Articles tagged with Lakes
A new fossil cichlid discovered in East Africa provides insights into the evolutionary history of the cichlid family. The analysis of its unique 'mosaic-like' set of characters supports the idea that interspecies hybridization played a prominent role in their evolution.
Scientists have found that Boreal Shield lakes in Canada share key properties with Archean oceans, allowing for new insights into early life forms and potential solutions to greenhouse gas emissions and harmful algal blooms. Researchers can use these lakes as living laboratories to study ancient microbial communities.
Researchers found that the closure of Union Pacific railway culverts led to a 88% decrease in methylmercury levels in the lake's deep brine layer and sediments. However, waterfowl carcasses showed no significant change in mercury levels, indicating that the source of methylmercury in wetlands remains unknown.
A glacier in northern Canada has retreated, triggering a geologic event that captured one river's flow and redirected it towards another. The study documents the first known case of 'river piracy' in modern times, highlighting the impact of climate change on glaciers.
Researchers estimate the total volume of lake water to be around 184,000-199,000 km³, highlighting its relative scarcity compared to the ocean's massive 1.3 billion km³. Human activities like climate change and water diversion significantly impact lake quality and quantity.
A study of 371 lakes found that proximity to roads and road salt predicts escalating salinization in North American freshwater lakes. Chloride trends were analyzed, revealing that 70% of lakes with high impervious land cover had increasing chloride concentrations, putting 7,770 lakes at risk of rising salinity.
Researchers found evidence of how ancient Britain separated from Europe in two stages, with a proglacial lake overflowing into the North Sea. The team discovered plunge pools in the Dover Strait, created by water cascading over an escarpment, suggesting a catastrophic failure that released megafloods.
A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that human illness leads to more destructive fishing methods and environmental harm at Lake Victoria. Healthy individuals tend to prioritize sustainable fishing practices, whereas chronically ill people focus on short-term gains, resulting in unsustainable methods.
A study in Limnology & Oceanography Letters reveals that biological organisms achieve high population extremes in Midwestern lakes, defying expectations. Researchers found frequent records being set across variables like fish populations, plant growth, and plankton numbers, indicating a need to reassess ecological limits.
Researchers uncover 16 million-year-old fossils of a small crocodile, Diplocynodon ratelii, which is similar to modern-day caimans. The discovery provides new insights into the early Miocene ecosystem in Catalonia, Spain.
A USGS and Michigan State University study discovered that slower sea lamprey growth rates during the larval phase increase the odds of becoming male. In productive environments, only 56% of sea lampreys were male after three years, whereas in unproductive lakes, 78% became male.
A recent study analyzing 147 northern lakes reveals that many rely on nutrients from tree leaves, pine needles, and other land-grown plants to feed aquatic life. This underscores the importance of understanding how landscape changes impact lake food webs for effective freshwater management.
A new 'super sponge' created by University of Minnesota researchers can absorb mercury from water within seconds, removing it to below detectable limits. The technology has the potential to reduce mercury contamination in lakes, industrial wastewater, and tap water, with economic benefits estimated at $212 million annually.
Julie Fenton, a Penn State chemistry graduate student, has been selected to participate in the 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. She will interact with over 30 Nobel Laureates from around the world, sharing knowledge and ideas during the 6-day meeting.
Researchers highlight the importance of blocking Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan and Great Lakes through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The canal system, built over 100 years ago, has protected the city's drinking water supply but also created entry points for invasive species.
Researchers analyzed Lake Towuti sediment using visible-near infrared spectroscopy and found distinct variations in clay mineralogy over the past 40,000 years. This technique can help reconstruct ancient Martian climate history.
The Association for the Sciences of Limnology & Oceanography (ASLO) announced the winners of the Nutrient Sensor Challenge, a market challenge aimed at developing affordable and accurate nutrient sensors. The Systea S.p.A. sensor won both Nitrate and Phosphate sensor categories, while the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) team receive...
New research published in the Journal of Applied Ecology finds that organic additives in road salt alternatives act as fertilizers, boosting algae growth and increasing zooplankton populations. This can have both desirable and undesirable effects on aquatic ecosystems, highlighting the need for further study.
Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine is partnering with New York schools to monitor invasive aquatic species in state waters. The program utilizes genetic tests and citizen scientist teams to detect early signs of invasion, educating students about the importance of environmental management and bio-informatics.
A new study by BYU nursing professor Julie Valentine found that sexual assault kit submission rates in Utah improved significantly from 38 percent in 2010-2013 to 75 percent in 2014. The study analyzed 2,317 kits and showed notable improvements in various jurisdictions, with Washington County seeing the most significant increase.
