RIO Journal’s Post

Via @US_ARC - Impact of Holocene environmental change on the evolutionary ecology of an Arctic top predator - Science Magazine: The Arctic is among the most climatically sensitive environments on Earth, and the disappearance of multiyear sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is predicted within decades. As apex predators, polar bears are sentinel species for addressing the impact of environmental variability on Arctic marine ecosystems. By integrating genomics, isotopic analysis, morphometrics, and ecological modeling, we investigate how Holocene environmental changes affected polar bears around Greenland. We uncover reductions in effective population size coinciding with increases in annual mean sea surface temperature, reduction in sea ice cover, declines in suitable habitat, and shifts in suitable habitat northward. Furthermore, we show that west and east Greenlandic polar bears are morphologically, and ecologically distinct, putatively driven by regional biotic and genetic differences. Together, we provide insights into the vulnerability of polar bears to environmental change and how the Arctic marine ecosystem plays a vital role in shaping the evolutionary and ecological trajectories of its inhabitants. https://lnkd.in/ezuCmFjJ

The statement "...to see who is where without having to find them necessarily...". That there is geography and it hits differently. It is almost impossible now to make natural and/or human environmental findings, predictions, prescriptions and decisions (what I call the F2PD of GIS and Remote Sensing) without answering the question of "where". #gis #gismapping #giscommunity #remotesensing #geospatialtechnology #climate #climatecareers #gismapping #geospatial #geospatialtechnology #climatechangesolutions #environmentalscience #naturalresources #nasa #wildlifeconservation #graduateschool #edna

In the fast lane thanks to genome recycling 🚗 In just 16,000 years, more than 500 cichlid species, distributed throughout the entire food web, have evolved in Lake Victoria. This explosion of #biodiversity was made possible by repeated cycles of fusion and diversification in evolutionary lineages, as researchers from Eawag and the University of Bern have described in the “Science” and “Nature” journals. The results underscore that it is not just species that need protection, but entire “species swarms”. 👉 “These are important findings for the conservation of biodiversity,” says evolutionary and fish biologist Ole. Seehausen. Attempts to protect individual species fall short, especially in times when humans are increasingly triggering ecological disasters with over-fertilisation and construction, and with the introduction of invasive species and climate change. 👉 “We must also protect the development potential of entire ‘species swarms’ because they can help ecosystems recover more quickly, and with them their vital functions for humans. Prerequisites for this are contiguous habitats that allow animal migrations, a large variety of different ecological niches so that diverse genomes are maintained through diverse selection, and an understanding of evolution that does not view occasional hybridisation across species boundaries as a dead end.” Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/efJPTHWM #climatechange #conservation #invasivespecies #aquaticresearch #science #nature #evolution Joana Meier Nare Ngoepe Universität Bern

🔻 This is a great video created by Cleo Constantine Abram which describes eDNA i.e ENVIRONMENTAL DNA 🧬 Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a revolutionary tool reshaping our understanding of ecosystems. 1️⃣ What is eDNA? 🧬 Environmental DNA refers to genetic material shed by organisms into their environment. This could be skin cells, scales, saliva, or any biological material. Scientists can extract and analyze this genetic material to uncover a treasure trove of information about the organisms present in a particular ecosystem. 2️⃣ How is eDNA Collected? 🌊 Collecting eDNA is a non-invasive process. Water, soil, or air samples are collected from the environment. Using advanced molecular techniques, scientists then isolate and amplify the DNA present in these samples. This method allows us to detect a wide range of species, from tiny microorganisms to large mammals, without directly observing them. 3️⃣ Applications of eDNA 🌐 1. Biodiversity Monitoring: eDNA helps monitor and track biodiversity in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems more efficiently than traditional methods. 2. Invasive Species Detection: Rapid and early detection of invasive species by analyzing the DNA they leave behind can aid in timely conservation efforts. 3. Aquatic Ecosystem Health: Assessing the health of rivers, lakes, and oceans by studying the DNA of the organisms inhabiting these environments. 4. Forensic Ecology: Solving ecological mysteries by identifying species in an area or tracking the source of pollutants using eDNA. ___ a. A single litre of water can contain traces of DNA from various organisms, providing a wealth of information. b. eDNA has been used to discover new or elusive species that are challenging to observe directly. c. Research has shown that eDNA can remain detectable in water and soil for varying lengths of time, ranging from days to weeks. Video - Cleo Constantine Abram #edna #climatecareers #geospatial #climatetech #climatejobs #gismapping #geospatialtechnology #geospatialanalysis #gis #datascience #remotesensing

