Articles tagged with Wetlands
Researchers at Ohio State University have discovered that tropical wetlands can store up to 80% more carbon than temperate wetlands, with the former sequestering around 300 tons of carbon per year. This finding has significant implications for climate change mitigation and highlights the importance of preserving these ecosystems.
Research found that commercially available aquatic garden plants can be used in a production/remediation system to treat wastewater. The study concluded that these plants have the potential to generate revenue for producers and are an aesthetically viable alternative to traditional wetland plants.
A recent white paper by leading coastal scientists suggests that wetlands restoration projects may not provide long-term storm protection for the Louisiana Coast. The researchers argue that there is limited scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of such initiatives in reducing storm impacts.
Experts warn that critical food shortages and high fossil fuel prices are major threats to preserving wetlands worldwide. The United Nations University calls for policy makers to resist pressure to convert wetlands, citing the importance of these ecosystems for safe water supplies, biodiversity, and climate change mitigation.
Researchers have confirmed a new population of critically endangered greater bamboo lemurs in eastern Madagascar's Torotorofotsy wetlands. The discovery raises hopes for the species' survival and increases efforts to protect its habitat from destruction.
Low-budget, locally led mangrove replanting projects are more successful than high-cost government-led projects, achieving survival rates of up to 97%. Planting the correct species in suitable sites and community involvement are key to ecological benefits.
The decline of world wetlands could compound global warming, releasing billions of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere. Wetlands store 10-20% of Earth's terrestrial carbon and slow organic material decay.
A recent study reveals a drastic decline in shorebird populations over the past 25 years, with migratory species suffering a 73% drop and resident shorebirds declining by 81%. The loss of wetlands and habitats is a significant contributor to this decline, highlighting the need for improved conservation efforts.
A University of Alberta study found that beaver presence increases open water availability by up to nine times, providing habitat and resources for land animals, amphibians, and livestock. The study suggests climate models predict increased drought frequency and length, where beavers can play a crucial role in maintaining wetlands.
Hydroelectricity dams are decreasing Lake Victoria's level by at least two meters, threatening food security and fisheries in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. The dams' overuse has led to papyrus wetland collapse, eutrophication, and algal blooms, with far-reaching consequences for the lake's ecosystem and local populations.
Research team finds PCBs and DDE in Chicago night-heron eggs, but no negative effects on reproduction. Populations remain stable amidst ongoing contamination from Lake Michigan.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found that dissolved organic material in water increases the biological risk of mercury and may serve as an environmental source. The study's findings suggest that understanding the factors controlling methylation is critical for developing ecosystem-level management strategies.
A six-year study by Duke University scientists found that current phosphorus standards protect the Everglades, but high levels persist near outer edges. The researchers suggest a threshold protective zone of 12-15 micrograms per liter is more realistic for the changeable system.
A recent study found that ponds' community diversity converges after a drought, with only hardy species able to withstand the conditions. This convergence has important implications for wetland restoration and creation, highlighting the need to consider stochasticity and beta diversity in ecological restorations.
The study combines field studies and remote-sensing data to assess the ecological functioning of wetlands in a landscape. The researchers developed statistical models that can predict denitrification potential from easily measurable properties of the soil, helping guide management priorities in a watershed.
Permafrost thaw accelerates rates of melting in northern ecosystems, leading to complex impacts on greenhouse gas fluxes from peatlands. While initial degradation may result in increased carbon sequestration, high methane emissions will eventually outweigh this reduction, posing a significant challenge for climate change mitigation.
Researchers suggest golf course habitats can be improved by creating diverse pond types that mimic natural wetlands, reducing chemical runoff and insect predators. Drying ponds in the fall also benefits amphibians by eliminating bullfrog tadpoles that outcompete other species.
Scientists used satellite images to show a link between rapid city growth and changes in rainfall patterns, including decreased precipitation in winter months. The study found that urbanization can lead to desertification and deforestation, threatening wetland health.
Researchers at Queen's University find Arctic ponds evaporating due to recent climate warming, crossing ecological threshold. Ponds were once permanent water bodies for millennia but are now drying up and becoming saltier as water evaporates.
Researchers at Ohio State University developed a satellite radar technique to measure water levels in vegetated wetlands. The study found rising and dropping water levels in selected sites over a decade, including changes caused by seasonal rainfall.
