Earthweek
The diversity of bees, and of the flowers they pollinate, has shown a significant decline in Britain and the Netherlands during the past 25 years. Writing in the journal Science, lead author Koos Biesmeijer, from the University of Leeds, said changes in habitat, climate and modern industrial farming are possible factors that have led to the decline. The researchers said they can't tell whether the bee declines are causing the plant declines, or vice versa. But they warn that if other pollinating insects aren't able to make up for the bee losses, the future of plants in the Dutch and British countryside could be at risk.
A massive plague of locusts has swarmed over northern China's Inner Mongolia region, devouring more than 3.6 million hectares of grassland. The swarms emerged after regular rains began falling in early July, ending a protracted drought. The Xinhua news agency said rising temperatures and humidity are still encouraging the insects to hatch and proliferate into key agricultural and grazing areas.
Typhoon Kaemi struck the coast of East China's Fujian province , prompting the evacuation of more than 500,000 coastal residents, and causing the deaths of at least 25 people. Outer bands of the storm earlier drenched the Philippines before Kaemi's eye passed directly over central Taiwan, injuring four people and knocking out power to thousands.
Remnants of Hurricane Daniel brought heavy rainfall and storm-force winds to the Big Island of Hawaii late last week.
Tropical Storm Emilia formed off the Mexican resort of Acapulco, then lost force over the cooler waters to the west of Baja California.
Hundreds of families were evacuated, some forcibly, from their homes near an erupting volcano in the central Philippines. The cone-shaped Mayon volcano southeast of Manila has been spewing lava for several days, and vulcanologists warned that all signs indicate it is preparing for a major eruption soon.
Explosions continued at Sicily's Mount Etna as an eruption blasted debris out of a new vent that appeared last month. The explosions and flows of fresh lava were attracting a large number of tourists to the mountain.
A cloudburst over the northern Indian village of Manna unleashed a rain of small fish that sent villagers into the streets to collect them. Meteorologists said the pencil-thin fish were probably scooped up by a waterspout and carried high into the atmosphere before falling on Manna. But scientists were baffled that many of the fish were still alive.
An earthquake that struck a mountainous area of southwest China's Yunnan province killed at least 22 people and left more than 100 others injured. The Xinhua news agency reported that 38,000 buildings were damaged by the shaking.
Earth movements were also felt in the Kuril Islands, Indonesia's central Sulawesi province, southern parts of Java, southern Iran and western Nicaragua.
A 29-year study of parrots by an American researcher indicates that the talkative birds may be as smart as a five-year-old child. Brandeis University professor Irene Pepperberg said that while the birds are intelligent, their communication skills are limited to those of a two-year-old. Her test subject 'Alex' can identify 100 objects, mostly food items and toys.
