Biodiversity Stories

In this new epoch, human influence is ubiquitous in the natural world. Coverage of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems in Anthropocene magazine takes a critical look at humans’ changing relationship with the natural world—and ways to promote biodiversity in the novel ecosystems we’ve created.

Scientists glimpse into the Internet-fueled global trade in insects, spiders, and scorpions

Bugs can survive shipping through the mail—and as such, the insect pet trade has flourished beneath the regulatory radar. Tackling the problem requires novel approaches to wildlife trade.

Creating odor confusion could help save endangered species

Misleading smells could waylay predators and help wildlife managers protect vulnerable prey.

Study ties amphibian collapses with increased malaria outbreaks

If you remove frogs and other "mosquito-reducers" from the landscape, what happens to malaria rates?

Using supercomputers, scientists bring climate measurements down to eye-level for critters

With data from over 1,000 sensors across Europe—and running as much as half a quadrillion calculations per second—the team has created exquisitely detailed maps pinpointing cool habitat oases in a warming planet

German researchers press for unorthodox butterfly conservation: mining and grazing

As grasslands vanish in parts of Europe, butterflies are finding refuge in unusual places, including industrial wastelands.

How much land is needed to stop the biodiversity crisis?

A new study estimates that the answer is a huge area—44%of Earth’s land, some 64 million square kilometers

Habitecture

Tiny houses and great cathedrals, carbon-neutral skyscrapers and Airstream trailers: architecture is among the greatest of human crafts. Just imagine if the same ingenuity and vision were devoted to building homes for animals.

Which disease that mosquito gives you depends on a landscape’s human footprint

The most common insect-borne diseases change dramatically as a landscape goes from lightly-inhabited forest to jam-packed city, scientists find.

Using the carrot, not the stick, can get locals to help protect habitat

As conservationists push to save habitat from destruction, a study of Indonesian reefs finds that giving local Indigenous communities a hand in managing reserves makes for more effective protections.