Nature Signals Podcast

In this anniversary episode of Nature Signals, environmental journalist and science writer Ruth Thornton reflects on one year of sharing science-based stories about nature, wildlife and biodiversity conservation. She discusses her journey from conservation professional to environmental journalist, tracing how childhood adventures in the Austrian Alps and American national parks inspired a lifelong passion for nature and wildlife.

Ruth explains why, after more than 20 years working in conservation, she returned to school midcareer to pursue a master’s degree in journalism and how her hands-on field experience shapes her approach to writing about nature.

Looking ahead, Ruth shares her plans for Nature Signals, including articles building on each other to form a more complete picture of the state of biodiversity. She also discusses her commitment to rigorous research, independent fact-checking and accurate environmental journalism in an era of widespread disinformation and AI.

Explore Nature Signals for evidence-based insights into conservation, biodiversity loss, ecology and solutions for protecting the natural world.

The written article is available on my website here: http://ruththornton.com.

#EnvironmentalJournalism #ScienceWriting #Biodiversity #Conservation #Wildlife #NaturePodcast #PersonalEssay

Key points:

1:06 - What led me to change my career

4:34 - Where Nature Signals is headed

6:43 - A word on fact-checking and essay schedules

7:53 - A note on AI

8:20 – How to support my writing

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In this episode, we explore why the global insect decline matters far beyond pollination. A new paper in the journal Nature Reviews Biodiversity brings together findings from nearly 300 studies to document the many ways insects support wildlife and ecosystems.

Eliza Grames, an assistant professor at Binghamton University and a lead author of the review, explains how insects serve as food for birds, bats, mammals, reptiles and amphibians—and provide a surprising range of other services. They help build shelters, protect nests, recycle nutrients, control disease-carrying insects and even contribute to wound care and grooming among some animals.

We also discuss the growing insect biodiversity crisis, including evidence that insect abundance and biomass are declining by an average of 1% to 2% a year. Chris Elphick, a professor at the University of Connecticut and a contributor to the study, explains why insect conservation should be considered part of wildlife conservation.

The researchers also offer a hopeful message: because many insects reproduce quickly, the right conservation efforts can sometimes produce rapid results.

The written article is available on my website here: http://ruththornton.com.

#Insects #BiodiversityCrisis #InsectDecline #Conservation #Wildlife #InsectApocalypse

Links to resources:

Cooke et al., 2026: The importance of insect biodiversity for vertebrates. Nature Reviews Biodiversity.

Status of Insects: An international Research Coordination Network.

National Science Foundation

Science, 4/25/2026, by Jeffrey Mervis: Trump fires every member of the U.S. National Science Foundation's governing body.

The New York Times, 10/2/2026, by Adam Sella, Christopher Flavelle and Irena Hwang: Agency diverted $1.4 Billion in science funds mandated by Congress.

Edwards et al., 2025: Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century. Science, 387(6738): 1090-1094.

Tamburini et al., 2019: Pollination contribution to crop yield is often context-dependent: A review of experimental evidence. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 280: 16-23.

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This episode explores the latest biodiversity news, from bird migration and animal behavior to the growing threat of climate change to coral reefs.

We begin with the annual fall migration, examining why artificial light can be dangerous for birds and how dimming lights at night may help prevent deadly collisions with buildings. The New York Times reporter Ishani Desai cites Adriaan Dokter of Cornell University’s BirdCast, who says that at least one billion birds die each year after striking buildings. We also discuss a BirdLife International report, reported by the Guardian’s Patrick Barkham, finding that one in nine migratory bird species are threatened with extinction.

Then, Scientific American’s Clarissa Brincat explores whether birds actually enjoy flying, drawing on research led by behavioral biologist Jorg Massen at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. We also look at remarkable tool use and social learning in critically endangered pygmy raccoons, discovered by researchers at Miami University and reported by Isabel Gil with Scientific American.

Finally, Vox reporter Benji Jones examines efforts to identify heat-tolerant corals as warming oceans put reefs under increasing pressure.

Together, these stories offer a snapshot of biodiversity threats—and the scientific efforts to understand and protect the natural world.

The written article is available on my website here: http://ruththornton.com.

Key points:

0:55 – Help migrating birds by dimming your lights at night.

3:03 - One in nine migratory bird species are threatened with extinction.

4:24 - Do birds actually enjoy flying? The answer appears to be yes.

7:09 - An endangered young raccoon made her own toy, then taught her family how to do it.

8:50 - Oceans are getting hotter - now scientists are racing to identify coral reefs that can tolerate the heat.

Links to articles and other resources:

• The New York Times, 9/12/2026, by Ishani Desai: As millions of birds migrate, residents are asked to turn off the lights.

• Live bird migration maps: CornellLab BirdCast

• The Guardian, 9/11/2026, by Patrick Barkham: One in nine migratory birds threatened with extinction, global report says.

• BirdLife International: State of the World's Birds

• Scientific American, 9/8/2026, by Clarissa Brincat: Do birds enjoy flying? Scientists asked cockatoos.

• Massen et al., 2026: Do birds enjoy flying? An analysis of affect after flight in galah (Eolophus roseicapilla). Behavior, 2026.

