Articles tagged with Ecological Adaptation
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
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A study led by a University of Arizona ecologist found that many species evolve too slowly to adapt to the rapid climate change expected in the next 100 years. Terrestrial vertebrate species appear to evolve too slowly to be able to adapt to the dramatically warmer climate expected by 2100.
Scientists discovered a set of core genes that mix and match with variable genes allowing Emiliania huxleyi to adapt to different environments. This discovery may help understand how rising industrial carbon emissions affect climate and ocean health.
The University of New Hampshire professor Paul Kirshen will discuss the need for cities to adapt to changing climates. He'll present a case study of East Boston's coastal vulnerability and stress the importance of taking steps today to prepare for future events.
Researchers found that ancient European hippos shrunk in size during the Pleistocene Era due to changing environmental conditions. The study suggests that temperature, food availability, and other factors influenced their adaptation.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $17.6 million in grants to researchers exploring how humans and the environment interact, with a focus on invasive species, climate change, and sustainability.
Climate change is expected to transform Australia's natural landscapes by 2030, with significant ecological impacts by 2070. The study highlights the need to adapt biodiversity conservation strategies to accommodate changing ecosystems and shifting species.
A recent study by UCLA researchers found that beetle diversity exceeds that of crocodiles, contradicting the long-held theory that older lineages produce more species. The team proposes that adaptive zones, which determine a lineage's ecological limit, play a crucial role in shaping species richness.
A recent study published in Functional Ecology forecasts that tropical cold-blooded organisms are less likely to go extinct due to climate change. The researchers found that the 'hotter is better' theory suggests species adapted to warmer environments may evolve faster and be more resilient.
Researchers argue that adopting molecular phenotyping techniques like ionomics and genome-wide association mapping could broaden our understanding of complex interactions in plants. This knowledge could lead to more efficient crop improvement strategies, particularly for adapting to changing environmental conditions.
A study by UBC and IIASA researchers reveals that picky females can promote diversity in species through selective mating. They must occupy different resource hotspots and pay a cost for their preferences to prevent invasion of undesirable areas.
A special issue of Environmental Justice explores environmental justice issues in Native America, addressing governance, activism, and cultural identity. The collection of articles presents diverse concerns and views on tribal governance, modern environmental policy, and historical precedent.
Researchers found that trees can increase their carbon intake during cloudy conditions due to even light distribution among leaves. This process helps forests maintain high productivity despite reduced sunlight.
A new roadmap launched by the CAREX project outlines priorities for future research into life in extreme environments, including deserts, polar regions, and deep sea. The report aims to facilitate international collaboration and advance our understanding of life's adaptations to harsh conditions.
Researchers identified nine environmental E. coli strains indistinguishable from typical E. coli but potentially not representative of true environmental hazards. The findings suggest the need for a new culture-independent, genome-based coliform test to accurately detect non-hazardous environmental types of E. coli.
The study identifies three periods of rapid evolution in the fly family tree, with mosquito, March fly, and common house fly branches emerging around 220, 175, and 50 million years ago. This research provides a framework for future comparative work on species critical to society and science.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B explores how climate change affects ecosystems through ecological adaptation. The research reveals that species' ability to adapt locally can mitigate some impacts of warming temperatures.
Agricultural diversification techniques can help farmers mitigate the effects of climate change by making it harder for pathogens and pests to spread. By growing a broader range of species or varieties, farmers can modulate climate extremes and reduce economic losses.
Researchers Joanna Masel and Etienne Rajon found that tiny populations evolve global solutions to prevent errors, while large populations rely on local solutions to tolerate mistakes. This discovery reveals the importance of 'cryptic variation' in natural selection, allowing organisms to adapt to new challenges.
Scientists found that epigenetic variation can significantly influence the adaptive potential of individual species in marsh orchids, affecting evolutionary potential at a quicker rate. This discovery brings new hope to plant conservation and highlights the importance of environmental factors in altering inherited traits.
The alpine marmot's expansion into the Catalan Pyrenees is a result of its adaptability to warmer temperatures. The species can occupy abandoned fields at lower altitudes, influencing local biodiversity and potentially threatening native species such as ptarmigan.
