly short time-span,” says Dr. Samuel Turvey, a member of the research team from the ZSL. “Unless coordinated conservation measures are put in place as a matter of urgency, the future of the world’s largest amphibian is in serious jeopardy.”

The salamander population has experienced a dramatic decline in the last few decades as a result of poaching and habitat destruction. But despite their status as an endangered species, this amphibian is still widely regarded as a delicacy. Luckily, recent legislation by the Chinese government has made it so anyone found to be eating this salamander could receive a jail sentence of up to ten years.

Co-author Dr. Fang Yan, from the <a href="http://english.kiz.cas.cn/">Kunming Institute of Zoology</a>, laments “It’s essential that suitable safeguards are put in place to protect the unique genetic lineage of these amazing animals, which dates back to the time of the dinosaurs.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Endangered delicacy: Earth’s biggest amphibian disappearing

The Chinese giant salamander is one of the more prehistoric-looking...

Could artificial insemination save the Northern White Rhinoceros (NWR) from extinction? 

A new genetic analysis of Southern and Northern White Rhinos could help pave the way for bringing NWRs back from the brink. 

Earlier this year, the last remaining male Northern White Rhino died in captivity and the extremely low populations of NWRs in the wild, as well as the threats from habitat destruction and poaching, almost guarantee that the species will soon go <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-species-human-changes/">extinct</a>. 

As of now, Northern White Rhinos are critically endangered, but researchers from the <a href="http://institute.sandiegozoo.org/">San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research</a> conducted a thorough genetic analysis to see if cryopreserved genetic material could help restore NWRs in the future. 

The study was published in the journal Genome Research.  

For the study, the researchers explored the genetic history of nine NWR cryopreserved cell lines and compared them to cell lines from the Southern White Rhino, a close relative. 

It’s the first time that the genome of the NWR has been sequenced, shedding insight into the limited gene pool of the species. 

Genome analysis revealed that 80,000 years ago Northern and Southern White Rhinos diverged into two distinct populations, and both have high levels of genetic variation. 

After analyzing the cell lines, the researchers discovered that genetic variations and inbreeding allowed the cells to be identified which could help with genetic rescue. 

“The SWR went through a severe genetic bottleneck, but is now the most populous of all forms of rhino at ~20,000 individuals, suggesting that a genetic rescue utilizing these cell lines could be the foundation for a similar recovery in the NWR,” said Kate Tunstall, the lead author of the study. 

The results show promise and the researchers say advanced sequencing technology, cryopreservation, and novel reproductive strategies could aid in restoration and recovery efforts, not just for Northern White Rhinos but also with other similarly endangered species. 

“Our study demonstrates the emerging role for whole-genome-sequencing analysis to evaluate the potential for population recovery,” said Cynthia C. Steiner, who directed the study.

Already, the first pregnant Southern White Rhino from artificial insemination was reported by the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research and someday, SWR females may give birth to Northern White Rhinos. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New strategy could save Northern White Rhinos from extinction

Could artificial insemination save the Northern White Rhinoceros (NWR) from...

A team of scientists has revealed that dinosaurs were not the only casualty of the catastrophic asteroid event 66 million years ago. The experts have discovered that the world's forests were also completely destroyed, which caused the extinction of tree-dwelling birds.

Study co-author Regan Dunn is a paleontologist at the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/">Field Museum</a> in Chicago.

“Looking at the fossil record, at plants and birds, there are multiple lines of evidence suggesting that the forest canopies collapsed,” said Dunn.

Lead author Daniel Field explained that the team used a combination of techniques for the investigation. 

“We concluded that the temporary elimination of forests in the aftermath of the asteroid impact explains why arboreal birds failed to survive across this extinction event,” said Field. “The ancestors of modern arboreal birds did not move into the trees until forests had recovered from the extinction-causing asteroid.”

Study co-author Antoine Bercovici is a pollen expert at the <a href="https://www.si.edu/">Smithsonian Institution</a> and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Bercovici analyzed microscopic fossils of pollen and spores to determine that the planet's forests were destroyed. 

“After a disaster like a forest fire or a volcanic eruption, the first plants to come back are the fastest colonizers - especially ferns,” said Dunn. This is due to fact that ferns do not sprout from seeds, but from small spores that are made up of just a single cell. 

"Spores are minuscule, the size of a grain of pollen, so they're easily dispersed. They get picked up by the wind and go further than seeds can, and all they need to grow is a wet spot.”

