Latest news with #GregDwyer
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts sound alarm over insects laying massive amounts of eggs: 'It's very concerning'
Science Daily reported that the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory have developed computer models that are predicting the changing climate is accelerating the population growth of the spongy moth, an invasive species that is causing extensive damage to North American forests. The report found that the models are much better than those that don't account for the climate. Hotter, drier conditions in North America will limit the growth of a fungus — also invasive to the continent — that infects the spongy moth with pathogens that spread among the population, limiting the number of moths in an area before they can do too much damage. A warmer climate means there will be less fungus growth, so the destructive moths will lay more eggs and reproduce more quickly, resulting in increased defoliation of trees. The research in this case shows that incorporating information about climate conditions helps scientists make better predictions about what the future holds for the ecology of different regions. These computer models account for multiple organisms in an ecosystem and how they interact with each other. This is important for researchers to predict the impact of rising global temperatures, which are causing domino effects in ecosystems and accelerating faster than previously predicted. Most studies about the changing climate look at individual species of plants and animals. "A small amount of climate change can have a big effect when you compound it across multiple species," Greg Dwyer, professor of ecology and evolution, said. "So, computer models are crucial for understanding the effects of climate change on species interactions." Researchers are telling us that we are not worried enough. The warming of the planet and drier conditions are affecting fungal infection rates, causing them to drop dramatically. This drop will cause moth populations to increase dramatically, which will result in the destruction of more trees. Weather conditions in recent years have exacerbated the problem, increasing the number of spongy moth outbreaks. "Our projections were pessimistic, but probably not pessimistic enough. It's very concerning," Dwyer said. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In order to control the population of the spongy moth in North America and limit the destruction of trees, we can take action to combat rising temperatures by making changes in our day-to-day lives. By adopting more sustainable habits, we can help. Reducing waste and being more informed about the products we buy are important components. Supporting clean energy such as solar power is another step we can take. These actions can keep invasive species under control as well as create a healthier planet. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts sound alarm over insects laying massive amounts of eggs: 'It's very concerning'
Science Daily reported that the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory have developed computer models that are predicting the changing climate is accelerating the population growth of the spongy moth, an invasive species that is causing extensive damage to North American forests. The report found that the models are much better than those that don't account for the climate. Hotter, drier conditions in North America will limit the growth of a fungus — also invasive to the continent — that infects the spongy moth with pathogens that spread among the population, limiting the number of moths in an area before they can do too much damage. A warmer climate means there will be less fungus growth, so the destructive moths will lay more eggs and reproduce more quickly, resulting in increased defoliation of trees. The research in this case shows that incorporating information about climate conditions helps scientists make better predictions about what the future holds for the ecology of different regions. These computer models account for multiple organisms in an ecosystem and how they interact with each other. This is important for researchers to predict the impact of rising global temperatures, which are causing domino effects in ecosystems and accelerating faster than previously predicted. Most studies about the changing climate look at individual species of plants and animals. "A small amount of climate change can have a big effect when you compound it across multiple species," Greg Dwyer, professor of ecology and evolution, said. "So, computer models are crucial for understanding the effects of climate change on species interactions." Researchers are telling us that we are not worried enough. The warming of the planet and drier conditions are affecting fungal infection rates, causing them to drop dramatically. This drop will cause moth populations to increase dramatically, which will result in the destruction of more trees. Weather conditions in recent years have exacerbated the problem, increasing the number of spongy moth outbreaks. "Our projections were pessimistic, but probably not pessimistic enough. It's very concerning," Dwyer said. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In order to control the population of the spongy moth in North America and limit the destruction of trees, we can take action to combat rising temperatures by making changes in our day-to-day lives. By adopting more sustainable habits, we can help. Reducing waste and being more informed about the products we buy are important components. Supporting clean energy such as solar power is another step we can take. These actions can keep invasive species under control as well as create a healthier planet. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists sound alarm over unexpected domino effect observed in forests: 'It's very concerning'
As temperatures continue to rise due to ongoing climate change, scientists uncovered an unexpected domino effect that could put forests across North America in danger. Researchers from the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory published their findings in the Nature Climate Change journal and predicted that hotter, drier conditions will hinder the growth of a fungus that typically limits the spread of the spongy moth, which is an invasive species "that has caused millions of dollars in damage to forests." The University of Chicago explained in a news release that the spongy moth "was first introduced to the hardwood forests of New England in 1869," and in the ensuing decades the caterpillars "carved a path of destruction through forests, defoliating and killing trees by the acre." However, the fungus Entomophaga maimaiga caused a lethal infection in spongy moths that curbed the spread, "sparing millions of trees." Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While the fungus is a natural combatant that can grow and infect spongy moths before too much damage is done, the release stated that it grows "only if conditions are cool and moist." Greg Dwyer, professor of ecology and evolution at UChicago and senior author of the new study, warned that the reduction of the fungus could lead to a swift turnaround within the moth population and put forests at a significant risk. "Even small reductions in mortality rate for the moths lead to big increases in defoliation," Dwyer said. "If they don't get killed off when they're at low density one year, then the next year they'll be back at higher density. You get this multiplication process going on." Like most invasive species, the spongy moth poses a significant threat to the environment, so combatants like the fungus are essential to mitigate its impact. Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns caused by climate change can create favorable conditions for these invasive species to thrive and spread more rapidly. According to UChicago, the study's results showed that "as climate change brings hotter and drier conditions to forests, fungal infection rates over the next few decades will drop sharply — meaning that more moths will survive to destroy more trees." To make things even more worrying, Dwyer reported seeing the effects of these changes sooner than expected, as below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures in recent years have already led to spongy moth outbreaks. "Our projections were pessimistic, but probably not pessimistic enough. It's very concerning," Dwyer said. Dwyer said he hopes his research spotlights the importance of taking multiple species into consideration when predicting the effects of climate change. "The vast majority of previous climate change studies look at individual organisms, but a small amount of climate change can have a big effect when you compound it across multiple species," Dwyer said. "So, computer models are crucial for understanding the effects of climate change on species interactions." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
