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Changes in marine ecosystems going undetected
Existing ways of calculating biodiversity dynamics are not very effective in detecting wholesale species community change due to the effects of ocean acidification. University of Adelaide research shows that in cases where biodiversity metrics show no change or little change, there may still be reorganisation of ecological communities in our oceans. “The belief that climate […]
Study finds famous Australian caves are up to 500,000 years older than we thought – and it could help explain a megafauna mystery
South Australia’s Naracoorte Caves is one of the world’s best fossil sites, containing a record spanning more than half a million years. Among the remains preserved in layers of sand are the bones of many iconic Australian megafauna species that became extinct between 48,000 and 37,000 years ago. The reasons for the demise of these […]
We helped fill a major climate change knowledge gap, thanks to 130,000-year-old sediment in Sydney lakes
Plants capture around half the carbon we emit by burning fossil fuels, making them a crucial part of mitigating climate change. But carbon is often released back into the atmosphere when plants die, decompose and eventually turn into dirt. Carbon is only permanently removed from the atmosphere if it’s stored in sediments that accumulate at the bottom […]
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Grape Growers Adapting to Climate Shifts Early
A recently published article emphasises the importance of strong cooperative approaches to managing our water resources. Wine grape growers are among those who are responding fastest as their crop is extremely sensitive to weather and climatic shifts. Growers have had to learn quickly how to adapt to safeguard their industry including pruning for better canopy management, growing cover […]
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History of modern human arrival in Europe rewritten, as new fossil discovered
An international research team including scientists from the University of Adelaide has found evidence of human occupation in Europe almost 10,000 years earlier than previously documented, a discovery that stands to rewrite modern human and Neanderthal histories on the continent. In a study published in Science Advances and led by Toulouse University, France, the authors dated distinctive stone tools and […]
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Citizens help unlock the secret lives of echidnas
Researchers at the University of Adelaide’s Environment Institute and members of the general public have recorded the largest number of echidna sightings across Australia to aid in the conservation of the iconic mammal. In a paper published in PNAS, the researchers describe the outcomes of the Echidna Conservation Science Initiative (EchidnaCSI), a citizen science project established in […]
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Ocean acidification and warming disrupts fish shoals
Researchers from the University of Adelaide have found that the way fish interact in groups is being upset by ocean acidification and global warming. “Fish show gregarious behaviour and cluster in shoals which helps them to acquire food and for protection against predators,” said project leader Professor Ivan Nagelkerken from the University of Adelaide’s Environment […]
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New, budget-friendly method detects lime in soil
University of Adelaide scientists have developed a new simple, inexpensive and fast method to detect and measure very low concentrations of agricultural lime in soils, which is generally a time consuming and difficult exercise. The research is published in leading soil science journal Geoderma. PhD student and lead author of the study Ruby Hume, developed this […]
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Alien organisms – are they a threat to biosecurity?
Scientists warn, without good biosecurity measures ‘alien organisms’ on Earth may become a reality stranger than fiction. Published in international journal BioSciences, a team of scientists, including Associate Professor Phill Cassey, Head of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Adelaide, are calling for greater recognition of the biosecurity risks ahead of […]
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Humans hastened the extinction of the woolly mammoth
New research shows that humans had a significant role in the extinction of woolly mammoths in Eurasia, occurring thousands of years later than previously thought. An international team of scientists led by researchers from the University of Adelaide and University of Copenhagen, has revealed a 20,000-year pathway to extinction for the woolly mammoth. “Our research […]
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