Articles tagged with Nutrients
In a study published in Ecology, researchers found that banded tetras play a keystone role in nutrient recycling due to their diet composition and excretion rates. This finding highlights the importance of conservation efforts in maintaining ecosystem function.
Researchers uncover the mechanism by which Didymo 'scrubs' phosphorus from streams and rivers, making it available for growth. This study solves the puzzle of Didymo blooms in low-nutrient waterways.
A comprehensive analysis of human geophagy reveals that eating dirt is a widespread behavior that provides protection against intestinal parasites and pathogens. The study found that people are more likely to consume earth during vulnerable life stages or in environments with high levels of foodborne microbes.
A new study at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging identifies N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) as a novel metabolic signaling pathway that coordinates the aging response to nutrient availability. This discovery suggests a link between endocannabinoids, dietary restriction, and aging that may be conserved across species.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine found a link between a brain molecule, TXNIP, and the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Elevated levels of TXNIP in nerve cells contribute to energy imbalance, decreased physical activity, and impaired glucose tolerance.
A new study finds that shallow disk injection of manure is an effective way to reduce nutrient losses to the environment. This technique, which increases the incorporation of manure, reduces ammonia emissions and phosphorus runoff, making it a more environmentally friendly option.
A Purdue University study suggests that drought-exposed leaves may negatively impact soil nutrients by accumulating high levels of tannins. These tannins can interfere with critical enzymes in soil, potentially slowing down decomposition and nutrient cycling.
The US nursery and greenhouse industry has launched an online knowledge center to promote sustainable practices, providing resources and tools for growers and students. The Green Industry Knowledge Center offers in-depth learning modules on water and nutrient management, irrigation, and substrate handling.
A Danish study examines the relationship between soil texture and nutrient leaching in agricultural fields. The results show that injecting dairy slurry into loam soil reduces phosphorus leaching, while its effect on sandy loam and loamy sand is limited.
A three-year study on the Nauset Marsh Estuary's red tide problem begins next week. The researchers will collect water samples and analyze them for concentrations of toxic algae to better understand environmental factors influencing the incidence of red tides.
A CSIRO study found that mining by-products can effectively remove phosphorus and nitrogen from water, reducing the risk of algal blooms. The research suggests using these by-products as a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solution for treating wastewater.
A global collaboration found that invasive plant species often have similar or lower abundance at introduced and native sites, challenging a common assumption. This suggests that biosecurity screening procedures need to be revised to address how species behave in non-native communities.
A global collaboration found that invasive plant species have similar or lower abundance at introduced versus native sites, challenging the 'abundance assumption'. This study used standardized protocols across over 60 sites worldwide to collect population and community data, providing a new approach to address critical ecological issues.
A new study found that traditional dietary surveys, relying on self-reported data, are inconsistent and can be influenced by memory impairment and digestive issues. Using nutrient biomarkers through blood tests, researchers aim to improve the accuracy of nutritional assessments and develop more effective therapies for cognitive health.
A study found that oysters can effectively filter ag and urban runoff in the Chesapeake Bay, removing significant amounts of nutrients. Eight large-scale oyster farms could potentially remove one ton of nitrogen from the bay annually, providing a practical ecosystem service.
A study found that moderate decreases in maternal nutrition during early pregnancy impaired fetal brain development, including decreased cell-to-cell connections and growth factors. The research uses a nonhuman primate model to demonstrate the importance of good maternal health and diet on fetal development.
Scientists in Japan have discovered a compound in tomatoes that enhances fatty acid oxidation and regulates hepatic lipid metabolism. The extract, 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid, has anti-dyslipidemic effects and can help prevent vascular diseases.
A new study by the University of Maryland suggests that rewarding eco-friendly farmers with financial incentives can help reduce fertilizer run-off and capture carbon dioxide, both contributing to combating climate change. By setting up a 'nutrient trading market,' farmers can earn credits for using best practices, which can then be so...
Stem cells can sense a decrease in available nutrients and respond by retaining only a small pool of active stem cells for tissue maintenance. Upon re-feeding, insulin-like peptide expression and stem cell numbers recover quickly.
A new international research project will explore how nutrient pollution and biodiversity changes affect seagrass beds worldwide. The project aims to improve computer models and management strategies for predicting coastal zone change.