• Scientific American, 3/11/2025, by Jacek Krywko: The secret to understanding animal consciousness may be joy.

• Scientific American, 9/3/2026, by Isabel Gil: This tiny raccoon turned trash into toys - and taught her family how, too.

• O'Neil, Szydlowski and Rivas-Camo, 2026: Preliminary evidence of material culture in the critically endangered pygmy raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus). Wild, 3(3), 33.

• Video: Raccoons making toys!

• International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List: Pygmy raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus).

• Vox, 8/25/2026, by Benji Jones: Inside the race to buy coral reefs more time.

• Ferrario et al., 2014: The effectiveness of coral reefs for coastal hazard risk reduction and adaptation. Nature Communications, 5: 3794.

• Reguero et al., 2021: The value of U.S. coral reefs for flood risk reduction. Nature Sustainability, 4: 688-698.

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Butterflies are on the move — and climate change and habitat loss are largely to blame.

A new global study offers one of the most comprehensive looks yet at how butterfly species are responding to a changing planet. Researchers found evidence that 1,758 species — nearly 10% of known butterfly species — have changed where they live.

Many are expanding into new areas, often moving toward cooler regions as temperatures rise. Others are disappearing from parts of their historic ranges. Climate change and extreme weather are major drivers of these shifts, while habitat loss and agriculture are shrinking ranges in many regions.

But scientists say the true scale of the changes could be much larger. Monitoring is far more limited in tropical countries, home to most of the world’s insect diversity, leaving major gaps in our understanding of butterfly populations.

We hear from two leading butterfly researchers, Shawan Chowdhury, lead author of the study and head of the Global Change Ecology Lab at Monash University in Australia, and Nick Haddad, professor of integrative biology at Michigan State University, about why expanding into new areas may not always protect species from decline and how protecting connected habitats could help butterflies adapt to human-caused environmental changes.

The written article is available on my website here: http://ruththornton.com.

Links to resources:

Chowdhury et al., 2026: Extensive climate-induced range shifts in butterflies across the globe. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2026.

Chowdhury et al., 2026: A framework for the strategic conservation of tropical insects. BioScience, 2026: biag136.

Edwards et al., 2025: Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century. Science, 387(6738): 1090-1094.

Pinkert et al., 2022: Global geographical and latitudinal variation in butterfly species richness captured through a comprehensive country-level occurrence database. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 31:830-839.

Citizen science: iNaturalist

Key points:

1:48 - Regional differences in butterfly movements

2:25 - What caused butterflies to move

3:08 - Information gaps in the tropics

4:12 - More species could be moving without scientists' knowledge

5:04 - Range expansions can be a mixed blessing

5:30 - Protecting butterflies in the face of climate change, habitat loss and pesticides

7:09 - What you can do

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The American chestnut was once one of the most important trees in eastern U.S. forests. It provided abundant nuts for wildlife and people and supplied strong, rot-resistant wood for homes, fences and furniture.

Then, more than a century ago, an invasive fungus called chestnut blight began killing the trees. Within decades, billions of American chestnuts had disappeared from the forests, changing the landscape and leaving the species nearly lost in the wild.

Now, scientists are working on a new way to bring the American chestnut back.

In this episode, we look at new research showing how genetic breeding could help scientists identify blight-resistant trees much faster. The approach could speed up efforts to restore the American chestnut while preserving the traits that made it such an important forest tree.

Could the American chestnut return to eastern forests within our lifetime? Researchers believe the latest advances give that long-running restoration effort a better chance.

Listen to learn what happened to this once-common tree—and why scientists now have renewed hope for its future.

The written article is available on my website here: http://ruththornton.com.

Key points:

0:31- American chestnuts once dominated forests in the eastern U.S.

1:51 - Why care about American chestnuts?

2:30 - Chestnut blight arrives in North America in the late 1800s

3:47 - Using genetic data to speed up breeding

4:23 - Could purely native trees be bred to be resistant?

5:22 - What the future holds

Links to resources:

- Westbrook et al., 2026: Genomic advances to accelerate American chestnut restoration. Science, 391(6786): 730-735.

- The American Chestnut Foundation: History of the American chestnut tree.

- State University of New York: Chestnut blight.

Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum:Did American chestnut really dominate the Eastern Forest?

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In this edition of Nature Signals, we explore some of the latest stories shaping our understanding of biodiversity, wildlife and conservation around the world.

The episode begins with the wandering glider dragonfly, also known as the globe skimmer, which can cross oceans and travel up to 18,000 kilometers (11,000 miles) across multiple generations—making it the longest-known insect migration. We then examine how climate change is fueling bigger and hotter wildfires across the western United States, transforming local forests. But intentionally set prescribed burns may help protect fire-adapted ecosystems and giant sequoias, counteracting some of the devastating effects of warming temperatures.

The episode also looks at how animals are evolving in response to human environments, from changes in urban birds and lizards to declining aggression in raccoons. Another story considers whether animal cultures and learned behaviors should play a greater role in wildlife conservation and Endangered Species Act decisions.

Finally, we report on an ambitious bird flu vaccination program for little penguins in Australia, highlighting the growing conservation challenges facing wildlife.

