Category archives: Ecology

The role of mineral dust aerosols on climate change

The role of mineral dust aerosols on climate change

ChemistryEcologyGeosciencesPlanetary Science

By Invited Researcher

aerosol Author: Rubén Soussé Villa is pursuing a PhD in atmospheric chemistry at Barcelona Supercompting Center / Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Mineral dust aerosols are microscopic rocky particles – for instance, sand – floating in the atmosphere. They are typically windblown from deserts, arid areas and agricultural lands, where they are produced from continued erosion […]

Invasive species are threatening Antarctica’s fragile ecosystems

Invasive species are threatening Antarctica’s fragile ecosystems

BiologyEcology

By Invited Researcher

We tend to think Antarctica is isolated and far away – biologically speaking, this is true. But the continent is busier than you probably imagine, with many national programs and tourist operators crisscrossing the globe to get there. And each vessel, each cargo item, and each person could be harbouring non-native species, hitchhiking their way […]

A forgotten mangrove forest around remote inland lagoons in Mexico’s Yucatan tells a story of rising seas

A forgotten mangrove forest around remote inland lagoons in Mexico’s Yucatan tells a story of rising seas

BiologyEcologyGeosciencesPlant biology

By Invited Researcher

The San Pedro River winds from rainforests in Guatemala through the Yucatan Peninsula in eastern Mexico. There, this peaceful river widens into a series of slow-flowing lakes. Along a remote 50-mile (80-kilometer) stretch, thousands of red mangroves – trees commonly found along tropical coastlines – line the river’s banks and gentle waterfalls. Unlike mangroves elsewhere […]

How to investigate the effect of climate change on multiple species without a mechanistic model

How to investigate the effect of climate change on multiple species without a mechanistic model

EcologyMathematics

By BCAM

Species distribution models (SDM) are computer algorithms that relate species distribution, occurrence or abundance, with information on environmental conditions and spatial characteristics of locations where the species has been, or is suspected to be, found. These models can be used to predict or to have a better understanding of the species distribution, and are widely […]

Challenging predictions for the impact of elevated CO2 on eucalyptus woodlands

Challenging predictions for the impact of elevated CO2 on eucalyptus woodlands

EcologyPlant biology

By Invited Researcher

Author: Teresa E. Gimeno is an Ikerbasque Research Fellow at The Basque Centre for Climate Change One of the expected effects of rising atmospheric CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere is an increase in plant water use efficiency. This is due to the expected enhancement of photosynthesis under future atmospheric CO 2 concentrations, together with […]

Sunscreens, health and environment: a dangerous cocktail?

Sunscreens, health and environment: a dangerous cocktail?

EcologyHealth

By Sergio Laínez

Prolonged exposure to sunlight is not recommended. Even though is really important to synthesize vitamin D which helps us absorbing calcium or phosphate and maintain a mineralized skeleton, the effects of sun´s ultraviolet radiation (mainly UVA and UVB) can be prejudicial in the long term. Main issues may be sunburn (UVB), reduced skin elasticity leading […]