Wood eaters
Termites could play an important role in climate change
September 22, 2022
A study spanning six continents explored the role of termites and microorganisms in wood decay.
A study spanning six continents explored the role of termites and microorganisms in wood decay.
Why do some male bats have sticky, odorous arms? The first clues only led to more questions. But now a new sleuth, Mariana Muñoz-Romo, described by a colleague as “probably the world’s expert on chemical communication in a bat species,” is on the case.
Rain sounds cue bats to stay at home
Recognizing that a connection to our ocean must be fostered with every generation, the 7th Our Ocean Conference Youth Delegation sought to highlight the contributions of young leaders advocating to protect our ocean. The Youth Delegation was made up of participants aged 18-30, with a focus on applicants from the Asia-Pacific region.
As winged mammals, baby bats learn to fly and stop drinking mothers’ milk during their transition from infants to flying juveniles. Bat researchers observed a new behavior. Mothers push pups away with their forearms, perhaps encouraging them to go explore the world on their own
In September 2017, divers observed a massive “dead zone” rising to envelop Caribbean coral reefs in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Smithsonian post-docs joined together to understand marine hypoxia now and in the past.
An experiment preventing up to 70% of rain from reaching tropical forest soils aims to understand how important underground carbon stocks will respond to climate change.
Plant ecologist S. Joseph Wright received an award for his illustrious career at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, in Panama.
Almost everything we do in some way contributes to climate change.
A new study in Nature combining satellite thermal- and in situ warming data found that a percentage of tropical leaves are already reaching the temperatures at which they can no longer function.