A study led by Dr. Stuart Painter identifies five distinct water masses controlling coccolithophore blooms off the southeast coast of South America, highlighting the region's complexity and productivity. The research cruise measured salinity, chemistry, and nutrient levels, confirming that specific conditions foster bloom formation.
Scientists have discovered that whales' feces pump up ocean productivity, increasing phytoplankton growth and secondary productivity. This boost has a significant impact on fisheries, resulting in bigger fisheries and higher fish abundances.
The USGS has developed a new method for tracking the progress of reducing nitrogen and phosphorus delivery from the watershed to the Bay. Analysis reveals both good and bad news about progress over the past 31 years, with significant improvements in some watersheds but increases in others.
Native submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) cover increased tenfold and diversity of plant species rose as nutrients declined and water clarity improved. Improved restoration efforts have boosted SAV abundance, benefiting ecosystem health.
Toxic blue-green algae, like Aphanizomenon ovalisporum, dominate freshwater ecosystems by inducing phosphate-limitation responses in other microorganisms. This 'enslavement' mechanism enables the algae to gain a nutrient advantage and proliferate dangerously in freshwater bodies.
Two studies found that US adults who used nutritional labels consumed healthier nutrients, with significant differences in calorie and fat intake. A pilot study also showed that point-of-purchase nutrition information influenced college students' purchasing behaviors, promoting the sale of healthful food items.
Researchers at NC State University have developed a stormwater model that accurately predicts pollution impacts from proposed developments. The model uses regional data and can be easily modified for use elsewhere, allowing regulators to make informed decisions about project approvals.
A new study suggests that adding nutrients to the sea could lower viral infection rates among phytoplankton, enhancing the biological carbon pump. This process involves transferring carbon from the atmosphere to the deep ocean, potentially helping mitigate global warming.
Researchers discovered that plants integrate information about food location and competitors to develop unique root growth strategies. This complexity is a level of sophistication previously thought exclusive to animals.
Mid-ocean algae thrive in areas with little to no nitrate, an essential nutrient. Researchers found that these algae obtain nitrate from deep waters, using it for growth and reproduction near the surface.
Plants perceive nutrient availability through NRT1.1 nitrate transporter stimulation, inducing lateral root growth in nitrate-rich patches. This mechanism regulates root branching by controlling auxin accumulation, demonstrating a connection between nutrient and hormone signaling during organ development.
A seven-year experiment shows that pond communities bear a lasting imprint of random events in their past. The study reveals that low-productivity ponds are predictable, while high-productivity ponds exhibit more stochastic behavior, where history matters more.
Holly Michael, assistant professor at the University of Delaware, has received the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award to support her research on eutrophication and groundwater interactions. Her study aims to identify subsurface zones where nutrient transformations occur in Indian River Bay.
Researchers link bacterial spacing to photosynthesis, providing new insights into ancient fossils and the evolution of life. By studying microbial mats, they discovered a consistent one-centimeter spacing that records the maximum distance bacteria can compete for nutrients.
A new study suggests that reducing nitrogen pollution in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta could help restore the endangered California delta smelt population. The research found that high levels of nitrogen from wastewater treatment plants are affecting the food web and altering the ecology of the system.
The lake's surface waters have reached the warmest temperature on record, affecting fish productivity and ecosystem. Climate change models predict further warming, exacerbating the decline of fish stocks and impacting the region's food security.
Researchers at Brown University have found that Lake Tanganyika has experienced unprecedented warming over the last century, with surface waters reaching record highs. This warming is expected to affect fish stocks, which are crucial for millions of people in the region, and could have severe consequences for local livelihoods.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have made a breakthrough in understanding how butyrate helps the intestine grow and become more functional. Butyrate increases the creation of intestinal cells and fortifies them by increasing the transcription of a protein called GLUT2, which plays an important role in intestinal function.
A study by Harvard researchers found that overeating in mice activates a molecule called PKR, which destroys normal metabolism and leads to insulin resistance. The discovery could lead to targeted drugs or nutrients to regulate PKR and prevent diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
Researchers found that corn plants in no-till fields experience intense competition for sunlight, water, and nutrients, leading to reduced yields. The leftover corn residue creates patches of soil with lower temperatures and different nutrient content, resulting in significant height differences among plants.
Researchers at Temple University found that low oxygen and nutrient levels are slowing the biodegradation of oil from the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill. The study suggests that the oil is not disappearing at a rate of 70% as previously thought, but rather at a rate of around 4% per year.
