LEO Network

About the LEO Network
The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Observations

'The devastation is quite shocking' – Fallen trees in Inverness woodland still blocking major walking and cycling route
Storm damage has left multiple trees blocking paths in Cullaird Wood on the outskirts of Inverness, obstructing a key section of the South Loch Ness Trail. Highland Council says it is seeking an arrangement with the landowner’s agents to clear the routes after recent storms Floris and Amy.
Inverness, Highland, United Kingdom
Inverness Courier

Alaska Native leaders call for a unified management approach for subsistence resources
Representatives from several Indigenous-led organizations discussed co-management strategies at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention panel.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Officials say storm 'completely devastated' Western Alaska communities
Remnants of Typhoon Halong drove record storm surge and hurricane-force winds into Western Alaska, devastating Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta villages like Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. Officials report dozens of homes destroyed, mass rescues, widespread outages, and at least one death, with many residents sheltering and recovery efforts underway.
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Calling lost chickadees in far-north poplars
The gray-headed chickadee was last heard in Alaska in 2018 and encroaching beavers may diminish what was the birds’ natural habitat.
Toolik Field Station, Alaska
Anchorage Daily News

Researchers Are Using Catfish to Combat Sea Urchins
Researchers have relocated 20 Atlantic catfish to artificial kelp forest units in Melkøy Sound, Northern Norway, to test if reintroducing sea urchin predators can help restore kelp forests overgrazed by booming sea urchin populations.
Melkøy Sound, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
High North News

Heatwave hit Finland's cucumber production, shortage to ease soon
A prolonged heatwave this summer reduced greenhouse cucumber yields in Finland—particularly in Närpes and Seinäjoki—leading to empty shelves nationally, though supply is expected to normalize by early September.
Närpes, Ostrobothnia, Finland
Yle News

N.S. crops withering in dry conditions, hitting farmers in the pocketbook
A Pictou County farmer reports that many crops have failed after an irrigation pond and well dried up amid a prolonged dry spell, costing producers thousands in lost sales.
Westville, Nova Scotia, Canada
CBC News

Gardeners, Academic at Odds on How to Best Deal with Growing Japanese Beetle Population
Japanese beetles are aggressively feeding on ornamental and edible plants in the Halifax area, prompting debate between experts who recommend labor-intensive hand removal and gardeners using pheromone traps that may attract more beetles.
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
CBC News

Unpredictable Alaska winter and spring keep gardeners guessing
We have a lot of phenological events, but how much snow and when it falls are not part of that scheme. If you did not mulch last fall, you are going to lose some and maybe many of your perennials.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Warm March accelerates spring blooms
A warm March has triggered an early spring bloom in Finland with wood anemone and common hepatica appearing ahead of their usual schedule.
Various locations, Finland, Finland
Yle News

Native seeds preserved, protected to counter surging invasives
In Maine, Wabanaki tribes, scientists, and conservation groups are banding together to preserve native seeds, particularly those of the culturally significant brown ash, as a defense against the invasive emerald ash borer.
Brunswick, Maine, United States
Press Herald

An ‘exceptional’ warning for Alaska: wildfire danger in early March
Scant snow is giving way to shaggy brown grass normally not seen until spring breakup, raising concerns now that conditions are increasingly ripe for a fast-moving fire at a time of year usually deep in the grip of winter.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Trying to make sense of wild winds and a weird winter
Gardening columnist Jeff Lowenfels explains how trees are built to survive extreme high winds.

Norwegian coastal waters are getting warmer
Long-term data from eight coastal stations over the past 90 years shows that Norwegian coastal waters have warmed by up to 2°C, impacting local fisheries and marine life.
Kirkenes, Finnmark, Norway
The Barents Observer

Caribou herds in Arctic Alaska trend in opposite directions
The Western Arctic Caribou Herd in Alaska is declining due to shrubification linked to climate change, while the Porcupine Caribou Herd is thriving due to stable tundra conditions.
Arctic Alaska, United States

B.C. team building 100 beaver 'starter homes' in the name of wetland preservation
The B.C. Wildlife Federation is constructing 100 artificial beaver dams by 2025 to encourage beaver population growth and restore wetland ecosystems.
British Columbia, Canada
CTV News

Kenai extends agreements for spruce tree mitigation
Kenai has extended agreements with state authorities to continue its spruce tree mitigation efforts, addressing trees affected by spruce beetles.
Kenai, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

About permafrost: scientists have identified periods of warming and thawing of permafrost, and found that the destruction of lichens by fires contributes to its melting
Scientists have identified warming periods and permafrost thawing, noting that lichen destruction by fires accelerates melting, with significant temperature increases observed from 2005 to 2023.
Tomsk, Tomsk, Russia

Deer are cute, but their over-abundance is bad news for B.C. forests, birds. Here's why.
Deer populations in southwestern British Columbia have expanded beyond historical levels, causing significant harm to forest plants and bird species. This article explores the impacts and possible solutions to manage deer populations and restore ecological balance.
Southwestern British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Landslides to late freezes: New report makes sense of changes to Alaska's environment
A newly updated report titled 'Alaska's Changing Environment' explores the climatic shifts affecting Alaska, from landslides to late freezes, emphasizing the significant impact of climate change.
Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Balsam fir trees 'at risk' in New Brunswick amid a changing climate
Research from the University of New Brunswick indicates that balsam fir trees are at risk due to climate change, with rising temperatures and drought conditions being key concerns.
New Brunswick, Canada
CBC News

