Acaena exigua NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S.<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-surface-slicks-create-superhighway-for-fish/"> Fish</a> and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. Acaena exigua is an extinct species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common name liliwai. It was endemic to Hawaii, where it was known from Kauaʻi and west Maui. It had not been seen or collected since 1957 and was feared extinct until 1997, when one plant was discovered in a remote montane bog on <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=maui&amp;cvid=11f593b142284a109c4b71b63cd85874&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Maui</a>. The plant died in 2000, and the species is now considered extinct.Acaena exigua A. Gray var. subtusstrigulosa Bitter: Classification. Click on a scientific name below to expand it in the PLANTS Classification Report. Rank Scientific Name and Common Name; Kingdom: Plantae – Plants Subkingdom: Tracheobionta

Acaena exigua

Acaena exigua NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation...

Asplenium dielfalcatum NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada.</a> NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Asplenium dielfalcatum ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=c00e8a82502c422bb916d66e2c2505fd&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.ntegrated Taxonomic Information System ITIS provides authoritative taxonomic information on Asplenium fragile, as well as other plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world. Asplenium fragile information from IPNI The International. Therefore on endangered list and probably will remain on the list. The USFWS Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office works closely with our partners in Hawaii, American Samoa, the Marianas, and Remote Pacific Islands to conserve fish, wildlife, plants and habitat.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.Geographic Information Geographic Division: Jurisdiction/Origin: Comments Comment: US ESA: Listed Endangered, as published in Federal Register Volume 59, Number 185, Pages 49025 - 49032, September 26, 1994 Subordinate Taxa Rank Verified Standards Met

Asplenium dielfalcatum

Asplenium dielfalcatum NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Asplenium dielmannii NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/mistastin-lake-in-labrador-canada/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=84f1e8e9658b4caea7e69e7c7dff2555&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59j69i57j69i59j0j69i60l3.1774j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world. North America is a continent entirely within the Northern Hemisphere and almost all within the Western Hemisphere. It can also be described as the northern subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea, and to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean. Because it is on the North American Tectonic Plate, Greenland is included as part of North America geographically. North America covers an area of about 24,709,000 square kilometers (9,540,000 square miles), about 16.5% of the Earth's land area and about 4.8% of its total surface. North America is the third-largest continent by area, following Asia and Africa, and the fourth by population after Asia, Africa, and Europe. In 2013, its population was estimated at nearly 579 million people in 23 independent states, or about 7.5% of the world's population.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

Asplenium dielmannii

Asplenium dielmannii NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Asplenium dielpallidum NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/plants-cannot-keep-up-with-rising-co2-levels/">plants</a> and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Asplenium dielpallidum ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.The USFWS Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office works closely with our partners in Hawaii, American Samoa, the Marianas, and Remote Pacific Islands to conserve fish, wildlife, plants and habitat.

With nearly 400 listed endangered and threatened plant species throughout <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=hawaii&amp;cvid=f9dd7cb4ac0a4f31af5a0e1533df352d&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Hawaii</a> and the Pacific Islands, we, with partners, work to conserve endangered and threatened plants and their habitats and ecosystems. In Hawaii, more than 90% of our flora is found nowhere else in the world.Asplenium dimidiatum Sw. Asplenium dimorphum Kunze; Asplenium diplazisorum Hieron. Asplenium diplosceum Hieron. Asplenium diplotion Baker; Asplenium discrepans Rosenst.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

Asplenium dielpallidum

Asplenium dielpallidum NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Asplenium fragile insulare NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/plants-cannot-keep-up-with-rising-co2-levels/">plants</a> and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Asplenium fragile insulare ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world. Asplenium fragile information from ITIS The Integrated Taxonomic Information System ITIS provides authoritative taxonomic information on Asplenium fragile, as well as other plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world. Asplenium fragile information from IPNI The International Plant Names Index (IPNI) provides nomenclatural information--including bibliographical details--about Asplenium fragile.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. insulare is a fern of the spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae) with a short suberect stem. The leaf stalks are 2-6 in (5-15 cm) long. The main axis of the frond is dull gray or brown, with two greenish ridges.

Asplenium fragile insulare

Asplenium fragile insulare NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer...

Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/intense-wildfires-in-manitoba-canada/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north%20america&amp;qs=n&amp;form=QBRE&amp;sp=-1&amp;pq=&amp;sc=0-0&amp;sk=&amp;cvid=2A486C7EEB7F4DC9A48B1971A274D39A">North America</a> and the world. North America is a continent entirely within the Northern Hemisphere and almost all within the Western Hemisphere. It can also be described as the northern subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea, and to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean. Because it is on the North American Tectonic Plate, Greenland is included as part of North America geographically. North America covers an area of about 24,709,000 square kilometers (9,540,000 square miles), about 16.5% of the Earth's land area and about 4.8% of its total surface

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum

Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe...

Asplenium unisorum NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=canada&amp;cvid=782e634f4b81467e829a67081c6760f5&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Canada.</a> NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Asplenium unisorum ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.Asplenium unisorum: 1: 13: Ensure long-term protection of habitat: Ongoing Not Current: Prior to FY 1995: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Division, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Defense, Private landowners.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.The USFWS Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office works closely with our partners in <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/snow-on-hawaiis-tallest-peaks/">Hawaii,</a> American Samoa, the Marianas, and Remote Pacific Islands to conserve fish, wildlife, plants and habitat. Also Asplenium unisorum is in a species group.

Asplenium unisorum

Asplenium unisorum NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Astelia waialealae NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/plants-cannot-keep-up-with-rising-co2-levels/">plants</a> and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Astelia waialealae ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=7d2d4a3cfa904c0da200de98f8c5e238&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.Astelia waialealae is a rare species of plant in the Asteliaceae family that is endemic to the island of Kauaʻi of the state of Hawaii in United States. It inhabits montane bogs within the vicinity of the Alakaʻi Swamp on the island's central plateau. A. waialealae is threatened by habitat loss and habit disturbance by feral pigs; there are only about 26 plants remaining. It is a federally listed endangered species. Kauai pa'iniu Subordinate Taxa. This plant has no children Legal Status. Wetland Status. Interpreting Wetland Status. Top Level Regions; Hawaii: OBL Related Links. More Accounts and Images.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

Astelia waialealae

Astelia waialealae NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Astragalus albens NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=canada&amp;cvid=feea2d5fbfb54bb5aef0d3565f04e08c&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Astragalus albens ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

It is <a title="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemism">endemic</a> to <a title="San Bernardino County, California" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bernardino_County,_California">San Bernardino County, California</a>, where it is known from the northern slopes of the <a title="San Bernardino Mountains" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bernardino_Mountains">San Bernardino Mountains</a> near the settlement of <a title="Cushenbury, California" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushenbury,_California">Cushenbury</a>. Most of the plants are located in the woodland and scrub of the slopes between <a title="Big Bear Lake" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bear_Lake">Big Bear</a> in the mountains and <a class="mw-redirect" title="Lucerne Valley" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucerne_Valley">Lucerne Valley</a> in the <a title="Mojave Desert" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojave_Desert">Mojave Desert</a> at the foot of the range.

It grows in habitat rich in <a title="Limestone" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestone">carbonate</a> rock. It is a federally listed <a title="Endangered species" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species">endangered species</a> which is known from 30 to 50 populations.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astragalus_albens#cite_note-cpc-1">[1]</a> There are a total of about 7000 plants, fewer in <a title="Drought" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drought">drought</a> years

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

Astragalus albens

Astragalus albens NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Astragalus ampullarioides NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Astragalus ampullarioides ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=7d2d4a3cfa904c0da200de98f8c5e238&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.
widely appreciated as something that has too many health benefits. potential benefits that astragalus has for the health of a person include reducing stress
Despite its relatively unknown status as a health-boosting herb, this little plant .
FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-surface-slicks-create-superhighway-for-fish/">Fish</a> and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.cushenbury milkvetch Subordinate Taxa. This plant has no children Legal Status. Threatened and Endangered Information: This plant is listed by the U.S. federal government or a state. Common names are from state and federal lists. Click on a place name to get a complete protected plant list for that location. small, silvery-white, short-lived perennial herb in the Fabaceae ( pea family). Cushenbury milk-vetch generally occurs with soils derived from limestone, dolomite, or a mixture of limestone and dolomite.

Astragalus ampullarioides

Astragalus ampullarioides NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Astragalus applegatei NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=canada&amp;cvid=a8c37b0dc8be4900801bbfdd737b88c7&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Astragalus applegatei ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.Astragalus applegatei is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common name Applegate's milkvetch. It is endemic to Klamath County, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unequal-treatment-protestors/">Oregon</a>, where it is known from three populations, one of which is made up of only three plants. Much of the remaining habitat is seriously threatened by development, introduced plant species, and other forces. This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. Astragalus lemmonii is the only other Astragalus species that occurs in the same moist habitat as Applegate’s milkvetch within the range of the endangered taxon. Astragalus lemmonii is distinguished by its short, crowded racemes on peduncles that are paired in all or most axils, and by its pods, which are sessile, fully bilocular, and grooved along.

