NUTRIENT CYCLING

May 28 2025ENVIRONMENT

Fungi's Hidden Role in Lake Health

Lakes around the world are under siege from a silent invader: cyanobacteria. These tiny, blue-green algae can multiply rapidly, creating harmful blooms that choke out other life forms and disrupt ecosystems. While much attention is given to bacteria in these scenarios, fungi are often overlooked. Yet, these often-unseen organisms play a crucial role in how lakes resp...

reading time about 1 minute
Dec 25 2024SCIENCE

How Fire Ash Changes Nutrients in Different Places

Ever wondered how fires change the nutrients in the soil? This study took a deep dive into how fire ash from different environments, like forests and grasslands, affects key nutrients like phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. Using special tools like X-ray absorption spectroscopy, scientists found out what forms these nutrients took in the ash. They also tested how we...

reading time less than a minute
Dec 13 2024ENVIRONMENT

Warmer Seas, Busy Worms: How Temperature Boosts Marine Activity

In the Wadden Sea, tiny critters are making a big difference. These worms and small animals, known as benthic infauna, mix up sediment in a process called bioturbation. This mixing matters because it connects the seafloor with the water above, helping nutrients move around. But what happens when the water gets warmer? Scientists wanted to find out, so they set up a c...

reading time about 1 minute