Articles tagged with Ecological Modeling
The study investigates the effects of different disturbance events on a simple microbial food web, finding that the type of disturbance affects bacterial communities and stability. The results highlight the importance of considering trophic interactions and time factors in ecological systems.
A new model by Florida State University researcher Jaap Nienhuis can help stakeholders figure out what factors to consider when rebuilding land in fragile wetlands. The model takes into account various factors such as water and sediment discharge, root strength, and soil consolidation.
A team of researchers from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory has discovered how microorganisms adapt to survive in phosphorus-poor environments. By analyzing genes and proteins, they found an increase in phosphorus-acquiring enzymes and a large number of genes that break down complex organic compounds like phytate.
Researchers found that windborne dust provides a significant source of nutrients for plants in mountain ecosystems, even when nutrient supply from bedrock is substantial. The study's results have implications for understanding the global influence of regional processes and the Earth's balance.
A QUT-led study found that cumulative maintenance dredging can increase risks on seagrass survival, but shorter dredging programs are unlikely to impact seagrass. The research developed a risk modelling approach to predict how resilient seagrass meadows will be under different environmental conditions.
New research from Oregon State University reveals that a heat-tolerant Symbiodinium species may not be able to form a healthy partnership with corals, exacerbating the threat of climate change. The study used an established model system, sea anemones, to test the hypothesis.
New research suggests that plant respiration could be up to 30% higher than previously estimated, leading to reduced ability of the Earth's land surface to absorb fossil fuel-related emissions. This finding has significant implications for modeling carbon cycles and understanding the impact of climate change.
A new study by QUT researchers has developed an advanced statistical model to predict when dredging is least likely to damage seagrass. The model can provide up to a fourfold reduction in recovery time and up to a 35 per cent reduction in local extinction risk for seagrass species.
Researchers applied an ecological model to explain historical settlement patterns in Utah, finding that agricultural suitability drove colonization. The study's results illustrate why populations are distributed across the state and provide insights into the impact of early settlers' decisions on modern-day Utah.
New study highlights challenges in predicting evolutionary fate of new traits, citing factors such as environmental change, social life of alleles, and genetic interactions. This complexity can lead to the emergence of drug resistance and disease outbreaks, emphasizing the need for improved predictive models.
Researchers use aerial drones to visualize Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the York River, allowing for more efficient and cost-effective water sampling. The drones provide high-resolution images that complement satellite imagery and enable researchers to identify toxic algal species.
Researchers use complex ecosystem model to predict whale numbers by 2100, finding some species will not recover, while others like humpbacks are expected to make full recovery. Southern Hemisphere whaling has led to slow growth rates and reduced populations in several species.
Agricultural land use has led to significant soil carbon loss over the past 12,000 years. Major cropping or grazing regions show high hotspots of soil carbon loss, indicating potential areas for restoration.
A new study applies a maximum entropy theory of ecology to describe natural systems and communities without light-limitation parameters. The model, called MaxEnt, uses coarse information to derive detailed distributions and accurately describes ecological patterns.
A new study synthesizes research on coastal armoring and its ecological effects, revealing gaps in knowledge and highlighting the need for more studies. The study evaluates a conceptual model that predicts ecological responses to armoring across various soft sediment ecosystems.
A study reveals how individual-based modeling can help researchers predict the long-term effects of introduced herbivores on invasive species, such as melaleuca. The model suggests that introducing a native beetle can reduce melaleuca growth by 83% and its reproduction by 49% over 20 years.
A team of scientists is using a combination of satellite and ground data to identify monkey populations that have declined through hunting. This approach combines indicators such as human activity zones, mosquito-derived DNA, animal sound recordings, and detections of other species found when monkeys are present.
The EcoCity model simulates future city expansion and predicts urban heat island effects. The study reveals different surface temperatures in various function zones, with urban impervious surfaces and green spaces playing distinct roles in thermal regulation.
Researchers developed an EcoCity model to regulate urban land cover structures and thermal environments, providing fundamental data for urban heat island mitigation. The model showed that land-cover components significantly affect thermal environments in different urban functional zones.
A new parameterization of canopy radiative transfer is proposed, improving the accuracy of land surface radiation models by determining surface albedo and transpiration. The method reveals a relationship between direct and diffuse radiation, treating them separately in previous studies.
