Researchers are using remote sensing to track floating mats of plastic trapped in water hyacinth plants.
ecosystems
Posted inNews
Reevaluating Ecosystems on the Basis of Climate Change Vulnerability
Climate change elevates the risk category of ecosystems across the United States, a new study finds.
Posted inNews
Without Deep Emissions Cuts, Marine Species Face Mass Extinction
On the basis of how much oxygen marine species need and how much is available, researchers predict extinctions comparable to those at the end of the Permian under a business-as-usual emissions scenario.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Logjams May Be Transient but Their Effect is Long Lasting
Even though natural logjams in rivers continuously change and maybe short-lived, their effects in terms of geomorphic diversity and habitat can be surprisingly long-lasting.
Posted inNews
After a Hurricane, Coastal Systems Draw a Line in the Sand
A new study finds nature can’t have it both ways: On the basis of thousands of case studies from dozens of hurricanes, there’s always a trade-off between resistance and resilience.
Posted inScience Updates
A Sharper Look at the World’s Rivers and Catchments
Digital hydrographic maps have transformed global environmental studies and resource management. A major database update will provide even clearer and more complete views of Earth’s waterways.
Posted inNews
U.S. Fires Quadrupled in Size, Tripled in Frequency in 20 Years
Changes including intensifying drought, expansion into burnable land, and an increase in human-caused ignitions have led to a shift in fire patterns.
Posted inNews
Satellites Reveal Slow Shift of the Entire Boreal Biome
According to a new study, warmer temperatures and high soil nitrogen levels are causing Earth’s largest land biome to advance northward.
Posted inNews
Mortality of Seagrass Meadows May Not Kill Their Methane Release
New research indicates that seagrasses continue to release methane even after they die, complicating blue carbon initiatives.
Posted inNews
Pharmaceuticals Found in Rivers on All Continents
A quarter of 258 observed rivers had unsafe levels of at least one drug. The findings raise concerns about Earth’s aquatic life and the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.