Perched atop blackened trees, howler monkeys survey the ashes around them. A flock of rheas treads, disoriented, in search of water. The skeletons of alligators lie lifeless and charred. The Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland and one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, is on fire. Huge stretches of land resemble the aftermath of a battle, with thick green shrubbery now a carpet of white ash, and chunks of debris falling from the sky. More than 760,000 hectares (1.8m acres) have already burned across the Brazilian Pantanal in 2024, as fires surge to the highest levels since 2020, the worst year on record. From January to July, blazes increased by 1,500% compared with the same period last year, according to the country’s Institute for Space Research.
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Want to fix water cycles? 💦 Leave it to beavers. 🪵🦫 They were almost eliminated from multiple continents. But luckily, their natural genius is starting to be appreciated. Beavers build stick-and-mud dams that create deep-water ponds, where they can construct a "beaver lodge" that protects them from predators. The result? Fast-flowing streams transform into a quiet wetland oasis, allowing water to sink into the landscape and rehydrate the surrounding ecosystem. Wetlands are some of the most biologically productive ecosystems worldwide. 900 terrestrial animal species rely on wetlands for survival in the United States. But since 1970, more than 35% of the world's wetlands have been lost. Wetlands play crucial roles in hydrating landscapes and filtering water. And beavers are masters at creating them. Dams gather silt from upstream, resulting in 90% less sediment downstream. Surprisingly, wolves actually saved the beaver population of beavers in Yellowstone. Elk populations soared, which destroyed willow trees in riparian areas. But when wolves were reintroduced to the National Park, predatory pressures allowed the willows to once again thrive once the elk population was in balance. This gave beavers the resources to build dams, slow streams, and develop wetlands. Nature's delicate dance is humbling. Water is the most essential element for life on Earth, making Beavers true stewards of life. #water #conservation #climatechange
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🌟 Meet the Spotted Towhee: A Ground-Dwelling Songbird with Style! 🐦 The Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) is a striking bird with its black head, reddish-orange sides, and white-spotted wings. Known for their energetic scratching behavior, they forage on the ground by hopping backward to uncover insects, seeds, and berries hidden in the leaf litter. Their raspy yet melodic songs are a familiar sound in shrublands, forest edges, and overgrown fields throughout the western United States. While they thrive in dense underbrush, wildfires pose a significant threat to Spotted Towhees. Intense fires can destroy the low vegetation and ground cover they rely on for nesting and foraging. Without this protective habitat, these birds become more vulnerable to predators and struggle to find adequate food. Post-fire erosion and habitat fragmentation further disrupt the ecosystems they call home. Restoring fire-damaged areas with native shrubs and grasses can help rebuild critical habitat for Spotted Towhees. By focusing on wildfire prevention and sustainable land management, we can ensure that this vibrant bird continues to scratch, sing, and thrive across its range. 🌿🎶 Learn more about these lively songbirds: https://lnkd.in/eT5hmsHT #WildlifeConservation #SpottedTowhee #WildfireImpact #HabitatRestoration #ProtectOurSongbirds
Spotted Towhee Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
allaboutbirds.org
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Annually, 1 million Sandhill Cranes rest in Nebraska during early spring on their migration north. They have been doing so for more than 9 million years, according to the fossil records. More than 90% of Sandhill Cranes in North America utilize this 75-mile stretch of the Platte River during their spring migration - which was only 45 minutes from where I grew up. And every year tens of thousands of visitors flock to Kearney to experience the world's largest gathering of cranes. This scale of migration forces us to remember that we share this planet with other marvelous creatures and reminds us that our impacts extend far beyond our human world. And it poses the question, "How do we create win-win situations that increase the livelihoods of human beings, promote biodiversity and ecological flourishing?". Because just as we continue to shine light on the ecological destruction from human impact, the Sandhill Crane's numbers continue to thrive - shedding light on nature's resilience to regenerate. If you ever have a chance to visit Nebraska in the spring, do it - even if you have to make a detour. The sheer size of the Sandhill Cranes - 4 feet tall with a 5-6 foot wingspan - will take your breath away. And the sounds they make remind you of a dinosaur. More links in the comments if you want to dive deeper. #soilhealth #sustainableagriculture #farming #agriculture #organicfarming #regenerativeagriculture #farm #conservation #ecology #climate #birds #migration
