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Ecology

Genomic and physiological footprint of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on resident marsh fishes

Source: JournalistsResource.org

When the well beneath BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig blew out in 2010, 4.9 million barrels of oil poured into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Despite the massive clean-up effort, significant quantities of oil made their way to into region’s coastal ecosystems.

Population of bed bugs reveals mechanisms of resistance

Source: JournalistsResource.org

Over the past decade, many U.S. cities have seen a new rise in infestations of the common bed bug — known scientifically as Cimex lectularius — in residences, hotel facilities and elsewhere. The phenomenon has had significant social and health consequences in densely populated cities such as New York, and the topic has seen extensive news coverage.

Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity

Source: JournalistsResource.org

Earth is home to approximately 9 million species of plants, animals and fungi. Together they form complex ecosystems that undergird the stability of the natural world, and ultimately help to sustain human life. The study of ecosystem functioning is crucial to understanding how continuing loss of biodiversity could affect humanity’s future.

Tsunami data supports forecast, warning, research and mitigation

Source: JournalistsResource.org

Following the destructive 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the United States Tsunami Warning and Education Act was signed December 2006. Among other things, the act called for broadening of the global historical tsunami database to include data on coastal water levels, damage reports and deep-water changes.

History of tsunami research and countermeasures in Japan

Source: JournalistsResource.org

Japan sees more local and distant tsunami events than any other country — indeed the very term “tsunami” comes from the Japanese language. The massive quake and tsunami in March 2011 that have devastated northern parts of that country are situated in a long natural and cultural history that has prompted Japan to take ever-more elaborate preventative measures.

Test of forecasting model on Japanese earthquakes

Source: JournalistsResource.org

If ever there were a natural event worth forecasting, it would be a major earthquake. Currently, there are dozens of long-term predictive models employed around the world that attempt to do just that with varying degrees of success. One such model, named EEPAS (Every Earthquake a Precursor According to Scale), attempts to predict the magnitude, location and probability of a future major quake based on indicative measures of the minor earthquakes that precede it.

Effect of wolf predation and human activity on caribou and moose in the Alberta oil sands

Source: JournalistsResource.org

Because wolves were considered to be the primary threat to the dwindling woodland caribou population in the petroleum-rich Alberta oil sands region, the Canadian government implemented an aggressive wolf eradication policy in 2010. However, human encroachment has also been exerting pressure on the caribou population, as part of expanding natural resources extraction efforts in that region.