envirobites

Two plots in a burned pine forest; the plot on the left did not receive mulch and has few pine seedlings, and the plot on the right that did receive mulch has more, taller pine seedlings

Following severe fires, forest soils can erode, depositing sediment into nearby waterways after it rains and threatening local water quality as a result. Mulch is often used to reduce soil erosion in forests following wildfire. Following the High Park Fire in Colorado, scientists tested several types of mulch to determine which was most effective. Thanks to this study, we now know that wood mulch is better than wheat-straw mulch at promoting the return of pine trees and excluding non-native species from taking over, while also stabilizing the soil, probably because wood mulch persists longer and holds more moisture.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Toxicology

Predator-free New Zealand? Conservation ethics

June 1, 2020June 1, 2020 Samantha Andres 0 Comments biodiversity, environmental ethics, environmental policy, toxicology

https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.uws.edu.au/content/pdf/10.1007/s10806-019-09815-x.pdf Biodiversity hotspots Without a doubt, New Zealand is a biodiversity hotspot. It consistsof two islands that have evolved independently

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El plan de acción de cinco dimensiones: ¿cómo podemos fomentar interacciones positivas entre la naturaleza y los humanos?

May 30, 2020May 30, 2020 Maria Loza 0 Comments

Artículo escrito por Pernilla Borgstrom, mayo 4 del 2020. Artículo traducido por María Loza Correa, mayo 20 del 2020. Referencia

Climate Environmental Science

Uncool beans: The future of coffee under climate change

May 29, 2020May 29, 2020 Jeannie Wilkening 0 Comments agriculture, coffee, modeling, robusta, temperature increase

A lot of people would say that a hot cup of coffee is a morning necessity, but a hotter future under climate change could mean trouble is brewing. In this study, scientists examined how rising temperatures might impact the growth of one of the major types of coffee produced in the world.

Ecosystems Environmental Science

Freshwater ecosystems are singing, and scientists are listening

May 27, 2020May 26, 2020 Sarah Shainker 0 Comments acoustic ecology, freshwater, noise pollution, river, soundscape, streams

The act of listening is an often-forgotten aspect of natural observation. When scientists listen to ecosystems, what do they learn?

Case Studies Environmental Science

Humans, Livestock, and Wild Carnivores

May 25, 2020May 27, 2020 Riley Lovejoy 0 Comments Ecology, ecology and society, humans and wildlife, Livestock, predators

What comes to mind when you think of human and wildlife conflict? One major source of conflict is predation of livestock by wild carnivores. Livestock management strategies can help lessen conflict by reducing predation events, but those strategies must be based on sound ecological concepts to be most effective.

Animal behavior Ecosystems Human Exposure and Public Health

Benign Animal Bacteria Can Be a Potent Human Pathogen

May 21, 2020May 20, 2020 Munim Deen 0 Comments bacteria, Botswana, Campylobacter, Mongoose, Zoonoses, Zoonotic

Humans and animals have long shared the space, food, and resources in their shared ecosystems. They have also shared diseases. Recent research conducted through the One Health prism suggests that diseases previously not known to be zoonotic are finding animal hosts.