A Scripps-led study has identified patterns to predict red tides in coastal areas, offering opportunities for an early-warning system. The research used empirical dynamic modeling and a 30-year archive of field data to identify mechanisms causing red tides.
The newly launched GeoHealth journal by AGU and Wiley focuses on the growing connection between Earth sciences and human health. Researchers are discussing impacts, risks, and opportunities associated with human health and disease. The journal publishes original research, reviews, and commentaries on environmental and health issues.
Researchers found that restoring predators and prey species together is faster and more efficient than pursuing restoration of one species at a time. This approach, also known as synchronous recovery, can lead to significant ecological and economic benefits.
Researchers from U-M Medical School and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System studied the DNA of bacteria in healthy volunteers' lungs, finding most bacteria arrived through microaspiration. The study confirms that bronchoscope-based techniques can be used to study the lung microbiome in both healthy and sick individuals.
Researchers found that man-made disruptions in natural flow patterns contribute to reductions in both the abundance and diversity of fish and insects. The study provides a scientific basis for establishing ecological flows in North Carolina's major river basins.
Conservation groups in Central and West Africa are marginalizing local communities, who rely on the forest for food, shelter, and resources. The landscape-based approach prioritizes logging and development over community needs, leaving indigenous populations behind.
Researchers developed an engine for likelihood-free inference (ELFI) to model reality accurately in simulators, significantly reducing the number of simulator runs. This facilitates more effective simulation and opens up new possibilities for fields like medicine and environmental science.
A new study uses psychological research to develop a formula for social and environmental perceptions, consumer behavior, and individual actions. The researchers found that consumers' individual actions can go a long way towards optimizing the use of shared resources.
A new mapping project identifies 20% of the globe's northern permafrost region as potential thermokarst landscape, storing twice as much carbon as currently in the atmosphere. Scientists can use the map to estimate greenhouse gas emissions and test assumptions about permafrost thaw.
A new paper describes a research team's models forecasting potential outcomes in the Galapagos Islands, developed to help the Ecuador government balance economic development and resource conservation. The models use real data and social-ecological processes to predict sustainable growth by 2033.
A new approach to modelling land use change developed at UBC enhances existing computer planning models, enabling planners to consider neighboring land-use patterns. The CLUE-S modeling system was adapted to facilitate regional planning and collaboration among bordering jurisdictions.
A study of 1000 scientific studies reveals that oil palm plantations have reduced ecosystem functions, particularly gas regulation and water supply. However, the production of marketable goods, such as palm oil, can increase the provision of food and raw materials.
Researchers from the University of New Hampshire have developed a geospatial approach to better understand the roles of pre-European archaeological monument sites in Michigan. By utilizing a modeling technique called Maximum Entropy, they were able to identify the distinct niches occupied by burial mounds and circular earthwork enclosu...
Professor Yiqi Luo of the University of Oklahoma has been elected as a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union for his pioneering work on data assimilation and ecological forecasting. His research focuses on predicting ecosystem responses to global change, enabling ecologists to forecast future changes in ecosystem services.
A new tool by Japanese researchers predicts the risk of Zika virus importation and local transmission for 189 countries, identifying subtropical and tropical nations as high-risk. Countries with a history of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases face the greatest risk of infection.
Mode-2 waves can carry beneficial and detrimental materials between ecosystems, trapping them inside layers of different densities. Researchers found that larger bulges result in more material carried by the wave, while small regions of turbulence can cause it to break down.
Researchers developed an electronic version of a logistic map that can interact with multiple maps, making it scalable. The model allows for the comparison of previous computer simulations with experimental results using state-of-the-art technology.
A new study reveals that local populations of threatened species may adapt to specific conditions, necessitating different conservation strategies. The research suggests using ecological models to predict suitable areas for each population, improving conservation efforts for the Karner blue butterfly and Siberian primrose.
Researchers at Kansas State University have validated a model showing the growth of lone star ticks in Kansas, extending their range from eastern third of state to western Colby. Climate change is predicted to favor more tick-borne diseases among people and pets.
The One Ecosystem Journal offers innovative publishing models for ecology and sustainability research, incorporating open data and peer review. The journal uses the ARPHA platform to facilitate collaboration and dissemination of information.