The written article is available on my website here: http://ruththornton.com.

Key points:

0:40 - Globe-trotting dragonfly migrates farther than any other insect.

2:53 - Forest fires are getting hotter, transforming forests.

4:12 - Prescribed fires can help save giant sequoias from climate change-fueled forest fires.

5:35 - Proximity to humans supercharges evolution for some animals.

7:19 - Should we consider animals' culture in conservation decisions?

8:53 - 1,000 wild penguins get bird flu vaccines in Australia

Links to articles and other resources:

The Guardian, 8/8/2026, by Patrick Barkham: "Fearless and quietly astonishing': the dragonfly that migrates further than any other insect.

Mongabay, 11/10/2021, by Neha Jain: High-flying dragons: how the globe skimmer migrates across the Indian Ocean.

Troast et al., 2016: A global population genetic study of Pantala flavescens. PLoS One, 11(3): e0148949.

The New York Times, 8/23/2026, by Eric Niiler: Bigger, hotter fires are slowly erasing America's great forests.

Kodero, Felzer and Shi, 2024: Future transition from forests to shrublands and grasslands in the western United States is expected to reduce carbon storage. Communications Earth and the Environment, 5(78).

Anthropocene Magazine, 7/29/2026, by Warren Cornwall: How to save giant sequoias: burn the forest around it first.

Dixon et al., 2026: Previous prescribed burns saved thousands of ancient sequoias during historically unprecedented wildfires. Nature Communications, 17: 8558.

BBC, 8/6/2026, by Lucy Sherriff: Extreme evolution: The animals evolving at super speed to survive

The Revelator, 8/12/2026, by John R. Platt: Conserving Culture in Endangered Species.

Jennings, Harl and Carter, 2026: Implications of non-human animal culture for laws and policies affecting wildlife conservation in the USA. Oryx, 2026: 1-4.

The Guardian, 8/24/2026, by Petra Stock: How do you vaccinate 1,000 tiny penguins against bird flu in the wild? It's 'really tricky' but there is a way.

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Is FSC-certified wood really better for forests and wildlife? The Forest Stewardship Council is widely regarded as one of the strongest forest-certification systems, but what does the science actually show?

In this episode, we examine a recent study of mammals in FSC-certified eucalyptus plantations in Portugal. Researchers found that wildlife generally favored healthier vegetation and avoided harvested areas and vegetation edges. But most species did not prefer designated conservation zones.

We also look at the broader scientific evidence, which is limited and mixed. Some studies have found environmental benefits from FSC certification, while others have found little difference between certified and non-certified forests. Importantly, the Portuguese study did not compare FSC-certified forests with non-certified forests, so it cannot determine whether certification itself caused better conditions for wildlife.

But experts generally agree that while not perfect, FSC certification is generally beneficial for wildlife and forests and remains the highest standard for certification programs. The evidence suggests it remains a meaningful tool for promoting more responsible forest management - and is likely a better choice than uncertified logging.

The written article is available on my website here: http://ruththornton.com.

Key points:

1:48 - What FSC certification actually means

3:19 - Wildlife in a Portuguese FSC-certified forest

5:35 - Conservation zones are not all equal

7:08 - Broader research about forest certification

9:12 - Should you buy FSC-certified wood products?

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We hear a lot about climate change, but far less about another global environmental crisis: biodiversity loss. Species are disappearing, ecosystems are changing and nature is under growing pressure—yet the biodiversity crisis receives much less media attention.

Why aren’t we talking about it more? And could better storytelling, including more coverage of conservation successes, help turn concern about nature into action?

In this episode of Nature Signals, we explore why the biodiversity crisis is overlooked—and why there are reasons for both urgency and hope.

Biodiversity loss is serious, but the story isn't all doom and gloom. Conservation works—and those success stories may be some of the most important environmental stories we can tell.

You can read the written article on my website here.

Key points:

0:56 - We hardly hear about conservation successes.

2:10 - Nature needs our help.

3:46 - Neglect by the media.

5:16 - Climate change vs. biodiversity loss?

6:53 - The public generally values nature.

7:51 - How to deliver the message.

Links to resources:

· United Nations, 5/6/2019: UN report: Nature’s dangerous decline ‘unprecedented;’ species extinction rates ‘accelerating.‘

· International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

· ScienceDaily, 1/20/2012: Biodiversity crisis is worse than climate change, experts say.

· Legagneux et al., 2018: Our house is burning: Discrepancy in climate change vs. biodiversity coverage in the media as compared to scientific literature.

· Zaccai and Adams, 2012: How far are biodiversity loss and climate change similar as policy issues?

· Lees, Attwood and Phalan, 2020: Biodiversity scientists must fight the creeping rise of extinction denial.

· United Nations, 2024: World must act faster to protect 30% of the planet by 2030.

· The Guardian, 9/16/2010: Public awareness of the biodiversity crisis is virtually non-existent.

· World Economic Forum, 2026: Global Risks Report 2026.

· UK Government, 2026: Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security. A national security assessment.

· Center for Biological Diversity: The elements of biodiversity.

· The Nature Conservancy, 2022: America the Beautiful.

