Research on lakes and freshwater. Covers waterborne illness, AI algal-bloom technology, freshwater carbon, and cyanobacteria toxin detection.
A new study suggests that parts of Peru and Bolivia will become a desert-like setting if temperatures rise more than 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above modern times. The change would be disastrous for the water supply and agricultural capacity of La Paz, affecting its two million inhabitants.
A team of researchers led by Michigan State University will investigate the effects of increasing doses of mercury on yellow perch. The study aims to shed light on the negative repercussions of low-level pollutants on fish populations.
Researchers will study coastal algal bloom risk and nutrient sources, create models to forecast HABs and develop action plans to reduce them. The project aims to restore the physical, chemical and biological integrity of near-shore waters globally.
A recent study has found that environmental changes, such as dry and wet conditions, may have influenced the development of early human ancestors. The research team analyzed chemical compositions of rocks from Olduvai Gorge, which revealed more extreme climate fluctuations than previously thought.
Researchers discovered a rare colony of moss, worms, and shrimp flourishing around a geothermal vent at the bottom of Yellowstone Lake. The unique environment is characterized by inky black water, high temperatures, and toxic gases.
A joint MSU-UMich initiative will use the grant to help communities understand and adapt to climate changes in the Great Lakes region. Climate change is projected to impact lake levels, precipitation patterns, and average seasonal temperatures.
A new study published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology found that male cichlid fish often desert their mates, leaving females to care for their young on their own. This abandonment severely compromises the quality of care provided by females, making them vulnerable to predators.
Researchers will investigate how climate change affects Great Lakes water quality, focusing on extreme weather events and their impact on nutrient, pesticide, and sediment levels. The study aims to develop strategies for watershed councils and government entities to reduce water quality impacts.
Researchers examine how silicic magma contributes to continental crust growth, the dynamics of the Tibetan Plateau's formation, and the nature of earthquakes in the Eastern Carpathians. New data suggest that continental delamination may be responsible for seismic activity in this region.
A USGS study found that taste-and-odor compounds are commonly associated with cyanotoxin presence, highlighting the need for increased surveillance and public alert systems. Cyanotoxins can be poisonous to people, aquatic life, pets, and livestock, causing symptoms like skin rashes, stomach upset, seizures, or death.
The quagga mussel's voracious appetite for phytoplankton is causing a decline in its abundance, which in turn is affecting the food chain and fisheries in southern Lake Michigan. As a result, zooplankton populations are dwindling, and fish species such as alewives, chubs, and Atlantic salmon are facing extinction.
A new study reveals a clear link between high E. coli bacteria levels in inland Ohio lakes and increased risk of gastrointestinal illness among swimmers. The researchers argue that a reliable method to predict when bacteria levels are likely to be higher is needed to issue timely warnings.
A team will evaluate watershed sources, lake water stratification, and wind conditions to develop a predictive model for potential changes in hypoxia. The results will help identify acceptable limits for nutrient levels to reduce hypoxia in Green Bay.
Scientists find that water fleas facilitate bacterial dispersal, allowing microbes to reach inaccessible habitats. The 'conveyor-belt' hypothesis is confirmed through lab and field experiments.
Researchers have developed a small robot named ROCR that can climb walls efficiently, achieving 20% efficiency in climbing tests. The robot uses a swinging motion inspired by human climbers and animals to minimize energy consumption.
Researchers are investigating how different forms of phosphorus trigger toxic algal blooms in the Great Lakes, with a focus on the blue-green algae species Microcystis. Understanding which types of phosphorus are most instrumental in stimulating bloom formation is crucial for protecting public health and the coastal ecosystem.
A $2.5 million grant from NOAA will support research on invasive species in the Great Lakes, aiming to predict future invasions and develop effective control measures.
The University of Nevada, Reno has successfully mapped the bottom of Fallen Leaf Lake using a state-of-the-art multi-beam sonar system, revealing details of ancient trees and earthquake activity. The technology allows for high-definition mapping with several centimeter depth resolution.
A statistical analysis of chemicals found in walleye ear bones reveals that almost all Maumee-spawned walleyes were hatched there, but only two-thirds of Sandusky-spawned walleyes originated from the same river. This study helps wildlife officials determine which rivers are at risk of overfishing.
New research reveals that some North American monarchs born in the Midwest and Great Lakes fly directly east over the Appalachians and settle along the eastern seaboard. The study suggests that the viability of east coast populations is highly dependent upon productivity on the other side of the mountains.
