Each fall, large populations of Painted Lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) migrate from Europe to subtropical Africa, with individuals traveling up to 4,000 kilometers.
Biogeography
Physical Geography
Study Finds a Lower Abundance of Songbirds in Poorer Urban Areas in England
A recently published study looked at the spatial relationship between people and birds across urban areas in Southern England in order to understand patterns of abundance and species richness among birds in populated areas.
Physical Geography
King Penguins Like to Maintain Just the Right Amount of Personal Space
Researchers found a liquid-like spacing in King penguin colonies is the result of a balance between territorial pecking and a need to form in large groups as protection against predators.
Physical Geography
Marine Heatwaves are Becoming Longer and More Frequent
Researchers, looking at in situ temperature recordings and satellite observations, have found that marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent and longer lasting.
Physical Geography
Debris from the 2011 Japanese Tsunami Carried Almost 300 Marine Species Across the Pacific Ocean
A group of researchers inventoried what marine species traveled across the Pacific Ocean between 2012 and 2017 as the result of a biological rafting event created by the 2011 Japanese Tsunami.
Physical Geography
Tracking Penguin Colonies Through Their Droppings
Researchers are using Landsat 7 satellite imagery on Antarctica’s penguin population and estimating their numbers based on the large guano stains left behind.
Physical Geography
Sensing Longitude Among Birds
A study has shown that the Eurasian reed warbler is able to sense magnetic declination and use that information to determine their migratory flight path.
Physical Geography
Tree Migration Direction Affected by Climate Change
Ecologists have found that climate change, as it changes precipitation levels and temperatures, is causing trees to grow in different locations than they have traditionally taken root.
Physical Geography
By Using High-resolution Satellite Imagery to Survey Drylands, Researchers Boosted Estimates of Global Forest Cover by 9%
Researchers, using high-resolution satellite imagery, have discovered there is about 40-47% more forest cover in dryland biomes than previously thought.
Physical Geography
Adonis: Europe’s Oldest Known Living Tree
1,075-year old pine tree known as Adonis is believed to be the oldest tree in Europe.
Physical Geography
Great Elephant Census
The group called Elephants Without Borders has recently finished a two-year survey of African elephants across the entire continent, known as the Great Elephant Census (GEC).
Physical Geography
Online Atlas Tracks Ecologically Troubled Areas of the World
A new atlas produced by Richard Weller from the University of Pennsylvania tracks how urban sprawl and human activities are endangering bioregions on Earth.