Coral Atolls are Not a Lost Cause

An international team of scientists, conservationists, and indigenous leaders argues that strategic ecological restoration could save coral atoll islands from the rising seas of climate change. The Gist Published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution, the paper, “Re-thinking atoll futures: local resilience to global challenges” argues that, while climate change is a major threat, the … Read more

A New Future for Mine Lands in the Central Appalachians

Chris Barton is reeling through the creatures documented on the study sites: six species of bats, a long list of birds including rarities like cerulean warbler, a variety of salamanders, mayflies, stoneflies. Barton, a professor of forest hydrology and watershed management at the University of Kentucky, is discussing monitoring of sites in the Central Appalachian … Read more

How To Bring Back the Prairie, a Tiny Bit at a Time

In the southeastern corner of Minnesota, fields of corn and soy stretch seemingly endlessly—a far cry from the area’s native grasslands. Past surveys estimated just 1% of the state’s native prairie remains. Andrea Eger, a regenerative agriculture project manager for The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, is trying to change that. In three counties in the … Read more

Atolls are Globally Important for Seabirds

New science from Indo-Pacific atolls, including TNC’s Palmyra Preserve, reveals that global conservation efforts largely overlook the important contributions of atolls to the protection, restoration potential, and long-term survival of tropical seabirds. The Gist Led by Sebastian Steibl, research fellow at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, the science published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, … Read more

Restoring River Oxbows Benefits Endangered Fish

Mark Twain once wrote that, in a period of 176 years, the lower Mississippi River was shortened by 242 miles. While the famous author used this in service to his satire, his calculation was true. This is because the Mississippi was channelized and straightened, removing the natural bends and curves of the river. This same … Read more

Want to Suppress Coral Disease? Bring Back Sea Cucumbers

Research from French Polynesia and TNC’s Palmyra Atoll Preserve shows that, by feeding on microbial pathogens in marine sediment, the weird and wonderful sea cucumber can enhance reef resilience by suppressing coral diseases. The Gist The sea cucumber, a humble bottom-dwelling marine invertebrate famous for both eating and breathing through its butt, hardly seems to … Read more