Researchers found that nutrient enrichment caused a steady increase in organisms lower on the food chain but had no effect on predators like salamanders and macroinvertebrates. The study suggests that maintaining patterns of energy flow between predators and prey is critical for healthy ecosystems.
Researchers at the University of Southern California have discovered a new bacterial behavior where Shewanella oneidensis harvests electrochemical energy and swims in response to metal presence. This finding could improve the efficiency of microbial fuel cells, producing usable energy.
A recent study by the American Society for Horticultural Science found that vermicompost derived from pig manure can produce healthy hibiscus plants. The treatment resulted in improved plant growth and flower production, with an average increase of 58% in plant dry weight and 93% more flowers compared to conventional nursery crop inputs.
A study published in HortScience found that ornamental canna plants are effective in removing nitrogen and phosphorus from stormwater runoff. Harvesting the above-ground biomass of canna can effectively remove these pollutants from the treatment system.
Research finds that fruit flies' nutrient storage and consumption are controlled by opposing clocks in neurons and the fat body. The study reveals a complex interplay between metabolic signals and circadian rhythms, with implications for understanding human metabolism and disease.
A team of researchers from nine institutions, including LSU, will drill through the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to directly access a subglacial lake and study its physical, chemical, and geobiological interactions. The project aims to investigate novel microbial species and ecosystems in this extreme environment.
A recent study found that female plants are more likely to be colonized by mycorrhizal fungi than male plants, leading to a shift in population dynamics. This sex-specific interaction may contribute to the spatial segregation of males and females in certain plant species.
A clinical study found that cutting back on processed and fried foods, high in AGEs, reduces inflammation and restores natural defenses. The 'AGE-less diet' reduced blood AGE levels and improved biomarkers of vascular function by 60%, even in people with kidney disease.
Researchers have mapped the large-scale distributions of dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus over the Atlantic Ocean, finding that these nutrients dominate surface waters and play a crucial role in export production. The study suggests that nutrient-poor regions, like subtropical gyres, rely on these nutrients to sustain life.
Researchers warn that climate variability can affect deep-sea ecosystems, potentially disrupting food chains and carbon cycles. Long-term monitoring is crucial to understand the impact of global warming on these vulnerable ecosystems.
Wildlife biologists found that the carcasses of moose killed by wolves at Isle Royale National Park create nutrient-rich hotspots in forest fertility. This discovery highlights an unexpected connection between predator-prey interactions and biochemical processes on the landscape.
A new study has solved a ten-year-old mystery about the source of an essential nutrient in the ocean. Researchers have discovered that Trichodesmium, a marine phytoplankton group, produces and consumes phosphonate, a rare form of organic phosphorus. This finding is important for understanding the global carbon and nitrogen cycles.
The USDA's $320 million initiative aims to support programs in 12 states, enabling farmers to implement conservation practices that reduce nutrient runoff and improve wildlife habitat. The program underscores the agency's commitment to sustainable land stewardship and cleaner water.
Researchers found that carnivorous plant traps are cheaper to make than leaves, contrary to evolutionary predictions. This discovery sheds light on how complete food webs operate, highlighting the benefits and trade-offs of nutrient allocation in plant ecology.
Researchers evaluated three growing methods, finding that advanced matted-row system and cold-climate plasticulture systems have less negative effects on natural resources than conventional matted row system. The AMR and CCP systems also showed lower pesticide levels and nutrient runoff compared to CMR.
Researchers studied golf course putting greens to understand nutrient and chemical changes that occur over time. The study found that organic matter accumulation in the root zone contributes to increased retention of nutrients, while replacing peat with soil in the root zone can reduce construction costs and aid in nutrient retention.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution's Department of Plant Biology have cloned genes for membrane proteins that regulate nutrient and water fluxes in cells. The donated clones will help unravel the interaction of these proteins across species, with potential applications in understanding kidney diseases and engineering better crops.
A systematic review of over 50,000 papers found no evidence that organically produced foods are nutritionally superior to conventionally produced food. Organic foods have comparable nutrient content to conventionally produced foods, with only minor differences detected.
The Gulf of Mexico's dead zone is smaller than expected this year, measuring 3,000 square miles, but severe in some areas. The area was predicted to be larger by NOAA models, driven by high nitrate loads and freshwater flows from rivers.