The discovery of a simple yet profound rule governing how life thrives on Earth has been revealed in a recent study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. This research, led by Umeå University and involving the University of Reading, provides a groundbreaking understanding of why species are spread across our planet as they are.

At its core, this rule reveals that most species cluster together in small “hotspot” areas within each bioregion. From these cores, species gradually spread outward with fewer and fewer able to survive farther away from these ideal conditions. This pattern highlights the crucial role these hotspots play in sustaining biodiversity across entire bioregions.

The research team examined bioregions worldwide, studying species from diverse life forms: amphibians, birds, dragonflies, mammals, marine rays, reptiles, and trees. Despite vast differences in life strategies and environmental backgrounds among each bioregion, the same pattern emerged everywhere – a testament to the universal nature of this rule.

The existence of a universal organising mechanism has profound implications for our understanding of life on Earth. This predictable pattern can help scientists trace how life has diversified through time and offer valuable insights into how ecosystems might react to global environmental changes.

In every bioregion, there is always a core area where most species live. From that core, species expand into surrounding areas, but only a subset manages to persist. These cores provide optimal conditions for species survival and diversification, acting as a source from which biodiversity radiates outward. Safeguarding these core zones is essential, as they represent critical priorities for conservation strategies.

Environmental filtering has long been considered a key theoretical principle in ecology for explaining species distribution on Earth. This study provides broad confirmation across multiple branches of life and at a planetary scale, demonstrating that the result is always the same: only species able to tolerate local conditions establish and persist, creating a predictable distribution of life on Earth.

The discovery of this universal rule has far-reaching implications for our understanding of life on Earth and its potential vulnerabilities. By recognizing the importance of preserving hotspots as critical zones for conservation, we can work towards safeguarding biodiversity across entire bioregions and ensuring the long-term health of our planet’s ecosystems.

Scientists have long been fascinated by volcanoes that seem to erupt with little or no warning signs. These “stealthy” volcanoes can be particularly hazardous as they often catch people off guard, leading to increased risk for nearby populations. In a breakthrough study published in Frontiers in Earth Science, researchers have developed a model that helps explain and predict stealthy eruptions.

The scientists, led by Dr. Yuyu Li of the University of Illinois, focused on the Veniaminof volcano in Alaska, which is carefully monitored but has only shown clear warning signs for two out of its 13 eruptions since 1993. A notable example was a 2021 eruption that wasn’t detected until three days after it started.

“Our work helps explain how this happens by identifying the key internal conditions – such as low magma supply and warm host rock – that make eruptions stealthy,” said Dr. Li.

The researchers created a model of the volcano’s behavior in different conditions, which would change the impact of a filling magma reservoir on the ground above. They compared the models to monitoring data from three summer seasons before the 2018 stealthy eruption and found that a high flow of magma into a small chamber is likely to produce a stealthy eruption.

The model also suggests that when magma flows into larger, flatter chambers, it may cause minimal earthquakes, while smaller, more elongated chambers may produce little deformation of the ground. However, stealthy eruptions only happen when all the conditions are in place – the right magma flow and the right chamber size, shape, and depth.

Furthermore, if the rock of the chamber is warm due to consistent magma presence over time, size and shape matter less, increasing the likelihood of a stealthy eruption.

To mitigate the impact of these potential surprise eruptions, scientists recommend integrating high-precision instruments like borehole tiltmeters and strainmeters and newer approaches such as infrasound and gas emission monitoring. Machine learning has also shown promise in detecting subtle changes in volcanic behavior.

The researchers believe that combining their models with real-time observations represents a promising direction for improving volcano forecasting, ultimately leading to more effective responses to protect nearby communities.

The Unyielding Ecosystem: Why Past Mass Extinctions Haven’t Broken Earth’s Balance

For millions of years, large herbivores have been shaping our planet’s landscapes. From majestic mammoths to agile rhinos and gentle giant deer, these creatures have played a vital role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals how these giants responded to significant environmental shifts, only to find that their ecosystems remained remarkably resilient.

Researchers from the University of Gothenburg analyzed fossil records of over 3,000 large herbivores spanning 60 million years. The findings showed that despite species coming and going, the overall structure of large herbivore communities remained surprisingly stable. This is akin to a football team changing players during a match but still maintaining the same formation.

Two major global shifts have triggered significant transformations in these ecosystems. The first occurred around 21 million years ago when the closure of the ancient Tethys Sea created a land bridge between Africa and Eurasia, unleashing a wave of migrations that reshaped ecosystems across the globe. Ancestors of modern elephants began to spread across Europe and Asia, while other large plant-eaters adapted to new territories.

The second global shift happened around 10 million years ago as Earth’s climate became cooler and drier. Expanding grasslands and declining forests led to the rise of grazing species with tougher teeth, while many forest-dwelling herbivores gradually disappeared. This marked the beginning of a long decline in functional diversity among these animals.

Despite these losses, the researchers found that the overall ecological structure of large herbivore communities remained stable. It’s as if different players came into play, and the communities changed, but they fulfilled similar ecological roles, so the overall structure remained the same.

This resilience has lasted for the past 4.5 million years, enduring ice ages and other environmental crises up to the present day. However, the researchers caution that the ongoing loss of biodiversity – accelerated by human activity – could eventually overwhelm the system.

“Our results show that ecosystems have an amazing capacity to adapt,” says Juan L. Cantalapiedra, researcher at MNCN in Spain and senior author of the study. “But the rate of change is so much faster this time. There’s a limit. If we keep losing species and ecological roles, we may soon reach a third global tipping point, one that we’re helping to accelerate.”