Ki-Chul Oh: Nowhere In the World Has the Average Air Temperature Increased by More Than Two Degrees Celsius Except in Mongolia
Ki-Chul Oh discusses the severe climate change impacts in Mongolia, where the average air temperature has risen by two degrees Celsius, significantly above global averages. He highlights the efforts of the Green Asia Network in combating desertification and promoting sustainable land management in the region.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
MONTSAME News Agency

Tea growers pressured by extreme heat and downpours: “Need to be supported”
Tea production in India is declining due to climate change, with demands for $1 trillion in climate aid from developed countries to help adapt.
Assam, India
SVT Nyheter

'Bomb cyclone' kills 2 and knocks out power to over half a million homes across the northwest U.S.
A powerful "bomb cyclone" swept across the northwest United States, leading to the deaths of two people, widespread power outages, and significant damage from fallen trees and extreme weather conditions.
Northwest United States
CTV News

The hard choices facing B.C. farmers after record crop losses due to 'weather whiplash'
A sudden cold snap devastated peach and wine grape crops in B.C., compounding economic challenges faced by apple-growers, leading farmers to diversify or sell their land.
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Survey monitors animal carcasses for harmful algal bloom toxins and bird flu
Charles Menadelook conducted carcass surveys in the Norton Sound Region to monitor harmful algal blooms and bird flu, aiming to protect subsistence hunters by identifying threats to regional food resources.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

US Fish and Wildlife Service takes action to combat the spread of invasive species in Bristol Bay
The South-central Invasive Species Strike Team is actively working in Bristol Bay to manage and control the spread of invasive species, such as Bird Vetch, which threaten local ecosystems essential for subsistence in Alaska.
Bristol Bay, Alaska, United States

Floods in Spain impact Icelandic Christmas tradition
Flooding in Valencia, Spain, has significantly decreased the supply of clementines to Iceland for Christmas, as only a quarter of the usual volume is expected this year.
Valencia, Spain
Vísir

In Canada's boreal forests, the heat goes on — long after the wildfire is gone
A study reveals that large wildfires in Canada's boreal forests cause prolonged ground warming for over a decade, with implications for climate change feedback loops.
Canada
CBC

Budworms ravaged Maine's forests for years. They're starting to come back.
An aerial survey revealed 3,000 acres of Maine's forests damaged by spruce budworm in July, with 178,000 acres at risk next spring. The state uses early intervention to prevent an outbreak similar to the one from 1967 to 1993 that devastated millions of acres.
Aroostook County, Maine, United States
Press Herald

Green crabs to choke cherry trees, invasive species infesting Alaska
Invasive species like green crabs and choke cherry trees are causing environmental and economic harm in Alaska.
Alaska, United States

Seabird demonstration: Eider populations continue to decline along the coast – scientists don't know why
Eider populations along the Norwegian coast have declined by up to 80%, with a nationwide decrease of 35-40%, and the reasons remain unknown.
Norway
NRK

Canada's wildfires blamed for rise in global loss of tree cover outside of tropics
Canada's record wildfires contribute significantly to global non-tropical tree cover loss, with implications for climate change and biodiversity.
Canada
CBC

Conservationists ask feds to protect rare Kigluaik buttercup flower
Conservationists petition for federal protection of the rare Kigluaik buttercup, threatened by climate change and proposed mining activities.
Kigluaik Mountains, Alaska
The Nome Nugget

NZ's first caulerpa dredging machine to be used in Northland's fight against invasive seaweed
New Zealand's first mechanical suction dredge is being trialed in Northland to combat the invasive seaweed caulerpa, potentially revolutionizing marine biosecurity efforts.
Murchison, Tasman, New Zealand
NZ Herald

Nearly $225 million ISK in grants for farmers after harsh winter in Iceland's North
Iceland's Disaster Relief Fund has disbursed nearly 225 million ISK to 89 farmers affected by an unusually cold winter in 2023-2024 in northern Iceland, covering 80% of the expected payout.
Northern Region, Iceland
Eye on the Arctic

Alaska experts try to untangle invasive Japanese knotweed
Alaska experts are grappling with the challenge of controlling the highly invasive Japanese knotweed, which is resistant to conventional eradication methods and threatens local ecosystems.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Pollution on the Liffey: Algal blooms at Blessington a threat to Dublin’s drinking water
Algal blooms in the Liffey River threaten Dublin's drinking water due to pollution and climate change, raising concerns about the safety of fish and the future impact on water treatment.
Valleymount, Leinster, Ireland
The Irish Times

What lichens can tell us about climate and pollution
Lichens can provide valuable information about air quality and environmental conditions, as different species have different sensitivities to pollution and humidity levels, making them useful indicators of climate and pollution levels in a given area.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
CBC

Can I safely eat the strawberries I picked?
"I am concerned about high levels of PFAS contamination in the drinking water?"
Cold Bay, Alaska, United States
Nadine Kochuten, Sarah Yoder, Brian Berube, Christy McDonald, Karen Pletnikoff, Bailey Richards

Pretty but pesky: Alaskans wage war on invasive plants
A "weed smackdown" at an Anchorage park is part of a long-running campaign to stop the spread of plants that are harming the natural ecosystem.
Alaska, United States

