The hottest Biodiversity Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

The Birding Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1266 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Ecology Biodiversity Conservation
  1. Birdwatching can be a rewarding hobby that connects us with nature and can lead to deep emotional connections with birds.
  2. Ecological grief is a real and intense response to environmental losses, including bird deaths caused by human-driven changes.
  3. Efforts like building natural bridges and enacting bird-friendly legislation demonstrate steps we can take to protect wild animals amidst ongoing environmental challenges.

Over the Cliff

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 373 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Politics Biodiversity Climate action
  1. Environmental consequences of another Trump administration could be dire due to dismantling regulations and environmental protections.
  2. The Project 2025 plan outlines radical changes including anti-science bias, climate denial, and drastic rollbacks on environmental regulations.
  3. The plan not only threatens environmental protection but also could have serious impacts on climate, air and water quality, wildlife, and even government structure.

Whether the Storm

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 393 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Conservation Environmental justice Biodiversity Sustainability
  1. In the Anthropocene era, humans must protect and restore the Earth given our excessive impact on its ecosystems.
  2. We need to become rational and compassionate managers of the planet to address climate change and ecological disruptions.
  3. Storms, while disruptive and dangerous, also serve as a reminder of our place in nature and the need to prepare for managing the impacts of extreme weather.
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Endangered Promises

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 393 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Legislation Biodiversity Climate change Environmental Impact
  1. The Endangered Species Act has had successes in saving various species from extinction over the years.
  2. There is a growing resistance against the Endangered Species Act, largely driven by political and industry interests.
  3. Challenges facing the ESA include legislative and judicial attacks, as well as the broader threat of climate change and biodiversity loss.

A few seconds of video

The Crucial Years • 1574 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Natural Disasters Environmental Policy Biodiversity Conservation
  1. The video illustrates the impact of climate change through unprecedented floods in Greece.
  2. The urgency to take action against climate change is emphasized, as we witness extreme weather events becoming more common.
  3. Global efforts to meet climate targets, such as the Paris Agreement, are falling short and require more substantial commitments.

A Right to Be in this World

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 334 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🔬 Science Environment Biodiversity Conservation Climate Technology
  1. All living things have a right to exist in this world according to the Endangered Species Act.
  2. Conservation efforts need more support to combat political and industry threats to environmental protections.
  3. Future of the ESA requires broader landscape-scale conservation, increased funding, and alignment with modern conservation strategies.

Consciousness is Organic - redux

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 196 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🔬 Science Consciousness Climate Evolution Biodiversity Ecology
  1. Consciousness is organic - a reminder that our minds are intertwined with the natural world, emphasizing the need to live in harmony with the environment.
  2. The concept of planetary intelligence explores the collective knowledge and responsibility of civilizations on a global scale, urging a shift towards more mindful and balanced technological growth.
  3. The human mind is identified as a key threat in the Anthropocene era, highlighting the necessity for self-improvement to address the planet's pressing issues.

Planetization

The Joyous Struggle • 395 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Biodiversity Climate Crisis
  1. We live on a planet in outer space, which can be an amusing and perspective-shifting realization.
  2. There is a growing sense of 'planetization' where we are increasingly interconnected globally and feel a sense of responsibility towards the world as a whole.
  3. The current societal shift includes integrating a planetary perspective into our understanding and actions, making issue-based thinking within global contexts crucial.

Planting Trees Is a Great Plan B

Climateer • 755 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Carbon Sequestration Biodiversity
  1. Planting trees is a good way to help mitigate climate change, but it's not a substitute for reducing emissions and protecting existing forests.
  2. Reforestation projects should aim to recreate natural forests using native species to avoid negative impacts like habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity.
  3. While aggressive tree planting could remove significant amounts of carbon, realistic forestation efforts need to consider costs, competing land uses like agriculture, and the challenges of maintaining forest areas.

The Story in the Lake

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 176 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
🔬 Science Geology Climate Environmental Conservation Human Impact Biodiversity
  1. A small lake in Ontario has been chosen to represent the Anthropocene epoch in Earth's history due to human activity.
  2. Humans have significantly transformed Earth's systems, leading to a new epoch where human history is now Earth's history.
  3. Geologists have selected Crawford Lake in Ontario as a witness and representative site for the Anthropocene, with its layers of sediment telling the story of human impact.

