Articles tagged with Beaches
Neandertals used clam shells as scrapers and pumice stones as abrading tools, collecting resources from the beach and coastal waters of Italy. The study found that nearly a quarter of the shells had been collected underwater, suggesting Neandertals waded or dived into coastal waters to gather materials.
A new study suggests that Neanderthals may have spent time at the beach and dove into the Mediterranean Sea to gather clam shells. Researchers found that nearly three-quarters of shell tools had been sanded down, indicating they were collected from the seafloor.
Two hermit crab species, Coenobita rugosus and C. perlatus, coexist on the same beaches by selecting differently shaped shells as their homes. The study found that C. rugosus prefers short, spherical shells, while C. perlatus prefers elongated shells with a narrow opening.
A study of six beaches in Brazil found a direct correlation between urbanization, metal contamination, and increased metabolic stress in mussels. The researchers suggest that this evidence should be used to inform public policy and mitigate the effects of human activities on marine ecosystems.
This study uses mobile phone network data to estimate the current nationwide human welfare of coastal recreation in Japan. The projected economic values drop significantly under climate change scenarios, with some dropping below one-tenth of their current values.
Researchers use deflating beach balls to model microscopic hollow spheres, revealing properties that could aid in targeted drug delivery. This understanding may help control directed motion and improve cancer treatment.
Researchers discovered large-scale polycultural agricultural systems for growing crops like avocado and maize in Maya wetlands. The findings suggest these fields were adaptations to major shifts in Maya civilization as food demand increased during the Late Classic period.
A new multidisciplinary study examines projected changes to the Santa Barbara coast and provides recommendations for adaptation. Key impacts include rising temperatures, increased flooding and erosion, and more frequent droughts.
A two-year study in Sydney's urban coastal environments reveals that some beaches have elevated levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria following rainfall. The research highlights the exchange between human wastewater streams and natural ecosystems, posing a risk to human exposure to antibiotic-resistance bacteria.
A new study by FSU ecologists found that golf ball-size clods of weathered crude oil can remain buried in sandy Gulf Coast beaches for decades. The oil takes at least 30 years to decompose due to limited oxygen, moisture, and nutrients available to its live-in microbes.
New research suggests that temperate loggerhead turtle nesting beaches may experience improved hatchling production under climate change, but this improvement could be short-lived. Rising temperatures and precipitation levels pose significant threats to marine turtle habitats worldwide.
NASA estimated hurricane rainfall totals for the Bahamas, with excessive rain accumulation reported on Grand Bahama Island and Abaco Island. The storm's center was north of the Bahamas, moving further north parallel to Florida's east coast.
Researchers analyzed gravel samples from three tsunami events and found a common change in composition approximately 40% of the way inland. This 'Tsunami Gravel Inflection Point' helps estimate ancient tsunami sizes, expanding research on disaster mitigation and coastal planning.
Research suggests green turtles favour narrow lengths of plastic in natural colours like green and black over debris of other shapes and colours. Plastic was found in all examined turtles, with smaller ones containing more pieces.
Researchers found that herring gulls take 21 seconds longer to approach food when a human is watching, suggesting that just observing the birds can reduce food-snatching. The study highlights the importance of modifying individual behavior to manage gull-nuisance issues in urban areas.
The urbanization of Southern California's beaches has led to a loss of biodiversity, with some beaches showing up to half of their natural inhabitants missing. The disturbance caused by grooming and filling with the wrong sand further exacerbates this issue, impacting the ecosystem health and coastal ecosystems.
Tropical Depression 3 formed off central Florida's eastern coast, generating heavy rainfall northeast of its center. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission found rain falling at a rate of 25 mm/hour in this area.
A University of Washington study explores what motivates people to join and stick with citizen science projects like COASST. The analysis of survey responses from 310 new participants and 623 long-term contributors reveals that outdoor activities, a sense of place, and social interactions are key drivers of participation.
Researchers Gary Bachman, Christine Coker, and Patricia Knight solved the mystery of the Long Beach red radish's disappearance through investigative work. The rediscovery may lead to the restoration of this once-prominent vegetable as a significant economic force in truck cropping.
A study published in Oryx highlights 85 conservation projects protecting the critically endangered South American River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa) in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. These efforts have successfully protected over 147,000 female turtles across the basin.
