Researchers found that publicly available abstracts often failed to reflect broader impacts activities, and project reports lacked sufficient detail. Efforts to bolster participation of underrepresented groups were comparatively rare, with proposals reporting more than twice as few as reported.
Environmental scientists use next-generation sequencing to track population adaptations to climate change, finding gene variants and altered expression that point to selection for climate-adapted traits. However, funding constraints may hinder the technology's adoption in ecological studies.
A recent article in BioScience assesses contrasting views on kin selection, a theory explaining animal altruism through genetic influence. The authors argue that vagueness about explanation, measurements, and modeling underlies many differences between critics and proponents.
Cilia play a crucial role in human health, with ciliopathies affecting multiple tissue types. Research using model species like Chlamydomonas and mice may uncover new insights into these complex cell organelles.
A study of US national wildlife refuge management plans reveals that while some show promise in adapting to climate change, many lack specific criteria for evaluating success. The authors highlight the need for improved planning and coordination to effectively address climate-related challenges.
A study published in BioScience argues that the US Environmental Protection Agency's pesticide risk assessment practices are flawed, inviting bias towards industry interests. The agency's reliance on manufacturer-funded studies and rigid inclusion criteria may lead to incomplete assessments. The authors recommend improving the process ...
An AIBS analysis of peer review found correlations between scores and citation impact, but not funding amounts. This study offers insights into increasing research productivity through peer review models.
A study on the Gulf of Mexico microbial communities revealed significant changes in population sizes and community structures after the 2010 Macondo blowout. Oil-degrading microbes were found to persist even after the dissipation of the initial plume, while large flocs of marine "snow" formed rapidly and settled near the wellhead.
Rapidly accumulating molecular sequence data is changing our understanding of major animal groups' evolution. Organismal biologists are needed to ensure their scenarios remain consistent with new information and evaluate alternative perspectives.
A study published in BioScience examines the decline of biodiversity reporting in favor of climate change coverage. Funding priorities also shift towards climate change, with World Bank and US National Science Foundation investments increasing substantially since 2006.
The Hudson River has undergone significant changes in its flow, chemical composition, and ecology over the past quarter-century. A 40% increase in freshwater flow has countered the effects of higher temperatures, while pollution levels have decreased, prompting rapid evolutionary responses in certain species.
Midwest farmers are willing to adopt environmentally improved farming practices in exchange for payments, which can lead to up to 50% reductions in nitrogen pollution and mitigate greenhouse warming. The study suggests that sustainable agriculture can be economically viable and contribute to ecosystem services.
The study of natural history provides essential knowledge for various fields, including human health, food security, and conservation. However, support for this field has declined in developed countries, resulting in costly mistakes such as the collapse of fisheries and forest fire suppression.
Concord found between professional groups on which questions are most important for natural resource management. The most critical questions relate to the quantity and quality of surface and groundwater necessary for human populations and ecosystem resilience.
Researchers used automated cameras to track the northern spring migrations of Alaskan caribou and ptarmigan, estimating 40,000 images were analyzed. The study shed light on caribou and ptarmigan behavior, including speed, foraging habits, and avoidance of water.
Researchers used ultrashort laser pulses to study how bacteria and algae efficiently gather light, suggesting that quantum interactions play a subtle role in energy transfers. The exact mechanism remains unclear, but understanding the role of quantum coherence may help develop more efficient solar technologies.
The American Institute of Biological Sciences has selected three individuals as winners of its 2013 Faces of Biology: Broader Impacts Photo Contest. The winning photos showcase the broader impacts of biological sciences, including informing natural resources management and addressing climate change.
A new estimate suggests that more than 600,000 bats likely died from wind turbine collisions in the contiguous US in 2012. Bat populations are already under stress due to climate change and disease, making this figure particularly worrisome for their already slow growth rates.
Researchers can influence design and implementation, improving environmental benefits in urban areas. By involving themselves early in the process, ecologist researchers can establish viable long-term sites and improve project outcomes.
Carbon farming schemes can sequester carbon while providing environmental benefits like reduced pollution, erosion, and improved biodiversity. Local participation is key to long-term success, as it leverages local knowledge and draws in more landholders.
Biological societies are experiencing declining membership, with smaller organizations hit hardest. The American Institute of Biological Sciences survey highlights the need for these organizations to adapt to changing dynamics in 21st century science.
Researchers found that institutions often penalize interdisciplinary researchers who cross disciplinary boundaries, despite its benefits in developing new knowledge. Communication problems, funding issues, and lack of credit for promotion and tenure are major obstacles to interdisciplinary research.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that the setting of scientific peer review panels, such as using teleconferencing technology, has little effect on the outcome of the review process. The researchers reviewed over 1,600 grant applications and found that panelists engaged less discussion during teleconference reviews.
New technology for creating pesticides and pest-resistant crops raises concerns about harm to desirable insects and ecological disruption. Researchers suggest designing chemicals that minimize impact on non-target species and evaluating real-life situations.
Researchers at Michigan State University developed comprehensive evolutionary case studies to improve student understanding of evolution. Students who grasped integrated scenarios performed better on tests about evolution in general, suggesting that this approach enhances overall knowledge.
