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Scientists review the ecological effects of sea ice loss

By Guest PostAugust 15, 2013Environmentarctic fox, arctic ocean, biological productivity, caribou, cecilia bitz, donald walker, ecological effects, eric post, ice microbes, jedediah brodie, jeffrey kerby, kristin laidre, microorganisms, mountainous tundra, pennsylvania state university, polar bears, ringed seals, sea ice decline, sea ice loss, tundra, uma bhatt, university of alaska, university of washington, west greenland

The Arctic Ocean has more open water each summer, a trend most scientists predict will continue in coming years. September 2012 set the record for the most open water since satellite observations began.

A University of Washington researcher is co-author on a review paper published (Aug. 2) in the journal Science looking at the ecological consequences of sea ice decline.

Led by corresponding author Eric Post, a biologist at Pennsylvania State University, the international team looked at effects on animals ranging from microorganisms to polar bears. As well as obvious changes for organisms that live in or on the ice, there also are trickle-down effects for food webs, animal behavior, species ranges, interbreeding and disease dynamics. (more…)

First-of-its-Kind Study Reveals Surprising Ecological Effects of 2010 Chile Earthquake

By Guest PostMay 7, 2012Environment2010 chile earthquake, arroyo quemado, california, cataclysmic occurrence, central chile, Chile, coastal ecosystem, coastal zone, earthquake, ecological effects, eduardo jaramillo, fondecyt, jenny dugan, lter, magnitude, national science foundation, natural disaster, sand crabs, sandy beach, tectonically active, tsunami, ucsb

Long-forgotten coastal habitats reappeared, species unseen for years returned

The reappearance of long-forgotten habitats and the resurgence of species unseen for years may not be among the expected effects of a natural disaster.

Yet that’s exactly what researchers found in a study of the sandy beaches of south central Chile, after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake and devastating tsunami in 2010.

Their study also revealed a preview of the problems wrought by sea level rise–a major symptom of climate change. (more…)

Most River Flows across the U.S. are Altered by Land and Water Management, Leading to Ecological Degradation

By Guest PostNovember 4, 2010Environment, Natureaquatic organisms, bill werkheiser, daren carlisle, degraded river ecosystems, ecological effects, flow alterations, jeff ostermiller, lake, loss of native species, pond habitats, rivers, specific flow conditions, sport fish populations, stream flow alteration, streams, water

The amount of water flowing in streams and rivers has been significantly altered in nearly 90 percent of waters that were assessed in a new nationwide USGS study. Flow alterations are a primary contributor to degraded river ecosystems and loss of native species.

“This USGS assessment provides the most geographically extensive analysis to date of stream flow alteration,” said Bill Werkheiser, USGS Associate Director for Water. “Findings show the pervasiveness of stream flow alteration resulting from land and water management, the significant impact of altered stream flow on aquatic organisms, and the importance of considering this factor for sustaining and restoring the health of the Nation’s streams and ecosystems.” (more…)

Tag Archives: ecological effects

Scientists review the ecological effects of sea ice loss

First-of-its-Kind Study Reveals Surprising Ecological Effects of 2010 Chile Earthquake

Most River Flows across the U.S. are Altered by Land and Water Management, Leading to Ecological Degradation