Innovating Marine Biology with #Cybertaxonomy! Our report in Frontiers outlines the transformative potential of cybertaxonomy in mapping marine #biodiversity. This method, collaboratively developed by international experts, will accelerate discoveries, broaden access to biodiversity knowledge, and address the crucial global biodiversity crisis. By digitising genomic data, especially of species nearing extinction, our goal is to contribute substantially to the conservation and rejuvenation of marine ecosystems. We're now inviting experts in taxonomy, marine biology, and related fields to join the Ocean Census Science #Network to help advance this revolutionary method. Discover more about Cybertaxonomy and Join our Network: https://lnkd.in/eEiZUkDU

Understanding how biodiversity has changed through time is a central goal of evolutionary biology. However, estimates of past biodiversity are challenged by the inherent incompleteness of the fossil record. A new approach based on stochastic simulations of biodiversity and a deep learning model has been developed to infer richness at global or regional scales through time while incorporating spatial, temporal and taxonomic sampling variation. This method outperforms alternative approaches across simulated datasets, especially at large spatial scales, providing robust palaeodiversity estimates under a wide range of preservation scenarios. The approach was applied on two empirical datasets of different taxonomic and temporal scope, and the estimates provide a revised quantitative assessment of two mass extinctions in the marine record and reveal rapid diversification of proboscideans following their expansion out of Africa and a >70% diversity drop in the Pleistocene. Read more about this groundbreaking approach in the scientific journal, Nature. #biodiversity #evolutionarybiology #deeplearning #palaeodiversity

We are thrilled to announce a new collaborative project between CoBiG2, from the Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Changes (CE3C) at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, and both Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE) and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB). Together, we will assess the impact of Small-Scale Farming landscapes on the genetic variability and adaptation capacity of three wild bee species in Portugal: Andrena flavipes (Panzer, 1799), Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758), Lasioglossum malachurum (Kirby, 1802). We will also work closely with landowners to educate about wild bees and pollinators. This innovative research not only advances our scientific understanding on wild bees genetic status, but also enhances the importance of genomics in biodiversity conservation. Special thanks to BGE-ERGA, REA, and all our collaborators for their invaluable support. We look forward to sharing more updates on our progress. #ce3c #ce3cresearch #ULisboa #FCUL #science #research #pollinators #conservation

Last year, our team led by LAMAVE Researcher Titus worked on developing a cost-effective deep-sea camera system to study the deep-sea diversity of the Manta Bowl, a biologically important sea mount in the Ticao-Burias Pass in the Philippines. This year, his team will develop compact deep-water sensors and environmental DNA (eDNA) samplers that can help shed light on the biodiversity in deep-sea ecosystems. Because they are compact and can be deployed by hand from any small vessel, this technology can make deep-sea biodiversity research more accessible by allowing more researchers and citizen scientists to collect samples and contribute to local and global deep-sea projects. The project is currently in the development phase and we are gathering support from everyone to help make this project possible. Learn more about the project by visiting: https://lnkd.in/g5uE4Kn5 #marinescience #marinebiology #research #technology #marineconservation #deepsea

🌲 [RESEARCH] Forests: how thinning influences soil biological activity ! 🌱 Like all living things, forests are threatened by global warming 🌡️🌏 and their exploitation by humans for commercial purposes. A recent study by scientists from the Laboratory of Ecology, Systematics and Evolution 🔬 (ESE - Université Paris-Saclay | CNRS - Centre national de la recherche scientifique | AgroParisTech) in collaboration with the Forest Ecosystems Laboratory (EFNO) of INRAE, focuses on the consequences of thinning, a widespread silvicultural practice. Through soil analysis of different forest plots 🧫, the teams measured the biological activity present for a better understanding of its functioning. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/d9wQtsDS #research #biology #ecology

"Many of today's artificial intelligence systems loosely mimic the human brain. In a paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers suggest that another branch of biology—ecology—could inspire a whole new generation of AI to be more powerful, resilient, and socially responsible. The paper argues for a synergy between AI and ecology that could both strengthen AI and help to solve complex global challenges, such as disease outbreaks, loss of biodiversity, and climate change impacts." #ai #ecology