BioScience in the News
May 2009--Climate change threatens Lake Baikal's unique biota (innovations-report.de)
Siberia's Lake Baikal, the world's largest and most biologically diverse lake, faces the prospect of severe ecological disruption as a result of climate change, according to an analysis by a joint US-Russian team in the May issue of BioScience. (more...)
December 2008--Common polutant may lead to obesity (grist.org)
Research published in the December issue of BioScience indicates that exposure to tributyltin, a biocide used in industrial water systems, breweries, and as a pesticide on fruits and vegetables, may be contributing to growth in obesity and diabetes rates. (more...)
December 2008--Shade trees can protect coffee crops (scienceline.org)
In a shade-grown coffee system, a canopy of trees covers the coffee bushes and acts like a blanket,” explains ecologist Brenda Lin, who led the research. “It holds in heat during the night and keeps it out during the day.” Shade-grown systems also make farmers less economically vulnerable, says Lin, because they grow crops such as avocados, yucca and bananas with the coffee, providing sustenance and a source of income independent of the coffee crop. (more...)
November 2008--West Nile's North American Spread Described (infectioncontroltoday.com)
The November issue of BioScience will publish the results of a study on the rapid spread of West Nile virus in North America over the past decade. The authors discuss the ecological consequences this spread is likely to have, and how increased research could lead to better predictions and public warnings. (more...)
September 2008--BioScience to publish major article on global warming (mongabay.com)
The September issue of BioScience will feature the results of a study from the University of Florida. The study argues that the thawing of permafrost will become a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The study also maintains that the amount of carbon in the frozen soils of the northern latitudes is more than double what was previously thought. (more...)