Invertebrates: importance, threats of extinction and conservation methods
If I were to put you on the spot and ask you to think of an animal, from any part of the world, which would be the first to come mind? Maybe I'm wrong, but there's a good chance that animal is a mammal, or perhaps a bird. Even...
African wildlife. In conversation with South African safari guide
Following a previous post on The Big Five, I decided to take a closer look at African wildlife and the safari tourism industry which it supports. What better way to explore this issue than to talk to a safari guide and conservationist, someone who understands the challenges involved...
Cultivating a catastrophe: the environmental impact of palm oil farming
Palm oil is big business. The high yields, versatility of uses and nutritional value are just some of the reasons why it has become the second most cultivated oil crop in the world. It’s found in thousands of household products, from cosmetics to cookies, and can even be used to...
Population dynamics models: Levins and the source-sink theory
For decades, ecologists and geneticists have tried to understand the population dynamics of different animal species, establishing models to understand the changes that occur in the number of individuals of a population, the composition of populations and the causes of such variations. Nature isn't homogeneous or stable, so it's...
Genetics, genomics and their role in wildlife conservation
Within genetics there are many areas of research, each impacting on our lives in a different way. From the genetic engineering of animals and plants, to gene therapy in medical treatment, and the use of DNA in genetic profiling. Agriculture, medicine and security are just some of the areas of...
Flagship species: Advantages and disadvantages of their management
According to the latest studies and censuses drawn up by different authors, there are approximately 9 million species on planet Earth, including animals (by far, the most abundant group), fungi, plants, protozoa and algae. However, as little as 25% of them are known to mankind, which means that only 2...
Do all animals face the same extinction risk?
As mentioned in the article "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: conservation status of species", published recently in this blog, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has updated the number of species included in the Red List. It now consists of a total of almost...
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: conservation status of species
A few weeks ago, the Red List of Threatened Species was updated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This list reveals the conservation status of the different animal and plant species worldwide, classifying them into different protection and conservation categories. IUCN is a membership union, composed by...
Edge effects and habitat fragmentation: the main causes of species extinction
The science of conservation biology was developed during the seventies and eighties, when society started to become aware of the importance of addressing the ongoing biodiversity crisis. The multidisciplinary basis of conservation biology has led to new subdisciplines, such as a theoretical branch and a subdiscipline to find solutions...
Living cities: 4 practical ways you can help local wildlife
Today, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas and, by 2050, this is expected to reach 68%. Urbanisation can bring great benefits, such as access to education, health care, employment and social services. However, it could also cause a disconnect between ‘our world’ and the natural world. Some...
Beyond veganism: Capitalism, Feminism and Self-awareness
Talking about the pros and cons of veganism has become a sort of war of words. Anyone who holds a position on either side will come up against a barrage of critics waiting to weigh in on the matter with their words of wisdom. But an opinion, and that's...
Creatures on the move: understanding animal migration
When you think of animal migration, which animals first come to mind? Geese? Seabirds? Well, it’s true that many birds migrate during the year. In fact, at least 4,000 species of birds are considered regular migrants, which is equal to around 40% of all birds. However, migration - the long...
Controlling invasive species: 3 ways to join the fight
In Europe alone, there are around 16,000 plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms that are alien to their natural environment. Of these, 15% pose a threat to biological diversity and can defined as invasive species. Besides their impact on biodiversity, invasive alien species (IAS) can have enormous economic ramifications. According to...
The saiga antelope. A species with a challenging existence.
The saiga (Saiga tatarica) is a medium sized (60 to 80 cm tall) antelope that inhabits the steppes of Central Asia and is classified by IUCN as "critically endangered". They live mainly in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, although they can be found in various areas of Russia (Kazan), China and...
Beyond the Bear. Protecting threatened species and maintaining global diversity
Holocene extinction
As far as we know, planet earth has experienced five mass extinctions so far. The most recent of these, the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction, happened around 65 million years ago and was responsible for killing off the dinosaurs. Mass extinctions typically come about because of catastrophic natural disasters, such as...