The James Webb Space Telescope's sunshield has been tested in its folded configuration to fit inside a rocket for launch. The telescope will be deployed after launch and undergo further transformation to reach its operational state.
A study by Universitat Rovira i Virgili researchers found that up to 57% of plastics in Tarragona sea water are microscopic fibers from clothes, which come from treatment parts and can block digestive tracts. The presence of these microplastics poses a health risk due to their potential to absorb toxic heavy metals and organic molecules.
Scientists used a powerful microbial detection device to show that suggestions of sewage in Kauai's watershed were mostly false positives. The PhyloChip technology detected isolated incidences of pig and cow fecal contamination, but the popular beach area downstream was clean.
The survey found an estimated 414 million pieces of plastic debris on the islands' beaches, including single-use consumer items like shoes and toothbrushes. The total volume dwarfs that found on Henderson Island, indicating a need for urgent action to reduce plastic production and consumption.
A recent study discovered amyloid plaques in the brains of stranded dolphins in Florida and Massachusetts, similar to those found in humans with Alzheimer's disease. The presence of these plaques, along with an environmental toxin produced by cyanobacterial blooms, highlights the potential risks of toxic exposures in marine environments.
Athletes competing in singles tennis, golf, and cycling events are most at risk of sunburn due to prolonged exposure to sunlight. The study recommends adopting specific sun protection regulations and guidelines to mitigate the risks.
UD researchers study how unexploded munitions move in muddy estuaries, discovering they don't move horizontally despite intense storms. The team used fabricated munition surrogates with sensors to track movement, finding smaller munitions were buried or stuck in scour pits.
A new study published in Marketing Science found that the 'buddy system' approach to weight loss can be effective, with top performers inspiring others to lose weight. However, individual results vary and depend on the impact of peer comparisons.
Researchers found that seagrass beds are effective in holding sediment on beach foreshores, reducing erosion. The study's results suggest that healthy seagrass beds can be a sustainable option for coastal defense, opening opportunities for new protection schemes.
Researchers predict a shift in the sex ratio of green turtles, with warmer temperatures leading to more female hatchlings and increased nesting females. Climate change is expected to submerge key nesting areas, threatening the species' survival.
A new study from Florida State University finds that climate change could significantly reduce hawksbill hatching success due to extreme temperature fluctuations, increased rainfall, and soaring solar radiation. Researchers project a 11% reduction in overall hatching success by 2100.
A study found that residents with a view of the water from their home reported better health, while those who regularly visit such environments had higher wellbeing and lower depression risk. The research suggests Hong Kong's blue spaces could be an important public health resource.
A new study published in Scientific Reports presents a conservation mitigation matrix for mitigating the impacts of climate warming on sea turtle nesting success. The research team found that simple measures such as shading with palm leaves and relocating nests can effectively prevent female-only turtle populations.
Local protection efforts have led to a significant recovery of Giant South American Turtle populations, with over nine times more turtles hatching on protected beaches compared to the 1970s. Other species, such as birds and fish, are also thriving in these areas.
A study has found that rising atmospheric CO2 levels could disrupt the sedimentary balance of beach-dune systems, leading to erosion and increased flooding risks. The research suggests that by 2100, sediment accumulation at the base of Mediterranean dunes could fall by 31%, putting beaches like San Giovanni in Sardinia at risk.
Researchers from the University of Exeter discovered microplastics at depths of up to 60cm on beaches used by green turtles and loggerheads in Cyprus. The study found high levels of microplastics, which could alter conditions at hatching sites and impact turtle breeding.
A recent study explores how Sargassum's growth and movement along ocean currents affect its distribution patterns. The research reveals two key regions influencing the spread of Sargassum across the Atlantic, providing potential insights for predicting coastal inundations.
A study by University of Kansas researcher Erin Adamson finds that lifestyle migrants in Costa Rica's Caribbean coastal town create unintended consequences, including gentrification and racial segregation. Locals see benefits from the influx of migrants, but many are pushed out due to economic changes.
Researchers detected high levels of sunscreen chemicals in Shenzhen waters and found they affect zebrafish embryo development. The effects vary depending on the chemical combination and exposure duration.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning youth are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, be obese, and engage in less physical activity. Minority stress may contribute to the risk of poor physical health among LGBQ youth.
Research at the University of New Hampshire shows that unfavorable water quality conditions in lakes lead to changes in recreational behavior, with some visitors abandoning their experience altogether.
