Latest news with #ecosystems
France 24
2 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
France petition against bee-killing pesticide tops two million backers
The legislation was adopted on July 8, but without a proper debate to bypass gridlock in a bitterly divided parliament. On July 10, a 23-year-old master's student launched a petition urging the French government to drop the law allowing the reintroduction of acetamiprid, a pesticide that is harmful to ecosystems but popular with many farmers in Europe. Banned in France since 2018, the chemical remains legal in the European Union. The insecticide is particularly sought after by beet and hazelnut growers, who say they have no alternative against pests and face unfair competition. The petition on France's lower-house National Assembly's website had garnered more than 2,009,000 signatures on Monday morning. Backers at the height of summer include 400 people from the culinary world, including Michelin-starred chefs, who have criticised the "blindness of our politicians". According to a poll published in La Tribune Dimanche on Sunday, 64 percent of people surveyed hope Macron will not sign the bill into law but will instead submit it to a new debate in parliament. Macron has said he is waiting to hear the verdict of the Constitutional Council, which is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the law on August 7. The contested legislation is dubbed the Duplomb law, after its author, Laurent Duplomb, a senator for the right-wing Republicans party. The petition reached 500,000 signatures last weekend, a threshold after which the lower house may choose to hold a public debate, but that would be limited to the content of the petition -- not the law itself.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Ennerdale's hairy ant experiment to make forest more resistant
An experiment to make woodland more resilient has seen hairy wood ant nests relocated across England moved six colonies with thousands of ants from Cropton Forest in North Yorkshire to Ennerdale in Cumbria, in a bid to bring back lost wildlife species and support Gardner, from Forestry England said the project in the Lake District would help "rebuild complex forest communities" that can better deal with extreme weather, climate change and organisation said hairy wood ants' nests, which are mounded and can be up to 6.5ft (2m) high, are ideal habitats for over 100 species including beetles, hoverflies, mites, woodlice and other ants. "[Hairy wood ants] can reduce plant damage by keeping herbivorous pests away," a spokesman explained."However, other herbivores, with adapted ant-defences, can thrive." This is the second phase of the project, with nests already relocated earlier this year using a different method, and early signs suggest they had been "unaffected by the journey".Hayley Dauben, Forestry England's species reintroduction officer who is leading the project, said they would closely monitor how the colonies establish themselves and any differences between the two methods."The next crucial milestone will be in April 2026 as the ants emerge from their period of winter hibernation," she added. Forestry England has worked on the project with the University of September, the organisations will collaborate to support a PhD to help study the wider impacts of the project at Ennerdale. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Powerful tool captures unbelievable activity of critical species in Australia: 'Without attaching sensors or disturbing [them] in any way'
Researchers have unveiled a powerful new tool that could revolutionize the study of insects and their place in the world's ecosystems. The technology allows scientists to measure heartbeats and other data using videos taken on smartphones and posted online, according to a study published in the Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. The new methods allow researchers to observe insect behavior and physiology without resorting to the usual invasive methods. This is better for the insects and allows for more accurate data collection. "Insects are vital to our ecosystems, and understanding their physiological responses to environmental change is essential," said Danyi Wang, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of South Australia and one of the study's two co-authors, per Technology Networks. "Existing methods to measure insects' vital signs are invasive, however. Our method preserves natural behavior while providing accurate insights into their heart activity." The advancements also have the potential to open up a treasure trove of new data in the form of millions of videos posted to social media. With the technology able to analyze video taken from everyday smartphones, researchers could tap into networks of thousands, if not millions, of citizen scientists to aid in data collection. "With more refinement, this could become a cost effective and valuable tool in the ecological research toolkit," said Wang, according to Technology Networks. "It gives us the ability to listen to the hearts of the smallest creatures without harming them." Insects play a vital role in maintaining food supplies and economies around the world. Insects pollinate crops, make soil better for plants, and filter water supplies, according to World Wildlife Magazine. Contrary to popular belief, of the more than one million identified insect species, only 0.5% damage crops. In fact, insect species like ground beetles actually increase crop yields by eating pests and weeds. Insects also keep populations of disease-carrying mosquitoes in check, with some dragonflies consuming over 100 mosquitoes per day, per World Wildlife Magazine. Despite the vital role insects play in maintaining life on Earth, some experts have projected that, if current trends continue, as many as 40% of insect species will go extinct by the end of this century. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Technological breakthroughs — like the one announced by Ph.D. candidate Wang and her supervisor and co-author Javaan Chahl — will allow researchers to better understand how insects are responding to environmental stressors like habitat loss and the changing climate. It will also allow experts to better formulate strategies to help maintain key insect populations, all without harming the insects or altering their natural behavior. "What's exciting is that this was all achieved without attaching sensors or disturbing the insects in any way," said Chahl, the study's lead author, according to Technology Networks. While the potential for citizen scientists to pitch in on data collection by simply using their smartphones is exciting, there are already plenty of things that can be done to help pollinators and other insects right in your own backyard. For example, planting a native garden or rewilding your yard can lower your water bill while also providing vital food and shelter for local insects, small mammals, and birds. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- General
- Times of Oman
Environment Authority conducts field surveys of coastal areas in Al Jazir
Al Jazir: As part of its efforts to enhance the protection of ecosystems and monitor biodiversity in the Sultanate of Oman, the Environment Authority this year conducted comprehensive field surveys of birds in the coastal area of Al Wusta Governorate's Wilayat Al Jazir, with emphasis on the three creeks of Khor Ghawi, Khor Qaised and Khor Ghadisir. Abdullah Salim Al Wardi, Head of the Department of Environment Conservation in Al Wusta Governorate, said that the surveys were aimed to document various species of seabirds and migratory birds and assess the overall environmental situation in these sites—deemed rich in biodiversity and natural resources. Al Wardi told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the surveys conducted in Al Wusta Governorate this year unveiled the prevalence of more than 60 species of resident, migratory and rare birds in the target areas. He explained that the bird species include the great white heron, grey heron, green-backed heron, black tern, sandwich tern, roseate tern, black ibis, little sandpiper, red-legged sandpiper, Siberian gull, greater flamingo, common mynah, water curlew, bulbul and the house crow, among other species. Al Wardi pointed out that field surveys bring about various benefits, like monitoring biodiversity with precision, documenting rare and endangered species and analysing the environmental status of coastal systems to enhance sustainable environmental management decisions. He added that surveys also provide environmental databases with accurate and up-to-date information, identify sites of special significance that might be eligible for listing as protected wildlife reserves, in addition to raising public awareness and enhancing cooperation with partner environment authorities.
CBC
5 days ago
- Science
- CBC
Holy carp! Biologists in Canada watch for big, invasive fish
Canadian biologists are on the lookout for invasive grass carp that threaten ecosystems in the Great Lakes and the native fish that depend on them.
