Remediation – envirobites

The core of ecology is devoted to studying the interactions among species and their environment. But why are some species present and others absent in an environment? Think of a region of forest that has been converted to an agricultural field. The species that were thriving in the forest now have become absent because they are not tolerant of the new environmental conditions imposed upon them in the agricultural field.

Only a subset of all species in a region can tolerate the ecological conditions of a given site (the site-specific species pool). Of those, not all are realized in the local species pool. These absent species form what is called the dark diversity of a community. Authors Lewis et al. (2017) believe that the dark diversity concept can be used to complement and further develop conservation prioritization and management decision

Case Studies Environmental Science Remediation

Can shellfish farming clean our coastal waters?

August 29, 2019August 30, 2019 Lindsay Green-Gavrielidis 0 Comments coastal management, eutrophication, nitrogen loading, nutrient extraction, shellfish farming

Coastal waters throughout the United States and the globe are suffering from an excess of nitrogen due to human activities. Excess nitrogen comes from a variety of sources such as wastewater treatment plants and can impact the health of coastal habitats. Coastal managers are adopting a variety of practices to limit the nitrogen inputs to coastal waters including improved stormwater and wastewater treatments, but could shellfish farming help clean our coastal waters? A study from Cape Cod, Massachusetts sought to quantify how much nitrogen can be removed from coastal waters through oyster and quahog farming.

Cities Climate Environmental Science Remediation

My Chemical Romance

August 13, 2019August 9, 2019 Kristen Brown 0 Comments

Did your chemistry teacher tell you that chemistry is all around you? It very literally is! You can find chemistry in many places, and the air around you is one of those places. Scientists use chemistry to figure out how to keep our air clean so we can stay healthy.

Environmental Science Remediation

What can sea turtles tell us about the plastics in our oceans?

April 25, 2019April 26, 2019 Mary Davis 0 Comments microplastics, plastic, plastic ocean pollution, plastic pollution, recycling, turtles, wildlife impacts

Some of our best insight into the types of plastic litter in the ocean comes from examining what is ingested by sea turtles. Recent research looks at how the composition of plastic waste changes with ocean depth, as informed by the eating patterns of sea turtles.

Remediation

Waste not, want not. Stop Food Waste.

April 24, 2019April 24, 2019 Kristen Brown 0 Comments food, food waste, Waste

We waste almost one third of our food. This wastes money and energy and hurts the environment. Learn what causes this problem and what you can do to fix it.

Environmental Science Remediation

Disposal Method Matters: The Truth Behind Biodegradable Plastics

March 13, 2019March 15, 2019 Mary Davis 0 Comments biodegradable plastic, Compost, plastic pollution, polymers, recycling, Waste

Biodegradable plastics are being introduced as a solution to the buildup of plastics in the environment, and they are often touted as being an environmentally-friendly option. However, they come with their own complications. Researchers have investigated how specific biodegradable plastics break down (or don’t) in different environments, showing that how they are disposed of makes a big difference in how environmentally-friendly they are.

Environmental Science Remediation

Can nanoparticles help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy manure?

January 21, 2019January 27, 2019 Elizabeth Brannon 0 Comments Climate Change, greenhouse gases, Nanoparticles

Increasing greenhouse gas emissions are contributing to climate change. In the United States, livestock production is one sector contributing to the increase in emissions. This study looked at whether nanoparticles could be used to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from dairy cow manure.

Colombian President Santos Signs a Peace Accord With FARC Leader Jiménez. Pictured: a crowd watches a large screen that shows hands signing a document

Cities Climate Environmental Science Remediation

The Ecological Price of Peace in Colombia

December 3, 2018December 9, 2018 Abigail Lewis 0 Comments Climate Change, Conflict, Conservation, policy

Half a century of conflict in Columbia is finally coming to an end. But decreased political tension may lead to more pressure on natural resources. How can Columbia adapt to changing political and planetary climates without sacrificing critical ecosystem services?

Case Studies Cities Environmental Science Remediation

City phosphorus, country phosphorus: can we mitigate P in different environments?

October 23, 2018October 28, 2018 Laura Mast 0 Comments agricultural pollution, agriculture, dead zone, eutrophication, nonpoint source pollution, nutrient pollution, phosphorus, urban water management, wastewater treatment

Phosphorus is essential for life, but there is such thing as too much of a good thing. In excess, phosphorus can cause algal blooms, creating dead zones in bodies of water. How do we prevent phosphorus from entering water systems? Katrina Macintosh and her team did a comprehensive review to track phosphorus from diffuse sources to find out.

Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health Remediation

Can soil help remove antibiotics from wastewater effluent?

October 9, 2018October 11, 2018 Elizabeth Brannon 0 Comments antibiotics, groundwater, Soil, wastewater effluent, wastewater treatment

Antibiotics are finding their way into surface waters via wastewater effluent where they pose a threat to the environment and organisms including humans. Many wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove antibiotics. This study explores the use of soil to reduce the amount of antibiotics that enter the environment.

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