· The Conversation, 4/28/2019, by Tanya Latty and Timothy Lee: How many species on Earth? Why that’s a simple question but hard to answer.

· Michigan Natural Features Inventory, 2008: Biodiversity assessment of Michigan technical report.

· Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, 2014: Status and trends of Michigan’s wetlands: Pre-European settlement to 2005.

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For decades, scientists have warned of dramatic insect declines, but new research suggests the crisis began much earlier than researchers realized. Drawing on nearly a century of records, researchers found that butterfly and deadwood beetle diversity in Switzerland has been declining since the 1930s—raising concerns that studies tracking changes over a couple of decades may underestimate the true scale of global biodiversity loss.

In this episode, we examine how intensive agriculture, logging, habitat loss and climate change have shaped insect populations over the last 90 years, why butterflies have struggled to recover while some deadwood beetles have recovered, and what the ‘shifting baseline syndrome’ means for conservation around the world. The findings also offer encouraging evidence that habitat restoration and biodiversity-friendly forest management can help reverse declines for some species.

The study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, was led by researchers at Agroscope and involved scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), the University of Zurich, the University of Basel and other research institutions. The research draws on the remarkable long-term records maintained by Switzerland's info fauna database.

If you've heard warnings about an ‘insect apocalypse,’ this episode explains why scientists now believe the story began decades earlier—and why understanding the past may be the key to protecting biodiversity in the future.

You can find the written article on my webpage.

Key points:

0:52 - Analyzing butterfly and beetle occurrences in Switzerland over the last century

1:55 - Identifying population trends and relating them to changes in the environment and climate

3:13 - Widespread declines in butterflies and beetles through the 1950s

4:16 - Butterfly and beetle declines had different drivers

4:57 - Conservation measures likely stopped the decline

5:27 - Warmer temperatures may benefit heat-loving species

6:17 - Climate change effects on animals and plants are complicated

6:48 - Shifting baselines may hold back conservation efforts

Links to more information:

· Neff et al., 2026. Ninety-year trends reveal sharpest insect declines in the mid-twentieth century. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 10:1103-1113.

· Zhou et al., 2023. Long-term insect censuses capture progressive loss of ecosystem functioning in East Asia. Science Advances, 9(5):eade9341.

· Goulson, 2019. The insect apocalypse, and why it matters. Current Biology, 29(19):R967-R971.

· Soga and Gaston, 2018. Shifting baseline syndrome: causes, consequences and implications. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 16(4): 222-230.

· Hallmann et al., 2017. More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas. PLoS ONE, 12:e0185809.

· info fauna, Swiss National Fauna Databank.

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In this episode, we cover five stories from around the world of wildlife and conservation. India's tiger population is booming—but can conservation keep pace with development? We discuss the growing need to protect tiger reserves and connecting habitat corridors that tigers rely on to survive, including through wildlife crossings that guide animals over or under major highways. We also uncover new discoveries about one of the planet's most elusive big cats, the Sunda clouded leopard, that roams the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, examine surprising research into how female chickadees choose the most intelligent males as mates (even if that means straying outside their long-term pair bond), learn that migratory birds continue to decline despite decades of conservation work, though technological advances in monitoring and coordinated international actions by governments, conservation organizations and individuals could reverse the trend. Finally, we look at a new study that found that individual climate-friendly actions do not reduce support for collective action or broader environmental policies.

Key points:

0:57 - India's tigers are increasing, but protecting and connecting their habitats is the next struggle.

3:39 - Elusive Sunda clouded leopards, ‘ghosts of the forests,’ caught on camera, providing new insights.

5:42 - Female chickadees cheat on their mates with smarter males.

7:52 - Half of migratory bird species are declining, but comprehensive conservation actions could reverse the trend.

9:55 - Personal pro-environmental actions don’t hurt larger climate engagement or policy support after all.

Links to articles and resources:

· Mongabay, 7/28/2026, by Nirmal Ghosh: India's tiger numbers are rising. Protecting their pathways is next.

· Wildlife Institute of India

· International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List: Tiger (Panthera tigris)

· Science, 6/26/2015, by Kai Kupferschmidt: Controversial study claims there are only two types of tiger.

· World Wide Fund for Nature: Tigers

· Scientific American, 7/17/2026, by Douglas Main: Exclusive: See unprecedented images of Sunda clouded leopards, the 'ghosts of the forest.'

· Kasper et al., 2026: Estimating Sunda clouded leopard lifespans from minimum residence times via long-term photo-tracking. Biotropica 58(2): e70169.

· International Union for Conservation of Nature: Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi)

· The New York Times, 7/2/2026, by Annie Roth: Cheating chickadees are seduced by smarts.

· Branch et al., 2026: Male chickadees with better spatial cognition sire more extra-pair young. eLife 15:RP110905.

· The Conversation, 7/22/2026, by Peter Marra and Nathan W. Cooper: More than half of Earth's migratory bird species are declining - here's how we can still save them.

· Marra et al., 2026. Status, threats and conservation of Earth's migratory birds. Nature Reviews Biodiversity (2026).

· Road to Recovery - Saving our Shared Birds, an initiative focused on the recovery of declining birds in the U.S. and Canada.

