Ecosystems


Chesapeake Bay Oysters

NRL Aids in Maryland Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration Efforts

The Naval Research Lab’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment is now host to the latest addition to the state’s oyster restoration and revitalization effort.

U.S. Floats Proposal for Controls on Ship Emissions in Caribbean Territories

The U.S. government has proposed controls on large ships that operate in the waters off the coastlines of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for the purpose of reducing air pollution.

Pipe project in Poland.

Case Study: Project in Poland Sets Fiberglass Pipe Jacking Record

Warsaw is updating its sewers at a quick pace with the help of 118-inch centrifugally cast fiberglass reinforced polymer mortar pipe.

NASA Scientists Find Bacterium Can Survive on Arsenic

Evidence that the toxic element arsenic can replace the essential nutrient phosphorus in biomolecules of a naturally occurring bacterium expands the scope of the search for life beyond Earth.

WHOI Website Takes Viewers Deep into the Gulf

Underwater vehicles will be used by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and other university scientists to learn if the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affected animals in the Gulf of Mexico; the public is invited to take a look via the Dive and Discover website.

Duke graduate student Laura Ruhl collected samples more than 1 year ago from a site affected by the TVA coal sludge spill. Photo by Avner Vengosh

Duke Scientists Find More Coal Ash Hazards 'Under the Rug'

Current water quality monitoring looks only at the surface, according to Avner Vengosh, Duke professor of geochemistry and water quality.

The Plum Island Estuary

USGS: Some Significant Wetlands May Disappear by End of 21st Century

Many coastal wetlands worldwide — including several on the U.S. Atlantic coast — may be more sensitive than previously thought to sea-level rise projections for the 21st century, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Watershed Academy Sets Webcast on Low Impact Development

North Carolina's LID certification program, which will be discussed in the webcast, may be replicated nationally.



Pace of Amazon Deforestation Reaches Lowest Rate Ever Recorded

Deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon declined 14 percent from August 2009 to July 2010, reaching the lowest rates ever recorded for the second consecutive year.

USGS Finds Pavement Sealant Made from Coal Tar to be Largest Source of PAHs in Lakes

Coal-tar-based pavement sealant is the largest source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in 40 urban lakes the U.S. Geological Survey studied, according to the agency.

The roof mural, by artist Molly Dilworth, represents New York and New Jersey after a seven meter rise in sea levels. It was created for a 350 Earth project.

Large-scale Art Project Portrays Climate Effects

Grassroots campaign engages artists and people across the globe to deepen understanding of possible climate change effects.

NASA Study: Lakes are Warming

Earth's largest lakes have warmed during the past 25 years in response to climate change, NASA researchers determined in the first global survey of temperature trends in major lakes.

Cornell Study Follows Nitrogen Runoff Clues to Tile Drainage on Farms

Possible solutions include installing wetlands to filter tile drainage, fertilizing fields in the spring, and planting winter crops.

United Water Developing Plan for Haverstraw, N.Y.

Pilot plant will help identify best ways to purify Hudson River water.

Bouchard Transportation Agrees to $6M Settlement for Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Damages

Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc. and its affiliates will pay more than $6 million to settle a portion of the federal and state natural resource damages claims for the April 2003 spill of up to 98,000 gallons of oil into Buzzards Bay, according to the Department of Justice.

Elevated Mercury Levels Found in Fish and Waters Throughout Indiana

About one in eight fish samples in Indiana had mercury levels that exceeded the recommended safety limit for human consumption, according to a recently released federal study.

Unilever Intends to Make Consumption Sustainable

The global firm will seek to grow its business in developing countries while minimizing its environmental footprint.

Duke Analysts: FDA's Transgenic Salmon Review Too Narrow

Duke economist Martin Smith suggests the agency should also consider the potential health and environmental effects of salmon production that might stem from the fish's faster growth and less need for feed.

Deepwater Horizon Burns Emitted Low Levels of Dioxin, EPA Reports

The government's peer-reviewed reports say the levels of dioxins created during controlled burns were below levels of concern.

New Florida Officials Seek Delay on Nutrient Criteria Rule

EPA's nutrient criteria rule is set to be finalized Sunday; recently elected Florida leaders want more time to analyze the rule's effect on residents.