Biodiversity stories
Since the beginning of time, we’ve told stories to make sense of the world. Here, biodiversity comes to life through articles that blend science, wonder, and curiosity. These stories inform without overwhelming, explain without oversimplifying, and bring you closer to what keeps life in balance: the intricate beauty of nature.
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Monitoring species by capturing their tracks
Using environmental DNA method, European otter and white-footed crayfish are confirmed in Liguria
To monitor the presence of two species considered endangered-the European otter and the white-footed crayfish-researchers from the University of Florence used the eDNA, or environmental DNA, method: an ideal approach for tracking rare or elusive animals.
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Appia Antica Park, the realm of many
A total of 120 species of spiders have been identified in the green area, testifying to the park’s rich biodiversity
Biodiversity is an asset, and spiders prove it too. Asurvey of terrestrial spiders conducted by Roma Tre University and the University of L’Aquila, and published in Biodiversity Data Journal, found high species diversity in the Appia Antica Regional Park in Rome, which also counts on new records.
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Climate change, engine of evolution
Using mathematical models helps reconstruct the earliest history of our ancestors
A recent study published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, in which the University of Florence and the Federico II University of Naples participated, highlights, through the use of mathematical models, the role of climate change as a driving force in human evolution.
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Plant biodiversity, coming soon online
Digitization of more than four million botanical specimens will be available by 2025
Millions of artifacts digitized and soon online, available to botanists and enthusiasts around the world. This is the goal of the nearly 7million euro funded project promoted byNBFC (Italy’s first biodiversity research center supported by PNRR – Next Generation) that will make plant treasure available by 2025.
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Bees: why it is important to protect native ones
Genetic analysis confirms presence of alien subspecies, with less desirable characteristics
To protect the genetic integrity of Emilia-Romagna’s native bees, it is essential to monitor the spread of those imported from other places. And the law is not enough: stricter monitoring and policies are needed. This is according to an article, published in Scientific Reports, describing a study conducted by the University of Bologna.
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The healing forest
Thanks to volatile substances produced by plants, anxiety goes away
A study published in theInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in which CNR-Ibe researchers participated confirms this: forest therapy decreases anxiety. This expression(forest bathing in English) refers to immersion in green environments, particularly forests, to achieve physical and mental health benefits.
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Canada: traditional hunting is sustainable
Centuries of beluga whale hunting by indigenous peoples have not harmed the ecosystem
According to a study conducted by the University of Toronto and the University of Copenhagen, the hunting practiced for hundreds of years by the Inuvialuit people in Canada is sustainable-that is, it has not had a significant impact on the genetic diversity and survival of the beluga population in the region.
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Italian islands, resistant mice
Research identifies genetic mutations in seven island areas that cause rodenticide resistance
Resistance to rodenticides, or pesticides used to eliminate or repel the presence of rodents, is a widespread phenomenon on Italian islands. This is the finding of a study, published in Science of the Total Environment, by a group of researchers from CNR-Iret and La Sapienza University.
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Solutions between timber and undergrowth
New study shows influence of forest management methods on functional structure of undergrowth
New research in which La Sapienza University of Rome participated analyzed how human intervention in forests, with its variety of strategies aimed primarily at timber production, significantly impacts understory vegetation and consequently its health.
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US: fewer bats, more infant mortality
US research proposes new link between animals, pesticides and infant deaths
According to a University of Chicago study, biodiversity loss can have serious economic and health consequences. The case under consideration starts with an analysis of the decline of insectivorous bats in the United States.
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ERGA: studying genomes, together and for all
Positive outcome for a new approach to research targeting social justice, equity and inclusion
A decentralized, inclusive and equitable model for reference genome production that promotes international collaboration and resource sharing can become a reality. This is evidenced by the success of the European Reference Genome Atlas ( ERGA) pilot project, the European node of the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) that aims to sequence the genome of all eukaryotic species (i.e., all life forms that have cells with a membrane-bounded nucleus, which contains genetic material) on Earth.
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City kids on horseback, and it improves health
Interaction with animals during a summer camp enriches young children’s gut microbiome
The health of the gut microbiome of children living in the city-that is, the trillions of bacteria that inhabit our gut and play a key role in our health-can improve through interaction with horses in a rural setting. This is according to a study by the University of Bologna that involved ten children aged between 9 and 14 years, living in urban areas of the Bologna area, for two weeks.