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In the land of giant sequoias, the largest tree in the world gets a checkup High in the evergreen canopy of the #iconictree #GeneralSherman, the world's #largesttree, #researchers searched for #evidence of an #emergingthreat to #giantsequoias: #barkbeetles. These beetles, native to California, have co-existed with sequoias for thousands of years but have recently started to kill the trees. "The General Sherman tree is doing fine right now," said Anthony Ambrose, executive director of the Ancient Forest Society, who led the expedition. "It seems to be a very healthy tree that's able to fend off any #beetle #attack." As the climate grows hotter and drier, #giantsequoias, previously thought to be almost indestructible, are increasingly threatened by extreme heat, drought, and wildfires. In 2020 and 2021, record-setting #wildfires killed as much as 20 percent of the world's 75,000 mature sequoias. Now, researchers are growing more worried about #bark #beetles, which didn't pose a serious #threat in the past. With climate change threatening forests in the Western United States, SPLAT Verb comes to the rescue of many #iconicpinetrees, including the ancient #bristlecone pine forest in the #WhiteMountains, where #Methuselah, with a verified age of 4,855 years, is located; the #SequoiaNationalPark; the #MotherSeedTrees in #YellowstoneNationalPark; and the endangered white bark trees, a keystone pine species throughout the western mountains that feeds a host of animals, including grizzly bears, just before they overwinter. But imagine if ISCA lnc. can protect these iconic trees from bark beetles using #SPLATVerb. Think about what SPLAT Verb can do for the pine trees in your backyard! Learn more about how our innovative solutions can help protect your trees and ensure their health for generations to come. Good for our #pinetrees, good for our #forests, good for #humanity. Great for the #planet. #SustainableForestry #TreeProtection ISCA lnc. #climatechange #health #ancient #greenchemistry Grupo Bom Futuro Amaggi SLC Agrícola S.A. Embrapa USP - Universidade de São Paulo Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" National Science Foundation (NSF) #semiochemical #environment Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC Nutrien Wilbur-Ellis Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness #semiochemical #pheromone G.S. Long Company #agriculture #communication #protection #IPM #pestcontrol #pestmanagement #california #ISCAtech #SPLAT #ISCA Corteva Agriscience Bayer | Crop Science Syngenta FMC Corporation UPL Corp | Agri Solutions BASF Agricultural Solutions #semiochemical USDA Forest Service #SPLAT USDA US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) ISCA LATAM De Sangosse Australia NIFA USDA (ARS) #saferchemicals #pheromone University of California, Riverside University of Florida University of Massachusetts Amherst University of California, Davis University of California, Berkeley Michigan State University University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Happy final Wetland Wednesday of the month! Did you know that in the desert city of Moab, UT, there’s a lush wetland oasis on the north side of town? The Scott and Norma Matheson Wetlands Preserve, managed by The Nature Conservancy and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, hosts over 200 wildlife species in an otherwise arid landscape. But the preserve faces some challenges - declining groundwater levels and brine in the groundwater can impact this vital habitat. As part of a water budget study, the UGS is studying changes in vegetation and hydrology to keep water levels healthy for the future. We’re tracking brine flow, monitoring groundwater and spring flows, mapping vegetation, and analyzing long-term vegetation and surface water trends using satellite imagery. Want to learn more about wetland and vegetation mapping at the preserve? Learn more–https://ow.ly/Qii450S1eBL #utahgeology #wetlandwednesday
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It’s World Migratory Bird Day! So why the picture of a caterpillar? We’re so glad you asked... Along their migration routes, birds seek out insects in fields, forests, wetlands, and various habitats during stopovers. The timing of bird migration often coincides with peak insect abundance at stopover locations, supplying nourishment for birds to replenish their energy reserves before continuing their journeys. Insects are essential sources of energy for many migratory bird species during breeding seasons and during their extensive journeys, greatly affecting the timing, duration, and overall success of bird migrations. That’s why #WMB2024 is giving some love to the #insects! This monarch butterfly caterpillar was spotted at the Monongahela National Forest’s Mower Tract in West Virginia, of which approximately 2,000 acres were formerly mined for coal. Among other important reclamation work, the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative partnered with the US Forest Service and Green Forests Work to re-establish native red spruce forests on the site. In West Virginia, 240 rare species are associated with red spruce ecosystems! Last summer, #ARRI members gathered here to study the site's progress over the last 13 years and discuss reforestation techniques for former surface mine lands. Our work is for the birds! And the bugs!