"The spores are tiny - you could fit four across a single strand of your hair. To see them, we take a sample of rock from the time frame just after the collision and dissolve it in acid. Then we purify it so that all that remains is the organic debris, like pollen, spores and little leaf bits, then we look at them under a microscope.”


Immediately after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-asteroid-struck/">asteroid</a> collided with the Earth, the fossil record showed the charcoal remains of trees, and then, tons of fern spores. 

“Our study examined the fossil record from New Zealand, Japan, Europe and North America, which showed there was a mass deforestation across the globe at the end of the Cretaceous period,” said Bercovici.

The researchers found that the only birds that survived were ground-dwellers. Their fossilized remains contained strong legs like modern ground birds such as kiwis and emus. Tree-dwelling birds have delicate legs that are designed for perching on branches, and they had no place left to live.

“Today, birds are the most diverse and globally widespread group of terrestrial vertebrate animals--there are nearly 11,000 living species,” said Field. “Only a handful of ancestral bird lineages succeeded in surviving the mass extinction event 66 million years ago, and all of today's amazing living bird diversity can be traced to these ancient survivors.”

Dunn pointed out that fossil plants are critical in reconstructing the history of life on earth. 

“Plants are everything, plants are the context in which all terrestrial life evolves and survives. They're primary producers, they make energy available to all life forms by capturing it from the sun--we can't do that.”


Dunn also emphasized that the loss of life resulting from the mass extinction 66 million years ago is relevant today.


“The end-Cretaceous event is the fifth mass extinction - we're in the sixth,” said Dunn. "It's important for us to understand what happens when you destroy an ecosystem, like with deforestation and climate change--so we can know how our actions will affect what comes after us."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

image Credit: Regan Dunn, The Field Museum

Forests and tree-dwelling birds died when dinosaurs vanished

A team of scientists has revealed that dinosaurs were not...

The evolution of marine animals is an odd one.  All mammals once lived on land. To be more precise, mammals evolved to live on land, but before that, like all animals, their deep origins are in the ocean.  

It’s a little odd to think of an animal evolving for so long outside the water only to return to the ocean once again.  It doesn’t happen overnight. Some mammals like otters are young to the ocean, maintaining a lot of adaptations such as paws with claws that they had on land.  Otters in particular can move about pretty well on land. According to <a href="https://www.otter-world.com/">Otter World</a>, modern otters may only have evolved about 7 million years ago.  From otters it seems a small step to get to seals and sea lions, mammals that can still walk around on land but are less graceful.  Otters look like they belong on land as well as at sea, or in some cases freshwater.

Pinnipeds, which are comprised of walrus, seals and sea lions, likely evolved from a common ancestor adept at living both on land and at sea, diverging from their closest relatives the bears and mustelids about 50 million years ago.  Whales and dolphins similarly evolved from land mammals in the distant past. 

What’s even more interesting about the evolution of whole groups of animals is not only their evolutionary path from water to land and back to water, but also, the evolution from marine environments to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/changes-freshwater-supply/">freshwater</a> environments, places where the water is unsalted but the animals seem decidedly marine.  

The Amazon River ecosystem is a perfect example of something that resembles a giant inland, freshwater ocean.  There are dolphins, manatees, stingrays and 200 pound turtles that lay eggs on the river beaches. 

The stingrays of Amazonia are hard to believe when you see them in photographs, as they appear to be fish designed by butterflies.  The rays are patterned with delicate spots, sometimes vivid, sometimes subtle, but nearly always beautiful. The freshwater stingrays of Latin America are all in the family Potamotrygonidae.  Freshwater stingrays found in Africa, Asia and Australia are found in the family Dasyatidae. The Amazon stingrays as well as the (Dasyatidae family) clearly evolved from marine stingrays. It’s unknown whether the Potamotrygonids evolved from a species from the Pacific or the Atlantic as there is some evidence in favor of each, however they’ve done well in freshwater, evolving into at least 22 species throughout Latin America.  

River dolphins are the next obvious example of ocean animals that have taken to the Amazon River system.  Amazon River dolphins are either gray or a pretty color of pink and have a unique, strangely boxy shape (for a dolphin).  The boto, as river dolphins are known in Brazil, has a place in local lore. Botos are said to turn into attractive men at night who seduce village women on the river banks before resuming their dolphin form and slipping back into the river.  Native peoples sometimes play games of tag with river dolphins with paddles, from their canoes. Another myth says that the river dolphin is the protector of the Amazon River Manatee. Throughout the world there are five species of living river dolphins and two subspecies.  Some of these river dolphins also live in brackish water, such as river deltas where ocean and freshwater mix. All of these dolphins evolved from ancestors that lived entirely at sea. 

