Articles for author: Maria Faith Saligumba

Close-up of a woman smiling and pointing at aquatic plants inside an aquarium.

What Lives in Your Tank Besides Fish? The Hidden Microbiome of Home Aquariums

Maria Faith Saligumba

Picture this: you’re gazing at your beautiful aquarium, watching your colorful fish swim gracefully through crystal-clear water. What you can’t see, however, is perhaps the most fascinating part of your aquatic ecosystem – a bustling metropolis of microscopic life that’s working around the clock to keep your underwater world healthy. Your home aquarium isn’t just ...

Extinct species, passenger pigeon

The Bubal Hartebeest and Other Species Lost to Overhunting

Maria Faith Saligumba

The story of the Bubal Hartebeest is one of both lament and lesson. This magnificent creature once roamed in vast herds across North Africa, embodying the spirit of the savannah with its graceful horns and robust physique. However, it fell victim to overhunting, a tragic fate that many species have shared. Overhunting is not just ...

Elephant: The Majestic Behemoth

How to Spot (and Report) Illegal Wildlife Trafficking

Maria Faith Saligumba

Illegal wildlife trafficking is a silent predator, lurking in the shadows, threatening both biodiversity and our planet’s ecological balance. The clandestine networks of poachers and smugglers exploit nature’s wonders for profit, often at the expense of endangered species. This black market trade, valued at billions of dollars, poses a significant threat to global conservation efforts. ...

Fibonacci pattern of sunflower seeds.

9 Times Nature Created Unbelievably Perfect Patterns

Maria Faith Saligumba

Nature has an extraordinary ability to leave us in awe with its intricate designs and harmonious arrangements. From the spirals of galaxies to the symmetry found in the tiniest snowflake, the world around us is full of patterns that seem almost too perfect to be real. These natural wonders not only captivate our imagination but ...

Brown sheep on grass land.

Cattle, Sheep, and Changing Habitats: How Livestock Shaped the Land

Maria Faith Saligumba

The story of how livestock, particularly cattle and sheep, have shaped the land is a tale as old as civilization itself. Our ancestors began domesticating these animals thousands of years ago, and since then, their presence has left an indelible mark on the Earth’s landscapes. Imagine vast grasslands transformed by the grazing patterns of herds, ...

Stunning sunset view of Belo Horizonte's skyline blending nature and urban beauty.

Urban Forests, Native Roots: Bringing Biodiversity Back to City Parks

Maria Faith Saligumba

Picture this: you’re walking through a city park, and instead of seeing rows of identical manicured lawns and foreign ornamental plants, you’re surrounded by a bustling ecosystem. Native butterflies dance around wildflowers that actually belong there, birds nest in trees their ancestors knew centuries ago, and the air hums with the sounds of life that ...

Glowworm Caves

Glowworm Caves of NZ: The Light-Loving Bacteria of Waitomo

Maria Faith Saligumba

Deep beneath New Zealand’s rolling green hills lies one of nature’s most mesmerizing light shows. In the darkness of ancient limestone caves, thousands of tiny organisms create a galaxy of blue-green stars that has left visitors spellbound for over a century. But here’s what might surprise you – these magical creatures aren’t actually worms at ...