Research on lakes and freshwater. Covers waterborne illness, AI algal-bloom technology, freshwater carbon, and cyanobacteria toxin detection.
Researchers at Harvard Forest discovered a diverse array of organisms inside carnivorous pitcher plants, including bacteria, midge larvae, and rotifers. The study found that predator-prey interactions play a key role in shaping the food web, with removing one species affecting others.
A research team led by Anna Michalak found that the 2011 record-breaking algal bloom in Lake Erie was triggered by long-term agricultural practices combined with extreme precipitation, weak lake circulation, and warm temperatures. The team predicts future mega-blooms unless scientifically guided management plans are implemented.
A recent study suggests that the record-breaking 2011 Lake Erie algae bloom was caused by a combination of intense spring rainstorms and agricultural practices. The researchers used climate models to predict an increase in extreme precipitation events, which will likely fuel future massive blooms.
Researchers have discovered a new species of freshwater snail in Skadar Lake, an ancient lake on the Balkan Peninsula. The discovery highlights the importance of conserving this ecosystem due to its high level of endemism and vulnerability to eutrophication and pollution.
Dr. Clyde Goulden, a pioneering ecologist, received the Order of the Polar Star for his long-term research on climate change in Mongolia. Dr. Jon Gelhaus, Academy curator of entomology, received the Khubilai Khan gold medal for his scientific contributions to Mongolia's biological science and training of young scientists.
Experiments predict that Daphnia lumholtzi can invade European lakes and outcompete native species, leading to substantial declines in population growth. The invasive species' ability to thrive at low temperatures also poses a threat.
A study examining stomach contents of over 5,000 invasive American bullfrogs found they prey on nearly 18,814 identifiable animal remains, including insects, fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, and small mammals. The invasive species are recognized as one of the world's worst alien invasions due to their rapid population growth.
A new fish species, Alburnoides manyasensis, has been described from the Koca Stream drainage of Lake Manyas in Turkey. The species is characterized by small black spots and inhabits clear fast-running water with cobble and pebble substrates.
A new study from Lund University in Sweden shows that roach fish migrate to surrounding streams and wetlands to escape cormorant predators, highlighting the first evidence of migration as a strategy to avoid predation. The researchers used innovative tracking methods to determine which fish were eaten by cormorants.
Studies reveal ancient ocean diamonds, soil depletion drives early Holocene lake acidification, and modeling world's largest rivers to understand their diversity. Insects' colorful evolution also sheds light on environmental factors.
A new study reveals that mountains can play a crucial role in triggering lake-effect snowstorms over large bodies of water. The research found that three key mountain-related factors were necessary to produce the October 2010 storm that hit metropolitan Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Range.
A University of Alberta study reveals that busy beavers contribute to an earlier start for Canada geese's spring nesting by warming ponds and thawing winter snowpack. This helps the birds secure reproductive success.
Recent AGU journal publications explore the global climatology of explosive cyclones and their impact on U.S. biomes under climate change. A study found that extreme precipitation patterns decrease vegetative productivity by 20% in some regions, while others show neutral or negative effects.
The GSA Bulletin has published 13 new papers covering topics such as Holocene record of strong earthquakes in the Lake Tahoe region and evaporite tectonics in the Cumberland basin. The studies reveal a history of major earthquakes throughout the Holocene, with some fault ruptures occurring every 2,600 years.
Researchers found carbon dioxide to be an effective tool in repelling fish from an area, with all four species tested showing the same response. This non-physical barrier could complement electric fences and increase the likelihood of stopping invasive Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan.
A University of Utah study found that people who multitask the most, including those talking on cell phones while driving, are actually least capable of doing so. This is because they often lack the ability to focus attention on a singular task and tend to be impulsive and sensation-seeking.
Researchers found triclosan and its derivatives in lake sediments, with higher concentrations in small lakes with wastewater input. The study's results raise concerns about the environmental impact of triclosan, a common antibacterial agent used in soaps and other products.
Researchers developed a tool that combines age, gender, and common blood tests to predict mortality among trauma patients. The Intermountain Risk Score identifies high-risk patients with increased likelihood of death within a year.
A new robotic fish, named Grace, has been designed to glide long distances through water, gathering valuable data on lake and river quality. The robot's ability to glide is achieved through a pump system that pushes water in and out of the fish, allowing it to travel indefinitely with minimal energy consumption.
Researchers found significant influence of seabird activity on methane and nitrous oxide emissions in the Arctic tundra, contributing to global warming. Meanwhile, a new assessment reveals U.S. cities are less susceptible to water scarcity issues than previously thought.
