Research on lakes and freshwater. Covers waterborne illness, AI algal-bloom technology, freshwater carbon, and cyanobacteria toxin detection.
Researchers have identified bacteria in Lake Erie that can degrade microcystin, a toxic toxin linked to liver cancer and other diseases. The bacteria, including Flectobacillus major and Pseudomonas lutea, can remove up to 19 parts per billion of microcystin from water supplies.
A new fossil discovery reveals the earliest known passerine bird with a finch-like beak, which suggests a diet of small hard seeds. The bird, Eofringillirostrum boudreauxi, lived in what is now Wyoming during the Early Eocene period.
A Northwestern University team found that southern Greenland's climate was relatively warm when the Norse lived there between 985 and 1450 C.E., about 1.5-degrees Celsius warmer than surrounding cooling centuries.
Recent studies found that dry inland waters play a significant role in the global carbon cycle, emitting around 0.2 gigatonnes of CO2 annually. Freshwaters also act as carbon sinks when water levels are high, but emit gases when they dry out. The team suggests reservoirs as potential targets for reducing CO2 emissions from inland waters.
Geoscientists at UMass Amherst have reconstructed the longest and highest-resolution climate record for the Northeastern United States, revealing previously undetected past temperature cycles. The study used branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetra ethers (branched GDGTs) to provide an independent terrestrial paleo-thermometer.
Researchers found that sediment levels declined over the study period, while phosphorus levels increased after an initial decline. Nitrogen levels also decreased, indicating potential benefits to local freshwater ecosystems and the Gulf of Mexico.
Researchers at Duke University have discovered that fish ear bones can serve as a fingerprint for identifying and tracking coal ash contamination in aquatic ecosystems. The study used strontium isotope ratios in otoliths to connect high levels of toxic elements back to the contamination source.
A University of Utah study found that a single dust storm in 2017 accelerated snowmelt in the Wasatch Mountains by 25 percent. Dust deposition was linked to declining water levels in the Great Salt Lake, which may lead to more frequent and severe snowmelt events.
Researchers at the University of Alberta found alpine zooplankton to be excellent indicators of lake health, sensitive to climate changes. By analyzing over 1,200 lakes across North America, the team showed that these tiny organisms can assess ecosystem function based on their ecological traits.
A new study reveals how climate change and human activity are impacting Lake Baikal's unique ecosystem. The lake's diatom species are shifting towards warmer surface waters, potentially disrupting the food chain and biodiversity.
A new study led by Ohio State University aims to build models that predict how future trade scenarios could affect the Great Lakes region's food, energy, and water supply. The research team is gathering input from farmers, state and regional policy organizations, and other stakeholders to formulate potential future scenarios.
New research reveals hidden realms in ice-covered lakes and deep soils affecting water clarity, salt marsh survival, drought impact, and climate change pace. NSF's LTER Network of 28 sites explores various ecosystems to better understand ecological processes.
Researchers have discovered that rice plants can be used to clean runoff from farms before it enters waterways, capturing pesticides and reducing their presence in rivers and streams. The study found that levels of three common pesticides dropped by as much as 97% in fields where rice was planted.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison found that low-abundance species like the spiny water flea can go undetected even with rigorous sampling. Increasing net size and targeting specific times of year can improve detection rates.
Scientists have found magnetic evidence of oxygenation in a paleolake, suggesting that most water column and history contained oxygen. The study analyzed drill cores from the Nonesuch Formation, revealing a gradient of oxygenation according to water depth.
A new study reveals a widespread decline in water storage in global endorheic basins, resulting in increased local water stress and potential sea level rise. The researchers found a net water loss of approximately 100 billion tons per year, equivalent to five Great Salt Lakes or three Lake Meads.
A 3,980-year-old volcanic eruption on Deception Island had a Volcanic Explosive Index of 6 and ejected 30-60 cubic kilometers of ash. The caldera collapse triggered a seismic event and had significant climatic impacts in the southern region.
Researchers found that overwintering Microcystis cells in sediments can seed the next year's bloom, explaining the rapid increase in Lake Erie bloom size and spatial extent. The study advances scientists' understanding of the basic biology driving the annual summer blooms.
New research found that overflowing crater lakes on Mars carved canyons rapidly, possibly in weeks, using high-resolution satellite images. This process likely played a major role in shaping Mars' surface without plate tectonics.
