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A recent global study conducted by over 50 scientists has found that mosses play a crucial role in ecosystems by providing essential services to the environment. The scientists collected samples of mosses from 123 different ecosystems around the world and analyzed how other plants and soils benefit from them. They discovered that moss-covered soil had higher levels of soil health, nutrient cycling, decomposition of organic matter, and control of harmful pathogens compared to soil without mosses. With approximately 12,000 species worldwide, mosses are considered the "lifeblood" of many ecosystems. [Extracted from the article]

According to an article in National Wildlife, researchers at The Ohio State University have found that white-tailed deer in Ohio are being infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The virus is evolving about three times faster in deer than in humans. The researchers collected nasal swabs from wild deer and found that over 10 percent of the animals carried the virus, with many of the infections being passed from humans. This discovery suggests that humans can potentially contract COVID-19 from deer, and understanding how the virus is mutating in deer populations is important for human health. [Extracted from the article]

DEPARTMENTSVANISHING AMPHIBIANSA team of international scientists reports in Nature that two in five of the planet’s amphibian species are now threatened with extinction (including the webbed harlequin frog, left), making them among Earth’s most imperiled animal groups.PHOTO (COLOR)PHOTO (COLOR) [Extracted from the article]

A recent study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) suggests that cracking down on poaching in tropical forests could help combat climate change. The research found that many of the mammals and birds frequently targeted by hunters play important roles in maintaining the carbon storage capacity of forests. Animals such as elephants, apes, hornbills, and toucans help disperse seeds from big trees with high carbon storage capacity and thin the underbrush, allowing these trees to thrive. As hunters reduce the populations of these animals, smaller-seeded or wind-dispersed trees with lower carbon storage capacity may become more prevalent. The study emphasizes the importance of maintaining intact faunas in order to conserve forests and address climate change. [Extracted from the article]

Howard Ruby, who won Conservation Photographer in 2007, uses images of polar bears and other wildlife to demonstrate the effects of climate change. Ruby also founded the Global Warming Crusade to encourage students and parents in Los Angeles to fight climate change. Other information on Ruby and on his initiatives are presented.

In the mid-1990s, following Bill Clinton's second electoral ride to the White House, the vibrancy of Religious Right organizations appeared to be on the wane. Outside the sanctuary of the [...]

A recent study conducted in the city of Leeds by scientists from the University of Sheffield has found that nectar-feeding moths play a crucial role in pollinating urban flowering plants, including crops and trees. These moths carry more pollen and visit more plant species than previously thought. The study also revealed that moths feed on different plant communities, including night-blooming species, compared to bees. The scientists recommend including plants that benefit both moths and native bees, such as borage and comfrey, in residential gardens and green spaces to support the health of urban ecosystems. [Extracted from the article]

A team of British and Australian researchers have found that backyard ponds and other water features can be just as beneficial for urban wildlife as lakes. In a survey conducted in England's Hertfordshire county, the researchers discovered that 70% of respondents had water sources in their yards. They compared the wildlife visiting these sources with the wildlife in community lakes and found few differences in terms of quantity and variety. The researchers concluded that garden water sources can supplement water-dependent biodiversity in urban areas, especially during hot and dry weather. [Extracted from the article]

According to a report by the Institute of Geography at the Universidad Nacional Autonama de Mexico nearly 2,83,000 hectares of forested land in the country's main coffee growing areas were destroyed between 1993 and 2000 resulting in erosion and flooding costing Mexican taxpayers millions of dollars. To slow deforestation in coffee growing areas the coffee producers have to be rewarded for the ecological services their farms have been providing for so many years.

The role of the public administrator is discussed with reference to the use of emotional intelligence. The administrator is perceived as being a manager of knowledge and emotions within a changing and stressful environment.

The issue of emotional intelligence is examined with reference to the influence of technology. Emotional intelligence is defined and its potential use particularly in the field of administration is assessed.

Each of us carries around a brainful of images that are visible only through the mind's eye. They are recurring pictures of the past--incidents that remain as vivid in our [...]

High on a mountain in Maui, one of Hawaii's most biologically rich areas is now protected forever under a landmark agreement Randy bartlett is a soft-spoken, mild-mannered man who hardly [...]

Off the coast of Maui, an artist teams up with filmmakers to capture the essence of giant humpbacks John Seerey-Lester suspected his mind was playing tricks on him. Traveling with [...]

JAY KEMP has some unusual ideas about how to have a good time. Consider the three days he spent inside a blind watching cardinals and other birds visit a feeder. [...]

Annual consumption of cranberries has increased to 340 million pounds. This surge in appetite for the berry is the result of scientific findings proving its health benefits. Among the many growers enjoying this strong demand is the Lee family, which has been cultivating cranberries for five generations.

The results of a post-election poll reveal that an overwhelming majority of U.S. voters foes not want Congress to weaken our environmental laws When they emerged from the voting booths [...]

The giant clams inhabiting the remote Palauan reef were sitting ducks. In a matter of days, divers from a Taiwanese fishing boat illegally uprooted nearly 15,000 of the creatures from [...]

Ron Boender was bored. The year was 1985, and the entrepreneur had recently sold his Fort Lauderdale communications firm. He began puttering around the garden. 'I always enjoyed watching butterflies,' [...]

Director Oliver Stone filmed most of 'Heaven and Earth' in Phangnga, Thailand. It is the true story of a peasant girl who became the wife of an American soldier. Hiep Thi Le plays the peasant girl and Tommy Lee Jones plays her husband, Sergeant Steve Butler.

Alcatraz island is a surprising premier location for getting a close look at the breeding behavior of seven species of seabirds. The Brandt's cormorant and the western gull can be seen by bird watchers on this former prison colony in San Francisco, California.

A study published in the journal National Wildlife reports that the increase in European honey bee populations in Montreal, Canada may be harming native North American bees. Researchers compared data collected on 180 wild bee species in 2013 with data from the same sites in 2020, during which honey bee colonies in the city increased significantly. The study found that sites with the largest increase in honey bee populations had the fewest wild bee species. The researchers suggest that urban beekeeping, often marketed as a solution to biodiversity loss, may be more detrimental to native bees than beneficial. They recommend planting pollinator gardens instead of adding more hives of nonnative honey bees. [Extracted from the article]

A study conducted by Swedish scientists and published in the Journal of Animal Ecology has found that providing seeds, nuts, and other bird-feeder foods to small birds during winter can help them survive the cold months. The researchers monitored the health of two groups of wild great tits and found that the birds with regular access to feeder food were able to maintain lower body temperatures, which helped them fight off infection and conserve energy. The scientists suggest that winter feeding not only supports the health of small birds but also provides people, especially in urban areas, with more opportunities to engage with nature. [Extracted from the article]