Scientists found strong evidence for geographic variation in six of nine life-history variables, including body size and litter sizes. The study suggests a one-size-fits-all conservation strategy is not appropriate, and assessments should account for geography to aid Eastern Massasauga recovery efforts.
Researchers used 'resurrection ecology' to revive and study Daphnia, a freshwater crustacean. They found that sensitivity to copper and cadmium increased as heavy metal levels rose in lakes, challenging evolutionary theory.
A NASA study reveals that meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet can drain through aquifers and fractures in the ice, reaching the ocean. This discovery could significantly impact computer models of sea level rise, providing new insights into the Greenland contribution.
A University of Washington study found that the unusual warm patch of seawater, nicknamed 'the blob,' had a cascading effect on air quality in the Western US. Ozone levels increased above average due to high temperatures, low cloud cover, and calm air, posing health risks.
A University of Wyoming researcher and her team have discovered that the rapid evolution of Lake Victoria cichlids was facilitated by earlier hybridization between two distantly related species. This phenomenon has resulted in over 700 species of fish evolving in just 150,000 years.
Researchers at the University of Washington used CryoSat-2 data to identify four interconnected lakes draining beneath Thwaites Glacier in eight months. The glacier sped up by about 10 percent during this time, indicating that other factors, such as ocean warming, are driving its long-term movement.
A Duke University study has found elevated selenium levels in fish from three North Carolina lakes receiving power plants' coal ash waste, contaminating aquatic ecosystems and posing health risks. The study highlights the ongoing issue of continuous contamination of aquatic resources from hundreds of coal ash ponds across the country.
Researchers found that the lake was six times larger and water levels were 60 meters higher than present during the early and middle Holocene period. The shifting monsoon likely altered the course of early human cultures in China, leading to changes in ecosystems and population dynamics.
A new study found that patients with a severe C. diff infection were less likely to die when treated with vancomycin compared to the standard treatment of metronidazole. The findings suggest that vancomycin may be a more effective treatment option for severe cases, but further research is needed to understand the cause and effect.
African Lake Kivu's unique chemistry suggests more nitrogen in ancient oceans, enabling marine organisms to thrive during multi-cellularity emergence. This finding implies phosphorous limitations shaped early ocean life, paving the way for Eukaryote evolution.
Researchers found that climate models underestimates high-elevation temperature changes, with errors of up to 40%, likely due to flawed water vapor content representation. This could lead to more extreme warming in fragile ecosystems like tropical glaciers.
A study published by the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine found that women with recurrent hypertensive disease of pregnancy have a higher risk of early mortality from causes such as diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and stroke. The study analyzed data from 1939 to 2012 and found that women with two or more affected pregnancies had a...
Three-spine stickleback fish in Alaska's Bristol Bay region are altering their breeding patterns in response to climate change, spawning earlier and more often. This shift could have wider ecological effects on the ecosystem, particularly for species like juvenile sockeye salmon.
A new study found that increased levels of soluble phosphorus in rivers entering Lake Erie may be linked to conservation measures, despite their success in reducing soil erosion and nutrient losses. The research highlights the need for adaptive management approaches to tackle both soluble and particulate phosphorus losses from farmland.
Researchers at WSU have discovered a new type of cooperative photosynthesis that allows bacteria to transfer electrons, enabling anaerobic photosynthesis. This process has significant implications for engineering microbial communities for waste treatment and bioenergy production.
Researchers found that a common species of zooplankton can develop higher tolerance to road salt, which may help protect ecosystems from salt's impacts. This rapid evolution suggests that freshwater ecosystems possess some resilience amid rising deicing salt applications.
Researchers studied data from Lake Malawi to confirm that rifting has occurred slowly over the past 1.3 million years, utilizing a series of faults millions of years older. The team's findings provide a unified geologic framework for exploring the East African Rift system and shed light on other continental rift systems.
Scientists have developed a method to predict full-scale algae blooms in lakes and reservoirs, enabling resource managers to take action before they develop. Automated monitoring systems that identify regime shifts can detect early warnings more than two weeks prior to the bloom.
The study estimates that about 3,000 tons of PHCZs lie in the sediment under lakes Michigan, Superior, and Huron, with Category 2 PHCZs likely from man-made sources. Most PHCZs, however, are believed to result from natural processes.
A new study by RIT researchers estimates nearly 10,000 metric tons of plastic debris enter the Great Lakes every year from the US and Canada. The study found that half of this pollution goes into Lake Michigan, with Lake Erie and Ontario receiving significantly lower amounts.
