ecosystem services – envirobites

Friday, December 8, 2023

Seaweeds Against Climate Change: How Algae Provide Us with Ecosystem Services

June 1, 2023June 23, 2023 Andrea Valcarcel 0 Comments algae, climate resiliency, ecosystem services, marine remediation, seaweed

If you’ve ever been near the ocean, chances are you’ve had an involuntary encounter with seaweed. It’s slimy. It’s smelly. It’s just overall not pleasant—but that doesn’t mean it isn’t useful for both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Here we’ll review some of the ecosystem services they provide so we can start looking past the inconvenience they represent and start appreciating them as the valuable organisms they are.

Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Going Blue: The Environmental Impacts of Aquatic Foods

February 9, 2022February 8, 2022 Lauren Otolski 0 Comments ecology and society, ecosystem services, fisheries, fishing, marine biology, marine conservation, oceanography, oceans, Pollution

Food production puts a major strain on our planet, and many people are exploring ways to reduce its impacts. Aquatic foods — including fish, shellfish, and water plants — may be one option! Which of these “blue foods” are more sustainable than others, and in what ways? What can we do to make catching and farming aquatic food even more environmentally-friendly?

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 Environmental Science

Unequal Access to Urban Tree Benefits in the Bronx

August 3, 2020December 28, 2020 Jenna Zukswert 0 Comments ecosystem services, environmental justice, Trees, urban ecology

Urban trees provide many ecosystem services to residents, but tree cover can be unequally distributed, resulting in fewer benefits for disadvantaged neighborhoods. This is true in the Bronx, where a recent study demonstrates that the distribution of services provided by trees is related to median income as well as population density. Analyzing the inequity of ecosystem services in our cities is the first step towards developing solutions to improve access to ecosystem services and make the distribution of these resources more just.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Could We “Dilute” Disease by Protecting Biodiversity?

April 28, 2020April 29, 2020 Sienna Wessel 0 Comments biodiversity, disease, ecosystem health, ecosystem services, plant communities, plant diversity

So you are a passionate conservation activist distracted in the time of global pandemic- perhaps you haven’t had the mental space to prioritize biodiversity protection in your ever growing laundry list of pressing societal issues. What if I told you that the preservation of biodiversity could have the potential to check off a few items on that list- including disease impact? Read on to hear how science has worked tirelessly to determine if diversity can actually “dilute” disease in a variety of organisms, ending with a new comprehensive study that looks at this effect in plants.

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.

Cities Climate

Using urban trees to reduce home energy use: Location, location, location

September 18, 2019October 21, 2019 Andrew Trlica 0 Comments carbon, cities, Climate Change, ecosystem services, greenhouse gases, urban ecology

Urban trees may — in some contexts — make residential greenhouse emissions worse.

Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science

Glimmer of Hope: Seagrasses Starting to Recover in Europe

August 14, 2019August 17, 2019 Brittany Maule 0 Comments Climate Change, coastal environments, ecosystem services, Ocean, Restoration

Seagrasses provide vital habitat and resources for marine ecosystems. Water pollution, disease, and coastal modification have led to a decrease in 30% of seagrasses across Europe. Researchers analyzed over 1,000 studies to understand the trends of seagrasses over nearly 150 years. While overall losses have been great, the last few decades have shown seagrasses are starting to recover – likely due to strategies to decrease water pollution and protect vital habitats.

Environmental Science

Genetic clues to bee conservation

August 7, 2019August 9, 2019 Sarah Shainker 0 Comments Climate Change, Conservation, ecosystem services

Bees pollinate our food crops, make honey, and provide livelihood to families around the world. As climate change and habitat loss reduce their populations, scientists search for genetic clues to learn how the bees are adapting and how we can better conserve them.

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