Return of the cicadas! The Brood II Cicadas have been underground for 17 years. This year, they’ll rise, mate and sing for several weeks in early summer. 

All photos taken in Killingworth, CT by © David Gumbart/TNC. See more here.

For World Turtle Day, a must-see video of conservationists helping hatch baby Hawksbill turtles in the Solomon Islands. 

Yes, the world is round — but it has some anomalies.
Nature Conservancy Senior Advisory on Poverty and Conservation Craig Leisher on a new study showing protected areas help stop deforestation — with some important exceptions.
Do elephants get stressed out when living alongside people? (People who aren’t trying to poach their ivory, that is.) The answer is in their poop: Surprising findings from a new Conservation Biology study out today by lead author Marissa Ahlering of The Nature Conservancy and colleagues.

Do elephants get stressed out when living alongside people? (People who aren’t trying to poach their ivory, that is.) The answer is in their poop: Surprising findings from a new Conservation Biology study out today by lead author Marissa Ahlering of The Nature Conservancy and colleagues.

dendroica: Multi-flowered grass pink by USFWS/Southeast on Flickr. This is why we burn on refuges. A critically imperiled multi-flowered grass pink orchid was discovered following a prescribed burn at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR. One of the greatest conservation tools we use in habitat management of our refuges is prescribed fire. While fire is applied to reduce the risks of wildfires on our refuges and surrounding homes, it is also a means to encourage native plants and wildlife habitat. This rare orchid, the multi-flowered grass pink, is a perfect example. It is considered globally imperiled and critically imperiled in the State of Mississippi. It was discovered on the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge following a carefully planned and precise controlled burn that was used to reduce the hazards of wildfires and improve the surrounding savanna grassland habitat. Like many plants of the savannas this plant is fire dependent. It requires fire to stimulate flowering and fire reduces the brush to allow more light for the plant to grow. It does not survive under the shade of bushes and other woody vegetation. Many plants benefit from the use of prescribed burning on our refuges that not only reduce the threat of wildfire, but help to increase the habitat for plants and animals to live. Photo: Scott Hereford (USFWS)

dendroica:

Multi-flowered grass pink by USFWS/Southeast on Flickr.

This is why we burn on refuges. A critically imperiled multi-flowered grass pink orchid was discovered following a prescribed burn at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR.

One of the greatest conservation tools we use in habitat management of our refuges is prescribed fire. While fire is applied to reduce the risks of wildfires on our refuges and surrounding homes, it is also a means to encourage native plants and wildlife habitat. This rare orchid, the multi-flowered grass pink, is a perfect example. It is considered globally imperiled and critically imperiled in the State of Mississippi. It was discovered on the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge following a carefully planned and precise controlled burn that was used to reduce the hazards of wildfires and improve the surrounding savanna grassland habitat. Like many plants of the savannas this plant is fire dependent. It requires fire to stimulate flowering and fire reduces the brush to allow more light for the plant to grow. It does not survive under the shade of bushes and other woody vegetation. Many plants benefit from the use of prescribed burning on our refuges that not only reduce the threat of wildfire, but help to increase the habitat for plants and animals to live.

Photo: Scott Hereford (USFWS)
What happens when genetic engineers and conservation biologists go on a date? A woolly mammoth in Montana as love child? One thing is clear, says Craig Groves: Our present definition of “natural” won’t fit much longer.  

What happens when genetic engineers and conservation biologists go on a date? A woolly mammoth in Montana as love child? One thing is clear, says Craig Groves: Our present definition of “natural” won’t fit much longer.  

climateadaptation: NY and NJ beaches are nearly fully restored after Hurricane Sandy devastated the coast late last year. Here is a nice interactive map of restored beaches from the NYTimes.

climateadaptation:

NY and NJ beaches are nearly fully restored after Hurricane Sandy devastated the coast late last year. Here is a nice interactive map of restored beaches from the NYTimes.

