Ecosystems

Ecosystems

Fallout Feast: Vent crabs survive on victims of plume

Researchers in Taiwan propose an explanation for how so many crabs can survive at shallow-water hydrothermal vents.

Ecosystems

The Birds Are Falling: Avian losses could hit ecosystems hard

If many bird populations dip toward extinction in the coming century, widespread harm could come to ecosystems that depend on these birds.

Ecosystems

One-Celled Socialites

A wave of research on the social lives of bacteria offers insights into the evolution of cooperation and may lead to medical breakthroughs that neutralize virulent bacterial strains.

Ecosystems

Fly may be depleting U.S. giant silk moths

A parasitic fly introduced to fight gypsy moths starting in 1906 may be an overlooked factor in the declines of giant silk moths.

Ecosystems

Corals without Boarders

The last decade has been a great era for discovering corals in the deep ocean, but a United Nations report warns that these cold, dark reefs urgently need protection.

Ecosystems

Fish Stew: Species interplay makes fisheries management tricky in the long run

Annual fluctuations in certain fish populations can be best understood and controlled by accounting for ecological factors, such as predation by other fish, in addition to fisheries harvests.

Ecosystems

Deep-Sea Cukes Can’t Avoid the Weather: El Niño changes life 2.5 miles down

A 14-year study of a spot 2.5 miles underwater off the California coast shows short-term links between surface events and an abundance of deep-water creatures.

Ecosystems

More on California’s rogue seaweed

Scientists have obtained genetic confirmation of the assumption that a newfound rogue alga in California waters is the same strain that has been smothering seafloor communities in the Mediterranean.

Ecosystems

Coastal Surge: Ecosystems likely to suffer as more people move to the shores

Rapid development and population growth on and near U.S. coastlines in the near future will probably spell trouble for ecosystems in these areas, scientists say.

Ecosystems

Bird Dilemma: More seabirds killed when boats discard fewer fish

A long-term study of great skuas shows that when fishing fleets discard less fish, birds that scavenge for waste make up for the loss by increasing attacks on other seabirds.

Ecosystems

Mangrove Might: Nearby trees boost reef-fish numbers

Coastal mangroves give an unexpectedly important boost to reef fish.

Ecosystems

Brazil Nut Loss Looms: Harvest may be too heavy to last

A study of 23 spots in Amazonian forests has raised the question of whether the collection of Brazil nuts—praised as a model of gentle forest use—has reached such levels that it may not be sustainable.