The Amazon River Manatee lives entirely in freshwater.  The Florida Manatee shifts from freshwater rivers to the ocean and back again.  African Manatees also live in separate populations both on the coast and inland.  It’s believed that manatees share a common ancestor with elephants. 

The Amazonian Manatee is the smallest undisputed species of manatee and seems to be the only living entirely in freshwater, in this way it matches the Amazon River Dolphin.  We don’t have any clear population numbers on the Amazonian Manatee but it appears their numbers are declining. 

The Amazon also includes lobos de rio, that is Giant River Otters.  The Giant Otter is the largest member of its family growing to as long as 5.6 feet.  The otter eats mostly fish but will also prey on turtles and even small caimans (a crocodilian).  The name lobo de rio in Spanish means ‘wolf of the river’ and the name seems apt for a smart, social predator like the giant river otter.  

It may seem like a small feat to change from a life in salt water to one in freshwater or visa versa, but it includes a host of adaptations.  Salt water can kill if an animal has no way to purge the excess mineral. Some sea birds weep extra salt from pores on their beaks. Bony fish constantly pump salt from their bodies through their kidneys as well as through special gill cells.  These are all adaptations that are costly and are usually lost when an organism turns to life in freshwater. The evolution of any organism is incredibly complex, full of twists and turns. It’s helpful to remember we all share one common ancestor way back in the distant past. There may be species that evolved more recently than others, but we all started trying to find our way on this planet at the same time.           

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Freshwater or saltwater? The complex evolution of marine animals

The evolution of marine animals is an odd one.  All...

The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/losing-status-votes-trump/">Trump administration</a> is moving to lift restrictions on sport hunting and trapping in national reserves. The proposed changes would make it legal to hunt black bears with dogs, shoot swimming caribou from boats, and kill wolves and pups in their dens.

Furthermore, hunters on some public lands in Alaska would be permitted to lure brown bears with food and use spotlights to shoot hibernating black bears and their cubs.

In 2015, these and other hunting methods were outlawed under President Obama. If passed, the new legislation will remove the hunting restrictions on 20 million acres of federally preserved land.

On Monday, the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/">National Park Service</a> (NPS) announced its intentions to move forward with the proposal in an effort to establish better consistency with state regulations.

Maria Gladziszewski is Alaska's deputy director of the Division of Wildlife Conservation. She told the <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">Associated Press</a> that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game was “pleased to see the National Park Service working to better align federal regulations with State of Alaska hunting and trapping regulations.”

Gladziszewski said that the proposal is “progress in that direction, and we appreciate those efforts. Alaskans benefit when state and federal regulations are consistent.” She explained that the state can currently only conduct predator control in national reserves with federal authorization.

Collette Adkins is a biologist at the <a href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/">Center for Biological Diversity</a>. “Cruel and harmful hunting methods like killing bear cubs and their mothers near dens have no place on our national preserves,” said Adkins.

The <a href="https://www.npca.org/">National Parks Conservation Association</a> (NPCA) is also opposed to the amendment, arguing that national preserves should be managed according to national park regulations.

Jim Adams is the regional director of NPCA Alaska.

“Hunting is allowed on national preserves. It's appropriate on national preserves,” Adams told <a href="http://www.ktuu.com/">KTUU-TV</a>. “But turning them into glorified game farms by reducing bear and wolf populations is not appropriate and it's not right.”

The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal, which can be done by using this <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NPS-2018-0005.">link</a> to regulations.gov.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Trump admin to lift restrictions on hunting bears and wolves

The Trump administration is moving to lift restrictions on sport...

When researchers study population declines, they often cite the vital importance of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/location-crucial-wildlife-conservation/">conservation</a>, management, and restoration efforts. 

But sometimes it can be difficult to grasp the full weight of just how many species are threatened, endangered, and even facing extinction when studies focus on one species or habitat at a time. 

According to the <a href="https://www.iucn.org/">International Union for the Conservation of Nature</a> (IUCN), nearly 80,000 plants and animals are endangered and are part of the IUCN’s Red List. 

