The seas are not only teeming with unseen life -but they can be noisy as well. For instance, healthy coral reefs can be full of sounds that only the fish can perceive. Coral reef ecosystems are some of the most diverse on Earth, and preserving its biodiversity is crucial.
With the plight of coral bleaching, it is becoming even more important to invent a way of restoring reefs and supporting the communities that develop there.
An international team of marine specialists from the UK and Australian universities have suggested a simple and original approach; to attract fish back to reefs – they need to recreate the same sound the fish hear when reefs are healthy.
The researchers had compared patches with corals with the addition of acoustics and without it. On the patches with the addition of sound, the fish community was more extensive and more diverse. Fish perform multiple roles on a reef. The more species the community on the reef has, the healthier the coral will grow.
Fish perform multiple roles on a reef. The more species the community on the reef has, the healthier the coral will grow. If the affected reefs are protected, and the conservationists also add acoustic “advertisements ” for attracting fish, the reef restoration can be quicker and more effective.
Reference :
“Acoustic enrichment can enhance fish community development on degraded coral reef habitat” – Nature Communications. Accessed July 02, 2020.
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Coral reefs are especially sensitive to fluctuations in temperature, such as heatwaves. Temperature spikes may result in death for corals even without their other blight – bleaching.
A team of researchers at the University of Barcelona has been monitoring the state of coral populations in the Mediterranean reserve in Columbretes Islands on the Spanish coast.
They have chosen a common species, Cladocora caespitosa, which is considered a relict and is probably evolution
The observations of the population dynamics were held for 16 years. The corals in the area were dying at an alarming rate. For instance, 25% of the whole population was destroyed by the highest heatwave observed in 2003. Some polyps were shown to undergo the process of rejuvenation: The coral shrinks within its skeleton. In this new reduced state, the coral can leave the skeleton if necessary. When the temperatures return to normal, the coral grows to the standard size, reproduces by budding, and repopulates the reef. . Previously, this rejuvenation process was only recorded in the fossil record. It remains to be determined how effective this survival process is for the corals. However, it still brings hope that at least some corals may overcome the stress of global warming.
Reference :
“Living evidence of a fossil survival strategy raises hope for warming-affected corals | Science Advances” . Accessed July 02, 2020.
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When the trees in the forests are cut, there is hope that the new trees would grow in their place and absorb the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
These new forests are called secondary forests. The scientists calculate their contribution to building models of the progression of climate change.
A study undertaken by a team of scientists from Britain and Brazil in the Amazonian forest has shown that these models would need to be recalculated:
The study was focused on one of the older secondary forests in the Brazilian Amazon. The changes in the Amazonian forests were analyzed based on forest inventories undertaken and recorded from 1999 to 2017. The researchers compared the level of carbon uptake, diversity, and resistance to drought in secondary forests and primary forests. In secondary forests, the ability to absorb carbon and the overall species diversity was constant in the studied period. At the same time, both of those parameters were approximately 50% higher in primary forests. Moreover, secondary forests were more vulnerable to dry climate and drought, and trees were more likely to die in the “newer ” forests in conditions where water is scarce and the temperatures high. This new analysis shows that even allowing the forests to re-grow does not restore their full ability to lower carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is crucial for counteracting climate change.
The primary, untouched forests are still more resilient and productive than the forests composed of the younger trees.
It means two important things for the future: the models describing the progression of climate change have to be changed. The destruction of the forests has to be slowed down to counteract the adverse effects of forest destruction.
Reference :
“Assessing the growth and climate sensitivity of secondary forests in highly deforested Amazonian landscapes – Elias – 2020 – Ecology – Wiley Online Library” . Accessed July 02, 2020.
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Invasive species are a group of organisms that have specific dangerous characteristics:
They are not native to a particular area. They tend to grow aggressively. They outcompete local species and form monocultures, decreasing the diversity of an ecosystem and changing the balance. Invasive species can be found in many groups of organisms, from plants to mammals
However, it happens that an organism does not have to be introduced to develop dangerous properties.
In the course of several horticultural workshops, Lynn A. Gettys, an invasive plant specialist, has described several native plants that can grow aggressively, drastically changing the balance in an aquatic ecosystem.
Aquatic ecosystems can be particularly vulnerable to invasive species, such as water hyacinth. Several aquatic plants native to North America, such as frog’s bit andyellow waterlily can grow aggressively and outcompete other species. These species can be dangerous both to natural and human-made ecosystems. The issue is complicated by the fact that many of the native species with such tendencies play essential roles in their corresponding ecosystems and are often used in reserves and parks. It is becoming clear that native species can also cause similar damage to invasive plants. Native species can “go rogue ” when they are reintroduced by specialists, or in response to interventions against invasive species. This means that the term of “invasiveness ” itself has to be reconsidered, and the management of both invasive and native plants has to be better thought out.
Reference :
“Breaking Bad: Native Aquatic Plants Gone Rogue and the Invasive Species That Inspire Them in: HortTechnology Volume 29 Issue 5 (2019)” . Accessed July 02, 2020.