Astragalus applegatei

Astragalus applegatei NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Astragalus bibullatus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Astragalus bibullatus ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-surface-slicks-create-superhighway-for-fish/">Fish</a> and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.Astragalus bibullatus, the limestone glade milkvetch or Pyne's ground plum, is an endangered species of flowering plant that is endemic to the cedar glades of the central basin of Tennessee in the United States. It is found in only eight populations located within a few kilometers of each other in Rutherford County, Tennessee.(formerly called Guthrie’s ground-plum, but now commonly referred to as Pyne’s ground-plum) is a rare, perennial member of the pea family (Fabaceae) and is endemic to the limestone cedar glades in the Central Basin Section of the Interior Low Plateau. This species is currently known from only eight

Astragalus bibullatus

Astragalus bibullatus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Astragalus brauntonii NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=canada&amp;cvid=4de7709479ce440bb91417b46773d47f&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Astragalus brauntonii ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=9d9a0a4c5dff44d78078fc35d7f1dc5d&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.Astragalus brauntonii is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common name Braunton's milkvetch. It is endemic to California, where it is known from fewer than 20 extant occurrences in the hills and mountains surrounding the Los Angeles Basin in Southern California. This is a federally listed endangered species in the United States.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. a rare species of milkvetch known by the common name Braunton's milkvetch. It is endemic to California, where it is known from fewer than 20 extant occurrences in the hills and mountains surrounding the Los Angeles Basin in Southern California. This is a federally listed endangered species in the United States.

Astragalus brauntonii

Astragalus brauntonii NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Astragalus clarianus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/changing-ocean-soundscapes-impact-animals-worldwide/">animals</a> too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Astragalus clarianus ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=9a87156cce6c4250a8a4987266001c17&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.This is an annual herb producing thin stems covered in tiny rough hairs. The plant reaches up to 12 cm (4.7 in) tall. The small leaves are made up of a few pairs of oval-shaped leaflets. The <a title="Inflorescence" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflorescence">inflorescence</a> is a small cluster of two to seven flowers. Each flower is about 1 cm (0.39 in) long and has white petals with bright deep purple tips. The fruit is a papery <a title="Legume" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legume">legume</a> pod around 2 cm (0.79 in) long. It is tapered at both ends, hairy in texture, and it bears a sharp beak at one end. The plant was named for the California schoolteacher and amateur botanist Clara Adele Pike Blodgett Hunt

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.Clara Hunt’s milk-vetch is a California threatened plant species, which means that killing or possessing plants is prohibited by the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The species is also listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. Clara Hunt’s milk-vetch is a low-growing annual herb with white and purple flowers that typically appear in March …

Astragalus clarianus

Astragalus clarianus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Astragalus cremnophylax var. cremnophylax NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.Astragalus cremnophylax is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common names sentry milkvetch and cliff milkvetch. It is endemic to Arizona, where the three varieties grow in three separate locations. The rarest variety, var. cremnophylax, is a federally listed endangered species which grows only on the rim of the Grand Canyon. The two other varieties are known from the Buckskin Mountains and Marble Canyon.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.s known from three populations on the South Rim of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=grand+canyon&amp;cvid=b09a38c049f8409f8bb593c66945f783&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Grand Canyon</a> National Park. One of the populations was at a popular overlook site where it was trampled by visitors. In 1990, the park built fence.

Astragalus cremnophylax var. cremnophylax

Astragalus cremnophylax var. cremnophylax NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe...

Astragalus desereticus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Astragalus desereticus ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=9d9a0a4c5dff44d78078fc35d7f1dc5d&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.Astragalus desereticus is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common name Deseret milkvetch. It is endemic to Utah County, <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/great-salt-lake-in-northern-utah/">Utah</a>, where it is known from only one population. It was thought to be extinct until 1981 when this population was discovered. The population contains 5,000 to 10,000 plants on an area of land covering less than 300 acres. It is vulnerable to damage from grazing cattle, which eat the plant and trample the soil, and from development and erosion. This is a federally listed threatened species.

Astragalus desereticus

Astragalus desereticus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Astragalus holmgreniorum NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=plants&amp;cvid=c11013b8c0b74c81bc244cac011f6db7&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">plants</a>, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.Astragalus holmgreniorum is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common names Holmgren milkvetch and paradox milkvetch. It is native to a tiny section of desert shrub woodland on the border between Utah and Arizona, in the far northern Mojave Desert. There are six populations remaining. It is a federally listed endangered species. Species Description: Both Astragalus holmgreniorum (Holmgren milk-vetch) and A. ampullarioides (Shivwits milk-vetch) are members of the pea family (Fabaceae or Leguminosae). Holmgren milk-vetch is a shortlived perennial; few plants live past three years, with 4 years being the oldest documented lifespan.

Astragalus holmgreniorum

Astragalus holmgreniorum NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Astragalus humillimus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=plants&amp;cvid=c11013b8c0b74c81bc244cac011f6db7&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">plants</a> and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Astragalus humillimus ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.Astragalus humillimus is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common name Mancos milkvetch. It is native to a small section of the Four Corners region of the United States, where it can be found in Montezuma County, Colorado, and San Juan County, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carlsbad-caverns-new-mexico/">New Mexico</a>. There are about nine small, localized populations on sandstone rimrock ledges on the mesas. The plant occurs in a region that is being developed for oil and gas exploration, and altered by associated activities such as road construction and pipeline installation. It is a federally listed endangered species.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

Astragalus humillimus

Astragalus humillimus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Astragalus jaegerianus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/changing-ocean-soundscapes-impact-animals-worldwide/">animals</a> too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=8758f795b5804977bbc6943b5f87a154&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.Astragalus jaegerianus is a rare species of <a title="Astragalus" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astragalus">milkvetch</a> known by the common name Lane Mountain milkvetch. The plant was named for the biologist <a title="Edmund Jaeger" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Jaeger">Edmund Jaeger</a>, who first documented it in 1939.

This is a perennial herb with thin stems coated in scaly hairs. The stems reach 30 to 70 centimeters in length and grow tangled in the herbage of adjacent <a title="Shrub" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrub">shrubs</a>. In dry years the plant grows only a few centimeters long before flowering, but after abundant rain it may climb to the tops of neighboring shrubs. The leaves are 2 to 5 centimeters long and are made up of several widely spaced narrow leaflets with hairy upper surfaces.

The <a title="Inflorescence" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflorescence">inflorescence</a> is an open array of up to 15 pale purple, dark veined flowers. Each flower is up to one centimeter in length. The flowers are insect-pollinated, with the most common pollinator being the <a title="Megachilidae" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megachilidae">megachilid bee</a> <a title="Anthidium dammersi" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthidium_dammersi">Anthidium dammersi</a>. The fruit is a hanging <a title="Legume" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legume">legume</a> pod up to 2.5 centimeters long. It is hairless and dries to a leathery or thick papery texture.

Astragalus jaegerianus

Astragalus jaegerianus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Sea urchins don’t understand predators the way we do. They have no brains, no hearts - just raw instinct. When a sunflower sea star approaches, they don’t need complex reasoning to sense danger - they simply steer clear.



This is the conclusion of a new study that examined how sunflower sea stars affect sea urchin behavior. The research was conducted by ecologists and undergraduates at the <a href="https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/">University of California</a>, Santa Cruz.



The team set out to understand whether these massive, many-armed sea stars could help protect kelp forests by simply being present.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-stars-create-a-landscape-of-fear">Sea stars create a landscape of fear</h2>



The team from UC Santa Cruz conducted the experiment off the coast of Sitka, Alaska, where local sea urchins have wiped out once-thriving kelp forests, turning them into underwater deserts.



The students, trained in scientific diving through the university’s BIOE 159 Marine Ecology Field Quarter, placed cages on the ocean floor. Some held <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunflower-sea-stars-are-nearly-extinct-but-scientists-are-growing-them/">sunflower sea stars</a> (Pycnopodia helianthoides). Others were left empty. 



Kelp blades were tied near each cage to act as bait. The question was simple: Would sea urchins avoid the kelp if a sunflower sea star was nearby?



After just 24 hours, the answer was clear. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-red-sea-urchins-will-tolerate-climate-change-better-than-others/">Red sea urchins</a> kept their distance - about six feet, on average - from cages containing the sea stars. In contrast, green sea urchins, also present in the area, showed no hesitation and munched through the kelp.



“We show that the sea stars create a ‘landscape of fear’ among red sea urchins in degraded urchin barrens that reduces grazing on kelp,” said Kristy Kroeker, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz. 



“These are very hungry urchins that are dissuaded enough by the scent of a sea star to deter grazing on kelp forests, which is promising for thinking about their role in kelp-forest recovery.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-kelp-forests-matter">Why kelp forests matter</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kelp-forests-in-crisis-how-toxic-turf-algae-are-taking-over/">Kelp forests</a> aren’t just scenery. They provide critical shelter and breeding grounds for thousands of marine species, including commercially valuable ones like abalone and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pacific-rockfish-give-clues-about-the-genetic-basis-of-longevity/">rockfish</a>. 



They’re also a financial powerhouse, contributing an estimated $500 billion each year to the global economy. Kelp is used in everything from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to food products like salad dressings and toothpaste.



