Comprising diverse groups of microbes, isolated but globally scattered mat ecosystems like those in Lake Huron may be analogues of life on early Earth and in other exotic environs.
biogeosciences
Posted inFeatures
Oceanic Cacophony
The ocean is a pretty loud place, and anthropogenic noise is adding another layer to the soundscape.
Posted inNews
Microplastics Are the Not-So-Secret Ingredient in Marine Snow
Particles of tiny, degraded plastics coated with biofilms sink to the seafloor, carrying carbon with them.
Posted inNews
When Forests on Land Burn, Forests Underwater Feel the Impact
Kelp is a habitat, a carbon sink, and a binding agent in your ice cream. But new research shows that California’s kelp forests are affected by the fate of their counterparts on land.
Posted inENGAGE, News
Even Treated Sewage Harms Freshwater Ecosystems
In a controlled experiment, researchers diverted wastewater from an advanced treatment facility into a healthy stream and monitored the unfolding ecological effects.
Posted inENGAGE, News
How Llama Poop Is Helping an Andean Community Adapt to Melting Glaciers
Reintroducing these animals can enrich barren soils and potentially reduce water contamination, a study shows.
Posted inNews
Arctic Warming Triggers Abrupt Ecosystem Shift in North America’s Deepest Lake
Great Slave Lake’s huge cold water mass shielded it from impacts of the rapidly warming climate—until now.
Posted inNews
South American Rainforests Are on the Brink of Becoming Carbon Sources
Plants’ ability to stock carbon ceased during the 2015–2016 El Niño, as temperatures skyrocketed and trees died.
Posted inNews
Arctic Ice Loss Could Shorten Winter Feeding Time for Zooplankton
The Arctic’s thinning sea ice allows more light to penetrate deeper into the ocean, holding zooplankton far beneath the surface.
Posted inScience Updates
Our Evolving Understanding of Biological Carbon Export
The array of processes and organisms that make up the biological carbon pump has immense influence on Earth’s carbon cycle and climate. But there’s still much to learn about how the pump works.