https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. A new review in Limnology and Oceanography led by scientists at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography warns that the rapid loss of oxygen from the ocean and other aquatic ecosystems is pushing Earth toward an "unsafe space," with consequences that could be irreversible on human timescales. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-underwater-oxygen-loss-threatens-earth.html Earth Sciences Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:20:01 EDT news703501039 As sea levels rise due to climate change, encroaching seawater will likely make freshwater environments saltier. In a new study, MIT researchers have shown how that increase in salinity might affect microbial ecosystems found in environments such as rivers and estuaries. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-influx-salt-affect-microbial-ecosystems.html Ecology Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:00:12 EDT news703496766 The Guadalquivir is the most important river in Andalusia. Stretching 657 kilometers (408 miles), it forms the backbone of Andalusia, from its source in the Sierra de Cazorla mountains to its mouth in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. These facts, along with its name of Arabic origin (Wadi al-Kabir) and its strategic role in the economy, agriculture and tourism, are widely known. Few studies, however, have comprehensively assessed the quality of the "Great River" along its entire course. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-bacteria-reveal-hidden-pollution-river.html Environment Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:20:01 EDT news703427459 On a summer afternoon in the Sierra Nevada, a mountain pond can look calm and still, reflecting granite peaks and alpine sky. But beneath the surface, these small, shallow waters are anything but stable. In fact, they are among the most thermally variable aquatic ecosystems on Earth, with water temperatures sometimes swinging more than 20°C (36°F) in a single day. According to new research published in the journal Ecosphere, the force driving much of that variability begins months earlier: winter snowfall. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-snowpack-sierra-nevada-mountain-ponds.html Environment Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:00:32 EDT news703338781 New research involving Queen Mary University of London reveals that amphibians can change what they eat to cope with rising temperatures, but that this natural survival strategy has limits. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-climate-amphibians-diet.html Plants & Animals Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:50:01 EDT news703255297 Untreated synthetic dye effluents severely threaten aquatic ecosystems by blocking sunlight, depleting dissolved oxygen and releasing compounds with potential ecological toxicity. Among the various treatment strategies, biological treatment is considered a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical methods. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-biotoxicity-due-anaerobic-decolorization-diazo.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:20:01 EDT news703141739 Continental aquatic ecosystems, such as lakes and reservoirs, occupy a small proportion of Earth's surface but play a significant role in the global carbon cycle. It is estimated that more than 40% of global methane emissions originate from these ecosystems. However, the true scale of these emissions remains uncertain, as most of the available data comes from one-off measurements taken at specific times and locations. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-falling-trigger-surge-methane-emissions.html Earth Sciences Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:40:12 EDT news702806844 A comprehensive study of more than 1,100 springs in the American West warns that critical biodiversity hot spots are facing a mounting extinction crisis. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-biodiversity-hotspots-american-west-extinction.html Ecology Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:20:01 EDT news702722041 A new study published in the Journal of Helminthology by researchers from the Estonian University of Life Sciences and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, together with collaborators from Greenland and the Faroe Islands, has revealed surprisingly limited dispersal of Diplostomum parasites across North Atlantic islands. The findings challenge the common assumption that migratory birds readily transport parasites over large geographic distances. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-migratory-birds-parasites-islands-dna.html Plants & Animals Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:40:07 EDT news702646962 A collaborative team of biologists led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, MIT Sea Grant at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Center for Coastal Studies has discovered that the invasive Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, has established itself along the northwestern Atlantic coastline—the last place in the Northern Hemisphere to have remained Manila-clam free. The team's findings, published in Biological Invasions, document an exceedingly rare moment when an invasive species first takes hold in a new environment and begins to spread. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-theyre-biologists-colonies-invasive-clam.html Ecology Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:20:05 EDT news702647576 Citizen science is booming and could play a much greater role in tackling climate change, reef health, biodiversity and public health challenges by involving members of the public throughout the research process, according to a new study. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-citizen-science.html Plants & Animals Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:20:03 EDT news702623942 The evolutionary paths that created snatching forelimbs in insects multiple times moved in a similar direction but didn't end at a single solution. Kobe University research is pioneering a study of how organs with similar functions evolve, providing a new analytical approach to identify evolutionary dynamics quantitatively. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-raptorial-insect-forelegs-evolved-converged.html Evolution Tue, 07 Jul 2026 05:00:04 EDT news702538089 Over generations, a small North American frog has learned how to survive in a world that's getting increasingly saltier. But new research from the University of Missouri suggests that adaptation comes with an unexpected trade-off. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-survival-price-frog-links-salt.html Ecology Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:00:01 EDT news702562792 Ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in the U.S., an ozone nanobubble system has been used to keep the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool clear. Months before the celebrations, a massive cleanup of the pool had taken place, but despite this, an algae bloom had turned the water bright green. To deal with this, a US$1.7 million (£1.27 million) ozone "nanobubbler" injected microscopic bubbles into the pool. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-nanobubbles-lincoln-pool-dying-seas.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 06 Jul 2026 11:40:09 EDT news702550922 A hardy aquarium fish prized for its golden hue, the ornamental Flowerhorn cichlid (Amphilophus spp.) has become a problem for the residents of San Pablo City, Laguna: It is increasingly taking on an outsized role in both the natural ecosystem and local aquaculture operations in nearby Lake Sampaloc. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-flowerhorn-fish-threaten-biodiversity-pose.html Plants & Animals Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:20:02 EDT news702281613 Coral reef decline driven by climate change could cost Hawaiʻi residents between $1.8 billion and $3 billion in lost reef-related activities by 2100, according to a new study published in Ecological Economics. The research projects that these burdens will not fall equally, with lower-income and disadvantaged communities in the state facing disproportionate impacts. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-coral-loss-erase-billion-hawaii.html Environment Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:00:04 EDT news702223562 Hidden beneath the water's surface is a botanical world that is among nature's most innovative and ecologically important. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-seaweeds-facts-aquatic-flora.html Plants & Animals Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:20:03 EDT news702214262 Climate change is not only warming our lakes and rivers, it is also changing what invasive species eat. A new experimental study published in Limnology and Oceanography Letters shows that temperature-driven diet shifts in an invasive crustacean could alter its ecological role in freshwater food webs. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-shift-freshwater-crustaceans-greener-diet.html Plants & Animals Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:20:10 EDT news702047881 Algal blooms in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., have long been a visible public nuisance. When the pool turned green again on June 15, less than two weeks after President Donald Trump's US$14 million renovation, it sparked outrage, a rush to use chemical treatments and even claims of sabotage by "radical left lunatics." https://phys.org/news/2026-06-science-algae-bloom-lincoln-memorial.html Environment Mon, 29 Jun 2026 18:00:01 EDT news701955344 As climate change warms rivers across British Columbia, young salmon are facing increasing heat stress at vulnerable stages of their lives. Two studies from UBC's Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Lab have found that younger fish cope with heat differently than older fish and that current methods may be underestimating the risks salmon face in warming waterways. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-qa-streams-young-salmon-limits.html Plants & Animals Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:50:01 EDT news701969941 Long-term conservation policies may help restore freshwater ecosystems and prevent extreme species loss, new research suggests. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-ecosystems-environmental-biodiversity-loss.html Ecology Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:00:03 EDT news701685362 When the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turned green with algae just days after a US$15 million renovation, the U.S. government scrambled for chemicals and expensive technical solutions to fix the iconic landmark. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-pool-pond-green-algae-dont.html Environment Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:20:06 EDT news701674321 A global analysis of fish biodiversity using environmental DNA (eDNA) reveals how human activity and climate influence biodiversity patterns in river ecosystems. An international research team led by the University of Zurich, Eawag and Yunnan University has found that in warmer climates, biodiversity accumulation is more pronounced as river catchment size increases, while human activities weaken this relationship. The work is published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-environmental-dna-reveals-impact-climate.html Ecology Wed, 24 Jun 2026 18:00:01 EDT news701536443 A scientific project launched by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in direct collaboration with fishermen in the region has evaluated the state of fishery resources and ecological quality in the Garraf and Plana de Foix Marine Area. The species were found to be in good biological and health condition, with low levels of contaminants and an overall healthy state. The research has led to the creation of a Strategic Plan for Sustainable Fisheries. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-good-state-garraf-fishery-resources.html Ecology Tue, 23 Jun 2026 10:40:06 EDT news701426850 Aquatic fungi are microorganisms that play a key role in the ecological balance of rivers. They help decompose organic matter, degrade contaminants and are part of the nutrient and energy cycle in freshwater ecosystems. Despite their ecological importance, a study published in the journal Freshwater Biology warns that the biodiversity and biological functions of these microorganisms in these natural environments are at risk due to rising temperatures, prolonged dry periods and the loss of riparian vegetation caused by climate change. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-climate-crisis-threatens-river-microbial.html Ecology Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:00:02 EDT news701352965 Viruses play a major role in the functioning of ecosystems. They profoundly influence the dynamics of microbial communities, the flow of matter and global biogeochemical cycles. Yet despite their abundance and ecological importance, many of them have long remained invisible to science. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-giant-viruses-orchestrate-life-polar.html Ecology Sun, 21 Jun 2026 20:30:04 EDT news700740497 Larger areas contain more species. This is one of the most ironclad laws of ecology, which explains why large natural areas usually receive higher priority in conservation strategies. In fragmented landscapes, this logic has also led small forest fragments to be seen as environments of lower value for biodiversity. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-small-forest-fragments-birds-landscape.html Ecology Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:00:01 EDT news701076001 Imagine returning to a favorite hiking trail 15 years after your first visit and discovering that many of the plants and animals that once lived there are gone. While these species may still exist elsewhere, these disappearances—known as local extinctions—are among the clearest signs that climate change is already transforming ecosystems and threatening species across the globe. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-climate-local-extinction-temperate-regions.html Plants & Animals Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:00:06 EDT news701013034 A publication led by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, shows that microscopic partnerships between ciliates and bacteria play a role in the nitrogen cycle of lakes. The study, published in The ISME Journal, investigates what determines the ecological niche of the remarkable symbiosis, and how strongly the host depends on its microbial partners. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-swiss-lake-symbiosis-reveals-unexpected.html Ecology Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:40:08 EDT news700910283 Plants, animals and microorganisms constantly communicate through chemical signals. A research team has now shown that these signals merge in the environment to form complex "chemical landscapes" that have effects far beyond those of their individual components. Published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, the findings open new perspectives on understanding biodiversity, ecosystems and the impacts of global environmental change. The study was coordinated by Bielefeld University. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-invisible-chemical-landscapes-life.html Ecology Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:00:02 EDT news700818508