/newsroom/taxonomy/term/377/all en /newsroom/channels/news/species-diversity-promotes-ecosystem-stability-356231 <p>What maintains stability within an ecosystem and prevents a single best competitor from displacing other species from a community? Does ecosystem stability depend upon the presence of a wide variety of species, as early ecologists believed, or does diversity do the exact opposite, and lead to instability, as modern theory predicts?</p> Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:55:25 +0000 katherine.gombay@mcgill.ca 310370 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/uncertainty-measuring-biodiversity-change-could-hinder-progress-towards-global-targets-nature-355491 <p>More than ever before, there is a growing interest in dedicating resources to stop the loss of biodiversity, as recently exemplified by the <a href="//Users/../../../../../../../Users/andy/Downloads/The%2520GBF%2520focuses%2520on%2520understanding%2520why%2520biodiversity%2520is%2520declining%2520and%2520what%2520actions%2520are%2520needed%2520to%2520reverse%2520this%2520trend.%2520However,%2520implementing%2520the%2520plan%2520is%2520challenging%2520because%2520information%2520about%2520biodiversity%2520changes%2520is%2520not%2520evenly%2520available%2520everywhere,%2520meaning%2520that%25</body></html>"></a></p> Fri, 16 Feb 2024 19:41:59 +0000 frederique.mazerolle@mcgill.ca 307802 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/expert-weather-extremes-influence-rise-and-fall-insect-populations-351592 <p>Insect populations are widely influenced by weather anomalies, with decreasing numbers observed during unfavorable conditions and a spike in normal periods, according to a new study. The study published in <i>Nature</i> tries to resolve a debated topic: Are insect populations declining? Several studies have reported a decline in insect populations and diversity while others have questioned this. (<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06402-z">Nature</a>)</p> <p>Here is an expert from ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą who can provide comment on this issue:</p> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 16:25:15 +0000 frederique.mazerolle@mcgill.ca 307375 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/global-observatory-monitor-earths-biodiversity-350068 <p>At a time of unparalleled rates of biodiversity loss, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-023-02171-0">a new interconnected system to monitor biodiversity</a> around the world is needed to guide action quickly enough to target conservation efforts to where they are most needed.</p> Thu, 24 Aug 2023 20:25:03 +0000 claire.loewen@mcgill.ca 307314 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/not-so-sweet-after-all-are-candy-striped-spiders-threat-ecosystems-across-north-america-347859 <div class="bl-tpl">For years, pollinator declines have been a pressing issue for ecosystem health and food security in the face of climate change and human impacts on the environment. Even in their sleep, pollinating insects cannot catch a break – for fear they’ll be taken down by a small, but mighty predator: the candy-striped spider. Research published in <i>Ecology </i>took a closer look into this spider’s behaviour and found that the result of their stealth attacks could have substantial impacts on ecosystems.</div> Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:48:17 +0000 frederique.mazerolle@mcgill.ca 298497 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/towards-reducing-biodiversity-loss-fragmented-habitats-346809 <p><!-- x-tinymce/html --></p> <p>When natural habitats are cleared to make way for cities, roads and agriculture, this often leaves behind “islands” of fragmented habitat that can place species at risk of extinction. Species are at risk when they find it hard to move among habitat patches to find resources and reproduce.</p> Fri, 10 Mar 2023 15:55:48 +0000 claire.loewen@mcgill.ca 295395 at /newsroom /newsroom/andrew-hendry Thu, 10 Feb 2022 16:54:35 +0000 shirley.cardenas@mcgill.ca 286029 at /newsroom /newsroom/brian-leung Fri, 06 Aug 2021 18:10:34 +0000 frederique.mazerolle@mcgill.ca 271897 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/experts-international-day-biological-diversity-may-22-331100 <p>As the global community is called to re-examine our relationship to the natural world, one thing is certain: despite all our technological advances, humans are completely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems for water, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter, and energy, just to name a few. The 2021 theme, “We’re part of the solution”, was chosen to be a continuation of the momentum generated last year under the over-arching theme, “Our solutions are in nature”, which served as a reminder that biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges.</p> Mon, 17 May 2021 18:22:25 +0000 frederique.mazerolle@mcgill.ca 265915 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/biodiversity-its-own-catalyst-point-328209 <p>For decades, scientists have wrestled with rival theories to explain how interactions between species, like competition, influence biodiversity. Tracking microbial life across the planet, researchers from ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą show that biodiversity does in fact foster further diversity in microbiomes that are initially less diverse. However, diversity rates plateau with increased competition for survival and space in more diverse microbiomes.</p> Tue, 02 Feb 2021 15:09:56 +0000 shirley.cardenas@mcgill.ca 256584 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/new-canadian-headquarters-global-biodiversity-research-network-323136 <p>The Group on Earth Observations - Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), a global research network and community of practice dedicated to improved monitoring of Earth’s biodiversity, announces the relocation of its headquarters from Leipzig, Germany, to Montreal, Canada.</p> <p>GEO BON responds to the urgent need for the best possible data and knowledge to support decisions to avoid unsustainable biodiversity loss. The information it provides will support international and national actions to meet biodiversity targets and Sustainable Development Goals.</p> Mon, 06 Jul 2020 13:12:37 +0000 frederique.mazerolle@mcgill.ca 221775 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/expert-international-day-biological-diversity-may-22-322306 <p>May 22 is <a href="https://www.un.org/en/events/biodiversityday/">International Day for Biological Diversity</a>. As the global community is called to re-examine its relationship to the natural world, one thing is certain: despite all our technological advances we are completely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems for our water, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter and energy, just to name a few. The 2020 theme “Our solutions are in nature” emphasizes hope, solidarity and the importance of working together at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with nature.</p> Thu, 21 May 2020 14:22:52 +0000 shirley.cardenas@mcgill.ca 212049 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/newsweek-glyphosate-herbicide-roundup-triggers-loss-biodiversity-among-freshwater-algae-320983 <p>The glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup has been found to trigger the loss of biodiversity among phytoplankton communities in freshwater ponds. In their experiments, scientists found that while some populations developed resistance to the herbicide and were able to survive exposure at high levels, this came at a cost, with a 40 percent loss in biodiversity.</p> <p><br /> "The ubiquitous presence of glyphosate in the environment has sparked concerns over its potential health and ecotoxicological effects," <strong>Andrew Gonzalez</strong>, from Canada's ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą, said. </p> Wed, 04 Mar 2020 14:20:47 +0000 amelia.souffrant@mail.mcgill.ca 200730 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/widely-used-weed-killer-harming-biodiversity-320906 <p>One of the world’s most widely used glyphosate-based herbicides, Roundup, can trigger loss of biodiversity, making ecosystems more vulnerable to pollution and climate change, say <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-020-1134-5">researchers from ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą</a>.</p> Fri, 28 Feb 2020 15:29:15 +0000 shirley.cardenas@mcgill.ca 200011 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/greater-local-earthworm-diversity-temperate-regions-tropics-301973 <p>Surprisingly, in any single location, there are typically more earthworms and more earthworm species found in temperate regions than in the tropics, according to a study published this week in Science. Global climate change could lead to significant shifts in earthworm communities worldwide, threatening the many functions they provide.</p> Wed, 23 Oct 2019 20:17:09 +0000 amelia.souffrant@mail.mcgill.ca 188090 at /newsroom