An endangered species is a taxonomic group (typically at the species level) that faces a very high risk of extinction in the near future across all or a significant portion of its range, as determined by quantitative assessment criteria such as population size, rate of decline, geographic range, and degree of habitat fragmentation. In conservation biology and environmental policy, endangered status guides prioritization of management actions, legal protections, and resource allocation. Scientific evaluation commonly uses standardized frameworks (e.g., formal Red List–type criteria) based on demographic trends, reproductive rates, and known or projected threats, including habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, and climate change.
Since its lowest point in the 1970s, the Baltic ringed seal population has grown from about 5,000 to 25,000 individuals. Behind this increase are hunting bans and the phasing out of environmentally hazardous substances such ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 16, 2025
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Do you think you know which species are most vulnerable in an ecosystem? A novel analytical method developed by Italian physicists at the Complexity Science Hub (CSH) suggests there's more to discover. In their recent study, ...
Ecology
Jul 10, 2025
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As some of the worst fires in Los Angeles history swept through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods in January 2025, Rosi Dagit, who was herself evacuated from her home in Topanga, couldn't stop thinking about ...
Ecology
Jul 10, 2025
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Koalas are a nationally endangered and iconic species in Australia, yet their populations are rapidly declining due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and disease, and very little is known about the fine-scale movements of koalas—especially ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 9, 2025
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In a study published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences showed that the presence of critically endangered Asian elephants (Elephas ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 7, 2025
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The Hong Kong newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis), which has an orange-spotted belly and is typically 15 centimeters in length, is Hong Kong's only native salamander species. The newt, listed as near-threatened by the International ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 7, 2025
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Hotspots for the conservation of maire tawake or swamp maire in the Wellington region have been identified by researchers hoping to save this threatened native tree from the deadly myrtle rust disease.
Plants & Animals
Jul 3, 2025
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A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that smaller islands within the Wallacea biodiversity hotspot are crucial refuges for endangered vertebrates, providing higher-quality habitats ...
Evolution
Jun 25, 2025
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A new study led by researchers at Baylor University and University of Rhode Island has uncovered surprising details about leopard seals' hunting habits, revealing that while the species is broadly considered a generalist ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 24, 2025
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Climate change and habitat loss could cause more than 500 bird species to go extinct in the next 100 years, researchers from the University of Reading have found.
Plants & Animals
Jun 24, 2025
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