But around 2013, something changed. A wasting disease swept through populations of sunflower sea stars, pushing them to local extinction along much of the west coast. 



At the same time, huge sections of kelp forest disappeared, especially in California and Oregon. Since then, neither the sea stars nor the kelp have made a full comeback.



That’s raised big questions. Are sea stars a key part of keeping urchin populations in check? Could bringing them back help kelp forests recover?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-students-led-the-research">Students led the research </h2>



This study didn’t come from a high-budget lab. It came from a hands-on field course that takes students into real-world research environments. 



In past years, the course has brought students to the Gulf of California in Mexico and to Moorea in French Polynesia. This time, they ended up in the chilly waters of Alaska.



“I feel very grateful to have had the privilege of working on this study alongside my peers,” said Rae Mancuso, the study’s lead author. 



“Participating in the entire process, from diving to scientific writing, was exciting and impactful as an undergraduate student. I hope the findings from this field experiment contribute in some way to the restoration of our all-important kelp forests.”



The students worked with faculty to design the experiment and set it up across three locations in urchin-dominated zones. They built pairs of cages, spaced about 60 to 100 feet apart, and monitored the urchin activity closely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-stars-scaring-off-sea-urchins">Sea stars scaring off sea urchins </h2>



Although the sea stars only deterred red sea urchins - not the green ones - researchers say it’s a promising lead. Simply putting sea stars in the area (rather than trying to remove urchins by hand) could help restore balance to the ecosystem.



Even better, this strategy might be less labor-intensive than current methods, which often require divers to manually cull urchin populations.



The researchers are also curious whether sunflower sea stars might scare off <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gray-whales-struggle-as-purple-sea-urchins-destroy-kelp-forests/">purple sea urchins</a>, the worst kelp destroyers in California. That part is still unclear.



“My educated guess is that they will deter purple urchin grazing as well, but it’s a question of how much and for how long,” Kroeker said. 



“There are many unknowns that need to be addressed and many steps that need to be taken between our results and the reintroduction of Pycnopodia for kelp-forest recovery.”



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0949">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



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'Terrifying' sea stars could be key to kelp forest recovery

Sea urchins don’t understand predators the way we do. They...

When trees topple into peat bogs or riverbeds, a slow alchemy begins. Hemmed in by mud, deprived of oxygen, and nudged along by microbes, the trunks gradually darken, densify, and mineralize. 



Sometimes, centuries later, they emerge as prized “ancient buried wood” that resists rot and boasts a marble-like sheen.



An international group of materials scientists recently wondered: Could that natural upgrade be coaxed to happen on the lab bench - quickly, cleanly, and at industrial scale?



The answer is BioStrong Wood, a timber strengthened with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-fungi-species-are-threatened-with-extinction/">fungus</a> and heat, whose tensile strength now outmuscles common SAE 304 stainless steel while weighing far less.



The project was a collaboration between the <a href="https://www.ehu.eus/en/en-home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of the Basque Country</a> (EHU), <a href="https://en.whu.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wuhan University</a>, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.



The outcome, the experts argue, is not merely a clever composite but a glimpse of circular, sustainable materials which could replace the non‑renewable and highly polluting materials on which our economy is based.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-wood-still-matters">Why wood still matters</h2>



Humans have used wood for millennia, yet most high‑performance engineering still defaults to steel, aluminum, or petro‑derived plastics.



Wood’s natural drawbacks - porosity, moisture absorption, and inconsistency - confine its use to beams and boards, not precision-engineered parts.



However, study co-author Professor Erlantz Lizundia sees untapped potential: “Wood is one of the most accessible biological materials, but outside its conventional use, it is barely being explored for high‑performance applications.”&nbsp;



Taming flaws could let designers replace fossil-heavy materials with a climate-friendly, carbon-storing feedstock that grows on trees.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wood-uses-fungus-and-geology">Wood uses fungus and geology</h2>



Nature already offers a recipe. In ancient buried wood, modest heat and pressure, along with microbial enzymes, partially break down <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/researchers-create-antimicrobial-substances-using-lignin-and-plant-wastes/">lignin</a> - the amorphous polymer that cements cellulose fibers. 



This allows the remaining molecules to repolymerize into a tighter, hydrophobic network. The Basque-Chinese team accelerated that evolution in three deliberate steps:



<ol start="1" class="wp-block-list">
<li>Selective fungal digestion - Planks of fast‑growing poplar and radiata pine were inoculated with white‑rot fungi. Over several days the microbes chewed specific ether bonds in lignin, loosening the microstructure while leaving the strong cellulose framework largely intact.</li>



<li>Chemical tuning - A mild alkaline wash halted fungal growth and removed low‑molecular‑weight residues, setting the stage for new crosslinks.</li>



<li>Hot pressing under high pressure - Boards were stacked and compressed at temperatures above 356 °F (180 °C). Cell walls collapsed, voids vanished, and fragmented lignin pieces fused into fresh carbon–carbon bonds, welding the lumber into a dense, horn-like slab.</li>
</ol>



This hybrid bio‑thermo‑mechanical route preserves up to 85 percent of the original mass - far higher than acid‑delignified “super woods” - and requires little solvent or energy beyond the press cycle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wood-withstands-extreme-stress">Wood withstands extreme stress</h2>



Mechanical trials show why the researchers are excited. BioStrong Wood survives tensile stresses above 530 MPa - edging out stainless steel’s typical 520 MPa - and absorbs over eleven times more energy before fracturing than raw wood.



Flexural tests reveal a threefold jump in bending strength. Thermal cycling from –321 °F (–196 °C) to 248 °F (120 °C) hardly alters its stiffness, and water contact angles near 140° keep moisture at bay. In accelerated weathering chambers, samples showed negligible swelling or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-technology-can-detect-plant-diseases-from-above/">mildew</a>. 



Behind the numbers lies a reengineered microarchitecture. X‑ray diffraction indicates cellulose crystallinity rises during pressing, while scanning electron microscopy shows near‑complete elimination of pores.



Reformed lignin acts like a molecular epoxy, locking cellulose sheets together and sealing pathways for water or oxygen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-capture-in-every-plank">Carbon capture in every plank</h2>



Strength is only half the story; so is sustainability. Using standard life-cycle assessment protocols, the authors calculate that each 2.2 lbs of BioStrong Wood sequesters roughly 2.6 lbs of CO₂ net, even after accounting for energy, chemicals, and fungal cultivation.



The negative footprint contrasts starkly with steel (4.2 lbs CO₂ emitted per 2.2 lbs produced) or glass-fiber composites (~11 lbs CO₂ per 2.2 lbs).



Techno-economic analysis pegs potential production costs near ¥2 CNY (≈ US $0.30) per 2.2 lbs - dramatically cheaper than aerospace polymers and competitive with plywood.



“Our results show that it is possible to obtain materials with a very high mechanical performance and which are, in turn, economically viable and offer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-capture-technology-faces-uncertainty-despite-heavy-investment/">carbon capture</a> capabilities,” noted Professor Lizundia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-uses-for-fungus-wood">Future uses for fungus wood</h2>



Early prototypes hint at diverse uses, from vehicle panels to sports equipment cores and impact-resistant phone cases. 



They could also serve as exposed beams with fossil-wood aesthetics or cryogenic insulation supports due to thermal-shock resistance.



Because the process accepts multiple softwood and hardwood species, regional mills could tap local forestry residues instead of importing steel rebar or petrochemical resin.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-lab-to-lumberyard">From lab to lumberyard</h2>



Scaling will demand continuous‑press technology, rapid fungal bioreactors, and strict quality control to homogenize input lumber. 



Building codes require researchers to characterize fire behavior, often a stumbling block for dense woods.



End‑of‑life recycling pathways, perhaps via controlled pyrolysis to biochar, also need definition. 



The researchers are already testing other fungal strains and shorter incubation times to cut lead time from days to hours.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wood-joins-the-big-leagues">Wood joins the big leagues</h2>



The BioStrong Wood story demonstrates a broader shift. Engineers are revisiting biological feedstocks not just for novelty, but to replace emissions-heavy incumbents at the structural level.



Whether it is mycelium foams, bacterial cellulose films or now fungus toughened wood, the toolkit of renewable high‑performance materials including wood is expanding. 



This study shows that by letting nature handle part of the chemistry, scientists can leapfrog traditional limits of wood. That opens the door to steel‑class strength without the steel‑class carbon bill.



If trials succeed, pallet-bound planks could soon top <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dozens-of-coastal-skyscrapers-in-miami-are-sinking/">skyscrapers</a> or rocket fairings. Even in advanced engineering, well-crafted wood can still compete with metal.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ady0183" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Scientists invented a process that makes wood stronger than steel

When trees topple into peat bogs or riverbeds, a slow...

Environmental concerns can sometimes feel especially urgent - and World Nature Conservation Day is one of those times. 



Observed each year on July 28, this occasion serves as a reminder of the vital role nature plays in our lives and how fragile that support has become.



Forests purify the air we breathe. Rivers nourish ecosystems and communities alike. But the balance is shifting. Temperatures are rising, habitats are shrinking, and pollution is spreading. These changes signal an urgent need for action.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-conservation-nbsp-around-the-world">Nature conservation&nbsp;around the world</h2>



Though people have protected nature for centuries, the official celebration of this day began in the late 1900s. It arose in response to rapid environmental loss.



