Ecology News

Friday, January 30, 2015

Featured Research

from universities, journals, and other organizations

Blue Mussels Not Yet the Bellwether of NE Coastal Environment

Jan. 30, 2015 — Mussels could be the perfect 'sentinel' species to signal the health of coastal ecosystems. But a new study of blue mussels in estuary ecosystems along 600 kilometers of coastline in the Northeast ... full story

Nature; Ecology; Ecology Research; Ecosystems

Study Projects Unprecedented Loss of Corals in Great Barrier Reef Due to Warming

Jan. 22, 2015 — The coverage of living corals on Australia's Great Barrier Reef could decline to less than 10 percent if ocean warming continues, according to a new study that explores the short- and long-term ... full story

Coral Reefs; Ecology; Marine Biology; Global Warming

Snack Attack: Bears Munch on Ants and Help Plants Grow

Jan. 22, 2015 — Tiny ants may seem like an odd food source for black bears, but the protein-packed bugs are a major part of some bears' diets and a crucial part of the food web that not only affects other bugs, but ... full story

Insects (including Butterflies); Animals; Endangered Plants; Nature

Predicting Coral Reef Futures Under Climate Change

Jan. 14, 2015 — Researchers examining the impact of climate change on coral reefs have found a way to predict which reefs are likely to recover following bleaching episodes and which won't. Coral bleaching is the ... full story

Coral Reefs; Ecology; Global Warming; Marine Biology

Mountain System Artificially Inflates Temperature Increases at Higher Elevations

Jan. 12, 2015 — While the western US has warmed, recently observed warming in the mountains of the Western US likely is not as large as previously supposed, researchers ... full story

Global Warming; Climate; Environmental Issues; Environmental Awareness

Robot Cameras Monitor Deep Sea Ecosystems

Jan. 12, 2015 — Advanced photographic tools in an unmanned Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) have been used to make major advancements in estimating deep-sea ecosystem diversity at ‘landscape’ scales, ... full story

Oceanography; Marine Biology; Ecology; Fish

Salvaging the Ecosystem After Salvage Logging

Jan. 9, 2015 — After a forest fire, logging companies often follow to do what is called salvage logging--salvaging the timber that has not been completely destroyed by the fire. The economic benefit is clear. But ... full story

Wildfires; Rainforests; Forest; Trees

Are Human Behaviors Affecting Bird Communities in Residential Areas?

Jan. 7, 2015 — A new study shows that habitat alteration may be less important than other factors-- such as human behavior-- in driving the effects of "exurban" development on bird communities. These unexpected ... full story

Birds; Ecology; Ecology Research; Sustainability

Coral Reefs Threatened by a Deadly Combination of Changing Ocean Conditions

Jan. 7, 2015 — The lowering of the ocean's pH is making it harder for corals to grow their skeletons and easier for bioeroding organisms to tear them down. Erosion rates increase tenfold in areas where corals are ... full story

Marine Biology; Oceanography; Ecology; Coral Reefs

New Hope for Borneo's Orangutans Despite Threats of Future Climate Change, Deforestation

Jan. 5, 2015 — New conservation research has discovered that up to 74% of current orangutan habitat in Borneo could become unsuitable for this endangered species due to 21st century climate or land-cover ... full story

Nature; Environmental Awareness; Apes; Environmental Issues

Featured Videos

from AP, Reuters, AFP, and other news services

Red Pandas Frolic in the Snow

Reuters - US Online Video (Jan. 27, 2015) — Red pandas enjoy the snow in New York after a massive blizzard hit the Northeast. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Video provided by Reuters

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Chinese Officials Allegedly Eat Endangered Animal At Banquet

Newsy (Jan. 27, 2015) — A banquet ended in a bust-up after Chinese officials reportedly dined on an endangered salamander. Video provided by Newsy

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Water Fleas Prepare for Space Voyage

Reuters - Innovations Video Online (Jan. 26, 2015) — Scientists are preparing a group of water fleas for a unique voyage into space. The aquatic crustaceans, known as Daphnia, can be used as a miniature model for biomedical research, and their reproductive and swimming behaviour will be tested for signs of stress while on board the International Space Station. Jim Drury went to meet the team. Video provided by Reuters

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Obama's Wildlife Plan Renews Alaska Drilling Debate

Newsy (Jan. 26, 2015) — President Obama's proposal aims to protect more land in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but so far, all that's materialized is a war of words. Video provided by Newsy

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All Ecology News

last updated on 2015-01-30 at 1:29 pm EST

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headlines view

Nature;
Ecology;
Ecology Research;
Ecosystems

Blue Mussels Not Yet the Bellwether of NE Coastal Environment

Jan. 30, 2015 — Mussels could be the perfect 'sentinel' species to signal the health of coastal ecosystems. But a new study of blue mussels in estuary ecosystems along 600 kilometers of coastline in the ... full story
Soil Types;
Ecology;
Ecology Research;
Organic

Sagebrush Ecosystem Recovery Hobbled by Loss of Soil Complexity at Development Sites

Jan. 26, 2015 — In big sagebrush country, re-establishing the ecosystem’s namesake shrub may jump-start the recovery process more successfully after oil and gas development than sowing grass-dominated reclamation ... full story
Coral Reefs;
Ecology;
Marine Biology;
Global Warming