A UC Riverside study reveals that ecology and evolution are reciprocally interacting processes, with evolutionary processes influencing ecology in turn. The research found that guppies adapted to different stream communities exhibited distinct impacts on their ecosystems, including differences in diet and nutrient cycling.
A mathematical model demonstrates that disruptive ecological selection can trigger positive feedback between mate choice and ecological diversification, ultimately eliminating gene flow between species. This process can lead to the evolution of specialized ecotypes without divergent mating preferences, a departure from previous studies...
Two UNH assistant professors, Vaughn Cooper and Christopher White, received NSF CAREER grants to explore beneficial mutations in bacteria and the flow dynamics of liquefied biomass. Their research has implications for understanding adaptation, evolution, and sustainable energy solutions.
A study by University of Oregon researchers found that nematode worms with partners were more resistant to genetic mutations and better adapted to changing environments. This suggests that having a mate provides an evolutionary advantage over self-fertilization, leading to longer lives for offspring.
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Kansas State University a $783,000 grant to support a new graduate fellowship training program in ecology, evolution, and genomics. The program aims to train seven graduate fellows in integrative learning and training across the disciplines of ecology, evolution, and genomics.
A new study found that species living in restricted environments, like the tropics, lack genetic variation and can't adapt to climate change. This limitation affects many species, including insects, mammals, and fish, making conservation efforts more challenging.
Research suggests that ecological and evolutionary factors can buffer some species against climate change, with rapid adaptation playing a critical role. The study of the pea aphid shows that bacteria living symbiotically within the aphids can confer heat tolerance, influencing population responses to environmental changes.
Rafe Sagarin, a Duke University ecologist, advocates for a Darwinian approach to homeland defense, emphasizing adaptability and responsiveness over rigid security measures. By learning to live with threats rather than eliminating them entirely, organisms can better handle unforeseen risks in an escalating arms race.
Researchers uncover genetic adaptations in Nautilia profundicola, a microbe thriving near deep-sea vents. These adaptations include genes for temperature fluctuations and nitrate assimilation, aiding the bacterium's survival in extreme conditions.
A new paper reveals how parasitic wasps and fruit flies co-evolve, leading to the formation of new species. The study shows that these interactions can create a chain reaction of biodiversity growth.
Using metagenomics, Yale scientists linked environmental factors to molecular changes in marine micro-organisms, revealing adaptations to temperature and salinity.
A University of British Columbia evolutionary biologist shows that adaptation to the environment speeds up speciation. By displacing eco-types from their host plants and protecting others, Nosil found color pattern alone can initiate speciation, while additional traits like detoxifying chemicals are needed for completion.
The study found that an intermediate rate of dispersal creates a 'happy medium' wherein species move around enough to adapt to harsh environments, increasing ecosystem productivity and biodiversity. This breakthrough helps ecologists develop strategies for conservation areas with high biomass and diversity.
Cities face significant sustainability challenges, but urban ecologists can help by applying ecological principles to design and develop projects. By integrating biodiversity and ecosystem function into urban planning, researchers aim to create sustainable environments that support human well-being.
Researchers propose that pika leptin's adaptive functional evolution may be driven by cold environmental stress, not hypoxia. This discovery has significant implications for understanding small mammals' adaptation to extreme environments and identifying new candidate therapies for human diseases like obesity and diabetes.
A UC Riverside study shows that killing prey has both direct and indirect effects on ecosystems, leading to evolutionary changes in prey populations. The research found that prey adapt to food availability as well as the presence of predators, resulting in more food available to survivors.
Researchers analyzed E. coli adaptation in germ-free mice, finding rapid selection of bacteria carrying mutations in a master regulator controlling over 100 target genes. This suggests global regulators coordinate physiological activities necessary for adaptation to complex environments.
A UCLA summit published in Molecular Ecology highlights the need for additional research on human-caused ecological changes. The study reveals that climate change is outpacing species' ability to adapt, leading to increased disease threats, reduced biodiversity and loss of natural heritage.
A University of Virginia study shows that plant offspring from maternal plants in the same environment outperform those raised differently, indicating a temporary mechanism of adaptation to local conditions. The findings highlight the significance of maternal effects in plant biology.