Since then, the initiative has grown worldwide. <a href="https://wildlifeday.org/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communities</a> hold awareness campaigns and workshops. People plant trees and attend talks. The core message stays the same. A healthy planet means a healthy future for all.



Nature’s health determines our survival. We depend on clean air, fertile soil, and fresh water. Nature gives us food, medicine, and mental peace. 



If ecosystems collapse, everyone suffers. World Nature Conservation Day is not about charity or good intentions. It is about preserving what keeps us alive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smart-tools-for-wildlife-protection">Smart tools for wildlife protection</h2>



Nature is under threat, and illegal hunting remains one of the most serious dangers. Species like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-era-in-wildlife-conservation-how-ai-will-help-protect-elephants/">elephants</a> are often targeted for their tusks - putting entire populations at risk of extinction.



To stop this, experts have created a smart tool called PoachNet. It’s a digital system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and GPS location data.



PoachNet studies patterns and predicts where poachers are most likely to strike next. The system then alerts local conservation teams, so they can act quickly and protect the animals.



This approach demonstrates how technology can protect wildlife before harm occurs. PoachNet isn’t just reactive - it’s proactive, working to stop threats before they happen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-era-of-nature-conservation">A new era of nature conservation </h2>



Protecting animals isn't only about keeping them safe from harm. It also means learning how they live, move, and interact with their environment. Recent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tracking-caribou-movement-patterns-can-transform-conservation/">caribou research</a> is a good example of this idea in action.



Scientists are using GPS tracking devices to study individual caribou. These trackers show where each animal travels over time. 



What the experts discovered is that not all caribou move the same way. Each group has its own pattern, and that means each group needs a different kind of protection.



This research helps conservationists design special paths, called migration corridors, so caribou can move safely across the land. It also helps keep them away from busy roads and industrial areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-guarding-the-oceans">Guarding the oceans </h2>



Protecting the ocean is difficult, especially because it's so large and hard to monitor. Marine conservation often struggles with enforcing rules, like fishing bans, in remote areas. Many people believe it’s too hard to stop illegal activity in such vast waters.



But <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-marine-protected-areas-working-satellites-reveal-the-truth/">recent research</a> shows that ocean protection is possible. Scientists studied over 1,000 marine protected areas using satellites and artificial intelligence (AI). These tools helped them track ship movements, even those trying to hide.



The researchers discovered that in places with strict fishing bans, illegal activity dropped. The radar technology detected hidden ships, and this allowed for better enforcement. The results prove that smart tools can make a big difference



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tagging-rays-to-help-save-them">Tagging rays to help save them</h2>



Conservation sometimes means learning about animals we rarely see. Rays are one such example. They move in ways that make them hard to track. 



For a long time, scientists couldn't follow rays closely because old tracking devices would fall off too soon.



That problem changed with the creation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tracking-endangered-rays-a-new-chapter-in-marine-conservation/">new biologging tags</a>. These tags are advanced tools that include cameras, sensors, and machine learning. They stay attached longer and collect detailed information.



With these tools, scientists now know where rays swim, how they find food, and how they interact with other rays. This information helps create better marine protection plans, such as safe zones where rays can live without threats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-world-nature-conservation-day">Significance of World Nature Conservation Day </h2>



Every action taken to protect nature - whether it involves tracking the hidden journeys of rays or studying the migration of caribou - plays an important role. No effort is too small when it comes to preserving the delicate balance that supports all life on Earth.



World Nature Conservation Day 2025 serves as a powerful reminder that protecting nature is not just about preserving beauty or wildlife. It is directly connected to our own future, health, and stability. When we care for nature, we care for ourselves.



The latest conservation research - from animal protection to smart ocean monitoring - shows how compassion and innovation can go hand in hand. We’re entering an era where conservation is no longer passive but dynamic, creative, and action-driven.



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World Nature Conservation Day 2025: A healthy future for all

Environmental concerns can sometimes feel especially urgent - and World...

Across the eastern United States, tree communities are shifting toward fewer species in a process known as homogenization. A long-term case study now shows how quickly a decline in tree diversity can unfold inside a single Midwestern forest.



The 24-acre Trelease Woods, owned by the <a href="https://illinois.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Illinois</a> since 1917, has been surveyed again and again for almost a century.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-a-century-of-forest-diversity">Tracking a century of forest diversity </h2>



The team mined plot maps, punch-card data, and modern laser measurements to follow every tree wider than 2.5 inches recorded since 1922. During that period, species richness slipped from 23 to 20 as sugar maple and Ohio buckeye seized much of the growing space.



Trelease now forms part of the <a href="https://forestgeo.si.edu/what-forestgeo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ForestGEO</a> network, which monitors roughly seven million trees representing nearly 13,000 species worldwide. Linking the local census to that global database allows scientists to compare small-scale stories with continental patterns.



Tree <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-trees-protect-their-genetic-diversity-for-millions-of-years/">diversity</a> fell 22 percent overall, and the steepest drop showed up in saplings shorter than five inches across. That decline signals a forest less able to roll with surprise pests, storms, or heat waves.



Average tree diameter shrank by one-fifth as tiny saplings crowded below a still-expanding maple canopy. Yet the three largest trunks on the plot, two bur oaks and a black walnut, grew even larger - showing that veteran giants can coexist with maple expansion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pests-and-declining-tree-diversity">Pests and declining tree diversity </h2>



The invasive emerald ash borer kills more than 99 percent of untreated ash trees and could cost U.S. cities an estimated 900 million dollars over the next three decades. Dutch elm disease, driven by the fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, has already erased most mature American elms in many states.



“Dutch elm disease and the emerald ash borer have significantly decreased the abundance of elm and ash trees in Trelease Woods and across North America,” said Jennifer Fraterrigo, who helped lead the analysis.



When the insects and fungi hollow out elms and ashes, they open holes in the canopy. Shade-loving seedlings waiting below pounce on the new light before slower oaks or hickories can respond.



Ash logs that once shaded summer research crews now lie riddled with larval galleries, their distinct D-shaped exit holes signaling where beetles fled. 



Because ash and elm filled different ecological niches - elm trunks provided shelter for cavity-nesting birds, while ash trees rapidly recycled nutrients - their simultaneous loss intensifies ecosystem disruption.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fires-and-forest-diversity">Fires and forest diversity </h2>



Early last century, federal and state policies pushed to stamp out most woodland <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-aspen-forests-can-help-stop-wildfires-in-their-tracks/">fires</a>, and that retreat of flames helped tip forests toward shade-tolerant, mesic species. 



Ecologists call the feedback loop mesophication, because the stand grows cooler, wetter, and ever friendlier to maples and other moisture-loving trees.



At Trelease, fire scars are absent in modern cross-sections, and the canopy has steadily darkened. That shift leaves oak seedlings gasping for sun while sugar maples prosper under their own shade.



Sapling counts confirm the change: maple stems now outnumber oaks almost ten to one in the smallest size class. Without periodic burns, managers say, the imbalance will only grow.



Researchers elsewhere have shown that just a few carefully timed burns can reverse mesophication, but only if enough oak seedlings remain in the bank. The Trelease dataset hints that the window for that turnaround is closing as maple dominance widens.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deer-change-the-understory">Deer change the understory</h2>



Soaring numbers of white-tailed deer compound the problem by selectively browsing palatable seedlings and suppressing regeneration. Browsed stems stay short, letting shade widen across the forest floor.



Hackberry, basswood, and ash suffer the most nibbles here, while less tasty pawpaw spreads in their place. Those dietary choices accelerate the compositional skid already set in motion by pests and fire exclusion.



Even sugar maple, a deer favorite, persists because enough seedlings dodge grazing to replenish each gap. The result is a patchwork where a few hardy winners dominate every height layer.



Camera traps inside the woodlot now record up to eight deer per square mile, double early-1990s estimates kept by state biologists. Such densities far exceed the one to three deer per square mile many ecologists recommend for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/should-we-cut-down-all-oak-trees-isoprene-emissions-air-pollution-climate-change/">oak</a> regeneration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-tree-species-diversity-matters">Why tree species diversity matters</h2>



Losing species diversity strips away the ecological insurance that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-are-losing-the-battle-against-climate-change/">forests</a> rely on when drought, disease, or storms strike. Fraterrigo warns that if one species swells to 70 percent of stems, a single new pest could trigger what she calls functional collapse.



Economic stakes are high as well, because mixed stands store more carbon and support more wildlife than single-species blocks. Long-term monitoring like the Trelease census offers early warning before those services vanish.



Tree variety underpins a mosaic of flowering times, leaf chemistries, and root depths that spreads risk the way a smart investor spreads capital. Homogenization erases that portfolio, leaving the system riding on a single economic bet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-the-study">Broader implications of the study</h2>



Researchers suggest thinning dense maple thickets, reintroducing low-intensity burns, and culling deer to rebalance light and browsing pressure. Planting diverse native saplings in canopy gaps can also jump-start forest recovery.



