SmartQ’s Post

🌟 Bzzz bzz bzzzzz! A brand-new bee has landed on the scene! 🐝 Introducing Andrena androfovea, a remarkable new discovery from the world of pollinators! This shy, solitary ground-nesting bee boasts a shimmering, blue-tinged body, making it a stunning addition to the ecosystem. But here’s what makes this little critter truly fascinating: ✨ No sting in its step: Unlike many bees, A. androfovea is completely stingless—so no buzzing panic needed! ✨ Texas-born and proud: Found only in Texas and Oklahoma so far, this species is a unique resident of the southern U.S. ✨ A picky pollinator: Scientists believe this bee may have a preference for specific plants, though they’re still unraveling its feeding habits. ✨ A hidden gem: Its name, “androfovea,” reflects its unique habitat—a sandy burrow crafted by the bee itself, a labor of love for nesting and laying eggs. ✨ Small but mighty: Even as a solitary species, A. androfovea plays an essential role in pollination, helping to maintain biodiversity in its local environment. This discovery, detailed in Ecology and Evolution, sheds light on the rich diversity of native bees often overlooked beneath our feet. It’s a reminder that there’s so much left to learn about the incredible wildlife that shares our planet! Learn more about our buzzing new neighbor at the link in our bio. Let’s celebrate this milestone for biodiversity—and the scientists who help uncover these hidden treasures! 🌍💚 #BeeKind #NewSpecies #PollinatorPower #Biodiversity #EnvironmentalScience

At the heart of the Miyawaki Method is the exclusive use of native species, a decision that goes beyond mere preference to a fundamental ecological strategy. Native plants are the building blocks of local ecosystems, evolved to thrive in specific climatic and #soil conditions. By planting these species, Miyawaki forests not only grow faster and healthier but also support local #wildlife, from pollinators to predators, thus restoring the area's natural ecological balance. The selection of native species follows a thorough study of the region's original flora, often involving collaboration with botanists and ecologists. This ensures that the forest not only survives but thrives, creating a dense, biodiverse #habitat that can sustain itself without human intervention. Moreover, using native species reinforces the forests' role in preserving and enhancing regional biodiversity, offering a bulwark against invasive species that can dominate and destabilize local #ecosystems. In this way, Miyawaki forests act as vital reservoirs of genetic #diversity and ecological memory, preserving the area's natural #heritage for future generations. #NativeSpecies #Biodiversity #EcologicalRestoration #MiyawakiForests #Conservation

This is what fieldwork in the #blueeconomy looks like! This post brought back many memories — from learning to do visual censuses and then teaching others, plus thousands of hours in the field doing them for my own research. I recall realizing how delicate (careful where you step!) and resilent (in one day they go from baking in the sun to a metre underwater) these tiny plants and animals are. The skills Enrico Gennari (PhD) ‘s students are learning form the basis of what’s needed to describe the inventory of the Blue Economy — these are the foundational skills that tell us how healthy or unhealthy our ocean is & what it needs to heal. I’d love to (virtual) guest lecture in anyone’s class that’s doing these skills to describe the importance of learning these skills, the Blue Economy, tools to manage and analyze these data, and my vision of global collaboration that starts at the stage of being a student — giving them an early buzz for contributing to something much bigger than they are! #fieldwork #blueeconomy #schoolsin

Good article about something that comes up a lot in restoration work and removing some invasive plants: The value or impact of a species should be considered, not whether or not it's native to an area... Especially when you consider how much is spent on a lot of this work. Where do we actually get a benefit for the money and effort put into natural resources? And humans are a part of nature, doing important ecosystem services, which sometimes includes moving species intentionally or accidentally.