Of those 80,000, almost a third could soon face extinction with 41 percent of amphibians, 34 percent of conifer trees, and 25 percent of mammals in jeopardy, according to a recent <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/conservationists-fight-save-animals-mass-extinction-looms-093541915.html">Agence France-Presse (AFP) article. </a>

These numbers are grim, but there are quite a few success stories that could serve as inspiration to help reverse further population declines. 

Conservationists have brought quite a few species back from the brink, thanks to captive breeding, tracking populations, and restoring habitats. 

The Mauritius kestrel, a falcon whose species was all but wiped in 1974, is now an example of one of the most successful bird restoration projects in history. Captive breeding and predator control has increased Mauritius kestrel numbers from four to four hundred. 

Another example of successful conservation can be found on Madagascar with the greater bamboo lemur. The species is still seriously threatened, but a national park was erected around the lemurs' natural habitat, protecting it from future declines. 

Conservationists can work to raise awareness of endangered or threatened species among a community, or work with policymakers and national leaders to reduce human activities near reduced habitats. 

“The sixth mass extinction is happening now,” said Craig Hilton-Taylor, the head of the Red List, told the AFP. “But these conservation achievements highlight that there is still reason to be hopeful for the future of our planet, and that conservation does work.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Conservation efforts have proven successful against great odds

When researchers study population declines, they often cite the vital...

Animals are constantly looking for two things: food and the opportunity to reproduce – and you could say the same about humans. We’re all just looking to survive and pass on our own genetic material to our offspring. But oftentimes when food is scarce, the search for reproductive opportunities becomes too risky. And when resources are limited and difficult to find, any reproductive efforts may be fruitless anyway. So when these situations arise, it’s usually in an animal’s best interests to not defend their territory or breed, and instead focus their efforts on surviving to the next breeding season. Biologists refer to individuals without a territory during breeding season as “floaters.”

Researchers from <a href="https://nau.edu/">Northern Arizona University</a> monitored a population of Willow Flycatchers for a five-year period. They marked each individual in the population with a uniquely colored leg band, and recorded their behavior during the breeding season. Some birds defended territories that contained their nests, while other birds – the “floaters” – moved around the population without protecting their territory or a nest.

During this study – published in <a href="http://www.americanornithology.org/content/auk-ornithological-advances">The Auk: Ornithological Advances</a> – a severe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drought-wildfires-pacific-northwest/">drought</a> occurred, which allowed the researchers to examine how the birds responded to changes in their environment. Their observations determined that there were one and a half times more floaters during the drought than during a year with average rainfall. Even more interesting, they found that the floaters were more likely to survive than individuals who attempted to nest.

When researchers compared how many chicks a bird had with their floater status the previous year, they found that territorial birds had more chicks than the floaters, but there was one exception. During the year immediately following the drought, former floaters produced more chicks. However, one thing to note is that the researchers did not check the DNA of the chicks during the study, and birds are known to breed with multiple individuals that are not their mate. It’s likely that floaters engaged in this behavior regularly, through which they have the benefit of passing on their genes without the cost of raising another chick.

“In normal years all birds try to breed, and those that don’t breed lose out in long-term reproductive success, but in extreme drought years, not breeding is actually the better strategy,” explains Tad Theimer, lead author of the paper. “But this strategy of patience assumes that next year will be better than this year. As climate change increases the frequency of these extreme environmental conditions, this assumption becomes less certain.”

This means that the birds’ response to changes in environmental conditions may ultimately be their downfall, were the climate to become less predictable as climate change marches on. It’s important for researchers to continue monitoring these animals’ behavior as their environment changes along with the climate.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Tad Theimer

Birds wait to reproduce in harsh environmental conditions

Animals are constantly looking for two things: food and the...

A new long term study has demonstrated how a seemingly harmless single invasive species can cause declines in biodiversity and alter entire ecosystems.

Eastern hemlock, a tree species native to North America, has been facing serious declines due to the hemlock woolly adelgid. The non-native insect hails from East Asia and feeds off the sap of hemlock trees.

The <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/0,5664,7-324-68002_71241-367635--,00.html">waxy secretions</a> of the pest decrease the growth of Hemlock trees and put a large amount of stress on older trees that can then easily succumb to drought or climate change. 

A new study, conducted by researchers from <a href="http://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a>, reveals how invasive adelgids are killing off trees and impacting bird populations that were specialized to the hemlock habitats. 

