Researchers propose a practical approach to understanding interplay between social and ecological spheres using causal chains. Causal chains can help break cycles of degradation and promote sustainable development goals.
Climate scientists must engage in public debate to counter misinformation on Internet blogs, which can be more effective than traditional news sources. Scientists need to use social media effectively to turn the tide in the battle for public opinion and close the consensus gap on climate change.
The World Scientists' Warning to Humanity has been updated 25 years after its initial issuance, warning of catastrophic biodiversity loss and widespread human misery if urgent steps are not taken. The authors highlight areas where reined-in human behaviors can move the Earth's systems toward sustainability.
The Illinois Waterway has successfully recovered following the passage of the 1972 Clean Water Act, according to a study published in BioScience. The authors used a robust data set to demonstrate a strong linkage between water quality and the rebound of fish populations.
A new framework describes the complex dynamics of the illicit wildlife trade by combining biological, anthropological and socioeconomic data to provide a holistic picture of the problem. This framework can help practitioners untangle the complexities underlying the wildlife trade.
Urban green spaces play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health, despite management challenges and limitations in data availability. Recent discussions highlight the need for effective strategies to manage human-affected ecosystems and balance urban development with environmental conservation.
Researchers warn of potential pitfalls in urban green space management, including the risk of creating ecological traps that lack native species support. Urban green spaces will still play a vital role in promoting healthy ecosystems and connecting citizens with nature.
Recent damming has drastically reduced the migration opportunities of fish species, leading to lost habitat and river connectivity issues. The lack of pre-1950 data on ecological harm may underestimate the effects of damming.
The article highlights the devastating impact of damming and lost connectivity on anadromous forage fish in northeastern ecosystems. The authors report that these fish exist at only a tiny fraction of their previous populations due to habitat loss and fragmented landscapes.
Low oxygen levels in Chesapeake Bay have significant effects on fish and ecosystem balance, driven by human-induced and natural factors. Forecasting efforts are being made to better understand and plan for the bay's future.
Researchers are creating a holistic view of river thermal regimes using measurements over time and space, enabling more effective management and conservation efforts. The incorporation of these data has significant implications for the future of river science.
A new study in BioScience explores the role of thermal landscapes in rivers, shedding light on how humans affect water temperature patterns. The research highlights the importance of fine-scale data and models to restore ecological balance and prevent degradation of riverine ecosystems.
Research on US-Mexico border walls highlights potential biodiversity impacts, including isolated local populations and reduced species movement. Human passage, however, appears to be less affected by the barriers.
The emerging field of conservation endocrinology explores the effects of environmental change on species and ecosystems through hormone analysis. Researchers are developing new techniques to monitor ecological responses and plan future conservation efforts.
Researchers using endocrine markers can monitor ecological responses to climate change and plan conservation efforts. This emerging field aims to improve conservation biology by studying the impact of environmental stressors on species health.
Researchers explore effects of human-provided foods on large predators, finding changes in social structures, movements, and behavior. Human-fed populations often form distinct genetic subgroups, potentially leading to future speciation events.
Gray wolves and other large predators are adapting to human-modified environments by changing their social structures, movements, and behavior to acquire anthropogenic resources. This phenomenon has serious implications for wider conservation efforts, including wolf reintroduction programs.
Researchers found strong correlations between nature exposure and positive markers of mental health, revealing a quantifiable impact. The study used dose-response modeling to uncover threshold effects that may guide urban planning and reduce the societal burdens of mental illness.
Researchers identify 'bright spots' of resilience in marine ecosystems affected by climate change. These ecosystem-forming species are either resistant or able to recover from perturbations, with implications for ecosystem-sparing management.
A survey of 97 coastal ecosystem experts revealed that climate-driven disturbances are having profound impacts on marine ecosystems, but also instances of resilience. Resilience was marked by striking recoveries in some cases, with areas of remnant habitat and high connectivity being key contributors to its persistence.
The study identifies seven scenarios of pathogen movement and disease epidemics, posing significant threats to economically important eucalypt plantations and native ecosystems. Biosecurity failures are linked to poorly controlled germplasm movement, underscoring the need for enhanced surveillance and regulation.
Researchers propose a unifying framework for managing environmental microbiomes, highlighting the importance of preserving biodiversity in maintaining human health. The study suggests that altering microbial diversity can have significant impacts on human health, emphasizing the need for effective management strategies.
Research reveals reservoirs as a substantial yet often unrecognized source of greenhouse gas emission. Dr. Bridget Deemer and her colleagues' findings in BioScience point to the significant environmental impact of dammed waters on the atmosphere.
Interdisciplinary research highlights changing scientific landscape, where large data sets and computational methods encourage an iterative approach. The authors note that despite new technology, the reinvigorated approaches are rooted in centuries-old debates over iterative and hypothesis-driven science.
A single season of intense melting in Antarctica in 2001-2002 provided clues to the future of the continent. The study examined the impacts on two vastly different Antarctic ecosystems, including changes in microbial food webs and penguin populations.
