#ecology

Urban expansion causes ecological collapse in streams in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area

The advance of urbanization in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area in Brazil is causing the collapse of food webs in local streams. A study published in August in the journal Nature Cities reveals that the impact of the metropolis goes far beyond a simple reduction in species. Degradation selectively eliminates organisms based on their size and simplifies ecological interactions. Networks of 190 connections plummet to just three.

Phys.org · EN

Alaska laments decline of its prized salmon populations

In his Alaskan community, fisherman Bob Candopoulos has long welcomed tourists to his business that's showcased by a sign featuring a king salmon.

Phys.org · EN

Noise pollution is reshaping the health and behaviour of animals everywhere

There is almost nowhere on Earth free from disruptive human noise – but it's one of the easiest environmental problems to solve

New Scientist · EN

In elephants, the resilience of communities has its limits

In Sri Lanka, ecological change is shrinking a park's elephant population.

Ars Technica Science · EN

eDNA study reveals drivers of dramatic restructuring of marine food web

A new study from Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) has combined decades of microscope records with cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) data to uncover the drivers of a major shift at the base of the marine food web in UK waters. The work is published in the journal Communications Biology.

Phys.org · EN

US almonds, walnuts and grapes depend on draining groundwater that isn't coming back

Half of the groundwater used to grow America's favorite fruits, nuts, veggies, seeds and greens is drawn from aquifers faster than they can refill, according to a new study. Irrigating 75% of produce and specialty crops with groundwater between 2008 and 2020 helped spare farms from the immediate impacts of droughts, but dependence on draining aquifers could set up producers for future water supply strife.

Phys.org · EN

Even parasites have parasites: Fungus infects powdery mildew

In the fungal kingdom, no one is safe from parasites—not even other parasites. A new study from North Carolina State University finds that Ampelomyces, an intracellular fungus that infects the plant disease powdery mildew, is far more common than previously known. By screening museum samples of powdery mildews up to about 150 years old, researchers discovered that not only is Ampelomyces quite common, but many specimens labeled as Ampelomyces are misidentified.

Phys.org · EN

Retired ocean liner to become largest artificial reef in the world

Bigger than the RMS Titanic and faster than the RMS Queen Mary, the SS United States was a nautical wonder during the mid-20th century—the nation's premier luxury ocean liner that once ferried presidents and Hollywood elite across the Atlantic in opulence.

Phys.org · EN

When rain finally does come to drylands, only some microbes in the soil 'awaken'

In arid regions, the microbes that power threatened dryland soil ecosystems called biological soil crusts stay dormant over long periods, only "awakening" when they sense moisture from infrequent rainfall. Now, a team led by researchers at Penn State—driven by projections that those biocrusts will decline by as much as 40% in the next 45 years—found that when a dryland soil does get wet, most of the microbes in the biocrust stay inactive. It's a discovery that will inform ongoing efforts to conserve and restore biocrusts, according to the researchers.

Phys.org · EN

Deep-sea mollusk houses bacteria in tiny 'dragon balls,' revealing a new symbiotic structure

Researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have discovered a previously unknown specialized organelle structure in a deep-sea mollusk living at cold seeps in the South China Sea. Dedicated to maintaining bacterial symbiosis, this newly identified survival mechanism provides new insights into how deep-sea organisms adapt to nearly oxygen-free environments and opens new directions for research on chemosymbiosis, organelle evolution and deep-sea ecosystems.

Phys.org · EN

A new tool makes biodiversity conservation planning more efficient and reproducible

ZonationR is a new tool that simplifies the use of Zonation to identify priority areas for biodiversity conservation. It brings all stages of the conservation planning analysis together in one automated and reproducible workflow and helps users systematically explore and compare alternative conservation scenarios.

Phys.org · EN

Coyotes are likely a permanent fixture on the Outer Banks of North Carolina

A new study reveals that coyote populations on the Outer Banks persist despite ongoing removal programs, posing a continued threat to shore-nesting birds and protected sea turtles. The study is the first in-depth assessment of coyote populations on barrier islands and has ramifications for understanding how coyotes may impact these and other barrier island ecosystems.

Phys.org · EN

Gatineau Park foliage reveals local Cold War nuclear testing legacy

For more than six decades, local scientists have collected sugar maple leaves from Gatineau Park to measure their radiocarbon levels, creating the longest continuous record of its kind. Now, a study of those leaves led by the André E. Lalonde National Facility for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AEL-AMS) located at the University of Ottawa shows that the effects of Cold War–era nuclear weapons testing have only recently disappeared from the local biosphere. The study, titled "Stored carbohydrates buffer Bomb and Suess radiocarbon effects in maple leaves across a 65-year Ottawa region record," w

Phys.org · EN

100 buses long: Scientists map one of the world's largest known coral colonies

A huge coral colony stretching more than 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles) along the outer reef of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands has been identified by researchers, making it one of the largest known coral colonies ever recorded.

Phys.org · EN

Chimp sanctuary delivers an ape's food by drone amid Florida floods

A Florida chimpanzee sanctuary had to deliver food to one of its 200 apes by drone this week because the property was swamped by heavy rain. But the animals stayed safe, and the water finally was receding significantly on Saturday, the organization said.

Phys.org · EN

Release of largest dataset to date on wildlife in Europe

Every autumn for the last five years, hundreds of volunteers have set out remotely triggered cameras in mountains, forests, farms and beaches in more than 20 countries in Europe. Their joint project is called Snapshot Europe, and it's the largest open-access survey of mammals and birds across an entire continent.

Phys.org · EN

Investigation links Australian deforestation to beef farming and major bank loans

ACF's latest report, "Bulldozers and Broken Promises," an investigation into deforestation, has ruffled a few feathers. But someone has to do it. Why? Because deforestation is a huge problem in Australia.

Phys.org · EN

Successful restoration of fish migration requires more than fish passes

The Netherlands is constructing fish passes to make rivers and streams accessible to fish again. But how effective are these structures? New Ph.D. research by Panos Panagiotopoulos of Wageningen University shows that successful fish migration requires more than making individual barriers passable. Maintenance and water management are also crucial.

Phys.org · EN

Mitigating the ecological consequences of light pollution

Light pollution is one of the fastest-growing and least-regulated environmental changes worldwide. It disrupts biological processes at all levels—from genes to entire ecosystems—and contributes significantly to global biodiversity loss. A recent review article, in which the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) participated, addresses the ecological consequences of artificial nighttime lighting. Based on a comprehensive assessment of the impacts on organisms on land and in water, the authors identify priorities for research and management. The Review Article was pu

Phys.org · EN

Loophole listing keeps seafood qualifying as critically endangered on the menu

One of Australia's most dangerously overfished species, redfish (Centroberyx affinis), will continue to be served on our dinner tables following its latest listing as "conservation dependent." The classification is a loophole allowing species that qualify for critically endangered listings and protections to instead be killed and sold for seafood.

Phys.org · EN

How the nasal microbiome can help potentially harmful bacteria thrive

Our noses are home to many different species of bacteria living side by side. One of them may be S. aureus. Many people carry this bacterium without knowing it, although it can cause serious infections. Why S. aureus colonizes some people persistently but not others remains only partly understood.

Phys.org · EN

Why are we so squeamish about eating hagfish?

When fishers are out working their boats, they are typically targeting a specific type of fish. However, other species often end up in their nets or trawls as well. This is known as "bycatch"—seafood for which the fishers receive no payment. Although it is illegal to discard bycatch back into the sea, it still happens.

Phys.org · EN

Are we overfertilizing our fields? Researchers challenge conventional soil testing

A new study led by Dr. Shikma Zaarur of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in collaboration with Dr. Ran Erel of the Agricultural Research Organization–Volcani Institute, reveals that agricultural soils may contain a substantial unaccounted-for reservoir of potassium, an essential nutrient for plant growth, that is largely overlooked by conventional soil testing methods. The findings could pave the way for more precise fertilizer recommendations, potentially reducing unnecessary fertilizer use while supporting sustainable agricultural production.

Phys.org · EN