wildland's story links

Researchers have traced a sharp decline in survival of caribou calves to climatic warming. While arctic plants have kept pace with the earlier arrival of spring temperatures, the caribou that graze on those plants have not.

Scientists blame global warming on the recently accelerated pace of rising sea water. They've examined clues from ancient Roman fish tanks, new satellite altimeter measurements and plenty of other sources to trace the history of sea levels.

Last summer's record melting of Arctic sea ice is now causing weird things to happen with this winter's ice pack in northern Canada. There's also a terrific satellite animation of the ice breakup at: http://ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca/content_contenu/SIE/Beaufort/ANIM-BE2007.gif

Here's a win-win-win solution for people with too much clutter and for anyone wanting terrific deals. Best of all, it helps the environment.

Large mammals have disappeared from four-fifths of the earth's landscape during the last 500 years. This conclusion comes from researchers who compared maps of where mammals used to roam with where they live nowadays. In the process, the study identified 108 sites on the planet that have retained a full complement of mega-fauna.

Scientists conservatively estimate that well over one-quarter of native Pacific salmon populations spawning in rivers and lakes from California to southern British Columbia have gone extinct. Here are lists of regional losses and salmon extinctions in the western United States.

Scientists expect the ranges of many North American trees to shrink over the next century if the climate gets as warm as models forecast. But there'll also be winners in a warmer climate. Some species could shift 600 miles northwards.

Huge gains have been made in stopping invasive rats and mice from destroying island biodiversity. Non-native rats and mice have ravaged at least 170 types of plants and animals and caused 50 species to go extinct on islands around the world. Now, new techniques developed in New Zealand have turned the tide on rat and mice invasions.

Scientists have raised the alarm that less than two years remain before it's too late for saving a rare North American porpoise from going extinct. Only 150 vaquitas, the world's smallest porpoise, remain. They're being decimated by fishing nets in the Gulf of California that accidentally trap and kill the sea mammals. This news story summarizes a newly published journal article where scientists urgently call for immediate action to save the vaquita.

A list of the amazing number of animals and plants we've lost since 1960.