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A research group from North Carolina University was studying the recovery of pine forests that grow on rocklands in south Florida following the destruction caused by the hurricane Irma.
The researchers compared two areas: Everglades National Park and National Key Deer Refuge, Big Pine Key. In some of the plots in both reserves, the managers undertook controlled burns or removed some understory. Everglades Park was only affected by strong winds, while Big Pine Key suffered from storm surge as well. It was shown that in both reserves, human-managed plots were recovering better than the unmanaged area. This effect was especially visible in Pine Key, where the damage was severe due to flooding. The managed plots had a considerably higher recovery rate compared to unmanaged areas. The researchers think that one of the main contributors to the recovery process is pineland croton. This shrub can re-sprout and spread seeds after burning incidents. Pineland croton is especially crucial because it is crucial for survival for two endangered butterfly species -Florida leafwing and Bartram’s scrub-hairstreak. By promoting pineland croton re-sprouting through management, it has become possible to make the pine forests more resilient and to protect rare butterfly species. CurrentBartram’ sam’s scrub – hairstreak was not observed in more affected Big Pine Key area but is still present in Everglades. Suggested Reading:
The Blue Morpho butterfly is the most well-known species in the butterfly genus Morpho. Learn the top 21 facts about the Blue Morpho butterfly here.
At least this particular area can benefit significantly from human management, which promotes resilience and helps preserve biodiversity.
Reference :
“Maintaining historic disturbance regimes increases species’ resilience to catastrophic hurricanes – Henry – 2020 – Global Change Biology – Wiley Online Library” . Accessed July 02, 2020.
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Collaboration between researchers from Queensland University of Technology and ACEMS has resulted in unique approach to help establish the location of one of the iconic Australian animals – koalas.
The researchers obtained information about koalas location based on: Thermal imaging with the help of drones. Ground survey records This data was complemented by analysis of the area by experts in the field of koala zoology undertaken with the help of virtual reality that displayed the surveyed information in the form of 3D immersive landscapes. Based on all of these sources, mathematical models were built predicting possible localities where koalas may hide. Suggested Reading:
The Blue Morpho butterfly is the most well-known species in the butterfly genus Morpho. Learn the top 21 facts about the Blue Morpho butterfly here.
This approach has resulted in a model that can predict koalas’ distribution with higher confidence. Considering the recent Australian bushfires that severely affected koalas in the region, it is especially important.
Reference :
“Using virtual reality and thermal imagery to improve statistical modelling of vulnerable and protected species” . Accessed July 02, 2020.
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It was thought that the relationship between rare and competitive species is straightforward: the more successful species outcompete the ones that are rarer, driving them to extinction.
A comprehensive survey undertaken by Spanish and Swedish scientists has uncovered a new type of behavior for rare species.
The researchers analyzed more than 300 diverse communities worldwide. The communities included various species from plants to corals and insects. Based on the collected data, mathematical models were built. According to the models, more abundant species affected less abundant ones negatively. On the other hand, species that tend to be in the minority also tend to co-exist together, forming small communities. Suggested Reading:
Discover the 35 most famous extinct birds and learn about their stories on what caused their decline and eventually mass extinction from this planet earth.
The existence of such rare species “ghettos ” where these species promote each other’s survival is a novel finding and calls for more research on the subject.
It can influence how we can organize conservation efforts.
Reference :
“Positive associations among rare species and their persistence in ecological assemblages | Nature Ecology & Evolution” . Accessed July 02, 2020.
Link .
The current ecology research does not paint the happy picture of global biodiversity. The recent disasters of 2019, such as Australian bushfires: the habitat of koalas is destroyed, and they suffer from combined effects of infections and loss of food and homes.
Decreases in diversity are observed in multiple areas, from wetlands of the Mediterranean to Arctic lakes and rivers. In this list, we did our best to shift the focus to new knowledge and new approaches that may counteract this devastation.
New ideas, such as acoustic advertisements for coral-linked fish to new ways to counteract rabies with the help of vampire bats, may shift the balance towards positive change – hopefully.
Cite This Page
“The commonness of rarity: Global and future distribution of rarity across land plants | Science Advances” . Accessed July 02, 2020. Link .“The Invaders – Pat Shipman | Harvard University Press” . Accessed July 02, 2020. Link .“A Necropsy Study of Disease and Comorbidity Trends in Morbidity and Mortality in the Koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) in South-East Queensland, Australia | Scientific Reports” . Accessed July 02, 2020. Link .“Estimating biodiversity changes in the Camargue wetlands: An expert knowledge approach” . Accessed July 02, 2020. Link .“NEWS: Arctic lakes and rivers can lose the diversity of freshwater species – Climate Impacts Research Centre” . Accessed July 02, 2020. Link .“A batty concept goes viral | Nature Ecology & Evolution” . Accessed July 02, 2020. Link .
