African lions probably 2 distinct species (Wildlife Extra)

• “There is a remarkable difference between the lions of west and central Africa compared to those in the east and south of the continent, according to new research.”
• “The study suggests that lions from west and central Africa are genetically different from lions in east and southern Africa. The researchers analysed a region on the mitochondrial DNA of lions from across Africa and India, including sequences from extinct lions such as the Atlas lions in Morocco.”

Scientists Predict Baby Boom for Leatherback Sea Turtles in Florida (Animal News)

• Leatherback sea turtle nests have increased by more than 10 percent a year along the coast of 68 beaches in Florida since 1979.

One Year Later: Assessing the Lasting Impact of the Gulf Spill (Yale e360)

• “And there may be some surprises. Most people feared major die-offs of fishes and shrimp in the northern Gulf. But when areas closed because of oil were reopened to fishing, fishing was generally excellent. A season closed to fishing may have done more to help the fish than the oil did to hurt them.”
• “These poorly planned engineering debacles have cost Louisiana’s coast 2,300 square miles of wetlands.”

In Vietnam, a special nature reserve has been created to protect the threatened “Asian unicorn.” (The Huffington Post) via @nature_org

• “The saola looks like a small deer or antelope with two horns, but is locally known as an Asian “unicorn.” They are thought to number from a few dozen to a few hundred, and are threatened by poachers wanting its horns. The conservation group WWF says none has survived in captivity.”

Coral reefs in crisis — But they have vast potential (Wildlife Extra)

• “In an unprecedented collaborative analysis, scientists from 49 nations demonstrated that the ability of reef fish systems to produce goods and services to humanity increases rapidly with the number of species.”