Research Briefs
Tomato Production At Risk Due to Decrease in Buzz Pollinators
Tomatoes are the heart of many backyard gardens. Tomato crops are also an important economic revenue in North America. The vegetable we all know as the “T” of a great summer BLT, however, may be in jeopardy due to a decline in its pollinator species because of climate change.
According to a study published in Ecological Applications, tomato production is at risk in the Eastern United States due to climate-induced decrease in the richness of buzz pollinators. Approximately 70 percent of the world’s crops depend on insect pollination for production. Climate change is already affecting the abundance of pollinators, but researchers with the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) wanted to know how climate change impacts the pollination of specific crops. Read More
Evolution of Tropical Biodiversity Hotspots
For decades, scientists have worked to understand the intricacies of biological diversity – from genetic and species diversity to ecological diversity.
While scientists agree that most biological diversity originated in the tropics, the jury is still out on how tropical species diversity formed and how it is maintained. A new study published in Science addresses these long-standing questions. Read More
Study Finds Protected Areas Vulnerable to Food Security Concerns
Protected areas are critical to mitigating extinction of species; however, they may also be in conflict with efforts to feed the growing human population.
Paul Armsworth, professor of ecology and researcher with the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) is the co-author of a new study showing croplands are prevalent in protected areas, which challenges their efficacy meeting conversation goals. Varsha Vijay, a researcher at the University of Maryland’s National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) is the lead author. Read More