Articles tagged with Grasslands
Researchers estimate that marginal land around the globe can produce grass crops for biofuels with minimal impact on agriculture or the environment. The study suggests that low-impact high-diversity perennial grasses could produce bioenergy while maintaining grassland's natural land cover.
Research suggests that developing biofuel from native perennials instead of corn in the Midwest's rolling grasslands would better protect threatened bird populations. The study found that bugs and birds thrive more in mixed prairie grasses than in corn, with twice as many species making their homes in grasses.
The new book, Illinois Birds: A Century of Change, explores the evolution of bird populations in Illinois over the past 100 years. Key findings include declining grassland birds like pheasants and meadowlarks, as well as increasing wood ducks and house finches.
A new study suggests that a massive reduction in green pastures and the spread of forests may have been the primary cause of the decline of mammals like the woolly mammoth. The research found that climate change and habitat changes made grazing difficult for large mammals, leading to their extinction.
Research reveals that termite mounds in the African savanna enhance plant and animal activity at a local level, while their even distribution maximizes ecosystem-wide productivity. The findings suggest that these humble creatures are having a massive impact on the system from below.
Research by Robert M. Pringle and Todd M. Palmer reveals that termite mounds significantly enhance plant and animal productivity at local levels, while their even distribution maximizes ecosystem-wide biomass. The ordered distribution of these mounds creates an optimized network of plant and animal output.
Agricultural Research Service scientists found that plant species diversity and composition are crucial for potential energy yield per acre from biomass harvested from CRP land. The study suggests that CRP lands in the northeastern US with a high proportion of tall native prairie grasses have the potential to produce over 600 gallons o...
A new study reveals that springs in the Edwards Plateau have increased their stream flows by twice as much as prior to 1950, contradicting common assumptions. The recovery of the landscape from intensive livestock grazing has led to an increase in groundwater recharge and spring flow.
Researchers found that grassland vegetation in both Switzerland and England improved its water storage potential as temperatures rose and CO2 levels increased. However, the effective water-use efficiency remained unchanged in Switzerland due to drier air, while a springtime increase was observed in England.
A recent study has discovered evidence of early human tool-making activities in a 2-million-year-old grassland-dominated ecosystem. The researchers found well-preserved faunal remains and chemical analyses of ancient soils at the Kanjera South site, which reveal that hominins were active in open settings.
Researchers in the Baltimore Ecosystem Study found that urban grasslands retain a significant amount of nitrogen, with losses typically less than 40% of applied fertilizer. This surprising result suggests that these ecosystems have considerable capacity for nutrient retention, contrary to concerns about environmental impacts.
A study by Michigan Technological University researchers suggests that using native prairie plants to produce bioenergy can reduce the negative impacts of crop-based biofuels on wildlife habitats. The conversion of grasslands to corn for ethanol production is posing a significant threat to bird species and freshwater ecosystems.
Fertilizing grasslands increases productivity but decreases plant diversity by intensifying competition for light, allowing faster-growing species to outcompete others. Artificially added light can counteract these effects, suggesting that controlling nutrient enrichment is crucial for conserving biodiversity in managed grasslands.
Researchers are assessing changes in African grasslands due to climate change and land use, examining the impact of fire, grazing, and soil fungi. The study aims to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable management practices for these critical ecosystems.
The Flint Hills region is experiencing population declines in three grassland bird species: dickcissel, grasshopper sparrow, and eastern meadowlark, with estimated declines of up to 29% per year. Birds are not breeding successfully due to high nest destruction by predators.
Researchers found that converting Conservation Reserve Program grasslands to bioenergy grain crops does not result in significant loss of sequestered soil organic carbon. No-till farming practices can conserve and even enhance soil carbon sequestration in these areas.
A study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council found that cattle and sheep grazing on natural grasslands produce tastier, healthier meat with a richer diet. The research concluded that pasture-based farming is good for the environment and consumers, but needs stronger policy support.
A new study reveals diatoms' diversity peaked at least 10 million years before grasslands became common, suggesting a sudden drop in species numbers around 33 million years ago. This trend coincides with severe global cooling, casting doubt on the theory that nutrient influx from grasslands drove diatom success.
Researchers excavated 12-ton soil monoliths in Oklahoma to study warming effects on grasslands. Warming by 4 degrees Celsius suppressed plant growth and land carbon absorption for two years.
