Overfishing alters food chains to the extreme.

Photo credit: Catherine Jubb Cannibalism has been observed in many different forms of nature. In Nambia, I learned about the white lady spider, who waits underground for the vibrations of nearby prey, or male wanting to mate. The male will perform a "dance" that supplies a rhythm that the female...

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Something tells me this will end badly.

In 1979, it was officially reported that burmese pythons were found in the wild of Southern Florida. Since then, they have taken over and have decimated local avian and rodent species. Burmese pythons were introduced to the Everglades through the exotic pet trade. Many people buy these snakes as...

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Hundreds attend public hearing to stop coal exports in Washington.

For the past couple of months I've been volunteering with a small group in Portland called "Friends of the Columbia Gorge". As much as I value the mission of this organization, I have to admit, it takes a lot of motivation every Tuesday and Thursday to get up, drag myself downtown, pay for parking,...

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The importance of biodiversity hitting home.

Have you noticed all those gluten free menu items in the grocery store lately? No, this isn't some new diet craze. It's to cater the ever increasing list of people with food allergies. It's not just gluten, it's wheat, soy, nuts, grass, trees. I even developed an allergy in high school that I still...

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Now that's determination.

I once sat on a rock for 8 straight hours while conducting research on rattlesnake/squirrel behavior in California. I was waiting on a squirrel to approach our bait station so I could launch a harmless, spring loaded cannon to measure his reaction time. The target squirrel had already been scared...

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Fantastic news for sharks!

Congratulations to the Shark Savers Singapore group on their recent wins in the battle to stop the consumption of shark fin soup! I was beyond thrilled to read this news article describing how more and more Asian companies are taking shark fin soup off their menus at corporate events as an act...

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Find your passion and pursue it.

The idea of starting an animal conservation club that eventually became the non-profit Roots and Shoots at NCSU was originally formed in Africa. In the summer of 2010, I took a study abroad trip to Namibia, and the group I was with instantly formed a bond that I think will last a lifetime. We had a...

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