envirobites

Fires are increasing across the United States and researchers are looking to weed out the one of the culprits — invasive grasses. Using information from fires and non-native grass invasion across the country, researchers from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst set out to determine if invasive grasses increase the number of fires across the United States. Of the twelve grass species analyzed, 66% increased fire frequency, adding another layer to the complexity of managing wildfires. As individuals we can help halt this “grass-fire cycle” by reducing the spread of invasive grasses and human-caused sparks.

Climate Ecosystems

Ghost Forests: Are they as scary as they sound?

March 13, 2020March 11, 2020 Elisabeth Lang 0 Comments coastal environments, ghost forests, sea level rise, wetlands

Sea level rise has been accelerating over the last century, which will impact coastal ecosystems and their animals. Scientists have set out to study the conversion of forests to wetlands that is occurring with sea level rise, which results in the formation of ghost forests. While the loss of these forests is problematic, the resulting gain in wetland may actually be beneficial, making ghost forests less scary than they sound.

Ecosystems Human Exposure and Public Health

Deep breaths: a reduction in the relative abundance of deer mice and update on hantavirus seroprevalence in Yosemite National Park

March 13, 2020March 13, 2020 Heather Kopsco 0 Comments disease ecology, ecology and society, human health

We arrived at Camp Curry in the heart of Yosemite Valley well past dark, two days before our long-awaited and

Ecosystems Environmental Science

Macadamia Farmers Going Nuts Over Birds and Bats

March 12, 2020March 11, 2020 Connor Rosenblatt 0 Comments agriculture, bats, birds, ecosystem services, human-wildlife conflict

Removing natural vegetation around farms may keep crop predators such as monkeys off farms, but it also can keep away beneficial species of birds and bats that eat common insect pests. Do the services provided by birds and bats outweigh the disservices from monkeys? Researchers ventured into macadamia orchards to try and crack open the answer.

Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science

A Race against Climate Change: Predatory Arctic Shorebirds vs Insect Prey

March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 Christina M. Marvin 0 Comments Arctic, Climate Change, food chain, predation

What happens when one organism in a food chain adapts to climate disruption faster than another one? Prey is disappearing for some predators and species decline might be the result.

Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science

Where have all the flowers gone? Climate change is driving the loss of forbs and diversity in Californian grasslands

March 7, 2020March 7, 2020 Sienna Wessel 0 Comments biodiversity, Climate Change, drought, Ecology, plant communities

Science predicts that climate change will disrupt many natural processes and cycles and there is ever increasing media coverage regarding expectations for Earth’s future under these pressures. Yet there is little popular discussion about how plant communities will be impacted by these changes despite the fact that they represent the first level of the food web, support entire ecosystems of species, and contain one of the only organisms that can capture free energy to produce life. Understanding the ways that these communities are changing and will change in the future is crucially important to seeing the full picture of how climate change will re-shape life as we know it.

Cities Environmental Science

Masters of web design – city spiders build smaller, fuller webs

March 6, 2020 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments behavioral ecology, cities, spiders, urban ecology, urbanization

European garden spiders build smaller, fuller webs in cities where there are fewer, smaller insects to eat.

Ecosystems Environmental Science

The Forest-Fungi Loop

March 4, 2020March 3, 2020 Abigail Bezrutczyk 0 Comments Conservation, Ecology, ecosystems, environmental science, forests, fungi, Restoration, Soil, Trees

The ground under our feet might have more say in the landscape than we realize– researchers are studying the feedback loops between fungi and trees.

Environmental Science

Expanding the conservation “cool clique” to include freshwater megafauna

March 2, 2020March 2, 2020 Sarah Shainker 0 Comments

When you think of endangered species, what comes to mind? Even though the global list of endangered species includes plants, animals, and even algae, of all sizes, colors, and general aesthetic appeal, a few large animals typically serve as ambassadors for endangered species.

Human Exposure and Public Health Remediation

Clear Air, Calm Hospitals

February 27, 2020February 23, 2020 Kristen Brown 0 Comments air quality, coal, electricity, health, regulations

Air quality is important for health. As we learn more about their relationship, we can make better decisions about how to clean the air.

Follow your nose: the importance of odor for stress relief in urban green spaces

Bats, Immunity, and COVID-19

Witness trees tell how ecosystems of Silicon Valley have changed

T.G.I…M.? Why Wildlife Wants Your Vacation to End Sooner

Welcome to envirobites

What Smokey the Bear didn’t know about invasive species