Environmental Science – Page 2

Large-scale agriculture utilizes a myriad of chemicals to increase crop yields and profits. The effects of these chemical mixtures can be unpredictable once they are introduced into the environment, especially when interacting with vulnerable animal groups like amphibians.

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.

Climate Environmental Science

Climate change and the world’s most valuable food

July 30, 2019August 2, 2019 Kara Cromwell 0 Comments Climate Change, ecology and society, food

The white truffle is a prized (and notoriously expensive) delicacy, and its range may be expanding to higher latitudes. Is climate change opening new territory to this rare and sought-after species? What would be the cultural and economic consequences of a range shift for the world’s most valuable food?

Many photos of snails. Snails range in color from yellow to pink and brown. Some have brown stripes

Cities Climate Environmental Science

For urban snails, yellow is the new pink

July 27, 2019July 26, 2019 Abigail Lewis 0 Comments citizen science, snails, urban heat island

Pavement, smog, and lack of shade can increase temperatures in cities by up to 6ºF above the surrounding rural and suburban areas. We know the higher temperatures directly impact many species of animals, but is it possible that they could also affect the course of evolution and change the physiology of future generations? To answer this question, researchers from the Netherlands used a popular citizen science platform to gather data about the appearance of snails throughout a wide range of habitats.

Environmental Science

Chew on this: Fighting climate change by reducing cow burps

July 24, 2019July 29, 2019 Maddie Halloran 0 Comments agriculture, aquaculture, environmental science, oceans

Does seaweed have the power to fight climate change? Are cow burps contributing to global warming? Read on to find the answers!

Environmental Science

Gardeners for Biodiversity: How Surveys can Help Quantify Diversity in Urban Areas

July 24, 2019July 24, 2019 Riley Lovejoy 0 Comments biodiversity, Conservation, gardens, urban

Backyard gardens can boast surprising levels of biodiversity. Quantifying the diversity of many small gardens spread out across an urban area, however, can be difficult for scientists. In this study, researchers proposed a survey in which garden-owners were asked to give basic information about their gardens. From the responses, a statistical model was designed to determine the actual number of species present.

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.

Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health Toxicology

A mosquito’s feet think you stink: Researchers discover what makes DEET the most effective insect repellent on the market

July 22, 2019July 29, 2019 Laine Farber 0 Comments DEET, disease, insect repellent, mosquitoes, toxicology

When covered in widely used insect repellent DEET, a mosquito’s mouth thinks you are good enough to eat. But their legs would beg to differ. A recent study by scientist at Rockefeller University finally explains why DEET is the most effective bug repellent.

Climate Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Ecological grief: In my feelings along the Gulf Coast

July 19, 2019July 20, 2019 Mary Grace Lemon 0 Comments Climate Change, mental health, public health

Aldo Leopold stated “One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds.” He meant that those of us with deep connections to the natural environment, whether that be a farmer, fisher, or ecologist, are more aware of declining ecological health. We notice that there are less birds. We notice all the dead turtles along the road. We notice that it hasn’t rained in weeks and all the plants are crying. The unprecedented changes stemming from climate change have gained an increasing amount of people’s attention leading to the formation of the term ecological grief. The verdict is out. Climate change is making many of us depressed.