Case Studies – envirobites

Friday, May 20, 2022

View of a river surrounded by vegetation on both sides

More Accessible Monitoring: Using Freely-Available Aerial Photos and Software to Map Changes in River Migration and Vegetation

March 4, 2022March 7, 2022 Jenna Zukswert 0 Comments environmental science, remote sensing, river, rivers

Riverside vegetation, or “riparian buffers”, provides wildlife habitat, maintains water quality, and reduces flood damage. Human activity can negatively affect these services, and monitoring this vegetation over time can be costly and resource-intensive. Researchers at SUNY ESF have developed a new way of mapping river channels and vegetation that uses open-source remote-sensing software, using the Genesee River in New York to develop this method. Their method greatly improves our ability to monitor this important resource over time with over 90% accuracy.

Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science Remediation

Radioactive exclusion zone or restoration at work? Insights from the re-wilding of Chernobyl

February 15, 2022February 10, 2022 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments Nuclear Energy, Restoration, Rewildling

In 1986 a nuclear disaster rocked Belarus and forced thousands of people to abandon their homes for fear of radiation exposure. Now, removed from the impacts of human settlements, wildlife are returning to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). In a new study, researchers studied the raptors in the CEZ to test re-wilding and ask the question: can removing humans from a landscape help restore the natural environments? And like all things in ecology, the answer is more complicated than it seems but offers a glimmer of hope for re-wilding endeavors in this Decade on Ecological Restoration.

Animal behavior Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science

For elk reintroduced in the Missouri Ozarks, love is in the air

February 13, 2022March 12, 2022 Sam Schurkamp 0 Comments biodiversity, Conservation, Ecology, endangered species, reintroduction

Habitat loss and overhunting decimated local elk populations in the 1800s. Now, researchers are finding new ways to return them to their native land.

Animal behavior Case Studies Climate Environmental Science

Increasing Temperatures and Decreasing Insect Populations

March 9, 2021March 8, 2021 Elisabeth Lang 0 Comments Climate Change, insects, warming

Without insects, we wouldn’t have all of the edible plants that we rely on as important parts of our diets and entire ecosystems would be in trouble. Despite their importance, insects face many threats, including climate change. Through a literature review, a group of scientists found that increasing temperatures due to climate change and the resulting ecosystem changes are a leading cause of insect population declines globally. Some species have disappeared completely. However, different species respond to climate change differently. Monitoring and understanding their responses can help us prevent their loss.

Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science

Helping a vulnerable rabbit species hop along with non-invasive genetic sampling

March 9, 2021March 9, 2021 Kevin Aviles Rodriguez 0 Comments conservation genetics, new england, rabbits

Many species face harsh challenges to persist in a human modified world. In order to design and implement conservation plans to support these imperiled species, we need to study wild populations. Advancements in genetics have made it easier to monitor wild populations and obtain relevant data to make informed choices regarding management and conservation policies. Check out this ebite to learn more about the conservation genetics of the New England cottontail rabbits.

Case Studies

The red eared invaders spread across Bulgaria

February 3, 2021February 3, 2021 Kevin Aviles Rodriguez 0 Comments invasive species, turtles

Red-eared sliders are freshwater turtles that are recognized as one of the world’s most invasive species. Millions of turtles were introduced globally via the pet market in the 1990s. Because of that, many turtles have established populations outside of their native ranges in the United States. Check out this ebite to learn more about the turtles first arrival and continuing spread in Bulgaria.

Case Studies Climate Environmental Science

Waste-to-Energy or Wasted Energy?

January 18, 2021January 18, 2021 Mary Davis 0 Comments renewables, Waste-to-energy

What happens with our waste? Out-of-sight, out-of-mind. Despite our best efforts, and maybe a few new year’s resolutions, a lot

Case Studies Environmental Science

Where Categorizing Hurricanes Falls Short

December 12, 2020December 12, 2020 Rohini Shivamoggi 0 Comments flooding, hurricanes, sand dunes, storm surge

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating hurricanes in history, leading to over 1800 fatalities and tying Hurricane Harvey as the costliest hurricane on record. But at the time Katrina made landfall, it was “only” ranked as Category 3 by the Saffir-Simpson scale, which goes up to Category 5. So why did Katrina, at only Category 3, cause so much more destruction than most Category 5 storms? And what does that tell us about what the Saffir-Simpson scale is missing?

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