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Categories: Ecology: Nature, Environmental: Ecosystems
Published Anthropogenic air pollution more significant than desert dust
(via sciencedaily.com) At the beginning of the year, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the Middle East ranks among the regions with the worst air quality. There is a common misconception that desert dust is the most significant cause of air pollution from particulate matter in this region, but a new study has shown that more than 90 percent of the particulate matter that is detrimental to health originates from anthropogenic sources. This human-made fine particulate matter differs from the less harmful desert dust particles. Scientists determined this through ship borne measurements and verified it in elaborate modeling calculations. The anthropogenic particles are primarily caused by the production and use of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. They are generally smaller than desert dust and can penetrate deep into the lungs.
Published Scientists believe evolution could save coral reefs, if we let it
(via sciencedaily.com) Coral reefs can adapt to climate change if given the chance to evolve, according to a study.
Published Hibernating bears' ability to regulate insulin narrowed down to eight proteins
(via sciencedaily.com) Feeding honey to hibernating bears helped researchers find the potential genetic keys to the bears' insulin control, an advance that could ultimately lead to a treatment for human diabetes. Every year, bears gain an enormous amount of weight, then barely move for months, behavior that would spell diabetes in humans, but not for bears whose bodies can turn insulin resistance on and off almost like a switch. In the hunt for the bears' secret, scientists observed thousands of changes in gene expression during hibernation, but now a research team has narrowed that down to eight proteins.
Published Researchers discover expanding and intensifying low-oxygen zone in the Arabian gulf
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers have studied the emergence of hypoxia -- low oxygen levels -- in the Gulf over three decades, a stressor on the health of marine life in the region and the larger ecosystem.
Published Refreezing poles feasible and cheap, new study finds
(via sciencedaily.com) Refreezing the poles by reducing incoming sunlight would be both feasible and remarkably cheap, according to new research.
Published Identifying research priorities for security and safety threats in the Arctic and the North-Atlantic
(via sciencedaily.com) A new method has been developed for identifying and prioritizing research activities related to maritime safety and security issues for the Arctic and the North-Atlantic (ANA) region.
Published Is climate change disrupting maritime boundaries?
(via sciencedaily.com) Coral reef islands and their reefs -- found across in the Indo-Pacific -- naturally grow and shrink due to complex biological and physical processes that have yet to be fully understood. Now, climate change is disrupting them further, leading to new uncertainties for legal maritime zones and small island states. Rising sea levels, coupled with the natural variability of atoll islands and coral reefs, is creating new uncertainty in international law, with geopolitical implications.
Published Climate models unreliable in predicting wave damage to coral reefs
(via sciencedaily.com) A new study finds that climate models are unreliable when it comes to predicting the damage that tropical cyclones will do to sensitive coral reefs.
Published Climate change threatens ice caves in Austria
(via sciencedaily.com) Eight ice caves in four Austrian federal states: A team of geologists has comprehensively documented the loss and gain of ice in Alpine ice caves over the last 2000 years for the first time. The geologists warn: The ice of smaller caves especially is in danger of disappearing in the near future and with it a valuable climate archive.
Published Research unlocks secrets of rodents' rat race to new lands
(via sciencedaily.com) New research has mapped the DNA from more than 150 species of native rodents from across Australia, New Guinea and Melanesian islands, painting a clearer picture of how they're related and how they ended up spreading across the Pacific.
Published Corals pass mutations acquired during their lifetimes to offspring
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers have documented that corals can pass mutations acquired during their lifetimes to their offspring, providing increased genetic diversity for potential evolutionary adaptation.
Published Ecologists use the latest dental scanning technology to study young coral
(via sciencedaily.com) Inspired by a trip to the dentist, a researcher presents a new method for monitoring coral size and growth that reduces surveying time by 99%.
Published Microbiologists study giant viruses in climate-endangered Arctic Epishelf Lake
(via sciencedaily.com) Investigators have produced an assessment of the abundance of the viruses in the Milne Fiord Epishelf Lake near the North Pole.
Published Arctic lakes are vanishing in surprise climate finding
(via sciencedaily.com) A study shows a widespread patterns of loss, upending scientists' previous projections.
Published Getting to the bottom of the Arctic sea ice decline
(via sciencedaily.com) Sea ice levels in the Arctic Ocean are rapidly declining, due to global warming. Now, to understand and forecast the growth and decay of the ice, researchers have conducted a survey in the Arctic Ocean to investigate the influence of ocean heat on sea ice in the ice-ocean boundary layer. Their findings provide insights into the mechanisms of Arctic sea ice decline for making accurate predictions in the future regarding the global climate.
Published Which animals can best withstand climate change?
(via sciencedaily.com) A new study investigates how different mammals react to climate change. Animals that live for a long time and/or produce less offspring -- like bears and bison -- are more resilient than small animals with a short life -- like mice and lemmings.
Published As oceans warm, snapping shrimp sound a warning
(via sciencedaily.com) Scientists have confirmed their previous observations that rising temperatures increase the sound of snapping shrimp, a tiny crustacean found in temperate and tropical coastal marine environments around the world.
Published Snow research fills gap in understanding Arctic climate
(via sciencedaily.com) Comprehensive data from several seasons of field research in the Alaskan Arctic will address uncertainties in Earth-system and climate-change models about snow cover across the region and its impacts on water and the environment.
Published Fish 'chock-full' of antifreeze protein found in iceberg habitats off Greenland
(via sciencedaily.com) New research based on an expedition to the icy waters off Greenland reveals soaring levels of antifreeze proteins in a species of tiny snailfish, underlying the importance of this unique adaptation to life in sub-zero temperatures. The study also warns that warming oceanic temperatures in the Arctic could pose a threat to these highly specialized fishes.
Published Thawing Arctic hillsides are major climate change contributors
(via sciencedaily.com) Thawing Arctic hillsides release a significant amount of organic carbon that has been locked in frozen ground for thousands of years but which now can contribute to an already warming climate, according to new research. The finding comes from the study of hillsides in a far north region of Russia, where the researchers also found a significant and rapid increase of collapsed hillsides. The collapses feature landslides that gradually expose more of the permafrost for thawing -- and more carbon for release.