Seit Jahresbeginn läuft im Freilichtmuseum Lindlar eine ganz besondere Zählaktion. Insektenspezialist Dr. Martin Sorg erfasst an zwei Stationen die fliegenden Insekten und vergleicht sie mit einer Untersuchung, die er vor zehn Jahren an genau den gleichen Standorten durchgeführt hat. Gestern zog er eine Zwischenbilanz und stellte eine Prognose auf. Und die ist ernüchternd: Rund 40 Prozent weniger Hummeln, Bienen, Mücken und weitere Insekten als vor zehn Jahren landeten in dem mit Alkohol gefüllten Behälter an der Spitze des Fangnetzes.

Anhand von zuvor ausgetesteten LD50-Werten der Insektizide Imidacloprid, Cypermethrin und Dimethoat wurden Kombinations-Schemata dieser drei Stoffe erstellt und an Arbeiterinnen von Bombus terrestris verfüttert. Die eigenen LD50-Werte lagen meist deutlich über den Werten der Literatur. Alle ergebnisbringenden Durchgänge wurden mindestens einmal wiederholt und es wurden stets Kontrollgruppen mitgeführt.

Numbers of a rare species of moth -- found only in York in England -- have tumbled in recent years, a team of scientists has discovered. The Dark Bordered Beauty moth is found on Strensall Common, an area of protected lowland heath near York.

The Federation of European Toxicologists & European Societies of Toxicology EUROTOX is deeply concerned about the current situation in academia and how it will impact on the future of Toxicology in Europe. Departments of Toxicology in universities are shrinking or disappearing. Toxicology as an academic discipline is essential to protect the health of consumers, workers and the environment. Strengthening toxicology in academic institutions is a basic requirement for scientific innovation and for the education and development of young scientists.

The Chinook salmon or King salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) - a favorite of anglers on Lake Michigan - is in decline. That’s because it’s starving. According to a study by Michigan State University, the population of the salmon’s only prey - a small invasive fish called the alewife - has dropped by more than half since 2002. As a result, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been stocking fewer King salmon. King salmon is a major draw for tourists and other anglers, says Eric Conder of Big Bird Charters in St. Joseph: “Oh it’s a much bigger fish.

The state of environment and outlook report 2015 by Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) has unveiled a shocking list of ecosystems and species that are threatened in the country and therefore urgently need protection. Despite Rwanda being one of Africa's most biologically rich regions, the report says there are 17 threatened terrestrial ecosystems of different categories in the country. Three ecosystems, that are classified as 'collapsed' are; Ndoha Natural forests, Sanza natural forest and Mashyuza natural forest.

To determine the exposure of native bees to pesticides, bees were collected from an existing research area in northeastern Colorado in both grasslands (2013–2014) and wheat fields (2014). Traps were deployed bi-monthly during the summer at each land cover type and all bees, regardless of species, were composited as whole samples and analyzed for 136 current-use pesticides and degradates. This reconnaissance approach provides a sampling of all species and represents overall pesticide exposure (internal and external).

New RSPB data have revealed further declines in sightings of some of our most familiar and favourite garden mammals and reptiles. Results collected from the Big Garden Birdwatch wildlife survey showed only 25 per cent of people logged a Hedgehog in their garden at least once a month – 13 per cent fewer than in 2014 – while the numbers of people who have never seen a Hedgehog in their garden continued to grow to 25 per cent, up 11 per cent since 2014. A grand total of 284,618 survey participants provided information about other wildlife from 189,162 gardens.

According to revelation made by the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), the list of endangered fauna species which stood at 648 in 2013, has climbed to 665 in 2015, leaving many conservationists worried. Similarly, the number of endangered plant species too has gone up considerably.

Alle fünf Jahre wird die Rote Liste für Vögel aktualisiert, die seit 1971 erscheint. 2008 wurde eine neue Kategorie eingeführt, die sogenannte Vorwarnliste. Sie führt Vögel, die noch nicht akut gefährdet sind, deren Rückgang aber zum Teil dramatisch ist. Sie liest sich wie das "Who's who" unserer bekanntesten Gartenfreunde.