Research at Uppsala University found a strong connection between lake sediment temperature and carbon dioxide production. A warmer climate is expected to increase carbon dioxide emissions by 4-27% over the next hundred years due to decreased organic carbon deposition.
Researchers have discovered changes in lake levels on Titan, with the southern hemisphere experiencing a 1-meter-per-year drop in lake depth. The decrease is attributed to seasonal evaporation of liquid methane from lakes, which are composed mainly of this substance.
A comprehensive study found mercury levels in Lake Erie walleye are rising, contrary to declines in other Great Lakes fish. The increase is attributed to environmental factors like invasive mussel populations and food web modifications.
A recent study found that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) explanation for global warming is flawed, with ENSO contributing less than a third of the signal. Meanwhile, researchers question whether permafrost thaw poses a reduced risk to global warming due to its potential impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
A team of American scientists from the University of Nevada, Reno, is working to find solutions to Guatemala's Lake Atitlan's algae bloom problem. They are building on research started in the 1970s and have collected data and samples from the lake, including sediment cores and near-shore sampling.
Researchers are using a robotic submarine and sensors to gather data on larval fish growth and survival in Lake Michigan. They're correlating growth rates with water temperatures, wind patterns, and other environmental factors to understand how climate change may affect young fish.
Michigan State University scientists have developed a pioneering landscape limnology approach that integrates freshwater lakes, streams, and wetlands. This framework uses GIS data and models to provide science-based tools for managing and protecting these bodies of water.
Researchers have found that marine fossils in Florida's sandy ridges are tied to the land's uplift, rather than rising sea levels. The process is driven by a combination of weather patterns and geology, including karstification and isostatic rebound. As a result, some ridges have been preserved with their ancient marine fossils intact.
A University of Minnesota study reveals a significant increase in dioxin levels derived from triclosan in the Mississippi River sediment over the past 30 years, while other dioxins have decreased. The study also found that triclosan-derived dioxins account for about 30% of total dioxin mass in Lake Pepin sediments.
The lake's surface waters have warmed by 3 degrees F since 1900, driving a decline in productivity and impacting the fishery. The research provides a detailed record of temperature and its impacts on a tropical African ecosystem.
The lake's surface waters have reached the warmest temperature on record, affecting fish productivity and ecosystem. Climate change models predict further warming, exacerbating the decline of fish stocks and impacting the region's food security.
Researchers at Brown University have found that Lake Tanganyika has experienced unprecedented warming over the last century, with surface waters reaching record highs. This warming is expected to affect fish stocks, which are crucial for millions of people in the region, and could have severe consequences for local livelihoods.
Research found that forestry access roads can negatively affect walleye populations in remote lakes, with lakes containing the species needing more protection. The presence and location of roads also impact lake fishing quality and accessibility.
Researchers at Purdue University discovered that lake sturgeon have genes from a parasitic worm and a protozoan parasite that causes a sexually transmitted disease in humans. This finding could lead to new methods of sex determination without harming the fish, which are endangered due to overfishing and pollution.
Researchers have discovered prehistoric fish trails, made by the ancient species Notogoneus osculus, in Wyoming's former Fossil Lake. The study provides evidence that fish were able to survive on the lake bottom despite low oxygen levels.
Research by Indiana University scientists reveals that lake shape is a powerful factor controlling fungal disease epidemics. U-shaped lakes are more prone to epidemics due to the presence of Chaoborus, an invertebrate predator that spreads spores and catalyzes epidemics.
This study examines the correlation between end-Triassic mass extinction and flood basalt volcanism, as well as the effects of water depth on pumice formation in submarine domes. It also investigates the relationship between climatic conditions and soil erosion during the last glacial cycle.
Researchers found evidence of four 'megafloods' in Glacial Lake Atna, which breached ice dams and released up to 1,400 cubic kilometers of water. The floods formed massive dunes over 110 feet high, with some still visible on topographical maps.
The Genesis project successfully tested wireless broadband technology in the Pyrenees, providing a reliable VoIP service for telephones and multimedia applications. The system demonstrated seamless use of high-quality services and access to various Internet-based applications.
A new study explores the variability in fossil assemblages, finding that communities may be more resilient than thought. The researchers used living and fossil communities to investigate the factors affecting the low variability seen in fossil records.
