Category: HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS)

Create a computational simulation to illustrate the relationships among management of natural resources, the sustainability of human populations, and biodiversity.

HSus 1: Forecasting Disasters (MS), HSus 1: Human Activity (HS), HSus 2: Managing Resources (HS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), S&F 1: DNA to Proteins (HS), S&F 4: Stimuli Response (MS), S&P 1: Atoms & Molecules (MS), S&P 4: Molecule Traits (HS), Structure & Properties of Matter, Structure and Function

Rotifers Paralyzing Schistosomes

GwynneL.

A rotifer-derived paralytic compound prevents transmission of schistosomiasis to a mammalian host SUMMARY: Researchers discovered that a new molecule produced by the rotifer, Rotaria rotatoria, paralyzes cercariae. Cercariae are the free-living/infectious stage of the flatworm Schistosoma, the cause of schistosomiasis. R. rotatoria live on the shell of freshwater snails and secrete a compound scientists have… Continue reading Rotifers Paralyzing Schistosomes

Earth Science, HSus 2: Monitoring Human Impact (MS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), HSus 4: Evaluating Solutions (HS), HSus 5: Showing Human Impact (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 2: Affecting Biodiversity (HS), Life Science

Using ciliates as indicators

GwynneL.

Protozoa ciliates community structure in urban streams and their environmental use as indicators SUMMARY: Three urban stream samples were collected during both dry and rainy seasons in Brazil. Ciliates were classified and identified in each stream. The relationships between the ciliates, abiotic factors, and biotic factors are discussed in the last section of the paper.… Continue reading Using ciliates as indicators

HSus 1: Human Activity (HS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), HSus 4: Evaluating Solutions (HS), HSus 5: Showing Human Impact (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 2: Affecting Biodiversity (HS), IR 2: Preserving Biodiversity (MS), IR 6: Human Impact Solutions (HS), Life Science

Conservation of biodiversity to improve human well-being

GwynneL.

Conservation of biodiversity as a strategy for improving human health and well-being SUMMARY: This article looks at whether or not increasing biodiversity in an ecosystem can decrease the prevalence of diseases. While the idea seems simple (more hosts for the disease, less incidences of the disease spreading to people), the issue is much more complicated.… Continue reading Conservation of biodiversity to improve human well-being

Earth Science, HSus 1: Human Activity (HS), HSus 2: Monitoring Human Impact (MS), HSus 3: Arguing Sustainability (MS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), HSus 4: Evaluating Solutions (HS), HSus 5: Showing Human Impact (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 2: Affecting Biodiversity (HS), IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS), IR 4: Reducing Human Impact (HS), IR 6: Human Impact Solutions (HS), Life Science, M&E 1: Photosynthesis (HS)

Protozoa in Wastewater Treatment Processes

GwynneL.

Protozoa in wastewater treatment processes: A minireview SUMMARY: This is a short review of the role protozoa play in wastewater treatment plants. Most of the protozoa are ciliates and they graze on bacteria, excrete nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon waste, and are used as indicators of water quality. Toxins such as heavy metals, salts, and other… Continue reading Protozoa in Wastewater Treatment Processes

Earth Science, Earth's System, ES 1: Geochemical Cycles (HS), ES 2: Hydrological Cycle (MS), ES 3: Hydrological Cycle (HS), HSus 1: Human Activity (HS), HSus 2: Monitoring Human Impact (MS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), HSus 5: Showing Human Impact (HS), Human Sustainability

Investigating Microplastics on Land

GwynneL.

Microplastics as an emerging threat to terrestrial ecosystems (NOT OPEN ACCESS) SUMMARY: Though there has been a lot of research on microplastics in aquatic environments, there aren’t studies looking into the effects of microplastics on land. Researchers in this article suspect that there may be more microplastics on land than in the oceans; organisms that… Continue reading Investigating Microplastics on Land

Earth Science, Earth's System, ES 5: Life on Earth (HS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), Natural Selection & Evolution, NSE 4: Adaption (HS), NSE 5: Natural Selection (MS), NSE 5: Population Flux (HS)

Modeling Ecosystem Invasions with Bacteria

GwynneL.

Invasion triple trouble: Environmental fluctuations, fluctuation-adapted invaders and fluctuation-mal-adapted communities all govern invasion success SUMMARY: To model how ecosystems react to invaders and temperature changes (due to global warming), researchers used different bacteria clones to simulate invasions. Results showed that communities in fluctuating temperatures were more susceptible to invasion compared to communities with constant temperatures.… Continue reading Modeling Ecosystem Invasions with Bacteria