Articles tagged with Grasses
Researchers have demonstrated that DNA can preserve information for at least 2,000 years, and they're now working on a filing system to make it easier to navigate. DNA offers a potential solution to data loss in the digital age, with the ability to store unprecedented amounts of data in a fraction of an ounce.
A Dartmouth study reveals that strong winds blowing off the Greenland Ice Sheet are eroding soil and vegetation in the surrounding tundra, making it less productive for grazing animals. The study found that wind-driven soil erosion is more widespread near the ice sheet but restricted to steep south-facing slopes farther away.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a fast and inexpensive test to determine whether Asian carp invading Lake Erie are sterile or can reproduce. The technique uses microscopic examination of fish blood cells, allowing conservation agents to quickly identify problem animals and remove them from the population.
A study found that most major mammal groups in Africa tried grazing on grass around 2 million years ago, but some animals switched to browsing trees and shrubs or became extinct. The bovids, including cattle and antelopes, are the only group still mostly grazing on grass today.
Research found that controlled burning increases the growth of an aggressive species of invasive grass, Microstegium vimineum, particularly in moist soil conditions. Burning can promote seed production and spread, making eradication difficult.
Plant breeders are developing salt-tolerant grass to conserve water, using treated wastewater in turf grass cultivation. The research found that additive genetic effects play a crucial role in salt tolerance, allowing breeders to select for desirable traits.
Researchers used remote sensing technology to study the impact of foreclosure on urban yards in Phoenix, Arizona. They found that foreclosed homes can become either greener or browner due to changes in yard management.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have discovered a type of grass, Setaria viridis, that can fix nitrogen using bacteria, making it a potential model for studying this process in crops like corn and rice. This discovery could lead to more efficient use of fertilizer and promote sustainable agriculture.
Researchers at UTHealth discovered that grass plants can bind, uptake and transport infectious prions, which can act as carriers of the disease. The study suggests that plants may play an important role in environmental prion contamination and horizontal transmission of diseases like CWD.
The LIFE REGEN FARMING project demonstrates regenerative agricultural practices that increase grass yields by up to 14% while maintaining nutritional quality. This approach reduces chemical fertilizers, increases grazing time, and lowers the carbon footprint of milk production.
Researchers have discovered the early stages of two African sawfly species, Xenapates braunsi and Xenapates gaullei. These larvae feed on specific grass and day flower species, with potential implications for crop protection and invasive weed control.
Researchers at Joint BioEnergy Institute used proteomics to analyze switchgrass, a promising fuel crop candidate, and identified 1,750 unique proteins. This study demonstrates the potential of proteomics in optimizing biofuel production from switchgrass.
A 100-million-year-old amber fossil has revealed the earliest known link between a fungus similar to ergot and ancient grasses. The discovery, published in Palaeodiversity, sheds light on the evolution of both organisms and their connection to dinosaurs.
A team of scientists evaluated native fine-leaved Festuca species for potential use in urban landscapes. The study found that tall-statured, multicolored Festuca germplasm shows promise as low-input ornamental grasses in the western United States.
Scientists studied wild grasses in the Fertile Crescent to identify traits suitable for agriculture. They found that wild relatives of current crop plants have bigger seeds and less bushy stems, making them ideal for farming. This research could help shape the future of food production by understanding the past.
A recent study by Point Blue Conservation Science found that changing grazing practices to give land more time to rest improved the health of native grasslands in California. This approach increased the growth of native perennial grasses, allowing water to better infiltrate soil and reducing erosion.
Researchers at the University of Washington have discovered a microbe that enhances plant tolerance to industrial pollutants like phenanthrene. The approach uses probiotic microbes to supplement plant defenses, allowing plants to take up to 25-40% more of the pollutant than untreated plants.
A new study by UMass Amherst scientists predicts a significant increase in grass pollen production and allergen exposure due to climate change, with potential impacts on human health. The researchers found that elevated CO2 stimulates pollen production, leading to increased exposure for individuals with grass pollen allergies.
A research team led by Alejandro Briseno has developed a new polymer architecture that mimics the structure of blades of grass to improve the efficiency of organic solar cells. The breakthrough solves a major problem with energy transfer and has widespread applications for solar cells, batteries, and transistors.
Researchers at Duke University found that controlled grazing by goats can reduce phragmites stem density by half in three weeks. The approach also restores native plant species diversity and function, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical herbicides.
