Environmental Science – Page 2

Marine protected areas (MPAs) can be a good way to protect species threatened by human activities and climate change. Antarctica has two MPAs right now, but there are plans for several more in the future. To help decide where these MPAs would be most effective, a group of researchers studied different penguin species. The presence and health of a penguin population shows that the ecosystem has good habitat and food sources, which indicates a healthy ecosystem. Protecting healthy ecosystems within the future MPAs will offer protection for all of the species that live within it.

Animal behavior Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health Toxicology

The “Heartbreaking” Effect of Algal Blooms – Heart disease and the Southern Sea Otter

February 4, 2021February 4, 2021 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments Conservation, health, marine pollution, ocean health, Pollution, toxins

Our favorite hand-holding marine mammals, sea otters, are threatened by environmental toxins. Chemicals produced by algae blooms move up the food chain and cause a multitude of diseases in top predators. A new study documented how algae blooms cause heart disease in sea otters, what this means for our own seafood consumption, and proposes solutions to our pollution.

Aerial view of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Cities Environmental Science

Tackling Tradeoffs: Tree Functional Groups and Ecosystem Services in Tree Planting

February 3, 2021February 3, 2021 Jenna Zukswert 0 Comments Climate Change, Function, management, Trees, Urban street trees

Deciding which trees to replant in cities stressed by climate change and pests can be daunting, but considering the traits of trees and the “functional groups” they belong to can help. In Québec City, computer simulations showed that a “stratified” approach to replanting that aims to evenly represent species of different functional groups did not increase ecosystem services as much as a “conifer-focused” strategy, suggesting a tradeoff between representation of functional groups and ecosystem services provided. Even so, the stratified strategy increased ecosystem services more than “business as usual” and produced the canopy least vulnerable to pests and disease.

Environmental Science

Green Space in Cities – How to make the most of their cooling effects

January 26, 2021January 26, 2021 Jessica Wright 0 Comments public, Trees, urban design, Urban street trees

Park, J., J. Kim, D.K. Lee, C.Y. Park, S.G. Jeong. 2017. The influence of small green space type and structure

Animal behavior Ecosystems Environmental Science

Cats and Dogs: Canine Distemper Virus and the Endangered Amur Tiger

January 20, 2021January 20, 2021 Munim Deen 0 Comments Canine Distemper, Ecology, tiger, virus

Canine Distemper Virus, commonly found in domesticated dogs, in increasingly common in Amur tigers, which are the least numerous of the major tiger subspecies. Recent research challenges long-held ideas about CDV transmission, and present new strategies to counteract CDVs deadly effects on endangered Amur tigers.

Climate Environmental Science Science through time

Dead plants breathe new life into botanical research

January 18, 2021January 18, 2021 Sienna Wessel 0 Comments biodiversity, botany, Climate Change, Ecology, herbaria, natural collections, phenology

I’ll never forget the first time that I stepped into a herbarium. Picture a room full of towering metal cabinets. Inside, there are thousands of pressed plants carefully glued onto special paper upon which thoughtfully recorded field notes describe the plant’s habitat, location, life stage, and more. At a moment’s notice I can still recall the unique smell of preserved plants, reminiscent of the comforting scent that lofts when ruffling the pages of an old book. In those days, as a budding botanist, I never questioned the immense value of these collections. Then, when I learned that one herbarium in seven has closed in the last twenty-five years (Deng 2015), I realized that we simply aren’t talking enough about all the unique ways that old plants can fuel modern science.

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

Environmental Science

The Issues of Using Militarization to Mitigate Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade

January 13, 2021January 13, 2021 Jessica Espinosa 0 Comments Conservation, endangered species, illegal trade, militarization, mitigation, poaching

Original Paper: Duffy, R., Massé, F., Smidt, E., Marijnen, E., Büscher, B., Verweijen, J., Ramutsindela, M., Simlai, T., Joanny, L.

Animal behavior Ecosystems Environmental Science

When lightning strikes, it’s best not to be a giraffe

January 11, 2021January 11, 2021 Andrew Abraham 0 Comments

Standing at over five metres tall, giraffe exploit a feeding niche unavailable to most hooved animals. However, standing out from the crowd can also result in unexpected dangers. When violent storms clash in the skies above, giraffe become vulnerable to death by lightning strikes.

Animal behavior Cities Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Cat-agorizing Cat Owners to Reduce Environmental Harm caused by Domestic House Cats

January 6, 2021January 6, 2021 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments Cats, humans and wildlife, invasive species, Sociology, wildlife conservation

According to conservationists, domestic cats belong indoors for their safety and the safety of other animals. But, some cat owners disagree, causing rifts between pro-outdoor and pro-indoor cat parents. In a new study, researchers interviewed cat owners across the United Kingdom and cat-agorized cat owners into six distinct groups. Depending on the cat owner’s views , conservationists may have a larger impact if they target their message towards the emotional connection owners have with their feline friends.