All Ecology articles – Page 3
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NewsPlankton balloon to six times their size in newly discovered mode of oceanic travel
Researchers describe a species of bioluminescent phytoplankton, called Pyrocystis noctiluca, that balloons to six times their original size of a few hundred microns, showcasing a unique strategy for long-distance ocean travel.
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NewsScientists have successfully bred corals to improve their heat tolerance
A new study has shown that selective breeding can lead to a modest rise in coral heat tolerance. The study documents the world’s first effort to selectively breed adult corals for the ability to survive intense marine heatwaves.
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NewsCrews sample lichens in ‘dress rehearsal’ for Martian exploration
During simulated extra-vehicular activities, Mars 160 mission specialists wearing simulated spacesuits scouted out various habitats in two Mars analog stations, seeking out lichen species growing in various microhabitats.
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NewsHidden trails of marine snow can affect how the ocean stores carbon
A new study reveals never-before seen mucus ‘parachutes’ produced by microscopic marine organisms that significantly slow their sinking, putting the brakes on a process crucial for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
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NewsHibernating ribosomes flip upside down in starving yeast cells
Scientists have discovered a curious way in which cells adapt to starvation – a mechanism with potential cancer implications.
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NewsOrganisms in Neptune grass compost release oxygen, unlike land compost
Researchers studying the fate of the material produced by Posidonia seagrass meadows showed that the dead leaves accumulate in shallow areas, where they break down like a compost, remineralising the organic matter.
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NewsZooplankton go ‘Eew!’ to cleaning feces-contaminated water
Scientists were recently surprised to find that the natural community of zooplankton — tiny, aquatic animals known to graze on bacteria — present in freshwater and saltwater do not clean water that is contaminated with fecal microorganisms.
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NewsScientists boost denitrification of wastewater with biochar-based substrate
An innovative study has unveiled a substantial development in wastewater treatment technology. The innovative approach to improving denitrification in constructed wetlands uses a novel biochar-based substrate.
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NewsGood nutrition boosts honey bee resilience against pesticides and viruses
In a new study, researchers investigate how nutritional stress, viral infections and exposure to pesticides together influence honey bee survival. By looking at all three stressors together, the scientists found that good nutrition enhances honey bee resilience against the other threats.
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NewsRamie rhizosphere study unveils secrets of the volcano
Volcanic soil plays a key role in the formation of microbial community diversity and subsequently influences the diversity of microorganisms residing in the rhizosphere of Boehmeria nivea L.
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NewsSoil pH is driver of microbial community composition - and need to address toxicity shapes the community
Researchers have determined through both statistical analysis and in experiments that soil pH is a driver of microbial community composition – but the need to address toxicity released during nitrogen cycling ultimately shapes the final microbial community.
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NewsScientists unveil how the oceans’ most abundant bacteria impact global nutrient flows
A new paper has revealed how key bacterial proteins contribute to global carbon, sulfur and other nutrient cycles.
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NewsMicroorganisms can travel long distances in the troposphere
Air samples taken at altitudes up to 3,000 metres over Japan unveil the presence of a wide array of microbes, some of which are potentially pathogenic to humans, transported thousands of kilometers by aerosols originating in northeast China.
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NewsWhat’s really ‘fueling’ harmful algae in Florida’s lake Okeechobee?
Lake Okeechobee is the largest lake in Florida and the second largest in the Southeastern United States. Over the past two decades, blooms of blue-green algae (Microcystis) have emerged in the lake and have been flushed into nearby urban estuaries, causing serious environmental and public health issues. Source: ...
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NewsExtreme microbe reveals how life’s building blocks adapt to high pressure
An AI tool has helped scientists discover how the proteins of a heat-loving microbe respond to the crushing conditions of the planet’s deepest ocean trenches, offering new insights into how building blocks of life might have evolved under early Earth conditions.
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NewsNew research illuminates the impact of surface properties on bacteria movement
A new study reveals the key role surface properties play in either enabling or preventing twitching motility, the process by which bacteria move across surfaces, allowing them to rapidly colonize new surfaces including those of tissues and medical implants.
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NewsDangerous airborne fungus boosted by California droughts
By analyzing data on reported cases of Valley fever in California, which have increased dramatically over the last two decades, researchers have identified seasonal patterns that could help TO prepare for future surges in Valley fever cases.
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NewsHuman mouth bacteria reproduce through rare form of cell division
New research has uncovered an extraordinary mechanism of cell division in Corynebacterium matruchotii. The filamentous bacterium doesn’t just divide, it splits into multiple cells at once, a rare process called multiple fission.
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NewsNew discovery of how bacteria navigate their environment could change how we treat infection
Scientists have found that bacteria can directly measure differences in chemical concentration across the length of their cell bodies, contrary to decades of established scientific belief.
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News City birds found to be carriers of antimicrobial resistant bacteria
Researchers have found that wild birds such as ducks and crows living close to humans, for example in cities, are likely to carry bacteria with antimicrobial resistance (AMR).