Despite visible signs of recovery, Cape Cod's saltmarshes are not fully restoring their ecosystem functions. A new study found that recovering marshes provide only partial benefits in terms of wave exposure and sediment height, while always-healthy marshes continue to offer superior coastal protection.
A new study reveals that modest reductions in nutrient pollution led to long-term improvements in water clarity, allowing underwater grasses to thrive. The plants' rapid growth was fueled by positive feedback loops, where they improved their own growing conditions and resisted disturbances.
A University of Georgia study found that Japanese stiltgrass creates a habitat for wolf spiders, which then feed on American toads. The study reveals that the invasive grass reduces toad survival by increasing spider densities.
The Devil's Elbow Complex is a four-wildfire system burning over 17,000 acres on the Colville Indian Reservation. The fires, sparked by lightning, have merged and are fuel-driven, producing pyrocumulus clouds. Active fire behavior is expected, with evacuations in place for nearby communities.
A University of Utah researcher found that the Aboriginal Martu people's traditional hunting and fire practices help maintain ecosystem stability, increasing kangaroo populations. The study suggests encouraging small-scale burning to bolster wildlife populations in certain areas.
Researchers found that burning outside the traditional late spring frame has no measurable negative effects, but may have multiple benefits. Burning in the fall or winter increases flexibility and ensures pasture gets burned without reducing grass production.
Research at York University reveals that moose drool can slow down the growth of a toxic fungus in red fescue grass, reducing its toxicity. The study suggests that repeated exposure to moose saliva may lead to lower toxin levels in affected areas.
Multiple wildfires are burning in Oregon, threatening private property, livestock, and agriculture lands. The fires, fueled by lightning strikes and hot, windy conditions, have burned over 90,000 acres in the state's forest areas.
Researchers found that chimpanzees in a social group learned to stick grass in their ears after observing Julie, who first introduced the behavior. The trait was passed down through generations even after Julie's death, highlighting the cultural potential of chimpanzees.
Scientists discovered that locusts prefer food sources with optimal protein/carbohydrate ratios at specific temperatures. The study found that locusts modify their behavior to get the maximum benefit from available nutrients.
Researchers identify three periods with distinct pollen patterns, advising people to avoid being outdoors during peak hours in early and middle seasons. Dr. Robert Peel suggests avoiding midday outdoor activities in the late season.
Researchers tested whether ancestral human diets, or paleo diets, result in better appetite suppression. They found that high-fiber plant-based diets likely do not lead to increased SCFAs and appetite suppression, but rather may help baboons maintain grazing all day to consume enough nutrients.
Researchers analyzed aerial images of fairy circles in northwest Namibia and found a remarkably regular and homogeneous distribution pattern. This suggests local resource-competition among plants and vegetation as the most likely cause, rather than termites or underground gas emissions.
Fierce wildfires have engulfed Lake Baikal, ravaging large areas of forest and surrounding croplands due to extreme temperatures and careless handling with fire. The wildfires have burned over 53,644 hectares of land across the region, with the highest rates reported in Trans-Baikal territory.
Researchers found that brain activity is more similar to that of speakers when listeners can predict what they will say, even before a sentence is spoken. This suggests the brain acts as a prediction machine, anticipating events in communication.
A new DNA-based label has been developed to detect counterfeit olive oil, allowing for the identification of producers and authentication of products. The label uses nanotechnology and natural DNA, offering a cheap and safe way to detect adulteration.
Human-caused fires in the Primorsky Province of Russia are ravaging the landscape, with statistics showing that 94% of forest fires can be attributed to human activities. The uncontrolled burning of dry grass for centuries has led to widespread deforestation and degradation of forests, posing a significant threat to various species.
Research reviewed injuries in top Italian football league during 2011-2012 season, finding 23 injuries on artificial turf and 20 on grass. Muscle strains were the most common injury on both surfaces, with only minor differences between their causes.
Research on drifting herbicides reveals mixed effects, including positive, neutral, and negative impacts on neighboring fields and farms. Grasses dominated field edge test sites, while herbicide drift was associated with declines in three species of herbivores.
A recent study in Nature finds that the Arctic tundra during the last ice age was teeming with colorful wildflowers, providing sustenance for giant grazing animals like woolly mammoths. The research, led by Kansas State University's Joseph Craine, challenges conventional views of the region's vegetation history.