Lessons from Trelease now inform experiments across the ForestGEO network as scientists test which combinations of fire, harvest, and wildlife control restore forest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smarter-forest-design-can-help-fight-climate-change/">resilience</a>. Managers elsewhere may adapt those findings to keep their own woods from sliding into maple monocultures.



Some managers have begun injecting systemic insecticides into lingering ash saplings to preserve genetic stock until biocontrol agents catch up. Others experiment with protective cages around oak seedlings to give them a head start against hungry deer.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112725002154?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest Ecology and Management</a>.



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Century-old forest study reveals troubling decline in tree diversity

Across the eastern United States, tree communities are shifting toward...

Cutting back on meat has become mainstream, but eggs have mostly held their ground at the American breakfast table. That could be about to change. A new study tackles a surprisingly simple question: What will it take for consumers to embrace plant-based eggs?



The research uses a vignette design to test how price, setting, and recipe shape buying intent, inviting volunteers to picture either scrambled eggs or pancakes made with vegan <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-people-are-willing-to-switch-to-plant-based-food-to-save-the-climate/">substitutes</a> at home and in restaurants. 



The findings, and the voices behind them, make clear that breakfast economics still trumps curiosity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pricing-plant-based-eggs">Pricing plant-based eggs </h2>



Retail trackers say plant-based foods pulled in $8.1 billion in U.S. grocery sales last year. Egg alternatives claimed just $71.1 million of that total in 2024.



Study participants rated the vegan choice higher when it cost less than the chicken-egg version - a pattern that matches models finding a 3 percent jump in market share for every 1 percent price drop on plant-based burgers. 



“We wanted to measure the consumer's perception about plant-based eggs,” said Da Eun Kim of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (<a href="https://illinois.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UIUC</a>). 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-familiar-foods-work-better">Familiar foods work better</h2>



The strongest single nudge was not price but recipe, volunteers preferred pancakes over a solo scramble when the batter hid the new ingredient. 



“Introducing them as an ingredient, especially in a product that consumers are comfortable with, is a way to get people over any ‘mental hurdles’ associated with trying plant-based eggs,” said Brenna Ellison of <a href="https://agribusiness.purdue.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purdue University</a>. 



Consumer research across several countries shows purchase intent rises sharply once shoppers have tasted similar meat-free foods, and familiarity predicts acceptance more reliably than age, income, or even stated ethics. 



That same dynamic surfaced here, as people who had tried vegan eggs before were the most eager to buy again.



Curiously, eating in a restaurant did not boost enthusiasm the way the authors expected, hinting that home cooks feel safe experimenting when the recipe is foolproof. 



Ellison noted that setting “didn't have as much of an effect as we imagined,” demonstrating the power of a trusted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-are-suffering-from-declining-plant-quality/">dish</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-based-eggs-win-on-fat-nbsp-content">Plant-based eggs win on fat&nbsp;content</h2>



Beyond ethics, health looms large, and the nutrition panels back it up, a hard-boiled vegan egg lists 0 milligrams of cholesterol compared with 186 milligrams in a large hen egg.



Study participants ranked traditional eggs higher for taste but favored the plant version on fat and cholesterol, echoing broader surveys that link plant-based eating to lower LDL levels.



Nutritionists caution that some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fertilizer-reduces-plant-damage-caused-by-droughts/">formulations</a> use coconut oil, so saturated fat can creep back in. Still, the cholesterol-free claim gives marketers a clear badge to display.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-good-for-the-planet-and-prices">Good for the planet and prices</h2>



Animal-based eggs carry a carbon cost of roughly 2.2 to 2.66 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions per dozen. 



Feed production drives most of those emissions, so removing the chicken from the equation slashes the footprint at the start of the supply chain.



The past two years of avian influenza pushed shell-egg prices to nearly $5 per dozen in January of 2025, reminding consumers of the fragility of livestock supply chains. Plant-based eggs suffered no such shortages, giving them a timely window to win trials.



Environmental appeal and supply resilience combine into a story that resonates with shoppers who rate ethics and stability as highly as flavor. That story, however, still needs to be told in a way that feels personal rather than preachy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-is-most-likely-to-buy">Who is most likely to buy?</h2>



Generation Z and younger Millennials show the highest willingness to buy alternative proteins, a trend confirmed in surveys where age under 34 predicts frequent plant-based meat consumption. 



The researchers found a similar age gradient, with older participants least impressed by the vegan option.



Urban residence and liberal politics also correlated with purchase intent, mirroring patterns seen in earlier work on meat substitutes. For marketers, that means early wins will <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lanthanides-common-metal-in-plant-fertilizer-key-to-boosting-global-crop-food-supplies/">cluster</a> in cities and college towns before spreading outward.



Most striking, though, was experience, people who had already cracked a vegan egg were far more likely to buy again. Familiarity does more than any demographic trait to dissolve skepticism.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-based-eggs-still-need-improvement">Plant-based eggs still need improvement </h2>



Put price, familiarity, and health front and center, the authors suggest, and the category can break out of its niche. That could mean café pancakes with stealthy swaps, grocery bundles that pair the liquid mix with a trusted recipe card, and clear labels flagging cholesterol-free credentials.



Ongoing work to improve taste and texture is crucial - no bargain can make up for a rubbery scramble. But if plant-based eggs can match the feel of the real thing, their ethical and environmental benefits become a compelling bonus.



With global demand for alternative proteins climbing, even a small share of the egg market represents millions of hens spared and tons of CO2 emissions avoided. The next big test is whether consumers will keep buying once novelty fades.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/10/1742" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foods</a>.



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Plant-based eggs gain acceptance when hidden in comfort foods

Cutting back on meat has become mainstream, but eggs have...

Nuclear war wouldn’t just kill people - it could kill the planet’s food supply. Imagine a world where sunlight vanishes behind thick smoke. In this scenario, temperatures crash, crops fail, and grocery store shelves go empty.



That’s the chilling reality of a nuclear winter - not science fiction, but a real risk if global conflict escalates. 



In a new study, scientists at <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Pen</a><a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">n State</a> explored how a nuclear winter could affect global corn production, the most widely grown grain in the world.



The team also offered a practical idea to prepare for this worst-case scenario: stockpiling "agricultural resilience kits" filled with cold-tolerant seeds that could help keep food growing, even in the darkest of times.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-famine-after-the-fire">Famine after the fire</h2>



The researchers modeled six nuclear war scenarios, ranging from regional to large-scale global conflict. Each scenario simulated the effect of soot released into the atmosphere from nuclear firestorms -anywhere from five to 165 million tons of it.



In the best-case scenario, global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sweet-corn-yields-are-suffering-in-hotter-conditions/">corn yields</a> dropped by 7 percent. In the worst-case, an 80 percent drop.



“An 80 percent drop in global crop production would have catastrophic consequences,” said Yuning Shi, associate research professor in Penn State’s Department of Plant Science. 



“Even a 7 percent drop in global crop production would have a severe impact on the global food system and economy.”



Corn was chosen not just because it's everywhere - but because it’s highly sensitive to climate and represents a broader pattern in agriculture. What happens to corn would likely happen to many other crops.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modeling-nuclear-food-collapse">Modeling nuclear food collapse</h2>



The team used the Cycles agroecosystem model, developed by scientists at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. 



It’s a complex simulation tool that tracks how carbon and nitrogen move through the soil, plants, and atmosphere. 



With high-performance computing, the model can predict crop growth under different conditions - even under the shadow of nuclear fallout.



“We simulated corn production in 38,572 locations under the six <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nuclear-war-would-cause-global-famine-and-kill-billions/">nuclear war</a> scenarios of increasing severity - with soot injections ranging from 5 to 165 tons,” Shi said. 



“This investigation advances our understanding of global agricultural resilience and adaptation in response to catastrophic climatic disruptions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uv-radiation-could-make-it-worse">UV radiation could make it worse</h2>



Smoke and soot aren’t the only problem. A nuclear war could also shred the ozone layer, allowing more UV-B radiation to hit the Earth's surface. 



This form of radiation damages DNA, hurts photosynthesis, and stresses plants even further. Shi said this may be the first study to estimate the effect of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/uv-radiation-played-a-role-in-earths-largest-mass-extinction/">UV-B radiation</a> on agriculture in a post-nuclear scenario. 



The damage wouldn’t be immediate. UV levels would peak 6 to 8 years after the bombs drop - just as the planet struggles to recover.



“The blast and fireball of atomic explosions produce nitrogen oxides in the stratosphere,” Shi explained. 



“The presence of both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nitrous-oxide-is-a-growing-threat-to-human-and-planetary-health/">nitrogen oxides</a> and heating from absorptive soot could rapidly destroy ozone, increasing UV-B radiation levels at the Earth’s surface. This would damage plant tissue and further limit global food production.”



Add UV damage on top of climate stress, and corn yields could fall by as much as 87 percent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-food-in-the-dark">Growing food in the dark</h2>



The researchers believe there's a small silver lining - if we act now. By switching to faster-growing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/corn-plants-use-jumping-genes-to-adapt-to-their-environment/">corn</a> varieties that can tolerate cold, food yields could increase by up to 10 percent even during nuclear winter, compared to doing nothing. But there's a catch: seed availability.



