New research into the drivers of mangrove loss over the past 20 years has revealed that most of the degradation can be attributed to socio-economic and biophysical factors, with mangrove cover increasing in some areas.
Inspired by nature: Silencing bacteria
Bacteria love moist surfaces. Once they have settled there, they do not live as solitary organisms but form larger communities that are embedded in a protective film. These biofilms are found on various surfaces and can lead to contact infections. The bacteria are often persistent and defy the body's own...
Vegetation regulates energy exchange in the Arctic
Global warming is changing the Arctic by causing permafrost thaw, glacier melt, droughts, fires and changes in vegetation. These developments are strongly linked to the energy exchange between land and the atmosphere. Researchers have now shown that different plant communities in the tundra play a key role in this energy...
Just like humans, more intelligent jays have greater self-control
A study has found that Eurasian jays can pass a version of the 'marshmallow test' -- and those with the greatest self-control also score the highest on intelligence tests.
Methane ‘Super-Emitters’ Mapped by NASA’s New Earth Space Mission
Built to help scientists understand how dust affects climate, the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation can also pinpoint emissions of the potent greenhouse gas.
U of T Ranked 2nd in the World in First-Ever QS Sustainability Ranking
The University of Toronto has been ranked second in the world and first in Canada in the inaugural QS World University Rankings: Sustainability, which assesses universities for their environmental and social impact.
The case of Latin America’s mysterious disappearing (and reappearing) white-lipped peccaries
A collaborative study documents the periodic disappearance (and reappearance) of white-lipped peccaries in nine countries in South and Central America.
NASA laser project benefits animal researchers
NASA's Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission can provide valuable information about the world's forests for wildlife scientists.
Rocky Road for Swiss Glaciers
Continuing their long decline, glaciers in the Swiss Alps melted more in 2022 than any other year on record.
El Niño increases seedling mortality even in drought-tolerant forests
Scientists conducted a 7-year study on seedling recruitment and mortality in a national park in Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand. During the study period, an extremely strong El Niño event occurred, leading to a stronger and longer drought than normal. Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs), which experience an annual dry...