ScienceDaily: Ecology Research News

Amazon River exhales virtually all carbon taken up by rainforest

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:43:43 EDT

Woody plant matter is almost completely digested by bacteria living in the Amazon River. This tough stuff plays a major part in fueling the river's breath. The finding has implications for global carbon models, and for the ecology of the Amazon and the world's other rivers.

Why we need to put the fish back into fisheries

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:48:48 EDT

Overfishing has reduced fish populations and biodiversity across much of the world’s oceans. In response, fisheries are increasingly reliant on a handful of highly valuable shellfish. However, new research shows this approach to be extremely risky.

Frogs, salamanders and climate change

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:37:37 EDT

Increasingly erratic rainfall patterns can lead to declines in southeastern frog and salamander populations, but protecting ponds can improve their plight.

Invasive species: 'Away-field advantage' weaker than ecologists thought

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:23:23 EDT

For decades, ecologists have assumed the worst invasive species—such as brown tree snakes and kudzu—have an “away-field advantage.” They succeed because they do better in their new territories than they do at home. A new study reveals that this fundamental assumption is not nearly as common as people might think.

Climate change may have little impact on tropical lizards: Study contradicts predictions of widespread extinction

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:58:58 EDT

Climate change may have little impact on many species of tropical lizards, contradicting a host of recent studies that predict their widespread extinction in a rapidly warming planet.

Invasive 'crazy ants' are displacing fire ants in areas throughout southeastern U.S.

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:39:39 EDT

Invasive "crazy ants" are displacing fire ants in areas across the southeastern United States, according to researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. It's the latest in a history of ant invasions from the southern hemisphere and may prove to have dramatic effects on the ecosystem of the region.

Coral reef fishes prove invaluable in the study of evolutionary ecology

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:36:36 EDT

Coral reef fish species have proven invaluable for experimental testing of key concepts in social evolution and already have yielded insights about the ultimate reasons for female reproductive suppression, group living, and bidirectional sex change.

Clam fossils divulge secrets of ecologic stability

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:40:40 EDT

Clam fossils from the middle Devonian era now yield a better paleontological picture of the capacity of ecosystems to remain stable in the face of environmental change, according to new research.

Cooling ocean temperature could buy more time for coral reefs

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:28:28 EDT

Limiting the amount of warming experienced by the world's oceans in the future could buy some time for tropical coral reefs, say researchers.

Land management options outlined to address cheatgrass invasion

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:33:33 EDT

A new study suggests that overgrazing and other factors increase the severity of cheatgrass invasion in sagebrush steppe, one of North America's most endangered ecosystems. Researchers said one of the most effective restoration approaches would be to minimize the cumulative impact of grazing, by better managing the timing, frequency of grazing and number of animals.

Invasion of the slugs; Halted by worms

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:16:16 EDT

The gardener’s best friend, the earthworm, is great at protecting leaves from being chomped by slugs, suggests new research. Although they lurk in the soil, they seem to protect the plants above ground. Increasing plant diversity also decreases the amount of damage slugs do to individual plants.

Climate change will cause widespread global-scale loss of common plants and animals, researchers predict

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:09:09 EDT

Climate change will cause widespread global-scale loss of common plants and animals. More than half of common plants and one third of the animals could see a dramatic decline this century due to climate change, according to new research. The study looked at 50,000 globally widespread and common species and found that more than one half of the plants and one third of the animals will lose more than half of their climatic range by 2080 if nothing is done to reduce the amount of global warming and slow it down.

Revealing hidden fungal species using DNA: The importance of recognizing cryptic diversity

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:45:45 EDT

In contrast to traditional approaches using morphological characters to delimit species, five new lichen-forming fungal species were described from what was traditionally considered a single species using genetic data exclusively. The new species can be identified using DNA barcoding. This pioneering study marks an alternative approach for discovering species and will promote effective research through correct specimen identification in closely related species groups.

No-win situation for agricultural expansion in the Amazon

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:55:55 EDT

The large-scale expansion of agriculture in the Amazon through deforestation will be a no-win scenario, according to a new study. The study shows that deforestation will not only reduce the capacity of the Amazon’s natural carbon sink, but will also inflict climate feedbacks that will decrease the productivity of pasture and soybeans.

Under-appreciated benefit of oyster restoration highlighted

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:46:46 EDT

A new study shows that healthy oyster reefs would help to buffer the increasing acidity of coastal waters.

