Search Results for “pollinators” – Page 2

Thursday, April 25, 2024

If trees could hear, is human noise a threat?

July 5, 2021September 16, 2022 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments birds, compressors, long-term, noise, Trees

Sources of noise, like gas well compressors, are known to affect many animals negatively. But could the noise be impacting plant communities? Researchers sought an answer by comparing pinyon and juniper seedling growth near quiet or noisy gas well pads in the woodlands of New Mexico. Throughout the twelve-year study, noise harmed tree communities. Trees struggled to recover even several years after the noise was removed. Now is the time to listen to the trees because the trees are tired of listening to us.

Animal behavior Ecosystems Environmental Science

Phoning the Queen with Fanning and Pheromones

April 6, 2021September 12, 2022 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments bees, behavior, communication, honey bees

Like a game of telephone, bees pass pheromones to each other by sticking their butts in the air and frantically fanning their wings. This individual behavior helps the entire group aggregate around the queen. A recent study used video recording and machine learning to understand how these pheromones are passed from bee to bee and understand collective behavior in honey bees.

Animal behavior Case Studies Climate Environmental Science

Increasing Temperatures and Decreasing Insect Populations

March 9, 2021September 16, 2022 Elisabeth Lang 0 Comments Climate Change, insects, warming

Without insects, we wouldn’t have all of the edible plants that we rely on as important parts of our diets and entire ecosystems would be in trouble. Despite their importance, insects face many threats, including climate change. Through a literature review, a group of scientists found that increasing temperatures due to climate change and the resulting ecosystem changes are a leading cause of insect population declines globally. Some species have disappeared completely. However, different species respond to climate change differently. Monitoring and understanding their responses can help us prevent their loss.

Animal behavior Cities Ecosystems Environmental Science

Can Human Infrastructure Improve Biodiversity?

March 4, 2021September 16, 2022 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments fragmentation, humans and wildlife, infastructure, Restoration, wildlife

Electrical towers are dotted across landscapes around the world, bringing power to people in cities and the country. But can these towers be used to help wildlife? In a new study, researchers in Sevilla, Spain modified the base of these towers to attract wildlife. They found that not only do these man-made structures attract wildlife, but they can also act as wildlife corridors — providing safe passage for critters as they move across human-modified landscapes.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Remediation

What does the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration mean for you?

December 4, 2020September 12, 2022 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments ecosystem services, Humans, Restoration, Sociology, United Nations

The Decade of Ecological Restoration is nearly here! The process of helping ecosystems regain function and biodiversity is a new and complex field. It requires collaboration across academic disciplines and requires connecting the needs of humans and ecosystems. So, what can restoration ecologists learn from sociologists to bridge the gap between humans and nature and help make the coming decade a success?

Cities Ecosystems

It’s Complicated: Plant-pollinator relationships differ from urban to rural areas

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments cities, flowers, plants, pollinators

Flowers and the butterflies they attract are beautiful additions to any yard, but your garden is serving a greater purpose. Pollinators – including butterflies, moths, bees, and wasps – depend on plants for survival and are essential for plant reproduction. Plant-pollinator relationships are especially important for agriculture and our food supply. Cities pose many challenges for both plants and their pollinators which could strain their relationship. Find out how cities put pressure on plant-pollinator relationships and what you can do to help!

Environmental Science

Water willow and mussels and deer, oh my!

August 31, 2020August 31, 2020 Sarah Shainker 0 Comments

Primary Article: Lopez, J.W., Parr, T.B., Allen, D.C., and Vaughn, C. C. Animal aggregations promote emergent aquatic plant production at

Ecosystems Environmental Science

The invasive Kentucky bluegrass

August 21, 2020August 30, 2020 Whitney Kroschel 0 Comments invasive species, prairie

The grass species known as Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) – contrary to its name – is not native to Kentucky nor is it blue (spoiler: it’s green). It is originally from Europe and northern Asia and is the most popular lawn grass in the Unites States. Unfortunately, it has also become a huge invasive problem in natural grassland environments.

Animal behavior Cities Climate Environmental Science

Space Invaders? Exotic Bees in the Urban Landscape

August 13, 2020August 13, 2020 Jessica Espinosa 0 Comments bees, invasive species, urbanization

One up and coming target for bee conservation has been the urban landscape, as some recent findings have indicated that cities can maintain diverse bee communities. Though on the surface these findings seem promising for bee conservation, many of these studies do not actually address whether this is a positive thing for native bees. One group of scientists decided to delve further into this topic by looking at the effects of urbanization on bee species. Specifically, they wanted to find out whether exotic bees, including the European honeybee, were found more abundantly in cities and other urban areas than in rural communities and how their presence affected native bees.

Animal behavior

Stop and Smell the Flowers: Color-changing spiders blend in to avoid being eaten

August 7, 2020August 7, 2020 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments color change, crab spiders, flowers, predation

Can you think of any animals that can change colors? I bet a spider didn’t come to mind! Believe it or not, crab spiders can change colors from white to yellow depending on the color of the flower they occupy. When an insect arrives at a spider-inhabited flower, the crab spiders use their long legs to grab their meal. Matching the color of their flower may allow crab spiders to hide from their prey and predators. Stop, smell the flowers, and see if you can spot some crab spiders!