Systems

a dam on a river

Death by a Thousand Dams

Tens of thousands of small barriers hamper fish recovery in the northeastern United States. But while the demolition of big dams out west gets the most attention, a similar revolution is revitalizing northeastern streams and rivers—one tiny dam at a time.

Latest in Systems
bumblebee on aster
Planting Seeds for Bumblebee Dreams

Sowing flowers in spring may have a surprising effect on the inner lives of bees.

As the Forest Fries, Brazil’s Formidable Formicidae May Falter

An age-old relationship between ants and plants may unravel in a warming world.

Where the Rivers Run Pink

Non-native pink salmon have swarmed Norway’s rivers, prompting a relentless—and potentially fruitless—fight to beat back the invaders.

Surf smelt are an integral source of sustenance for many coastal species, including humans.
Listening to the Smelt

By monitoring the embryos of a little-studied forage fish, scientists hope to track and minimize the damaging effects of pollution in important coastal habitats.

The spring run from Blue Hole Lake in Santa Rosa, NM. Arid land springs bring life to dry lands and harbor rare and endangered plants and animals
Windows into the Earth

The freshwater springs of the American Southwest are among the most endangered ecosystems on Earth. Fortunately, they're also among the most resilient.

A herd of elk faces off against a wire fence, a common sight in the Colorado mountains and throughout the American West. Photograph by John Boland / Shutterstock
Entangled

Laid end to end, the world’s fences would reach the sun. What are they doing to wildlife?

A conservation detector dog sniffs out invasive plants in a lake in southeastern Australia.
What Lies Beneath

With their astounding sense of smell and ability to find what humans can’t see, dogs are quickly becoming some of conservationists’ best friends.

Eider ducks bob along a small fishing harbor in Straumen, Trondelag, Norway. These ducks will travel to islands like Vega in the spring, seeking out a place to lay eggs and brood. Photograph by Pål Hermansen
The Eider Keepers

An age-old tradition in Norway illuminates the bonds between wild ducks, wild places, and the people who care for both.

A group of male African lions rests in the Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya, as storm clouds build overhead. Photograph by Denis-Huot
Africa’s Conservation Conundrum

The trophy hunting industry in Africa is dying, and that should concern all of us. What, if anything, replaces it will prove critical for the protection of the continent’s wildlife and wild places.