Study Projects Unprecedented Loss of Corals in Great Barrier Reef Due to Warming

Jan. 22, 2015 — The coverage of living corals on Australia's Great Barrier Reef could decline to less than 10 percent if ocean warming continues, according to a new study that explores the short- and long-term ... full story
Insects (including Butterflies);
Animals;
Endangered Plants;
Nature

Snack Attack: Bears Munch on Ants and Help Plants Grow

Jan. 22, 2015 — Tiny ants may seem like an odd food source for black bears, but the protein-packed bugs are a major part of some bears' diets and a crucial part of the food web that not only affects other bugs, ... full story
Ecology;
Grassland;
Atmosphere;
Biology

Researchers Introduce Macrosystems Approach to Study Stream Ecology

Jan. 21, 2015 — The Stream Biome Gradient Concept is a way to compare streams in different climates and different continents. The concept can improve how researchers study streams worldwide. "This model will ... full story
Coral Reefs;
Ecology;
Global Warming;
Marine Biology

Predicting Coral Reef Futures Under Climate Change

Jan. 14, 2015 — Researchers examining the impact of climate change on coral reefs have found a way to predict which reefs are likely to recover following bleaching episodes and which won't. Coral bleaching is ... full story
Immune System;
Sustainability;
Diseases and Conditions;
Urbanization

Boosting the Immune System of City Dwellers

Jan. 13, 2015 — A new project attempts to find solutions to allergies and other immune defense disorders using methods from medicine and urban ... full story
Global Warming;
Climate;
Environmental Issues;
Environmental Awareness

Mountain System Artificially Inflates Temperature Increases at Higher Elevations

Jan. 12, 2015 — While the western US has warmed, recently observed warming in the mountains of the Western US likely is not as large as previously supposed, researchers ... full story
Oceanography;
Marine Biology;
Ecology;
Fish

Robot Cameras Monitor Deep Sea Ecosystems

Jan. 12, 2015 — Advanced photographic tools in an unmanned Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) have been used to make major advancements in estimating deep-sea ecosystem diversity at ‘landscape’ scales, ... full story
Wildfires;
Rainforests;
Forest;
Trees

Salvaging the Ecosystem After Salvage Logging

Jan. 9, 2015 — After a forest fire, logging companies often follow to do what is called salvage logging--salvaging the timber that has not been completely destroyed by the fire. The economic benefit is clear. But ... full story
Birds;
Ecology;
Ecology Research;
Sustainability

Are Human Behaviors Affecting Bird Communities in Residential Areas?

Jan. 7, 2015 — A new study shows that habitat alteration may be less important than other factors-- such as human behavior-- in driving the effects of "exurban" development on bird communities. These ... full story
Marine Biology;
Oceanography;
Ecology;
Coral Reefs

Coral Reefs Threatened by a Deadly Combination of Changing Ocean Conditions

Jan. 7, 2015 — The lowering of the ocean's pH is making it harder for corals to grow their skeletons and easier for bioeroding organisms to tear them down. Erosion rates increase tenfold in areas where corals ... full story
Nature;
Environmental Awareness;
Apes;
Environmental Issues

New Hope for Borneo's Orangutans Despite Threats of Future Climate Change, Deforestation

Jan. 5, 2015 — New conservation research has discovered that up to 74% of current orangutan habitat in Borneo could become unsuitable for this endangered species due to 21st century climate or land-cover ... full story
Coral Reefs;
Ecology;
Ecology Research;
Extinction

What Are Mechanisms of Zooxanthella Expulsion from Coral?

Dec. 29, 2014 — Coral bleaching, which often results in the mass mortality of corals and in the collapse of coral reef ecosystems, has become an important issue around the world, with the number of coral reefs ... full story
Optics;
Transportation Issues;
Travel and Recreation;
Graphene

American Cities Are Many Times Brighter at Night Than German Counterparts

Dec. 29, 2014 — German cities emit several times less light per capita than comparably sized American cities, according to recent research. The size of the gap grew with city size, as light per capita increased with ... full story
Forest;
Nature;
Trees;
Ecology

Muddy Forests, Shorter Winters Present Challenges for Loggers

Dec. 22, 2014 — The period of frozen ground has declined by an average of two or three weeks since 1948, research shows. During that time, wood harvests have shifted in years with more variability in freezing and ... full story
Ecology;
Ecosystems;
Ecology Research;
Nature

Ecosystems Need Math Not Random Nature to Survive

Dec. 22, 2014 — A previously unknown mathematical property has been found to be behind one of nature’s greatest mysteries – how ecosystems ... full story
Water;
Nature;
Ecology;
Ecology Research

Deforestation Threatens Species Richness in Streams

Dec. 18, 2014 — With a population of 1.3 billion, China is under immense pressure to convert suitable areas into arable land in order to ensure a continued food supply for its people. Accordingly, China is among the ... full story
Wildfires;
Forest;
Natural Disasters;
Ecology

Even in Restored Forests, Extreme Weather Strongly Influences Wildfire's Impacts

Dec. 17, 2014 — A new study examined how the Rim Fire burned through forests with restored fire regimes in Yosemite National Park to determine whether they were as resistant to high-severity fire as many scientists ... full story
Forest;
Trees;
Biodiversity;
Ecology

Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Youngest Trees in a Forest Tell the Biggest Story

Dec. 15, 2014 — The largest trees in a forest may command the most attention, but the smallest seedlings and youngest saplings are the ones that are most critical to the composition and diversity of the forest ... full story