Tag Archives: Biodiversity

A 2008 photo showcasing typical savanna terrain in Kiang West National Park, The Gambia, West Africa.
2013: The Dynamic Ecosystem of Savannas – Between Grasslands and Woodlands

Savannas, blending grasslands with sparse woodlands, host diverse species and play a crucial role in [...]

A 2015 photo of the entrance to the Global Seed Vault located in Svalbard on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen.
2008: Preserving Biodiversity – The Role of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, part of a network of global seed banks, plays a [...]

A 2016 photo of a grassland and chaparral environment in the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona.
2004: The Significance of Grasslands and Chaparral in Global Ecosystems

Grasslands and chaparrals are crucial ecosystems, with grasslands characterized by moderate rainfall and chaparral thriving [...]

Scenic trails winding through the high-altitude tundra environment of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado.
1992: Exploring the Tundra Biome – Ecology and Global Significance

The tundra biome, spanning Arctic, Antarctic, and alpine regions, is crucial for climate studies due [...]

A 2013 photograph of a California condor perched on a rock at the Grand Canyon in Arizona, one of the native habitats for this critically endangered bird. The California condor boasts one of the widest wingspans of any living bird species, measuring approximately 10 feet (3 meters).
1987: The Resurgence of California Condors – A Conservation Success

Once on the brink of extinction, the California condor is making a comeback thanks to [...]

A 2007 photograph of thriving temperate vegetation along the Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh Rainforest, located in Olympic National Park, Washington state, USA.
1976: Exploring the Lush World of Temperate Rainforests

Temperate rainforests, distinct from tropical rainforests, are rich ecosystems found in specific global regions. Characterized [...]

A 2013 photograph captured in the dense jungle vegetation deep within the Monteverde Tropical Rainforest Preserve in Costa Rica.
1973: Preserving the Biodiversity of Tropical Rainforests and Cloud Forests

Tropical rainforests and cloud forests are crucial for biodiversity, facing threats from human exploitation. Reserves [...]

A 2009 photograph of Mount Graham, the tallest peak among the "sky islands" in southern Arizona, located near Tucson.
1943: Sky Islands – Unique Ecosystems of Isolated Mountain Peaks

Sky islands are isolated mountain ecosystems that showcase biodiversity changes due to geographic isolation, similar [...]

Local residents strolling along the "Avenue of the Baobab Trees" near Morondava, Madagascar.
c. 500 BCE: The Human Settlement of Madagascar

Madagascar, the fourth-largest island globally, was one of the last significant landmasses settled by humans, [...]

Top: A fossil of Archaefructus liaoningensis, about 125 million years old, one of the earliest known flowering plants. Bottom: A bee gathering pollen from a Zinnia flower.
c. 130 Million BCE: The Evolution and Impact of Flowers

Explores the relatively recent emergence of flowers, detailing their evolution from non-vascular plants to angiosperms [...]

An artist's illustration showcases the impressive size and diversity of dinosaurs, with 13-foot-tall (4 meters) Diplodocus grazing in shallow waters beneath flying Pterosaurs, dominant land vertebrates for over 135 million years
c. 200-65 Million BCE: Dinosaurs – The Reign of Ancient Giants

Exploring the rise of dinosaurs post-Permian and Triassic extinctions, this article highlights their evolution from [...]

A fossil of tabulate coral from just before the end of the Permian period, when it, along with 96 percent of marine species, went extinct.
c. 252 Million BCE: The Great Dying – Earth’s Largest Mass Extinction

Discusses The Great Dying, the largest mass extinction event around 252 million years ago, which [...]

Based on fossil evidence, early reptiles like Hylonomus likely resembled modern lizards, as shown here
c. 320 Million BCE: The Evolutionary Journey of Reptiles

Traces the evolution of reptiles, starting 375 million years ago from amphibious tetrapods, highlighting their [...]

Volcanic eruptions, continental glaciations, asteroid impacts, and ocean chemistry shifts potentially caused the End Ordovician and late Devonian mass extinctions, each eliminating 70-85% of species 450 and 360 million years ago
c. 450 Million BCE: nderstanding Mass Extinctions in Earth’s History

Delves into the history of mass extinctions, highlighting the catastrophic End Ordovician event 450 million [...]