The Public Interest Network’s Post

Florida: tree cactus becomes first local species killed off by sea-level rise Key Largo tree cactus no longer growing naturally in US thanks to salt water inundation and soil depletion https://lnkd.in/e9z-5BhU

This year's theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity is “Be part of the Plan” - an important reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting the incredible diversity of life on Earth. Through our Natural Assets Management Plan, we work across many sites to protect species and create habitat, often in collaboration with others working in the land conservation and catchment management space. At our Dunkeld Grassy Woodland, we've partnered with Glenelg Hopkins CMA on several projects to support this important work. By working together on the same plan, we can make the most impact with our combined efforts. We've been partnering to trial planting some Leucochrysum Hoary Sunrays, a grassland paper-daisy that is nationally endangered. We're glad to see that one year after planting, the seeds are now becoming new plants and continuing to expand their distribution. The Button Wrinklewort Rutidosis leptorhynchoides project has been another long-term collaboration where we've mixed seeds from across the area together to try and create a more genetically diverse population of plants on our site. We can learn a lot about the outcomes of these experiments which will hopefully help to build better biodiversity in this endangered species. #Biodiversity #Environment #Protection #Endangered

Spotted a Hammerhead Worm/ Bipalium kewense 🪱 In the humid, tropical forests of South Andaman, one of the most fascinating yet often overlooked creatures is the Bipalium species, commonly known as the hammerhead worm. These predatory flatworms, easily recognizable by their distinctive, hammer-shaped head, they play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems. The "hammer" which serves as an extension of their head, aids in sensory perception and hunting. They are carnivorous, feeding primarily on earthworms, snails, and other small invertebrates, utilizing toxins in their saliva to immobilize and digest their prey. These worms are also notable for their regenerative abilities. If severed, they can regenerate lost body parts, making them incredibly resilient. In the lush, biodiverse forests of South Andaman, hammerhead worms are important predators that help regulate the populations of other invertebrates, particularly earthworms. Now why Earthworms? Earthworms, critical for soil health, can become too abundant in certain environments, leading to imbalances in nutrient cycling. By controlling earthworm populations, hammerhead worms help ensure the right balance of decomposition and soil health. This process promotes the efficient cycling of nutrients, which is essential for plant growth and the overall health of the forest ecosystem. Additionally, hammerhead worms contribute to the biodiversity of their environment. Their presence in tropical and subtropical habitats is a clear indication of a healthy ecosystem, as these species thrive in well-maintained habitats with rich biodiversity. By preying on other species, hammerhead worms also prevent the overpopulation of any single species, fostering a more balanced and diverse community.✨ #Nature #Ecosystem #Tropicalforest #Healthyforest #Biodiversity #Ecology #Wildlife #Environment #Earth #Conservstion #Green #Hammerheadworms #Predator #Knowledge #Somethingnewtolearn #Landplanarian #Bipaliumkewense #Beautifulcreature

🐛 BRING BACK THE BUGS 🐞 Do you remember when you used to pull over and had to physically clean your car windscreen to remove all the blood and guts of the poor insects that had smashed into your windscreen? Perhaps you are too young to remember, which is rather scary! This messy windscreen phenomenon is becoming much less common. A citizen science study counted the number of insect splats on their registration plates in 2021 and compared the results to a similar study in 2004. They found that in England, counts were down by 65%!!! Evidence and reports on the abundance of insects seems to suggest that insects globally are seeing reductions in abundance, diversity and biomass across the globe! This is a major cause for concern as insects are the base of the food chain and we rely on them to pollinate many plants, which feed us and other wildlife. As well as this, insects are a direct food source for huge numbers of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Insects are super important! 🕷 #verifyhumanity #bugs #insects #plants #ecosystem #wildlife #cars Sources: Ball, L., Trust, K. & Buglife, ., 2022. The Bugs Matter Citizen Science Survey 2022, Kent Wildlife Trust. Retrieved from https://lnkd.in/eyyGRJ39 on 15 Feb 2023. CID: 20.500.12592/g5kp9w. (With Kind permission). Forister, M.L., Pelton, E.M. and Black, S.H., 2019. Declines in insect abundance and diversity: We know enough to act now. Conservation Science and Practice, 1(8), p.e80. (Open Access).