A small group of people with the ability to multitask have been found to be able to drive safely while using a cell phone. The study, conducted by psychologists Jason Watson and David Strayer, found that these individuals, known as 'supertaskers,' showed no impairment on their driving performance when also talking on a cell phone.
A new study published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences found that dormancy is crucial for maintaining microbial diversity in natural communities. Researchers used a mathematical model and molecular tools to investigate how dormancy affects biodiversity, especially in lakes.
Research on the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog reveals strong site fidelity, but also highlights the negative impacts of a changing climate and introduced non-native trout. The study found that frogs with strong site fidelity are returning to lakes that dry up or have reduced breeding success due to predation by invasive trout.
Research reveals high levels of contamination to water and sediment in Frenchman's Bay due to road salt applied in winter. The study found that 3,600 tonnes of road salt end up in the bay every winter, poisoning it for the rest of the year.
A University of Iowa study measures the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments, water, suspended particles, and air along the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal. The study finds that PCBs are a significant source of pollution, with annual emissions estimated at 4 kg to water and 7 kg to air.
The February issue of Lithosphere highlights the evolution of the northwestern Red Sea, with two main tectonic events contributing to its formation. The study also explores the Fish Lake Valley fault in eastern California and the incision of major rivers into the Tibetan Plateau's bedrock.
Researchers studying supra-glacial lakes on the Greenland ice sheet seek to understand their role in shaping the ice sheet's topography. The lakes form when melting water collects in pools in the lower levels of the ice sheet, and drain rapidly through cracks in the ice.
A new $1.3 million study aims to understand and simulate 'cold-air pools' that trap pollutants in the Salt Lake Valley, causing poor air quality. The research will utilize models and instruments to analyze temperature and wind patterns, shedding light on the challenges of simulating these events.
The viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) has been detected in fish from Lake Superior, Paradise, and Skanee in Michigan, and St. Louis Bay and Superior Bay in Wisconsin. The presence of the virus in all Great Lakes poses a significant threat to New York's $1.4 billion annual sport-fishing industry.
A recent study found that midwife toads living in mountain regions are highly susceptible to a serious fungal infection called chytridiomycosis, which can lead to up to 100% mortality rates. Conservationists may be able to limit the impact of the disease by ensuring tourists do not transfer it between lakes.
A new study found that fluctuating water chemistry and temperature variations in freshwater lakes can actually increase biodiversity, while a stable but variable environment can also be detrimental. Zooplankton populations respond quickly to changes due to their fast reproduction rate.
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno have devised a new solar pond distillation system that uses patented membrane distillation and renewable energy to produce freshwater. The system has shown high success in lab experiments and is expected to provide a sustainable solution for terminus lakes around the world.
A study by C. Rhett Jackson and Catherine M. Pringle found that reducing water flow rates can create ecological benefits, such as protecting endangered species and mitigating pollution effects. However, restoring natural flows can also lead to detrimental changes in vegetation that harm animals.
Researchers from Imperial College London and UCL found evidence of ancient lakes on Mars using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter images. The study suggests that Mars had warm and wet periods approximately 3 billion years ago, potentially creating habitats suitable for microbial life.
Research published in PLoS Biology discovered the adaptation of African cichlid fish visual sensitivity to ecological factors such as diet and water clarity. The study showed that both changes in gene expression and sequence contribute to organismal diversity, with complementary effects.
Researchers found that the Big Freeze was triggered by a sudden freshwater pulse from Lake Agassiz in North America, which diluted the North Atlantic conveyor belt and led to rapid temperature drops. The climate took centuries to recover.
Researchers suggest that the planet's oblong orbit exposes different areas of Titan to varying amounts of sunlight, affecting precipitation and evaporation cycles. This leads to an uneven distribution of lakes in the northern and southern polar regions.
Scientists have observed a phenomenon known as confinement of spinons in a condensed matter system, where individual particles behave like quarks. The researchers used neutron scattering experiments to study the crystal and magnetic structure, finding evidence for the confinement idea.
Researchers found PAHs in house dust near coal-tar-based sealcoat and used spiders as sentinels for contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. African dust carried persistent organic contaminants and metals across the ocean affecting native species. Scientists also explored using pheromones to control invasive Asian carp.
Scientists are concerned about the buildup of carbon dioxide and methane gas in Lake Kivu, which could lead to a catastrophic explosion. The lake's unique combination of geological features and lack of circulation makes it vulnerable to disturbances, posing a threat to the approximately 2 million people living nearby.