Researchers found thousands of genetic variants linked to both pit and castle building behaviors, suggesting complex patterns of genetic variation and regulation. The study provides evolutionary insights into the development of these natural behaviors in cichlid fishes.
A new MIT study finds that every five-year delay in reducing mercury emissions results in a 14% decrease in the effectiveness of policy measures, with remote regions suffering most. The researchers used modeling to estimate legacy emissions and found that delays lead to an accumulation of toxic mercury in the environment.
A new Lake Erie Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health aims to study harmful algal blooms and their impact on human health. U-M researchers will lead a project to discover previously unknown toxins, with the goal of developing new medicines.
A team of evolutionary biologists discovered the genetic basis for the repeated evolution of color patterns, specifically horizontal stripes, in East-African cichlid fishes. The study found that a specific gene, agrp2, is responsible for the emergence and loss of stripes, making repeated evolution possible within a short period.
A new computational model, PRYSM, has been developed to interpret climate data from lake sediments, revealing that lake temperature proxies underestimated air temperature changes. The model is designed to compare paleoclimate data with climate model simulations, aiming to improve interpretations of past climate changes.
A new EU-funded project, EXPLO, aims to uncover the dynamics and causes of prehistoric land use change in the cradle of European farming. By integrating underwater archeology with ecological and climate science methods, researchers hope to understand how early farmers adapted to changing environmental conditions.
Researchers at Ca' Foscari University of Venice identified and dated traces of sterols in Lake Diamond and Kirkpatrick sediments, proving the presence of the Maori people. The study demonstrates a method for reconstructing human history by analyzing fecal sterols, which also shows the impact of the Maori population on the native forest.
African lake sedimentary cores revealed a continuous record of climate change extending back one million years, linking aridification to technological and evolutionary changes in early humans. The research suggests that climate variability drove human migration and the development of new tools, providing a selective pressure for survival.
Researchers analyzed Lake Magadi sedimentary cores, showing a long-term drying trend starting around 575,000 years ago. This period of aridification coincided with extinctions of large grazing mammals and the appearance of Middle Stone Age artifacts.
A new study shows that land-locked Atlantic salmon use the Earth's magnetic field as a navigational tool, similar to Pacific salmon. The ability is retained even after several generations of fish in a land-locked lake. This raises concerns about the impact on native salmon and ecosystems if these fish escape aquaculture pens.
Researchers found evidence of a variable but progressively drying climate coincides with a major shift in stone-tool-making abilities and the appearance of modern Homo sapiens. A continuous environmental context was provided for the diverse archeological evidence recovered from nearby localities in the rift valley basins of southern Ke...
Researchers at University of Basel developed new approach to analyze microbial molecular fossils in lake sediments, providing reliable temperature estimates. The study's findings can be applied globally, offering improved predictions for future climate conditions.
A recent study found that glacial lake outbursts can trigger massive erosion and landslides, causing widespread damage to infrastructure. The research, published in Science, suggests that non-climatological drivers such as earthquakes and climate change may play a significant role in shaping fluvial erosion rates.
The High Plains landscape was formed 20 million years ago through geological uplift and erosion, resulting in a unique ecosystem with hundreds of thousands of ephemeral lakes. These lakes provide crucial breeding and wintering habitats for millions of birds and recharge the Ogallala aquifer, North America's largest groundwater reservoir.
A two-year study found that indoor HEPA filters significantly reduce fine-particulate matter in the air, with a 55% reduction in PM2.5 levels when used during poor air quality days.
A study published in River Research and Applications detected over 1,000 endangered razorback sucker and dozens of Colorado pikeminnow downstream of the Piute Farms Waterfall. The fish moved from up to 600 miles away in the Colorado River, suggesting that spawning migrations may be cut off by the waterfall.
Scientists used ecological niche models to predict habitat suitability and invasion risk for over 900 lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The models found relatively high risk of invasion in central Minnesota and eastern Wisconsin waters.
Long-term data analysis shows decreasing nitrogen inputs decrease algal blooms and increase water clarity in Lake Müggelsee. Blue-green algae do not rely on atmospheric nitrogen to sustain themselves.
A new study led by Ohio State University found that algae poses a greater threat to freshwater fish vision than sediment, causing a 40% decrease in their ability to see in cloudy water. This could jeopardize the future of walleye and other fish populations if harmful algal blooms persist.
