Syndication

Colombia is the world’s most biodiverse country by area, but its rich forested ecosystems are facing existential threats.

Species must either migrate, adapt or die in response to climate change. By monitoring the geographic edges of where a species lives – like the southernmost tree – scientists can get a handle on the migration ability of various species.

The Caribbean is the only region of the Americas where people settled an archipelago with some islands not visible from surrounding areas. Despite more than a century of research, there are still many questions about when they migrated and what routes they took.

Human activities have an outsized impact on monarchs’ ability to migrate. Development, agriculture and logging have reduced monarch habitat. Climate change, drought and pesticide use also reduce the number of butterflies that complete the journey.