Sunflower stars take center stage in kelp research
A decline in the population of sea otters, a well-known predator of urchins and other kelp-eating critters, led to the spread of “urchin barrens” along the Pacific coast, where urchins have mowed down entire kelp forests. Now, researchers are trying to figure out if, and how, other predators such as sunflower stars could play a complementary role in protecting the kelp forests.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

New Sitka research could help berry pickers adjust to climate change
In Southeast Alaska, and across the state, climate change is bringing more rainfall, less winter snowfall and hotter temperatures. According to the project’s lead researcher Alex McCarrel, those changes disrupt berry development because a berry plant’s life cycle is precisely tuned to its environment.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

How the Maui wildfires devastated Lahaina, hour by hour
Survivors of the Maui fire in Lahaina say they were overwhelmed by the speed of the blaze, the smothering smoke and the lack of escape routes.
Lahaina, Hawaii, United States
Washington Post

Does monkshood, a purple flower that grows abundantly in Alaska, pose a danger to hikers and gardeners?
Monkshood, a common yet highly poisonous plant in Alaska, has seen an unusual bloom this year, raising concerns about its safety among hikers and gardeners. Experts affirm that while the plant is toxic, casual contact is unlikely to cause harm.

Harmful algal bloom monitoring gets underway
The R/V Sikuliaq is a familiar sight in the Port of Nome. The ice-breaking research vessel is owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This year, while the vessel is out at sea it will be collecting water that could signal whether a bloom is occurring.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

How they save the kelp forest in the north – from "sea urchin desert" to the sea's nursery
During the 1970's much of the Norwegian coastline was overfished. In the past, a kelp forest provided shelter and food for local sealife. Today, the seabed, along the Norwegian coastline is a sea urchin desert. Researchers, volunteers, and the "Kelp Keepers" in Tromso, are removing the sea urchins and rebuilding the kelp forest.
Tromsø, Troms, Norway
NRK

Tiny but tenacious: arctic-alpine plants are engineers and warning bells
When most people consider the arctic, or high-altitude mountain landscapes, they think of endless snow, ice and bare rock. But pastel-coloured flowers, sometimes just a few millimetres wide, bloom in these dramatic places too. The miniature flowers not only weather some of the toughest habitats on Earth, but can also help engineer the landscape for other species.
The Arctic
ArcticToday

Alaska Senate passes bill to create carbon credits for preserved forest land
The bill, which got unanimous approval, seeks to help Alaska earn money by allowing its tree-covered tracts to continue absorbing carbon dioxide.

A young Yup’ik climate advocate is committed to centering Indigenous knowledge in science
Charitie Ropati, 21, wants to reimagine scientific research to include her traditional values, like community and collective wellbeing.
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

Research spotlights the impact of climate change on Pacific salmon migration
Climate change is knocking some Pacific salmon out of alignment with the growth of the ocean plankton they eat to survive, new research says.
Pacific Ocean
British Columbia

World's biggest cumulative logjam mapped in the N.W.T. and it stores tons of carbon
If added altogether, deposits of wood across the Mackenzie River Delta would cover a third of Yellowknife. Researchers calculated how much carbon it stores — which is at risk of entering the atmosphere more quickly as the climate changes.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Hawaii's lawmakers mull imposing fees to pay for ecotourism crush
Taking care of Hawaii's unique natural environment takes time, people and money. Now Hawaii wants tourists to help pay for it.
Hawaii, United States

Winter Travel, Access and Changing Snow and Ice Conditions
The Copper River Basin in Alaska has experienced less reliable snow and ice conditions in recent years, impacting winter activities such as trapping, hunting, and gathering firewood. This study, based on nine oral interviews with local residents, reveals that crossing rivers has become more treacherous and difficult, with significant changes in ice conditions observed since the 1970s. Decreased snowpacks and increased shrub growth have also posed obstacles for accessing winter trails, requiring individuals to cut through forests. These changes, combined with socio-economic and technological factors, have affected the way people engage in winter activities in the Copper River Basin. Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of climate change's impact on winter activities in Alaska and the Circumpolar North.
Copper River Basin
Winter Travel, Access, and Changing Snow and Ice Conditions in Alaska’s Copper River Basin

Native knowledge of great lakes ecology: Climate changes to Odawa lands
Climate change has been observed for hundreds of years by the plant specialists of three Odawa Tribes in the Upper Great Lakes along Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the focus of two National Park Service (NPS) studies of Odawa Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of plants, ecosystems, and climate change. Data collected during these studies contributed to developing Plant Gathering Agreements between tribes and parks. This analysis derived from 95 ethnographic interviews conducted by University of Arizona (UofA) anthropologists in partnership with tribal appointed representatives. Odawa people recognized in the park 288 plants and five habitats of traditional and contemporary concern. Tribal representatives explained that 115 of these traditional plants and all five habitats are known from multigenerational eyewitness accounts to have been impacted by climate change. The TEK study thus represents what Native people know about the environment. These research findings are neither intended to test their TEK nor the findings of Western science.
Glen Arbor, Michigan, United States
Frontiers

Here's the Real Story behind the Massive 'Blob' of Seaweed Heading toward Florida
A loose raft of brown seaweed spanning about twice the width of the U.S. is inching across the Caribbean. Among annual Sargassum censuses in the Atlantic Ocean, “2018 was the record year, and we’ve had several big years since,” says Brian Lapointe, an oceanographer at Florida Atlantic University, who has studied seaweed for decades. “This is the new normal, and we’re going to have to adapt to it.”
Palm Coast, Florida, United States
Scientific American

