ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

---

• Increasing threat of intense tropical cyclones hitting East Asia
• Crittercam captures crocodilian foraging behaviors (videos)
• Acidification, predators pose double threat to oysters
• Arctic: Mercury deposition and ozone depletion, linked to sea-ice dynamics
• Oldest trees are growing faster, storing more carbon as they age
• First comprehensive test to detect genetic modification in food
• Coral reefs in Palau surprisingly resistant to naturally acidified waters
• Ants protect acacia plants against pathogens
• New evidence of 'Nordic grog' discovered in Scandinavia
• Genetic sequence of 1,000 marine viruses published
• Large landmasses existed 2.7 billion years ago
• Gold nanoparticles help to develop a new method for tracking viruses
• Key species of algae shows effects of climate change over time
• Wild sparrow study traces social behaviors in the field to specific gene
• Rethinking massive iceberg shifts in North Atlantic
• Plants compete for friendly ants

Increasing threat of intense tropical cyclones hitting East Asia Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:32 PM PST The intensity of tropical cyclones hitting East Asia has significantly increased over the past 30 years, according to a new study.

Crittercam captures crocodilian foraging behaviors (videos) Posted: 15 Jan 2014 02:28 PM PST Animal-borne camera reveals that alligators may attempt to capture prey most often at night, even though the calculated probability of catching prey is highest in the morning.

Acidification, predators pose double threat to oysters Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:27 AM PST The once-booming, now struggling Olympia oyster native to the West Coast could face a double threat from ocean acidification and invasive predators, according to new research.

Arctic: Mercury deposition and ozone depletion, linked to sea-ice dynamics Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:27 AM PST Scientists have established, for the first time, a link between Arctic sea ice dynamics and the region's changing atmospheric chemistry potentially leading to increased amounts of mercury deposited to the Earth's northernmost and most fragile ecosystems.

Oldest trees are growing faster, storing more carbon as they age Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:27 AM PST In a finding that overturns the conventional view that large old trees are unproductive, scientists have determined that for most species, the biggest trees increase their growth rates and sequester more carbon as they age. An international research group reports that 97 percent of 403 tropical and temperate species grow more quickly the older they get.

First comprehensive test to detect genetic modification in food Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST As the abundance of genetically modified (GM) foods continues to grow, so does the demand for monitoring and labeling them. The genes of GM plants used for food are tweaked to make them more healthful or pest-resistant, but some consumers are wary of such changes. To help inform shoppers and enforce regulations, scientists are reporting the first comprehensive method to detect genetic modifications in one convenient, accurate test.

Coral reefs in Palau surprisingly resistant to naturally acidified waters Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST Ocean researchers working on the coral reefs of Palau in 2011 and 2012 made two unexpected discoveries that could provide insight into corals' resistance and resilience to ocean acidification, and aid in the creation of a plan to protect them.

Ants protect acacia plants against pathogens Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:32 AM PST The presence of mutualistic ants greatly reduces bacterial abundance on surfaces of acacia leaves and has a visibly positive effect on plant health. Study results indicate that symbiotic bacteria colonizing the ants inhibit pathogen growth on the leaves.

New evidence of 'Nordic grog' discovered in Scandinavia Posted: 15 Jan 2014 08:30 AM PST A new discovery highlights innovative and complex fermented beverages of northern Europe in the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Genetic sequence of 1,000 marine viruses published Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:54 AM PST A research team has published an article with the genetic sequence of over 1,000 marine viruses. This is the largest contribution in one article to the knowledge of marine viruses, in this case, from the Mediterranean.

Large landmasses existed 2.7 billion years ago Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:54 AM PST Some 71 percent of Earth's surface is covered by oceans and 29 percent by land. The question of when large landmasses emerged from the oceans has always been hotly debated. New investigations by geoscientists have shown that large land masses did indeed exist on Earth 2.7 billion years ago.

Gold nanoparticles help to develop a new method for tracking viruses Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:54 AM PST Researchers have developed a novel method to study enterovirus structures and their functions. The method will help to obtain new information on trafficking of viruses in cells and tissues as well as on the mechanisms of virus opening inside cells. This new information is important for example for developing new antiviral drugs and vaccines.

Key species of algae shows effects of climate change over time Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:51 AM PST A study of marine life in the temperate coastal waters of the northeast Pacific Ocean shows a reversal of competitive dominance among species of algae, suggesting that increased ocean acidification caused by global climate change is altering biodiversity.

Wild sparrow study traces social behaviors in the field to specific gene Posted: 14 Jan 2014 05:31 PM PST A unique study of the white-throated sparrow has identified a biological pathway connecting variation in the birds' aggression and parenting behaviors in the wild to variation in their genome.

Rethinking massive iceberg shifts in North Atlantic Posted: 14 Jan 2014 05:26 PM PST Some Heinrich events – massive iceberg surges into the North Atlantic that were thought to have weakened the global ocean conveyor belt circulation and sent Earth's climate into a deep freeze – may have been caused by changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, say researchers.

Plants compete for friendly ants Posted: 14 Jan 2014 08:41 AM PST Many woodland plants rely on ants to disperse their seeds; such seed dispersal increases the plant population's chance of survival. New research has recently demonstrated that ant-dispersed plants (myrmecochores) compete for ant dispersers by staggering seed release.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Top Environment News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610