This article acts as a fairly stark reminder of just how costly invasive freshwater species are to both humans and the environment. While invasive species in Aotearoa aren't costing us $21 billion every year like our American counterparts, it's certainly costing us a fair bit (1.3 billion a year to contain spreading species). Having done work on grass carp control in the past I can certainly sympathize with the US. They've got an uphill battle ahead of them with their carp control... Hopefully there are lessons learned from this investment that can be applied back here as well! https://lnkd.in/g3brG_zd

Meet the Cloudless sulphur butterfly (Phoebis sennae) Florida distribution: Statewide Larval host plants: Various native species in the Chamaecrista and Senna genera. Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), Sensitive pea (Chamaecrista nictitans), Privet senna (Senna ligustrina) and Chapman’s wild sensitive plant (Senna mexicana var. chapmanii) are all great commercially available options. CAUTION: Many non-native Senna species are sold commercially. In particular, Christmas senna (S. pendula), or Butterfly senna, is often recommended for butterfly gardens. However, the Florida Invasive Species Council lists it as a Category I invasive species known to alter native plant communities. It should be avoided. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eS8G2NAc Learn about planting for Florida butterflies: https://lnkd.in/eN_jvQKD #PollinatorWeek2024 #PollinatorWeek

While wildflowers brighten our landscapes, #invasive species pose a significant threat to native flora. Take the purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), for example, which was introduced to the United States from Europe and Asia. This attractive yet aggressive plant quickly overtakes #wetlands, outcompeting native wildflowers and disrupting local #ecosystems. It’s crucial to support #biodiversity by planting native species and staying informed about the impacts of invasive plants. #NationalWildflowerWeek

🤔 Why are the IUCN #RedList species criteria not suitable for conservation? 👉🏼 Well... because 99% of all species on earth are smaller than a bumble bee. The Red List designates species #extinction risk by geographic range and population size, or the decline in either. 🐜 Invertebrates comprise the majority of animal diversity and most of them are insects. (We actually live on planet insect so to speak). 👁 Due to their small size, the difficulty in identification, their general rarity...insects are hard to study - making Red List criteria difficult to apply. A brandnew study in Sweden (Goodless et al. 2024) delivers empirical evidence based on the world's largest survey on terrestrial arthropods (insects plus spiders and the like). Even the most ambitious #monitoring efforts are not able to deliver reliable data on geographic range and population sizes as asked by the Red List. ➡️ Which leads to a drastic under-representation of insects. "Oh well, just insects anyway, happy to have so few on my car windshield ..." 😱 This actually should scare you to the bones... Insects are something like the plankton of the land. They are the base of the terrestrial food pyramid and the top of the soil food web. As true ecosystem engineers they cycle nutrients, are the drivers of bioturbation, build soil structure, distribute microbiomes and seeds, pollinate flowers ...just to name a few functions. 👉🏼 Without them, ecosystems collaps... The Swedish team now worked on new criteria to represent the majority of life back into the Red List 👏🏼 ❗ A new system, that focuses on ecosystem integrity and habitat, depicting #biodiversity as a system with layers and not the species tunnel vision. ⚠️ But a list is not saving them from extinction... image by #recelioUzzy

Rodents play a crucial role in ecosystems, contributing to environmental balance and biodiversity. 🌿 As seed dispersers, species like squirrels and mice aid in plant regeneration by hoarding seeds, some of which are forgotten and grow into new plants. 🌿They also serve as a vital food source for predators such as owls, foxes, and snakes, maintaining the food chain. 🌿Rodents help aerate the soil by digging tunnels, which improves water penetration and root growth. Follow Firoz Ansari for more #nature #rodents #ecosystems

It's #WildlifeWednesday! Summer butterfly season is heating up and what better time of year to highlight the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)! July also marks the kickoff of the Monarch Joint Venture #MonarchBlitz, which started on July 26th and runs through this Sunday, August 4th! Monarch Butterflies are probably one of the most well known of our native butterflies and are a true poster child for grassroots conservation initiatives. In 2020, the species was proposed as a candidate for protection and listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, however the species is recognized as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Monarchs have an interesting ecology and life cycle, including their massive migrations, and their dependence on Milkweed (Asclepias sp.) as a host plant. This life cycle model and host specificity, while replicated across many insect species, has garnered love and attention by conservationists and the public around the world and brought attention to the plight of other insects. The Monarch Joint Venture marks a number of ways you can help native monarchs including planting native plants (especially native milkweeds), eliminating pesticide use, helping to protect and steward natural landscapes, and participate in monitoring and fundraising efforts that benefit Monarchs and the habitats they depend on. Learn more about MJV's Monarch Blitz here: https://lnkd.in/eGunpH9F