This stubborn shrub is helping to keep Arctic river banks intact as permafrost thaws
A study published in Nature Climate Change examined how 10 big rivers in the Arctic had moved 50 years, and found they did not migrate as much as expected.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Seaweed farming inspires high hopes in Alaska for economic and environmental benefits
Seen as a bright spot in a troubled coastal economy, seaweed cultivation must overcome many obstacles to become big business in Alaska.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Saanich invites volunteers to help battle invasive plants
A volunteer program in Saanich, B.C., is helping to beat back invasive species on the island.
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Vancouver Island

How will the Bering Strait respond to harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms will become a more common feature of a warming Arctic. Last summer, a massive bloom was detected off the coast of Western Alaska, almost by chance, when scientists sailing through the Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea found worryingly high levels of Alexandrium catenella.
Bering Strait

The hidden underwater forests that could help tackle the climate crisis
Underwater forests, such as kelp forests, have been found to cover a large area and have the potential to absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide, making them important in addressing the climate crisis, although more research is needed to understand their long-term carbon sequestration capabilities.
Bodega Bay, California, United States
the Guardian

As climate change progresses, trees in cities struggle
As the driest summer in Seattle’s record books ended, trees across the city were sounding silent alarms. It was the latest in a string of Seattle summers in the last decade, including a record-breaking heat dome in 2021, to feature drier conditions and hotter temperatures that have left many trees with premature brown leaves and needles, bald branches and excessive seeding –- all signs of stress.
Seattle, Washington, United States
AP NEWS

Store-bought milkweed plants can expose monarch caterpillars to harmful pesticides
Researchers found pesticide-contaminated plants in nurseries in 15 states
United States
University of Nevada, Reno

Bigleaf maple decline tied to hotter, drier summers in Washington
Scientists, concerned hikers and residents have observed more stressed and dying bigleaf maple across urban and suburban neighborhoods as well as in forested areas. While forest pathologists have ruled out several specific diseases, the overall cause of the tree’s decline has stumped experts for years.
Seattle, Washington, United States
UW News

Invasive groups control unwelcome plants and animals on the peninsula
While the Kenai Peninsula is relatively lucky that the ecosystems here are fairly intact, there are still a handful of invasive species making their way into the streams, fields and gardens here.
Kenia Peninsula, Alaska, United States
Alaska Nightly News KNBA

Sea level rise is killing trees along the Atlantic coast, creating 'ghost forests'
As sea levels rise along the Atlantic coast, saltwater is intruding inland, killing trees and turning coastal forests into marshes. Should scientists try to slow the process, or work with it?
Atlantic Coastal Plain, United States
The Conversation

Vancouver Island arbutus trees under stress due to fungus, climate change
Vancouver Island’s arbutus trees are looking more brown than green these days. Forest biologist Andy MacKinnon says a fungus is attacking the trees, causing the leaves to die off.
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Island

Kelp forest off Northern California almost gone
The study shows the destruction of the kelp forest was related to an explosion in the population of purple sea urchin, which eats it, and two warm water events that lasted from 2014 to 2016.
Northern California Coast, United States
SFGATE

B.C.’s old-growth forest nearly eliminated
As old-growth logging in B.C. continues, conservation organization creates detailed map showing original forests in B.C. have all but disappeared.
British Columbia, Canada
The Narwhal

– Me er ein kommune i kneståande som har ein lang veg opp
Barnehage, sjukeheim, rådhus, legesenter, barneskule, vass- og avløpssystem, eit bustadfelt og ei av hovudfartsårene inn til Gjerdrum er sett ut av spel.
Ask, Akershus, Norway
NRK

Are you waiting for the snow? Then the meteorologist has bad news
It doesn't look like Tromsø will get snow for a while.
Tromsø, Troms, Norway

How Hardanger melted at a record pace from the last ice age
11,500 years ago, Norway experienced one of the fastest meltdowns the world has seen. Now scientists fear the same thing is happening elsewhere.
Folgefonna Hardangerfjorden glacier, Etne, Norway

Fish runs and berries are down, bear break-ins in Southeast Alaska are way up
Some biologists think the trend is related to the reduced hunting pressure from Outside hunters this year.
Haines, Alaska, United States

Lack of bees, pollination limiting crop yields across U.S., B.C.
A lack of wild bees and managed honeybees is limiting pollination and yields for certain crops on farms in British Columbia and across the United States, a collective of researchers has found.
North America

Anoxic events in P.E.I. waterways: 9 already this year
Nine waterways on P.E.I. have experienced anoxic events so far this year, something experts say is unusual.
Estuaries of P.E.I., Canada

Newly-discovered seaweed species threatens protected coral reefs in Pacific
Scientists have said the algae is spreading faster than anything they have seen in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Pearl & Hermes Atoll, Midway, US Minor Outlying Islands
Sky News

Century-old photos show effects of climate change in Rocky Mountain forests
Towering crags and peaks of the Canadian Rocky Mountains have been getting steadily greener over the past century, according to a new study.
Canadian Rocky Mountains
Vancouver Sun

Cold snap in Northern B.C. will kill bark beetles, but won't erase threat, says B.C. entomologist
Bark beetle experts say a recent cold snap has likely killed some spruce beetle infestations in northern B.C.
British Columbia, Canada

Invasive seaweed makes its move along Rhode Island coast
University of Rhode Island student stumbled upon the first appearance in Rhode Island of what has come to be called sea potatoes (Colpomenia peregrina), an invasive seaweed native to the coast of Korea and Japan that grows on top of other seaweeds.
Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island, United States
Westerly Sun