· Anthropocene Magazine, 7/28/2026, by Sarah DeWeerdt: Do small climate habits help or hurt the bigger cause? What a 4-year study found.

· Ghasemi et al., 2026: Personal climate actions do not crowd out collective action and policy support: longitudinal evidence. NPJ Climate Action 5:62.

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Sea otters are one of the Pacific Ocean's most beloved animals, but new research suggests they face a growing threat from PFAS, also called ‘forever chemicals.’ In this episode, we explore a study that found every sea otter examined by biologists along the coast of British Columbia contained PFAS contamination, with the highest concentrations detected in animals found near urban areas and busy shipping lanes.

We explain why sea otters are much more than charismatic marine mammals. As a keystone species, they help control sea urchin populations, allowing kelp forests to flourish. Those underwater forests provide habitat for countless marine species, su pport fisheries, reduce coastal erosion and capture significant amounts of carbon. Scientists are concerned that if PFAS pollution weakens sea otter populations, the entire coastal ecosystem could be affected.

The episode also examines what PFAS are, why they are known as "forever chemicals," how they enter the marine food web, and the health problems they have been linked to in both wildlife and humans. We also look at the remarkable recovery of sea otters after they were nearly hunted to extinction during the fur trade and why pollution may become one of the next major challenges to their long-term survival.

Key points:

1:04 - Why should we care about sea otters?

2:16 - Near-extinction of sea otters in the early 1900s.

3:19 - Partial recovery following legal protections.

4:02 - Pollution has replaced hunting as one of the main threats.

4:26 - ‘Forever chemicals’ found in sea otters.

5:14 - Health impacts of PFAS in sea otters.

Links to more information:

Price et al., 2025. Concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Canadian sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are higher near urban centers. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 45(1): 80-91.

Gregr et al., 2020. Cascading social-ecological costs and benefits triggered by a recovering keystone predator. Science, 368(6496): 1243-1247.

Kannan, Perrotta and Thomas, 2006: Association between perfluorinated compounds and pathological conditions in southern sea otters. Environmental Science & Technology, 40(16):4943-4948.

Shukla et al., 2023. The diversity if animals identified as keystone species. Ecology and Evolution, 13(10):e10561.

PFAS - Environmental Working Group info

PFAS - European Commission info

PFAS - U.S. EPA info

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In this episode, we explore fascinating new research showing that invasive ornamental plants don't just outcompete native vegetation—they can also change the appearance of butterflies, making them less attractive to potential mates. The discovery reveals a previously unknown way that invasive plants can affect wildlife, raising fresh concerns for butterfly conservation and the long-term health of ecosystems.

Researchers in Japan found that the caterpillars of the rare Fischer's blue butterfly (Tongeia fischeri) developed differently depending on the plant they fed on. Caterpillars raised on an invasive succulent grew into adults with altered wing coloration, particularly in ultraviolet wavelengths. Male butterflies showed a clear preference for females raised on their native host plant, suggesting that an invasive species could indirectly reduce reproductive success.

The findings highlight an important lesson in conservation biology: even when wildlife appears to adapt to environmental change, hidden biological costs may emerge that threaten populations over time.

If similar effects occur in other insects, the ecological consequences of invasive plants could be far greater than previously recognized.

The episode features Karen Hisai and professor Norio Hirai of Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan.

In This Episode:

Why invasive ornamental plants are spreading beyond gardens.

How caterpillar diet influences adult butterfly appearance.

The surprising role ultraviolet wing patterns play in butterfly courtship.

Why male butterflies preferred females raised on native plants.

What the research means for butterfly conservation.

How invasive species may affect wildlife in subtle, previously overlooked ways.

Why protecting native plants remains essential for healthy ecosystems.

Why This Research Matters

Conservation efforts often focus on preserving habitat and reducing direct threats such as pesticides or climate change. This study suggests another challenge may be hiding in plain sight.

As invasive plants spread into natural ecosystems, they may subtly alter the biology and behavior of native insects—not by killing them outright, but by changing how they communicate, recognize one another and reproduce.

Those hidden effects could ultimately determine whether vulnerable butterfly populations recover or continue to decline.

Resources and links:

Hisai et al., 2026, Effects of alien host plant on wing coloration and mating behavior of an endangered butterfly. Basic and Applied Ecology, 92:13-19.

Shackleton et al., 2022. Consensus and controversy in the discipline of invasion science. In Conservation Biology, 36(5):e13931.

Jeratthitikul et al., 2013. Phylogeography of Fischer's blue, Tongeia fischeri, in Japan: Evidence for introgressive hybridization. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 66(1):316-26.

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This week, we cover six fascinating stories from the world of wildlife and conservation.

Discover how scientists are working to save Ukraine's European bison despite the ongoing war, and how environmental DNA (eDNA) is revolutionizing biodiversity research by revealing entire ecosystems from a single water sample.

We also explore surprising evidence that ancient ground squirrels scavenged mammoths, bison, and other Ice Age giants, examine the controversial roundup of wild horses in California, and discuss new research suggesting wireless radio frequency radiation may disrupt bats' navigation.

Finally, we look at growing bipartisan support for wildlife crossings across the United States, helping reconnect habitats while reducing deadly and costly collisions between animals and vehicles.

