Search Results for “plastic” – Page 3

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Disposal Method Matters: The Truth Behind Biodegradable Plastics

March 13, 2019February 16, 2023 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.

Climate Environmental Science

How Can We Protect Salmon from Climate Warming? It Depends on the River

March 8, 2024March 4, 2024 Julia Bebout 0 Comments acclimation, Climate Change, fish ecology, population ecology, salmon

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are sensitive to changes in temperature. To survive, salmon must be adaptable, particularly in a warming and increasingly unpredictable climate. However, little is known about how this culturally valuable fish responds to dramatic changes in temperature.

Ecosystems Environmental Science

Reef Remodeling: How Reef Carpets Could Change How We View Reef Restoration

March 1, 2024February 23, 2024 Andrea Valcarcel 0 Comments coral, coral nurseries, coral reef ecosystem, coral reefs, marine biology, marine conservation, marine science, marine species, Restoration

Coral reefs are one of the most important marine ecosystems in the world, but climate change and other stressors are pushing on their wellbeing and leading to degradation. That’s where reef restoration comes in, where scientists and volunteers work to reproduce tiny corals and transplant them onto degraded reefs—but this restoration mostly focused on survivability, and not variety. In a new approach, a group of scientists have constituted what they call “Reef Carpets”, which are patches of restoration efforts filled with biodiversity. They found that these “Carpets” jumpstart a whole reef ecosystem, leading to better outcomes in the long run.

Español

La microfibra, un gran problema

October 21, 2022October 19, 2022 Andrea Valcarcel 0 Comments contaminación, contaminación por plásticos, microfibras, microplásticos, polución

Las microfibras están llegando a nuestros lagos y océanos. Con la ayuda de nuevas tecnologías y un poco de esfuerzo comunitario, tal vez podamos detener su infiltración.

Cities Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Microfiber, major problem

September 13, 2022September 13, 2022 Sam Schurkamp 0 Comments microfibers, microplastics, plastic pollution, Pollution

Microfibers are getting into our lakes and oceans. With the help of new technology and a little community effort, we may be able to stop them.

Cities Ecosystems

Dead and Gone? – The loss of decaying wood communities in urban forests

March 3, 2021September 16, 2022 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments decomposition, forests, fungi, insects, wood

Forests are beautiful. From flourishing plants to tranquil wildlife to decaying logs, all parts are beautiful, vital, and connected. Dead logs are responsible for maintaining a healthy forest thanks to teams of fungi and wood-dependent insects inside. These organisms break down plant material to add nutrients back to the ecosystem. Forests are essential for human health and well-being, but human disturbance could threaten these ecosystems. To keep our forests healthy and beautiful, we depend on these decomposers, but can they rely on us?

Animal behavior Cities

Puzzling Mice – City mice are better problem solvers

February 3, 2021September 16, 2022 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments city, country, innovation, mice, persistence

What’s your strategy for completing a jigsaw puzzle? Puzzles and games require problem solving and strategy. Animals also need to problem-solve to overcome challenges in their environment, but it’s not all fun and games for them. Human disturbance and constant change in cities can make for really challenging conditions for city animals, such as mice. City and county striped field mice will have to prove their problem-solving wit by sliding, lifting, carrying, and digging their way through eight obstacles.

Case Studies Climate Environmental Science

Waste-to-Energy or Wasted Energy?

January 18, 2021September 16, 2022 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

Cities Ecosystems Environmental Science Remediation

From Food Waste to Roadways: Using Compost to Improve Soil Conditions and Tree Success Along Highways

October 5, 2020December 28, 2020 Jenna Zukswert 0 Comments cities, Compost, food waste, Soil, tree planting

Planting trees along highway roadsides is a good way to increase tree coverage in cities, but getting trees to grow here and maintaining these plantings over time can be difficult. Reducing soil compaction and adding organic material, such as compost, can improve roadside soils and support tree growth in these areas. A 5-year study in Ontario recently found that loosening up the soil and mixing in 10-25% food waste compost relative to soil can help improve tree growth along roadsides, possibly reducing the need to follow up and maintain these trees over time.