Articles tagged with Ecological Modeling
Researchers from The University of Tokyo developed a model to predict the occurrence of red snow events, which are associated with the duration of snow melt and the timing of new snowfall. The study found that snow algae blooms can speed up snow melt as they darken the surface.
Researchers studied evacuees from Finland during WWII and found that cultural similarities, such as language and social networks, were crucial for successful migrations. Being younger, male, educated, and linguistically similar to the host population also increased the likelihood of staying in a new home.
Researchers found animal-dispersed plant species' ability to adapt to climate change reduced by 60% due to bird and mammal losses. Global seed dispersal mapping revealed severe declines in temperate regions, with tropical areas at high risk if endangered species go extinct.
Mathematical modeling can assess toxicants' impact on river populations without endangering the environment. A new model developed by Peng Zhou and Qihua Huang describes the interactions between a population and a toxicant in an advective environment.
A newly discovered species of giant ichthyosaur, the earliest known, has been found in Nevada, shedding new light on the rapid growth of marine reptiles. The discovery, dated to 246 million years ago, is significant as it provides insights into the evolution of whales and dolphins.
Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism of viral transport by bacterial shuttles traveling along fungal hyphae. This process allows bacteria to benefit from taking viruses on their conquest of new habitats. The study also highlights the potential influence of viruses on nutrient and carbon cycles in soil ecosystems.
University of Otago researchers suggest kurī have significant ecological impact on New Zealand's biodiversity, predating kiore and humans. Kurī may have contributed to extinctions of moa chicks, takahē, kākāpō, kiwi, and marine mammals.
A new global-scale analysis shows that phenological changes are lagging temperature change, especially in human-dominated landscapes. Human activities such as population density and land-use types play a key role in this mismatch.
Researchers developed a model showing that microbes with complementary preferences can coexist in communities. The study found that assembled communities consist almost exclusively of microbes that grow the fastest on their top choice nutrient.
A team of researchers has developed a new tool to predict the habitat needs of New Zealand's endangered sea lions, enabling conservation efforts to better prepare for their return to the mainland. The model takes into account various factors such as sand, grass, and forest types, slopes, and human impact like roads and farms.
Changes in Finnish aapa mires, characterized by wet fens and peat mosses, can be detected from Landsat satellite data. The study found a significant increase in Sphagnum mosses over the past few decades, accelerated by land use and climate change.
A statistical modeling approach highlights predictive importance of local climate and human activity in determining wildfire probabilities. The analysis uncovered key roles for climate, human activity, fire history, and short-term climate variations in fire-prone regions.
Damaged coral reefs exhibit a two-phase recovery pattern, with the first phase lasting up to six years, and the second phase being faster. This pattern was observed in 60% of severely disturbed reefs on the Great Barrier Reef.
Satellite images reveal a substantial increase in saltmarsh area and stable trends of tidal flat areas after 2012, driven by decreased anthropogenic activities and increased conservation and restoration efforts. Conservation efforts have positively impacted China's coastal wetlands, mitigating the loss of these important ecosystems.
A new study by Virginia Institute of Marine Science researchers maps the conditions most suitable for key species of forage fishes in the Chesapeake Bay, offering guidance for protecting or restoring their habitats. The analysis reveals that factors such as water depth and temperature affect the abundance of forage fish, with some spec...
A study has identified 20 consistent indicators to support sustainability on U.S. ranches, focusing on ecological, social, and economic aspects. The indicators aim to help ranchers track progress toward sustainability goals and communicate improvements to their operations.
A new study assesses Africa-wide great ape populations and finds that human activities, such as GDP, roads, and population density, are the strongest factors predicting abundance. Only 10.7% of predicted apes were found in areas with high levels of legal protection.
Scientists have made significant gains in understanding the Arctic's carbon cycle by studying the transfer of dissolved organic carbon from land to ocean via rivers. The research highlights the importance of this process in coastal foodwebs and the impacts of climate change on freshwater export and DOC loading.
A team of ecologists and mathematicians found that ecosystems can evade tipping points by forming complex spatial patterns. These patterns allow ecosystems to adapt to climate change and avoid catastrophic shifts. The study challenges the concept of tipping points and suggests a more nuanced understanding of Earth's resilience.
Researchers used extensive 2D and 3D broadband seismic reflection data to visualize and understand the subsurface structures of the Orphan Basin. The study provides context for future assessments of source rock, reservoir, and seal strata in oil and gas exploration.