Key Points:

0:54 - The struggle to save Ukraine's bison amid the war.

3:57 - Unlocking nature's secrets through 'environmental DNA.'

6:01 - Ancient ground squirrel poop uncovered an astonishing diet of mammoths, bison, and even large cats.

7:34 - Controversial Roundup of 450 wild horses proceeds in California.

9:08 – Wireless radiation disrupts bats' flight patterns in new study.

10:19 - Wildlife crossings gain legislative support in four U.S. states.

Links to articles and resources:

BioGraphic, 6/2/2026, by Dustin Patar: Saving bison as bombs fall

IUCN Red List: European bison (Bison bonasus)

World Wide Fund for Nature in Ukraine: WWF-Ukraine

The Conversation, 7/7/2026, by Jenny Whilde: Fishing for DNA - how a cup of river water can reveal secrets about human health, pollution and biodiversity.

Nature, 6/9/2026, by Ewen Callaway: Ancient ground squirrels feasted on carcasses like 'zombies of the Pleistocene.'

Murchie et al., 2026. Ground squirrel coprolites preserve complex archives of ancient environmental DNA over 700,000 years.

Los Angeles Times, 6/30/2026, by Lila Seidman: 450 wild horses face a roundup in Eastern Sierra as feds proceed with contested plan.

U.S. Forest Service press release, 6/22/2026: Inyo wild horse gather starts July 8.

Environmental Health News, 6/5/2026: Study finds EMF radiation exposure disrupts bat behavior for hours.

Lindecke et al., 2026. Disruptive effects of brief radiofrequency noise exposure on migratory bat navigation.

Pew Research Center, 6/30/2026, by Carol Kaufman: States act to reduce wildlife collisions.

Scioto Analysis, 3/10/2025: Scioto Analysis releases cost-benefit analysis of wildlife crossings.

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How can scientists help endangered turtles survive? In this episode, we explore how wildlife conservation professionals in Michigan are using a technique called "headstarting" to raise rare baby turtles in captivity before releasing them into the wild. You'll learn why young turtles face such steep odds from predators, habitat loss, road mortality, and the illegal pet trade, and how researchers are measuring whether this approach can rebuild wild populations. We also discuss the importance of protecting wetlands and why captive rearing is only one piece of the conservation puzzle. It's a story about endangered species recovery, hands-on science, and what it takes to give wildlife a better chance at survival. The episode features Bill Flanagan of John Ball Zoo, Will Miller of Calvin University, and Dan Earl of the Michigan Natural Features Inventory.

Key Points:

1:01 – Testing if headstarting might help spotted turtles

2:00 – Combining conservation and educating the next generation of biologists

3:17 – Spotted turtles’ reclusive habits make them difficult to study

4:44 – Dangers from the illegal pet trade

5:25 – Aging ‘ghost populations’ concern researchers

6:09 – What you can do to help turtles

Resources & Links:

IUCN Red List: Spotted Turtle

IUCN Red List: Eastern Box Turtle

International Convention on Wetlands: Global Wetland Outlook 2025

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Report

Michigan EGLE: Status and Trends of Michigan's Wetlands: Pre-European Settlement to 2005

John Ball Zoo's Great Lakes Rare Turtles Program

Michigan Herp Atlas

Turtle Survival Alliance

Cornell Wildlife Health Lab: What the heck is herping?

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Scientists long assumed tropical species would be hit hardest by climate change. But a new global study found that animals and plants in temperate regions, including North America and Europe, are already disappearing from parts of their range at alarming rates. We explore how wildlife and plants are responding to warming temperatures, why local extinctions are rising around the world, why many species aren’t moving into cooler habitats, and what the findings mean for biodiversity and conservation. The episode also features Dr. John J. Wiens, a professor at the University of Arizona, and Dr. Gopal Murali, a former postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona.

Key points:

1:07 - Digging through the data to track survival of animals and plants over time.

2:34 - Nearly half of species in temperate zones have disappeared from parts of their range.

3:40 - The world has gotten hotter.

4:45 - Most temperate species are not moving north in response to climate change.

5:47 - What it means for conservation.

Useful resources:

Murali, G., Karger, D.N. & Wiens, J.J. Temperate local extinctions from climate change are outpacing tropical extinctions. Nat. Clim. Chang. (2026).

Kristen E. Saban, John J. Wiens; Unpacking the extinction crisis: rates, patterns and causes of recent extinctions in plants and animals. Proc Biol Sci. (2025)

World Meteorological Organization: 2025 State of Climate Report.

Berkeley Earth: Global Temperature Report for 2025.

New York Times, 5/26/2026, by Brad Plumer and Eric Niiler: Why scientists retired the dire climate scenario used for over a decade.

NOAA's Science on a Sphere program: Climate Model: Temperature Change (RCP 8.5) - 2006 - 2100.

European Commission: Five things you should know about climate scenarios.

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Gray wolves have recovered in parts of the Great Lakes region after decades of federal protection, but research suggests they could thrive across much more of the eastern United States. Scientists identified several large areas with suitable wolf habitat, yet highways, cities, farmland and human-caused mortality make expansion difficult.