Loss of eastern hemlock will affect forest water use

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:36:36 EDT

The loss of eastern hemlock from forests in the Southern Appalachian region of the United States could permanently change the area's hydrologic cycle, reports a new study.

Human impacts on natural world underestimated

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:21:21 EDT

A comprehensive five-year study by ecologists -- which included monitoring the activity of wolves, elks, cattle and humans -- indicates that two accepted principles of how ecosystems naturally operate could be overshadowed by the importance of human activity.

New Red List developed for threatened ecosystems

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:21:21 EDT

Scientists have developed a new Red List system for identifying ecosystems at high risk of degradation, similar to the influential Red List for the world's threatened species.

Decline in snow cover spells trouble for many plants, animals

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:44:44 EDT

For plants and animals forced to tough out harsh winter weather, the coverlet of snow that blankets the north country is a refuge, a stable beneath-the-snow habitat that gives essential respite from biting winds and subzero temperatures.

Plants 'talk' to plants to help them grow

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:08:08 EDT

Having a neighborly chat improves seed germination, finds new research. Even when other known means of communication, such as contact, chemical and light-mediated signals, are blocked, chilli seeds grow better when grown with basil plants. This suggests that plants are talking via nanomechanical vibrations.

You are what (and where) you eat: Mercury pollution threatens Arctic foxes

Mon, 06 May 2013 19:10:10 EDT

New scientific results show that arctic foxes accumulate dangerous levels of mercury if they live in coastal habitats and feed on prey which lives in the ocean.

The Black Sea is a goldmine of ancient genetic data

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:17:17 EDT

When one marine paleoecologist was mining through vast amounts of genetic data from the Black Sea sediment record, he was amazed about the variety of past plankton species that left behind their genetic makeup (i.e., the plankton paleome).

Boom in jellyfish: Overfishing called into question

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:47:47 EDT

Will we soon be forced to eat jellyfish? Since the beginning of the 2000s, these gelatinous creatures have invaded many of the world's seas, like the Japan Sea, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, etc. Is it a cyclic phenomenon, caused by changes in marine currents or even global warming? Until now, the causes remained unknown. A new study exposes overfishing as the main factor.

Is the humble fig more than just a fruit?

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:36:36 EDT

Figs and fig trees are familiar to a wide cross-section of human society, both as a common food and for their spiritual importance. What is less well understood is the global nature of this association between figs and humans, which is maintained across species, continents and societies.

Amphibians living close to farm fields are more resistant to common insecticides

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:20:20 EDT

Amphibian populations living close to agricultural fields have become more resistant to a common insecticide and are actually resistant to multiple common insecticides, according to two recent studies.

Traditional ranching practices enhance African savanna

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:20:20 EDT

That human land use destroys natural ecosystems is an oft-cited assumption in conservation, but ecologists have discovered that instead, traditional ranching techniques in the African savanna enhance the local abundance of wild, native animals. These results offer a new perspective on the roles humans play in natural systems, and inform ongoing discussions about land management and biodiversity conservation.

In the Northeast, forests with entirely native flora are not the norm

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:21:21 EDT

Two-thirds of all forest inventory plots in the Northeast and Midwestern United States contain at least one non-native plant species, a new US Forest Service study found. The study across two dozen states from North Dakota to Maine can help land managers pinpoint areas on the landscape where invasive plants might take root.

Biologists propose a new research roadmap for connecting genes to ecology

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:16:16 EDT

A team of researchers is proposing a new investigative roadmap for the field of evolutionary developmental biology, or "evo devo," to better understand how innovation at the genetic level can lead to ecological adaptations over time. Evo devo seeks to understand the specific genetic mechanisms underlying evolutionary change.

Smoke signals: How burning plants tell seeds to rise from the ashes

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:59:59 EDT

In the spring following a forest fire, trees that survived the blaze explode in new growth and plants sprout in abundance from the scorched earth. For centuries, it was a mystery how seeds, some long dormant in the soil, knew to push through the ashes to regenerate the burned forest.

World's longest-running plant monitoring program now digitized

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Researchers have digitized 106 years of growth data on the birth, growth and death of individual plants on Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz., making the information available for study by people all over the world. The permanent research plots on the University of Arizona's Tumamoc Hill represent the world's longest-running study that monitors individual plants. Knowing how plants respond to changing conditions over many decades provides new insights into how ecosystems behave.

Ecological knowledge offers perspectives for sustainable agriculture

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:24:24 EDT

A smart combination of different crops, such as beans and maize, can significantly cut the use of crop protection agents and at the same time reduce the need for fertilizers. Integrating ecological knowledge from nature with knowledge of crops opens up the prospect of a sustainable strategy that will increase yield per hectare at reduced environmental costs.