A mathematical model developed at Linköping University predicts that many species in polar regions will become extinct due to global warming, with ecosystems already showing signs of strain. The model simulates the impact of climate change on species interactions and diversity, highlighting the importance of considering ecological proc...
A new study by the ICTA-UAB establishes that populations of hunter-gatherer groups with strong seasonal dependence on meat had fewer people per square kilometer than those relying on abundant plant foods. This result is based on a complex set of calculations showing how diet composition influenced population density.
Researchers analyzed 1.4 million field observations and 73,000 museum records to find a strong correlation between species abundance in nature and their presence in museum collections. This method enables scientists to study species decline and estimate past abundances, providing insights into conservation efforts.
A new five-year research project led by Thomas Neeson aims to model the impacts of conservation incentives on farmers in the Red River basin. The study will help understand how voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs can be effectively designed to promote sustainable water use.
Researchers found that late-season weeds had a significant impact on corn yields, with minimal control resulting in an average loss of 50% and exacerbating crop losses under hot or dry conditions. The study suggests that climate change is not the only factor affecting corn yield, but rather its interaction with weeds.
Researchers from Tel Aviv and Berkeley Universities propose a model for seaweed farms to absorb nitrogen, reducing pollution in estuarine and marine environments. The study shows that these farms can produce a natural decontamination facility with significant ecological and economic value.
A new study by the University of Liverpool warns that safe passages for species adapting to climate change are often not being protected. The researchers found that important connecting patches were left out of existing networks of protected areas, resulting in a 13.6% shortfall in connectivity.
The New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute aims to integrate plant traits, communities, and the soil ecosphere to advance restoration of natural and agricultural ecosystems. The project seeks to understand how root traits influence plant interactions with each other and with the soil.
A new study predicts that the population of San Nicolas Island foxes will remain at a low risk of extinction due to their isolated habitat and relatively dry environmental conditions. The researchers suggest strategies such as biosecurity, restoration of habitats, and minimizing human-wildlife conflict to increase the foxes' resilience...
Collective behavior in schools of herring, herds of wildebeest, and other groups helps maintain ecosystem diversity and stability. The study found an emergent social-ecological feedback that buffers the system against crashing, allowing more consumer species to persist.
Researchers used statistical models to study the co-evolutionary history of pierid butterflies and their host plants. They found that butterfly-plant relationships are resilient to changes in species composition but can destabilize over larger structural changes.
Researchers at KAUST developed a new method to simulate the spread of wildfires through forests, capturing complex dynamics involved. The model accurately predicts fire behavior at forest scale and can be used to optimize firebreaks and improve wildfire management.
Scientists have developed a new model to predict the health of coral reefs using data from the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation's Global Reef Expedition. The model identifies key drivers of coral reef health, including biophysical and anthropogenic factors.
A new model of inclusive sustainability emphasizes researchers' life experiences as a source of unique perspectives on socioecological challenges. This approach seeks to address the limitations of traditional conservation methods and promote more effective solutions.
A study in Zambia illustrates the challenges of measuring biodiversity and prioritizing land use, highlighting the need for consensus among conservation biologists. Different approaches to measuring biodiversity resulted in almost completely different land-use recommendations, emphasizing the importance of consistent methods.
Researchers used computer modelling to simulate bears' journeys in Whistler, identifying anthropogenic food as a major attractant. The study found that reducing attractants is more effective than reactive management strategies, and can be applied to communities across Canada
Scientists from the University of Göttingen and the Gobabeb Namib Research Institute investigated the long-term results of an experiment from 1979. They found that poisonous substances from Euphorbia damarana leaves did not induce fairy circles, contradicting Theron's original hypothesis.
A new study reveals that juvenile-adult differences shield ecological communities from collapse. The research shows that variations within species are crucial for community stability, leading to the stabilization of ecosystems. Differences in size and growth rates between juveniles and adults contribute to these effects.
A new approach to modeling infectious diseases considers ecological and anthropological contexts, predicting disease emergence and spread. This framework integrates disease agents into general ecosystem models, enabling scientists to simulate pathogen behavior and predict risk.
The study adapts mathematical models from ecology to understand Twitter's interaction patterns. The researchers identified two primary behaviour patterns: a modular state with fragmented attention and a nested state during exceptional events.
