More on Sargassum

Spring and summer 2018 saw yet another Sargassum bloom to the Caribbean, with piles of the stuff floating nearshore and ­covering beaches in Little Cayman, ­Barbados, ­Antigua, and other destinations. Read about why that happened and how divers can work around it.

Coral reef ecosystems in trouble

Coral reefs cover less than 1 percent of the Earth’s surface yet feed and shelter a significant amount of marine life and provide food, coastal protection, and livelihoods for millions of people. Read about the state of the world's coral reefs in this PBS Nature Blog post. Spoiler alert: it isn't pretty. 

When Light Becomes Pollution

Artificial light at night affects wildlife in many ways, including, according to some recent studies, by increasing predation on insects, decreasing amphibian reproduction, and interfering with nocturnal pollinators. Read more about the problem and easy solutions in this PBS Nature Blog post.

Image: NASA Earth Observatory

Blazing trails in Franklin Mountains State Park

Robert Newman designed and built more than 10 miles of trails through the rugged landscape of Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso. Read about this extraordinary volunteer in Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.

The Evolution of Spring Lake

The former Aquarena Springs in San Marcos became The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and now helps educate future stewards. Read about it here. 

Amazon basin's freshwater dolphins in trouble

The Amazon river basin is home to an incredible variety of plant and animal life, including the boto and another freshwater dolphin, the grey or tucuxi. Both species are in serious decline. Read more on the PBS Nature Blog.

Wild and Wonderful Amazon Rainforest Trees

The Amazon basin, almost the size of the continental United States, represents half of the world’s tropical rainforest and 12 percent of its total forest cover. Read about some of its amazing trees in this post for the PBS Nature Blog.