Articles tagged with Microbial Ecology
A study found that when grasshoppers change their diet to high-energy carbohydrates under stress from spiders, it affects the decomposition of organic matter in soil. This leads to a slower breakdown of uneaten plants, resulting in lower quality fertilizer and reduced microbial activity.
Researchers found that stressed grasshoppers consume more carbohydrate-rich plants, leading to changes in their excretions and affecting the microbes in the ground. This results in slower degradation of complex organic materials, impacting plant growth and field crop productivity.
Researchers found that predators can alter how microbes break down organic matter, leading to changes in soil carbon dioxide release and decomposition rates. This highlights the importance of considering animal influence on ecosystem functioning, especially in an era of biodiversity loss.
A team of scientists led by Washington University's Jeffrey I. Gordon will investigate the complex relationship between diet, gut microbes and immune system in severely malnourished children. The research aims to discover novel dietary and microbial therapeutics to target infants and children living in countries with rampant malnutrition.
A comprehensive study reveals that biodiversity loss has comparable effects on ecosystems to climate change and pollution. This analysis highlights the urgent need for strengthened local, national, and international efforts to protect biodiversity and its benefits.
A recent study found that vaginal microbes change in some healthy women over short periods, while remaining stable in others. These changes can impact a woman's susceptibility to infections and diseases. Researchers hope this research will lead to personalized medicine for women.
Researchers call for a new approach to studying deepwater oil spills, emphasizing the need for understanding oil movement at depth, microbial action, and deep sea ecology. This new direction is crucial for responding to future spills and restoring damaged ecosystems.
Researchers found a unique ecosystem where hot and cold habitats intersect, featuring tubeworms, fish, mussels, and crabs. The discovery reveals new species and potential communities in the deep sea, highlighting the need for further exploration of this largely uncharted environment.
John Waterbury, a WHOI scientist emeritus, has been awarded the NAS Gilbert Morgan Smith Medal for his path-breaking discovery and characterization of ecologically important marine microorganisms. This achievement marked major advances in understanding marine food webs and nutrient cycling in ocean ecosystems.
A 12-year study found that future forests can grow faster under elevated carbon dioxide levels, outpacing assumptions of reduced growth due to climate change. The increased growth is sustained by enhanced soil nitrogen cycling and a greater ability for trees to absorb nitrogen from the soil.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a PCR-free technique using the PhyloChip to identify the most metabolically active microbes in a sample. This allows for reliable and affordable analysis of microbial communities in various environments.
A study on human bellybutton microbiomes found diverse bacterial communities, similar to those on the skin, but also stable over time and between family members. The research used citizen science to collect and analyze 391 samples, shedding light on human health and environmental interactions.
A study by Arizona State University researchers aims to understand the connection between gut microbiota and obesity treatment outcomes. The research focuses on two popular obesity treatments: gastric bypass surgery, which has been shown to alter gut microbial populations.
Researchers at USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have created a unique fingerprinting method to identify the source of soil, distinguishing between soils from rural roads and agricultural fields. This innovation has significant implications for managing wind erosion and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Susannah Tringe, DOE JGI scientist, awarded grant to study microbial communities in restored wetlands and their impact on long-term carbon sequestration from a genomic perspective. Her research aims to understand the role of belowground microbial communities in carbon storage and recycling.
A team of researchers deployed an observatory system to study microbial life in the ocean crust, revealing a large reservoir of seawater that supports a dynamic ecosystem. The study provides insights into hydrogeology, geochemistry, and microbiology, with potential applications for understanding earthquakes and carbon storage.
Scientists studying hot springs in Siberia have found that exotic bacteria produce and consume carbon monoxide, a surprising twist that challenges previous theories about the evolution of Earth's atmosphere. The discovery has implications for understanding the Great Oxidation Event and the early history of our planet.
Researchers at Queen's University discovered that silver nanoparticles can be highly toxic to microbial communities in Arctic soil, compromising the ecosystem's ability to fix nitrogen. The study's findings highlight the need for further consideration of innovation's impact on the environment.
Cornell scientists studied brewery bioreactor sludge, identifying unique microbial communities and their resilient populations. They hope to use this knowledge to shape these communities for producing carboxylates, a precursor to fuels.
A study by Michigan State University associate professor Elena Litchman reveals the potential impact of invisible microbial invaders on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Climate change is expected to exacerbate microbial invasions, leading to significant ecosystem changes.
