Some Canary Island ants have picked up an unwelcome stowaway — plastic waste. Plastic entanglement is commonly associated with aquatic and ocean life. Finding plastic-wrapped ants suggests that humankind’s pernicious polymer pollution affects a wider range of wildlife than previously thought, researchers report September 18 in Ecological Entomology. Scientists noticed the tangled insects while studying 113 ants they’d...
Bees struggle to find flowers because of air pollution. A new study has found that air pollution is preventing pollinators from finding flowers because it degrades the scent. A research team comprising the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and the Universities of Birmingham, Reading, Surrey and Southern Queensland found that ozone substantially changes...
Pests and diseases are exacerbating crop shortages that have sent prices for goods likecocoa, olive oil and orange juice soaring. That’s set to become even more prevalent asextreme weather events multiply.Already, plant diseases cost the global economy over $220 billion every year, andinvasive insects at least $70 billion, according to the UN’s Food and AgricultureOrganization....