Biodiversity

"The Obama administration said Wednesday it is going forward with a contentious plan to round up about 2,500 wild horses in Nevada."

When plants are eaten -- especially by insects -- they emit a number of signals that might be seen as howls of alarm, and exhibit responses seemingly meant to stop the carnage. Whether or not this troubles vegans, it fascinates scientists.

"A record number of endangered manatees died in Florida waters this year, according to the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission."

"A growing worldwide trade in exotic plants and animals, fueled by a fascination with the rare and beautiful, often wreaks havoc on Florida's native plants and animals and costs the nation billions each year."

"The fight to keep invasive Asian carp from the Great Lakes reached the nation's highest court Monday as Michigan's attorney general sued Illinois, asking for the closing of two shipping locks near Chicago in perhaps a last-ditch effort to save the region's $7 billion fishing industry."

"Facing antitrust scrutiny over its practices in the biotechnology seed business, Monsanto has said it will not stand in the way of farmers eventually using lower cost alternatives to its genetically modified soybeans."

"Hardline anti-whaling activists prepared on Tuesday to pursue Japan's Antarctic whaling fleet with support from Daryl Hannah, who criticized Greenpeace for opting out of the annual chase."

"Nearly 130 scientists today asked the Interior Department to change a policy set under the Bush administration guiding how agencies decide whether a species is endangered."

"The Bureau of Reclamation wants to use an experimental biological pesticide to control invasive mussels that are interfering with dam and hydropower operations that supply electricity and drinking water to millions of people across the Southwest."