Category: Ecology

Biology, Ecology, Environment, Molecular Biology

Tiny Plastics, Big Impact: How Microplastics Affect Earthworms and Soil Health

Author: Diego Javier, Class of 2026 A concern that is emerging worldwide is plastic contamination in agricultural soils. Farmers frequently use plastic mulching films in order to improve crop yields and control weeds. However, these films can break down into tiny fragments, called microplastics, which are then ingested by soil organisms like earthworms and can affect soil health. In order to better understand these effects, … Continue reading Tiny Plastics, Big Impact: How Microplastics Affect Earthworms and Soil Health

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Disease, Ecology, Environment, Natural World

Climate Change and Zoonotic Diseases

Author:  Antonia Truta, Class of 2028 The World Health Organization’s definition of zoonosis is any disease or infection naturally transmissible from animals to humans, or vice versa. Animals are important to understanding disease transmission, with over 60% of emerging infectious diseases having zoonotic origins. Yet, to fully understand the context of zoonotic disease outbreaks, we must look at our interactions with nature in a larger … Continue reading Climate Change and Zoonotic Diseases

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Ecology, Environment, Natural World

The Effect of Wildfires on Air Pollution and Mortality in the United States

Author: Amal Bilal, Class of 2028 Wildfires are becoming increasingly prominent and intense in the United States as a result of evolving climate change and human settlements in fire-prone areas. Although the major health impacts of air pollution caused by wildfires are known, there is less research on the direct impact of this pollution on mortality. Michigan State University researchers Zeying Huang and Mark Skidmore … Continue reading The Effect of Wildfires on Air Pollution and Mortality in the United States

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Ecology, Environment, Natural World

Color or Chemistry? How Tiny Isopods Use Multiple Defenses to Outsmart Predators

Author: Diego Javier, Class of 2026 In nature, color is used by animals as a defense mechanism to ward off predators, signifying whether they are poisonous or dangerous to eat. This type of warning coloration is known as aposematism, a strategy seen across many species including monarch butterflies and isopods, tiny crustaceans that hide under damp soil and rocks. This idea was explored by Professor … Continue reading Color or Chemistry? How Tiny Isopods Use Multiple Defenses to Outsmart Predators

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Ecology, Health, Natural World, physiology

The Ethics of Animal Use in Research

Author: Antonia Truta, Class of 2028 Is the use of animals in research for human benefit morally justified? If so, how can experiments maintain ethical integrity while still advancing scientific goals? Professor Marcel Mertz at Hannover Medical School and a diverse range of colleagues, including scientists, philosophers, and legal scholars, explore these questions with a focus on animal models in research. The emerging field of … Continue reading The Ethics of Animal Use in Research

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Ecology, Environment, Natural World

Vasoconstriction and Heat Stress on Cattle

Author: Maegan Diep, Class of 2029 Figure 1. An image of a cow. Fescue toxicosis (FT) is a common condition brought about by endophyte bacterium-infected varieties of tall fescue plants. While beneficial to the plant, it is harmful to the cattle that consume the plant. In consequence, vasoconstriction, or the narrowing of blood vessels, is a common symptom associated with FT, harming their cardiovascular systems. … Continue reading Vasoconstriction and Heat Stress on Cattle

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Artificial Intelligence, Ecology, Environment, Evolution, Natural World

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Wildlife Conservation

Author: Amal Bilal, Class of 2028 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a tool that can be leveraged to identify effective solutions for the current biodiversity crisis. As ecosystems are increasingly harmed by humanity, researchers are looking for ways in which AI can be used to create multimodal models that analyze ecological data to improve biodiversity loss predictions, track patterns in wildlife trade, and develop … Continue reading Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Wildlife Conservation

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2024-25, Ecology, Natural World

Food or Foe: How Food Neophobia Bars Propensity for Insect Consumption

Kaylie Huang, Class of 2027 Creepy crawly insects are not commonly regarded as appetizing and are often avoided at first glance. However, insects are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. Proteins from animal sources are becoming increasingly limited, causing a shift towards insects as a possible alternative. Insects are rich in nutritional value, including proteins, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and even … Continue reading Food or Foe: How Food Neophobia Bars Propensity for Insect Consumption

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2024-25, Ecology, Environment

Human Agriculture and the Soiling of Earth’s Water

Jaenai Tercius, Class of 2028 A major form of pollution brought by industrial human activity is water pollution. Agriculture is a major contributor to water pollution due to runoff from nitrogen-based fertilizers, especially in coastal areas. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for aquatic organisms, but when present in excess, nitrogen can lead to the overgrowth of organic matter and a decrease in oxygen in water, … Continue reading Human Agriculture and the Soiling of Earth’s Water

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2024-25, Ecology, Environment, Natural World

Effects of Climate Change on Macaroni Penguins

Author: Amal Bilal, Class of 2028 Figure 1: Macaroni Penguins at Cooper Bay, South Georgia. The Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes Chrysolophus) is a sub-Antarctic penguin species that typically lives in colonies on sub-Antarctic islands in the South Atlantic and South Indian Oceans. As of 2013, 6.3 million breeding pairs were found, a 30% decline from the last regional census in 1993. This drastic decrease in population … Continue reading Effects of Climate Change on Macaroni Penguins

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2023-24, Ecology, Environment, Natural World

Modeling Marine Turtle Nesting Behavior

By: Kimberly Johnston, Class of 2026 Figure 1: A marine turtle Adult female marine turtles alternate between foraging and nesting phases, with periods of migration in between. Monitoring programs typically obtain data for only part of the nesting season due to a lack of financial support, remote beaches, or a large number of beaches to monitor. To accurately assess population trends, a model must be … Continue reading Modeling Marine Turtle Nesting Behavior

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2023-24, Ecology, Environment, Natural World, Year

Penguin Nesting Behavior: Effects of Tourism at Port Lockroy

By: Kimberly Johnston, Class of 2026 Figure 1:  Gentoo penguin with chicks at Port Lockroy, Antarctica. Antarctic tourism has raised concerns about the effects of human disturbance on gentoo penguins during their breeding season, which coincides with peak tourist activity. For example, the movement of zodiacs used to transport tourists ashore can disrupt the penguins’ normal routes and foraging areas. However, quantifying the effects of … Continue reading Penguin Nesting Behavior: Effects of Tourism at Port Lockroy

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