Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is transforming biodiversity monitoring by allowing scientists to identify fish species from diverse aquatic ecosystems. To assess reliability of the method, researchers from South Korea analyzed 59 mock community datasets from 30 independent studies, comparing the performance of universal fish primers and reference databases. They found that eDNA metabarcoding is highly effective for detecting fish diversity, but quantitative estimates of fish biomass remain challenging due to methodological biases and database limitations.

Lesser black-backed gulls from the colony at the Dutch island Neeltje Jans appear to avoid the wind farm off the Zeeland coast, with the exception of some males. NIOZ ecologist Rosemarie Kentie and her colleagues suspected the gulls were attracted by fishing boats outside the windfarm, and their bycatch thrown overboard. This turned out not to be the case: even during weekends, when there is little fishing, the birds rarely visit the wind farm. They published their findings in the Journal of Animal Ecology. “Why the gulls still avoid the wind farm fascinates me immensely.”

A groundbreaking genomic study in Molecular Biology and Evolution has reshaped our understanding of the evolutionary history of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Led by researchers at the University of Sydney and Texas A&M University, the comprehensive analysis reveals that the iconic Australian marsupial experienced severe population declines long before the arrival of human populations on the continent.

A groundbreaking genomic study has reshaped our understanding of the evolutionary history of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), revealing the iconic Australian marsupial experienced a severe population decline around 100,000 years ago, before the arrival of humans on the continent. All modern koalas descended from a single ancestral population that survived major climate fluctuations, including severe glacial periods.

The loss of biological diversity is one of the greatest challenges of our time. At the fourth World Biodiversity Forum in Davos, leading biodiversity researchers are joining participants from politics, business, civil society and the arts to develop a common approach for biodiversity protection.

A recent publication has revealed the first photographic evidence and confirmed sighting of the Cozumel dwarf fox in over twenty years. This exciting discovery confirms that this elusive and endangered mammal continues to survive on the island of Cozumel, Mexico. The full publication is available in the open-access journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation.