Wednesday, September 22, 2021

envirobites

environmental science research for everyone

envirobites

Welcome to envirobites

We want to make cutting edge research in the environmental sciences accessible to all by highlighting recent studies and explaining how these advances shape the understanding of our world.

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Cities Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health 

How Air Pollution Regulation Can Affect Bird Populations

Jessica Espinosa 0 Comments , , ,

Although we have strong evidence that air pollution poses significant health risks to humans, how air pollutants affect plants and animals is not well studied. Birds are especially susceptible to air pollution because they have a unique way of breathing and interacting with air. Therefore, a group of scientists conducted a study on how air pollution affects North American birds and how air quality regulations, which were initially created to benefit humans, can also benefit these bird species.

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Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science Remote Environments 

When Geological Processes Collide– Exploring the Link Between Earthquakes and Glaciers

Brianne Palmer 0 Comments , , ,

What happens when glaciers melt? Scientists have discussed numerous effects of deglaciation including sea level rise and loss of habitats but recently, geologists have been thinking about how glaciers interact with the crust of the earth. Researchers from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks found a link between melting glaciers and earthquakes in Southeast Alaska which adds new understanding about the indirect effects of climate change and the role of humans in natural disasters.

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Climate Environmental Science 

Can the toughest animal survive climate change?

Brandi Pessman 0 Comments , , ,

Global temperatures are increasing around the world due to climate change. While some animals can survive the harsh conditions, many will die off. Researchers have turned to the toughest animal alive, and it is not a lion, tiger, or bear as you might expect. Sometimes called a (water) bear, the toughest animal is microscopic and lives in the soil. Will they be able to take the heat?

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Animal behavior Cities Ecosystems 

Combine Crickets and Lockdowns and get an Unlikely Experiment

Brianne Palmer 0 Comments , , , ,

In the spring of 2020, we all dealt with lockdowns in a different way. In urban parks, animals were suddenly exposed to a world without humans, and this disrupted ongoing urban ecology experiments. But resourceful ecologists used the sudden silence near businesses and the uptick of outdoor recreation to understand how shifting human behaviors change timing and duration of chirping urban crickets.

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Animal behavior Ecosystems 

If trees could hear, is human noise a threat?

Brandi Pessman 0 Comments , , , ,

Sources of noise, like gas well compressors, are known to affect many animals negatively. But could the noise be impacting plant communities? Researchers sought an answer by comparing pinyon and juniper seedling growth near quiet or noisy gas well pads in the woodlands of New Mexico. Throughout the twelve-year study, noise harmed tree communities. Trees struggled to recover even several years after the noise was removed. Now is the time to listen to the trees because the trees are tired of listening to us.

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Animal behavior Ecosystems Environmental Science 

A Day in the Life of a Parasite: Using Parasites to Describe Fish Movement

Jessica Espinosa 0 Comments , , ,

When you think of parasites, your first thoughts probably aren’t “helpful” or “useful.” However, parasites aren’t just something we try to get rid of; they can be studied and used in all kinds of applications, including conservation. Check out this article to learn more about how scientists are using parasites to track species movements around the world.

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Ecosystems Environmental Science Science through time 

Using Plants to Protect the Past

Brianne Palmer 0 Comments , , ,

A new study found that plants that are culturally significant to Native American tribes are abundant near archeological sites in Bears Ears National Monument suggesting that historical human behavior is still shaping our ecosystems today. Now, we need to use our resources to protect this cultural and ecological legacy and educate others about the history of these ancestral lands.

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