Researchers propose keystone molecules as a key factor in structuring ecosystems. These molecules have powerful effects on bacteria, seabirds, fishes, and other species. Keystone molecules also influence predator-prey relationships and can be crucial for conservation efforts.
A comprehensive marine biodiversity observation network could be established within 5 years with modest funding, addressing gaps in understanding global marine organism distribution under climate change threats. The network would help identify threats like exotic species invasions and resolve conflicts over ocean management.
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) has selected two graduate students, Jennifer Rood and Paul Tanger, to receive the 2013 Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award for their interest and aptitude in science and public policy. The winners will participate in a training program on communicating with policymakers and brief...
A study by neuroscientists found that while they recognize the importance of new media in shaping public opinion, most researchers make little personal use of social networks. The study suggests scientists still value the vetting process for information in traditional media channels.
A Network Integrated Biocollections Alliance (NIBA) aims to provide online access to digitized data from biological specimens held in various repositories. The initiative will help cope with environmental problems such as climate change and invasive species.
Researchers emphasize the importance of understanding how social and personal norms are influenced by behavior to promote long-term environmental changes. The authors suggest that effective policies can induce changes in norms over time, leading to increased public acceptance of environmental measures.
Researchers are studying filter-feeding whales using multisensor tags, providing insights into their diving and foraging behaviors. The findings show that different whale species have distinct feeding strategies, with some catching elusive prey and others filtering slowly through large patches of water.
Women leave academia at higher rates than men in biology due to intense competition for tenure-track positions, particularly when they have children. In contrast, medicine's earlier competition period may contribute to lower attrition rates among women scientists.
Researchers found that warmer springs are causing trees to leaf out earlier, threatening tree species like yellow birch and sugar maple. This altered landscape can lead to changes in wildlife populations, including deer replacing moose in the ecosystem.
Experimental work on ancestral visual pigments and their mutational variants reveals that standard computational approaches are not reliable for inferring evolutionary pathways. Researchers now call for a shift towards experimental approaches to test hypotheses about protein evolution.
The Endangered Species Act focuses on boosting species' numbers, but many will require continued management actions. Individual conservation agreements can help such 'conservation-reliant species',
According to a study by Noel M. Burkhead, North American freshwater fish extinctions have increased noticeably after 1950, with at least 57 species and subspecies going extinct since 1898. The rate of extinction is estimated to be at least 877 times the background extinction rate over geological time.
Relocating threatened species to save them from extinction is a complex issue due to unforeseen environmental consequences and potential disruptions to ecosystems. Developing effective guidelines and protocols for managed relocation is crucial to minimize social conflict and ensure responsible conservation practices.
Retention forestry is a management practice that deliberately leaves selected trees standing during harvesting, reducing ecological simplification and preserving natural forest complexity. It brings benefits such as maintaining ecosystem services, increasing public acceptance, and ensuring habitat continuity.
AIBS awarded Dr. Barbara Schaal for pioneering plant molecular systematics and conservation biology research. Dr. Thomas Lovejoy received the Outstanding Service Award for his biodiversity conservation work. Dr. Diane Ebert-May was honored for her innovative teaching approaches and science education research.
The PULSE program seeks faculty members to lead a national effort to stimulate systemic change in undergraduate biology education, building on the 2011 Vision and Change report. The initiative aims to modernize the approach to undergraduate education in the life sciences.
A worldwide survey found that all continents except Antarctica have regions where dam obstruction poses a significant threat to freshwater organisms. The study identified 18 ecoregions with notable numbers of fish species at risk, including the Murray-Darling Province in Australia and the South Atlantic coast of the United States.
Researchers call for a new approach to studying deepwater oil spills, emphasizing the need for understanding oil movement at depth, microbial action, and deep sea ecology. This new direction is crucial for responding to future spills and restoring damaged ecosystems.
Research over decades identifies impacts on burrowing animals, plant roots, and microorganisms like diatoms, which affects seabirds and mammals. Shrinking cryosphere also decreases carbon dioxide uptake from the atmosphere and alters land suitability for plants.
A 15-year study found that artificial wetlands can take up more carbon from the atmosphere than natural ones, but may release methane. Both types of wetlands removed large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus from river water. The study suggests long-term ecological research is useful for determining human intervention's success.
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) has selected two Ph.D. candidates, Lida Beninson and Andrew Reinmann, for the 2012 Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award. They will receive training on communicating with policymakers and participate in events with their Congressional delegations.
A new assessment by Robert H. Condon and colleagues challenges the idea that jellyfish are dominating the seas, citing a lack of scientific evidence supporting this claim. The researchers suggest that recent blooms and increased media attention have fueled the perception of an increase in jellyfish populations.
A global analysis finds that over half the world's poorest people benefit from ecosystem services in areas prioritized for conservation. Ensuring fair payments to conservation stewards could increase benefits by 50% and amount to $1 per person per day for 330 million people.
Threats to biodiversity and endangered species exist due to planned solar power installations in the desert Southwest of the United States. The region's unique ecosystem and habitat fragmentation caused by roads and power lines may impact wildlife biologists, including Agassiz's desert tortoise.
Researchers argue that inland fisheries can be protected by extending sustainable seafood initiatives to freshwater species. Modified approaches would be needed due to smaller and more concentrated fisheries in developing countries.