Environment News

Severe Declines in Everglades Mammals Linked to Pythons
Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 19:11

Precipitous declines in formerly common mammals in Everglades National Park have been linked to the presence of invasive Burmese pythons, according to a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 

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Green potential of our industrial past
Friday, February 3, 2012 - 12:07

Soil scientists and ecologists at Newcastle University have been investigating ways to maximise the carbon capture and storage in soils on brownfield sites where the land is typically high in mineral waste such as concrete or slag from metal production.

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Big trees boost city life
Friday, February 3, 2012 - 10:44

New research from The Australian National University has revealed for the first time the role large trees play in sustaining biodiversity and bird life in urban environments. The study, led by Karen Stagoll, a PhD candidate in the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society, examined large eucalypt trees in small suburban parks across Canberra. The team’s study is the first of its kind in the world and clearly shows that large trees in urban environments provide habitat resources crucial for wildlife.

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Scientists coax shy microorganisms to stand out in a crowd
Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 22:26

The communities of marine microorganisms that make up half the biomass in the oceans and are responsible for half the photosynthesis the world over, mostly remain enigmatic. A few abundant groups have had their genomes described, but the natures and functions of the rest remain mysterious.

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A human-induced hothouse climate?
Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 11:56

Writing in the February issue of GSA TODAY, David L. Kidder and Thomas R. Worsley consider the question of whether human-induced planetary warming has the potential to force Earth's climate to change to a condition similar to those of the warmest periods of Earth's history — a climate state referred to as a "hothouse climate" — or if the present cooler than average climate state will moderate these climate change effects.

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Available information on the free release of genetically modified insects into the wild is highly restricted
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - 23:11
Max Planck scientists analysing the release of genetically modified insects into the environment have found that the available scientific information can be misleading. The researchers call for clear and accurate descriptions of releases to be very widely circulated before insects are released in a trial - particularly if mosquito species that bite humans are involved. They also provide an innovative checklist to assist journalists and the public in assessing the scientific credibility of regulatory release authorizations.

 

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