https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/ecosystems/ Ecology news. Learn about ecosystems at risk. Read current events articles on fragile ecosystems and what can be done to protect them. en-us Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:42:24 EDT Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:42:24 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/ecosystems/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260311213435.htm Decades of data from over 80,000 great tits reveal that extreme weather can shape the fate of baby birds. Cold snaps soon after hatching and heavy rain later in development shrink nestling body mass and reduce survival odds. But moderate warm spells can actually help chicks grow by boosting insect activity and feeding opportunities. Birds that breed earlier in the season seem better protected from these weather shocks. Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:34:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260311213435.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260210082917.htm Methane levels in Earth’s atmosphere surged faster than ever in the early 2020s, and scientists say the reason was a surprising mix of chemistry and climate. A temporary slowdown in the atmosphere’s ability to break down methane allowed the gas to linger, while unusually wet conditions boosted emissions from wetlands, rivers, lakes, and rice fields around the world. Pandemic-related changes in air pollution played a key role, indirectly weakening the atmosphere’s natural “clean-up” process. Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:48:02 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260210082917.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260210040611.htm Around 1550, life on Rapa Nui began changing in ways long misunderstood. New research reveals that a severe drought, lasting more than a century, dramatically reduced rainfall on the already water-scarce island, reshaping how people lived, worshiped, and organized society. Instead of collapsing, Rapanui communities adapted—shifting rituals, power structures, and sacred spaces in response to climate stress. Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:01:48 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260210040611.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260114080328.htm Earth’s oceans reached their highest heat levels on record in 2025, absorbing vast amounts of excess energy from the atmosphere. This steady buildup has accelerated since the 1990s and is now driving stronger storms, heavier rainfall, and rising sea levels. While surface temperatures fluctuate year to year, the ocean’s long-term warming trend shows no sign of slowing. Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:36:08 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260114080328.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251215084206.htm Around 1,000 years ago, a major climate shift reshaped rainfall across the South Pacific, making western islands like Samoa and Tonga drier while eastern islands such as Tahiti became increasingly wet. New evidence from plant waxes preserved in island sediments shows this change coincided with the final major wave of Polynesian expansion eastward. As freshwater became scarcer in the west and more abundant in the east, people may have been pushed to migrate, effectively “chasing the rain” across vast stretches of ocean. Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:53:04 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251215084206.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251213032623.htm Researchers analyzing ancient fossils from caves across Western Australia have uncovered a completely new species of bettong along with two new woylie subspecies—remarkable finds made bittersweet by signs that some may already be extinct. Sat, 13 Dec 2025 11:41:21 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251213032623.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251211100633.htm New research shows that crops are far more vulnerable when too much rainfall originates from land rather than the ocean. Land-sourced moisture leads to weaker, less reliable rainfall, heightening drought risk. The U.S. Midwest and East Africa are particularly exposed due to soil drying and deforestation. Protecting forests and improving land management could help stabilize rainfall and crop yields. Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:20:47 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251211100633.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251210092024.htm Researchers have uncovered surprising evidence that the deep ocean’s carbon-fixing engine works very differently than long assumed. While ammonia-oxidizing archaea were thought to dominate carbon fixation in the sunless depths, experiments show that other microbes—especially heterotrophs—are doing far more of the work than expected. This discovery reshapes our understanding of how carbon moves through the deep ocean and stabilizes Earth’s climate. Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:23:29 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251210092024.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251202052209.htm As the last Ice Age waned and the Holocene dawned, deep-ocean circulation around Antarctica underwent dramatic shifts that helped release long-stored carbon back into the atmosphere. Deep-sea sediments show that ancient Antarctic waters once trapped vast amounts of carbon, only to release it during two major warming pulses at the end of the Ice Age. Understanding these shifts helps scientists predict how modern Antarctic melt may accelerate future climate change. Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:22:09 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251202052209.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251123115439.htm Sargassum seaweed is creating major new obstacles for sea turtle hatchlings, drastically slowing their crawl to the ocean and increasing their risk from predators and heat. Despite the physical challenge, their energy stores stay stable, suggesting the real danger lies in the delay itself. Mon, 24 Nov 2025 06:37:28 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251123115439.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109032406.htm Around 9,000 years ago, East Antarctica went through a dramatic meltdown that was anything but isolated. Scientists have discovered that warm deep ocean water surged beneath the region’s floating ice shelves, causing them to collapse and unleashing a domino effect of ice loss across the continent. This process created a “cascading positive feedback,” where melting in one area sped up melting elsewhere through interconnected ocean currents. Sun, 09 Nov 2025 03:56:56 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109032406.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109013252.htm Researchers from the University of Vienna discovered MISO bacteria that use iron minerals to oxidize toxic sulfide, creating energy and producing sulfate. This biological process reshapes how scientists understand global sulfur and iron cycles. By outpacing chemical reactions, these microbes could help stop the spread of oceanic dead zones and maintain ecological balance. Sun, 09 Nov 2025 09:41:02 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109013252.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251029002920.htm Global scientists warn that humanity is on the verge of crossing irreversible climate thresholds, with coral reefs already at their tipping point and polar ice sheets possibly beyond recovery. The Global Tipping Points Report 2025 reveals how rising temperatures could trigger a cascade of system collapses, from the Amazon rainforest turning to savanna to the potential shutdown of the Atlantic Ocean circulation. Wed, 29 Oct 2025 04:26:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251029002920.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251027023802.htm The Southern Ocean absorbs nearly half of all ocean-stored human CO2, but its future role is uncertain. Despite models predicting a decline, researchers found that freshening surface waters are currently keeping deep CO2 trapped below. This stratification effect may be only temporary, as intensifying winds bring deep, carbon-rich water closer to the surface. If mixing increases, the Southern Ocean could begin releasing more CO2 than it absorbs. Mon, 27 Oct 2025 04:32:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251027023802.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251013040325.htm Humanity has reached the first Earth system tipping point, the widespread death of warm-water coral reefs, marking the beginning of irreversible planetary shifts. As global temperatures move beyond 1.5°C, the world risks cascading crises such as ice sheet melt, Amazon rainforest dieback, and ocean current collapse. Scientists from the University of Exeter warn that these interconnected tipping points could transform the planet unless urgent, systemic action triggers “positive tipping points,” like rapid renewable energy adoption. Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:18:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251013040325.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251008030932.htm The Amazon has suffered its most destructive fire season in more than two decades, releasing a staggering 791 million tons of carbon dioxide—on par with Germany’s annual emissions. Scientists found that for the first time, fire-driven degradation, not deforestation, was the main source of carbon emissions, signaling a dangerous shift in the rainforest’s decline. Using advanced satellite systems and rigorous simulations, researchers uncovered vast damage across Brazil and Bolivia, exposing the fragility of the Amazon’s ecosystems. Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:18:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251008030932.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251007081819.htm Marine heatwaves can jam the ocean’s natural carbon conveyor belt, preventing carbon from reaching the deep sea. Researchers studying two major heatwaves in the Gulf of Alaska found that plankton shifts caused carbon to build up near the surface instead of sinking. This disrupted the ocean’s ability to store carbon for millennia and intensified climate feedbacks. The study highlights the urgent need for continuous, collaborative ocean observation. Tue, 07 Oct 2025 08:18:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251007081819.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250831010526.htm As the Great Salt Lake shrinks, scientists are uncovering mysterious groundwater-fed oases hidden beneath its drying lakebed. Reed-covered mounds and strange surface disturbances hint at a vast underground plumbing system that pushes fresh water up under pressure. Using advanced tools like airborne electromagnetic surveys and piezometers, researchers are mapping the hidden freshwater reserves and testing whether they could help restore fragile lakebed crusts, reduce dust pollution, and reveal long-buried secrets of the region’s hydrology. Sun, 31 Aug 2025 06:15:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250831010526.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250830001159.htm Sargassum has escaped the Sargasso Sea and exploded across the Atlantic, forming the massive Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. Fueled by nutrient runoff, Amazon outflows, and climate events, these blooms now reshape ecosystems, economies, and coastlines on a staggering scale. Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:44:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250830001159.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250821004202.htm Industrial forests, packed with evenly spaced trees, face nearly 50% higher odds of megafires than public lands. A lidar-powered study of California’s Sierra Nevada reveals how dense plantations feed fire severity, but also shows that proactive thinning could prevent forests from collapsing into shrubland ecosystems. Thu, 21 Aug 2025 01:32:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250821004202.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250726234415.htm For over two decades, satellites have quietly documented a major crisis unfolding beneath our feet: Earth's continents are drying out at unprecedented rates. Fueled by climate change, groundwater overuse, and extreme drought, this trend has carved out four massive "mega-drying" regions across the northern hemisphere, threatening freshwater supplies for billions. Groundwater loss alone now contributes more to sea level rise than melting ice sheets, and unless urgent global water policies are enacted, we could face a catastrophic freshwater bankruptcy. Sun, 27 Jul 2025 04:38:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250726234415.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250716000849.htm After devastating wildfires scorched the Brazilian Pantanal, an unexpected phenomenon unfolded—more jaguars began arriving at a remote wetland already known for having the densest jaguar population on Earth. Scientists discovered that not only did the local jaguars survive, but their numbers swelled as migrants sought refuge. This unique ecosystem, where jaguars feast mainly on fish and caimans and tolerate each other’s presence unusually well, proved remarkably resilient. Researchers found that this floodplain may serve as a natural climate sanctuary, highlighting its crucial role in a changing world. Wed, 16 Jul 2025 23:30:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250716000849.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250703092609.htm Tropical trees are dying faster than ever, and it's not just heat or drought to blame. Scientists have uncovered a surprising culprit: ordinary thunderstorms. These quick, fierce storms, powered by climate change, are toppling trees with intense winds and lightning, sometimes causing more damage than drought itself. The discovery is reshaping how we understand rainforest health and carbon storage, as storms may be responsible for up to 60% of tree deaths in some regions. Researchers now warn that failing to account for this hidden force could undermine forest conservation and climate models alike. Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:26:09 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250703092609.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250619090850.htm During Earth's ancient Snowball periods, when the entire planet was wrapped in ice, life may have endured in tiny meltwater ponds on the surface of equatorial glaciers. MIT researchers discovered that these watery refuges could have supported complex eukaryotic life, serving as sanctuaries for survival amid extreme conditions. Their investigation into Antarctic melt ponds revealed not only evidence of eukaryotes but a striking diversity shaped by factors like salinity. These findings reshape our understanding of how life weathered one of the harshest climate events in Earth s history and ultimately set the stage for the evolution of complex life forms. Thu, 19 Jun 2025 09:08:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250619090850.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250618094450.htm A breakthrough study has uncovered that the Southern Ocean's power to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere fluctuates dramatically depending on winter sea ice. When sea ice lingers longer into winter, the ocean absorbs up to 20% more CO2, thanks to a protective effect that blocks turbulent winds from stirring up deeper, carbon-loaded waters. This subtle seasonal shield plays a vital role in buffering our planet against climate change. But here s the twist: winter data from the Southern Ocean is notoriously scarce due to its brutal conditions, meaning we might be missing a key piece of Earth s climate puzzle. Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:44:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250618094450.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250614034237.htm A pioneering study reveals how archaeologists' satellite tools can be repurposed to tackle climate change. By using AI and satellite LiDAR imagery from NASA and ESA, researchers have found a faster, more accurate way to map forest biomass critical for tracking carbon. This innovative fusion of space tech and machine learning could revolutionize how we manage and preserve forests in a warming world. Sat, 14 Jun 2025 03:42:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250614034237.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529155413.htm Hurricane Ida wreaked an estimated $75 billion in total damages and was responsible for 112 fatalities -- including 32 in New Jersey and 16 in New York state. Yet the hurricane could have been even worse in the Big Apple, find scientists. Thu, 29 May 2025 15:54:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529155413.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529145725.htm Forest-based agroforestry can restore forests, promote livelihoods, and combat climate change, but emerging agroforestry initiatives focusing only on tree planting is leading to missed opportunities to support beneficial outcomes of forest management, scientists found. Thu, 29 May 2025 14:57:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529145725.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528131557.htm Many bat species native to Germany, such as the Leisler's bat, are forest specialists. However, as it is becoming increasingly hard for them to find tree hollows in forest plantations, so they are moving to settlements instead. Using high-resolution GPS data from bats, a team led by scientists has analyzed in greater detail than ever before how Leisler's bats use their habitats, which tree species they look for when searching a roost, and which forest types they avoid. They found that these bats increasingly seek refuge in old trees in urban areas and in old buildings such as churches. Wed, 28 May 2025 13:15:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528131557.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250527124438.htm Scientists, who have spent more than a decade examining the impact of artificial light at night on the world's coasts and oceans, have shown that more than one-fifth of the global ocean -- an area spanning more than 75 million sq km -- has been the subject of ocean darkening over the past two decades. Ocean darkening occurs when changes in the optical properties of the ocean reduce the depth of its photic zones, home to 90% of all marine life and places where sunlight and moonlight drive ecological interactions. Tue, 27 May 2025 12:44:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250527124438.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523120445.htm As sea levels climb and weather grows more extreme, coastal regions everywhere are facing a creeping threat: salt. Salinization of freshwater and soils adversely affects 500 million people around the world, especially in low-lying river deltas. A new study sheds light on how rising oceans are pushing saltwater into freshwater rivers and underground water sources in the world's largest river mouth -- the Bengal Delta in Bangladesh. Fri, 23 May 2025 12:04:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523120445.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522162700.htm New research shows how rapidly proliferating turf algae are waging 'chemical warfare' to inhibit the recovery of kelp forests along Maine's warming coast. Thu, 22 May 2025 16:27:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522162700.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521125256.htm MIT and WHOI scientists have unveiled SeaSplat, a system that makes underwater scenes look as if the ocean had been drained away. The tool cancels out water’s distortions and builds true-color 3D worlds that can be explored from any angle. This breakthrough could let marine biologists virtually “swim” through coral reefs to track bleaching and biodiversity with unprecedented clarity. Wed, 21 May 2025 12:52:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521125256.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124607.htm Hurricane winds are a major contributor to storm-related losses for people living in the southeastern coastal states. As the global temperature continues to rise, scientists predict that hurricanes will get more destructive -- packing higher winds and torrential rainfall. A new study projects that wind losses for homeowners in the Southeastern coastal states could be 76 percent higher by the year 2060 and 102 percent higher by 2100. Wed, 21 May 2025 12:46:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124607.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124438.htm Songbirds who make the arduous flight from their nesting sites in northern boreal forests to warm, southern climates in the winter may be rewarded for their journey with greater genetic diversity. Wed, 21 May 2025 12:44:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124438.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250520121146.htm Yosemite’s ponds used to echo with the booming calls of invasive bullfrogs, which devoured young turtles, newts, birds, and more. Now, with bullfrogs nearly gone, native sounds are returning—and so are the northwestern pond turtles. The study shows that removing bullfrogs in critical areas could help restore the state’s only freshwater turtle. Tue, 20 May 2025 12:11:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250520121146.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250516165152.htm A new study reveals that heat-tolerant symbiotic algae may be essential to saving elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) -- a foundational species in Caribbean reef ecosystems -- from the devastating impacts of marine heatwaves and coral bleaching. Fri, 16 May 2025 16:51:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250516165152.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515132116.htm The Amazon rainforest may be able to survive long-term drought caused by climate change, but adjusting to a drier, warmer world would exact a heavy toll, a study suggests. Thu, 15 May 2025 13:21:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515132116.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515131745.htm A new study shows that seagrass ecosystems along the northern half of Florida's Gulf Coast have remained relatively healthy and undisturbed for the last several thousand years. Thu, 15 May 2025 13:17:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515131745.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514180732.htm A team of engineers has developed a system that could transform desalination practices, making the process more adaptable, resilient and cheaper. The new system is powered by sunlight and uses a creative approach to heat recovery for extended water production -- with and without sunshine. Wed, 14 May 2025 18:07:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514180732.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514141905.htm The impacts of human activity and climate change are coalescing to make coastal lagoons saltier, changing the microbial life they support and the function they play in their ecosystems, according to new research. Wed, 14 May 2025 14:19:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514141905.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250512105204.htm How might floating solar energy projects impact wild birds and vice versa? A paper outlines key considerations for a growing floating solar industry. Mon, 12 May 2025 10:52:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250512105204.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250509132216.htm In a groundbreaking discovery in Brunei, scientists have found two-million-year-old fossils of Dryobalanops rappa—an endangered tropical tree that still lives today. The find marks the first fossil evidence of a living, endangered tree species and sheds light on the deep history of Asia’s lush rainforests. This ancient lineage, confirmed through microscopic leaf analysis, reveals that these iconic dipterocarp trees have thrived in Borneo’s peatlands for millions of years. Fri, 09 May 2025 13:22:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250509132216.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508161444.htm New report shows drastic decline in endangered primates and calls for conservation measures. Thu, 08 May 2025 16:14:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508161444.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508161312.htm A new analysis of a fatal landslide that occurred on 13 February 2024 at the pler Gold Mine in Turkiye reveals that the site of the landslide had been slowly moving for at least four years prior to the failure. Thu, 08 May 2025 16:13:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508161312.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507130336.htm Parasites are crucial indicators of ecosystem health, and their absence can signal trouble. Once pristine, Florida's Indian River Lagoon (IRL) now faces pollution and algal blooms that have damaged essential habitats like seagrass beds. New research finds parasite levels in the IRL are significantly lower than in comparable ecosystems worldwide -- 11% lower overall and 17% lower for larval parasites requiring multiple hosts. This sharp decline suggests a disrupted food web likely caused by pollution and habitat degradation, and a less resilient and more vulnerable ecosystem. Wed, 07 May 2025 13:03:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507130336.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506224350.htm Termites -- infamous for their ability to destroy wood -- are rarely welcomed into rainforests that have been painstakingly replanted. But a new paper suggests that termite transplants may be necessary to help regenerating forests to thrive. Scientists found that termites are not thriving in replanted rainforests in Australia. Because decomposers like termites are essential for recycling nutrients and carbon, the researchers worry that the insect's slow recovery could hinder the growth and health of the young forests. Tue, 06 May 2025 22:43:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506224350.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430142252.htm The well-known salmon life cycle has long been described as going only one way at a time. Juvenile salmon hatch and swim down rivers to the ocean, where they grow and mature before returning to the same river to spawn the next generation. Turns out that many young salmon do things differently. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:22:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430142252.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430141835.htm An international team of scientists has moved beyond just 'scratching the surface,' to understand how microplastics move through and impact the global ocean. For the first time, scientists have mapped microplastic distribution from the surface to the deep sea at a global scale -- revealing not only where plastics accumulate, but how they infiltrate critical ocean systems. Researchers synthesized depth-profile data from 1,885 stations collected between 2014 and 2024 to map microplastic distribution patterns by size and polymer type, while also evaluating potential transport mechanisms. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:18:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430141835.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428222135.htm New research has revealed that expected, extreme changes in India's summer monsoon could drastically hamper the Bay of Bengal's ability to support a crucial element of the region's food supply: marine life. The scientists examined how the monsoon, which brings heavy rains to the Indian subcontinent, has influenced the Bay of Bengal's marine productivity over the past 22,000 years. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:21:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428222135.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220850.htm New blackberry varieties could provide a boon for farmers looking to rebound after the decline of Florida citrus and who see an opportunity to meet the growing demand for blackberries, which have soared in popularity in recent years. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:08:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220850.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220248.htm Many of the fish we eat play a key role in maintaining the seabed -- and therefore our climate, new research shows. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:02:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220248.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423164058.htm A new study has revealed that an incentive program increased live releases of endangered species caught as bycatch. However, unexpectedly, the overall positive impact was reduced by some vessels increasing catches of these species. The study is a randomized controlled trial to conclusively assess the effectiveness of an incentive-based marine conservation program. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 16:40:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423164058.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423164047.htm In the soils of Earth's wetlands, microbes are in a tug-of-war to produce and consume the powerful greenhouse gas methane. But if the Earth gets too hot, it could tip the scale in favor of the methane producers, according to a new study. Scientists made the discovery as part of a futuristic climate experiment that raised carbon dioxide and temperature in a Maryland marsh. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 16:40:47 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423164047.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423112028.htm Florida's Lake Okeechobee is essential for water management but faces harmful algal blooms, which thrive in warm, nutrient-rich waters. Daily vertical migration enables them to survive in turbid conditions. A new study using a physical-biogeochemical model reveals that cyanobacteria move toward the surface for sunlight in the morning, boosting growth, and are redistributed by wind and mixing at night. This daily migration, combined with temperature and wind patterns, influences bloom development, offering insights to better monitor and manage harmful algal blooms. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:20:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423112028.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250421162828.htm Based on fundamental research, a new startup is upending decades-old approaches for the way the world extracts lithium and other materials. Mon, 21 Apr 2025 16:28:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250421162828.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250421162617.htm In a new study, researchers used more than 5 million measurements from individual trees across much of eastern North America and showed the rate at which introduced species are spreading has increased over the last two decades. Additionally, native tree diversity is on the decline in areas where exotic species originally introduced by humans have encroached. Mon, 21 Apr 2025 16:26:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250421162617.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250417145307.htm Lake ecosystems can receive high inputs of terrestrial organic matter (t-OM) that microbes make available to higher trophic level consumers. A research group examined terrestrial reliance of 19 consumer groups from 35 boreal lakes using stable isotopes of hydrogen. According to the study, benthic macroinvertebrates and the benthivorous fish reliance to terrestrial energy (allochthony) was higher compared to pelagic plankton and planktivorous fish. Consumer allochthony decreased along the environmental gradient from forested to agricultural catchments, likely due to alteration in the origin of lake organic matter. Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:53:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250417145307.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250416135601.htm When two materials come into contact, charged entities on their surfaces get a little nudge. This is how rubbing a balloon on the skin creates static electricity. Likewise, water flowing over some surfaces can gain or lose charge. Now, researchers have harnessed the phenomenon to generate electricity from rain-like droplets moving through a tube. They demonstrate a new kind of flow that makes enough power to light 12 LEDs. Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:56:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250416135601.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250416135355.htm The pedunculate oaks typical of Leipzig's floodplain forest and other German oak forests are struggling to regenerate in the understorey due to a lack of light. One reason for this is the absence of flooding in floodplain forests. In a two-year oak experiment in Leipzig's floodplain forest, researchers found that the current tree dieback -- caused by drought and pest outbreaks -- combined with the thinning of certain understorey species, can actually support oak regeneration. Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:53:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250416135355.htm