New forest study hints at negative climate feedback

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

But fails to address all-important issues like droughts, forest fires, and invasive pests. Besides, the CO2 balance between increased soil oxidation and a nitrogen-induced tree growth spurt remains unclear.

Even cell phones may contribute to CCD

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a textbook example of modern environmental challenges – not because of the potential gravity of pollination declines or an intrinsic fascination we may have for our stingy honey-producing friends – but because it shows ecological … Continue reading →

Rapid krill decline: 80% over 35 years

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Antarctica does not escape the Holocene Mass Extinction. Krill numbers have dropped sharply since the mid-70s and as a consequence penguins too are in decline, says new study in Monday’s edition of PNAS, that blames the ecological disturbances on climate … Continue reading →

‘Insecticide imidacloprid not main cause of bee CCD’

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Plants have 34% less breathing pores due to 150 years of rising CO2

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

According to new research by Utrecht University in the Netherlands that will be published in two separate papers in the upcoming edition of PNAS, plants react strongly to rising CO2 levels. This may in turn have strong climate implications, as … Continue reading →

A bit of green on Antarctica to aid against global warming

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Jorn van Dooren

Brilliant green pools teeming with life have been found among remote Antarctic sea ice. The pools owe their colour to the high amounts of algae in the water. The pools were observed in the Amundsen Sea’s polynya, a region of seasonally … Continue reading →

Methane breakdown in Gulf suddenly 3,000 times slower

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Despite a bloom in methane-consuming bacteria – and despite us saying last month all BP methane had been eaten – in fact the spilled gas is still present in large quantities, underwater.

2010 Amazon drought record: 8 Gt extra CO2

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

The 2005 Amazon drought was unprecedented. It was thought to occur just once in a century. But last year was even worse, leading to massive biomass degradation and CO2 emissions. And yet another 2010 climate record.

Methane burps important, but sometimes eaten

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Fast forward through last week’s methane news: Wetland methane is probably bigger GHG source than previously thought That one big BP methane burp never made it to the surface

Bumblebee CCD in US?

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Recently we witnessed positive news with respect to the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) of honeybees. In December British scientists announced in Parasites & Vectors they had discovered a method to combat a parasitic mite that kills honeybee colonies, varroa destructor, … Continue reading →

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