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Wednesday, August 13, 2025

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https://nordictimes.com/environment/study-butterflies-can-cross-the-atlantic-ocean/

Environment

Study: Butterflies can cross the Atlantic Ocean

Biodiversity

Published 30 June 2024
– By Editorial Staff
The painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui)
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The painted lady butterfly (vanessa cardui) can fly over 4200 kilometers and has a route that spans the Atlantic Ocean, research shows. This is the longest distance ever recorded for an insect, and the first time scientists have observed a butterfly flying across the ocean.

It was in October 2013 that Gerard Talavera, a CSIC researcher at the Botanical Institute of Barcelona, identified several painted lady butterflies on the Atlantic beaches of French Guiana. These observations were quite unusual, as this species is not found in South America.

They decided to try to trace the flight paths of the butterflies, which they did by analyzing wind trajectories, and also to study the genetic diversity of the butterflies, which they did by collecting painted lady butterflies from populations on all continents. They found that the specimens observed in South America were related to populations in Europe and Africa. In addition, the researchers analyzed the pollen DNA that the butterflies carried on their bodies and identified two plant species found only in tropical Africa, proving that the butterflies visited flowers in that region.

Finally, the researchers analyzed the stable isotopes of hydrogen and strontium from the butterflies’ wings. The wings retain isotopic signatures unique to the place where they grew up as caterpillars, making it possible to trace their origins. It was found that the butterflies likely originated in Western European countries such as France, Ireland, the United Kingdom or Portugal.

– The painted lady butterflies reached South America from West Africa, flying at least 4200 km over the Atlantic. But their journey could have been even longer, starting in Europe and passing through three continents, implying a migration of 7000 km or more. This is an extraordinary feat for such a small insect, said Clément Bataille, a professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada, in a press release.

With the help of the wind

Scientists have calculated that a flight can take between five and eight days for the butterfly, and without stopping. With the help of the wind, it makes the flight possible.

– The butterflies could only have completed this flight using a strategy alternating between minimal effort to avoid falling into the sea, facilitated by ascending winds, and active flight, which requires more energy consumption. We estimate that without wind, the butterflies could have flown a maximum of 780 km before exhausting all their fat and thus their energy, says Eric Toro-Delgado, one of the authors of the paper.

The researchers highlight the Saharan air layer as a potential ‘highway’ for air dispersion. These wind currents transport large amounts of dust from the Sahara to the Americas and participate in important biogeochemical cycles. They emphasize that the biological components, including living organisms, transported by these winds need further study.

However, this discovery suggests that there may be natural air corridors that connect continents and facilitate the spread of species on a much larger scale than scientists previously thought.

– This discovery opens new perspectives on the capabilities of insects to disperse over long distances, even across seas and oceans. It is possible that we are underestimating the frequency and impact of these movements on our ecosystems, said Gerard Talavera, leader of the study.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/environment/radioactive-method-ready-for-use-against-poaching/

Environment

Radioactive method ready for use against poaching

Biodiversity

Published 11 August 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Rhinos are being injected with radioactive material.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

After an extended testing period, the Rhisotope project in South Africa is now in full operation. The technology, which makes rhino horns both traceable and unattractive to poachers, can now be used on a large scale.

It was in June last year that researchers injected radioactive material into the horns of 20 rhinos in South Africa. The project, called the Rhisotope Project and led by the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) in South Africa, began six years ago with the idea of stopping poaching of the endangered rhinos. The concept was that the radioactive material should be detectable at border controls, but also becomes toxic to consume. Furthermore, the radioactive material should be harmless to the rhinos.

Now the project has been thoroughly tested and reached full operational status, writes Wits University in a press release.

— We have demonstrated, beyond scientific doubt, that the process is completely safe for the animal and effective in making the horn detectable through international customs nuclear security systems, says James Larkin, professor at Wits University and scientific director of the Rhisotope Project.

Sold as “medicine”

Rhino poaching is a recurring problem, particularly in South Africa. Last year, 420 rhinos were killed illegally in the country, where the horns often end up on the black market. They are often sold as medicine and can be worth more than gold. The treatment is carried out by sedating the rhino and then drilling a small hole in its horn. Two small isotopes with radioactive material are then inserted.

This means in practice that private and public rhino owners, non-governmental organizations and conservation authorities can contact the Rhisotope Project to treat their rhinos with the radioactive material.

— Our goal is to deploy the Rhisotope technology at scale to help protect one of Africa’s most iconic and threatened species. By doing so, we safeguard not just rhinos but a vital part of our natural heritage, says Jessica Babich, CEO of the Rhisotope Project.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/environment/swedish-crayfish-threatened-with-extinction/

Environment

Swedish crayfish threatened with extinction

Biodiversity

Published 10 August 2025
– By Editorial Staff
From 30,000 population to under 600 – the noble crayfish is critically endangered.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Crayfish plague continues to devastate Sweden’s native noble crayfish. In just a few decades, populations have plummeted from around 30,000 to fewer than 600 – and the trend continues downward.

The biggest culprit is illegal releases of non-native signal crayfish, which are themselves heavily fished and can also be affected by the disease.

The signal crayfish, which spreads the disease, has increased dramatically and today exists in between 10,000 and 15,000 populations. In Värmland, a province in western Sweden, illegal releases have been documented in as many as 239 bodies of water between 2000 and 2024.

