ActionBioscience tag:www.actionbioscience.org,2010://1 2010-08-04T22:26:44Z Movable Type 3.36 Sea Turtles: Ancient Creatures with Modern Problems tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2010://1.54099 2010-08-04T02:51:00Z 2010-08-04T22:26:44Z The long history of people exploiting sea turtles laid the foundation for the decline in their numbers. Today, the primary threats to their survival include:

  • indirect fisheries impact, such as entanglement in fishing gear
  • direct harvesting by countries that still allow this practice
  • coastal development, for example, beach erosion and artificial lights
  • pollution and pathogens, including plastics and chemicals, and
  • global warming, which affects sea turtle habitat and nesting areas
]]> Kate L. Mansfield The long history of people exploiting sea turtles laid the foundation for the decline in their numbers. Today, the primary threats to their survival include:

  • indirect fisheries impact, such as entanglement in fishing gear
  • direct harvesting by countries that still allow this practice
  • coastal development, for example, beach erosion and artificial lights
  • pollution and pathogens, including plastics and chemicals, and
  • global warming, which affects sea turtle habitat and nesting areas
]]> Is Large-Scale Production of Biofuel Possible? tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2010://1.54098 2010-07-12T17:24:39Z 2010-08-25T02:14:10Z By genetically engineering certain crops, there is potential to produce biofuels commercially. Additionally:

  • Producing biofuels can decrease the world’s dependence on petroleum fuel.
  • Using biofuels can alleviate environmental contamination from fossil fuel production and use.
  • Farming bioenergy crops could improve rural economies.
  • Establishing sustainability for the biofuel sector can avoid costly production processes.
]]> Mariam Sticklen By genetically engineering certain crops, there is potential to produce biofuels commercially. Additionally:

  • Producing biofuels can decrease the world’s dependence on petroleum fuel.
  • Using biofuels can alleviate environmental contamination from fossil fuel production and use.
  • Farming bioenergy crops could improve rural economies.
  • Establishing sustainability for the biofuel sector can avoid costly production processes.
]]> Urban Coyotes tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2010://1.54097 2010-06-17T19:19:16Z 2010-06-23T14:14:39Z Although interactions between coyotes and humans are generally rare, they can become dangerous and tragic. Coyotes are increasingly seen in urban areas because:

  • Coyotes will adapt to many different types of environments.
  • They produce a high number of pups, which gives them an advantage for survival and success.
  • Their diet is varied enough that they can find food beyond their usual habitat.
  • Humans have altered the landscape in a way that invites coyotes to move into areas where people live.
]]> John A. Shivik Although interactions between coyotes and humans are generally rare, they can become dangerous and tragic. Coyotes are increasingly seen in urban areas because:

  • Coyotes will adapt to many different types of environments.
  • They produce a high number of pups, which gives them an advantage for survival and success.
  • Their diet is varied enough that they can find food beyond their usual habitat.
  • Humans have altered the landscape in a way that invites coyotes to move into areas where people live.
]]> Extreme Environments: Is There Life in Sea Ice? tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2010://1.54096 2010-06-07T00:39:19Z 2010-06-08T03:39:27Z Sea ice in the Arctic region provides a habitat for organisms even in the cold of winter. A study of the sea ice ecosystems holds promise for understanding:

  • the lifestyle of extremophiles in oceans
  • development of survival mechanisms in extreme conditions
  • cryoprotection against freezing and osmoprotection against salt shock
  • the possibility for life to exist and evolve beyond Earth
]]> Jody Deming Sea ice in the Arctic region provides a habitat for organisms even in the cold of winter. A study of the sea ice ecosystems holds promise for understanding:

  • the lifestyle of extremophiles in oceans
  • development of survival mechanisms in extreme conditions
  • cryoprotection against freezing and osmoprotection against salt shock
  • the possibility for life to exist and evolve beyond Earth
]]> Light Pollution and Ecosystems tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2010://1.54094 2010-05-28T17:43:42Z 2010-09-02T12:00:36Z Artificial light at night acts as a pollutant, with significant and adverse impacts to ecosystems. It can:

  • cause disorientation or act as an unnatural stimulus to wildlife
  • disrupt reproduction for many species
  • increase or decrease competition between species
  • benefit some predators to the detriment of their prey species
]]> Travis Longcore and Catherine Rich Artificial light at night acts as a pollutant, with significant and adverse impacts to ecosystems. It can:

