All Ecology articles – Page 5
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NewsHow the gut microbiome helps Japanese macaques eat with the seasons
A study shows that both the composition and fermentative ability of the Japanese macaque gut microbiome shift flexibly across seasons, while the latter in particular increased during the harsh winter when macaques relied on leaves.
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NewsRevealed: How fungus-farming termites protect gardens from invaders
When harmful fungi invade their carefully cultivated crops, some fungus-farming termites fight back with the precision of skilled gardeners, a new study reveals, smothering them in soil clumps enriched with microbial allies that inhibit fungal growth.
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NewsKoala stress linked to virus infection risk
Researchers have revealed a clear relationship between stress and increased disease risk in koalas in South East Queensland and on the New South Wales North Coast.The study tracked the level of koala retrovirus (KoRV) in groups of captive and wild koalas.
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NewsStudy identifies hotspots of disease-carrying ticks in Illinois
Scientists analyzed the distribution of three potentially harmful tick species in Illinois, identifying regions of the state with higher numbers of these ticks and, therefore, at greater risk of infection with multiple tick-borne diseases.
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NewsThe role of the microbiome in the successful transplantation of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows
A study of seagrass restoration shows that transplantation method directly influences the root microbiome, which is essential for the survival of the plants - paving the way for more effective and sustainable restoration techniques.
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NewsStudy finds ticks carrying Lyme disease moving into western NC
A new surveillance study reveals that the primary vector of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, the blacklegged tick, has been spreading into areas previously considered low risk.
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NewsCoral reefs set to stop growing as climate warms, scientists warn
Most coral reefs will soon stop growing and may begin to erode – and almost all will do so if global warming hits 2°C, according to a new study in the western Atlantic.
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NewsDisease experts upgrade sentinel chicken system to create forecast for West Nile virus
An interdisciplinary team of experts have created a statistical model that accurately predicts the activity of West Nile virus in an area up to six months in advance. The model was trained using two decades of sentinel chicken data.
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NewsAlkali waste dumped in the Pacific Ocean created alkalophilic microbial ecosystems
Barrels filled with industrial waste that were dumped in the sea near Los Angeles more than 50 years ago are creating new microbial ecosystems adapted to highly alkaline conditions.
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NewsOcean warming puts vital marine microbe Prochlorococcus at risk
A new study finds that Prochlorococcus prefers ocean water between 66 and 86 degrees and doesn’t tolerate water much warmer. Climate models predict that subtropical and tropical ocean temperatures will exceed that threshold in the next 75 years.
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NewsMicrobiologists uncover bacteria that remove toxic sulfide and use iron minerals for growth
An international team of scientists has discovered a new microbial metabolism: so-called MISO bacteria “breathe” iron minerals by oxidizing toxic sulfide. The previously unknown biological process sees versatile microbes remove toxic sulfide and use it for their growth.
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NewsNew study finds concerning sea star response to an algal neurotoxin
Researchers found potentially concerning concentrations of the neurotoxin domoic acid in sea stars even in the absence of the algal blooms that are thought to drive DA outbreaks.
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NewsHow plants rot: New method decodes hidden decomposers of wood and leaves
Researchers have developed a new method to identify the molecular tools that different species use to decompose dead plant material. Their analysis of over 18,000 species found that some invertebrates also evidently have a whole range of such tools at their disposal.
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NewsResearchers uncover sensory abilities of bacteria in the gut
An international team has shown that commensal bacteria can perceive and respond to diverse chemical stimuli in their environment. They focused on Clostridia, motile bacteria that play an important role in gut health.
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NewsUnicellular cyanobacterium UCYN-B significantly contributes to global oceanic nitrogen fixation
Researchers report that the cyanobacterium UCYN-B drives high N2 fixation rates in previously unrecognized hotspots accross the global ocean, making a significant contribution to the ocean’s nitrogen supply and productivity.
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NewsNew study reveals phytoplankton’s contribution to centuries-long ocean carbon storage
Phytoplankton have long been viewed as transient players in the global carbon cycle, but researchers have discovered that these tiny organisms can directly pump “stubborn” carbon into the ocean, where it may persist for centuries.
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NewsStudy reveals the microbial battlegrounds within estuaries - and the part played by microplastics
Estuaries are known hotspots for biodiversity and are turbulent mixing zones where freshwater and seawater microbes confront one another. Source: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image of the Baltic Sea ...
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NewsStudy finds fungus metabolites may help ghost shrimp survive
Researchers have found that chemical byproducts produced by the amphibian-killing fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis—commonly known as Bd—may actually help ghost shrimp survive.
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NewsCorals in Brazilian archipelago capture carbon equivalent to the burning of 324,000 liters of gasoline per year
A single species found in the Alcatrazes Archipelago, brain coral, produces around 170 tons of calcium carbonate annually. This represents the retention of approximately 20 tons of carbon in mineral form, which can last for centuries or millennia.
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NewsNew research reveals ancient alliance between woody plants and microbes has potential to protect precious peatlands
New research shows that during historic periods of drying the growth of woody plants in a subtropical Chinese peatland improved the quality of organic matter and suppressed decomposing microbial activity.