The research was published in the journal The Condor: Ornithological Applications and is one of the most thorough long-term studies examining how tree decline of a single species affects birds and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warming-climate-threatens-biodiversity/">biodiversity</a>. 

For the study, the researchers used surveys of Eastern hemlock forests conducted in 2000 before adelgids had caused any decline. Data from the surveys were then compared to new data from the same forests taken in 2015 and 2016. 

Native bird species were also considered and the researchers analyzed data showing how different bird populations were affected by the invasive pests. 

The researchers discovered that as the Eastern hemlocks declined, specific bird species that are particular to the area also declined and were replaced by other bird species normally found in more general hardwood forests. 

“Invasive species, climate change, and land-use change are all similar in that they make our world a less diverse place, and this study helps greatly in understanding how the loss of the eastern hemlock plays its own role in the degradation of biodiversity,” said Morgan Tingley, a professor from the <a href="https://uconn.edu/">University of Connecticut </a>who was not associated with the research. 

The study shows how damaging even just one invasive pest can be and how important conservation efforts are to manage and reduce invasive pests from non-native areas. 

“To sum up, to people who are saddened by the loss of hemlocks and the birds that rely on them, I would say one thing: We cannot turn back the clock--we cannot un-introduce the hemlock woolly adelgid; but we absolutely possess the power to prevent this story from repeating itself,” said Matthew Toenies, the study’s lead author. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Image Credit: D Williams

One invasive pest species can alter an entire ecosystem

A new long term study has demonstrated how a seemingly...

In the first study of its kind, researchers have measured the mass of all living organisms on Earth. They found that humans only make up about one ten-thousandth of life on the planet in terms of biomass.

The comprehensive analysis was focused on carbon content, which does not account for the water masses of organisms. The results indicate that the total global biomass is around 550 gigatons of carbon (Gt C).

Study lead author Ron Milo is a biologist at the <a href="https://www.weizmann.ac.il/pages/">Weizmann Institute of Science</a> in Israel. He explained that while the estimates are not exact, they give a sense of proportion.

According to the research, plants add up to more than 80 percent of the world's biomass, outweighing humans by 7,500 to one. Nearly 13 percent of the world's biomass is made up by bacteria, while fungi account for about two percent.

The researchers also discovered that wild <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-mammals-shrink-size/">mammals</a> are 10 times less prevalent than humans. Overall, humans have cut the number of wild animals by 85 percent.

Livestock such as cattle and pigs, on the other hand, are much more prevalent. In addition, poultry such as chicken and turkeys are three times as abundant as wild birds.

“When I do a puzzle with my daughters, there is usually an elephant next to a giraffe next to a rhino,” Milo told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk">The Guardian</a>. “But if I was trying to give them a more realistic sense of the world, it would be a cow next to a cow next to a cow and then a chicken.”

Wild animals are not the only group of organisms that have been substantially impacted by humans. The researchers found that human activities have cut the amount of plant biomass in half.

“Even though short in numbers, we have managed to throw a lot of sand in the air and mess up a lot of things,” said Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson.

“I would hope this gives people a perspective on the very dominant role that humanity now plays on Earth,” Milo told The Guardian. “It is definitely striking, our disproportionate place on Earth.”

The study is published in the <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Humans account for a very tiny percent of all life on Earth

In the first study of its kind, researchers have measured...

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Human activity may be causing cancer in the the animal kingdom. From smoking to obesity, to sunburns, and even the chemicals we use in soaps and shampoos, factors that increase the risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/skin-cancer-cases-outdoor-workers/">cancer</a> vary from the most well-known to some of the most surprising.

But while scientists are working to understand the different ways in which humans develop cancers, a new report has examined the cancer risks that human activity is causing in the animal kingdom. 

Researchers from <a href="https://www.asu.edu/">Arizona State University</a> recently published a paper urging the scientific community to start studying cancer in animals to examine how humans are causing cancers in other species. 

The report was published in the journal Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution and underscores the importance of understanding how humans are changing the environment and raising the risk of cancer in animals. 

“We are changing the environment to be more suitable for ourselves, while these changes are having a negative impact on many species on many different levels, including the probability of developing cancer,” said Tuul Sepp, co-author of the paper. 

Tuul worked with Mathieu Giraudeau and identified many different ways that humans negatively impact wild habitats including polluting the oceans, treating crops with pesticides that have been shown to affect insects, and accidentally leaching chemicals and radiation into the environment.

The researchers state that with all we know about cancer in humans, cancer in wild populations has been largely ignored. 

