Imaging the invisible: advanced tech targets microplastics in living organisms

Plastic pollution, particularly the presence of microplastics in living organisms, poses a growing threat to ecosystems and human health. This groundbreaking study introduces mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) as a cutting-edge method for detecting and quantifying microplastics in biological samples, offering critical insights into their distribution and potential impacts.

Inflation Reduction Act Funding to Help GCOOS Enhance Ocean Observations in Support of Coastal Communities, Climate Resilience and the Gulf’s Blue Economy

New ocean projects across Gulf of Mexico states are getting under way this month thanks to federal funding support through the Inflation Reduction Act, which is supporting the equitable service delivery and modernization of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Regional Associations, including the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS).

Remembering Ruiliang Pu: a legacy of innovation in remote sensing

Professor Ruiliang Pu, a distinguished figure in the field of hyperspectral remote sensing, left a profound legacy through his groundbreaking work. His research has transformed how we understand forest ecosystems, particularly through the use of advanced remote sensing technologies to monitor forest health. Pu’s innovative methods continue to influence the field, providing essential tools for environmental protection and resource management.

From space to swamp: innovative AI method classifies mangrove species with unprecedented accuracy

Mangrove ecosystems, vital for biodiversity and climate change mitigation, face challenges in monitoring and conservation due to their complex species composition. A new study introduces an AI-driven approach to classify mangrove species with remarkable accuracy, potentially transforming conservation efforts.

AI goes underwater: transforming coral reef conservation with cutting-edge image analysis

In an era where coral reef ecosystems worldwide are under significant threat, the ability to accurately monitor and assess their health is more crucial than ever. This latest research introduces sophisticated deep learning models to enhance the precision and speed of coral reef imaging analyses, paving the way for more effective conservation strategies.

UC Irvine researchers shine light on rapid changes in Arctic and boreal ecosystems

Irvine, Calif., April 16, 2024 — Arctic and boreal latitudes are warming faster than any other region on Earth. In three new studies, Earth system scientists at the University of California, Irvine report how the ecosystems in these regions are changing. In a study published in Global Change Biology, a team led by Earth system science Ph.

Florida Wildlife Corridor Eases Worst Impacts of Climate Change

Florida is projected to lose 3.5 million acres of land to development by 2070. A new study highlights how Florida can buffer itself against both climate change and population pressures by conserving the remaining 8 million acres of “opportunity areas” within the Florida Wildlife Corridor (FLWC), the only designated statewide corridor in the U.S.

Revealing Nature’s Secrets from Space: Satellite Data Unlocks Drought’s Impact on Southwest China’s Carbon Cycle

A new study reveals a significant increase in aboveground carbon (AGC) in Southwest China from 2013 to 2021, defying the adverse effects of extreme droughts. This achievement underscores the region’s pivotal role as a carbon sink, attributed to extensive ecological projects and innovative remote sensing techniques.

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Idaho National Laboratory Begin Irrigation Modernization Case Study

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is partnering with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes to modernize the Fort Hall, Idaho-based irrigation system.

Previously Overlooked Algae Toxin Widespread in Southern Indian River Lagoon

Pseudo-nitzschia spp., an algae that produces the neurotoxin domoic acid, can bioaccumulate within food webs causing harm to humans and animals. A molecular study of Florida’s Indian River Lagoon shows this algae was present in 87 percent of the water samples collected. All isolates showed toxicity, and domoic acid was found in 47 percent of surface water samples. As a nursery for many organisms that supports a high amount of biodiversity, the presence of domoic acid could negatively impact the lagoon system.

Firsthand fieldwork: ORNL scientists establish monitoring in at-risk coastal ecosystem

As a biogeochemist at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Matthew Berens studies how carbon, nutrients and minerals move through water and soil. In this firsthand account, Berens describes recent fieldwork in Louisiana with colleagues to better understand coastal ecosystems.

Chula Offers a New Dimension to Learning about the Past with “The CU Memorial Hall’s VR Program”

Chula’s Institute of Thai Studies and the Faculty of Engineering have worked together to create “The CU Memorial Hall’s VR Program” pioneering the learning of history in three-dimensional virtual reality, rendering modernity to the past and instilling a sense of fun in the new generation.

FAU Harbor Branch Receives $2.8 Million Gift to Create a Queen Conch Farm in Grand Bahama

This support expands FAU Harbor Branch’s extensive aquaculture and food security program focused on replenishing queen conch populations throughout the Caribbean. It also enables development of a conceptual master plan for a 25-acre innovation hub on Grand Bahama for researchers working to solve issues of island sustainability.

Excess Nutrients Lead to Dramatic Ecosystem Changes in Cape Cod’s Waquoit Bay; The Bay Is a Harbinger for Estuaries Worldwide, Say Researchers

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020 with associated travel restrictions, Matthew Long thought his students could shift their overseas research projects to instead study the seagrass meadow ecosystem in Waquoit Bay. It’s a shallow, micro-tidal estuary on the south side of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, near the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) where Long is an associate scientist in the Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department.

National Primate Research Center of Thailand Chulalongkorn University Symposium 2023

As its 11th-anniversary approaches, the National Primate Research Center of Thailand Chulalongkorn University (NPRCT-CU) and the Primates Enterprise Co., Ltd. are pleased to announce two events in February 2023:

Environmental DNA uncovers a 2-million-year-old ecosystem in Greenland

An international team, including a researcher from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), report the oldest ancient environmental DNA (eDNA) record to date describing the rich plant and animal assemblages of the Kap København Formation in north Greenland that existed 2 million years ago.

Ecological tipping point: 5+ El Niño events per century controls coastal biotic communities

Along with implications for the future, the findings illuminate important moments in our past, including human migration into the Americas, the variable human use of coastal and interior habitats and the extinction of the flightless duck Chendytes.

Department of Energy Announces $10 Million for Research on Environmental Systems Science

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $10 million in funding for 12 projects to universities, academic institutions, federal research labs, and nonprofits within the area of Environmental System Science (ESS) research. Grants will focus on studies intended to improve the understanding and representation of the impact of wildfires and floods on ecosystems and watersheds, as well the role of plant-mediated water redistribution and fungal networks in shaping ecosystem and watershed function.

Experts available to discuss wildfire activity, ecosystem recovery and costs

With climate change leading to an increase in wildfires throughout the American Southwest, Northern Arizona University has a number of experts available to discuss the different facets of wildfires, forest health and restoration, and fire response. Ryan Fitch, assistant professor…