Killer Whales Die Without King Salmon

Some killer whale populations favor king salmon so much that the whales will actually die when numbers of this largest member of the salmon family drop, according to new research. (Read More)

Europe´s largest river protected area

Croatia and Hungary signed today a declaration to establish a Trans-Boundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that will protect their shared biodiversity hotspot along the Mura, Drava and Danube Rivers. This paves the way to create Europe’s largest river protection area. (Read More)

The Role of Ecosystems in Climate Mitigation

A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme describes the vital contributions which ecosystems can make to offset emissions of greenhouse gases. It presents carbon capture and storage through a Green Economy lens, outlining the potential in terms of natural systems, from forests to grasslands which have been doing the job in a tried and tested way for millennia. Download the report in pdf format.

Mercury in aquatic organisms

Slovenian researchers have recently investigated the mercury content in aquatic organisms in a river located next to a mine that closed more than 10 years ago. They have shown that the accumulation of toxic mercury increases with the position in the food chain of the studied organisms. This study also highlights the great persistence of mercury in the aquatic environment. (pdf file)

The New Ocean

The Arctic ice cap shrank so much this summer that waves briefly lapped along two long-imagined Arctic shipping routes, the Northwest Passage over Canada and the Northern Sea Route over Russia. Over all, the floating ice dwindled to an extent unparalleled in a century or more, by several estimates. Read More.

For hundreds of years, mariners have dreamed of an Arctic shortcut that would allow them to speed trade between Asia and the West. Two German ships are poised to complete the first commercial transit through the Northern Sea Route. Read More.