Researchers have identified simpler computer models that can accurately predict current beach conditions from past data, enabling faster and more reliable detection of fecal microbes. The new approach combines wavelet transform and artificial neural network analysis, requiring only bacterial data from the past, with no additional inputs.
Researchers developed a new approach to measuring recreational water quality, focusing on the quantity and type of mammalian feces in the water. They found that ecosystem-specific characteristics, such as freshwater sediment and estuary transport, also play a significant role in determining enterococci concentrations.
The Specify team has adopted a biological museum-membership organization to migrate from grant-supported to community-supported funding. The new model allows institutions of all sizes to contribute to the operating budget, while maintaining open-source software licensing and free access for users.
Researchers have identified gulls as the major source of E. coli beach closings on Lake Michigan beaches in Indiana. The team found that trained dogs patrolled beaches with a dog deterrence program reduced gull abundance by nearly 100% and beach closures, resulting in improved water quality.
A Johns Hopkins study found that physicians' use of stigmatizing language in medical records can lead to negative attitudes towards patients and less aggressive pain management. The study suggests that neutral language in medical records can perpetuate bias among physicians.
A global risk index for beach tourism loss due to tsunamis has been developed, revealing that the equivalent of over $250 million USD is lost annually. The top 10 tourism locations with the highest potential tsunami losses include Hawaii, Lima, Peru, and Phuket, Thailand.
A new study by UNC-Chapel Hill biologists found that loggerhead sea turtles genetically similar to one another nest on beaches with similar magnetic fields. The research implies that turtles can mistakenly nest at different beaches with similar magnetic fields, even if it's geographically far away from their hatching beach.
A study analyzing four beach nourishment projects in San Diego County found that mechanically placed sand moves significantly, with some areas receiving more sand than was initially added. The research provides insight into the behavior of nourishment sand and its potential unintended consequences.
A recent study by the University of Exeter reveals that 271 million people visit England's coastal environments each year, with walking being the most popular activity. Additionally, research shows that these 'blue' spaces play a crucial role in supporting physical activity, especially among females and older adults.
A study published in Frontiers in Environmental Science detected cadmium, mercury, and lead in high concentrations in plastic debris collected from Lake Geneva's beaches. The presence of toxic elements reflects the age of the plastic litter, which could be decades old.
A team of scientists has discovered that rocks round up in the same way regardless of their origin, with a common process guiding their shape evolution. By combining mathematical models and laboratory experiments, the researchers found that collisions between particles favor the chipping off of small sediment fragments.
A new study by Ohio State University found that cleaning up beaches in Orange County, California could bring in significant economic benefits, ranging from $13 to $42 per resident. The research estimated that reducing ocean debris by 25-75% could lead to a $46 million boost to the county's economy in just one summer.
Researchers found a unique deposit in upper meter of marsh sediments, suggesting the 1861-62 storm season was erosive enough to remove coastal barriers. The team used sediment cores and analyzed European crop pollen and spheroidal carbonaceous particles to confirm the deposit's age.
A new study finds that warmer temperatures are turning the majority of sea turtles in the Great Barrier Reef population female, with some beaches having as few as 1% male turtles. This shift could threaten the long-term sustainability of the colony.
A US study estimates that 90 million cases of waterborne illnesses occur each year through recreational activities, costing $2.9 billion annually. The most common illnesses are gastrointestinal and respiratory in nature, with adults aged 20-54 experiencing mild illness and children under 10 experiencing moderate illness.
A study published in Geomorphology identifies areas with high cliff erosion rates and introduces a new hazard scale to predict impending collapses. The research provides accurate erosion rates for 680 miles of the California coast, highlighting the need for improved models and planning strategies to protect critical facilities.
A recent study by Tara C. Smith, Ph.D., found a higher-than-expected prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at beaches around Lake Erie. The study revealed that MRSA levels were more than 40% higher in the summer when beaches are most heavily used.
A University of Queensland study found that goanna raids on loggerhead turtle nests increased since feral fox control in the 1980s. Researchers observed up to 400 disturbed nests annually at Wreck Rock beach.
A global survey found that 91% of entangled marine turtles were dead, with serious wounds from entanglement and maiming. The study highlights the risk of plastic pollution to marine turtles, particularly young hatchlings and juveniles.