Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Post

In Half-Earth, E.O. Wilson proposed, “Only by committing half of the planet’s surface to nature can we hope to save the immensity of life-forms that compose it.” With Half-Earth, E.O. Wilson’s intention was to create a “moonshot” goal, a human endeavor that ensured we would leave no species behind. This is not just important conceptually, it’s important inspirationally and scientifically. The size of a habitat and the number of species it can sustainably support are related by the 4th root. E.O. Wilson and a colleague, Robert MacArthur, an ecologist and mathematician at Princeton University, developed the formula for the Half-Earth calculations, which demonstrated that we can protect approximately 85% of species from extinction if we effectively preserve 50% of habitats. In order to support these conservation decisions, access to accurate species data is critical. The Half-Earth Project is mapping the geospatial location of all Earth’s species at a high resolution in order to transform our understanding of the world and inform which places offer the most effective path forward for the protection of endangered species and endangered ecosystems. Based on the current extinction rate, half of all species could be gone by the end of the century. Only by coming together around a transcendent goal to protect nature can we stop and reverse the loss of species.

All life is precious, and understanding different species helps preserve it. At Nornickel we focus on studying the ecosystems of our regions of operations. Our Norilsk Division is located in a permafrost area in southern Taimyr. The facilities create a large industrial network, so we need to address the impact on the environment.  The conclusion of the 2022 Big Science Expedition is that the Norilsk Industrial District doesn’t affect the flora and fauna outside of the 10 km radius. Within the exposed area of the division’s industrial facilities, the expedition team discovered protected species of animals and plants. 🛡 There are not many mammals in this cold tundra, but Norilsk Division area is home to many rare plants and 56 bird species, among them such protected species as white-tailed eagle and gyrfalcon, the latter on the receiving end of Nornickel’s preservation programme in 2023.  Preserving biodiversity will remain one of Nornickel’s key projects, and studying different species and their natural habitats can shed light on the state of the division's natural environment. To learn more about the ecosystems and species of the Norilsk Division click here: https://lnkd.in/eGvJDcHg #ESG #conservationefforts #arctic

CORAL REEF NEWS: Crown-of-thorns starfish thrive in degraded coral reefs Research into one of the most persistent coral predators on the Great Barrier Reef has unveiled a concerning paradox: crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) seem to flourish in the degraded coral reef conditions they help create. This new insight into reef ecosystems comes from the work of Professor Maria Byrne from the University of Sydney and marine science researcher Dr. Kennedy Wolfe. The study highlights the complex relationship between coral health and the population dynamics of COTS, offering vital information for conservation efforts. “This research reinforces our understanding that resilient species have the upper hand when adjusting to altered habitats,” Byrne said. “Unfortunately, in the case of the Great Barrier Reef, one of these resilient species – the crown-of-thorns starfish – is one of its most persistent coral predators.” Read full story here: https://lnkd.in/e6iBi3nP #coralreefs #coralreefnews #crownofthorns #starfish #habitathealth #coralreefhealth #coralreefecology #marineecology #marinebiology

On our outdoor expeditions, sighting bears - or traces of them - is sometimes part of the backcountry journey. Thanks to our knowledgeable and experienced instructors, these moments become valuable learning experiences for our participants. In British Columbia, traditional Indigenous conservation practices are shedding light on how humans and bears can peacefully coexist. A recent study by Ecology & Society, in collaboration with First Nation groups, highlights the "kincentric" perspective of coastal First Nations, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all elements within an ecosystem and demonstrating how people and bears can share the same territory. As one elder expressed, "Bears have taught us much about living here—what we can eat and where we can stay. Our needs are very similar." Discover more about this fascinating study by clicking the link below: https://lnkd.in/g4PYQxC2

Today is World Sea Turtle Day! 🐢🌎 You may have noticed that the #DerbyUni turtle appears in many of our adverts around the world. But do you know why? 💭The turtle symbolises our research ethos to build a better future for everyone, acting as a reminder that through our work we are making a postive impact on the world. We are turning the tide in the world of aquatic research, with the story of coral spawning, which took place at our Aquatic Research Facility, recently featured in The Times. 🌊🪸 Learn more about the turtle and our aquatic research: https://ow.ly/nqse50Si1JV.

