By studying the Chicxulub crater associated with the extinction of more than 75% of species then on Earth, researchers have begun to fill in a timeline for life’s rebound after the cataclysm.
ecosystems
Major Federal Tropical Research Project to Cease 7 Years Early
The Department of Energy shutters a project aimed at improving climate models less than halfway through the expected decade-long run.
What Causes Ecological Shifts?
A new information-processing framework helps researchers tease out the factors driving ecological shifts over short timescales.
Understanding Mountain Lakes in a Changing World
Mountain Lakes and Global Change Workshop; Fort Collins, Colorado, 6–8 March 2017
Panama Study: Tallest Tropical Trees Died Mostly from Lightning
On Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal, scientists map lightning strikes and find that they kill mainly the loftiest trees, likely disturbing the forest ecology.
Coastal Wetlands Effectively Sequester “Blue Carbon”
Mangrove forests, salt marshes, seagrass beds, and the like are carbon storage treasure troves.
The Future Hangs in the (Carbon) Balance
A new study suggests that Canada’s boreal forests could absorb more carbon than they release as climate change progresses.
Are Studies That Evaluate Ecosystem Services Useful?
Ecologists find flaws in the approach to research that focuses on services ecosystems provide to humans. These flaws limit certain studies’ utility.
Antarctic Microbes Shape Nutrient Content of Snowmelt
As temperatures continue to rise, snow-dwelling microbes could accelerate melting and influence downstream ecosystems.
Aquatic Ecosystems in a Changing Climate
Chapman Conference on Extreme Climate Event Impacts on Aquatic Biogeochemical Cycles and Fluxes; San Juan, Puerto Rico, 22–27 January 2017
