Donning warm, cozy layers, winterizing gardens and swapping salads for soups — these are some of the things we humans do to prepare ourselves for winter. All over the world, species are also taking steps to prepare for the coming winter. From the extremely harsh conditions seen in polar regions to milder climates like the ones in the Pacific Northwest, we can see different species follow observable patterns to ensure their best chance of survival for the coming months.
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An area in the Olympic Peninsula’s Hoh Rain Forest in Washington state for years held the distinction as one of the quietest places in the world. Deep within the diverse, lush, rainy landscape the sounds of human disturbance were noticeably absent. But in recent years, the U.S. Navy switched to a more powerful aircraft and increased training flights from its nearby base on Whidbey Island, contributing to more noise pollution on the peninsula — and notably over what used to be the quietest place in the continental U.S.
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Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world, protecting coastlines from erosion and supporting more than 500 million people through tourism and fishing livelihoods. But at the current rate of global warming, mass coral bleaching is expected to become more frequent and severe worldwide. Coral bleaching is a significant problem for the world’s ocean ecosystems: When coral becomes bleached, it loses the algae that live inside it, turning it white.
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The Arctic’s dramatic changes — warmer winters, earlier springs, shrinking ice and more human development — are impacting native animals. Researchers have long been observing the movements and behavior of animals in this region, but it’s been difficult to discover and access these data for meaningful collaborations. Now scientists from around the world have established the Arctic Animal Movement Archive, an online repository for data documenting the movements of animals in the Arctic and Subarctic.
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As darkness falls across the land, we are once again at the time of year when temperatures drop, days shorten and scary things start popping up. Last year, we celebrated the season of all things spooky with slimy, creepy creatures found in Pacific Northwest waters. This year, we turned our attention to the land, and invited researchers at the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences (SEFS) to share a little about their favorite classic Halloween emblem.
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