That’s where their idea for “agricultural resilience kits” comes in. “These kits would help sustain food production during the unstable years following a nuclear war,” said Armen Kemanian, professor of production systems and modeling at Penn State.



“The agricultural resilience kits concept can be expanded to other disasters - when catastrophes of these magnitude strike, resilience is of the essence.”



These kits would include seeds tailored to different regions and climates. The idea is to give local communities the tools they need to keep farming even if the global food network collapses.



Shi acknowledged the challenges in pulling off such a plan. “If we want to survive, we must be prepared, even for unthinkable consequences,” he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-future-food-catastrophes">Lessons for future food catastrophes</h2>



The takeaway isn’t just about weapons. It’s about the fact that our food system is alarmingly fragile.



“Recall that catastrophes of this nature can happen not just because of nuclear war, but due to, for example, violent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-giant-volcanic-eruptions-alter-earths-climate/">volcanic eruptions</a>,” Kemanian said. 



“One may think that studies of this nature are just navel gazing, but they force us to realize the fragility of the biosphere - the totality of all living things and how they interact with one another and the environment.”



Food doesn’t grow in a vacuum. It depends on stable climate, clean air, and functioning ecosystems. Disrupt that balance, and the consequences ripple through every plate on the planet.



This research doesn’t predict the future. But it helps us prepare for one we hope never arrives.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/adcfb5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Research Letters</a>.



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Nuclear war would cripple Earth’s food supply

Nuclear war wouldn’t just kill people - it could kill...

With over 2.8 billion fungal DNA sequences from 130 countries, scientists have produced the first high-resolution global maps of underground mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi support ecosystems by transporting nutrients, capturing carbon, and protecting plant health. 



Yet, over 90 percent of this underground <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-fungi-species-are-threatened-with-extinction/">biodiversity</a> lies outside protected areas. That makes these vital ecosystems vulnerable to environmental damage.



The data powers a new interactive platform called the Underground Atlas. This tool helps anyone explore fungal biodiversity from Ethiopia to Brazil, and from Tasmania to West Africa. 



These maps expose not only diversity but also rarity, revealing patterns previously hidden from view.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-underground-fungi-matter">Why underground fungi matter</h2>



Mycorrhizal fungi form massive underground networks that interact with nearly every plant. 



These fungal systems capture more than 13 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year - about a third of global fossil fuel emissions. They help crops grow, rebuild forests, and regulate water cycles.



Still, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fungi-can-think-and-make-smart-decisions-without-a-brain/">fungi</a> remain missing from major conservation plans. That absence is dangerous. When these networks get disturbed, forests regenerate more slowly, crops suffer, and entire ecosystems unravel.



“For centuries, we've mapped mountains, forests, and oceans. But these fungi have remained in the dark,” said Dr. Toby Kiers of Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (<a href="https://www.spun.earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SPUN)</a>.



“They cycle nutrients, store carbon, support plant health, and make soil. When we disrupt these critical ecosystem engineers, forest regeneration slows, crops fail, and biodiversity aboveground begins to unravel."



"This is the first time we're able to visualize these biodiversity patterns - and it's clear we are failing to protect underground ecosystems.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maps-show-fungi-need-protection">Maps show fungi need protection</h2>



The research team used machine learning to build predictive maps from their vast dataset. These maps reveal fungal richness and rarity at a global scale, down to one square kilometer. 



Less than 10 percent of biodiversity hotspots appear in protected areas, exposing a huge gap in global conservation strategy.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/fungi_global-underground-system_map_credit-SPUN_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/fungi_global-underground-system_map_credit-SPUN_1s.webp" alt="High-resolution map of from SPUN's Underground Atlas showing predicted arbuscular mycorrhizal biodiversity patterns across underground ecosystems. Bright colors indicate higher richness and endemism. Credit: SPUN" class="wp-image-1979248"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">High-resolution map of from SPUN's Underground Atlas showing predicted arbuscular mycorrhizal biodiversity patterns across underground ecosystems. Bright colors indicate higher richness and endemism. Click image to enlarge. Credit: SPUN</figcaption></figure>



This work is the first large-scale scientific product of SPUN. The group launched in 2021 with the goal to map and protect Earth’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-millions-of-fungal-species-still-remain-unknown/">fungal networks</a>.



"For too long, we've overlooked mycorrhizal fungi. These maps help alleviate our fungus blindness,” explained Dr. Merlin Sheldrake of SPUN.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-tool-to-explore-underground-fungi">A tool to explore underground fungi</h2>



Now, SPUN offers a powerful new tool: the Underground Atlas. It allows researchers, policymakers, and conservationists to explore biodiversity anywhere on Earth. 



“The idea is to ensure underground biodiversity becomes as fundamental to environmental decision-making as satellite imagery,” noted Jason Cremerius of SPUN.



Users can locate biodiversity hotspots, identify rare fungal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-have-unique-fungi-partnerships-that-help-them-survive/">species</a>, and support restoration work. The tool can inform the placement of conservation areas, especially in biodiversity-rich regions that remain unprotected.



“These high-resolution maps provide quantitative targets for restoration managers,” said Dr. Alex Wegmann from <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nature Conservancy</a>. “Restoration practices have been dangerously incomplete because the focus has historically been on life aboveground.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-legal-shield-for-fungi">No legal shield for fungi</h2>



According to the researchers, the data could help shape climate and biodiversity laws. For example, Ghana’s coast hosts a vital underground fungal hotspot - yet this coast erodes by two meters each year. If left unprotected, this fungal diversity could vanish into the sea.



“Underground fungal systems have been largely invisible in law and policy,” said César Rodriguez-Garavito of NYU. “These data are incredibly important in strengthening law and policy across all of Earth's underground ecosystems.”



SPUN has built a global dataset of 40,000 samples covering 95,000 fungal taxa. The organization partners with more than 400 scientists and 96 “<a href="https://www.spun.earth/expeditions/underground-explorers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Underground Explorers</a>” from 79 countries. These teams now sample remote regions - from Bhutan and Mongolia to Ukraine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-depends-on-these-networks">Future depends on these networks</h2>



Despite the achievements, scientists have sampled just 0.001% of Earth's surface. SPUN needs more data to improve maps, define restoration goals, and identify <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-fungi-species-are-threatened-with-extinction/">endangered</a> fungal communities. 



“These maps reveal what we stand to lose if we fail to protect the underground,” said Dr. Kiers.



To protect Earth’s underground biodiversity, collective action is essential. Researchers can partner with SPUN to expand data collection and improve the accuracy of fungal diversity maps. 



Conservationists should use these insights to design strategic interventions and prioritize high-value ecosystems. Policymakers need to recognize the critical role of underground fungi by including them in biodiversity and climate frameworks. 



The public can explore the <a href="https://www.spun.earth/underground-atlas/mycorrhizal-biodiversity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Underground Atlas</a> to better understand this hidden world and support ongoing efforts. Funders play a key role by investing in the next phase of global fungal exploration and restoration.



To see the hidden world beneath your feet, visit the Underground Atlas and help protect the life that sustains ours.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09277-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Underground fungi networks that sustain all life on Earth are in danger

With over 2.8 billion fungal DNA sequences from 130 countries,...

Climate watchers and wheat growers share the same worry: fertilizer dependence is pushing production costs up while adding more heat-trapping gases to the sky. Scientists are hunting for ways to keep harvests healthy without pouring on synthetic nitrogen.



The latest <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1360138525001347">research</a> points to an unexpected ally, the soil microbes that cling to wheat roots and help the plant manage its own nitrogen use. 



Wolfram Weckwerth of the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/">University of Vienna</a> and his global team see this partnership as the key to hardier crops and cleaner fields.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fertilizer-adds-heat-and-expense">Fertilizer adds heat and expense</h2>



Farmers apply ever more nitrogen in a bid to keep yields steady, yet 40 to 68 percent of that fertilizer vanishes into air and water. Those losses raise costs and send reactive nitrogen downstream.



In 2022, the global appetite for nitrogen fertilizer hit about 190 million tons, according to the <a href="https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/42d5a668-f44c-4976-8540-8efdb0f4d17b/content" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Food and Agriculture Organization</a>. The figure is projected to climb as diets shift toward grain fed livestock.



Much of the escaped nitrogen turns into nitrous oxide, a gas roughly 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a century. It also sticks around in groundwater, threatening drinking supplies.



Limiting such runaway nitrogen is therefore a climate fix and a public health tool rolled into one. The new wheat strategy aims to deliver both wins without demanding new chemicals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soil-and-rain-waste-nitrogen">Soil and rain waste nitrogen</h2>



Soil bacteria convert ammonium fertilizer to nitrate in a two-step process called nitrification. Nitrate is easily washed out of topsoil during heavy rain.



Synthetic nitrification inhibitors slow that conversion but cost money and sometimes harm non-target <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-type-of-microbes-found-earths-deep-soil-critical-zone/">microbes</a>. Farmers who skip them lose fertilizer, farmers who use them gain new headaches.



Plants themselves can make natural inhibitors, yet breeders seldom tracked that trait because measuring it was hard. Advances in metabolomics now let scientists rank cultivars by their native stopping power.