  • cause disorientation or act as an unnatural stimulus to wildlife
  • disrupt reproduction for many species
  • increase or decrease competition between species
  • benefit some predators to the detriment of their prey species
]]> The Challenge of Living at High Altitudes tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2010://1.54092 2010-05-11T01:36:59Z 2010-07-13T04:41:06Z Physical anthropologists are studying people who have lived at very high altitudes for thousands of years to determine if:

  • “highlanders” serve as models for new insights into human evolution
  • natural selection continues to play a role in their survival and fertility
  • highlanders’ ability to adapt holds answers for people suffering from hypoxia and other altitude ailments
]]> Cynthia Beall Physical anthropologists are studying people who have lived at very high altitudes for thousands of years to determine if:

  • “highlanders” serve as models for new insights into human evolution
  • natural selection continues to play a role in their survival and fertility
  • highlanders’ ability to adapt holds answers for people suffering from hypoxia and other altitude ailments
]]> What Do We Do with Too Many White-tailed Deer? tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2010://1.54090 2010-05-07T14:14:09Z 2010-05-12T15:55:56Z Most people love the Bambi-like quality of white-tail deer, but deer overabundance is creating problems for people and wildlife management:

  • Deer density increases encounters with humans, including car collisions.
  • Deer cause millions of dollars worth of damage each year to agricultural crops, nurseries, and landscaping.
  • They are responsible for damage or the disappearance of wild plant species in our natural areas
  • Deer play a role in the transmission of tick-borne infections to humans, including Lyme disease.
]]> Thomas P. Rooney Most people love the Bambi-like quality of white-tail deer, but deer overabundance is creating problems for people and wildlife management:

  • Deer density increases encounters with humans, including car collisions.
  • Deer cause millions of dollars worth of damage each year to agricultural crops, nurseries, and landscaping.
  • They are responsible for damage or the disappearance of wild plant species in our natural areas
  • Deer play a role in the transmission of tick-borne infections to humans, including Lyme disease.
]]> Seawater Desalination: Panacea or Hype? tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2010://1.54088 2010-04-07T17:18:56Z 2010-04-26T17:53:08Z Although there are concerns about the commercialization of seawater desalination, such as regulation of greenhouse emissions, the technology is in use throughout the world for a wide range of purposes, including

  • providing potable fresh water for domestic and municipal purposes
  • treating water for industrial processes
  • obtaining emergency water for refugees or military operations
]]> Heather Cooley Although there are concerns about the commercialization of seawater desalination, such as regulation of greenhouse emissions, the technology is in use throughout the world for a wide range of purposes, including

  • providing potable fresh water for domestic and municipal purposes
  • treating water for industrial processes
  • obtaining emergency water for refugees or military operations
]]> Beetle Devastates Yellowstone Whitebark Pine Forests tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2010://1.54086 2010-03-25T02:53:49Z 2010-04-28T15:01:21Z The warming climate has made conditions suitable for a massive outbreak of mountain pine beetles, which are now infesting the whitebark pine forests in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). The infestation has other ecological consequences such as:

  • devastation of forests in the region
  • loss of a critical food supply for grizzlies and other wildlife
  • negative impacts on water and watersheds
  • deterioration of biodiversity
  • decline in the aesthetic value of an iconic ecosystem
]]> Jesse A. Logan and William W. MacFarlane The warming climate has made conditions suitable for a massive outbreak of mountain pine beetles, which are now infesting the whitebark pine forests in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). The infestation has other ecological consequences such as:

  • devastation of forests in the region
  • loss of a critical food supply for grizzlies and other wildlife
  • negative impacts on water and watersheds
  • deterioration of biodiversity
  • decline in the aesthetic value of an iconic ecosystem
]]> Biofuel, Economics, and Society tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2010://1.54085 2010-03-11T16:09:50Z 2010-04-28T14:54:22Z Biofuels may be an important economic contributor in the coming decades. Proper biofuel management can:

  • provide economical, more environmentally friendly fuel worldwide;
  • decrease world poverty;
  • decrease food insecurity; and
  • increase the environmental performance of the agricultural sector.
]]> Daniel De La Torre Ugarte Biofuels may be an important economic contributor in the coming decades. Proper biofuel management can:

