All Ecology articles – Page 2
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NewsA new ecological model highlights how fluctuating environments push microbes to work together
A new study explores why interdependence can be a winning move for microbial communities. It demonstrated that a mathematical model of how bacteria produce and share resources accurately predicted the outcome of experiments with living E. coli strains.
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NewsLower tillage boosts the soil’s natural phosphorus cycle - cutting the need for costly fertilizer inputs
Long-term tillage reduction helps to restore the soil’s natural phosphorus cycle, supporting more sustainable nutrient management with less reliance on costly and finite fertilizer inputs, according to a new study published in Sustainable Microbiology.
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NewsDebilitating virus can spread in cool weather, increasing health risk in Europe
Chikungunya virus, a debilitating tropical disease caused by infected mosquito bites, poses a greater health threat in Europe than previously thought because it can be spread when air temperatures are as low as 13 degrees Celsius.
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NewsMicroscopic plankton reveal tropicalization of the Mediterranean Sea
A recent study of the western Mediterranean demonstrates that the expansion of microscopic warm-water species provides a clear and early indication of tropicalization impacts on marine ecosystems.
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NewsCorals in extreme coastal bays show greater resilience to climate stress
Corals living in coastal bays with strongly fluctuating temperatures and environmental conditions are better able to withstand heat and other stressors than their counterparts on more stable reefs.
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NewsFire-footed rope squirrels identified as a natural reservoir for monkeypox virus
A cross-species transmission event documented in Côte d’Ivoire provides new insights into the spread of mpox in the wild.
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NewsHow the joint defence mechanism of two bacteria works
Back in 2021, researchers showed that bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas and Paenibacillus join forces to protect themselves from their predator, an amoeba. Now, they have been able to show exactly how this defense mechanism works.
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NewsRecycling strategies of fungi can affect how forests store carbon
Some fungi are wasteful, while others recycle – and this can determine how much carbon is stored in a forest. Researchers have revealed how fungi manage their mycelium, the network that builds the structure of fungus. The results could provide new insights into the carbon cycle and climate.
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NewsDeep-sea microbes get unexpected energy boost
A study shows that sinking organic particles—known as marine snow—begin to leak dissolved carbon and nitrogen when they reach depths of 2–6 kilometres, presenting microbes in the surrounding seawater with nutrients. The leakage is caused by the intense hydrostatic pressure in the deep ocean.
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NewsMicrobiomes interconnect on a planetary-scale, new study finds
Scientists reveal that microbes living in similar habitats are more alike than those simply inhabiting the same geographical region. By analysing tens of thousands of metagenomes, they found that while most microbes adapt to a specific ecosystem, generalists can thrive across very different habitats.
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NewsBee bandits: ecologists study mutualistic plant-pollinator-microbe interactions
Researchers studying nectar-robbing behavior in bumble bees suspect other organisms beyond plants and pollinators may be aiding and abetting pollinators in nectar-robbing behavior.
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NewsOysters play unexpected role in protecting blue crabs from disease
Oysters famously filter their surrounding water, but it turns out they are removing more than algae and excess nutrients. New research shows they can also reduce the spread of disease in nearby marine species, including Chesapeake Bay’s prized blue crabs.
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NewsPreviously unknown viruses discovered in groundwater
Researchers have created a comprehensive picture of viral diversity and function in a groundwater system. They identified over 257,000 viral operational taxonomic units, i.e. viruses at species level, 99 % of which were previously unknown.
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NewsRisk for Lyme disease in Ohio is equal to Connecticut, study shows
The risk for being bitten by a tick infected with bacteria that cause Lyme disease is as high in Ohio as it is for those living in Northeast states that have dealt with Lyme disease for over 50 years, according to a new study.
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NewsResearchers uncover the invisible worlds beneath our feet
An analysis of a natural aquifer revealed that despite their close spatial contact and possible interactions, the microorganisms in the water and on the rock form two strongly contrasting ecological communities.
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NewsOne of Earth’s most abundant organisms is surprisingly fragile
A group of ocean bacteria long considered perfectly adapted to life in nutrient-poor waters may be more vulnerable to environmental change than scientists realized. The bacteria, known as SAR11, dominate surface seawater worldwide and can make up as much as 40% of marine bacterial cells.
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NewsResearchers uncover hidden toxin risks during nutrient-starved algal blooms
Researchers have shown that extended nutrient deprivation can significantly increase toxin content per cell in the benthic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima, even when cell numbers remain relatively stable. Toxin risk may increase quietly under nutrient-poor conditions without obvious bloom expansion.
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NewsMineral dust accelerating melting of Greenland ice sheet
Scientists have found that airborne mineral dust and other aerosols are directly connected to how much algae grows on the ice. The algae interfere with albedo, or the reflection of the sun’s rays, exacerbating melting.
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NewsScientists use AI to uncover the secret lives of fungi
Scientists have developed an automated workflow that assesses scientific abstracts and accurately identifies whether a fungus has a single lifestyle or a dual, flexible one. Understanding this flexibility is vital for predicting how forests and farms will react to climate change.
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NewsIn polar regions, microbes are influencing climate change as frozen ecosystems thaw, review finds
Microbes across Earth’s coldest regions are becoming more active as glaciers, permafrost and sea ice thaw, accelerating carbon release and potentially amplifying climate change, according to a new international review.