On land, Australia's rising heat is 'apocalyptic'; in the ocean, it's even worse
BRUNY ISLAND, TASMANIA (WASHINGTON POST) - Even before the ocean caught fever and reached temperatures no one had ever seen, Australia's ancient giant kelp was cooked.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Australia
The Straits Times

Camera Traps Show Invasive Coyotes Heading Toward South America
North American coyotes don’t live in South America, but new research suggests that could change, should deforestation in Central America continue.
Darién, Panama
Gizmodo

Grizzly bears move north in High Arctic as climate change expands range
Hunters say grizzly bears are showing up in growing numbers on islands of the Beaufort Sea.
Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, Canada
National Post

Russian birch trees are ‘climbing mountains’ due to climate change
The tree line is moving up mountains at a rate of half a meter a year, say researchers from Krasnoyarsk Science Centre, part of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Krasnoyarsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia
Siberia Times

Sea urchin explosion decimates kelp forests off Pacific coast
Similar to what has happened in B.C., tens of millions of voracious purple sea urchins have chomped their way through towering underwater kelp forests in California.
Coastal Oregon and California

Melting glaciers have uncovered five new islands, and animals are populating them
The islands were first noticed by a student engineer who had observed the unidentified land masses in satellite images
Franz Josef Land Archipelago
National Post

Scientists suspect retreating sea ice is changing the color of Alaska's tundra
Biologists say early retreating sea ice is potentially causing vegetation productivity changes on the tundra across Alaska and the Arctic. Uma Bot, a climate variability expert with the University of Alaska–Fairbanks, says the land warms up more quickly when sea ice recedes earlier than usual. “‘Cause the tundra is temperature limited and if it has more …
Nome, Alaska, United States

It was the warmest ever Arctic summer
The top of the world saw record-beating average temperatures flashing through all three summer months.
The Independent Barents Observer

Fight for survival in Norway's Arctic as climate warms
Climate change is making life difficult for the indigenous people - and wildlife - of the Sami region.
Finnmark, Norway
BBC News, Norway

Anchorage spruce trees are dying. We need to talk about what happens next.
At some point even commercial tree removers will need help with disposal. And what should be planted in their place?

Alaska records warmest month ever in July with coastline barren of sea ice
Average temperature for month amid Arctic heatwave was 58.1F (14.5C), nearly 1F above previous high set in July 2004
the Guardian

The trouble with thrips: They’re as annoying to gardeners as is possible
These tiny, black, thread-like pests dig into plants and like to hang about in gangs, which is why you see so many of them. It is as if they want to be as annoying as possible.

Insect 'apocalypse' in U.S. driven by 50x increase in toxic pesticides
Bees, butterflies, and other insects are under attack by the very plants they feed on as U.S. agriculture continues to use chemicals known to kill.
United States
National Geographic

Salal’s Worrisome Die-Off
This ubiquitous shrub of the Pacific Northwest is dying. Some scientists theorize that a disease or fungus could be the culprit, while others point to this past winter’s unusually dry weather.
Coastal British Columbia to Oregon
Hakai Magazine

California forest die-off caused by depletion of deep-soil water: Study warns of threats from future concurrent drought and heat events
The inability of long-rooted trees to reach their subsurface water supply in the Sierra Nevada mountain range led to widespread forest die-offs following the drought of 2012-2015. A new study provides a better understanding of the climatic and biological mechanisms in play.
Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, United States
ScienceDaily

Mexico struggles to understand, solve, seaweed invasion
Mexico has spent US$17 million to remove over a half-million tons of sargassum seaweed from its Caribbean beaches, and the problem doesn't seem likely to end any time soon.
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico
CTVNews

Western red cedars are dying of drought and scientists say it’s one more portent of climate change
The ‘persistent and widespread decline’ of the province’s official tree is due to drier, California-like summer droughts of two to three months.
Southwestern British Columbia, Canada
The Star

The Wettest Part of Alaska Is Experiencing Extreme Drought. Is Climate Change to Blame?
The drought has had damaging economic and ecological impacts.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
Pacific Standard

Why seaweed is strangling Mexican tourism, and how science could help
Sargassum is infesting Mexico’s coastline. Researchers are scrambling to stop an ecological crisis, and maybe even make something good of it.
Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
MIT Technology Review

Cedar die off impacts many on Vancouver Island
The die off of Western Red Cedar trees on East Vancouver Island due to drought and severe weather has First Nations extremely worried. Cedar is a critical part of first nations culture and as Skye Ryan reports, there is growing concern the dying trees will have a ripple down effect.
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Western red cedars die off as extended dry spells continue
Some Western red cedars are struggling after repeated bouts of drought conditions and experts say expect the tree to vanish for good in spots with shallow, dry, rocky soil.
Coastal British Columbia, Canada

Climate change forces reindeer to resort to eating seaweed
Researchers have determined that, when ground ice is thicker, reindeer make for the coast. They don't eat kelp when they don't have to.
Svalbard
News Atlas

Canadian researchers warn of 'cascading impacts' as bumblebee species decline
A team of researchers at York University has warned that the American bumblebee is facing imminent extinction from Canada, and this could lead to “cascading impacts” throughout the country.
Canada

