Biodiversity
Explore Biodiversity with in-depth analyses of ecosystems, unravel species interactions, and delve into Earth's natural riches to inspire conservation efforts.
16 articles
Sea lilies, often mistaken for plants due to their flower-like appearance, are fascinating marine animals that belong to the echinoderm family, closely related to starfish and sea urchins. With a history spanning over 490 million years, sea lilies have adapted to a variety of deep-sea habitats and developed...
Sea sponges, scientifically known as Porifera, are among the oldest and simplest multicellular animals on Earth. These remarkable filter feeders have thrived in marine environments for over 500 million years, surviving multiple mass extinctions through their adaptable nature. From the warm waters of coral...
Our planet is teeming with life, from towering redwoods to microscopic bacteria. This incredible variety, known as biodiversity, is the foundation for a healthy and functioning Earth. It's not just about counting different species, but encompasses the vast genetic variation within species and the intricate...
Also known as ecological hotspots, biodiversity hotspots are geographic areas that stand out for hosting an extraordinary diversity of endemic species that is also facing significant threats to its survival. The term hotspots was coined by ecologist Dr. Norman Myers in 1988, a term born due to the crucial...
Club mosses, also known as lycopodia, are a fascinating group of ancient vascular plants. They're not true mosses, despite the name, but a separate lineage that dates back hundreds of millions of years. Club mosses are living examples of a very early plant design, thriving on Earth for much longer than flowering...
Speciation is a fundamental process in evolutionary biology that involves the formation of new distinct species from a common ancestral population. This process plays a critical role in the diversification of life on Earth, leading to the incredible variety of species that inhabit our planet. There are several...
Zooxanthellae are symbiotic photosynthetic microalgae. Their symbiosis occurs with certain species of corals, anemones or jellyfish, as well as the giant clam (Tridacna gigas). The life cycle of zooxanthellae begins with asexual division, forming flagellated cells that later lose mobility. Their function...
The gorgonian coral is a type of soft marine coral that belongs to the family Gorgoniidae. There are various genera within this group, all of which are types of Cnidarian, members of the phylum which also includes jellyfish, sea anemones and other marine species. Despite being part of the same taxonomic...
Chordates encompass a diverse and fascinating group of animals, characterized by a set of unique anatomical features that define their evolutionary lineage. From the mighty blue whale to the unassuming lancelet, chordates span a wide range of species, inhabiting diverse ecosystems across the globe. What sets...
Chromosomes are molecules which contain genetic information. All human beings are unique thanks to a unique genetic code which creates the building blocks for our bodies. These traits are inherited from our parents due to reproduction. Although there are many types of reproduction, all living organisms pass...
Amblypygi is an order of arachnid arthropods that are commonly known as whip spiders or tailless whip scorpions. These common names imply they are either types of scorpion or types of spider. Perhaps confusingly, they are neither. Whip spiders are a different type of arachnid, despite certain similarities...
Evolution is the process by which living organisms change and adapt over time in response to their environment, leading to the diversity of life that we see on Earth today. Divergent evolution is a type of evolution that describes how related species become more different over time due to different...
The landscapes of our planet looked very different 50,000 years ago when compared to today. This is due to various factors, including climactic conditions and the absence of human civilizations. For this reason, the plant and animal species that were present during prehistoric times also varied greatly....
Too many of us underestimate soil. We may think of it simply as dirt instead of the complex ecosystem of macro- and microscopic organisms of which it consists. Without soil, we would not have the substrate required to grow various plants which are necessary for us to eat, breathe and survive. More than...
Although planet Earth is a closed system in terms of matter, it is constantly changing as a response to the conditions of a given place and time. From our human perspective, some of these changes are not easily perceptible. This is the case with evolutionary processes. While it may be common to think...
Evolution is the process by which living organisms change over time. They do so in order to adapt to the particular conditions of their environment. These changes take place in the genetic code of the organism, allowing them to be passed down from generation to generation. Much of what we know about evolution...