There are places in nature where the loss of a species or two won’t send shudders through the ecosystem or even cripple it. In the tropics of Central America, for instance, new research shows that having robust diversity among mammalian species will allow for the loss of a good handful or two of species without upsetting an ecosystem.

There are quite a few parks associations out there, all with programs to enrich a visitor’s experience while explaining how important national parks and protected lands are. This particular quiz focuses on parks and other protected lands supported by the Western National Parks Association across 12 Western states. See just how much you know about some of these parks before checking the answers at the bottom of the page.

Nearly 200 miles of fiber optic cable would be buried through Yellowstone National Park under a proposal officials say would improve cellphone coverage and reliability while also allowing for the removal of "antiquated telecommunication systems currently on mountain tops and from the backcountry."

Word that someone had fallen from a cliff overlooking the Colorado River at the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area led to discovery of additional human remains at the base of the dam.