A decline in methane emissions from human activities in the 1990s led to slower growth of atmospheric methane levels. However, recent increases in emissions from human sources are offset by reduced wetland emissions, which could mask further rises in methane if drying trends are not reversed.
The study reveals that the introduction of tributyltin as a biocide in boat paint led to a sudden loss of aquatic vegetation from most Norfolk Broads lakes. The ecosystem remains shattered despite efforts to restore it.
Hurricane Katrina and Rita caused significant flooding, wind damage, and loss of wetlands in the Gulf Coast region. Experts discuss ways to mitigate future hurricane damage through ecological knowledge and restoration plans.
The project aims to evaluate the effect of the Yuma Desalting Plant (YDP) on the Cienega de Santa Clara's water quality and ecosystem. Researchers will collect baseline information and monitor water samples monthly for a year from 17 locations within the cienega.
A new study by Tulane University and Utrecht University suggests that compaction of the shallowest and most recent delta sediments is the main cause of subsidence in coastal Louisiana. The research challenges the notion that tectonic subsidence bears much of the blame for Louisiana's coastal geologic problems.
Researchers found that over 40% of the marshes have been reflooded and native species are recovering, with growth in giant reeds and rare bird sightings reported. However, challenges remain, including water supply issues and potential environmental threats from oil exploration.
Researchers suggest that effective delta and wetland management is crucial for reducing vulnerability to hurricanes. By combining wetland restoration and flood-protection efforts, levees can be used more effectively to protect high-value infrastructure, allowing humans to continue living in precarious coastal communities.
The Times-Picayune won a special award for its consistently excellent coverage of scientific research on the vulnerability of New Orleans to hurricanes and other environmental impacts. Michelle Nijhuis, writing for High Country News, won the Walter Sullivan Award for her three-part series on global warming in the West.
Research suggests that changes in wetland systematics and natural gas emissions during the glacial period may be responsible for elevated methane levels. The study analyzed ice core samples from Greenland, finding no evidence of clathrates releasing methane into the atmosphere.
The Paraguay River Basin, home to the Pantanal wetlands, faces critical threats from agriculture, cattle grazing, and coal mining. Deforestation has already destroyed almost 45% of the original vegetation, with some areas losing over 90%. Conservation efforts are needed to protect the region's biodiversity and ecosystems.
Researchers document a significant shift from wetlands to woodland and forest in the Kenai Peninsula Lowlands due to climate change. The transformation threatens biodiversity, habitat loss for migratory birds, and increased wildfire risks.
Researchers discuss challenges and potential solutions for restoring Iraq's depleted wetlands, including hydrology, soil quality, and species preservation. Iraqi ecologists present first comprehensive data set on the marshes' current state.
Researchers found that volcanic aerosol particles and sulfuric acid reduce methane production in wetlands, leading to a cooling effect. This mechanism may have played a role in past climate changes, with potential impacts on modern Earth's atmosphere.
Researchers monitoring two PennDOT-installed data loggers measure high salt levels in runoff wetland, reaching half the salinity of seawater. The effects on species and soil quality are still unknown but may include decreased midge populations and increased algae growth.
A recent study found that only 10% of river restoration projects have assessment or monitoring, highlighting the need for better coordination and data collection. The study's authors called for standards for success and improved practices to restore rivers, which are crucial for environmental management.
The world's largest freshwater wetland is under unprecedented pressure from economic development, alterations of its water courses, and conversion to other land uses. Climate change poses a significant threat to the Pantanal's ecosystem, biodiversity, and species composition.
A man-made wetland in Ohio State University's Olentangy River Wetland Research Park reduced phosphorus levels by 59% and nitrates by 40%. The wetland, created using a simple design, acted as an effective sink for nutrients, reducing pollution in the Great Miami River and local lake.
Researchers discovered that 11 of 17 measurable chemicals in surface water were reduced after passing through the system, according to Ron Turco, soil microbiologist. The study showed that constructed wetlands can act as a holding area for recycled water, providing a sustainable solution for irrigation and flood prevention.
Scientists are restoring the marshes of Eden in southern Iraq, which were devastated under Saddam Hussein's rule. The project aims to rebuild wetland ecosystems and reacquaint local experts after two decades of isolation.
The study found that only 10% of the original marshes survived as fully functioning wetlands after extensive drainage and irrigation, but also identified areas with high restoration potential.
