Scuba divers underestimate how much damage they do to coral reefs. We've watched hundreds to find out why
Scuba diving is often presented as a success story for marine ecotourism.
Ecology
Jul 23, 2026
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Ecology news
When mothers make the winners: How alpha female lineages dominate hyena clans
In mammals, males are usually stronger and more competitive than females. Males also show greater inequality in reproductive success—the number of offspring they produce—than females. In spotted hyenas, the opposite is true: ...
Evolution
Jul 23, 2026
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87
Plant diversity boosts natural pest control in farms, while forests and grasslands follow different rules
Plant diversity has long been regarded as key to stable and resilient ecosystems. However, until now, little has been understood about why it has different effects in agricultural areas than in grasslands or forests. An international ...
Ecology
Jul 23, 2026
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30
Sperm whales blow bubbles to achieve restful, vertical sleep
New research from the University of St Andrews and Université de Neuchâtel has uncovered the mechanism that allows sperm whales to sleep in a unique vertical position just under the ocean surface.
Plants & Animals
Jul 23, 2026
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46
The sex life of treefrogs: How females build better nests by mating with multiple partners
African gray foam-nest treefrogs (Chiromantis xerampelina) are common across the savannas and dry forests of southeastern Africa. Despite their unremarkable outward appearance, these small animals display some of the most ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 23, 2026
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8
Do tourists stress out safari animals? We tested their dung to find out
Every year, thousands of tourists pile into game drive vehicles or don their hiking gear and cross South Africa's nature reserves. Binoculars and cameras at the ready, each hopes for a special encounter with Africa's wildlife—as ...
Ecology
Jul 23, 2026
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Trace DNA reveals critically endangered Chinese bahaba in Hong Kong after decade without records
The Chinese bahaba (Bahaba taipingensis), a marine fish species endemic to the Chinese coast and known as the "Panda of the Sea," is critically endangered and one of the few marine fish listed as a first-class protected wild ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 23, 2026
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8
Human impacts rewrite the rules of island biodiversity around the globe
A new study reveals that human activities have fundamentally reshaped biodiversity patterns on islands across the globe, with important implications for how scientists understand ecology, evolution and conservation.
Evolution
Jul 23, 2026
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How insect submariners survive the depths without imploding
Deep-diving insect larvae are challenging a long-held idea about why there are almost no insects in the ocean, thanks to sturdy air sacs. In Lake Malawi in East Africa, billions of lake fly larvae (Chaoborus edulis) make ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 23, 2026
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Heat is coming for Hawaiian corals, but study finds there may be time to adapt
Since the first major bleaching event in 1996, Hawaiian corals have been subject to increasing heat stress and more frequent bleaching events. New research from oceanographers at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa used high-resolution ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 23, 2026
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