I have what some think is a heretical view of biodiversity. Look – I do want to prevent extinctions. But I think what should be a reasonable concern for biodiversity has turned into a numerological and narrow counting of species, and has led to an over-emphasis on research aimed at rationalizing why biodiversity should matter to the general public.
Peter Kareiva, chief scientist, The Nature Conservancy
Tropical jungle? Not quite. This pretty shot of a may apple (Podophyllum peltatum) flower was taken in Nebraska at Rulo Bluffs Preserve by prairie ecologist Chris Helzer.

Tropical jungle? Not quite. This pretty shot of a may apple (Podophyllum peltatum) flower was taken in Nebraska at Rulo Bluffs Preserve by prairie ecologist Chris Helzer.

The Rocky Mountains are a botanist’s delight in spring. Case in point: arrowleaf balsamroot, a wildflower that paints many foothills bright gold throughout the West. Read The Traveling Naturalist: Solid Gold in the Rockies Image by Matt Miller/TNC

The Rocky Mountains are a botanist’s delight in spring. Case in point: arrowleaf balsamroot, a wildflower that paints many foothills bright gold throughout the West.

Read The Traveling Naturalist: Solid Gold in the Rockies

Image by Matt Miller/TNC

“Science has always relied on visual representation to convey key concepts. While representation has varied from Audubon’s bird paintings to high-tech GPS imagery, illustration has at is core always been about conveying information. However, while we have inarguably made amazing advancements in information technology, high-tech does not always mean ‘easy to understand.’” From Scientific Illustration: More than Pretty Pictures

“Science has always relied on visual representation to convey key concepts. While representation has varied from Audubon’s bird paintings to high-tech GPS imagery, illustration has at is core always been about conveying information.

However, while we have inarguably made amazing advancements in information technology, high-tech does not always mean ‘easy to understand.’”

From Scientific Illustration: More than Pretty Pictures

Happy Arbor Day! Today is a day to plant a tree. But keep in mind these words from prairie ecologist Chris Helzer:  “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with planting trees, but the kind of trees being planted and the location they’re planted in makes all the difference in the world.” Read his blog on why Arbor Day makes him just a little nervous

Happy Arbor Day! Today is a day to plant a tree. But keep in mind these words from prairie ecologist Chris Helzer: 

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with planting trees, but the kind of trees being planted and the location they’re planted in makes all the difference in the world.”

Read his blog on why Arbor Day makes him just a little nervous

Chimpanzees don’t eat fish. They don’t even swim. But at Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania, scientists have found that to save chimps, they must look underwater. Why? Because protecting chimpanzees here may depend on the effectiveness of protecting the fish that provide people protein.  Read more Photo by Ami Vitale

Chimpanzees don’t eat fish. They don’t even swim. But at Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania, scientists have found that to save chimps, they must look underwater. Why? Because protecting chimpanzees here may depend on the effectiveness of protecting the fish that provide people protein. 

Read more

Photo by Ami Vitale

Researchers on the Apalachicola River in Florida are tracking shad to help determine the best ways to restore their populations. The best option: Using shipping locks to let shad pass through dams—a low-tech, low-cost method. Read the blog. Photo: Research assistant Chase Kataechis handles an Alabama shad he just netted. Matt Miller/TNC

Researchers on the Apalachicola River in Florida are tracking shad to help determine the best ways to restore their populations.

The best option: Using shipping locks to let shad pass through dams—a low-tech, low-cost method. Read the blog.

Photo: Research assistant Chase Kataechis handles an Alabama shad he just netted. Matt Miller/TNC

Build it and they will…spawn. New research on northern pike will help conservationists plan stream restoration projects. Photo: University of Wisconsin graduate student Dan Oele with northern pike near Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Build it and they will…spawn.

New research on northern pike will help conservationists plan stream restoration projects.

Photo: University of Wisconsin graduate student Dan Oele with northern pike near Green Bay, Wisconsin.