Case Studies – envirobites

PFAS are a family of chemical pollutants of emerging concern. They are extremely useful in processing and manufacturing non-stick and stain-resistant consumer products, as well as foams used in firefighting, but they are also particularly persistent in the environment, and in humans! Efforts are being made to control the spread of these chemicals, and it’s important to understand both where they are coming from and how they move through the environment. In a recent study, researchers show how snails and crabs might be better informants about PFAS contamination sources than fish.

Case Studies Environmental Science Science through time

Chasing Waterfalls

July 31, 2019August 1, 2019 E.M.B. Doran 0 Comments environmental change, environmental science, geology, water

Waterfalls are the purview of unicorns and rainbows. But the magic isn’t all fantasy. New experiments are shedding light on how some waterfalls form.

Case Studies Cities

Dumpster diving diet: city rats have higher protein diet distinct from other rural mammals

July 24, 2019July 24, 2019 Kevin Aviles Rodriguez 0 Comments Ecology, invasive species, stable isotopes

Rats have shared our cities for a long time. Because of this they can be used a model to learn more about how animals colonized cities and what features of cities can be advantageous for some species. A new study focuses their attention on whether 19th century city mice had an advantage over their rural neighbors. Read on to find out more!

Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science

The Hunger Gaps: when flower supply fails to meet bee demand

July 23, 2019July 25, 2019 Pernilla Borgstrom 0 Comments bees, flowers, plants, pollination, pollinators

Wild bees are indispensable pollen-transporters that support and maintain diverse plant communities in nature, but in discussions about the well-being of bees, they tend to lose the spotlight to their honeybee cousins. One issue where both wild bees and honeybees are struggling, however, is in facing the lack of food continuity throughout the growing season. Mapping the “hunger gaps” for foraging bees, and working to close such gaps, is a key issue for bee conservation.

Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science

Chocolate beans and Brazilian birds

July 6, 2019July 6, 2019 Sarah Shainker 0 Comments agriculture, agroforestry, birds, Deforestation

Global popularity of chocolate has led to intensive cacao bean cultivation, creating far-reaching environmental and social consequences. Agroforestry is a sustainable cultivation method that can reduce environmental impact. It is known to sustain native plants and animals more effectively than monocultures; but how do agroforestry areas compare to pristine forests?

Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science

Dead trees and utility poles partially offset the impacts of deforestation on birds

July 1, 2019June 30, 2019 Lindsay Green-Gavrielidis 0 Comments biodiversity, birds, Conservation, habitat restoration, land use, Trees

Mature trees serve as important habitats for a variety of species including insects and birds. Birds use trees for many purposes including nesting, perching, and foraging. Conservationists are exploring strategies to maintain bird populations in areas where mature trees are being lost due to agricultural expansion, wood production, and increased urbanization. In a recent study, scientists in Australia measured how utility poles and erected dead trees impacted the number and abundance of bird species in urbanized regions. The results suggest that artificial structures can offset some, but not all, of the bird loss due to deforestation.

Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science

Tweet tweet: Using social media to help bird conservation

June 17, 2019July 29, 2019 Brittany Maule 0 Comments biodiversity, Conservation, ecology and society, social media, Sustainability

Conservation areas are vital to maintaining biodiversity, and as a result, it’s important to know which conversation areas humans are most likely to visit. Looking at publicly available social media data, researchers analyzed how many people posted on Twitter and Flickr in over 12,000 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas across the globe. Understanding how many people visit what areas is important for funding, and eco-tourism, but also to see which areas may have higher threats with so many visitors.

Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science

Can we increase agricultural production without threatening biodiversity?

June 3, 2019 Lindsay Green-Gavrielidis 0 Comments agriculture, biodiversity, Conservation, crop production, land management, land use

The world population is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050. This increase in population will put pressure on agriculture to produce more food. Many studies have reported that land-use changes, such as cutting down forest to make new farmland, can lead to a loss in the number of species living in an area, known as the biodiversity. It is important to maintain biodiversity because it supports healthy ecosystems and ultimately a healthy planet. A recent analysis of previously published scientific articles suggests that when farming efforts are intensified, agricultural production increases but the number of species supported by the farm decrease. This means that increasing agricultural production comes at a cost.

Case Studies Cities Climate Human Exposure and Public Health

Science by Bicycle: A novel study of urban heat

May 29, 2019June 1, 2019 Andrew Trlica 0 Comments meteorology, urban climate, urban heat island, urban landscapes

A new study used a bicycle-mounted temperature sensor to measure heat extremes across urban Madison, WI — and investigate options for keeping cities cool.

Case Studies Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science

Islands and Alleles: How genetics can help protect endangered species

May 16, 2019May 17, 2019 Sarah Shainker 0 Comments Climate, Conservation, Ecology, ecology and society, ecosystems, environmental science, genetics, invasive species, islands

When talking about diversity in the natural world, we often think of the bright colors and bold patterns of fish gliding among a reef, or the variety of flying, creeping, and crawling critters found in the layers of a rainforest canopy. However, diversity even within a single species is an important indicator of a population’s health and stability. This type of diversity can be invisible to us when contained in the form of genes that control which traits organisms possess. In this study, scientists helped us to see the invisible diversity of an endangered skink and learn how to more effectively conserve this diversity.

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