🪻 Wildflower-Friday! When the news feels like doom and gloom it's important to remember that small actions can make a big difference! Researchers from Warsaw University have found that urban wildflower patches can effectively substitute natural meadows, attracting diverse pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies. Researchers found no difference in species diversity between urban and natural meadows, although butterfly numbers were higher in rural areas. Having pockets of urban wildflower meadows helps counteract the lack of natural habitats in cities, enhancing biodiversity and supporting pollinators. This kind of research proves that little pockets of wilderness, even in a city, can positively impact insect numbers. The more space we can make for nature the better, not only do these spaces benefit insect populations but humans benefit from these beautiful spaces too. For the full article follow the link 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eerR4_Ve #WildflowerMeadow #Biodiversity #UrbanRewilding #GreenerCities

The Keystone Species That Hold It All Together. Did you know that removing just one species can send an entire ecosystem into chaos? From wolves in Yellowstone to tiny krill in the ocean, Keystone Species are the backbone of biodiversity. Without them, balance crumbles. Dive into my latest blog where I break it all down (with a cupcake twist 🧁) and explore why these species are the unsung heroes of our planet. Let’s talk flour, bees, wolves, and everything in between! 👉 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/dKUp3U9a What’s your favorite Keystone Species story? Let’s chat in the comments!

🌴🦜 Ever wonder why MORFO is focusing on tropical areas? Currently, we're dedicated to restoring tropical and subtropical regions. We focus on these regions for several compelling reasons: 🦋 They host 50% of the world's biodiversity. 🌬️ They play a critical role as carbon sinks. 🛤️ 360 million hectares of forests are ripe for reforestation in these areas. 🔬 The global scientific community possesses deep knowledge of these ecosystems. Curious about non-tropical regions? Swipe to learn their pros and cons! #tropicalforest #forestrestoration #reforestation

Witnessing the decline of #Ficustrees is concerning for our planet's #Biodiversity. The loss of these vital trees impacts countless species, threatening our ecosystems. It is imperative to prioritize their #Conservation, as Ficus trees provide essential #Livelihoods for numerous insects, birds, and animals, supporting the intricate web of life within our ecosystems. MoEF&CC Read more: https://lnkd.in/gifanhiR

Only 10% of our land in the UK is woodland, with only 2.5% of this being ancient woodland. Ancient woodlands are even more special, with a rich biodiversity network. These habitats are home to many threatened species, making them irreplaceable! Some of our ancient woodlands are extremely diverse for epithetic bryophytes (mosses that grow on trees). This is unique to ancient woodlands! Take a look at these scarlet elf cups nestled on moss captured by Tasha, our Biodiversity Officer (Woodlands), below. If you want to know more about the biodiversity that inhabits a semi natural ancient woodland, join us on the 5th and 6th July for our annual Bioblitz. Everyone is welcome, regardless of your skills and biodiversity knowledge: https://bit.ly/44RsvpA Photo description Scarlet elf cups growing on a bed of moss, surrounded by leaf litter. #Fungi #Moss #LocalWildlifeSite #AncientWoodlands #Biodiversity #BiodiversityDay

In early 2023, Caitlyn Forster, Dieter Hochuli, Tanya Latty, Ryan Keith, Thomas White and I wrote a paper about taxonomic bias in the Threatened Species Bake Off competition - a fun competition (that's on again!) where we were able to show that people tended to enter bakes of charismatic mammals and birds, rather than plants and fish. Because of this paper, the Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner changed their theme in 2023 to try to address this bias and encourage people to look to the unlovable. We then teamed up with Elroy and Anna-Lisa from the OTSC to check out the impact and we saw a dramatic rise in unlovable entries including plants and invertebrates, but also a drop in the number of birds and mammals (although the koala couldn't be bumped from the no.1 spot!). https://lnkd.in/eKE2HcHr Don't underestimate your impact - what was initially a fun lock-down idea (remember that?!) to scrape public data turned out to have government impact. So, why not take a stab at this year's bake off competition, it's on now and there are already some incredible entries - and maybe take a read of our paper and get inspired to look beyond the cute and cuddly into the world of the creepy, crawly, slimey, and stingy!