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Today is World Migratory Bird Day! This year, World Migratory Bird Day is shining a spotlight on the relationship between migratory birds and insects amidst alarming declines for both. The presence of insects greatly influences the timing, duration, and overall success of bird migrations. During stopovers at various locations along their migration routes, birds actively forage for insects in fields, forests, wetlands, and other habitats. They catch flying insects in mid-air, or they search for insects among leaves, bark, and vegetation. Many birds’ journeys coincide with peak insect abundance in their stopover areas. Learn how to #ProtectInsectsProtectBirds on #WMBD2024! ➡️https://lnkd.in/gZHFyBq
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📍🐾 Mule Deer on the Move: Visualizing Migration in Utah 🐾📍 For Day 12 of the #30DayMapChallenge, with the theme "Time and Space", I present a map showcasing the intricate migration pathways and stopover habitats of the Paunsaugunt Plateau mule deer herd in southern Utah. This map illustrates how these incredible animals navigate the landscape across seasons, utilizing key corridors and stopover sites for rest and resource gathering. Using data from the U.S. Geological Survey (Migration Stopovers of Mule Deer in the Paunsaugunt Plateau Herd in Utah), the map highlights critical habitats and the connectivity between winter and summer ranges. Understanding these spatial patterns is essential for conservation efforts, ensuring that these migration corridors remain intact for the sustainability of Utah's mule deer population. 🗺️ Map Title: Mule Deer Migration Pathways and Stopover Habitats in the Paunsaugunt Plateau, Utah 🖋️ Data Source: U.S. Geological Survey How can we use mapping and spatial data to balance the needs of wildlife and human development? Share your thoughts in the comments below! #GIS #WildlifeConservation #Migration #ArcGISPro #Utah #Geospatial #TimeAndSpace #MuleDeer #ConservationMapping
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Restored sand dunes protect our coasts from storms and erosion, but dune restoration can be expensive, slow, and often unsuccessful. Our new study shows that multi-species dune plantings that leverage natural succession pathways can accelerate dune revegetation. Specifically, bitter panicum functions as a pioneer species and facilitates the growth of sea oats. However, this approach is only effective if sufficient time exists between wave inundation events for succession pathways to play out. Modifying the geomorphic conditions of a site through beach and dune nourishment can reduce inundation frequency and promote successional trajectories. We present a decision matrix to help managers determine optimal revegetation methods tailored to specific project goals and site conditions. A huge thank you to everyone who helped with this work including Copeland Cromwell, Joe Morton, Ralph J.M. Temmink, Tjisse Van der Heide, Pete Adams, Christine Angelini, and many others at UF Center for Coastal Solutions! https://lnkd.in/eqhiiMar
Leveraging successional facilitation to improve restoration of foundational dune grasses along a frequently disturbed coastline
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
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It’s like a movie, green screen cgi scenario, but unfortunately it isn’t… climbing from Griffith Observatory into Hollywood Hills, you get to see the sunset over downtown LA… I remembered it very different… No need for wordthe sound of the wind carrying the weight of this unfolding disaster. Right now, Southern California is battling intense wildfires, driven by strong winds and exceptionally dry conditions. These fires threaten homes, ecosystems, and infrastructure, highlighting the region’s growing vulnerability to such events in a changing climate. This isn’t just a scene—it’s a call for science, collaboration, and informed action. #Geography #ClimateScience #Wildfires #EnvironmentalImpact #Geography #LosAngeles #California #CalFire California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) #PalisadesFire #EatonFire
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