Web of water

Climate Water Project • 216 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Ecology Biodiversity
  1. The interconnectedness of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms impact the climate through the water cycle
  2. Understanding self-regulation patterns of ecology and atmosphere can aid in climate and ecosystem restoration
  3. Exploring the concept of a 'water web' can help illuminate the interactions and interdependencies in ecosystems and climate systems

Managing the Landscape of Fear

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 235 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Biodiversity Sustainability
  1. The Anthropocene presents a landscape of fear due to human impact on ecosystems and biodiversity.
  2. The IPCC report emphasizes the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment to ensure a sustainable future.
  3. Rewilding initiatives, like the 30x30 conservation plan, aim to reduce fear in the landscape by restoring natural habitats and biodiversity.

Problems Posing as Solutions, Part 3

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 117 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Ecology Mining Conservation Biodiversity Sustainability
  1. Personal, economic, and ecological problems are often presented as solutions with unforeseen negative consequences.
  2. SUVs are becoming an increasing burden on the planet, posing threats to the environment and public safety.
  3. Seafloor mining, especially in the absence of thorough scientific understanding, risks irreversible damage to deep-sea ecosystems and biodiversity.

Urban birdwatchers, conservation, and bending the biodiversity curve

This Week in Birding • 137 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Biodiversity Nature connection Environmental Activism
  1. Biodiversity loss is a significant threat and changing our ways is crucial for restoration.
  2. Landscaping yards with native plants can greatly support bird populations and wildlife.
  3. Engaging urban residents in observing nature can lead to more interest in conservation and restoration efforts.

Meaning and the firefly

Banana Peel Pirouette • 79 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🔬 Science Animal Behavior Communication Biodiversity
  1. Animals like songbirds and insects communicate through sounds and movements that hold specific meanings for them, unlike the fixed characteristics of their appearances.
  2. Fireflies communicate with light patterns, where their visual signals guide them in finding mates and coordinating activities; their world of light holds deep communication that contrasts human mediums like language.
  3. The impact of human actions, like light pollution, can disrupt the meaningful communication patterns of fireflies, leading to potential disturbances in their mating behaviors and survival.

Good Grief

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 98 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Emissions Biodiversity
  1. The Anthropocene is a period of irreversible ecological disruptions caused by humans, requiring acceptance of losses and a commitment to stabilizing the environment.
  2. In the face of global-scale grief and loss in the Anthropocene, finding small but vital lights of hope is crucial.
  3. Individuals making dedicated efforts to protect and heal ecosystems and species offer paths forward in the challenging Anthropocene era.

EU's critical minerals, nickel labor, and EVs may not cut it for auto sector

Green Rocks • 78 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Mining Renewables Energy transition Sustainability Biodiversity
  1. Climate technologies require huge amounts of metal, impacting mining and emissions reduction efforts.
  2. Concerns rise over labor conditions in Indonesia's booming nickel industry with reports of worker mistreatment.
  3. The auto sector faces challenges in meeting climate goals, requiring carbon standard agreements and increased renewable energy use.

A requiem for Bell Bowl Prairie

This Week in Birding • 78 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Ecosystems Biodiversity Activism Legislation
  1. A group gathered at Bell Bowl Prairie to mourn its destruction by a bulldozer.
  2. Efforts to stop the destruction were unsuccessful due to legal system failures and lack of political action.
  3. Advocates call for updating endangered species laws and increasing funding for conservation to prevent similar devastation in the future.

The Resilience of Life: Ancient Worm Revived After 46,000 Years 🐛

Stemble - for the love of STEM! • 19 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🔬 Science Microbiology Genetics Conservation Evolution Biodiversity
  1. A worm was revived after being frozen for 46,000 years, showing the incredible resilience of life.
  2. Cryptobiosis allows organisms to survive extreme conditions by entering a state of suspended animation.
  3. Studying ancient organisms like the revived worm can offer insights for conservation biology and preserving biodiversity.

Biodiversity: The Core of Earth's Beauty

Save Our Happy Place • 4 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Biodiversity Climate change Sustainability Conservation Ecosystems
  1. Maintaining and restoring biodiversity is crucial for fighting climate change.
  2. Key causes of biodiversity loss include climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, and overexploitation.
  3. Individual actions to help biodiversity include mindful consumption, investing in biodiversity projects, and reducing waste.