ecosystems Archives

The biodegrading functions of microbial communities in polluted freshwaters

Written by

Dr Ayixon Sánchez-Reyes and Dr Luz Bretón-Deval study the polluted river in the Apatlaco river basin in Mexico, hoping to identify microbial species which could break down contaminants in the freshwater sites

Pollution is a selective pressure that enriches microorganisms at polluted freshwater sites. Some microbial species can adapt to the levels of pollution in water streams, displaying metabolic capacities that allow them to degrade the contaminants. Dr Ayixon Sánchez-Reyes and Dr Luz Bretón-Deval, from the Institute of Biotechnology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, study the microbial biodiversity landscapes of […]

Non-native lake trout suppression: A fisheries restoration success story

Written by

Introduction of non-native species can cause severe disruption to ecosystems. A rapid growth in lake trout numbers in Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho threatened both native species conservation and the popular recreational fishery on the lake. This prompted Andrew M. Dux, Matthew P. Corsi and colleagues at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, along with Michael J. Hansen of the […]

Peatlands’ past suggests fast-changing future

Written by

In this article Prof Booth and Hotchkiss’ research uses the paleoecological record preserved in kettle hole ecosystems of northern Wisconsin to assess the potential for climate-induced ecosystem state shifts, as well as the ecological effects of these events.

Minimising and mitigating the effects of global climate change rely on accurate predictions of future climate, vegetation changes, and feedbacks between the Earth and its atmosphere. Prof Sara Hotchkiss, of the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and Prof Robert Booth, of Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, have investigated the effects of climate change on an overlooked landscape, the kettle hole ecosystems of […]