Researchers estimate that dams and reservoirs release 1.3% of total human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, a quantity that should be included in global inventories. The authors suggest that careful dam siting and management can help balance the positive ecosystem services of reservoirs against greenhouse gas emission costs.
A recent survey of 1145 marine users found strong public support for citizen science projects, highlighting room for growth in this field. The study's findings have implications for both researchers and the general public, emphasizing the need for further research on citizen science's effectiveness.
A meta-analysis of 54 studies finds engineered hard shorelines reduce species diversity by 23% and overall organism abundance by 45%. Shoreline hardening, including seawalls, can sever habitat connections and alter sediment transport.
Hydroelectric dams can have devastating effects on aquatic insect populations and the food webs they support. Hydropeaking, which generates artificial tides to meet power needs, is a significant contributor to these environmental impacts.
The field of landscape ecology offers a powerful tool for policymakers due to its ability to operate at multiple scales and across human and natural systems. This unique perspective can help address environmental transformation by informing policy and management decisions.
Hydroelectric dams devastate aquatic insect populations and food webs by creating an 'extensive intertidal zone' along river shorelines. Citizen science data show that species with river-edge egg laying behaviors have been largely extirpated from the Grand Canyon.
A new report argues that landscape ecologists can inform policy decisions on managing global change. The field offers unique insights into combining urban planning and landscape ecology to create sustainable land-use policies. Collaborative efforts between landscape ecologists and policymakers are underway to protect sensitive ecosystems.
A new report from the Biodiversity Collections Network highlights the need for better communication about biodiversity collections research and its public benefits. The report outlines seven recommendations to improve coordination, engage new stakeholders, and develop innovative communication methods.
Current methods for predicting damage to coral reefs are limited by a focus on individual species in isolation. To address this, researchers propose combining empirical evidence with traditional biological scaling models and computer simulations to understand the emergent properties of acidification-afflicted reef ecosystems. This appr...
Fish populations that gather and spawn in large groups face growing threats from overexploitation and inadequate management. Insufficient regulation allows a few active boats to deplete these vulnerable populations, while changing economic conditions may lead to rapid species declines.
Julia Omotade, a Ph.D. candidate at Emory University, has been awarded the AIBS Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award for her leadership in advocating for federally supported research. Her efforts have resulted in over 600 letters to Congress and recognition as an outstanding leader in science policy.
A survey of 1400 endangered species found 78 vulnerable to nitrogen-induced harms. Nitrogen's impacts on biodiversity are diverse, including direct toxicity, depleted oxygen, and invasive species that outcompete native populations.
A recent study reveals that animal-borne diseases can persist in wider populations through repeated dispersal, leading to slower but more insidious transmission. This 'slow, smoldering' approach challenges traditional assumptions about disease outbreaks.
Researchers warn of declining crop production in the US Midwest, with global implications, and propose a coordinated field research network to gather precise data on crop performance and management practices.
Research by Netta Weinstein and others suggests that people's experiences of local nature can explain 8% of survey responses about community cohesion. Additionally, objective measures of green space in neighborhoods account for 4% additional variance in crime rates, outperforming known contributors like socioeconomic deprivation.
A three-step intervention increases hiring of female STEM applicants by 6.3 times, with women constituting 50% of those hired after its application to all STEM-faculty hiring at Montana State University. The approach is based on self-determination theory and aims to enhance competence, autonomy, and relatedness in the search process.
The study found that teleconference settings reduced discussion times but had little impact on funding decisions. Panel discussions often resulted in poorer scores compared to initial pre-meeting scores.
The world's grassy biomes are under threat from conversion to agriculture and tree planting, which can lead to ecosystem degradation. Protecting these areas is crucial for preserving biodiversity and carbon storage capabilities.
A six-year controlled burn experiment in an Amazonian rainforest found that trees can survive initial fire disturbance but not repeated or coupled disturbances. The study highlights the potential for grassland incursion to fuel future burns and reduce forest carbon stocks by up to 90%.
A new workshop report from the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) identifies key barriers to complex data integration and offers recommendations for the research community. The report highlights impediments, technical problems, and crosscutting issues related to integrating data.
A longitudinal study of high school biology instructors reveals that biology dominates STEM education and the workforce increased 50% between 1987 and 2007. However, the same trend also shows that teachers outside their discipline are often assigned to teach outside their capabilities.
Researchers warn that genetically modified salmonids may outcompete wild-type fish due to enhanced feeding motivation. However, increased aggression could expose them to greater predation risk, reducing their overall fitness.
A cross-disciplinary study applies CHANS to examine dynamics of livestock rearing on the Mongolian Plateau between 1980 and 2010. The research highlights unique opportunities for applying CHANS due to contrasting socioeconomic and political systems in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia.
A study by biologists and public health experts finds that nature exposure is linked to improved human health, but the optimal dose of nature is unclear. The researchers propose a new approach to studying nature exposure through dose-response modeling, which could help develop recommendations for enhancing human health in urban areas.
A study by AIBS found that 35% of conflicts were self-reported by review panel members, while 65% were identified by panel managers. The researchers suggest improving COI reporting and detection methods to maintain high ethical standards.