Remote Environments – envirobites

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Bubble, Bubble, Toil, and Trouble: Deep-sea ghost shark evolved a sixth sense

October 20, 2022October 20, 2022 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments deepsea, electroreception, senses, Sharks

Rising from the depths of the sea, bubbles signal trouble: a confrontation between a predator and its prey. A relatively unexplored and mysterious place, the deep-sea hosts creatures that have adapted to the darkness and silence of the ocean’s floor for hundreds of millions of years. Spending so much time in these harsh conditions has forced the ghost shark to develop a sixth sense – the ability to detect changes in the electromagnetic field. Scientists are starting to uncover this ghostly tale, but much of this story remains a mystery.

Environmental Science Remote Environments

What sound does a fish make?

June 13, 2022June 13, 2022 Sam Schurkamp 0 Comments acoustic ecology, bioacoustics, database, fish, sound

No, it’s not a riddle– scientists have been exploring the noisy underwater world of fish since the late 1800s. With the dawn of a new online database, now you can too.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Remote Environments

Shark Movements Can Be Used to Design Better Marine Protected Areas

May 7, 2022May 5, 2022 Julia Bebout 0 Comments ecosystems, fisheries, marine biology, shark conservation

Marine protected areas can be very effective at protecting marine life, and they’re even more effective when the actual movements of wildlife are used to guide the drawing of their borders. By using telemetry, scientists can make shark-friendly protected areas and watch how effective they are at reducing commercial fishing.

Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science Remote Environments Science through time

The Forest of Drunken Trees

April 13, 2022April 11, 2022 Sam Schurkamp 0 Comments Arctic, Climate Change, forests, permafrost

Black spruce forests in northern regions are tipping over. A new study seeks to understand why, and uncovers the role climate change plays in tilting trees.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Remote Environments

Who Pollinates a Potent Plant?

November 4, 2021September 16, 2022 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments botanic gardens, Corpse flower, tropical ecosystems

About once a decade, the corpse flower blooms and attracts human visitors of all ages who want to see the short-lived flower and smell the plant’s natural perfume of rotting flesh. But in the wild, these plants must attract a different kind of visitor –pollinators. Read on to learn more about the mysterious pollinators of the Corpse Flower and learn about the questions scientists still don’t know the answers to.

Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science Remote Environments

When Geological Processes Collide– Exploring the Link Between Earthquakes and Glaciers

September 6, 2021September 12, 2022 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments Alaska, Climate Change, geology, glaciers

What happens when glaciers melt? Scientists have discussed numerous effects of deglaciation including sea level rise and loss of habitats but recently, geologists have been thinking about how glaciers interact with the crust of the earth. Researchers from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks found a link between melting glaciers and earthquakes in Southeast Alaska which adds new understanding about the indirect effects of climate change and the role of humans in natural disasters.

Climate Remote Environments Science through time

The churning seas are slowing down: The Atlantic Ocean circulation at its weakest in millennia

April 10, 2021September 16, 2022 Lucila Bloemendaal 0 Comments circulation, Climate Change, Ocean

In the Atlantic Ocean there is a giant “river” that affects many aspects of life for us terrestrial dwellers, from the regional climates we enjoy to the sea level at our shore. This “river” is the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), one of the planet’s major ocean circulation systems. The ocean has been churning for millenia through this circulation system, but now there are signs of change.

Environmental Science Remote Environments

Plastic Pollution and Penguins?

November 10, 2020November 10, 2020 Elisabeth Lang 0 Comments Antarctica, plastic ocean pollution

Many people may see plastic pollution as a local issue, but did you know that small pieces of plastic have made their way to super remote locations? Plastic pollution has been documented in Antarctica, one of the most remote locations on the planet, for decades. Now though, scientists are finding out that microplastics, which are harmful to marine life, are also making their way to Antarctica. Researchers documented similar levels of microplastics in Antarctica as other, less remote locations globally. While many come from marine industry, we can all help solve the problem by putting less plastic into the environment.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Remote Environments

Some Soil Microbes Don’t Mind Our Camping Trips

October 6, 2020September 12, 2022 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments Arizona, camping, desert, microbial ecology, soil microbes

Have you ever thought about the microorganisms living under your tent while you’re camping? It may seem like setting up the tent and trampling all over the campsite may harm the organisms that live in the soil but new study in the Arizona savanna turns that idea on its head. Read on to learn about camping resistant plants, microbes, and resiliency of this awesome ecosystem.

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