The findings also fuel ongoing debate over whether wolves should remain protected under the Endangered Species Act, raising broader questions about conservation, coexistence and how much space society is willing to share with one of North America's most iconic predators.

This episode features Jerrold Belant from Michigan State University, Merijn van den Bosch with Colorado State University and John Vucetich with Michigan Technological University.

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This episode explores six biodiversity stories from around the world: how elephant dung supports diverse dung beetle communities that drive nutrient cycling and seed dispersal in African ecosystems; the death of the last known Sacramento Mountains checkerspot caterpillar, which could mean that the rare butterfly is now extinct; surprising new evidence that daddy longlegs in South America can hunt and kill frogs despite their seemingly harmless appearance; the tagging of a nesting female sea turtle in Ecuador to better understand migration routes and reduce deadly fishing-net entanglements of eastern Pacific leatherback turtles; how an Italian farm is using forest-inspired, biodiversity-rich practices to build resilience against climate change while improving soil health; and it considers the argument that restoring and protecting nature may be one of the most effective climate solutions, simultaneously storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, and benefiting local communities.

Key points:

1:01 – Elephant poop’s essential role in African ecosystems, thanks to dunk beetles.

4:04 - The last known caterpillar of a rare butterfly has died, all but eliminating all hope of reviving the species.

5:43 - Daddy longlegs don’t just eat insects - they also hunt down frogs.

7:15 - Scientists tagged a rare sea turtle while she was laying eggs, hoping to discover her migration and feeding patterns to help with conservation decisions.

8:18 - Incorporating nature into farming practices to make crops resilient to climate change.

10:47 - Biodiversity conservation as a solution for climate change.

Articles & Resources:

Anthropocene Magazine, 5/28/2026, by Warren Cornwall: What happens to the small things when the big things disappear?

Gijsman, Nutter, and Pringle, 2026: Importance of elephants for dung beetle diversity and ecosystem functions. Science: 392(6801).

The New York Times, 5/21/2026, by Catrin Einhorn: A very lonely caterpillar, possibly the last of its kind, has died

The New York Times, 3/6/2025, by Catrin Einhorn and Harry Stevens: See how butterflies are surviving, or not, near you.

Scientific American, 5/21/2026, by Jake Buehler: Daddy longlegs are actually bloodthirsty killers - of frogs.

Calvache et al., 2026: Harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) as overlooked predators of anurans in the neotropics. Ecology and Evolution: 16 (4).

Mongabay, 5/26/2026, by Bobby Bascomb: Tracking Lucero: Scientists follow a rare Eastern Pacific leatherback sea turtle.

IUCN: Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

Atmos, 5/25/2026, by Becca Warner: For more successful farming, follow the forest.

Biomimicry Center, Arizona State University.

The Guardian, 5/24/2026, editorial: Could nature itself hold the solution to climate change?

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A recent study found dozens of previously unidentified PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in Lake Huron’s water, fish and mussels, suggesting contamination is more widespread than previously thought. Some PFAS are linked to serious health risks, but most of the thousands of PFAS compounds in use remain poorly studied. The episode features Clarkson University environmental chemist Bernard Crimmins, who explains the advanced testing method the researchers used to find new PFAS chemicals, a fishing charter captain describing his concerns around PFAS and other contaminants in fish in the Great Lakes, and a Michigan representative who talks about a bill she introduced to limit PFAS in consumer products but which failed. Together, their insights highlight the growing challenge of understanding the health and environmental impacts of PFAS pollution across the Great Lakes region and globally.

Key points:

1:29 – A 2025 study finds dozens of previously unknown PFAS chemicals in the fish, mussels, and waters of Lake Huron.

3:55 – “Captain Steve” Hubert with Chum Bucket Charters explains his concerns about PFAS in fish and their potential impact on his business.

4:42 – Gillian Miller with Ecology Center outlines the state and federal regulatory structure.

6:06 – A 2024 Michigan bill attempts to limit PFAS in consumer products but is not passed.

Resources:

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Resources:

Study: Ren et al., 2025. Suspect screening and nontargeted analysis of polyfluoroalkyl substances in Lake Huron water and biota. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 51(2):102507.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

European Food Safety Authority: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: PFAS explained.

Study: Yu et al., 2025. A global overview of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance regulatory strategies and their environmental impact. Toxics, 13(4): 251.

Michigan Eat Safe Fish Guides.

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Summary: This episode of Nature Signals examines recent biodiversity and environmental news, ranging from bird behavior to wolf-moose dynamics and plastic pollution. You’ll hear about how Hawaiian songbirds steal nesting materials from one another, why European city birds fear women more than men, how wolf reintroduction on Isle Royale has successfully reduced an overabundant moose population, and about the botched rescue attempt of “Timmy” the humpback whale. It concludes with research showing that toxic chemicals and climate change together harm fertility in humans and wildlife, but just one week of reduced plastic exposure can significantly lower hormone-disrupting chemicals in people.

