Researchers propose a holistic approach to fisheries management, emphasizing the need to consider entire ecosystems and monitor catch characteristics. The 'Ten Commandments' outline specific action items to improve sustainability and efficiency in marine management.
The article discusses the limitations of industrial agriculture and the potential benefits of biodiversity in farming. Studies have shown that diverse, synergistic farms can increase net farm income by up to 108% while generating environmental and social benefits.
A recent study by Ohio State University scientists reveals that Antarctic warming is reducing animals at the base of the ecosystem, causing some penguin populations to shift southward. The loss of sea ice and decrease in krill abundance will have significant impacts on marine ecosystems.
A long-term ecological study of stream chemistry in Appalachians shows unexpected changes due to reduced sulfur emissions from acid rain. Researchers are seeing rising amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide in streams, which could impact the forest ecosystem and carbon balance.
A report warns of impending catastrophic collapse of all fish and seafood species by 2048, citing accelerating marine biodiversity loss as the primary cause. The study highlights the far-reaching consequences of this loss, including decreased ecosystem services such as water quality maintenance and coastal protection.
The Natural Capital Project aims to calculate ecosystem services' value to people, highlighting the importance of conserving natural systems. By incorporating these values into policies, conservation can be a profitable use of land, benefiting both biodiversity and human life.
Two studies use spatially explicit models to quantify ecosystem services and their costs, guiding conservation planning in Paraguay and California. The approaches reveal tradeoffs between biodiversity and ecosystem services, highlighting the need for a systematic framework that balances both.
A new cost-benefit model measures the value of ecosystem services benefiting humans, such as flood control and crop pollination. This approach fosters win-win solutions between wilderness advocates and landowners. The study analyzed six ecosystem services in the California Central Coast region, finding overlaps with biodiversity priori...
An interdisciplinary team will investigate how environmental changes influence an organism's evolution and how the evolving organism affects the ecosystem. The study, led by UC Riverside's David Reznick, aims to understand eco-evolutionary feedback loops in guppy populations coexisting with Hart's killifish.
Ecosystem services from boreal forests, including carbon capture and water filtration, are estimated to be worth $160 per hectare, totaling $93 billion/year in Canada. Globally, the value is around $250 billion per year. A natural capital accounting system is recommended to reflect these values.
Researchers found that removing just one important species in a freshwater ecosystem can seriously disrupt its functioning. The study, led by Brad Taylor, showed that the loss of the flannelmouth characin had a significant impact on carbon transport and availability in a river ecosystem.
A new project aims to create fast and sophisticated computer models to understand ecosystem dynamics and value for any spot on earth. The models will help policymakers identify specific ecosystem services and their impacts, enabling informed decisions on land use.
Research highlights declining hemlock populations due to invasive species, as well as the value of urban forests like Overton Park. Studies also examine economic and ecological costs of exurbanization on Tennessee's southern Cumberland Plateau and document changes in freshwater mussel populations.
Dr. Gene E. Likens and Dr. Steward T.A. Pickett are honored by the Botanical Society of America for their groundbreaking research on acid rain, freshwater ecology, and urban ecology. Their work has informed national legislation and transformed the Institute of Ecosystem Studies into a global leader in ecological research.
Scientists found that genetic diversity in foundation species, like the cottonwood tree, drives the structure of entire ecosystems. This knowledge has far-reaching implications for conservation efforts and understanding the impact of genetically modified organisms on landscapes.
Carlos Manuel Rodriguez is recognized for his significant advances in terrestrial and marine conservation during his tenure as Costa Rica's environment minister. The Blue Moon Fund awarded him the $150,000 prize to support his work on advancing ecosystem services policy and practice.
Researchers found that parasites dominated the links between species in food webs, with a significant impact on ecosystem stability. The study also revealed new patterns, including increased vulnerability of mid-trophic level animals to parasites and predators.
A 6,000-year-old migration route of the pronghorn antelope in Yellowstone National Park is under threat from continued development and human disturbance. The study's findings highlight the need for immediate recognition and protection to safeguard this unique population.
The study finds that healthy ecosystems can mitigate the effects of disasters like landslides and floods. Mainstreaming sustainable biodiversity management into policy decisions may reverse ecosystem degradation trends.
The Bering Sea ecosystem is responding to changes in Arctic climate, with shifts in species and ecosystem structure impacting native communities. The region's productivity and carbon balance are being altered, with potential implications for the role of the sea as a carbon sink.