Wild bee species critical to pollination on the decline
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — More than a dozen wild bee species critical to pollinating everything from blueberries to apples in New England are on the decline, according to a new study. Researchers...
Concord, New Hampshire, United States
AP NEWS

100 months of temperature above normal in Svalbard
March becomes the hundredth month in a row with temperatures above normal. "It is unique and shows how fast climate change is happening in the Arctic," says climate scientist Ketil Isaksen at the Meteorological Institute (MET).
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Meteorologisk institutt

Grass crops in Eastern Norway halved in 2018
Last year's drought summer resulted in halved grass crops in Eastern Norway compared to the previous year, according to recent figures from Statistics Norway. - The consequences of the drought continue to affect the daily lives of many farmers, says Lars Petter Bartnes, leader of the Norwegian Farmers' Union.
Akershus, Norway
Norges Bondelag

The changing world of Mongolia's boreal forests
Insects that eat leaves and needles are causing increasing damage in Mongolian forests. The Siberian silk moth and the gypsy moth are the most destructive.
Mongolia
MONTSAME News Agency

El Niño Triggered Disease Outbreaks Across Globe
The 2015 to 2016 El Niño event brought weather conditions that triggered regional disease outbreaks throughout the world.
Tropical Pacific Ocean
Laboratory Equipment

Greenhouse gas emissions provide extreme warming in Svalbard
Greenhouse gas emissions provide extreme warming on Svalbard.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Miljodirektoratet

Building blocks of ocean food web in rapid decline as plankton productivity plunges
Basic ocean food critical for the whole ecosystem is in dramatic decline and scientists don't know exactly why.
Western North Atlantic

As Seas Warm, Galápagos Islands Face a Giant Evolutionary Test
Climate change is ravaging the natural laboratory that inspired Darwin. The creatures here are on the brink of crisis.
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
New York Times

Lilacs (Syringa spp.) Blooming Earlier
Agriculture, a huge industry in upstate New York, will clearly benefit from a longer growing season. However, the increase in intensity and frequency of rainfall will impede farmers. Higher nighttime temperatures could affect flowering
Highland Park, Rochester, New York, United States
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Critically Low Monarch Population in California
The California overwintering population has been reduced to less than 0.5% of its historical size, and has declined by 86% compared to 2017.
California, United States
The Xerces Society

Climate Change Is Fueling Wildfires Nationwide
Global warming has already resulted in more forest fires out West, according to the latest National Climate Assessment. The future could see more of the country burn.
Western United States
New York Times

The Arctic is turning brown because of weird weather
Extreme climatic events are harming plant communities in the Arctic. The resulting colour change is bad news for the region's carbon storage.
Lofoten Islands, Norway
The Conversation

Storms increasing & violent
A new report points to harsher more severe weather incidents happening in our province.
British Columbia
Castanet

Sea stars still wasting away in B.C. waters
Reports that the sea star population was rebounding appear to have been overly optimistic, says the Coastal Ocean Research Institute.
Canada's Pacific Marine Ecosystems

Loads of seaweed are threatening the Caribbean’s sea life and tourism. Experts say we may be to blame
Scientists say the threat from sargassum is as serious as rising sea levels and hurricanes.
Quintana Roo, Mexico
Washington Post

As Greenland Warms, Nature’s Seasonal Clock Is Thrown Off-Kilter
For millennia, ecosystems in Greenland and throughout the Arctic have been regulated by seasonal changes that govern the greening of vegetation and the migration and reproduction of animals. But a rapidly warming climate and disappearing sea ice are upending that finely tuned balance.
Kangerlussuaq, Qeqqata, Greenland
Yale E360

Death Knell For Ash Trees
The Western New York landscape is now strewn with dead and dying Ash trees. The evidence of the Ash Borer's destruction is crystal clear, and our environment may never be the same.
Angola, New York, United States
WGRZ

Changements climatiques: la forêt boréale va fructifier, puis décliner
Climate change: the boreal forest will grow, then decline: The acceleration of growth will be fueled by warming in the north of the boreal forest, while the south (Abitibi, Lac-Saint-Jean, Gaspésie) will suffer from a lack of water.
Quebec, Canada
Le Devoir

Scientist warns of "seagrass crisis" in Caribbean
Scientist warns of "seagrass crisis" in Caribbeans MEXICO CITY (Rahnuma): Massive quantities of Sargassum seaweed are invading Caribbean beaches mostly thanks to global warming and countries should work closely with scientists for a sustainable solution, said a researcher at a leading Mexican university on
Ecuador
The Rahnuma Daily

102 fires burning in B.C.’s southeast region
More than 100 fires are burning in B.C.'s Southeast Fire Region, with half of them caused from a lightning storm earlier in the week.
Southeast British Columbia, Canada
Global News

Photos: How climate change is transforming Canada
From floods to fires, drought to coastal erosion, climate change is already having an impact on Canada's communities, landscapes and wildlife
Canadian Geographic

State drops invasive insect defense zone for ash trees
ALBANY - After years of trying to slow a voracious Chinese beetle that is decimating ash trees, state environmental officials are waving the white flag: The Department of Environmental Conservation dropped a logging quarantine, and said it might be time to cut healthy trees still uninfested.
In a brief notice posted online Wednesday, the DEC repealed logging restrictions that had failed to contain the spread of the emerald ash borer (EAB) by limiting shipments of ash.
The state created the quarantine in 2015 to slow the insect, which is a shiny green beetle about the size of a penny. The borer likely will ultimately bring about the end of the state's 700 million ash trees - down from earlier estimates of 900 million ash trees before the beetles' arrival - and forever change an industry that uses ash to produce bats for major league baseball.
Dolgeville, New York, United States
Times Union

