Chasing Waterfalls
Waterfalls are the purview of unicorns and rainbows. But the magic isn’t all fantasy. New experiments are shedding light on how some waterfalls form.
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environmental science
Chew on this: Fighting climate change by reducing cow burps
Does seaweed have the power to fight climate change? Are cow burps contributing to global warming? Read on to find the answers!
Read MoreHabitats are a work of art: habitat mosaics and fish production
Biodiversity is continually being threatened by human activities, and it is vital that we protect it. Conserving biodiversity means conserving species and the habitats they live in. We know that habitats vary through space and time, but does this variation impact fish production in the long term? Brennen et al. explores this question using Pacific salmon species in an Alaskan watershed.
Read MoreIslands and Alleles: How genetics can help protect endangered species
When talking about diversity in the natural world, we often think of the bright colors and bold patterns of fish gliding among a reef, or the variety of flying, creeping, and crawling critters found in the layers of a rainforest canopy. However, diversity even within a single species is an important indicator of a population’s health and stability. This type of diversity can be invisible to us when contained in the form of genes that control which traits organisms possess. In this study, scientists helped us to see the invisible diversity of an endangered skink and learn how to more effectively conserve this diversity.
Read MoreSeeking Ferns, Finding Worms
In the midst of an earthworm invasion, researchers created models to find a rare fern. This helps us to better understand how to protect threatened, endangered, and sensitive plants in a changing world.
Read MoreDung Beetles and Soil Bacteria Promote Food Safety
Having a diverse farm benefits everyone Not only will the soils be richer and the number of different crops grow higher but also diversity may also potentially be safer. By limiting the use of pesticides and maintaining various landscapes throughout a farmland, organic farming increases the number of insects, namely beetles, and bacteria that help break down potential pathogens before they infiltrate the growing crops. Jones and colleagues examined 70 vegetable fields throughout California and conducted several laboratory experiments to find that organic farms had richer, more diverse communities of beetles and soil bacteria that help breakdown foodborne pathogens.
Read MoreTiny Doctors: Cleaner Shrimp Heal Wounds and Aid in Sustainable Fish Production
Throw out the antibiotics and bring in the shrimp! In a recent study, researchers at the Center for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture found cleaner shrimp to be an effective biologic control in preventing parasitic infestations in farm-raised fish.
Read MoreParasite Invasion: Native North American snakes are infected with parasites introduced by Burmese pythons
Invasive Burmese pythons have many negative effects on native Florida wildlife, and researchers have now discovered the potential for more: pythons share their parasites with native snakes.
Read Moreenvirobites is starting soon!
Welcome to envirobites! Starting Wednesday August 2, 2017 we will start publishing short posts about the latest environmental science studies
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