Biologists from Naturalis Biodiversity Center and Institute of Biology Leiden describe two new cichlid fish species from Lake Victoria, one of which is named in honor of Tijs Goldschmidt. The study reveals that the newly described species exhibit distinct morphological differences, suggesting they are separate species.
Researchers from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide, Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling, and Pine Island Glacier projects have reached significant technological milestones, advancing cutting-edge research on life in extreme ecosystems, ice sheet fate, and abrupt global climate-change events. Innovative drilling te...
A comprehensive environmental threat map reveals high stress levels in some areas of the Great Lakes, with cumulative effects of multiple stressors impacting ecosystem health. The map provides a scientific foundation for sustainable management of the lakes, highlighting areas where human benefits and stress intersect.
A new study maps environmental stresses and ecological services in the Great Lakes, highlighting areas of high cumulative stress and potential for protection. The analysis provides a comprehensive perspective on restoration, identifying locations where multiple problems intersect and opportunities for targeted remediation.
Researchers mapped large stands of invasive Phragmites along the US Great Lakes coastline using satellite technologies. The resulting dataset provides a highly accurate picture of the extent of Phragmites invasion, allowing for targeted control efforts and future range extension modeling.
A National Science Foundation-funded research team has discovered the remains of a camp used by explorers of the 'Heroic Age' of Antarctic exploration, dating back to 1912. The site was found using a combination of written accounts and historic images, matching an archival photograph from the Terra Nova expedition.
A regional team led by Case Western Reserve University has won $4 million to design a 9-turbine Lake Erie wind farm, with the potential for an additional $46 million in funding. The goal is to demonstrate cost-competitive power production and explore materials and designs to reduce costs.
A $21,000 grant will enable Mercyhurst researcher Steven Mauro to study the role of temperature and phosphorus on bacterial survival on algae in the Great Lakes. The research aims to better understand how global warming and phosphorus loading contribute to bacterial pathogens in recreational waters.
Research reveals that Great Lakes salmon carry industrial pollutants into streams and tributaries as they migrate upstream to spawn. This can lead to the bioconcentration of pollutants in stream fish, posing a risk to human health, particularly for pregnant women and children.
Researchers discovered a viable community of bacteria surviving without sunlight in Lake Vida's brine, which could have implications for finding life elsewhere. The findings suggest chemical reactions between the brine and sediments generate energy for microbial life.
Researchers develop a sediment budget for an alpine cirque in British Columbia, Canada, revealing glacial retreat rates of 0.5-0.9 mm per year. In Tibet, new data supports a model of rift evolution involving upper crustal thinning and isostatic rebound.
Scientists have found metabolically active bacteria in the brine of an Antarctic lake sealed under ice for over 2,800 years. The discovery provides new boundary conditions on life's limits and suggests that chemical reactions between the brine and underlying sediment generate energy for microbes.
Researchers at University of Massachusetts Amherst used biomarkers from human feces to establish the first human presence, arrival of grazing animals, and population dynamics in a landscape. The method provides a strong human signal with excellent chronological control, offering valuable insights into past environmental changes.
A pioneering study reveals a diverse community of bacteria in Lake Vida, one of Earth's coldest and most isolated ecosystems. The brine, approximately six times saltier than seawater, harbors an abundance of life that survives at subzero temperatures without oxygen.
A $243,000 NSF grant will help understand and quantify interactions between human conflict and natural systems in the Lake Victoria region. The project aims to improve regional fisheries management and sustain aquatic resources critical for local inhabitants.
Researchers at the University of Southampton have developed a method to predict environmental collapse by identifying 'flickering' signs in ecosystems, which may also warn of crises in agriculture and social systems.
The University of Michigan and Michigan State University have awarded six grants to organizations across the region for projects that will help decision-makers adapt to climate change and variability in the Great Lakes basin. The grants aim to identify vulnerabilities, strengths, and knowledge related to climate change, and provide rel...
Sandy's remnants continue to linger over a large area in eastern Canada and the northeastern US, with low-pressure areas stretching from Newfoundland and Labrador west over Quebec, Ottawa, and Toronto. The National Weather Service projects that the low-pressure area will shift offshore by November 6.
The animation shows Hurricane Sandy's transformation from a strengthening tropical depression to a ferocious Nor'easter that brought devastating damage to the mid-Atlantic region. Total damage was estimated at $20 billion dollars.
A Florida Tech researcher has been awarded a $400,000 NSF grant to develop ferrates, which can effectively remove cyanotoxins from drinking water. The project will explore the use of ferrates in both laboratory and field settings to combat the growing problem of cyanobacteria in water reservoirs.
