coastal ecosystem

Coastal dead zones may benefit some species

harminka — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:41:45 -0500

A Brown ecologist has found that coastal “dead zones” may not be so dead after all. In a paper published this month in the journal Ecology, Andrew Altieri has found that the commercially valuable quahog clam thrives in hypoxic waters in Narragansett Bay – partly because the clam’s predators flee the low-oxygen areas.

Seabird Ammonia Emissions Contribute to Atmospheric Acidity

harminka — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:13:44 -0500

Ammonia emissions from seabirds have been shown to be a significant source of nitrogen in remote coastal ecosystems, contributing to nutrient enrichment (eutrophication) and acidification in ecosystems.

The impending coastal crisis

harminka — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:42:51 -0500

Coastlines are the most dynamic feature on the planet. In the March issue, Geotimes magazine looks into the risks of increased development along our coastlines and what that means for erosion, flooding and future development.

Researchers challenge analyses on sustainability of Gulf fisheries

harminka — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:41:37 -0600

Louisiana’s coastal fisheries produce approximately 25 percent of the total catch by weight in the lower 48 states. With such a substantial portion of the nation’s economy dependant on the state of these waters – particularly the Gulf of Mexico region – it comes as no surprise that these fisheries are heavily monitored and scrutinized by researchers across the globe.

Nonlinear ecosystem response points to environmental solutions

harminka — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:41:06 -0600

The preservation of coastal ecosystem services such as clean water, storm buffers or fisheries protection does not have to be an all-or-nothing approach, a new study indicates, and a better understanding of how ecosystems actually respond to protection efforts in a “nonlinear” fashion could help lead the way out of environmental-versus-economic gridlock.

Resilience concepts poised to aid management of coastal marine ecosystems

harminka — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:34:46 -0600

The January 2008 issue of BioScience includes a special section entitled “Managing for Resilience in Coastal Marine Ecosystems.”

Is nutrient loading smaller problem than we think?

harminka — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:08:12 -0500

Coastal science gospel states that eutrophication caused by elevated nutrient loadings has triggered major alterations of coastal ecosystem structure and function.

How E. coli evolves to adapt to changing acidity

harminka — Wed, 30 May 2007 00:30:46 -0500

Forthcoming in Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, a fascinating new selection of papers collects leading experimental research in evolution and artificial selection, providing insight into how organisms adapt to changing environmental conditions and fluctuations.