139 Items Tagged

Ecology

The loneliest tree sticks out among the low-lying, wind-battered vegetation of Campbell Island.

Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku, New Zealand

World's Loneliest Tree

The most remote tree in the world is more than 170 miles from its nearest neighbor.

So many cephalopods.

Found: The Largest Cluster of Deep-Sea Octopuses Ever Recorded

More than 1,000 were spotted off the coast of Monterey, California.

Anna Kusmer October 30, 2018

Salinas de Fuencaliente

La Palma, Spain

Fuencaliente Saltworks

The largest salt farm in the Canary Islands is located at the foot of an active volcano.

Squirrel Counting Is a Great Excuse to Explore Central Park

A lesson in slowing down and looking close.

Jessica Leigh Hester October 24, 2018

A butterfly tagged with a Monarch Watch ID in Washington, DC, in 2012.

Tag, You're an Insect

Tracking small creatures is frustrating, delicate, fascinating work.

Jessica Leigh Hester October 5, 2018

Meet the blue-throated hillstar.

The Existential Ennui of Discovering an Endangered Species

Newly found and already almost lost.

Jessica Leigh Hester September 27, 2018

Twitter might be a useful source of data for "charismatic" events, such as an outpouring of ants or a dramatic grouping of birds.

The Upside of Freaking Out About Insects on Twitter

When people post about bugs and birds, ecologists can gain some solid data.

Jessica Leigh Hester September 12, 2018

Oh, hello!

Bhimashankar, India

India's Giant Technicolor Squirrels

These particularly resplendent rodents are the state animal of Maharashtra.

A Burmese python coils around a branch in the Everglades.

How Escaped Pets Took Over Florida

When store-bought animals are released, they may go from pet to pest.

Jessica Leigh Hester August 31, 2018

The old pressed plants can help crack contemporary climate and environmental puzzles, if you know where to look.

A Day in the Life of a Pennsylvania Plant Detective

Researchers are comparing age-old herbaria with muddy riverbanks to track decades of ecological change.

Jessica Leigh Hester August 28, 2018

Kungsträdgården metro station.

Stockholm, Sweden

Kungsträdgården Metro Station

Stockholm's deepest subway station is also a stunning ecological wonder.

Mountain gorillas face many risks.

A Gorilla Poop Treasure Hunt Through Central Africa's Virunga Volcanoes

How researchers collect genetic info without disturbing the majestic primates.

Jessica Leigh Hester June 6, 2018

It's increasingly rare to find a forest that hasn't been shaped by human use.

Where Are Europe's Last Fairytale Forests?

Mapping the oldest and least-disturbed tracts of trees is easier said than done.

Jessica Leigh Hester June 1, 2018

Mount Mantalingahan in the Philippines.

Cold, Damp 'Sky Islands' Are Hotspots for Unusual Plants and Animals

Exploring an ecological oasis high up on the Philippines' Palawan Island.

Jessica Leigh Hester May 21, 2018

Not here to make friends.

The Intrepid Rat-Sniffing Terriers of South Georgia Island

It took 200 years to rid the island of rats, and three dogs to make sure they were gone.

Jessica Leigh Hester May 17, 2018

Statue of Brighty the Burro at the South Rim building.

The Life and Times of Brighty, the Grand Canyon's Most Legendary Burro

He was a muse, a good luck charm, and the center of a controversy over invasive species.

Erin Van Rheenen May 3, 2018

"The Duncan Cedar," in Washington State, is a Western Red Cedar that stands 178 feet tall.

The Quiet Glory of Chronicling America’s Champion Trees

One man's quest to document a nation's arboreal heritage.

Natasha Frost April 26, 2018

Aerial view of the Amazon Rainforest, near Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas.

Soil and Satellites Are Telling a New Story About Ancient Civilizations in the Amazon

With new technologies, scientists are looking for clues in manmade “terra preta.”

Katarina Zimmer March 20, 2018