by Wendy Ho, Nature Conservancy of Canada, guest author With the springing forward of our clocks and increased daylight, many Canadians are getting antsy for the arrival of spring, perhaps especially for our friends in the Atlantic provinces (darn you, Nor’easter!). What can be more delightful than noticing the little signs that signal the arrival […]
Biology and Life Sciences
How species survive the winter: Skin breathing and antifreeze
by Sarah Ludlow Previous blog posts have discussed how small songbirds and big brown bats survive the winter. Those blogs briefly covered some strategies used by birds and mammals. But what about amphibians? How do frogs survive the many months of sub-zero temperatures? Amphibians are ectotherms (or cold-blooded, meaning that their body temperature is regulated […]
Canada’s gift to the world: A cure for diabetes mellitus
A look at the past, the present, and the promising future of treating diabetes Sunitha Chari, Biology & Life Science co-editor Think of some of your favourite foods: pizza, pasta, bread – or perhaps you have a sweet tooth and enjoy desserts and chocolates. Ever wondered why these foods are so appealing? The answer is […]
Manitoba’s amazing ash forests, invasive emerald ash borer, and how you can help
by Cary Hamel, Julie Pelc, Andrew Holland, and Dan Kraus, Nature Conservancy of Canada Buy local. Burn local. Don’t move firewood. This is not just another green slogan put out by conservationists in the new year. Allow us to explain… Many people have heard about how non-native invasive species, including insects and plants, are one […]
From chaotic to biotic
By Jamie Miller, guest contributor from the Nature Conservancy of Canada There’s a new breed of problem emerging, and these problems are making a lot of people uncomfortable. Aptly named “wicked problems” because of their complex and high uncertainty, they’re defined by having multiple contradicting values, high uncertainty, high stakes and require urgent decision-making. They’re […]