By leaning on this built-in defense, growers can cut fertilizer bills and still meet yield wheat targets. The trick lies in choosing the right variety for each field.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wheat-microbes-manage-fertilizer">Wheat microbes manage fertilizer</h2>



Researchers describe the plant and its microbes as a holobiont—a single ecological unit shaped by cooperation and conflict. The idea rewrites the usual breeder’s focus on plant genes alone.



Root-zone bacteria help wheat pull in nutrients and fend off disease. In return, the plant feeds them with sugars and signaling chemicals.



Those chemicals, known as root exudates, differ from line to line. Some invite helpful microbes, some chase away pests, and a lucky few block nitrifying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-plants-produce-their-own-nitrogen-fertilizer/">species</a> outright.



Mapping this chemical chatter gives breeders new knobs to turn. It also explains why one cultivar thrives in worn-out soil while its neighbor languishes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wheat-roots-release-defenses">Wheat roots release defenses</h2>



“Our analysis of root exudates, complicated compounds released from the root system, shows substantial variation between the wheat cultivars,” said Arindam Ghatak, a molecular biologist at the University of Vienna.



The Vienna team screened dozens of elite wheat lines and found a tenfold spread in biological nitrification inhibitor activity.



Lines that topped the chart needed far less ammonium to reach the same biomass as standard checks. Early wheat field trials in Austria and India showed fertilizer savings of up to 30 percent after one season.



One compound under the spotlight is brachialactone, first spotted in tropical forage grass and now turning up in high-BNI wheat. Its structure resembles synthetic inhibitors but degrades harmlessly in soil.



The discovery hints that other cereals might hide similar chemistry. Screening <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/maize-plant-genetics-shape-root-health-and-growth/">maize</a> and barley is already underway.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wheat-that-boosts-yield">Wheat that boosts yield</h2>



Tracking subtle root chemicals across thousands of lines calls for heavy analytics. That is where machine learning steps in.



Algorithms sift metabolite fingerprints, microbiome profiles, and yield logs to flag the best genetic combos. The approach turns a breeder’s notebook into a prediction engine.



“In combination with machine learning algorithms, this opens up a promising breeding platform to develop new crop varieties,” said Weckwerth. His group feeds its models with “panomics” data covering DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites.&nbsp;



Once the math nominates winners, rapid cycle crossing and greenhouse trials can push a candidate from Petri dish to field plot within three years. That is half the time of classical pipelines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-for-farmers-and-the-planet">Benefits for farmers and the planet</h2>



A 25 percent cut in fertilizer on the world’s 540 million acres of wheat would save roughly 12 million tons of nitrogen each year. That translates to billions of dollars and a sharp fall in nitrous oxide.



Lower inputs also mean fewer energy hungry trips by tractors and fertilizer plants. The chain reaction trims carbon emissions well beyond the farm gate.



Health agencies welcome cleaner <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/groundwater-has-a-vital-role-in-ecosystem-survival/">groundwater</a> and smaller dead zones in lakes. Lake Erie’s algae bloom plan, for instance, banks on a 40 percent nutrient reduction by 2025.



When farmers see yield bumps alongside environmental credits, adoption moves faster. The holobiont approach gives them both carrots.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-greener-wheat-on-the-way">Greener wheat on the way</h2>



The first BNI-rated wheat could reach European seed catalogs by 2028 if regulatory reviews stay on schedule. Asia and North America are likely to follow soon after.



Future projects will probe whether stacking multiple BNI genes with drought-tolerance alleles offers an even sturdier crop. The team is already testing double-stack lines in controlled drought chambers.



Beyond wheat, sorghum, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-quietly-making-rice-more-dangerous/">rice</a>, and pasture grasses show promise as self-policing nitrogen users. Each carries its own microbial entourage ready for tuning.



Breeding plants and microbes together might feel unfamiliar today, yet it mirrors how ecosystems have worked for millions of years. The field’s next harvest could be resilience itself.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1360138525001347">Trends in Plant Science</a>.



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Soil bacteria help wheat slash its need for fertilizer

Climate watchers and wheat growers share the same worry: fertilizer...

Lightning is shaping our forests more than anyone expected. Every year, about 320 million trees around the world are killed by lightning - not burned down in firestorms, but knocked out by direct strikes.&nbsp;



That’s a massive number, and it’s only counting trees that die from lightning itself - not the ones lost to fires that lightning later ignites.



The new estimate comes from a team of researchers who created the first global model to calculate lightning-caused <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-tree-deaths-are-increasing-even-in-untouched-forests/">tree deaths</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-silent-killer-in-the-woods">A silent killer in the woods</h2>



The research suggests that we’ve been underestimating the ecological punch that lightning packs. And if lightning strikes become more frequent as the climate warms -as many projections suggest - this overlooked threat could grow even bigger.



Most of us think of lightning as something dramatic with loud cracks of thunder and intense flashes of light. However, much of lightning's impact on forests has gone unnoticed.&nbsp;



When a tree gets hit, the damage can be internal - its tissue fried from the inside out. The tree might stay standing for a while, slowly dying without any outward sign of what happened. In dense forests, those deaths blend into the background.



Scientists had long known that lightning was killing trees, but they didn’t know how many. Field observations in individual forests offered glimpses, but there was no way to connect the dots globally.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-estimating-lightning-damage-in-forests">Estimating lightning damage in forests</h2>



A team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.tum.de/">Technical University of Munich</a> took a different approach. Instead of relying only on fieldwork, they used a global vegetation model and combined it with data on how lightning is distributed around the planet.&nbsp;



Next, the researchers looked at how trees respond to being hit, including how many survive, how many die, and how long it takes.



The team estimated where lightning does the most damage and how it affects <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-mammals-play-a-vital-role-in-maintaining-forest-health/">forest health</a> on a global scale.&nbsp;



“We’re now able not only to estimate how many trees die from lightning strikes annually, but also to identify the regions most affected and assess the implications for global carbon storage and forest structure,” said Andreas Krause, the study’s lead author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-carbon-cost-of-lightning-strikes">The carbon cost of lightning strikes</h2>



Beyond killing trees, lightning strikes are also shaking up the planet’s carbon balance. When trees die and decay, they release carbon dioxide.&nbsp;



According to the study, lightning-related tree deaths emit somewhere between 0.77 and 1.09 billion tons of CO₂ per year. That’s nearly as much as the 1.26 billion tons released annually by the burning of living plants in wildfires.



To put that in perspective, the total carbon emissions from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-seasons-are-now-overlapping-worldwide/">wildfires</a> each year - including deadwood and soil material - add up to about 5.85 billion tons.&nbsp;



Ultimately, lightning-related emissions are a significant piece of the climate puzzle - one that’s often left out of critically important discussions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lightning-in-tropical-forests-nbsp">Lightning in tropical forests&nbsp;</h2>



Right now, most of the tree loss is happening in tropical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-are-lagging-centuries-behind-in-climate-adaptation/">forests</a>. These areas have high lightning activity year-round, especially in places like the Congo Basin and the Amazon.&nbsp;



Tropical trees also tend to be taller and more likely to get struck, but the pattern could shift.&nbsp;



“Most climate models project an increase in lightning frequency in the coming decades, so it’s worth paying closer attention to this largely overlooked disturbance,” said Krause.&nbsp;



The increase won’t be spread evenly. Models predict that lightning will become more frequent in temperate and boreal regions too - places like Canada, Russia, and parts of the U.S. - where trees haven’t historically had to deal with much lightning.



Forests that are already stressed by drought, heat, and pests might soon be facing another problem. And since trees in colder regions tend to grow more slowly, their recovery from lightning-related losses could take decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lightning-damage-to-the-world-s-forests">Lightning damage to the world's forests</h2>



This isn’t just about counting dead trees. Forests are crucial carbon sinks, soaking up CO₂ and helping to cool the planet. If a few hundred million trees start dying every year from lightning alone, that’s going to chip away at their ability to store <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-may-stop-absorbing-carbon-if-temperatures-continue-to-rise/">carbon</a>.



And unlike wildfires, which are often visible from satellites and leave behind large scars, lightning deaths are subtle. They happen one by one, scattered across the forest floor. That makes them harder to monitor - and easier to ignore.



This study marks the first serious attempt to measure the damage, and it suggests we may need to rethink how we model forests, especially as the climate shifts.&nbsp;



Lightning might not be as showy as a wildfire, but its quiet impact could have lasting effects on the world’s forests - and the carbon cycle they support.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.70312">Global Change Biology</a>.



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An astonishing number of trees are killed by lightning every year

Lightning is shaping our forests more than anyone expected. Every...

Atlas,Moth,-,Attacus,Atlas,,Beautiful,Large,Iconic,Moth,From

Female moths don't rely on sight or smell alone. They can also hear stressed plants. Scientists found that these insects detect ultrasonic clicks from plants under drought stress and use them when choosing egg-laying sites.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-heard-making-screaming-sounds-stress-induced-first-time-ever/">Plants</a> emit airborne ultrasonic sounds when stressed. These vibrations, previously thought to be undetectable by animals, can travel through the air. The Egyptian cotton leafworm moth,&nbsp;Spodoptera littoralis, hears these sounds. 