The Decline of Yellow Cedar in Alaska’s Temperate Rainforest
Culturally vital, ecologically unique, and economically valuable, the yellow cedar’s fate is closely tied to snow
Poison Cove, Alaska, United States
Earth Island Journal

Endangered plant thrives after Sidney Spit restoration
Coastal sand ecosystem returning to health after 1.5 years of work
Sidney Spit National Marine Park, Canada
Saanich News

Climate Change draws invasive species to the Arctic
Warmer temperatures and declining sea ice pulls foreign animals and plants to the Arctic, with drastic consequences for these sensitive ecosystems.
Nuuk, Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq, Greenland
ScienceNordic

Climate change in the Rockies could make this Colorado wildflower vanish forever
Creamy jasmine wildflowers once common in the Colorado high country may be vanishing as climate change brings warmer and drier conditions.
Crested Butte, Colorado, United States
The Denver Post

Climate change threatens hairy survivor of multiple ice ages
A scientific paper published recently hints at how increasing winter rainfall will affect the Arctic muskox. An N.W.T. biologist says winter rain isn't good for the mammal, but it's actually warmer summers that could prove detrimental.
Northwest Territories, Canada

Vancouver Island marmot facing a new threat: creeping treeline
Habitat of the endangered Vancouver Island marmot is disappearing as the warming climate allows trees to grow higher up mountainsides, turning alpine meadows into forest. Adam Taylor, executive . . .
Nanaimo Lakes area, British Columbia, Canada
Times Colonist

Ten Alaskans were sickened by raw or undercooked walrus. A parasite was in the meat, CDC says.
Serious and unusual outbreaks of illness from eating raw or undercooked walrus to call attention to the risks.
St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

How Climate Change is Spurring Wildfires in Alaska and NWT
Longer hot, dry spells in the boreal forests that stretch across Alaska and the Northwest Territories create the conditions for wildfires triggered by lightning strikes.
Elliott Highway, 48km (30 miles) NW of Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Arctic Deeply

Climate Destabilization Causing Thousands of New Species Migrations: Plant, Animal, Insect, Bird
In the Arctic, brown bears (Ursus arctos) are expanding their range northward, in some cases competing with and even mating with polar bears (*Ursus maritimus*). Beavers (*Castor canadensis*) have been found as far north as the coast of the Beaufort Sea. The list includes mammals, amphibians, fish and insects.
Beaufort Sea, Arctic Ocean
EnviroNews DC News Bureau

Effects of weather variability on maple syrup production studied
Some farmers in the United States and Canada have noticed that the quantity and quality of their maple syrup is changing with climate variability. Now researchers who are investigating these observations.
United States and Canada, Universal State Boundary, North America
ScienceDaily

Pushki making its presence felt on peninsula
A family trip in the Alaska wilderness can turn sour in a hurry if the proper precautions are not taken against the unassuming but dangerous plant known as “pushki.”
Seward, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

The secret killer in your garden
Somebody is poisoning the moose of Anchorage. It's probably you. And many of your relatives, friends, and neighbors. Because the entire city is a garden laced with poisonous plants.

Sneezes, wheezes, tears: What's in store for this spring's allergy season?
Dust. Trees. Grasses. Mold. How to read the signs about whether 2016 will be gentle or monstrous for allergy sufferers.

Fukushima derived radiocesium in subsistence-consumed northern fur seal and wild celery
Trace 134Cs in northern fur seal tissue suggests that the
population under study had been minimally exposed Fukushima-derived radionuclides. Despite this
inference, the radionuclide quantities detected are small and no impact is expected as a result of the
measured radiation exposure, either in northern fur seal or human populations consuming this species.
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

Wild Berry Harvests Less Reliable According to Alaskan Local Observers
A new study from USGS, ANTHC, and the Local Environmental Observer (LEO) Network, provides a view statewide trends in wild berry harvests. The authors conclude that monitoring and experimental studies are needed to understand how climate change may affect the species of wild berries that are important to Alaskans. They also recommended that methods by which rural communities can increase their resilience to declining or more variable berry harvests be explored.

Inundation, sedimentation, and subsidence creates goose habitat along the Arctic coast of Alaska
Since 1976, the distribution of molting Black Brant ( Branta bernicla nigricans ) on the Arctic Coastal Plain has shifted from inland freshwater lakes to coastal marshes, such as those occupying the Smith River and Garry Creek estuaries.
North Slope, Alaska, United States
Environmental Research Letters
Ken D Tape and Paul L Flint and Brandt W Meixell and Benjamin V Gaglioti