A team of experts used advanced modelling techniques to recreate the journey of Australia's indigenous people, who navigated the continent tens of thousands of years ago. The study reveals that prominent landscape features and water sources played a crucial role in their survival and growth.
A new two-year project aims to develop an agent-based modelling framework explicitly focusing on cyber security and privacy aspects of the MaaS ecosystem. The research will model important aspects of a real-world MaaS ecosystem, including cross-sector and cross-organisational interactions.
New research from Swansea University found that warmer temperatures help invasive species establish themselves and alter ecosystem structures. The study analyzed the synergistic effects of temperature and invasions on communities, revealing that temperature and invasion act together to increase species loss and create smaller networks.
A recent study synthesizes global dryland aridity changes, revealing a complex interplay between atmospheric drying and ecosystem greening. Despite rising aridity, lusher drylands are observed due to the physiological response of plants to increasing CO2 concentrations, which conserves water and promotes plant growth.
A new paper introduces a management approach that uses transient dynamics to predict when species may become vulnerable or endangered. The tool helps identify potentially endangered populations and informs adaptive management strategies.
A new study finds that the global food system must be transformed to prevent widespread biodiversity losses and habitat destruction. By analyzing the impact of agricultural expansion on nearly 20,000 species, researchers estimate that millions of square kilometers of natural habitats could be lost by 2050.
The METRIC model was used to simulate and evaluate surface evapotranspiration in Nepal, showing good applicability and accuracy. The study found an inverse relation between elevation and ET, highlighting its potential for irrigation management and soil moisture assessment in the country's mountainous regions.
The AGRIMODELS Cluster brings together three European projects aiming to improve agricultural policy-making by developing synergies among complementary approaches. The projects will create a modular and customisable toolset for flexible use, addressing key challenges such as food and water security, carbon storage, and biodiversity.
Researchers found that particulate matter (PM2.5) is overestimated in winter and ozone (O3) is underestimated in urban areas compared to suburban areas across all of China. This highlights the need for more data outside urban areas to accurately assess air pollution impacts on ecosystem functions.
Researchers incorporated nitrogen cycle into AVIM model, simulating gross primary production and net primary production well. However, discrepancies remain in carbon and nitrogen fluxes between datasets and the model.
Scientists at Linköping University simulated habitat loss on ecosystems and found that top predator species die out first. Initiatives to preserve biodiversity must consider ecosystem interactions and prioritize valuable habitats.
Researchers have developed a new model of landslide-induced tsunamis that accounts for the initial location of the landslide body on the shelf slope. The study reveals that tsunami height is affected by the coastal slope and the position of the land mass before slipping, leading to more accurate predictions.
Researchers studied feeding habits of 17 fish species and found that most responded to changing prey abundance by switching to the most abundant prey. However, planktivores and benthivores were less likely to consume more food when invertebrate prey was abundant, suggesting disorientation or confusion may occur.
The study proposes a mathematical model to understand the interactions between microorganisms within hosts and their transmission ability. The framework allows for the prediction of infection trajectories in single hosts and transmission in host populations, even considering complex interactions and stochasticity.
An international research team confirms Alan Turing's theory for Australian fairy circles, showing that the grasses within them act as 'eco-engineers'. The unique gap pattern emerges due to ecohydrological biomass-water feedbacks from the grasses.
A study published in Coral Reefs finds that materials in seawater affect light availability and wavelength on coral reefs, impacting photosynthesis and ecological zonation. Researchers used an instrument called a profiling reflectance radiometer to collect data profiles across Hawaiian and Bermudian reefs.
A study using atmospheric observations and modeling tools identifies Siberian and temperate ecosystems as primary drivers of the increased amplitude of the atmospheric CO2 seasonal cycle. In contrast, arctic-boreal North American ecosystems have relatively weak localized impacts on this increase.
Research finds global land monsoon summer precipitation increased by 2.54% and 5.75% in lowest and highest emission scenarios respectively, driven by thermodynamic responses to increased moisture. Model spread in projection was larger for higher emission scenarios, emphasizing importance of circulation change prediction.
Researchers created a basic model of an ant body using ellipsoids to understand center of balance and evolution among body segments. The study reveals how ants maintain balance despite large head sizes, with implications for bio-inspired machine design.
A new study using ecological network models finds that many ecosystem engineers, such as the shipworm and beavers, create stability in ecosystems, preventing extinctions. The model uses simple rules to show how food webs are assembled and species interactions change over time.