Ökologie

An international team of scientists has documented nearly 800 species, many previously unknown, living nearly 4,000 meters below the Pacific Ocean's surface. Their five-year study in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone also tested the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining, finding significant local reductions in animal numbers and diversity. The findings, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, provide crucial data for regulating future extraction of critical metals.

2. Februar 2026 Von KI berichtet

A new study reveals that SAR11, the most abundant bacteria in the world's oceans, may be hindered by their own adaptations to nutrient-poor environments. Under stress, these microbes experience cellular failures that limit their growth, potentially affecting ocean ecosystems amid climate change. Researchers from the University of Southern California highlight this as a key weakness in these dominant lifeforms.

Daily Maverick stellt Notes from a Small Planet vor, eine neue Serie, die ökologisches Bewusstsein durch einflussreiche Denker erforscht. Der Auftaktbeitrag greift die Reflexionen des Astrophysikers Carl Sagan aus der NASA-Voyager-1-Mission auf. Er hebt die Verantwortung der Menschheit hervor, die Erde inmitten umweltlicher Herausforderungen zu schätzen.

11. Januar 2026 Von KI berichtet

Scientists have identified a previously unknown nematode species in the Great Salt Lake, marking only the third animal group able to survive its extreme salinity. Named Diplolaimelloides woaabi with input from Indigenous elders, the worm appears endemic to the lake. The discovery raises questions about its origins and potential role in monitoring the lake's health.