A new analysis suggests that placing plastic collectors near coasts is more beneficial for removing microplastics and preventing harm to wildlife and ecosystems. The study found that this approach could remove up to 31% of microplastics, compared to just 17% if all collectors were deployed within the Great Pacific garbage patch.
SUNY Downstate researchers identified areas of high probability of plague bacteria in the western United States. Their findings can be used by public health agencies to target specific areas for enhanced plague surveillance, particularly in regions with significant animal hosts.
A recent study has revealed that Earth's first large and complex organisms formed more intricate ecosystems than previously thought. The research focused on an extinct organism called Tribrachidium, which lived during the Ediacaran period, characterized by suspension feeding, a feeding mode not documented in ancient species.
A team of scientists has developed a new method to assess the structure of natural forests using principles from stochastic geometry. The approach enables quick and accurate assessment of biomass estimates, revealing surprising low packing densities in tropical forests.
Researchers have developed a model to predict the risk of waterborne diseases in flooding rivers, which can affect millions of people worldwide. The study's findings highlight the importance of understanding the complex interactions between environmental and human factors in shaping disease dynamics.
Researchers will investigate how disturbances like fire and insect infestation are changing the Earth's carbon absorption, and use models to optimize observation networks for detecting impact on ecosystem carbon balance. The project aims to understand how terrestrial landscapes are shifting from being a net carbon sink to a source.
A new model presents a common mathematical structure underlying food-web interactions, allowing ecologists to view all species' connections using a single language. The model reveals previously unobserved similarities between different ecological reactions and has profound implications for infectious diseases, fisheries, and conservation.
Linda J.S. Allen, a renowned mathematician at Texas Tech University, has been recognized with the AWM-SIAM Sonia Kovalevsky Lecture award for her significant contributions to ordinary differential equations, difference equations, and stochastic models, particularly in the areas of infectious diseases and ecology.
Researchers developed a model to assess how dams affect sea-run fish populations, finding that abundance and distribution increased when mainstem dams were removed or passage efficiency improved. The model can predict ecological responses of fish populations and evaluate management actions for fish migrating between fresh and saltwater.
The Yale Journal of Industrial Ecology explores how integrating complexity science can improve sustainability studies. Researchers apply complexity science to various topics, including urban systems, energy efficiency, and eco-industrial parks.
Bai-Lian Li, a professor of ecology at UC Riverside, has been awarded the 2015 Prigogine Gold Medal for his work on mathematical and statistical modeling applications in ecological studies. His research focuses on self-organization, emergence, and non-equilibrium biological systems.
The new journal, Ecosystem Health and Sustainability, aims to publish research applying ecological science to sustainable development at local, national, and international scales. It encourages integration of natural, social, and behavioral studies and seeks research with implications for strategic planning and governance.
A new forecasting method, empirical dynamic modeling (EDM), has improved predictions for Fraser River sockeye salmon in British Columbia. The EDM technique uses archives of field data to drive predictions, outperforming traditional management forecast tools with a smaller error margin.
Using holistic frameworks to model many components of both human and natural systems can shed insights on how activities in one part of the world affect distant regions. Economic models, such as those provided by the Global Trade Analysis Project, help policymakers make informed decisions about sustainability.
A Stanford scientist is developing a flexible model to manage stormwater runoff in big cities, with the goal of determining its ecosystem and financial benefits. The research aims to study the value of stormwater retention services for large cities in developing countries and compare their benefits to other services.
Research from Nepal's Chitwan National Park found that leopards avoid tigers by seeking different locations to live and hunt, while shifting their activity patterns to nighttime. The study highlights the complexity of human-wildlife interactions and the need for conservation efforts to account for these dynamics.
Researchers divert a Chinese river to mitigate environmental disasters and propose an integrated approach to manage water resources, ecological health, and economic development. This study provides a potential model for sustainable development of other inland river basins.
Researchers have described the intricate relationships within a biological wastewater treatment plant in unprecedented detail. This study provides new insights into the laws governing bacterial function, with potential applications in medicine and environmental conservation.
Kansas State University's Konza Prairie Biological Station will continue to conduct long-term ecological research with a renewed $6.76 million NSF grant. The grant supports research on the impact of land-use change, climatic variability, and restoration ecology on tallgrass prairie ecosystems.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that coral reefs will have winners and losers among species facing increasing stressors. Fast-growing, small, and stress-resistant corals are likely to thrive in a warmer future.