Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Post

🌊 Dive into the depths of marine biodiversity with this intriguing article revealing the hidden treasures of the ocean ecosystem. Have you ever considered the intricate dimensions of species diversity, genetic diversity, and phylogenetic diversity that shape our marine world? 🦑 The Central Indo-Pacific Ocean, Central Pacific Ocean, and Western Indian Ocean emerge as hotspots for marine biodiversity, harboring a rich tapestry of life across these three vital dimensions. This calls for a closer look at these regions as potential conservation priority areas. 🌏 As the global focus shifts towards marine-protected areas, a key question arises: how much of the ocean should be fully protected to safeguard marine biodiversity comprehensively? The findings suggest that strategically protecting around 22% of the ocean could ensure the conservation of approximately 95% of known taxonomic, genetic, and phylogenetic diversity. 💡 This study sheds light on the urgent need to address multiple dimensions of marine biodiversity in conservation efforts, emphasizing the intricate interplay between species richness, genetic variability, and evolutionary histories. Join the conversation on the critical importance of preserving our ocean's biodiversity for a sustainable future. 🔍 Unveil the mystery of marine biodiversity and explore the fascinating findings that offer new perspectives on global conservation priorities and the protection of our vast oceanic ecosystems. https://lnkd.in/gMa_pCit

Here, there, everywhere: environmental DNA clues to biodiversity Scientists are utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA) shed by living organisms to study biodiversity. EU-funded LeDNA project collects eDNA from lakes to assess and discover species, aiding global biodiversity preservation efforts. On World Biodiversity Day, May 22, 2024, a citizen science survey will test the method's scalability, involving people worldwide in lake eDNA sampling using a specially designed device. Similarly, the BIOSPACE project explores eDNA in forests, predicting microbial biodiversity with satellite imagery, offering systematic and unbiased insights into lesser-known species for comprehensive biodiversity conservation. https://buff.ly/3RZPyII via HorizonMagEU #Biodiversity #PlantScience #AnimalScience #Diversity #Environment #eDNA #BIOSPACE #LeDNA Image: Lakes and forests are prime locations for biodiversity researchers to collect environmental DNA. Credit:  Lian und Sander Baumann / Pixabay

Bernard Agwanda, a Biodiversity Research scientist and curator and head of National Taxidermy and Taphonomy Centre at the National Museums of Kenya, speaks to  @JRS Biodiversity Foundation@MeshascienceRegulating Disease Vectors: Biodiversity plays a role in regulating populations of disease vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and rodents. Diverse ecosystems can support a variety of predators and competitors for these vectors, helping to keep their populations in check and reducing the risk of disease transmission.Reservoir Hosts and Pathogen Dynamics: Biodiversity can influence the dynamics of pathogens by affecting the abundance and distribution of reservoir hosts (species that harbor and transmit pathogens without suffering from the disease). High biodiversity can reduce the prevalence of specific reservoir hosts, thus lowering the risk of spillover events to other species, including humans. #Meshascience #JRSBiodiversityFoundation

Here, there, everywhere: environmental DNA clues to biodiversity Scientists are utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA) shed by living organisms to study biodiversity. EU-funded LeDNA project collects eDNA from lakes to assess and discover species, aiding global biodiversity preservation efforts. On World Biodiversity Day, May 22, 2024, a citizen science survey will test the method's scalability, involving people worldwide in lake eDNA sampling using a specially designed device. Similarly, the BIOSPACE project explores eDNA in forests, predicting microbial biodiversity with satellite imagery, offering systematic and unbiased insights into lesser-known species for comprehensive biodiversity conservation. https://buff.ly/3RZPyII via HorizonMagEU #Biodiversity #PlantScience #AnimalScience #Diversity #Environment #eDNA #BIOSPACE #LeDNA Image: Lakes and forests are prime locations for biodiversity researchers to collect environmental DNA. Credit:  Lian und Sander Baumann / Pixabay

The rate and extent of global biodiversity change is surpassing our ability to measure, monitor and forecast trends. We propose an interconnected worldwide system of observation networks — a global biodiversity observing system (GBiOS) — to coordinate monitoring worldwide and inform action to reach international biodiversity targets. We must get this done and working!

This is a big worry. Hear a local expert here - just a 4-minute interview - and download the report from the text below... – The severe global threat posed by invasive alien species is underappreciated, underestimated, and often unacknowledged. According to a major new report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), more than 37,000 alien species have been introduced by many human activities to regions and biomes around the world. This conservative estimate is now rising at unprecedented rates. More than 3,500 of these are harmful invasive alien species – seriously threatening nature, nature’s contributions to people and good quality of life. Too often ignored until it is too late, invasive alien species are a significant challenge to people in all regions and in every country. IPBES has now released the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of the Invasive Alien Species Report. The SPM presents the key messages and policy options, as approved by the IPBES Plenary. To access the SPM, photos, ‘B-roll’ and other media resources go to: www.bit.ly/IASMedia The full six-chapter Report (including all data) will be published later this year.

The severe global threat posed by invasive alien species is underappreciated, underestimated, and often unacknowledged. According to a major new report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), more than 37,000 alien species have been introduced by many human activities to regions and biomes around the world. This conservative estimate is now rising at unprecedented rates. More than 3,500 of these are harmful invasive alien species – seriously threatening nature, nature’s contributions to people and good quality of life. Too often ignored until it is too late, invasive alien species are a significant challenge to people in all regions and in every country. https://lnkd.in/dvwfwDkJ

A new international report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), entitled 'Invasive Alien Species and their Control', describes the impacts of invasive alien species, animals, plants and microorganisms, on biodiversity, human health and the economy. The global cost of these impacts is estimated at $423 billion per year and is expected to continue to quadruple every decade. The report also highlights that 60% of the animals and plants that have become extinct globally are due to invasive alien species. https://lnkd.in/dgm8yDFw