Pale Blue Dot

Author: The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Here’s how climate change created today’s large crocodiles

Post author By The Conversation
Post date September 24, 2019
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Saltwater crocodile — The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), also known as the estuarine crocodile, Indo-Pacific crocodile, marine crocodile, sea crocodile, or informally as saltie, is the largest of all living reptiles (and naturally all living crocodiles), as well as the largest riparian predator in the world. Males of this species can reach sizes up to 6.17 meters (20 feet 3 in). But males reaching or exceeding 6 meters (19.7 feet) are really rare. Females are much smaller and often do not surpass 3 m (9.8 ft). Due to their size, aggression, and distribution, saltwater crocodiles are regarded as the most dangerous extant crocodilian to humans.

What does the term crocodylian bring to mind? A big reptile with a chomping jaw? But exactly which environmental factors created today’s large crocodiles?

Insects Climate Global Warming Life on Earth

What would happen if bees went extinct? [Explained]

Post author By The Conversation
Post date August 21, 2019
No Comments on What would happen if bees went extinct? [Explained]

A bumblebee collecting nectar. Bumblebees have round bodies covered in soft hair (long branched setae) called pile, making them appear and feel fuzzy. Most bumblebees are social insects that form colonies with a single queen. The colonies are smaller than those of honey bees, growing to as few as 50 individuals in a nest. Image: Deposit Photos

Bees – including honey bees, bumblebees, and solitary bees – are very important because they pollinate food crops. Pollination is where insects move pollen from one plant to another, fertilizing the plants so that they can produce fruit, vegetables, seeds, and so on. If all the bees went extinct, it would destroy the delicate balance of the Earth’s ecosystem and affect global food supplies.