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A new study reveals that in the past large land animals, whales, seabirds and fish played a vital role in recycling nutrients from the ocean depths, spreading them far and wide across the globe and taking them deep inland. However, the paper says massive declines in their populations coupled with the extinction of most of Earth's large mammals have disrupted this efficient system of recycling important nutrients, particularly phosphorous. The researchers calculate that the ability of whales and terrestrial megafauna to transport nutrients around the globe has been reduced to just 6% of their global capacity before mass extinctions and population declines. 

Despite global efforts to increase the area of the ocean that is protected, only four per cent of it lies within marine protected areas (MPAs), according to a University of British Columbia study.

UBC Institute for Ocean and Fisheries researchers found that major swaths of the ocean must still be protected to reach even the most basic global targets.

In 2010, representatives from nearly 200 countries met in Nagoya, Japan, and adopted the United Nations' Aichi Targets, in a bid to stem the rapid loss of biodiversity. The countries committed to protecting at least 10 per cent of the ocean by 2020.

A new study reveals that in the past large land animals, whales, seabirds and fish played a vital role in recycling nutrients from the ocean depths, spreading them far and wide across the globe and taking them deep inland. However, the paper says massive declines in their populations coupled with the extinction of most of Earth's large mammals have disrupted this efficient system of recycling important nutrients, particularly phosphorous. The researchers calculate that the ability of whales and terrestrial megafauna to transport nutrients around the globe has been reduced to just 6% of their global capacity before mass extinctions and population declines. 

Mientras se debate sobre regulaciones de la EPA propuestas este mes para limitar la liberación del metano, ese potente gas de efecto invernadero, durante las operaciones de fracturamiento hidráulico, un nuevo estudio de la Universidad de Vermont financiado por la Fundación Nacional de Ciencias muestra que los pozos de petróleo y gas abandonados cerca de sitios de fracking, pueden ser conductos de escape de metano que no se está midiendo actualmente.

En días calurosos y húmedos, es posible que usted salte al agua para refrescarse, pero para el pequeño pez mangrove rivulus, refrescarse es saltar fuera del agua… según un nuevo estudio de la Universidad de Guelph.

En el estudio publicado en la revista Biology Letters la semana pasada, los investigadores...