73 posts · 19,356 views
EcoTone is a blog produced by the Ecological Society of America. The blog showcases ecology and ecologists, focusing on ecological science in the news and its use in policy and education. EcoTone welcomes guest submissions and suggestions of timely, relevant news of importance to the broad ecological community. EcoTone is moderated by ESA’s communications officer, Katie Kline. To submit feedback or suggest a post, please e-mail esablog@esa.org.
EcoTone
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- March 18, 2010
- 11:30 AM
- 23 views
Tasmanian devil colony shows immunity against cancer
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
In the tragic battle against devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), scientists may have found the first “glimmer of hope” near Cradle Mountain in northwestern Tasmania. At least that is what Katherine Belov of the University of Sydney and colleagues are saying about this unique colony that has resisted the disease. The results are paradoxical.... Read more »
Siddle, H., Marzec, J., Cheng, Y., Jones, M., & Belov, K. (2010) MHC gene copy number variation in Tasmanian devils: implications for the spread of a contagious cancer. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2009.2362
- March 11, 2010
- 02:10 PM
- 31 views
The phrenologist’s guide to ecological competence
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
Since Darwin, scientists have been theorizing as to why there is variation in brain size between species and individuals. Does a larger brain, in say humans, indicate advanced cognitive abilities and complex language processing? Or is a smaller brain, such as the Olive-backed thrush’s, adapted to weigh less to accommodate lengthy flights?
In psychology, the field of phrenology has generally been dissolved, and with it, the idea that variations in brain size could indicate differences ........ Read more »
Cristol, D. (2003) Migratory dark-eyed juncos, Junco hyemalis, have better spatial memory and denser hippocampal neurons than nonmigratory conspecifics. Animal Behaviour, 66(2), 317-328. DOI: 10.1006/anbe.2003.2194
Sol, D., Garcia, N., Iwaniuk, A., Davis, K., Meade, A., Boyle, W., & Székely, T. (2010) Evolutionary Divergence in Brain Size between Migratory and Resident Birds. PLoS ONE, 5(3). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009617
Shultz, S., & Dunbar, R. (2006) Both social and ecological factors predict ungulate brain size. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 273(1583), 207-215. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2005.3283
- March 9, 2010
- 02:56 PM
- 50 views
White-nose syndrome still devastating bats and challenging scientists
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
In an effort to conserve and research the endangered Virginia big-eared bat, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo took in 40 bats in November 2009. The goal was to establish a security population and to scientifically develop husbandry practices in a subspecies that researchers have not attempted to conserve before. ... Read more »
Boyles, J., & Willis, C. (2010) Could localized warm areas inside cold caves reduce mortality of hibernating bats affected by white-nose syndrome?. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 8(2), 92-98. DOI: 10.1890/080187
- March 4, 2010
- 02:52 PM
- 36 views
Ecologists go online, the world benefits?
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
Science can take a page out of the World Health Organization’s book when it comes to tracking and aiding in global health. Its online database, the Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN), is an early disease detection system developed by Health Canada; it collects data on unusual disease events by monitoring news wires, websites and online newspapers in eight languages. But what can ecologists take away from this?... Read more »
Galaz, V., Crona, B., Daw, T., Bodin, �., Nyström, M., & Olsson, P. (2010) Can web crawlers revolutionize ecological monitoring?. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 8(2), 99-104. DOI: 10.1890/070204
- March 4, 2010
- 02:47 PM
- 9 views
Ecologists go online, the world benefits?
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
Science can take a page out of the World Health Organization’s book when it comes to tracking and aiding in global health. Its online database, the Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN), is an early disease detection system developed by Health Canada; it collects data on unusual disease events by monitoring news wires, websites and online newspapers in eight languages. But what can ecologists take away from this?
... Read more »
Galaz, V., Crona, B., Daw, T., Bodin, �., Nyström, M., & Olsson, P. (2010) Can web crawlers revolutionize ecological monitoring?. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 8(2), 99-104. DOI: 10.1890/070204
- March 2, 2010
- 11:57 AM
- 38 views
From the Community: February edition
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
Fruit fly behavior mapped, resilience theory in an urban setting, changing the universe’s birthdate and genetic diversity in an all-female species. Here are extra news stories and studies on ecological science for the month of February.... Read more »
Siebeck, U., Parker, A., Sprenger, D., Mäthger, L., & Wallis, G. (2010) A Species of Reef Fish that Uses Ultraviolet Patterns for Covert Face Recognition. Current Biology. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2009.12.047
Lutes, A., Neaves, W., Baumann, D., Wiegraebe, W., & Baumann, P. (2010) Sister chromosome pairing maintains heterozygosity in parthenogenetic lizards. Nature. DOI: 10.1038/nature08818
- February 26, 2010
- 09:26 AM
- 44 views
Can birds affect tree growth?
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
Growing conditions, such as water and nutrient supply, are the major determinates of tree growth, but insectivorous birds can also play an important role, say scientists in a study published in the January issue of Ecology. Under the right conditions, birds contribute to whole tree growth by preying on herbaceous arthropods, such as leafhoppers, caterpillars and grasshoppers.... Read more »
Bridgeland, W., Beier, P., Kolb, T., & Whitham, T. (2010) A conditional trophic cascade: Birds benefit faster growing trees with strong links between predators and plants. Ecology, 91(1), 73-84. DOI: 10.1890/08-1821.1
- February 25, 2010
- 01:14 PM
- 49 views
Research demonstrates that marine protected areas aid coral reefs
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
Research has shown that marine protected areas (MPAs)—areas where fishing and other potentially destructive activities are regulated—are benefitting, not just the fish habitats they are known to aid, but nearby coral reefs as well. MPAs may benefit corals by restoring reef-based food webs and protecting damage from anchors and nutrient runoff.... Read more »
Selig, E., & Bruno, J. (2010) A Global Analysis of the Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas in Preventing Coral Loss. PLoS ONE, 5(2). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009278
- February 25, 2010
- 01:08 PM
- 50 views
Research demonstrates that marine protected areas aid coral reefs
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
Research has shown that marine protected areas (MPAs)—areas where fishing and other potentially destructive activities are regulated—are benefitting, not just the fish habitats they are known to aid, but nearby coral reefs as well. MPAs may benefit corals by restoring reef-based food webs and protecting damage from anchors and nutrient runoff...
... Read more »
Selig, E., & Bruno, J. (2010) A Global Analysis of the Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas in Preventing Coral Loss. PLoS ONE, 5(2). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009278
- February 24, 2010
- 12:17 PM
- 19 views
Nutrient enrichment linked to diseases in humans and wildlife
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
Scientists have provided a rather grim prognosis for global health: the recent increase in nutrient enrichment due to human activities, such as nitrogen pollution through fossil fuel combustion, is likely contributing to several varieties of infectious diseases in humans and wildlife.
... Read more »
Johnson, P., Townsend, A., Cleveland, C., Glibert, P., Howarth, R., McKenzie, V., Rejmankova, E., & Ward, M. (2010) Linking environmental nutrient enrichment and disease emergence in humans and wildlife. Ecological Applications, 20(1), 16-29. DOI: 10.1890/08-0633.1
- February 23, 2010
- 12:43 PM
- 35 views
Australian scientists fight cane toad invasion with cat food and laced sausages
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
... Read more »
Ward-Fear, G., Brown, G., & Shine, R. (2010) Using a native predator (the meat ant,Iridomyrmex reburrus) to reduce the abundance of an invasive species (the cane toad,Bufo marinus) in tropical Australia. Journal of Applied Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2010.01773.x
- February 19, 2010
- 09:57 AM
- 59 views
Large seeds take the advantage in stressful conditions
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
The coconut tree’s large seed is
better adapted to drought and
shade than smaller seeds.
It is generally believed that, when competing for the same resources, large plant seeds beat out small seeds regardless of the growing conditions. But according to researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, large seeds actually have the advantage in stressful conditions—such as [...]
... Read more »
Muller-Landau, H. (2010) The tolerance-fecundity trade-off and the maintenance of diversity in seed size. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0911637107
- February 5, 2010
- 03:03 PM
- 77 views
Egyptian fruit bats point sonar beams on either side of a target, not directly at it
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
According to researchers at the University of Maryland, Egyptian fruit bats, unlike their American relative the big brown bat, locate objects through a series of tongue clicks directed to either side of their target.
Big brown bats locate their fast moving prey—such as mosquitos—by firing sounds from their vocal cords directly at their target. Egyptian bats, [...]
... Read more »
Yossi Yovel, Ben Falk, Cynthia F. Moss, Nachum Ulanovsky. (2010) Optimal Localization by Pointing Off Axis. Science. info:/
- February 3, 2010
- 02:54 PM
- 79 views
Look out for Loners
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
This post contributed by Nadine Lymn, ESA Director of Public Affairs
Personality traits that lead an individual to want to avoid crowds could actually be playing a role in biological invasions, says a recent study that appeared in the Proceedings of the Royal Society Biological Sciences. Julien Cote and colleagues at the University of California at [...]