A Stanford study found that repeated use of a benign antibiotic can alter the composition of beneficial microbes in the human gut. The research involved three healthy adult females who received two courses of ciprofloxacin, revealing persistent changes in their gut microbiomes.
Researchers discovered a new species of bacteria degrading oil at an unprecedented rate without oxygen depletion. The study found that psychrophilic bacteria played a significant role in controlling deep-sea oil plumes, suggesting a potential for natural bioremediation.
Researchers are tracking short- and long-term exposure to oil and dispersants in Gulf Coast salt marshes. The goal is to document changes in Spartina grasses, plant growth, and marsh animals and microbes.
A Stanford study uses high-powered genomic analytical techniques to establish the coexistence of 1,000 single-celled species in every healthy human gut. By manipulating microbial populations through dietary interventions, scientists aim to remedify diseases and enhance health.
A new study led by the University of Maryland School of Medicine reveals that vaginal microbes can vary significantly between healthy women, even among those from the same ethnicity. The research identifies five main groups of microbial communities and finds that certain communities are more common in Hispanic and black women.
Scientists found that reforestation can decrease the ability of forests to combat climate change by reducing carbon stock. The study suggests implementing forest management practices, such as site preparation without burning, to minimize negative effects on ecosystems.
Researchers found that microbes become less efficient in converting carbon into CO2, leading to decreased carbon dioxide emissions from soils. As warmer temperatures persist, microbes decrease in number and eventually result in fewer emissions.
Researchers found that microbes become less efficient at converting carbon in soil into atmospheric CO2 as global temperatures rise, leading to reduced emissions. The study suggests that microbial efficiency decline may mitigate climate warming effects.
Research found that Pacific dunlins have lost weight and spend more time flying to escape peregrine falcons, a response to the increased threat of predation. The dunlins' adaptations help them survive harsh winters with reduced risk of starvation.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded Washington University School of Medicine four grants totaling $19 million to explore the human microbiome. The researchers aim to catalog microbes found in various body sites and determine their links to good health and disease.
Scientists discovered an ancient ecosystem trapped beneath Taylor Glacier in Antarctica, which survived without light or oxygen by transforming sulfur and iron compounds for growth. This unique ecosystem has the potential to explain how life might exist on other planets and serve as a model for life under ice.
Researchers created a mini-ecosystem to study marine microorganisms' behavior and found they exhibit sophisticated foraging strategies, influencing carbon flux in the oceans. This discovery may lead to better predictions of their global-scale impact on climate.
A new study from Stanford University School of Medicine found at least 5,600 separate species or strains of bacteria in the human colon, surpassing previous estimates. The research uses pyrosequencing technology to assess bacterial ecosystems and reveals the critical functions performed by intestinal microbes.
A four-year study by Rice University and DRI found that one abnormally warm year can reduce carbon dioxide uptake in grassland ecosystems for up to two years. The study replicated daily and seasonal changes in temperature and rainfall, and tracked CO2 flux between the atmosphere and biosphere.
Researchers used lab-based experimental ecosystems to model relationship between nutrients and biodiversity, finding that precise relationship depends on species present. The study's results show that low levels of nutrients can lead to high levels of biodiversity.
Soil samples from a forest ecosystem with artificially elevated CO2 levels reveal distinct changes in the mix of microorganisms living beneath trembling aspen trees. These changes support increased plant growth and the ability to sequester excess carbon.
Scientists have identified novel enzymes in termite guts that can improve biofuel production from wood and waste biomass. The discovery was made by analyzing the genomic sequence of termite gut microbes, revealing a rich source of enzymes for accelerating cellulosic biofuels.
A three-year study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that an increase in mercury loading resulted in a significant increase in methylmercury production and accumulation in fish. The study suggests that reducing atmospheric mercury emissions can lead to lower mercury levels in fish within a few years.
Researchers tracked microbial ecosystems in 14 healthy infants using DNA microarray technology, finding wide variation in gut flora composition and dynamics. The study reveals that Bifidobacteria are scarce in breast-fed babies until several months after birth, contradicting previous studies.
Researchers mapped gut microbes in 14 healthy babies over their first year of life, finding unique microbial communities that persist throughout life. The study highlights the dynamic nature of gut ecosystems and potential factors underlying fluctuations in bacterial abundance.