— Noble crayfish populations in Värmland and Dalsland were 430 in the early 2000s; today only 60 remain, says Lennart Edsman, crayfish expert and researcher at the Freshwater Laboratory at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), to Swedish news agency TT.

When August and crayfish season arrives, the question arises of which species the environmentally conscious consumer should choose for their crayfish party.

— You should eat noble crayfish if you can afford it. That gives them value that makes them worth protecting. And you should eat signal crayfish too, but absolutely not spread them, Edsman believes.

Imports worth hundreds of millions

Swedes eat far more crayfish than the country can produce. Between 70 and 80 percent of the crayfish on tables are imported. In 2023, imports amounted to a value of €40 million, while Swedish crayfish were sold for €27 million.

Previously, the largest portion of imports came from China, but today Spain, Turkey and also Egypt dominate the Swedish market.

Most Swedish-caught crayfish are signal crayfish, with a large share coming from lakes Vättern and Hjälmaren in central Sweden. Recently, however, many consumers have complained that the crayfish have become smaller.

— This is partly because fishing has been too intensive. There is great demand for crayfish in this country. Sweden is quite extreme when it comes to crayfish consumption, Edsman explains.

The signal crayfish originates from western North America, as does crayfish plague – a parasitic algae fungus. Although the species is more resistant than the noble crayfish, it is not immune to the disease.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

How the signal crayfish took over

The signal crayfish originally comes from western North America and was introduced to Sweden in the 1960s as a way to replace the noble crayfish, which had been severely affected by crayfish plague at the time. The idea was to preserve crayfish fishing and its economic benefits, since the signal crayfish is more resistant to the disease than the noble crayfish.

The problem is that the signal crayfish carries the very crayfish plague – a parasitic water mold – that is deadly to the noble crayfish. Although the invasive species itself can be affected, it is significantly more resilient, which means it functions as a disease carrier and accelerates the decline of the noble crayfish.

Since its introduction, the signal crayfish has spread rapidly and is now found in between 10,000 and 15,000 populations across Sweden. Many of these have resulted from illegal releases. The consequence is that the noble crayfish has declined from around 30,000 populations to fewer than 600 throughout the country.

https://nordictimes.com/environment/new-giant-insect-discovered-in-australia/

Environment

New giant insect discovered in Australia

Biodiversity

Published 5 August 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Acrophylla alta lives in a very limited area of high-altitude rainforest.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Researchers have discovered a new species of stick insect. The insect, which can grow to almost half a meter long, is said to potentially be Australia’s heaviest.

It was at high altitude in the Atherton Tablelands in northern Queensland, Australia, that the stick insect was found. Researchers at James Cook University helped identify the new species, which they call Acrophylla alta. The most remarkable thing about the insect is its length and especially its weight: It can grow 40 centimeters long and weigh about 44 grams, which is slightly less than the weight of a golf ball.

— There are longer stick insects out there [in the region], but they’re fairly light bodied, says Professor Angus Emmott in a press release. From what we know to date, this is Australia’s heaviest insect.

It was through the eggs that researchers were able to identify that it was a new species, since no species of stick insects have identical eggs.

— They’ve all got different surfaces and different textures and pitting, and they can be different shapes, he says.

It is not uncommon for new insect species to be discovered, but the reason this heavy insect has gone unnoticed is likely due to its habitat. These insects live in a limited area of high-altitude rainforest and live high up in the tree canopy. Emmott also believes it is precisely their living environment that has made them so large.

— It’s a cool, wet environment where they live, he says. Their body mass likely helps them survive the colder conditions, and that’s why they’ve developed into this large insect over millions of years.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/environment/the-forest-lives-when-trees-die/

Environment

The forest lives when trees die

Biodiversity

Published 4 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Leaving a variety of dead trees in forests is vital for many species' survival.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

When old trees die, life begins for many other species, according to a new dissertation. Numerous threatened species need dead wood to survive, along with a varied landscape.

Dead wood, meaning dead trees and branches in nature, is vital for about a quarter of Sweden’s beetle species. Many fungal species also depend on dead wood for survival.

Together with microorganisms and fungi, beetles contribute to the decomposition of tree remains, which provides nutrients to the soil and creates habitats for other insects that, in turn, become food for birds and other animals.

However, many of these fungal and beetle species are threatened today, partly because dead wood has become scarce – especially in managed forests. Paulina Bergmark from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has examined in her dissertation whether these species are better preserved in landscapes where nature conservation is combined with forestry, often called eco-parks. The state-owned Swedish forestry company Sveaskog established the first eco-parks about 20 years ago, with the aim of supporting species negatively affected by traditional forestry. Today, there are 37 such forests in total.

In five of these eco-parks, Bergmark studied beetle and fungal species living in high-cut stumps. She then compared the results with four areas in regular production forests.

More red-listed species

The eco-parks contained more diverse tree species and good access to dead wood. The production forests had many beetles, but not to the same extent as the eco-parks.

– Generally, we found both more species and a larger number of red-listed species in the eco-parks compared to the production forests, she says in a press release.

The dissertation also highlighted the importance of tree diversity in forests. Different types of dead trees benefit different species, according to Bergmark.

– In the eco-parks’ varied landscapes, there is a larger proportion of forest where both old and young trees contribute to the creation of new dead wood over time. Increasing variation with both deciduous and coniferous trees in different stages of decomposition can be an effective way to strengthen biodiversity in managed forests, she says.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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