Articles tagged with Ecology
The winning image by Kristen Brown depicts a school of jack fish in a spiral formation, symbolizing the beauty and bounty of oceans as well as the spiralling crisis of coral reef decline. The competition celebrates Earth's biodiversity and its evolutionary origins through six categories.
A study analyzing 7,000 tree falls in São Paulo City found that most occurrences occur in the rainy season due to weather conditions. However, a significant number of trees fell during the dry season, attributed to poor management and inadequate conditions for street vegetation.
Scientists reconstructed the life history of a woolly mammoth using isotopes from its tusk, revealing it traveled vast distances and covered an extensive range in Alaska. The analysis provides insight into the animal's preferred habitats and behavior, shedding light on one of the most iconic ice-age creatures.
The University of Exeter has developed a virtual safe space tool called BEE-STEWARD to test different land management techniques for bumblebee survival. The tool provides a computer simulation of bumblebee colony survival in a given landscape, allowing researchers and farmers to predict the impact of their decisions.
Researchers studied Pacific Gilbert Islands coral reefs, a natural laboratory for climate change-induced heat stress. The study found that coral reefs in the region exhibit resistance and resilience to multiple stressors, but are still recovering after over a decade of environmental pressures.
A new study reveals that just 42% of nations have expanded their scientific understanding of bird species distributions in the last decade. The researchers developed two new metrics to assess biodiversity data coverage and effectiveness, finding that regions like Asia and South America are closing knowledge gaps.
Researchers will investigate genetic variation in Kemp's ridley sea turtles to inform conservation strategies, using historical museum samples. The study aims to transform scientific understanding of the world's most endangered sea turtle species amidst climate change and habitat loss threats.
A long-term study in Elkhorn Slough found that superabundant crabs weaken tidal creek banks, reducing marsh plant growth and increasing erosion. Reducing crab abundance led to increased salt marsh vegetation growth and enhanced sediment density.
A new study by the University of Sussex reveals that natural selection leads to fluctuations in nectar supply and demand due to changes in pollinator populations. When pollinators are scarce, flowers produce more nectar to outcompete others, but when they're abundant, less nectar is needed.
A new study by Ohio State University provides the most accurate estimates of microcystin toxins in Lake Erie's western basin, revealing fluctuating concentrations over short distances. The research emphasizes the importance of frequent data collection to improve water safety and forecasting for the lake's estimated 11 million people.
A new study reveals significant differences in forest recovery rates across Amazonian countries, with some experiencing little to no recovery even 20 years after deforestation. The research highlights the need for targeted interventions to protect and restore remaining forests.
A new DNA study provides critical information on conserving rough-nosed horned lizards in Sri Lankan rainforests. The research found that the lizards are separated into four forest groups, which can inform guidelines for forest landscape restoration and habitat connectivity.
A new study suggests that a slower spinning Earth may have boosted oxygen production by cyanobacteria, contributing to the planet's two great oxygenation events. This finding is based on research of microbial communities in a submerged Lake Huron sinkhole.
Research reveals that biological invasions are threatening the evolutionary history and ecological strategies of birds and mammals. The study found that 11% of their phylogenetic diversity is at risk, with a greater impact on bird species due to their vulnerability to invasive species.
Researchers discovered a rare bird fossil with nearly complete skull, allowing them to compare ancient bird brains to living birds. The study suggests that complex brain structure may have played a key role in the survival of bird ancestors during the mass extinction event.
Researchers found that felled trees should be worked on to avoid physical contact with conservation targets, minimizing damage to understory trees. The study used a spatial grid and Geographic Information System to model damage and predict potential losses for harvesting.
Climate models project significant decrease in suitable permafrost conditions in Daisetsu Mountains, threatening alpine ecosystems and trekkers. By 2100, only 20 km2 area may remain suitable for permafrost under low-carbon scenario.
New research shows that certain types of urban greening efforts can support multiple ecosystem services provided by plants and insects. Large green spaces with native plants, particularly flowering prairies, are ideal for conserving native bees and predatory wasps.
Researchers discovered that some birds, such as titmice, pluck hair from live animals like cats, dogs, and raccoons to use in their nests. The behavior is known as kleptotrichy and may provide insulation or deter predators.
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.
The International Dose-Response Society's official journal, Dose-Response, is now published by SAGE, covering experimental findings and non-linear dose-relationships. The journal aims to expand the reach of its research on hormone-like effects in low doses.
Researchers suggest that the large size of sauropod dinosaurs may be attributed to a high C/N ratio in their plant-based diet. This theory proposes that young sauropods had a metabolism similar to modern mammals, while adults might have relied on humps of fat reserves instead of heat dissipation due to overheating.
Studies show that hummingbirds using more energy to feed from vertically oriented flowers, challenging previous hypotheses on flower evolution. Researchers suggest other factors dictate flower orientation, including excluding less efficient pollinators and nectar dilution.
Researchers from the University of Guam and Japan are collaborating on a new method for controlling sweet potato weevil pests using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. The team has successfully developed traps containing fungal spores, which have shown high effectiveness in reducing weevil populations.
Researchers found that alpha males in Kenya's baboon groups have higher glucocoricoid levels, indicating a potential cost to high social rank. The study has implications for human behavior and societal structures.
Major ecological societies, including ESA and BES, commit to developing concrete ways to support ecologists in developing countries. The meeting aims to build infrastructure and tools to tackle environmental challenges worldwide.
Research in the Journal of Industrial Ecology reveals that seemingly small e-commerce decisions can have significant environmental impacts, often shifting from positive to negative effects. Positive IT effects are typically limited to 5-20% reductions in pollution or energy use.