Key points:

Biodiversity:

0:54 - Some birds steal nesting materials from other nests, adding to their threats

2:37 - City birds appear to be more afraid of women than of men, for unknown reasons

3:42 - More wolves are thriving on Isle Royale than in nearly 50 years

5:00 - The botched rescue attempt of Timmy, the humpback whale stranded in Germany

Pollution & Plastics

8:02 - Toxic chemicals and climate change work together to harm fertility across species

8:54 - Seven days without plastic contact slashes chemicals in the body

Resources:

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Articles & Resources:

The New York Times, 5/12/2026, by Sara Novak: Building nests is hard. That’s why some birds steal.

Wilson Ranking et al., 2026, Upcycling in the Hawaiian islands: Native forest birds commonly engage in nest material kleptoparasitism. American Naturalist.

Scientific American, 4/28/2026, by Blaire Cameron: City birds appear to be more afraid of women than men, and scientists have no idea why.

Morelli et al., 2025, Sex matters: European urban birds flee approaching women sooner than approaching men. People and Nature: 8(2): 316-326.

MLive, 4/27/2026, by Tanda Gmiter: Isle Royale’s wolf population surges to highest numbers in nearly 50 years.

Michigan Technological University, 4/27/2026, by Cyndi Perkins: Isle Royale wolf population nears historic high as moose numbers plummet.

Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project annual reports.

Science, 5/4/2026, by Martin Enserink: Chaotic whale rescue shocks marine scientists.

The Guardian, 5/5/2026, by Kate Connolly: Rescue of Timmy the whale ‘an all-round catastrophe’ after tracker failure.

IFAW News, 5/11/2026: Timmy the whale and the limits of good intentions.

The Guardian, 5/15/2026, by Patrick Greenfield: What the fate of Timmy the whale says about conservation.

EHN, 5/1/2026, by Staff: Toxic chemicals and climate change work together to harm fertility across species.

Brander et al., 2026, Impacts of environmental stressors on fertility and fecundity across taxa, with implications for planetary health.NPJ Emerging Contaminants: 2, 12.

Medical Xpress, 4/22/2026, by Sadie Harley: Seven days without plastic contact slashes phthalates and bisphenols in body.

Harray et al., 2026, Low-plastic diet and urinary levels of plastic-associated phthalates and bisphenols: the randomized controlled PERTH trial. Nature Medicine.

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Millions of butterflies are traded all over the world each year to entertain visitors in butterfly houses. But is it good for butterflies, as proponents claim? Listen to the episode to find out more about the industry, impacts on conservation and local communities, and why many experts are concerned about potential negative effects on the butterflies themselves.

Key points:

1:59 - The hidden world behind butterfly houses and the global butterfly trade

4:20 - How butterfly farms in Africa, Asia, and South America supply millions of butterflies each year

5:33 - Concerns about captive breeding, genetic mixing, disease transmission, and escaped butterflies

6:10 - What monarch butterfly studies reveal about the risks of captive rearing

7:40 – The conservation argument: Examples of butterfly farming projects supporting local communities in Kenya and Costa Rica

10:00 - How butterfly houses could become stronger tools for conservation education

10:26 - Practical ways listeners can help butterflies at home through native plants, reduced pesticide use, and habitat protectionResources:

Resources:

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Selected news articles and websites:

* Earth Island Journal, by Bob Koigi, 7/18/2016: How butterfly farmers are safeguarding the forest in Kenya.

* Mongabay, by Janet Njung’e, 2/8/2019: Butterfly business: Insect farmers help conserve East African forests.

* United Nations Environment Programme, 1/2/2020: Paying the school fees, one butterfly at a time.

* Kipepeo Butterfly Project, Kenya.

* Butterfly farm: El Bosque Nuevo, Costa Rica.

Conservation organizations:

* Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

* Report: State of butterflies in the United States: A Roadmap for Butterfly Conservation in the 21st Century. 2025.

* North American Butterfly Association (NABA)

* Butterfly Conservation Europe (BCE)

* MonarchWatch - researches monarch butterflies, their habitat and fall migration.

Trade organizations:

* International Butterfly Breeders Association (IBBA)

* Association for Butterflies(AFB)

Selected scientific articles:

* Parsons, 1992. The butterfly farming and trading industry in the Indo-Australian region and its role in tropical forest conservation. Tropical Lepidoptera, 3(Suppl. 1): 1-31.

* Boppré and Vane-Wright, 2012. The butterfly house industry: Conservation risks and education opportunities. Conservation & Society, 10(3): 285-303.

* Tenger-Trolander et al., 2019. Contemporary loss of migration in monarch butterflies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(29): 14671-14676.

* Davis, Smith and Ballew. 2020. A poor substitute for the real thing: captive-reared monarch butterflies are weaker, paler and have less elongated wings than wild migrants. Biology Letters, the Royal Society Publishing. 16(4): 20190922.

* Wilcox et al., 2021. Captive-reared migratory monarch butterflies show natural orientation when released in the wild. Conservation physiology, 9(1): coab32.

* Saul-Gershenz, 2022. Insect zoos and butterfly houses for public education: issues related to shipping and international trade of non-native insects. Scientific and Technical Review, 41(1): 142-157.

* Tenger-Trolander, 2023. Environmental and genetic effects of captivity - are there lessons for monarch butterfly conservation? Current Opinion in Insect Science, 59: 101088.

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