Ecosystems – Page 2 – envirobites

Can We Save Our Corals? Using Investment Planning to Conserve Coral Reefs

June 19, 2019June 20, 2019 Jessica Espinosa 0 Comments bleaching, Climate Change, Conservation, coral, investment, Modern Portfolio Theory, Paris agreement, reef

By now, most of us have heard the news that climate change is threatening our oceans. Rising carbon dioxide levels due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions into the earth’s atmosphere are warming our oceans and causing a multitude of other adverse effects on our planet. In particular, these changing environmental conditions are wreaking havoc on the world’s coral reefs. Meanwhile, conservationists around the world have been working to mitigate coral reef degradation, with little overall success. However, a recent study describes a new approach taken from investment theory that could shed a hopeful light on coral conservation efforts.

Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science

Habitats are a work of art: habitat mosaics and fish production

June 18, 2019June 18, 2019 Chelsea Barreto 0 Comments biodiversity, environmental science, fish production, salmon

Biodiversity is continually being threatened by human activities, and it is vital that we protect it. Conserving biodiversity means conserving species and the habitats they live in. We know that habitats vary through space and time, but does this variation impact fish production in the long term? Brennen et al. explores this question using Pacific salmon species in an Alaskan watershed.

Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science

Tweet Tweet: Using Social Media to Help Bird Conservation

June 17, 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 (IBAs) 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.

Ecosystems Environmental Science

Fishing for Answers– Cyanide Detection in Aquarium Fish

June 14, 2019June 13, 2019 Michaela Cashman 0 Comments coral, cyanide, fisheries, metabolics

Up to 10% of our salt water aquarium fish are caught through a dangerous technique known as cyanide fishing. While this practice is heavily outlawed for its reckless environmental consequences, it is nearly impossible to tell how a fish was caught by the time it reaches the US– until now. Breen et al., suggests a new rapid response test for the presence of cyanide in fish as a way to help stop this harmful fishing practice.

Cities Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health Science through time

Climate Change and Inequality: The Missing Link.

June 13, 2019June 13, 2019 Nick Iraola 0 Comments Climate Change, climate justice, Green New Deal, inequality

In the most recent IPCC report, scientists have concluded that global warming is likely to reach 1.5o C between 2030 and 2052, if it continues to increase at the current rate. To curb this warming, and the host of environmental plagues with it, we must completely halt our carbon emissions by 2050. That’s 30 years. But who is actually on the front-lines of climate change? And why do some people draw parallels between climate change and inequality? Is the key to all of this solving both at the same time?

Ecosystems Environmental Science

Families that shed skin together, may die together?

June 11, 2019June 11, 2019 Anita Masse 0 Comments amphibian declines, chytrid fungus, disease, frogs

Amphibian populations are declining partially due to the prevalence of a fungus infecting their skin, but there is no clear indication why certain species are more susceptible than others. Skin structure and the rate of shedding may be the clue to solving this problem and ultimately saving amphibian populations.

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.

Ecosystems Environmental Science

Warblers out of the Woods: Savanna Restoration Creates Bird Habitat

May 30, 2019May 31, 2019 Abigail Bezrutczyk 0 Comments birds, Conservation, disturbance, ecosystem, forest ecology, habitat, Restoration, savanna, woodland

Savannas and woodlands are being restored in the Midwest– but how is that restoration affecting birds? The new habitat can be a good thing for bird conservation.

Ecosystems Environmental Science

Are we accidentally treating fish with anti-depressants? Pharmaceuticals in our surface waters

May 29, 2019June 1, 2019 Mary Davis 0 Comments fish, pharmaceuticals, wastewater effluent, water quality, wildlife

The ever-growing and expanding pharmaceutical industry is overwhelming wastewater treatment plants, making the release of pharmaceuticals into the environment a big problem. A recent study illustrates that the presence of anti-depressants in streams can change the behavior of mosquitofish. The potential effects of pharmaceutical pollution on wildlife should make us think carefully about how we dispose of our leftover medicines.

Ecosystems Environmental Science

The after-party balloon effect: disastrous consequences of balloon releases

May 28, 2019May 31, 2019 Laura Schifman 7 Comments balloons, balloonsblow, marine wildlife, seabirds

The balloons we have all seen at birthday parties, fairs, weddings, and other festivities do not make a great after-party-guest. Coastal cleanups in over 150 countries over the past 25 years have recorded over 1.2 million balloons that have washed up on shores. Plastic pollution in the ocean is a global concern and seabirds are particularly vulnerable to this pollution which can mistake the floating trash for food. The shocking and worrisome prediction is that by 2050, 99% of all seabird species will ingest marine debris of some sort. How can we prevent this?