Tag Archives: species extinction

Wind power and red kites: conflict between nature conservation and energy transition

By | August 22, 2025
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The expansion of renewable energies in Germany, particularly in the open landscapes of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, poses challenges for the conservation of the red kite, a bird of prey that prefers to breed in these regions. A recent study sheds light on the threats posed by wind turbines to the red kite and demonstrates the need to better reconcile nature conservation and the energy transition. The red kite, recognizable by its… Continue reading

Nighttime lighting causes changes in more than 1.500 genes in an ecologically important mosquito species

By | February 20, 2025
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Credits: Markus Pfenninger, Senckenberg

A recent study documents the dramatic effects of artificial nighttime lighting on insects. Researchers examined the midge species Chironomus riparius and found that light pollution causes profound changes in 1.564 genes of the larvae. The consequences are alarming: delayed development, increased oxidative stress, and drastically reduced reproductive capacity. In the journal "Environmental Pollution," the researchers warn of far-reaching ecological consequences… Read more »