All articles tagged with #ecosystem recovery
After a 2013 volcanic eruption nearly wiped out all life on Nishinoshima, scientists used DNA analysis to discover how plants, specifically purslane, recolonized the island through a founder effect, likely arriving via ocean currents, wind, or birds, highlighting the resilience of ecosystems on active volcanic islands.
A small dam in upstate New York was removed, leading to rapid ecological recovery within three years, including improved water quality, increased habitat diversity, and the return of fish and macroinvertebrates, demonstrating nature's resilience and the benefits of removing obsolete barriers to restore river health.
A 26-year study at South Australia's Arid Recovery Reserve shows significant ecological recovery after excluding invasive predators, with native mammal populations, including the spinifex hopping mouse, increasing dramatically and expanding into new habitats, highlighting the potential for ecosystem restoration but also emphasizing ongoing threats like climate change and lack of political action.
After the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, scientists introduced pocket gophers to the devastated landscape to study their impact on ecosystem recovery. Despite their brief 24-hour stay, the gophers' digging and the introduction of spores and fungi significantly boosted plant growth, transforming barren areas into thriving ecosystems over decades. This experiment highlights the potential of using natural processes to aid habitat recovery after environmental disasters.
After the 1980 eruption of Mount St Helens, scientists introduced gophers to the area for a day to aid in ecosystem recovery. The gophers' digging activities helped bring nutrient-rich soil to the surface, fostering plant growth. Over 40 years later, areas with historic gopher activity show more diverse bacterial and fungal communities compared to surrounding forests. The study highlights the crucial role of fungi in nutrient cycling and ecosystem recovery, as evidenced by the rapid regrowth of nearby forests. The findings are published in Frontiers in Microbiomes.
After the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, scientists introduced gophers to the devastated landscape to test their potential in aiding ecological recovery. The gophers' activity helped bring beneficial bacteria and fungi to the surface, significantly enhancing plant regrowth. This experiment, initially intended to observe short-term effects, has shown lasting benefits, with the gopher-affected areas still thriving 40 years later. The study highlights the critical role of microbes and fungi in ecosystem recovery, as seen in the contrasting regrowth between old-growth and clearcut forests affected by the eruption.
After the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, scientists introduced gophers to the devastated landscape to aid in ecological recovery. The gophers' burrowing activities helped unearth beneficial microbes and fungi, significantly enhancing soil health and biodiversity. A recent study highlights the long-term positive impact of this intervention, showing increased microbial activity and plant growth in areas where gophers were introduced. This underscores the crucial role of soil microbes and fungi in ecosystem restoration.