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Biological Diversity
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- 1Arizona Geoglyph Damaged by Border Wall Predates Stonehenge▼Center for Biological Diversity Reports Sacred Arizona Archaeological Site Damaged by Trump’s Wall Predates Stonehenge; Geoglyph in National Wildlife Refuge is Oldest in Americas
The Center for Biological Diversity reports that a sacred geoglyph in an Arizona national wildlife refuge has been damaged by border wall construction. The archaeological site, created by Indigenous peoples, is described as the oldest known geoglyph in the Americas and predates England's Stonehenge. Conservationists are highlighting the destruction as an example of irreversible cultural and environmental harm caused by the barrier.
- 2Lawsuit Challenges US Approval of Deep-Sea Mining Permit▼Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Greenlighting of International Deep-Sea Mining Exploration Permit
Environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity and Earthjustice, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its approval of an international deep-sea mining exploration permit. The challenge contests the US decision to greenlight seabed mineral exploration in international waters, a move critics say threatens fragile ocean ecosystems that remain largely unexplored. It adds to growing legal and diplomatic disputes over whether deep-sea mining should proceed before its environmental impacts are understood.
- 3Sri Lanka hosts first World Congress on Snakes▼Global experts gather in Sri Lanka for historic first World Congress on Snakes
Snake specialists from around the world have gathered in Sri Lanka for the first ever World Congress on Snakes. Organisers and participants say the event marks a milestone for herpetology, bringing researchers together to share findings on snake biology, conservation and human-snake conflict. Sri Lanka, home to diverse snake species, is hosting the historic meeting.
- 4Democrats Back Fossil Fuel-Friendly Permitting Reform, Environmentalists Say▼Democrats Abandon Environmental Laws to Advance Pro-Fossil Fuel ‘Permitting Reform’
The Center for Biological Diversity accuses Democratic lawmakers of abandoning environmental protections to advance so-called permitting reform that benefits fossil fuel interests. The group argues the legislation would weaken cornerstone environmental laws and speed approval of polluting energy projects, reigniting criticism of the party's energy policy from climate advocates.
- 5New special issue calls for papers on evolutionary biodiversity research▼New special issue of Biological Diversity call for papers decoding biodiversity through evolutionary mechanisms
The journal Biological Diversity has announced a call for papers for a new special issue focused on decoding biodiversity through evolutionary mechanisms. The issue invites researchers to submit work exploring how evolutionary processes shape species diversity, patterns of distribution, and ecosystem variation. The announcement is circulating among biologists, ecologists, and evolutionary scientists looking for publication opportunities on the topic.
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A federal appeals court has declined to reconsider its decision allowing the transfer of the Oak Flat land in Arizona to a copper mining project, a site sacred to Western Apache tribes. The Center for Biological Diversity highlighted the ruling, and conservation and tribal groups are expected to keep fighting the transfer, which they say threatens sacred land and cultural resources.
- 7Autism-linked genetic variants converge on two brain patterns●Autism-linked variants converge on two molecular patterns in mouse brains
New research in mouse brains finds that many autism-linked genetic variants produce effects that converge on two shared molecular patterns, rather than acting in completely distinct ways. The finding suggests different autism risk genes may disrupt common biological pathways, offering a clearer framework for understanding the condition's molecular roots and potentially guiding future research into treatments.
- 8Monarch Butterfly Endangered Species Protection Delayed Until 2030●Endangered Species Act Protection for Monarch Butterfly Delayed Until 2030
Federal protection under the Endangered Species Act for the monarch butterfly has been delayed until 2030, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. The monarch, whose populations have declined sharply due to habitat loss, pesticides and climate change, was long seen as a leading candidate for listing. Conservation groups have criticized repeated delays in granting the butterfly safeguards, arguing the postponement leaves the species without legal protection while its numbers continue to fall across North America.
- 9Biological Diversity journal launches special issue on resilient nature▼Biological Diversity launches special issue on resilient nature: ecosystem responses and ecological restoration under global change
The journal Biological Diversity has launched a special issue titled 'Resilient Nature: Ecosystem Responses and Ecological Restoration Under Global Change'. The collection brings together research on how ecosystems respond to mounting global pressures and how restoration efforts can rebuild ecological resilience. The issue is announced via EurekAlert and is aimed at researchers and practitioners in ecology, conservation biology and environmental science.
- 10Study links depression and anxiety to heart disease via inflammation●Mediating effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the association between depression, anxiety, and cardiometabolic disorders in a multiethnic US population
A new study published in Nature examines a multiethnic US population and finds that pro-inflammatory cytokines may mediate the association between depression, anxiety, and cardiometabolic disorders such as heart disease and diabetes. The findings suggest inflammation could be a biological pathway explaining why mental health conditions raise the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular illness across diverse ethnic groups.