Sea surface temperatures reach highest level in 150 years on Northeast continental shelf

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:56:56 EDT

Sea surface temperatures in the Northeast Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem during 2012 were the highest recorded in 150 years, according to new research. Temperature is also affecting distributions of fish and shellfish on the Northeast Shelf.

Ecology buys time for evolution: Climate change disrupts songbird's timing without impacting population size (yet)

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

Songbird populations can handle far more disrupting climate change than expected. Density-dependent processes are buying them time for their battle. But without (slow) evolutionary rescue it will not save them in the end, says an international team of scientists.

Big ecosystem changes viewed through the lens of tiny carnivorous plants

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:39:39 EDT

The water-filled pool within a pitcher plant, it turns out, is a tiny ecosystem whose inner workings are similar to those of a full-scale water body. Whether small carnivorous plant or huge lake, both are subject to the same ecological "tipping points," of concern on Earth Day -- and every day, say scientists.

Insights into deadly coral bleaching could help preserve reefs: Surprising result from study of 1893 World's Fair corals

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:51:51 EDT

Coral reefs are stressed because of climate change. Researchers have discovered corals themselves play a role in their susceptibility to deadly coral bleaching due to the light-scattering properties of their skeletons. No one else has shown this before. Using optical technology designed for early cancer detection, the researchers discovered that reef-building corals scatter light in different ways to the symbiotic algae that feed the corals.

Cocktail of multiple pressures combine to threaten the world's pollinating insects

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:11:11 EDT

A new review of insect pollinators of crops and wild plants has concluded they are under threat globally from a cocktail of multiple pressures, and their decline or loss could have profound environmental, human health and economic consequences.

Sea-ice ecosystem possibly triggered evolution of baleen whales and penguins

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

The origin of the unique plankton ecosystem of the circum-Antarctic Southern Ocean can be traced back to the emergence of the Antarctic ice sheets approximately 33.6 million years ago. This discovery shows that the development of the sea-ice ecosystem possibly triggered further adaptation and evolution of larger organisms such as baleen whales and penguins.

Age matters to Antarctic clams: Age matters when it comes to adapting to the effects of climate change

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:43:43 EDT

A new study of Antarctic clams reveals that age matters when it comes to adapting to the effects of climate change. The research provides new insight and understanding of the likely impact of predicted environmental change on future ocean biodiversity.

Tiny colorful snails are in danger of extinction with vanishing limestone ecosystems

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:24:24 EDT

Three new species of brightly colored carnivorous snails have been described from north and northeastern Thailand, as a part of an extensive study of the terrestrial snails family Streptaxidae. The new species have been found in highly endangered limescale ecosystems, including quarried areas, thus showing extraordinary survival mechanisms and biodiversity persistence.

Self-medication in animals much more widespread than believed

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:27:27 EDT

It's been known for decades that animals such as chimpanzees seek out medicinal herbs to treat their diseases. But in recent years, the list of animal pharmacists has grown much longer, and it now appears that the practice of animal self-medication is a lot more widespread than previously thought, according to ecologists.

Great white sharks scavenging on dead whales

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:15:15 EDT

Biologists have explored the behaviors of Great white sharks scavenging on dead whales in South Africa. The team documented as many as 40 different sharks scavenging on a carcass over the course of a single day, revealing unique social interactions among sharks.

Measuring microbes makes wetland health monitoring more affordable, says researcher

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:20:20 EDT

Tiny, unseen wetland creatures provided crucial indicators of the ecosystems' health in a new study. Using analysis of the microbiological health of wetlands is cheaper and faster than traditional assessments, and could lead to improvements in harnessing natural processes to filter human's wastewater.

Environmental change triggers rapid evolution

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Environmental change can drive hard-wired evolutionary changes in animal species in a matter of generations. A new study overturns the common assumption that evolution only occurs gradually over hundreds or thousands of years.

Surprising predictor of ecosystem chemistry

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:28:28 EDT

Scientists have found that the plant species making up an ecosystem are better predictors of ecosystem chemistry than environmental conditions such as terrain, geology, or altitude. This is the first study using a new, high-resolution airborne, chemical-detecting instrument to map multiple ecosystem chemicals.

