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Deforestation of sandy soils a greater threat to climate change

By Guest PostApril 3, 2014Environmentclimate change, CO2, deforestation, erdwaerme, fruehwarnsystem, global warming, hawaii, microbial community, northern alaska, nutzung der geothermie, prinzip, scientists, soil ph, threat, yale university

Deforestation may have far greater consequences for climate change in some soils than in others, according to new research led by Yale University scientists — a finding that could provide critical insights into which ecosystems must be managed with extra care because they are vulnerable to biodiversity loss and which ecosystems are more resilient to widespread tree removal.

In a comprehensive analysis of soil collected from 11 distinct U.S. regions, from Hawaii to northern Alaska, researchers found that the extent to which deforestation disturbs underground microbial communities that regulate the loss of carbon into the atmosphere depends almost exclusively on the texture of the soil. The results were published in the journal Global Change Biology. (more…)

Scientists Uncover Vast Differences in Earth’s Polar Ocean Microbial Communities

By Guest PostOctober 10, 2012Environmentalison murray, Antarctica, arctic ocean, biodiversity, biodiversity pattern, biogeographically, canada, changing climate, coast, community, continental, drainage basin, earth, environmental selection, flow, france, freshwater, glacial melt, global ocean, jean françois ghiglione, kevin bakker, marine, marine life, marine microbe, michigan, microbial community, microbial diversity, new zealand, ocean, oceanic circulation, oden, polar ocean, polar region, polar year, pole, sea ice, sloan foundation, southern, spain, structure, Sweden, swedish icebreaker, united states, university

ANN ARBOR— An international team of scientists, including a University of Michigan graduate student, has demonstrated that a clear difference exists between the marine microbial communities in the Southern and Arctic oceans, contributing to a better understanding of the biodiversity of marine life at the poles.

The most comprehensive comparison of microbial diversity at both of Earth’s polar oceans showed that about 75 percent of the organisms at each pole are different. This insight sheds light on newly recognized biodiversity patterns and reinforces the importance of studying Earth’s polar regions in the face of a changing climate. And it highlights the need for further research on the impacts of sea ice, seasonal shifts and freshwater input in both regions. (more…)

Microbes Help Hyenas Communicate via Scent

By Guest PostSeptember 2, 2012Natureage, animal, animal behavior, bacteria, beneficial relationship, chemical signature, communication, communication system, diversity, DNA, hyena, hyena clan, kay holekamp, kenyan plains, kevin theis, key controller, mammal, michigan state university, microbial community, reproductive status, scent gland, sex, symbiotic bacteria, trait

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Bacteria in hyenas’ scent glands may be the key controllers of communication.

The results, featured in the current issue of Scientific Reports, show a clear relationship between the diversity of hyena clans and the distinct microbial communities that reside in their scent glands, said Kevin Theis, the paper’s lead author and Michigan State University postdoctoral researcher.

“A critical component of every animal’s behavioral repertoire is an effective communication system,” said Theis, who co-authored the study with Kay Holekamp, MSU zoologist. “It is possible that without their bacteria, many animals couldn’t ‘say’ much at all.” (more…)

In The Mouth, Smoking Zaps Healthy Bacteria, Welcomes Pathogens

By Guest PostFebruary 20, 2012Healthbacteria, biofilm, bone loss, chad matthews, cytokines, dental plaque, disease, diverse ecosystem, dna signature, ecosystem, gingivitis, good bacteria, harmful bacteria, healthy bacteria, marcelo aspiras, marko de jager, maureen langlois, microbial community, ohio state university, periodontitis, philips oral healthcare, purnimakumar, smokers, smoking, swab, swollen gums, types of cytokines, vinayak joshi

COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to a new study, smoking causes the body to turn against its own helpful bacteria, leaving smokers more vulnerable to disease.

Despite the daily disturbance of brushing and flossing, the mouth of a healthy person contains a stable ecosystem of healthy bacteria. New research shows that the mouth of a smoker is a much more chaotic, diverse ecosystem—and is much more susceptible to invasion by harmful bacteria. (more…)

Tag Archives: microbial community

Deforestation of sandy soils a greater threat to climate change

Scientists Uncover Vast Differences in Earth’s Polar Ocean Microbial Communities

Microbes Help Hyenas Communicate via Scent

In The Mouth, Smoking Zaps Healthy Bacteria, Welcomes Pathogens