  • provide economical, more environmentally friendly fuel worldwide;
  • decrease world poverty;
  • decrease food insecurity; and
  • increase the environmental performance of the agricultural sector.
]]> Darwin’s Deliberations about Origin of Species tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2009://1.54077 2009-12-22T20:38:42Z 2010-03-10T01:52:29Z Charles Darwin published his controversial ideas on natural selection in “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection”. His deliberations whether to publish the book reflected:

  • Darwin’s anguish about reconciling religious beliefs and scepticism
  • his anxiety about the book’s acceptance by society
  • his uncertainty whether his colleagues would embrace his work
]]> John St J. S. Buckeridge Charles Darwin published his controversial ideas on natural selection in “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection”. His deliberations whether to publish the book reflected:

  • Darwin’s anguish about reconciling religious beliefs and scepticism
  • his anxiety about the book’s acceptance by society
  • his uncertainty whether his colleagues would embrace his work
]]> The Future of Marine Fish Resources tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2009://1.54075 2009-12-04T17:01:24Z 2010-03-30T20:43:47Z If we do not act soon, many marine fish species will disappear. To address this potential catastrophe, we need to reduce:

  • overfishing, where fishermen take more fish than they need
  • destructive fishing practices, such as bottom trawling where fishermen catch other species in their nets by mistake
  • ecosystem pollution from boats or from industrial and agricultural runoff
]]> J. Emmett Duffy If we do not act soon, many marine fish species will disappear. To address this potential catastrophe, we need to reduce:

  • overfishing, where fishermen take more fish than they need
  • destructive fishing practices, such as bottom trawling where fishermen catch other species in their nets by mistake
  • ecosystem pollution from boats or from industrial and agricultural runoff
]]> Investigating Food-Borne Illness tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2009://1.54074 2009-11-06T16:51:53Z 2010-07-28T03:16:46Z We see more cases of illness from contaminated food occurring in a number of U.S. states at the same time. Robert Tauxe examines these questions about multistate outbreaks:

  • Why are food-borne illnesses on the rise?
  • How do the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) track these pathogens?
  • Why do outbreaks happen across state lines more often?
  • What can we do to curb the development of these diseases?
]]> Robert Tauxe We see more cases of illness from contaminated food occurring in a number of U.S. states at the same time. Robert Tauxe examines these questions about multistate outbreaks:

  • Why are food-borne illnesses on the rise?
  • How do the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) track these pathogens?
  • Why do outbreaks happen across state lines more often?
  • What can we do to curb the development of these diseases?
]]> Coral Reefs Under Stress tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2009://1.54070 2009-10-21T01:12:30Z 2010-04-26T23:41:08Z Coral reefs are more critical to an ocean’s health than you might think, and the effects of climate change and ocean acidification are effectively damaging and destroying most reefs in the world. Coral reefs provide many important ecosystem services, including:

  • providing food, shelter, and meeting places for thousands of animals
  • anchoring sand for recreational beaches
  • supplying building materials for remote peoples
]]> Peter J. Mumby and Rosanna Griffith-Mumby Coral reefs are more critical to an ocean’s health than you might think, and the effects of climate change and ocean acidification are effectively damaging and destroying most reefs in the world. Coral reefs provide many important ecosystem services, including:

  • providing food, shelter, and meeting places for thousands of animals
  • anchoring sand for recreational beaches
  • supplying building materials for remote peoples
]]> Birds: What Can They Tell Us About Our Planet? tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2009://1.54068 2009-09-28T02:37:36Z 2009-11-01T19:24:10Z Birds help us measure our natural and cultural health as a nation—healthy birds equal a healthy planet.

  • Birds provide value to every ecosystem in the world.
  • Many bird species migrate, exploiting different habitats during a lifecycle.
  • They offer enjoyment to amateur and professional ornithologists.
]]> Paul R. Schmidt Birds help us measure our natural and cultural health as a nation—healthy birds equal a healthy planet.

  • Birds provide value to every ecosystem in the world.
  • Many bird species migrate, exploiting different habitats during a lifecycle.
  • They offer enjoyment to amateur and professional ornithologists.
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