Extinction Dominos

Species are highly connected with and dependent on each other. So much so, in fact, that researchers have concluded the total number of species threatened with extinction is nearly 50% higher than previously thought.

ornamental_buffalo_cattle_egret

http://www.scidev.net/en/features/biodiversity-facts-and-figures-1.html

biodiversity logo convention 2010

2010 is the Year of Biodiversity and Earth Rangers has teamed up with The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to bring you a daily dose of biodiversity basics

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Gingko Memory

Researchers believe the leaves of the Gingko Tree (Ginkgo biloba) help prevent memory loss. By studying this plant, scientists hope to find a treatment for diseases like Alzheimer, and maybe even find out why you always forget your homework in the morning!

ginko leaves autumn

http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=531&ArticleID=5775&l=en

biodiversity logo convention 2010

2010 is the Year of Biodiversity and Earth Rangers has teamed up with The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to bring you a daily dose of biodiversity basics

Disappearing Bears

Nine species of bears are threatened with extinction, which includes the Polar Bear and Giant Panda.

© Getty Images

http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=531&ArticleID=5775&l=en

biodiversity logo convention 2010

2010 is the Year of Biodiversity and Earth Rangers has teamed up with The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to bring you a daily dose of biodiversity basics

Frilly Lizard

The Frillneck Lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingie) may look nonthreatening when it is calm, but when its frightened, its another story. When it gets frightened, it raises a frill of skin around its neck that is almost 12 inches across.

frillneck_lizard
Photo credit: Tom Brakefield

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Chlamydosaurus_kingii.html

biodiversity logo convention 2010

2010 is the Year of Biodiversity and Earth Rangers has teamed up with The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to bring you a daily dose of biodiversity basics

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Napping Bears and Strong Bones

When bears hibernate they stay in their dens for a long time, if humans were to lay in one spot for five months we would lose a third of our bone mass. While our bones get weaker bears get stronger! They make a substance that keeps their bones healthy and promotes the growth of new cells.

napping_grizzly_bear

http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=531&ArticleID=5775&l=en

biodiversity logo convention 2010

2010 is the Year of Biodiversity and Earth Rangers has teamed up with The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to bring you a daily dose of biodiversity basics

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Looking for a White Whale

Did you know only adult Beluga whales are white? Calves are born brown or dark grey and gradually lighten to become totally white by between six and eight years old.

Beluga_whale_baby_mom

http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=381

biodiversity logo convention 2010

2010 is the Year of Biodiversity and Earth Rangers has teamed up with The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to bring you a daily dose of biodiversity basics

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Regrowing a Newt

Some species of newts and salamanders, like the Eastern Spotted Newt, can regrow organs and even heart muscles. Scientists are studying these amphibians to learn how this works and explore ways that might make it possible for humans to use this same regenerative power. Image what kind of super hero you could be with the power to heal yourself!

red spotted eastern newt
Flickr Credit: iamtheh

http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=531&ArticleID=5775&l=en

biodiversity logo convention 2010

2010 is the Year of Biodiversity and Earth Rangers has teamed up with The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to bring you a daily dose of biodiversity basics

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Aliens are Invading! The state of Invasive Species in Canada

In Canada, about 5% of mammal species and 27% of some plant species are invasive. Not all invasive species are harmful for an ecosystem but many are. Their populations take off because they usually don’t have any natural predators. With so many new species crowding into a habitat and using up its resources, native species have a hard time keeping up, which leads to their population numbers dropping.

purple loosestrive
Purple loosestrife

http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=220

biodiversity logo convention 2010

2010 is the Year of Biodiversity and Earth Rangers has teamed up with The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to bring you a daily dose of biodiversity basics

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Learning to Love Whale Poop

Whale poop acts like a super charged power-up for the ocean. When whales feed from the bottom of the ocean they pick up important nutrients, like nitrogen. These nutrients then get shared with other living organisms through the whale’s poop, helping to keep the ocean’s ecosystem healthy!

humpback_whale_jumping

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101012101255.htm

biodiversity logo convention 2010

2010 is the Year of Biodiversity and Earth Rangers has teamed up with The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to bring you a daily dose of biodiversity basics

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Batty Language

Many bats hunt insects by using echolocation calls, but having a great call isn’t just useful for getting dinner it also comes in handy when you’re trying to find a friend.   New research in Panama has shown that some bats recognize one another by listening to these  calls.

bats

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100526134037.htm

biodiversity logo convention 2010

2010 is the Year of Biodiversity and Earth Rangers has teamed up with The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to bring you a daily dose of biodiversity basics

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.