A new study reveals that elevated CO2 levels stimulate soils to release carbon dioxide, rather than store it. The research found that soil loss due to decomposition offsets gains in plant biomass, suggesting that soils may not be a reliable carbon sink under high CO2 conditions.
New research at Washington University School of Medicine finds that the relative abundance of two common gut bacteria groups is altered in obese humans and mice. The findings suggest that these microbes may play a role in how much energy is extracted from the diet and stored as fat.
A new study suggests microbes produce repugnant chemicals to compete with larger animals for valuable food resources like decaying meat and seeds. Microbes can outcompete other organisms if they can produce chemicals that make these resources unpalatable to higher species.
Ocean scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that microbes in deeply buried sediments produce energy-laden gases, including ethane and propane. This finding challenges traditional theories on the origin of these gases, which are typically associated with fossil fuel generation.
Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a theoretical model explaining how hot spring water deposits calcium-carbonate minerals, forming travertine and shaping landscapes. The model reveals that rocks grow at a rate of 1 millimeter per day, contradicting common assumptions about erosion.
The UC San Diego-Venter Institute partnership aims to create a community resource for metagenomic data, facilitating advances in marine microbial ecology and evolutionary biology. The project will develop a novel cyberinfrastructure to store, analyze, and draw conclusions from large-scale microbial genomic sequence data.
The DOE Joint Genome Institute has made groundbreaking discoveries in genomics, including the sequencing of poplar trees, diatoms, and sulfate-reducing bacteria. These findings have far-reaching implications for clean energy, environmental remediation, and carbon management.
The DOE JGI is accepting letters of intent for new CSP projects until January 13, 2006, with a focus on advancing the nation's energy security. The institute will prioritize proposals that translate genomic information into discoveries for developing cleaner domestic energy options.
A recent study using lipid biomarker techniques has identified complex and productive microbial ecosystems in prehistoric rocks from southeastern Brazil. This finding challenges the 'Snowball Earth' theory by suggesting that thin ice might have allowed for photosynthesis to occur during extreme glaciation.
A two-year, $1.5 million project will provide fundamental information about sediment translocation in Venice lagoon, using a multidisciplinary approach to analyze geochemical, physical, microbial, toxicological, and ecological science. The research aims to assess the effects of sediment movement on the lagoon's ecosystem.
Researchers uncover a previously unknown ecosystem beneath the Antarctic ice shelf, featuring a thriving clam community and methane-driven chemical life. The discovery provides valuable insights into the dynamics of inhospitable sub-ice settings and may lead to further exploration of remote undersea environments.
The Hudson River has seen a doubling of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the past 15 years, with possible causes including changes in river materials and bacterial metabolism. This increase may be linked to nitrogen deposition, leading to eutrophication-driven problems such as hypoxia.
Researchers discovered a previously unknown microbial community in Mayan ruins that breaks down limestone from the inside out. The dominant Actinobacteria population on the interior surfaces degrades the stone as it grows, challenging conventional disinfection methods.
Paerl was recognized for his work on understanding aquatic microbial processes, documenting linkages between atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and harmful algal blooms. He has made significant contributions to knowledge in freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems, promising a continuing legacy of scientific excellence.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers discovered that wood mice employ a sophisticated navigation system involving 'portable signposts'. These signs, created by moving small objects, help the mice orient themselves and efficiently explore their home-ranges. The findings provide new insights into the complex behavior of non-human species.
The Department of Energy has awarded $9 million to IBEA, led by J. Craig Venter, to study microorganisms in the Sargasso Sea and explore their potential for producing hydrogen and reducing carbon dioxide emissions from energy sources like petroleum and coal.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a novel biofiltration technique that uses bacteria to eliminate odors from pulp mill gas streams. The new technology operates at higher temperatures than existing methods, making it more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
Research by astrobiologist Jack Farmer highlights the significance of microbial ecosystems found in hydrothermal environments, which could be cradles for life on other planets. Discoveries of new forms of life on Earth thrive in extreme environments broaden possibilities for similar life to exist elsewhere.
Researchers at University of Illinois used polymerase chain reaction to detect microbes in water, rock, and air samples from hot springs. They found evidence of life in new springs, suggesting microbes may have been transported by wind-borne steam or existing waters.
A new archaeon, Ferroplasma acidarmanus, is found in mining sites and accelerates the production of sulfuric acid, a major environmental pollutant. The microbe's ability to thrive in acidic conditions without a cell wall defies conventional understanding.