Ecosystems


Discovery of Disease-Resistant Oysters Brings Call for Shift in Preservation Strategies

Development of disease resistance among Chesapeake Bay oysters calls for a shift in oyster-restoration strategies within the Bay and its tributaries.

Wildlife Surviving Ongoing Conflict in Afghanistan

A new survey conducted by WCS scientists, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development, reveals that large mammals, including Asiatic black bears, gray wolves, markhor goats, and leopard cats, are surviving in parts of Afghanistan after years of conflict.

Huge Wildfires Devastating Forests’ Carbon-Storage Capabilities

Huge Arizona fires making headlines around the globe have destroyed dozens of structures and burned nearly three-quarters of a million acres. They also are contributing to global warming, scientists say, by upsetting the carbon balance while they are burning and for years to come.

Honduran President Lobo Sosa Announces Shark Sanctuary

The designation encompasses the 92,665 square miles of the country's exclusive economic zone on its Pacific and Caribbean coasts.

Native Bees, Essential to Plant Pollination, Are Picky About Where They Live: Study

The study found that, overall, composition of a plant community is a weak predictor of the composition of a bee community, which may seem counterintuitive at first, said USGS scientist and study lead Ralph Grundel

Mega-dam in Peruvian Amazon Cancelled

The Peruvian government announced that the massive Inambari Dam, planned on a major Amazonian tributary, has been canceled after years of strong community opposition.

NASA Sets Sail on Second Leg of Arctic Ocean Research Voyage

Scientists embark this week from Alaska on the second and final campaign of a NASA field campaign to study how changing conditions in the Arctic affect the ocean's chemistry and ecosystems.

Artificial Sweetener Leaves Lingering Effect in the Environment

Researchers found that sucralose is remarkably resistant to breakdown processes common in wastewater treatment plants, ultimately finding its way into ground and surface waters.



Researcher Argues that Climate Change Disasters Are Predictable

Climate change disasters, such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, dieback of the Amazon rainforest, or collapse of the Atlantic overturning circulation, could be predicted argues a University of Exeter researcher.

Scientists Seek to Adapt Crops to Climate Change

Throughout history, farmers have adopted new crop varieties and adjusted their practices in tune with environmental change. But as global temperature continues to rise, the pace of change is expected to be unprecedented, and experts are now warning that climate change could trigger a global food crisis as farmers struggle to keep up.

Google Earth Reveals the Behavior of Marine Life on the Great Barrier Reef

While most of us could find no better use for Google Earth than checking out a holiday destination, scientists in Sydney have shown it can reveal a lot about the behavior of marine life on the Great Barrier Reef.

Major Flooding on Miss. River Likely to Cause Large Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone

Gulf of Mexico's hypoxic zone is predicted to be larger than average this year, due to extreme flooding of the Mississippi River this spring, according to an annual forecast by a team of NOAA-supported scientists.

Invasive Zebra Mussels Continue Trek Inland in Pa. Waterways

Boaters and anglers are being asked to take steps to prevent the further spread of zebra mussels after the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection discovered the nuisance species in Conneaut Lake.

Lawsuit Seeks to Protect San Diego Drinking Water Supply

A proposed landfill near San Diego threatens a critical drinking water source, endangered species habitat and sacred Native American lands.

Study: Stream Biodiversity Declines at Even Low Levels of Urban Development

A new study from biology researchers at Baylor University and the University of Maryland-Baltimore has found that there are consistent and widespread declines in stream biodiversity at lower levels of urban development more damaging than what was previously believed.

Algae Turf-Scrubbers Clean Water and Provide Fuel

Algal turf scrubbers are field-sized, water-treatment systems that can extract excess nutrients from streams, canals, and lakes polluted by agricultural, domestic, and some industrial runoff.

MIT: Development in Fog Harvesting Provides Water for the Poor

An engineer and aspiring entrepreneur at MIT is working on fog harvesting to attract water droplets and corral the runoff for poor villagers to collect clean water near their homes.

Study: Climate Projections Don't Take Soil Carbon Release Into Account

A new study concludes that models may be predicting releases of atmospheric carbon dioxide that are either too high or too low, depending on the region, because they don't adequately reflect variable temperatures that can affect the amount of carbon released from soil.

With Feedlot Manure, It Pays to be Precise

Research to map the distribution of manure on the surface of feedlots and the flow of liquid manure in rain runoff could lead to both precision harvesting of manure and also precision application of manure to crop fields, while controlling nutrient losses, gas emissions, and odors.

Researchers: Effect of Rising Oceans on Humans Will Extend Well Beyond Coasts

Identifying the human impact of rising sea levels is far more complex than just looking at coastal cities on a map. Rather, estimates that are based on current, static population data can greatly misrepresent the true extent – and the pronounced variability – of the human toll of climate change, said University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers.