Analyzing biofuel sources and predicting effects on water, soil and the atmosphere The promise of switchgrass, the challenges for forests and the costs of corn-based ethanol production: Ecological scientists review the many factors surrounding biofuel crop production and its implications on ecosystem health in three new Biofuels and Sustainability Reports. Produced by the Ecological Society of America (ESA), the nation’s largest…
Scientists identify 25% of cod and haddock in Dublin seafood industry as different species Ecological scientists in Ireland recently used DNA barcoding to identify species of fish labeled as either “cod” or “haddock” in fish and chip shops, fresh fish counters and supermarkets in 10 postal districts in Dublin. They found that 39 out of 156 (25%) randomly sampled “cod”…
Scientists specializing in climate change, invasive species, urban ecology and more available online The Ecological Society of America (ESA), the nation’s largest organization of ecological scientists, unveiled its updated resource for policymakers and members of the media today: the Rapid Response Team (RRT) database, an ESA resource for several years that is now fully searchable. Users can find ecological scientists…
Detecting exotic pests before forest and agricultural invasion In the 1930s, soil used as ballast to weigh down cargo ships from South America to Mobile, Alabama introduced the red imported fire ant to the southern United States. Since then, the ants have been found as far north as Maryland and as far west as California, shorting out streetlights and eating…
Graduate students from Cornell, University of Hawaii, and Notre Dame will travel to the nation’s capital to speak to lawmakers about federal support of biological sciences WASHINGTON, DC — The Ecological Society of America (ESA), a professional organization of 10,000 ecological scientists, is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2010 Graduate Student Policy Award. The award affords ESA graduate…
New report outlines trade-offs of biofuel production The development of alternative fuel will greatly benefit the U.S., say scientists in an Energy Foundation-funded report published today by the Ecological Society of America (ESA), the nation’s largest organization of ecological scientists. However, in order to effectively reap the social and economic benefits of biofuel production, U.S. policies need to address potential…
Report summarizes the planning process and outlines recommendations The Ecological Society of America (ESA) and The Wildlife Society (TWS) recently published a final report describing the planning process that shaped the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) and outlining recommendations for its structure and function. The NCCWSC, which was established in 2008 by Congress, is intended to help…
Well-designed plantations can mitigate social, economic and environmental pressures Not all plantations need to be the biological deserts that have come to characterize large-scale, industrial plantations. According to scientists in a paper out in February’s issue of the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, well-planned plantations can actually alleviate some of the social, economic and ecological burden currently being placed…
Ecologists outline necessary actions for mitigating and adapting to a changing climate Global warming may impair the ability of ecosystems to perform vital services—such as providing food, clean water and carbon sequestration—says the nation’s largest organization of ecological scientists. In a statement released today, the Ecological Society of America (ESA) outlines strategies that focus on restoring and maintaining natural ecosystem…
h2>Exposure to common pesticides may hinder the growth and survival of ESA-listed salmon Biologists determined that short-term, seasonal exposure to pesticides in rivers and basins may limit the growth and size of wild salmon populations. In addition to the widespread deterioration of salmon habitats, these findings suggest that exposure to commonly used pesticides may further inhibit the recovery of threatened…
Biological and social scientists team up to reduce water conflicts in times of drought The Ecological Society of America (ESA) will hold the first conference in its Millennium Series, titled “Water-Ecosystem Services, Drought, and Environmental Justice,” at the University of Georgia, Athens on Nov. 9-12. The conference will bring 100 scientists and managers from universities, federal agencies and local governments…
New study shows that Arctic has potential to alter Earth’s climate In a new study in the journal Ecological Monographs, ecologists estimate that Arctic lands and oceans are responsible for up to 25 percent of the global net sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Under current predictions of global warming, this Arctic sink could be diminished or reversed, potentially accelerating predicted rates…
Disease can exacerbate coral bleaching, while bleaching leads to increased disease prevalence Mass coral bleaching has devastated coral colonies around the world for almost three decades. Now scientists have found that bleaching can make corals more susceptible to disease and, in turn, coral disease can exacerbate the negative effects of bleaching. A paper in the October issue of the journalEcology shows…
Vegetation in an area may determine its usable water supply, ecologists find Ecologists have discovered that timber plantations in Hawaii use more than twice the amount of water to grow as native forests use. Especially for island ecosystems, these findings suggest that land management decisions can place ecosystems – and the people who depend on them – at high risk…
Ecologists call techniques a risky strategy at large scales Geoengineering techniques aim to slow global warming by changing the composition of the Earth’s land, seas or atmosphere. But new research shows that the use of geoengineering to do environmental good may cause other environmental harm. In a symposium at the Ecological Society of America’s Annual Meeting, ecologists discuss the viability…
Chemicals camouflage bugs; pitcher plant colors don’t help attract prey; specialist caterpillars survive better than Animals and plants communicate with one another in a variety of ways: behavior, body patterns, and even chemistry. In a series of talks at the Ecological Society of America’s annual meeting, to be held August 3-7 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, ecologists explore the myriad adaptations…
Using ecology to create long-term cropland health Advances in ecology increasingly reveal that conventional agricultural practices have detrimental effects on the landscape ecology, creating problems for long-term sustainability of crops. In a series of sessions at the Ecological Society of America’s Annual Meeting, ecologists will present their ideas on how our agricultural practices can take lessons from natural environments. Perennial…
Stream pollution good for mosquitoes; lakefront development affects lake fish; greenroofs can save cities millions of gallons of water Increasingly, human urban development overlaps with habitat for wild animals and plants, creating environments that degrade natural landscapes. But people, animals and plants all have in common the need for healthy, sustainable freshwater ecosystems. In a series of presentations at the…
ALBUQUERQUE—Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) will receive the second annual Regional Policy Award from the nation’s largest organization of ecologists at the meeting of the Ecological Society of America (ESA) on Aug. 2. The award recognizes a regional or local policymaker who has an outstanding record of informing his political decision-making with ecological science. “I appreciate this award not just because…
Funding will advance participation of minority students in National Ecological Observatory Network The Ecological Society of America has received a $207,000 National Science Foundation grant to cultivate the participation of underrepresented institutions and students in science and education within the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). The grant is in partnership with the Science and Engineering Alliance, Inc. (SEA) and NEON,…