Simulating community effects of sea floor shading by plankton blooms over the West Florida Shelf
Phytoplankton blooms are increasingly conspicuous along the world's
coastlines, and the toxic effects of these blooms have become a major
concern. Nutrient enrichment often causes phytoplankton blooms, which
decrease water transparency, but little is known about the effects of
such light regime changes on whole communities of the continental shelf.
A series of simulations designed to evaluate the potential effects of
shading by phytoplankton blooms on community organization were conducted
using a balanced trophic model of the West Florida Shelf ecosystem and
the Ecopath with Ecosim modeling approach. Many functional groups in the
system were predicted to decline as benthic primary production was
inhibited through shading by phytoplankton, especially when associated
biogenic habitat was lost. Groups that obtain most of their energy from
planktonic pathways increased when shading impact and associated
structural habitat degradation were complemented by enhanced
phytoplankton production. Groups predicted to decline as the result of
shading by plankton blooms include seabirds, manatees, and a variety of
demersal and benthic fishes and invertebrates. Some counterintuitive
predictions of declines (mackerel, seabirds, and surface pelagics)
resulted because these groups are somewhat dependent on benthic primary
production. The overall effect of the simulated bloom-associated shading
of benthic primary producers resembled a trophic cascade where the
number of full cycles of biomass gains and losses was approximately
equal to the number of trophic levels in the system (4.7). (C) 2003
Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The West Florida Shelf, USA
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
Okey, TA., Vargo, GA., Mackinson, S., Vasconcellos, M., Mahmoudi, B and Meyer, CA

Brittle Tops are Indicative of Pine Tree Health
Demonstration of how easy ponderosa pine tree tops can be broken due to the effects of climate change.
Spokane, Washington, United States
YouTube

Constant construction projects damage the urban forest infrastructure
City construction leaves trees weaker long after the construction project is over and the trees have less of a positive impact on the urban environment.
Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Invasive earthworms are remaking our forests, and climate scientists are worried
As earthworms silently devour leaf litter across the country, they are changing soils, restructuring ecosystems and depleting our forests' carbon stocks.

Alaska never saw large tundra fires like the East Fork Fire until climate change provided more fuel
The East Fork Fire in Western Alaska is the state's largest at the moment, estimated at more than 150,000 acres Thursday, and it's burning in a region where, just a couple decades ago, large fires would not have been expected.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Trees keep our cities running. Urban construction is threatening their survival
Trees purify the air and generate economic benefits, but unbridled development in cities is increasingly changing growing environments
Québec, Quebec, Canada
The Narwhal

Underwater farming offers sustainable industry for coastal communities
The definition of farming has expanded over time from soil-only planting and harvesting to include farmers that harvest from the sea. Along the coast, kelp f...
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
YouTube

Invasive species threatening Swedish ecosystem say agencies
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and Agency for Marine and Water Management want to create a national list of invasive species, and have presented ...
Sweden

6 invasive plants in the Yukon and what you can do about them
There are more than 20 invasive plant species in the Yukon that spread, change the makeup of the soil and generally prevent native plant species from thriving in their natural environment. here's what you can do about six of the most common ones.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

More shrubs means way more moose in western Alaska
Biologists want to know why there are so many moose. It may have a lot to do with shrubs — moose feast on their leaves during the spring and summer. These short woody plants are spreading west, aided by climate change, and moose populations are expanding along with them.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Scientists say wild berries are in decline in Yukon and they don't know why
Berry pickers have long reported that the number of wild berries has been diminishing, and a 26-year study is now confirming the unexplained decline.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Winemakers getting bitter taste of climate change
As grape harvest time nears across Greece, winemakers are worried about the impact on output from a succession of extreme weather events.
Greece
eKathimerini.com

Climate change threatening Indigenous ways of life
Cecelia Brooks remembers a time when the deep forest of New Brunswick was so cold, snow could still be found in its depths in August. That rarely happens anymore. Brooks, who lives on St. Mary's First Nation in Fredericton, is one of many Indigenous people in the Wabanaki region who say climate change is threatening traditional plants and medicines. Those changes, Brooks says, could alter their way of life.
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

Observed Evidence of Changing Forests:Testimonial for the Status of Tribes and Climate Change Report
The Institute of Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Tribes and Climate Change Program is publishing a report called the Status of Tribes and Climate C...
Spokane, Washington, United States
YouTube

Scientists present theories for deer decline at Prince of Wales Island deer summit
For years, populations of Sitka black-tail deer have slumped, leaving residents without a staple source of protein. A three-day summit held in Craig last month prompted lengthy discussions about the problem. When loggers cut down a section of old growth Sitka spruce, hemlock and cedar in the Tongass National Forest, there’s no need to replant — trees grow back on their own. It’s what scientists call an “even-aged forest.” When trees all start growing at the same time, they create a dense canopy that prevents light from reaching the ferns and berry bushes that black-tail deer love to snack on. And because the trees grow close together, they end up long and spindly — not the massive, thick, tight-grained trunks that make old growth lumber so highly valued.
Craig, Alaska, United States
KTOO

More shrubs means way more moose in western Alaska
Fall moose hunts are beginning across Alaska. In western parts of the state, biologists hope that hunting pressure will help protect the health of booming populations. They also want to know why there are so many moose in the first place. It may have a lot to do with shrubs — particularly scrubby willows shooting up at the edges of open tundra. Moose feast on their leaves during the spring and summer. These short woody plants are spreading west, aided by climate change, and moose populations are expanding along with them.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Are birch trees dropping more bio-bits on Anchorage this year?
Garden writer Jeff Lowenfels asks whether there is more matter falling from birch trees late this summer than in previous years,

Vast wildfires in Russia's Yakutia have already set an emissions record
MOSCOW — Summer wildfires have already produced a record amount of carbon emissions in Russia’s Siberian region of Yakutia, with still more weeks of the fire season to come, according to the European Union’s Copernicus satellite monitoring unit. Environmentalists fear the fires, fuelled by hot weather, may thaw Siberian permafrost and peatlands, releasing even more
Yakutsk, Sakha, Russia
ArcticToday

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