Scientists found Arctic lakes are melting an average of one day earlier per year over a 14-year period, with Central Siberia showing the strongest trend. This early thawing has implications for energy balance, CO2 emissions, and winter transport.
The new database provides a comprehensive overview of the world's lakes, with estimates of over 180,000 cubic kilometres of water stored in more than 1.4 million lakes. The study also reveals that lakes in hilly or mountainous regions tend to be deeper than those in flat landscapes.
Scientists discovered remnants of freshwater plants and animals in the Atacama's salt flats, indicating the presence of lakes and wetlands between 9,000 and 25,000 years ago. The findings suggest an alternative path for early settlers through the desert, potentially providing homes and sustenance.
Researchers found three key agricultural management plans to curb toxic algae blooms and discovered that Ohio residents are willing to help pay for these practices. However, the funding gap for implementing these plans is significant, with farmers already adopting only 20% of necessary practices.
A study by Thomas Zaret and Robert Paine found that peacock bass introductions led to the extirpation of 60% of native freshwater fish in Gatun Lake. The invasive species still have not recovered, with many other exotic fish introduced over time.
Researchers found sedimentary rocks along the Colorado River valley exhibit regular tidal influences, pointing to 330 meters of seafloor uplift over the past 5 million years. The study resolves a 20-year-old debate on depositional environments and tectonic significance in the region.
Researchers at Oregon State University found that northern sockeye salmon can thermostate to find water temperatures that meet their physiological needs, reducing energy expenditure during heat waves. By moving to tributary plumes or deeper water, the fish conserve energy and avoid extreme temperatures.
Archaeologists have discovered a collection of 55 species of edible plants, including seeds, fruits, nuts, and tubers, at the Gesher Benot Ya'aqov site in Israel. The finds, dated to 780,000 years ago, provide evidence of the plant-based diet of early humans during the Acheulian culture.
A study examines the impact of climate change on freshwater species in New South Wales, Australia. At least a third of species are likely to lose more than half their range under climate change. The researchers hope that better communicating modeling uncertainty can inform adaptive management and balance risks.
A study of over 5,000 Wisconsin lakes reveals nearly a quarter have become murkier in the past two decades. However, limiting agricultural land around waterways can improve water clarity and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.
Researchers found complex and active life under the ice in over 100 lakes, with productivity exceeding summer levels in some cases. This discovery complicates understanding of freshwater systems as climate change warms lakes worldwide.
A team of researchers led by Alena Gsell tested four statistical indicators to predict regime shifts in lakes. While some indicators showed promise, predicting crisis points was not always successful. Collecting more frequent and advanced data could improve early warning systems for lake ecosystems.
A Martian ice deposit, Utopia Planitia, contains approximately as much water as Lake Superior, spanning over 2,050 miles in diameter. The deposit is estimated to be around 260-560 feet thick, consisting of 50-85% water ice.
Researchers have developed an integrated model that connects atmospheric and lake body interactions, enabling feedback between variables. This two-way coupling approach simulates hydrodynamics of the Great Lakes region with high resolution, providing a more nuanced view of regional climate change.
New research suggests that Lake Champlain may be more susceptible to climate change-induced damage than previously thought. The study's findings indicate that the current pollution standards may not be enough to prevent worsening algae blooms and water quality problems.
A new study reveals that climate change and water resources development contributed significantly to the decline of Iran's Lake Urmia. The annual flow of water into the lake dropped by 48%, with 60% attributed to climate changes and 40% to human water usage.
The Freshwater Lab, a University of Illinois Chicago-based environmental research and policy center, has been awarded grants to host a Great Lakes mayoral summit. The summit will bring together diverse Great Lakes mayors to collaborate on urban water priorities and build an alliance with the Midwest academic research community.
Researchers have discovered a huge magmatic lake, 15 kilometers below a dormant volcano in Bolivia, which could help explain why and how volcanoes erupt. The find suggests that similar bodies of water may be 'hiding' under other volcanoes.
Researchers found four new chromosome rearrangements unique to the Caucasian population of Glyptotendipes salinus, which are distinct from previously studied populations in Altai and Kazakhstan. The larvae were also found to be twice as short than those in other regions.
Chinese scientists have designed a solid composite membrane that mimics biological ion channels with molecular sieve technology to effectively separate lithium ions from contaminants in brines. The approach allows for fast lithium ion flux and selectivity over other ions, making it a promising method for improved lithium extraction.