“Cancer has been found in all species where scientists have looked for it and human activities are known to strongly influence cancer rate in humans,” said Giraudeau. “So, this human impact on wild environments might strongly influence the prevalence of cancer in wild populations with additional consequences on ecosystem functioning.” 

The stress of human activities on animal populations needs to be considered when measuring cancer in animals, according to the researchers. 

“The next step is definitely to go into the field and measure cancer rate in wild populations,” said Giraudeau. “We are now trying to develop some biomarkers to be able to study this. I think it would be interesting to measure cancer prevalence in wild animals in human-impacted environments and also in more preserved areas for the same species.”

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Sandra Leander

Human activity may be causing cancer in the the animal kingdom

Human activity may be causing cancer in the the animal...

In what the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/">Washington Post</a> refers to as “a modern-day Noah’s ark,” animals are being moved across Africa to restore local populations that have dramatically declined or disappeared altogether. One particular organization is, quite literally, breathing new life into the country's national parks. 

<a href="https://www.african-parks.org/">African Parks</a> was founded in 2000 in response to the degradation of protected wildlife areas, which the group suggests can be attributed to inadequate management and a lack of funding. The nonprofit organization currently manages 15 national parks and protected areas in nine countries, spanning over 40,000 square miles.

Malawi has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, due primarily to the rapid expansion of agriculture and human settlement. As a result, many species have been pushed out of their homes. Other species, such as elephants and lions, have been completely wiped out by poachers in some regions.


In collaboration with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Department-of-National-Parks-Wildlife-420351424735202/">Department of National Parks and Wildlife</a> (DNPW), African Parks achieved the largest-ever translocation of elephants by 2017. Over 500 elephants and 1,500 other animals of various species were shipped in planes and trucks from Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve in southern Malawi to the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in northern Malawi.

Peter Fearnhead is the CEO of African Parks, which is based out of Johannesburg. “We can use these thriving populations to seed other areas,” he told the Post, which is precisely what the group has been doing.

“When African Parks assumed management of Majete in 2003, all of the elephants had been hunted out,” noted the organization's website. 

“Today, after restocking the reserve, more than 400 live there and the area is thriving. In 2015, African Parks assumed management of Liwonde, which now has more than 575 elephants (since the 2016 translocation) and has high levels of human-wildlife conflict.” 

“The same year, we also assumed management of Nkhotakota, which once had more than 1,500 elephants but due to poaching fewer than 100 remained.”

Translocation is a type of human-assisted migration that can be applied to protected areas to reduce the risk of species extinction by broadening the range and numbers of endangered wildlife populations.

Transporting hundreds of elephants was not a simple maneuver. According to the Washington Post, the elephants were given a sedative 10,000 times as strong as morphine before being shipped across southern Africa.

The Washington Post also reports that African Parks now has a massive counter-poaching force, with hundreds of miles of fences, thorough camera surveillance networks, satellite collars for some of the animals, and around 1,000 rangers.

African Parks is currently working with the governments of South Africa and Chad to reintroduce black rhinos to Zakouma National Park in southern Chad. The group has also flown 20 black rhinos from South Africa to Rwanda.

“All too often, headlines on rhinos are about their demise as they teeter on the brink of extinction,” said Fearnhead. “However, today we are participating in an historic event and peering into a brighter future for this species which has persisted on this planet for millions of years.”

African Parks uses 100 percent of its donations for the protection of Africa's wildlife, and contributions can be made <a href="https://www.african-parks.org/donate">here</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

African Parks transports animals to boost endangered populations

In what the Washington Post refers to as “a modern-day...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;



Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?



One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;



While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Santiago, Chile in South America

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



The mountain range is 430 kilometers in length. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Atlantic Ocean on the west.



At an elevation of 3404 meters, Pico de Aneto is the highest mountain peak in the Pyrenees, and the third-highest peak in Spain. Pico de Aneto is located in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, which spans more than 82,000 acres.&nbsp;



"Geological studies have revealed that the Pyrenees Mountains have been around for longer than the Alps, with their sediments first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras," reports ESA.



"The entire mountain range formed due to the upwelling of large sedimentary rocks by the collision of the Iberian and the Eurasian plate around 100 to 150 million years ago, followed by intense erosion from ice and water."



The western Pyrenees receive more precipitation due to moisture blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain range contains many lakes, several small glaciers, and some of the highest waterfalls in Europe.



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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