Scientists are investigating ways to stop rapid deterioration and restore marsh land in Louisiana's southern coastal wetlands, which are losing a football field-sized area every 35 minutes. The consequences of losing the wetlands will be far-reaching, affecting oil and gas prices, causing them to rise everywhere.
Excavations at Los Ajos, a 4,800-4,200 year old mound complex in Uruguay, revealed sophisticated levels of planning and cooperation. The site's farmers adopted early cultivars, including maize and squash, and exhibited an independent architectural tradition.
A NASA study found that conversion of wetlands to agricultural lands can lead to more severe freezes in south Florida. The researchers analyzed data from the Landsat 5 satellite and weather records to simulate three freeze events, concluding that land-use changes can enhance damage inflicted upon agriculture.
Sea levels have been rising worldwide for at least 10,000 years. Rising ocean temperatures and glacial runoff could lead to a 90-centimeter increase by 2100, overwhelming coastal structures like barrier islands and tidal wetlands. Local geography and geology also play a role in estimating effects of rising seas.
Acid rain suppresses methane emissions from wetlands, but only for a short time. The effect of acid rain on methane emissions is more than enough to compensate for the expected increase due to climate change.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology found that aquatic plant duckweed sequesters persistent organic compounds in its tissue, removing contaminants from natural waters and engineered wetlands. The study's implications include updates to water monitoring regulations and wastewater treatment practices.
Wetland restoration projects must consider the inevitable creation of mosquito habitats, which can increase exposure to diseases like West Nile virus. Elizabeth Willott suggests explicitly addressing mosquito control in proposals to strengthen project outcomes.
Professor Bill Mitsch of Ohio State University has won the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize for his work on preserving and studying wetlands. The award recognizes his decades-long research on ecosystem behavior and his efforts to address water crises, including the annual hypoxia problem in the Gulf of Mexico.
Research reveals a significant rise in frog deformities over the past three decades, with a notable correlation to trematode parasites. Historically documented cases suggest an ongoing issue, while recent findings indicate increased occurrences and severity across more than 50 hotspots in North America.
The study found that despite huge habitat losses, up to 90% of original crustacean diversity may still survive in the few remaining seasonal wetlands in Illinois. The researchers sampled 33 crustacean species from 13 ponds and estimated there could have been as many as 85 species originally.
Researchers discover that bacteria in coastal wetlands respond to phosphorus, not nitrogen, and that controlling phosphorus is key to maintaining water quality. This finding highlights the importance of considering both nutrients when managing coastal ecosystems.
Researchers studied surf water quality at Huntington Beach, Calif., and found that flawed sampling methods may be responsible for beach closings. The study highlights the complexity of controlling coastal water quality and raises questions about existing monitoring programs.
Researchers will investigate how wetland landscape, circulation features, and restoration strategies affect fecal pollution levels. The study aims to resolve the controversy over whether coastal wetlands generate or filter out fecal pollution, with potential implications for beach water quality and habitat preservation.
A team of scholars discovered that early Maya centers were abandoned due to a drastic change in local environments, transforming swamp-like bajos into seasonal swamps. The study found evidence of human-induced environmental change and climatic shift, leading the Maya to adapt and thrive in the altered environment.
Researchers found that increasing UVB levels in wetlands are associated with an increased frequency of frog malformations. The study suggests that UV radiation may be a significant contributor to the decline of amphibian populations, particularly in areas where ozone depletion and climate change reduce natural UV protection.
Researchers found that certain wetlands were successful in cleaning up acid mine drainage due to factors such as low water acidity and minimal destruction of native plants. However, clogging of limestone drains was a common issue, highlighting the need for regular maintenance and larger constructed wetlands.
Researchers at Cornell University are growing methanogens and other microbes in a laboratory using conditions similar to acidic wetlands. The goal is to understand how these microorganisms function and potentially apply this knowledge to bioengineering, such as bioremediation of contaminated sites or controlled methane production.
After severe droughts, wading bird populations surge due to changes in fish populations and nutrient cycles, according to University of Florida researchers. This phenomenon, known as 'pulsed productivity,' occurs worldwide among diverse wading bird species.
A $46,000 grant will aid in identifying and addressing environmental issues facing ten National Park units. Mary-Jane James-Pirri will conduct field assessments and compile literature to create a comprehensive document on wetland health and management.
Researchers found that newly restored wetlands often struggle with invasive weeds, which can outcompete native species for resources. The cost of wetland restoration is also a significant barrier, with some projects costing up to $200,000 per hectare.