A new study by Syracuse University and the University of Sheffield found that certain plant species can adapt to long-term climate changes in Northern England's grasslands. The experiment, which spanned 13 years, revealed that these plants can respond to slow-paced environmental shifts, thriving in their existing location.
A plague of kangaroos is overgrazing Canberra's natural grasslands, leading to dramatic consequences for other species. The eastern grey kangaroo's population has multiplied so much that it now outnumbers the city's inhabitants, threatening the survival of rare species like the golden sun moth and grassland earless dragon.
Historical viral RNA sequences found in native and invasive grasses provide insights into the complex picture of species interactions and implications for modern agriculture. The study suggests that ancient viruses may have contributed to the takeover of California's native grasslands by invasive annual plants.
A new study by University of Minnesota researchers found that excess nutrients and water can reduce species diversity in ecosystems, allowing a few species to dominate. The findings support the idea that plant diversity is directly related to limiting factors such as soil moisture and nutrient availability.
Researchers found that ski pistes above tree line have fewer species and lower bird numbers compared to natural grassland at similar altitudes. Ecologists warn of potentially serious threat to wildlife habitat conservation in the Alps.
The study found that elevated CO2 and nitrogen levels had minimal impact on grassland production, but high levels of phosphorus reduced growth. The results suggest that natural systems cannot sequester as much carbon as previously thought, leading to faster-than-expected climate change.
Researchers found that neutral grasslands recover faster than chalk grasslands, which take at least 50 years to re-establish. Soil compaction and vehicle damage contribute to the long-lasting damage, highlighting the need for effective control measures to manage these areas.
A new world map of plant biodiversity has been published, providing a common geographical standard for global nature conservation strategies. The atlas reveals the most species-rich areas on earth, with Borneo's lowland rainforest standing out as the most diverse, containing around 10,000 plant species.
A recent study on a rocky intertidal shore in Washington State discovered an alternative state where mussels replace algal dominated assemblages. The starfish play a key role in controlling mussel distribution and abundance, leading to two possible outcomes: gradual recovery or persistent transformation.
A study found that rabbits and cows grazing together lead to a diverse range of plants, with prostrate herbs thriving in short vegetation. The presence of rabbits also determines the extent of shrub cover and oak seedling growth.
A study of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, found that replacing tropical forests with crops can increase daytime temperatures and decrease nighttime temperatures. This occurs because crops are less efficient at cooling the air through transpiration, a process where water evaporates from leaves during photosynthesis.
A new study found that global warming can increase soil moisture in grasslands by up to 10% due to plant death and subsequent water retention. Researchers at Stanford University discovered this unexpected outcome despite climate models predicting drier conditions.
A four-year field study by K-State researchers found that altering rainfall patterns in a tallgrass prairie led to decreased physiological vigor of grasses, lower plant productivity, and reduced water availability. The team discovered significant reductions in carbon cycling and below-ground activity under variable rainfall conditions.
Researchers found that native plants outcompete exotic species when provided with seeds, but their low seed availability is likely due to historical grazing and drought. This discovery suggests that providing seeds may be enough to restore native species in many areas.
Research at six experimental field sites found that trees and shrubs invading grasslands in wet environments can lead to significant losses of soil organic carbon, offsetting the carbon stored in growing wood. This challenges previous estimates suggesting that woody encroachment could balance emissions.
Researchers found that Tsavo lions live in large groups of females ruled by a single male, with an average of 7.4 adult females per group. The study suggests that the lions' manelessness may be an adaptation to their hot and dry environment.
A new study challenges long-held beliefs that humans evolved from chimpanzee-like ancestors into upright beings and thrived in tropical grasslands. Soil analysis reveals that early humans preferred humid forest environments, contrary to expectations.
A recent study published in Science found that tallgrass prairies have more variable plant growth than deserts, despite having less rainfall variability. This suggests that these ecosystems can respond to changes in precipitation patterns and may serve as an early warning system for climate change.
A study by Oklahoma State University researchers found that changes in the American Great Plains have affected birds, with some species benefiting from woody habitat and others declining due to habitat loss. Management options such as prescribed fire and grazing animals may help mitigate these impacts.
Grasslands have been found to sequester carbon under elevated CO2 conditions, with soil microbes playing a critical role in the process. This finding has important implications for understanding how ecosystems can mitigate climate change.
Research reveals that bison grazing can increase plant species diversity in stressed grasslands, countering the effects of fire and fertilizer. By reestablishing grazing, scientists find that biodiversity can be retained in ecosystems impacted by human activities.