Researchers found high levels of toxic metals in drinking water, including nickel, copper, cadmium, and lead, leading to increased morbidity rates. The study also revealed a significant link between the accumulation of these metals in kidneys and livers, increasing the risk of malignant neoplasms.
A recent study by Ohio State University researchers found high levels of toxins in water near farm fields in rural Ohio, posing serious health risks to people, pets, and wildlife. The study highlights the need for judicious fertilizer use and measures to reduce animal waste contamination to control algal blooms.
Research reveals a significant shift from clear to murky lakes in the continental United States over the past five years. Murky lakes have increased by 12% while clear lakes declined by 18%, posing concerns for water quality and aquatic life.
Marimo algae balls sink at night and float during the day due to photosynthesis and biological circadian rhythms, according to a new study published in Current Biology. The research has implications for conserving these endangered species, which have experienced a global decline.
A 5,000-year-old monumental cemetery near Lake Turkana in Kenya suggests alternative models for understanding the relationships between monuments and social change. The site's burial of diverse individuals with personalized ornamentation indicates no social stratification.
The Lothagam North Pillar Site is the earliest and largest monumental cemetery in eastern Africa, built by an egalitarian society of mobile pastoralists around Lake Turkana. The site's construction contradicts traditional theories about the emergence of social hierarchy and its relationship to monument building.
Researchers found that abrupt thawing more than doubles previous estimates of permafrost-derived greenhouse warming. The process increases ancient carbon stored in soil by 125-190 percent compared to gradual thawing alone.
A new study finds that abrupt thawing of permafrost beneath thermokarst lakes can release significant amounts of greenhouse gases, including methane and carbon, potentially doubling the release from terrestrial landscapes by the 2050s. This could lead to a significant feedback effect on climate change.
A recent study published in the journal Ecology found that pathogens growing at higher temperatures produce offspring causing stronger infections in future hosts, creating a climate 'echo effect' across generations of pathogens. This suggests that climate change may contribute to increased disease severity and outbreaks.
A long-term study of eastern massasauga rattlesnakes in Illinois reveals they have retained a surprising amount of genetic diversity. However, the snakes' populations are likely to become locally extinct without significant intervention due to habitat loss and fragmentation.
A new study by Umea University researchers found that browning in lakes has a limited impact on fish populations, affecting only lakes with average depths of 2-3.5 meters. This suggests that the expected decline in fish populations due to browning is less severe than previously thought
Researchers from four international universities analyzed cichlid fish DNA to understand the formation of new species. They found that hybridization between species led to rapid evolution and adaptation, boosting innovation and species development.
A copper band discovered in coastal Georgia indicates that ancient Native Americans had a more extensive trade network than previously thought. The band was manufactured in the Great Lakes region and shows that the practice of cremation was used across a wider area than previously known, suggesting shared cultural values.
Researchers measured isotopes of water trapped in gypsum to determine changes in rainfall and relative humidity during the Maya downfall. Annual precipitation decreased by 41-54% and relative humidity declined by 2-7%. These findings support theories that drought contributed to the Maya civilization's collapse.
A new study reveals that the Terminal Classic Period drought led to significant reductions in rainfall and relative humidity in the Maya Lowlands. The research found annual rainfall decreased by nearly 50% on average, with up to 70% during peak drought conditions.
A team at the University of Washington has developed a sustainable method to remove color from dyes in water using a sponge-like material created from wood pulp and palladium. This process can alter the dye structure and change its color to clear, allowing plants to grow normally again.
Archaeological findings reveal copper band and cremated remains at a burial site in coastal Georgia, dating back to the Late Archaic Period. The copper originated from the Great Lakes region, indicating long-distance cultural exchange among indigenous groups.
A 20-kilometer-wide lake of liquid water has been detected beneath Mars' southern ice cap using the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding instrument. The presence of dissolved salts could lower the melting point, allowing the lake to remain liquid
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.
A 1.4 billion-year-old lake deposit in Ontario has provided fresh evidence of the Earth's atmosphere and biosphere during a time leading up to animal life. The findings suggest that oxygen levels were much lower than today, with primary productivity being less than half as high.
Researchers found anomalous oxygen isotopes in an ancient Canadian lake bed, hinting at life on ancient Earth's surface. The study provides evidence of a lower gross primary production during the Proterozoic eon, shedding light on the evolution of life on Earth.
Researchers found that caught bluegills spend more time associating with others than uncaught ones. This sociability difference may impact the entire social structure of remaining fish populations.