Remote coral reefs can be tougher than they look: Western Australia’s Scott Reef has recovered from mass bleaching

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:45:45 EDT

Isolated coral reefs can recover from catastrophic damage as effectively as those with nearby undisturbed neighbors, a long-term study by marine biologists has shown. Scott Reef, a remote coral system in the Indian Ocean, has largely recovered from a catastrophic mass bleaching event in 1998, according to the study.

Invasive crabs help Cape Cod marshes

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:20:20 EDT

Ecologists are wary of non-native species, but along the shores of Cape Cod where grass-eating crabs have been running amok and destroying the marsh, an invasion of predatory green crabs has helped turn back the tide in favor of the grass.

An inside look at carnivorous plants

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:26:26 EDT

A pitcher plant's work seems simple: Their tube-shaped leaves catch and hold rainwater, which drowns the ants, beetles, and flies that stumble in. But the rainwater inside a pitcher plant is not just a malevolent dunking pool. It also hosts a complex system of aquatic life, including wriggling mosquito, flesh fly, and midge larvae; mites; rotifers; copepods; nematodes; and multicellular algae.

Southern California sagebrush better suited to climate change, study finds

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:21:21 EDT

California sagebrush in the southern part of the state will adjust better to climate change than sagebrush populations in the north, according to researchers.

Massive prehistoric bird extinction linked to human colonization

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:16:16 EDT

Research by Alison Boyer, a research assistant professor in ecology and evolutionary biology, and an international team studied the extinction rates of nonperching land birds in the Pacific Islands from 700 to 3,500 years ago. The team uncovered the magnitude of the extinctions and insight into how and why human impacts varied across the region.

Soils in newly forested areas store substantial carbon that could help offset climate change

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:07:07 EDT

Surface appearances can be so misleading: In most forests, the amount of carbon held in soils is substantially greater than the amount contained in the trees themselves, according to new research.

Streams stressed by pharmaceutical pollution

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:07:07 EDT

Pharmaceuticals commonly found in the environment are disrupting streams, with unknown impacts on aquatic life and water quality. So reports a new paper that highlights the ecological cost of pharmaceutical waste and the need for more research into environmental impacts.

Splendid Skadar Lake (Montenegro and Albania) surprises with new species of snails

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:51:51 EDT

The Skadar Lake system at the border of Montenegro and Albania is a well-known hotspot of freshwater biodiversity and harbors a highly diverse mollusc fauna. As in many of the Balkan lakes, the endemic species of Skadar Lake are still poorly known and continue to yield unexpected discoveries. A new freshwater snail species has recently been found.

Move over squirrels: Leopards are new backyard wildlife

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Certain landscapes of western India completely devoid of wilderness and with high human populations are crawling with a different kind of backyard wildlife: leopards.

Hope for Galapagos wildlife threatened by marine invaders

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:20:20 EDT

Increasing tourism and the spread of marine invasive non-native species is threatening the unique plant and marine life around the Galapagos Islands.

Decreased water flow may be trade-off for more productive forest

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:06:06 EDT

As the need for carbon sequestration, biofuels, and other forest products increases, study suggests that there might be unintended consequences to enhancing ecosystems using fertilization.

Scientists use DNA to quickly unravel relationship between plants and insects

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:05:05 EDT

It can take years of direct observation for a researcher to fully understand the diets of a community of herbivorous insects in a tropical rain forest. Now, scientists are paving a fast track using the DNA found inside the insects' stomachs, potentially turning years of research into months. This method will help scientists understand the ecology and evolution of plant-herbivore interactions more efficiently.

Predictions of climate impacts on fisheries can be a mirage

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:05:05 EDT

In the early 1940s, California fishermen hauled in a historic bounty of sardine that set the backdrop for John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" novel. But by the end of the decade the nets came up empty and the fishery collapsed. Where did they all go? According to a new study, the forces behind the sardine mystery are a dynamic and interconnected moving target.

Homeowner groups can support native species in suburbia

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:02:02 EDT

Although it's known that home construction in suburban areas can have negative impacts on native plant and animals, a recent study suggests that well-managed development such as provided by homeowners associations can support native wildlife and promote species diversity.

Invasive species: Understanding the threat before it's too late

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Catching rides on cargo ships and fishing boats, many invasive species are now covering our shorelines and compromising the existence of our native marine life. Scientists have examined what factors allow some invasive species to survive in their new environments and others to fail.

Seabirds need effective marine conservation in wake of discard ban, warns study

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:54:54 EDT

Conservationists have renewed urgent calls for effective marine protection in European waters, after a new study revealed that the recent EU ban on fish discards could have a significant short-term impact on some seabirds.