Articles for category: Ecology

Forest of old black walnut trees

The Tree That Poisons Its Neighbors to Steal the Sun

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine walking through a lush forest, where the sunlight dances through the leaves, painting golden patches on the earth below. But look closer—beneath the towering branches, a silent war is raging. One tree, seemingly regal and serene, is secretly plotting against its neighbors. It releases invisible toxins, sabotaging those who dare grow too close, all ...

The Bioluminescent Bay in Puerto Rico Is One of the Brightest on Earth

The Bioluminescent Bay in Puerto Rico Is One of the Brightest on Earth

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine standing at the edge of a moonless shoreline, your toes sinking into warm sand, and suddenly the water before you erupts in a dazzling blue-green glow. Each movement—whether a paddle’s stroke, a fish’s dart, or your own hand swirling through the dark—sends shimmering light rippling across the bay. To witness this living light show ...

Are We Hearing Enough? The Case for Listening to the Non-Human World

Are We Hearing Enough? The Case for Listening to the Non-Human World

Annette Uy

Have you ever paused in a forest and truly listened, letting the chorus of birds, the whisper of leaves, and the distant croak of frogs wash over you? Most people don’t. In our busy, bustling lives, the subtle voices of the non-human world are often drowned out by engines, electronics, and endless chatter. Yet, beneath ...

Green turbo seashell on the sand

Paleogeography Rewrites the Map: How Ocean History Shaped Mollusk Distribution

April Joy Jovita

A sweeping new study has unveiled a global map of marine mollusks that reflects not just present-day ocean conditions but millions of years of geological transformation. Published in Scientific Reports, the research shows how ancient shifts in land and sea, alongside temperature and ocean currents, continue to shape the biogeography of shallow-water mollusks like bivalves ...

Lake Redon

Ancient aquaculture: The Surprising Story of Fish in Europe’s High Lakes

April Joy Jovita

High mountain lakes in Europe were naturally fishless due to geographical barriers. However, recent studies revealed that humans introduced fish into these ecosystems much earlier than previously documented. Utilizing ancient environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, researchers have traced fish presence in Lake Redon, located in the Pyrenees Mountains of Spain, back to the 7th century CE. ...

A snake being kept as a pet.

The Impact of Invasive Species on Native Animal Populations

Maria Faith Saligumba

Invasive species are organisms that thrive and spread aggressively in regions where they are not native. Often introduced by human activities, intentionally or accidentally, these species can disrupt local ecosystems. The absence of natural predators in the new environment allows them to multiply rapidly, posing significant challenges to native life forms. From plants to animals ...