National Geographic Society’s Post

Mangrove forests are not only fascinating ecosystems, but a vital mitigator of storm surge and flooding. They slow down water movement, catch sediment and reduce flood peaks. Protecting places like these inherently also protects the people living nearby through mitigating against the effects of potentially devastating weather events, of which we will continue to see more.

Crown shyness, also known as canopy disengagement, canopy shyness, or inter-crown spacing, is a phenomenon seen in certain tree species where the crowns of closely packed trees avoid touching, creating a canopy with channel-like gaps. This occurrence is most common among trees of the same species but can also happen between different species. More details/photos: http://bit.ly/3kJ3dap

In the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands there are 5 species, “the big 5”: Avellara, Naufraga, Castrilanthemum, Pseudomisopates and Gyrocaryum, considered as potentialy living fossil plants. In these cases, at least two of the three criteria for the selection of living fossils are met i.e. taxonomic and geographic isolation as they all consist of a single species and they all have few populations and individuals. In addition, all of them are endemic and listed in the critically endangered category. In previous weeks I showed you Avellara and Naufraga. Today is the turn of Castrilanthemum debeauxii. It is an annual species of about 4-10 cm, belonging to the Compositae family and to the monospecific genus Castrilanthemum. C. debeauxii is endemic to the mountains of northeastern Granada and western Jaén and was discovered by Elysée Reverchon at the beginning of the twentieth century. Recently it has also been found in the province of Albacete. It grows on sunny slopes, on poorly developed limestone soils, stony, forming part of meadows with little cover. It flowers ephemerally between the months of May and June and is potentially threatened by the presence of tourist infrastructures and nitrification due to heavy livestock pressure, making the existence of abundant population very difficult. It is included in the Red List of Spanish vascular flora as critically endangered. #ilustracioncientifica, #artebotanico, #livingfosilplant, #castrilanthemumdebeauxii, #plantafosilviviente, #scientificillustration, #botanicalart

The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, or Old World kestrel. In the United Kingdom, where no other kestrel species commonly occurs, it is generally just called "kestrel".[2] This species occurs over a large range. It is widespread in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as occasionally reaching the east coast of North America.[3] It has colonized a few oceanic islands, but vagrant individuals are generally rare; in the whole of Micronesia for example, the species was only recorded twice each on Guam and Saipan in the Marianas.

🌊🔬 During a six-month period, Daniëlle Geschiere conducted a crucial study to determine the optimal depth for two coral species and a hydrozoan at our Swahili Nurseries dive spot in Diani: Acropora sp., Pocillopora cf. verrucosa, and Millepora cf. tenera. Her goal was to identify the depth that maximizes the growth-to-survival ratio, enhancing coral productivity and supporting our reef restoration efforts. 📊 Daniëlle's study revealed that depth had a significant effect on the specific growth rate of Pocillopora cf. verrucosa, which exhibited reduced growth at four meters below the ocean's surface, possibly due to increased competition with algae. Interestingly, the growth rates of Acropora sp. and Millepora cf. tenera were not affected by depth. She also found that the overall condition of the species remained consistent over time, with no significant differences observed between different depths. 🌱 To achieve the highest productivity, it is recommended to grow only Millepora cf. tenera at four meters depth. In the range of five to eight meters, all three species can be grown. These findings are invaluable for refining our restoration strategies and ensuring the health and productivity of our nurseries. 📚 If you're interested in learning more about Daniëlle's study and its implications for coral reef restoration, we would be delighted to share her report. 🌍💙 https://lnkd.in/dk-f29zK #CoralReefRestoration 🌊 #MarineBiology 🔬 #SustainableOceans 🌱 #EnvironmentalScience 🌍

The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, or Old World kestrel. In the United Kingdom, where no other kestrel species commonly occurs, it is generally just called "kestrel".[2] This species occurs over a large range. It is widespread in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as occasionally reaching the east coast of North America.[3] It has colonized a few oceanic islands, but vagrant individuals are generally rare; in the whole of Micronesia for example, the species was only recorded twice each on Guam and Saipan in the Marianas.

The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, or Old World kestrel. In the United Kingdom, where no other kestrel species commonly occurs, it is generally just called "kestrel".[2] This species occurs over a large range. It is widespread in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as occasionally reaching the east coast of North America.[3] It has colonized a few oceanic islands, but vagrant individuals are generally rare; in the whole of Micronesia for example, the species was only recorded twice each on Guam and Saipan in the Marianas.

Uncover the secrets of an immense cave network hidden beneath the vast, treeless plains of Australia's iconic Nullarbor – a geological marvel spanning 200,000 sq km. 🏞️ From unique animals and fossils to the rich cultural history of the Mirning people, this article unveils a fascinating tapestry. 🕵️♀️ Discover the challenges threatening this natural wonder and why it is crucial to protect it: https://bit.ly/3MF0mKy

Pining for more mature, taller trees on Armada Way? We have listened. We are proposing over 200 new trees to spruce up Armada Way, compared to 153 before the felling earlier this year. The trees: 🌳 will be at least 3.5 to 8 metres (or 11 to 27 feet) when they are planted and will grow significantly over time. 🌳have been carefully selected so they can thrive in an urban environment. 🌳 have been picked either for their wildlife appeal, their shady canopy, beautiful blossom and leaves. Species include; Field Maple, Gold and Himalayan Birch, Scots Pine, Love Tree, Silver Birch and Norway Maple. Find out more and have your say on the proposals for Armada Way https://bit.ly/40oOIZO