A new radiocarbon dating method enables precise calibration of past ages, improving climate change understanding. The method uses seasonal layered deposits in lake sediments to date older objects up to 52.8 kyr BP.
Researchers extracted cores from Japan's Lake Suigetsu, containing organic material that provides a direct record of atmospheric carbon, extending the radiocarbon dating record by over 40,000 years. This discovery enables scientists to pinpoint more accurately the timing of events such as Neanderthal extinction and modern human migration.
A new series of radiocarbon measurements from Japan's Lake Suigetsu provides a more precise and accurate dating method, especially for older objects. The record stretches back 52,800 years, offering improved resolution and confidence in radiocarbon dating.
The University of Michigan and 20 other U.S. and Canadian universities are launching the Great Lakes Futures Project to protect and restore the Great Lakes through science-based scenario analysis. The project aims to develop white papers outlining critical drivers of change in the basin over the past 50 years and the next 50 years.
A new study reveals that a significant amount of carbon released into lakes and rivers is very old, approximately 1,000 to 3,000 years old. This finding challenges the current models of long-term carbon storage in lakes and rivers, suggesting a significant lag in the coupling between terrestrial and aquatic environments.
A warmer climate is expected to lead to varying reactions in lakes, with those without fish displaying clear water and avoiding algal blooms, while lakes with fish will see an increase in algae due to the consumption of zooplankton by fish
A new study reveals that summers on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard are warmer than any other time in the last 1,800 years, with temperatures exceeding even the warmest periods during the Medieval Warm Period. This finding casts doubt on skeptics who argue that current warming is also natural.
A Texas A&M University-led study has uncovered a new water cycle connection between the U.S. southwest and tropical regions, shedding light on ancient lakes that once filled desert valleys. The research suggests that precipitation in the region may have enhanced the summer monsoon, supporting the development of these lakes.
The study on the South Tibetan fault system reveals a minimum displacement of approx. 65 km, suggesting normal faulting played a fundamental role in the Himalayas' evolution. Meanwhile, researchers have discovered glaciation records in the James Bay Lowland, Canada, dating back to 3.5 Ma.
New UNICEF studies emphasize the need to prioritize health services for the poorest populations, showing that focusing on equity can improve health outcomes without sacrificing efficiency. The research reveals significant declines in under-five mortality rates worldwide since 1990, yet challenges remain.
A British team will penetrate and sample an ancient buried lake beneath three kilometers of ice in Antarctica. The team aims to reveal secrets about the Earth's past climate and discover life forms that may exist in subglacial Lake Ellsworth.
A new study found that changes in lake water chemistry, caused by acid rain and logging, are leaving small water organisms like plankton without adequate armor, making them easy prey for predators. The researchers warn that this could have significant consequences for the entire ecosystem.
The University of Tennessee team will combine molecular biology, ecological analysis and environmental remediation to create mathematical models of ecosystem function and provide a strategy for Chinese government officials to balance Lake Taihu's ecosystem. They will examine all contributing organisms to toxic algal blooms and develop ...
Researchers have discovered that methane from lakebeds is present in fish tissue through the food chain. The study uses two biomarkers to confirm the finding, increasing the certainty of its results. Methane oxidizing bacteria are consumed by zooplankton and other aquatic organisms, which eventually end up in fish stomachs.
The New Zealand mudsnail's ability to reproduce parthenogenically and tolerate air exposure allows it to spread across continents. Simple control measures, such as exposing fishing tools and boats to air for extended periods or using physical barriers, can help prevent its invasion.
A new report reveals that Ohio residents prioritize the preservation of Lake Erie as a natural resource, with nearly half willing to pay higher taxes to protect it. However, concerns over contaminants such as blue-green algal blooms and mercury contamination pose a risk to public health.
A team led by an MSU professor has created a cost-effective way to remove phosphorous from wastewater, reducing eutrophication and toxic algae growth. The new method uses nanoparticles composed of iron to efficiently absorb phosphorous, which can be recovered for fertilizer products.
Microcystins are present in every Canadian lake, posing health risks to humans and wildlife. The study found that water quality is most at risk in lakes with high microcystin concentrations, which are linked to low nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios.
A team of archaeologists and geologists have discovered a large quantity of skeletal remains at the Alken Enge site, including a fractured skull and thigh bone hacked in half, suggesting violent conflict. The remains are believed to be from hundreds of warriors who were sacrificed around the time of the birth of Christ.
The discovery sheds light on early human evolution, providing a clearer picture of what our direct ancestral species looked like. The new fossils reveal that two species of Homo coexisted with Homo erectus between 1.78 and 1.95 million years ago.