Americans have long viewed beavers as nuisances. But their dams are important for water management, helping to store and recharge depleted groundwater.

Some folklorists have hypothesized that the mythical beasts and monsters of legend were actually inspired by shadowy collective memories of megafauna.

Where poison ivy comes from, why it gives some people such terrible reactions, and why—unfortunately for hikers and gardeners—its future is bright.

Seagrass meadows are habitats for a variety of marine life, and a vital link between land and sea. But these crucial plants are increasingly under threat.

The 1874 locust swarm was estimated to be twice the square mileage of the state of Colorado. Why don't locusts swarm anymore?

The idea of the gigantic octopus has tantalized marine scientists for years, although its existence had never been conclusively proven.

Parasites can be creepy, but according to some ecologists, parasites may substantially impact entire ecosystems—for the better.

Could humans be responsible for the extinction of megafauna like giant sloths and mastodons?

Extinct in the wild, the Franklinia tree is still cultivated in botanical gardens, private homes, parks, even cemeteries. It's also got an interesting Revolutionary-era backstory.

When an axolotl loses a limb, it regrows, and nary a scar remains. But this incredible creature is on the brink of extinction.