Together with a large team of international experts I reviewed the use of herbivores, for example fishes, urchins or crabs, in reef restoration. We believe reef restoration could be more successful if, besides outplanting coral, grazing pressure is restored as well! Read the full review in Frontiers in Marine Science: https://lnkd.in/efYNScd7

Happy #worldseagrassday 😃 Seagrass meadows are a crucial habitat for a wide variety of species and vital to restoring biodiversity within marine environments🌊. They are diverse and productive ecosystems preventing coastal erosion from ocean storms. They also not only help clean our oceans by absorbing polluting nutrients produced by humans but act as nursery grounds for many endangered marine mammals and other species. 🐠🦦🐟🦈 Let's take a look at some of the species around our UK coastlines that depend on sea grass as a means to survive and also reproduce 👏🏻 European Cuttlefish These incredible and very social animals use seagrass meadows as a nursery for their young during the mating season. 🌊 Dogfish: These small specialist shallow water hunters use the cover of seagrass meadows to not only hunt prey but somewhere where females can hide away there young out of site from predators while out hunting.👏🏻 Pipefish: These secretive fish rely on seagrass meadows as camoflourge from predators and also to keep out sight from prey. They stay very still for long periods of time until the right moment presents itself to launch an attack 🐟 Seahorses: There are two types of seahorse in our UK waters, the spiny seahorse and the short snouted seahorse. They use the protection of these marine meadows to allow them to feed in the calmer waters as well as use them for safe places to raise their young far away from predators. Unfortunately over the last century we have lost almost 92% of our seagrass meadows in the UK. 😵 this is a huge issue as globally seagrass captures carbon 35 times faster than tropical rainforests.😯 Our marine environments are crucial to the future of our planet 🌎 and all that call it home. we must protect and restore that we can now💪🏻 You can find out more about Seagrass meadows below from Project Seagrass who are doing so much to protect and restore these areas of crucial marine habitats 😎 https://lnkd.in/eVdgG9s3 #worldseagrassday #seagrass #marineenvironment #marinehabitats #biodiversity #ecosystems #wildlife

Over the next few days, Team BayWatch will be working day and night on the videos we have taken in the Saltö area. These underwater videos show various species of fish, so to understand which is which, we created a key to differentiate between the most common ones. Here are some of the fish species we have successfully identified on video so far: Common Bleak Couch's Goby Goldsinny Wrasse Three-Spined Stickleback Atlantic Cod (Juvenile) Our research is focused on understanding fish community composition and abundance, and how they are influenced by seafloor habitat characteristics. We are studying the differences in fish biodiversity between seagrass meadows and macroalgae beds by deploying cameras in selected habitats for one hour each. Stay tuned for more updates on our findings and insights! #MarineScience #FishIdentification #Biodiversity #OceanResearch #IMBRSea #TjärnöResearch

Dive into the intersection of art, ecology, and societal narratives with Associate Director Chris Kennedy 🌿 Explore linkages between invasive species, xenophobia, & human exceptionalism in the article “Plant-human Relations: How Can Art Foster Positive Perceptions of Weeds in Cities.” Chris delves into the Planthroposcene concept by Anthropologist Natasha Meyers, suggesting we live in an era shaped by plants. Discover how art solidifies human-plant relationships here: https://buff.ly/46z7Ype

Been having a lot of fun making these explainers! Research communications is becoming a bigger part of my skill set as I dive deeper into marine ecosystems and the role kelp forests play in our oceans. Spoiler: a pretty big one! If you're interested in learning more about our oceans and the many ecosystem benefits giant kelp forests provide - from fun facts to bio-based product development - give Kelp Forest Foundation a follow! #Research #MarineScience #Kelp