... Read more »
Cote, J., Fogarty, S., Weinersmith, K., Brodin, T., & Sih, A. (2010) Personality traits and dispersal tendency in the invasive mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2009.2128
- January 29, 2010
- 03:42 PM
- 101 views
Iron-plated Snail
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
This post contributed by Nadine Lymn, ESA Director of Public Affairs
Another example of the ingenuity of nature: researchers are finding inspiration in the extraordinarily strong exoskeleton of a deep-sea snail, Crysomallon squamiferum. The mollusk’s iron-plated shell is giving researchers insights that could lead to stronger materials for airplane hulls, cars, and military equipment.
Researchers at the National [...]
... Read more »
Yao, H., Dao, M., Imholt, T., Huang, J., Wheeler, K., Bonilla, A., Suresh, S., & Ortiz, C. (2010) Protection mechanisms of the iron-plated armor of a deep-sea hydrothermal vent gastropod. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(3), 987-992. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0912988107
- January 22, 2010
- 04:22 PM
- 120 views
Scientists challenge century-old understanding of rain-soil interaction
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
In a recent Nature Geoscience study, scientists discovered that soil clings to water from the first rainfall of the summer and holds it so tightly it almost never mixes with other water. This discovery challenges the century-old assumption that rainwater, after it enters the soil through precipitation, displaces leftover water and pushes it deeper into [...]
... Read more »
Renée Brooks, J., Barnard, H., Coulombe, R., & McDonnell, J. (2009) Ecohydrologic separation of water between trees and streams in a Mediterranean climate. Nature Geoscience. DOI: 10.1038/NGEO722
- January 21, 2010
- 10:34 AM
- 80 views
Mites and poor diet contribute to honeybee decline in Europe
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
Two timely reports have surfaced this week regarding the decline of honeybee populations in Europe, and France has taken action in an attempt to curb the falling numbers.
A recent study linked
honeybee health and plant biodiversity
In a study published in the Journal of Apicultural Research, scientists have found that managed honeybee populations across Europe have dropped [...]
... Read more »
Potts, S., Settele, J., Neumann,, P., Jones, R., Mike A Brown, M., Marris, G., Dean, R., & Roberts, S. (2010) Declines of managed honey bees and beekeepers in Europe. Journal of Apicultural Research, 49(1), 15. DOI: 10.3896/IBRA.1.49.1.02
- January 14, 2010
- 10:26 AM
- 107 views
Lost City ecosystem predisposes marine microbes
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
Scientists studying the Lost City hydrothermal vent field have found what appears to be microbes just waiting to thrive; that is, when their perfect ecosystem arrives. At the Lost City, microbes known to be rare in hotter, more active vents flourish in the cooler, moderated ecosystem of the older vent. And when those microbes’ ideal environment [...]
... Read more »
Brazelton, W., Ludwig, K., Sogin, M., Andreishcheva, E., Kelley, D., Shen, C., Edwards, R., & Baross, J. (2010) Archaea and bacteria with surprising microdiversity show shifts in dominance over 1,000-year time scales in hydrothermal chimneys. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0905369107
- January 11, 2010
- 12:29 PM
- 108 views
Scientists look to tobacco leaves for biofuel
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
This post was contributed by Piper Corp, ESA Science Policy Analyst
In a recent Plant Biotechnology Journal paper, scientists at Thomas Jefferson University’s Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories say that genetically modified tobacco “has the potential to produce more energy per hectare than any other non-food crop.”
Tobacco Field in Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Photo Credit: Henryk Kotowski
Biofuel oil is [...]
... Read more »
Andrianov, V., Borisjuk, N., Pogrebnyak, N., Brinker, A., Dixon, J., Spitsin, S., Flynn, J., Matyszczuk, P., Andryszak, K., Laurelli, M.... (2009) Tobacco as a production platform for biofuel: overexpression of and genes increases accumulation and shifts the composition of lipids in green biomass . Plant Biotechnology Journal. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2009.00458.x
- January 6, 2010
- 01:57 PM
- 118 views
Looking to the Jersey Shore for CO2 sequestration
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
Riding on the heels of Copenhagen, a study published yesterday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences outlined one way the United States might address enormous CO2 emission levels. Not surprisingly, the researchers propose carbon sequestration; it is the location, however, that makes this study unique.
The scientists have pinpointed volcanic rock, namely [...]
... Read more »
Goldberg, D., Kent, D., & Olsen, P. (2010) Potential on-shore and off-shore reservoirs for CO2 sequestration in Central Atlantic magmatic province basalts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0913721107
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