The Bahamas Biocomplexity Project adopts a holistic approach to marine conservation, combining scientific tools with ethnographic and economic surveys. The project's findings suggest that marine protected areas can increase seaweed grazing and reduce algal abundance, benefiting coral reefs.
Agriculture can offer ecosystem services like cleaner air, water, and wildlife habitats by managing land in a way that appreciates non-marketable benefits. This approach aims to encourage farmers to provide these services with incentives and citizen payments.
A Pitt professor proposes using an ecological management system to evaluate nature's economic value, bridging economics and ecology. The approach considers ecosystem services like storm damage reduction and wetland maintenance, highlighting the gap between market and social values.
Research highlights rapidly declining fish numbers in inland waters globally, with total catch quadrupling since 1950 and biodiversity at risk. Inland water fishing pressure shifts from species to species, leading to ecosystem collapse if left unmanaged.
A new study reveals that tree diversity in tropical forests plays a crucial role in determining their ability to store carbon and provide other essential ecosystem services. The researchers simulated different extinction scenarios and found that the types of trees remaining had a significant impact on carbon storage capacity.
A two-week survey of over 600 kilometers of Aceh's southwest coast will examine the damage to coral reefs caused by the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami. The survey aims to understand the extent of the damage and provide insight into the natural recovery process.
Long-term data shows that road salt is accumulating in ground water and aquifers, causing year-round increases in freshwater salinity. This has detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, even in rural areas with low road density.
USGS researchers investigate reciprocal interactions between pathogens and ecosystems, finding parasites can alter predator-prey dynamics and ecosystem balance. They also examine the role of ants in monitoring ecosystem condition and the impact of fire history on alien plant invasion.
Researchers uncover a previously unknown ecosystem beneath the Antarctic ice shelf, featuring a thriving clam community and methane-driven chemical life. The discovery provides valuable insights into the dynamics of inhospitable sub-ice settings and may lead to further exploration of remote undersea environments.
A new study by University of Colorado at Boulder-led researchers found that ancient birds in Australia's interior changed their diet drastically after human arrival, pointing to large-scale ecosystem changes. The shift was linked to the extinction of large terrestrial mammals and other species.
The Stanford study used molecular techniques to survey the inhabitants of the lower digestive tract, finding a diverse range of bacterial species. The researchers discovered nearly two-thirds of identified bacteria were novel, highlighting the complexity of the intestinal ecosystem.
Researchers Drs. Melanie Vile and David Velinsky are studying the effects of sea level rise and saltwater intrusion on tidal marsh ecosystem services in the Delaware Estuary. Tidal marshes provide crucial functions such as storm buffering, shoreline stabilization, and fish nursery habitats.
A new study reveals that overfishing of sharks triggers a domino effect of changes in abundance, contributing to the degradation of Caribbean reefs. The researchers found that sharks play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the ecosystem, and their removal can lead to a decline in plant-eating fish populations.
Scientists have evaluated the status of all ecosystems on Earth, finding that environmental benefits are rapidly being degraded. The assessment, commissioned by the United Nations, reveals that human societies depend on ecosystem services such as food, clean air, and potable water, which are at risk due to environmental change.
A groundbreaking study reveals a new type of ecosystem born from the intersection of nature and city life. The Phoenix urban ecosystem is characterized by higher abundance of plants and animals due to consistent access to water resources.
A recent NASA study reveals that tiny particles in the air can have a significant effect on how much carbon is transferred from the atmosphere to below-ground carbon sinks. The research found that aerosols, not clouds, tend to scatter sunlight, allowing more radiation to penetrate to leaves and increasing photosynthesis rates.
A pioneering North Sea fisheries management plan proposes recognizing fishermen's role in protecting the marine ecosystem. The plan, developed by Newcastle University scientists, aims to promote sustainable fishing practices and involve fishermen in decision-making.
A new study by the U.S. National Science Foundation highlights the vital importance of streamside forests in maintaining clean water and healthy ecosystems. The research, funded jointly by NSF and EPA, shows that these forests help filter pollutants from streams, enhance ecosystem processes, and support biodiversity.
A new study using computer models found that human activities are the main cause of caribou decline in northern Alberta. The research suggests that if current development rates continue, woodland caribou will be eliminated from the area in 37 years.
The Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) has revealed unexpected patterns and processes in the city's ecosystem, including how plants influence air quality and forest cover affects water quality. Renewed funding will allow researchers to investigate urban ecology discoveries and share findings with educators and decision makers.
A new stable phase in the Gulf of Maine marine ecosystem has emerged, marked by expansive kelp beds and the dominance of crabs and lobsters. This change is attributed to a drastic reduction in top predators like cod, leading to trophic-level dysfunction.
A new project led by Newcastle University aims to examine the ecosystem consequences of bleaching on coral reefs. The research team will analyze changes in reef fish assemblages over five to 15 year time scales at sites in the Western Indian Ocean and Australia.
A new paradigm for fishery management prioritizes ecosystem health over individual species, considering predator-prey relationships and habitat quality. The approach aims to reduce destructive single-species management, instead focusing on the entire food web.
A biologist studied the tree hole ecosystem and found that changing factors such as predation, resources, and disturbance alters community composition. The results show that certain species are tolerant of predators, disturbances, or competition, allowing them to coexist in different spatial scales.
New and established remote sensing techniques are being used to assess forest structure and estimate biomass. Additionally, data from various sensors are being incorporated into ecosystem process models to track environmental degradation and inform decision-making.
Salvage harvesting operations after natural disturbances can threaten some organisms when large quantities of biological legacies are removed. Researchers argue that exempting large areas from these practices is crucial for ecosystem recovery and sustainability.
The US government is expected to issue a draft report with recommendations for ocean policy, addressing issues like resource stewardship and pollution prevention. The commission's report emphasizes the need for ecosystem-based management to sustain long-term exploitation.
A new study reveals that genetic traits within plant species play a crucial role in shaping ecosystem responses to global climate change. The research suggests that these variations should be considered when developing habitat conservation plans.
A new study reveals that a significant part of the aquatic food chain is supported by terrestrial organic matter originating on the shoreline. Aquatic plants produce organic carbon through photosynthesis, which supports fish and invertebrate populations.
A new report finds that nitrogen availability is a critical factor in ecosystem carbon storage, with current limitations hindering the natural systems' ability to mitigate climate change. The study suggests that we need to incorporate these limits into our models and reduce our reliance on natural ecosystems to combat carbon emissions.
In a four-year study, scientists found that gray wolves consumed a diverse range of species, promoting ecosystem diversity and health. In contrast, hunter kills were dominated by less mobile scavengers, indicating that hunters have a smaller impact on the Yellowstone ecosystem.
The invasion of Anoplolepis gracilipes on Christmas Island leads to the displacement of a native keystone species, resulting in cascading effects on the food web. The ant's supercolonies extirpate the dominant omnivore, increasing seedling recruitment but slowing litter decomposition.
Research reveals microbes under Colorado snowpack drive tundra ecosystem's short-growing season productivity, and are key to nitrogen cycling. The study also identifies previously unknown fungi species.
Researchers have discovered that the history of community assembly is a key predictor of future biodiversity and ecosystem productivity. The study used microorganisms to manipulate productivity and found that the sequence of species arrival from a regional pool of colonists had a large effect on the productivity-diversity relationship.
A more realistic extinction scenario shows that rare and uncommon plant species removal doesn't impact aboveground plant growth, but instead affects remaining rare species. Dominant species impart resistance to ecosystem change even in the face of a 3-fold decline in species.
A recent study by Wildlife Conservation Society researchers found that the reintroduction of wolves and grizzly bears in Yellowstone has led to ecosystem dysfunction. Female moose showed little reaction to predator sounds and smells, indicating a lack of ecological recovery.
A team of geologists has discovered a crab fossil within inches of a massive plant-eating dinosaur fossil in Egypt. The find, dating back to the Cretaceous Period, sheds light on the ecosystem where these species coexisted, revealing a diverse array of organisms including fish, sharks, and turtles.
The Northeastern States Research Cooperative has awarded nearly $1.8 million in research grants for studies of the Northern Forest and its communities. These grants will support projects such as measuring invasive species movement, tracking land use impacts on water quality, and evaluating forest ecosystem services.
A team of US researchers study Polish forest plots with 14 different temperate tree species to understand biodiversity and ecosystem structure. They investigate how tree species influence the environment, soil acidity, and decomposition.
A URI biologist will monitor salt marshes in national parks for long-term ecosystem changes, enabling resource managers to anticipate detrimental changes and design management strategies. The study sites were selected based on aerial photography, field visits, and interviews with park staff.