This species has tympanic ears sensitive to the 20 to 60 kHz range, with peak sensitivity around 38 kHz. That is where many plant clicks fall. 



The researchers hypothesized that female moths might use these plant sounds to decide where to lay eggs. Their experiments confirmed this.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-plant-communication">Understanding plant communication</h2>



Plants may not have mouths or ears, but they <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-could-soon-talk-to-farmers-and-listen-too/">definitely talk - and listen</a>. Through their roots, leaves, and even the air, they exchange chemical signals to warn each other of danger, call for help, or share resources. 



When a caterpillar chomps on a leaf, for example, some plants release volatile compounds that drift to their neighbors, triggering defensive measures like bitter-tasting chemicals or toughened leaves. 



Underground, fungi form vast mycorrhizal networks - often called the “Wood Wide Web” - that help trees and plants share nutrients, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-capture-plant-communication-on-video/">send distress signals</a>, and maintain the balance of the ecosystem.



What’s wild is how intentional it all seems. Certain plants send out distress chemicals only when their kin are nearby, suggesting a level of familial recognition. 



Others can distinguish between friend and foe based on the scent of another plant’s emissions. It’s not just survival - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-use-underground-networks-to-eavesdrop-on-their-neighbors/">it’s community</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moths-respond-to-plant-sounds">Moths respond to plant sounds</h2>



The study involved multiple experiments with precise setups. In a no-plant environment, moths preferred laying eggs near a speaker playing recorded plant stress sounds. 



When these moths were deafened, the preference disappeared. This proved that the response came from hearing, not other cues.



In contrast, when healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-music-help-plants-grow/">plants</a> were added and the same sounds were played near one, the moths chose the silent plant. This indicated that when real plants were present, moths correctly interpreted the sounds as warnings.



"After proving in the previous study that plants produce sounds, we hypothesized that animals capable of hearing these high-frequency sounds may respond to them and make decisions accordingly," said study co-author Professor Yossi Yovel from <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tel Aviv University</a>.



"Specifically, we know that many insects, which have diverse interactions with the plant world, can perceive plant sounds. We wanted to investigate whether such insects actually detect and respond to these sounds." 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-plant-sounds-change-moth-behavior">Do plant sounds change moth behavior?</h2>



In longer arenas, moths laid more eggs near either the sugar feeder in the center or the sound-emitting speaker at one end. They laid none near the silent resistor at the other end. 



These results were consistent across different click rates and setups. When tracked, moths spent more time on the side with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-hear-bee-sounds-and-make-sweeter-nectar-in-response/">plant</a> sounds before deciding.



Even though the courtship sounds of male moths fell in a similar frequency range, females showed no egg-laying preference for the male side. This confirmed that the response was specific to plant sounds.



"We chose to focus on female moths, which typically lay their eggs on plants so that the larvae can feed on them once hatched. We assumed the females seek an optimal site to lay their eggs - a healthy plant that can properly nourish the larvae," said co-author Professor Lilach Hadany.



"Thus, when the plant signals that it is dehydrated and under stress, would the moths heed the warning and avoid laying eggs on it? To explore this question, we conducted several experiments."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-integrating-sound-and-smell">Integrating sound and smell</h2>



Without a visible plant, sound becomes the only cue. So moths associate it with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-plants-alter-the-soundscape-of-ecosystems/">plant</a> presence. But when they can see or smell real plants, and one gives off stress sounds, they avoid it. This shows a context-based decision-making process.



The researchers also tested moth antennae. Using electroantennogram recordings, they found strong differences in odor detection between drying and hydrated plants. This shows that moths integrate sound and smell.



In real tomato plant patches, the click rate reaches about 20 per minute. In experiments, sounds were played at 30 to 60 clicks per minute. 



This simulated what a moth might hear near many stressed plants. Sound levels used matched those measured in live plants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-acoustic-interactions-in-nature">Acoustic interactions in nature</h2>



This study reveals that plant sounds can guide insect behavior. Moths may not just rely on smell or touch. Instead, they interpret ultrasonic cues. The researchers think other animals, perhaps pollinators or predators, might also use these sounds.



While the plant clicks likely evolved as a by-product of water loss, they now serve as useful cues. Scientists predict more discoveries in this area.



"In this study, we revealed the first evidence for acoustic interaction between a plant and an insect. We are convinced, however, that this is just the beginning," noted the researchers.



"Acoustic interaction between plants and animals doubtlessly has many more forms and a wide range of roles. This is a vast, unexplored field - an entire world waiting to be discovered."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://elifesciences.org/reviewed-preprints/104700v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eLife</a>.



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Plants and animals captured "talking" to each other using sound for the first time

Female moths don't rely on sight or smell alone. They...

Recent archaeological discoveries challenge the idea that new technologies inevitably disrupt traditional ways of life. Japanese pots from the early rice farming period have preserved more than just traces of food. They hold memories of meals, choices, and cultural traditions.



Research from the University of York, the University of Cambridge, and Japan’s <a href="https://www.nabunken.go.jp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nara National Research Institute</a> reveals something striking. When rice farming spread from Korea to Japan 3,000 years ago, it did not immediately alter how people cooked or ate.



Cooking pot residue from early Japanese settlements tells a story of cultural resistance. Despite the introduction of rice and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bronze-age-people-abandoned-meat-for-millet-3500-years-ago/">millet</a>, fish-based meals stayed central to the Japanese diet. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rice-farming-in-japan">Rice farming in Japan</h2>



Rice farming arrived in Japan through contact with the Korean Peninsula. Migrants from Korea brought rice and millet together. But while rice became widespread over time, millet faded from Japanese meals. This puzzled researchers.



“Organic residue analysis has been crucial to our investigation into the earliest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ideas-traveled-farther-than-people-in-the-early-days-of-farming/">impacts</a> of rice and millet agriculture. It allows us to capture how these crops were actually used, offering a direct window into the culinary practices and crop interactions of early Japanese society," noted Dr. Jasmine Lundy from the <a href="https://www.york.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of York</a>.



Seed impressions on pottery from the Final Jomon and Yayoi periods confirm both grains existed in Japan. Yet millet, a staple in Korean Bronze Age cuisine, rarely appeared in Japan’s food remains. Archaeologists wanted to understand why.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-japanese-people-chose-traditional-foods">Japanese people chose traditional foods</h2>



The absence of millet was not due to climate. Millet thrives in Japan’s environment, just as it does in Korea. 



“The absence of millet from Japanese food residues and human bones was a surprise to us, given that we knew both rice and millet had been introduced at this time,” said Professor Oliver Craig from the University of York.



“We know from isotope analysis of fats and oils in cooking pots that millet was a major part of the Korean diet, and continues to be eaten to this day, but it seemed that it made no impact on early Japanese cuisine."



“Environmental factors could be ruled out because we know that millet grows just as well in Japan as it does in Korea, so there was something else going on that provided a barrier to this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birth-of-farming-driven-by-humans/">crop</a> being adopted in Japanese cooking.”



This suggests social or culinary preferences shaped what foods were accepted. Even with Korean farming tools and pottery styles present in Japan, food habits stayed rooted in local customs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-stayed-the-main-food-in-japan">Fish stayed the main food in Japan</h2>



The team found that fish-based meals remained dominant, even as rice farming expanded. Cooking pots showed continued use for fish and wild foods. Few pots showed signs of cooking rice.



“There is evidence of Korean-style pottery and farming tools in Japan, but this didn’t line-up with changes to the way people cooked and ate. Yayoi pots were still used to cook fish and other wild foods, and few show signs of being dedicated to rice-cooking,” noted study co-author Dr. Shinya Shoda.



The findings reveal that technology alone does not reshape food habits. Even as tools and crops arrived, Japanese cooks kept preparing familiar dishes. Cultural memory and culinary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cave-discovery-of-ancient-avocados-could-rescue-a-global-crop/">tastes</a> held firm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-from-japanese-rice-farming">Lessons from Japanese rice farming</h2>



This phenomenon is not unique to Japan. In Southern Scandinavia, people kept fishing and gathering wild food long after farming arrived. By contrast, foragers in Britain quickly embraced agriculture.



“Whilst we see changes in pottery styles and other forms of material culture in Japan with the arrival of rice and millet, food culture remains remarkably consistent," said Professor Craig.



"And whilst Japan’s culinary history eventually catches up with the ‘rice boom’ that we see in Korea, it may have taken some time to have impacted everyday practices, suggesting food culture is deeply embedded and can survive major technological shifts."



These insights urge us to think differently about change. New tools may reach communities, but that does not guarantee quick transformation. Food culture, in particular, often moves at its own pace.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-the-spread-of-farming">Studying the spread of farming</h2>



The research supports the work of the ENCOUNTER project, led by Dr. Enrico Crema at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>, which studies how farming spread and influenced life across ancient Japan.



“These latest findings add to our body of work in the <a href="https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/research/projects/current-projects/encounter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ENCOUNTER</a> project, which has so far shown the diffusion rates of farming within the Japanese archipelago, the demographic impact of farming, and how different cultural traits might have been conditioned by marriage practices,” said Dr. Crema.



The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.



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Japanese food traditions held strong despite the arrival of farming

Recent archaeological discoveries challenge the idea that new technologies inevitably...

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