A new DNA study suggests that the drastic change in vegetation from protein-rich herbs to less nutritious grass may be behind the demise of mammoths and other large mammals. The study shows that the mammoth steppe was dominated by herbs during the last ice age, which may have led to a decline in animal populations.
Researchers found that native perennial grasses and mixes of native prairie grasses and flowering plants outperform corn in terms of biodiversity, pest suppression, and methane consumption. The study suggests that coordinated land use policies can enhance ecosystem services, but rising commodity prices threaten this approach.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that early hominins like Paranthropus boisei ate a diet of tiger nuts, fruits, and insects, providing enough nutrients for their large brains. The research calculates that a hominin could extract sufficient calories from tiger nuts in just two to three hours per day.
A team of researchers, including a scientist from Case Western Reserve University, have announced the discovery of a new species of fossil horse from 4.4 million-year-old deposits in Ethiopia. The newly named Eurygnathohippus woldegabrieli had three-toed hooves and grazed grasslands and shrubby woods.
Researchers have discovered a link between grass species from Africa and America through DNA analysis, revealing unique traits such as 'clavicorniculate' hairs. The four species are now classified in the same genus, Disakisperma, shedding new light on plant taxonomy.
The Society for Neuroscience has created a Latin American Neuroscience Training Program to serve hundreds of promising young scientists. The five-year initiative will provide in-person and remote learning opportunities, covering topics such as manuscript publishing, animal research ethics, and Brain Awareness Week activities.
Researchers have developed a method to exploit biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) in Brachiaria grasses, which can significantly reduce nitrous oxide emissions and nitrogen leaching. This approach offers potential for increasing crop yields while keeping global climate change within manageable limits.
Hundreds of fires burning in Mozambique and Madagascar were detected by NASA's MODIS satellite on September 11, 2013. The majority of the fires occurred in grass or cropland and are believed to be part of deliberate land management practices.
NASA detects hundreds of fires in central Africa on August 21, 2013, suggesting deliberate agricultural burning to manage land and clear unwanted plants. The fires produce smoke degrading air quality and pose threats to species extinction.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that climate change is likely to reduce the nutritional quality of grasses, causing bison to grow more slowly and weigh less. This could have significant economic implications for cattle producers, with a potential loss of $1 billion in income due to reduced weight gains.
Northern Australia is prone to bushfires during winter and spring due to dry conditions and strong winds. NASA's satellite images reveal active burning areas, highlighting the region's susceptibility to wildfires.
The Fourmile fire in Arizona and Silver Fire in New Mexico are two major wildfires burning in the region. The fires, which were started by lightning strikes, have grown to over 5,000 acres in size and pose a high risk of growth due to extreme weather conditions.
A new study by the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that some hominids added grasses or sedges to their diets around 3.5 million years ago, marking a significant change in their survival and evolution. This shift likely contributed to the emergence of human-like species.
A new study reveals that human ancestors began consuming tropical grasses and sedges around 3.5 million years ago, marking a significant shift in their diet. This change is believed to have set the stage for the development of modern diets featuring grains, grasses, and meat from grazing animals.
Deliberate farmland fires were detected in Angola, primarily used by smallholder farmers to clear land and return nutrients. The widespread nature of the fires highlights their potential impact on air quality and soil health.
New research from University of Toronto Scarborough confirms that environments with distantly related plant species are more productive. The study suggests that such diversity can enhance species function and fill different environmental niches, leading to increased carbon drawdown and potential climate benefits.
Hundreds of deliberate fires were detected in West Africa by NASA's MODIS satellite on May 01, 2013. The fires were likely set to manage land for farming and crop rotation, but also produce smoke degrading air quality during the region's agricultural burning season.
A new grass hybrid, Festulolium, has been developed to reduce the impact of flooding by capturing more water in the soil. The hybrid grass shows potential for reducing flood generation while providing high-quality forage for food production under changing climate conditions.
Biofuels have significant ecological impacts due to high-intensity agriculture practices that contribute to water pollution and loss of biodiversity. Cellulosic ethanol, made from grasses and perennial native crops, may offer a more sustainable alternative with reduced resource competition and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
New research reveals that invasive green crabs are helping to restore Cape Cod's distressed salt marshes by filling the void left by declining native predators of sesarma crabs. The study found that green crab presence had a significant deterrent effect on sesarma herbivory, allowing grass regrowth in areas previously depleted.