A 10% increase in urban green space could reduce surface temperatures by as much as 4°C, effectively 'climate proofing' cities. However, this may not significantly impact the amount of rainwater captured and retained by urban areas.
New research suggests that insect species adapted to warmer climates have faster population growth rates, which could profoundly alter entire ecosystems. This adaptation is not limited to a few species, but can impact many insects, leading to changes in food webs and species diversity.
A study provides empirical support for natural selection's role in species formation by analyzing the relationship between adaptation and reproductive isolation in hundreds of organisms. The researchers found a positive link between these two processes, suggesting that adaptation drives species diversification.
The NSF announces six FIBR awards to tackle some of biology's most challenging questions. The projects will study the relationship between an organism's genes and the outside world, as well as animal movement, social behavior, and photosynthesis.
Researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography have sequenced the genomes of Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus, tiny organisms that account for up to two-thirds of carbon dioxide fixation in the oceans. The discoveries shed light on how these organisms process carbon and adapt to specific habitats, offering insights into global c...
Researchers found that North American red squirrels are adapting to warmer temperatures by advancing their breeding cycle by 18 days over 10 years. The team used quantitative genetics to separate individual plasticity from genetic adaptation, revealing a long-term trend of phenotypic plasticity.
A preliminary study at the University of Toronto found that green roofs were better at protecting roof membranes from extreme temperatures than conventional roofs. Green roofs also reduced storm water run-off and kept summer temperatures inside structures lower due to vegetation cooling effect.
Researchers found genes tailored to specific environments, shared among organisms living in the same ecological niche. The discovery could help understand how cells adapt to extreme conditions.
Ranchers are adapting to environmental changes by incorporating conservation techniques, such as managing grazing patterns and using native species. The symposium showcases successful examples of progressive management, including the use of beavers to restore woodlands and improve biodiversity.
Biologists at Cornell University and Max Planck Institute found that Daphnia crustaceans can evolve quickly to cope with polluted water. The study showed that these tiny crustaceans adapted to handle less nutritious food, becoming a natural control for toxic cyanobacteria in Lake Constance.
A study found that pine cones' spines hinder finches' ability to access seeds, encouraging seed dispersal. Researchers discovered a link between spine growth and the length of time seeds remain on pine cones.
A long-term study of a kelp forest community found that large-scale, low-frequency events like El Nino and La Nina drive changes in the community. The study also highlighted the importance of understanding how different species adapt to changing environmental conditions.
The new edition explores the survival strategies of desert shrubs in resource islands, which support microclimate and soil health. Exotic plant species also invade areas of high native diversity, challenging traditional ecological theories.
The Swedish EPA has developed a new model for assessing the state of the environment, making it easier to compare local and regional areas. The model criteria cover six areas: forest landscape, agricultural landscape, groundwater, lakes and watercourses, coasts and seas, and contaminated sites.
Researchers at Cornell University found that infants' cycles of motor activity can help them 'visually forage' their environment. The study uses mathematical models to simulate infant behavior, revealing a pattern where motor activity peaks before visual attention disengages.
Notter's research helps farmers worldwide develop breeds suited to their environments, reducing pressure on the environment through gradual introduction of new breeds. His work also informs global strategies for livestock management.
Researchers found that flooding in Venezuela's Lake Guri dam project isolated butterfly and ant species, causing some to thrive while others declined. The study highlights the complex effects of ecological disturbances and has implications for conservation efforts in fragmented landscapes.
Experts discuss Earth's habitability amid global threats and climate change, with some arguing regions will experience radical changes due to limited adaptive capacities. Others propose innovative solutions like industrial ecology to reduce human dependence on the environment.
Emory University researchers found that newborn rat pups who received more infantile stimulation handled stress better in adulthood, both externally and internally. The study suggests that early experiences shape the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal response to stress, which can have implications for human health.
A new index developed by Jamie Coleman and David Styer uses bird counts to evaluate the condition of wetland habitats. The model identifies thriving wetlands with high water-loving bird populations and declining wetlands with fewer birds adapted to drier environments.