Bat box design, placement matter for energy balance in endangered bats
URBANA, Ill. – Imagine if you had to catch every bite of your dinner with your mouth, while flying, in the dark. You’d be exhausted, and probably pretty hungry. Though some bats go for sedentary insects, most catch their food on the wing every single night. Let that sink in.
5 Questions: ACE student helps promote sustainability, combat food insecurity
This week’s 5 Questions Friday features Jenna Schaefer, ACE major with environmental science focus
Where did you grow up? Do you have an agriculture background? If so, please describe.
Climate change demands near perfect weed control in soybean
URBANA, Ill. – Growing crops in a changing climate is tough enough, but when weeds factor in, soybean yields take a massive hit. That’s according to new research from the University of Illinois and the USDA Agricultural Research Service, and it means farmers will need to achieve greater weed control than ever to avoid yield loss.
Protected tropical forest sees major bird declines over 40 years
URBANA, Ill. – Deep in a Panamanian rain forest, bird populations have been quietly declining for 44 years. A new University of Illinois-led study shows a whopping 70% of understory bird species declined in the forest between 1977 and 2020. And the vast majority of those are down by half or more.
How do we solve the problem of agricultural nutrient runoff?
Agricultural runoff from Midwestern farms is a major contributor to a vast “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. Nitrogen, phosphorous and other farm nutrients drain into the Mississippi River, which empties into the Gulf, spurring algae to overpopulate and suffocating other aquatic life. Illinois is a main culprit in this ongoing environmental blight. News Bureau life sciences editor Diana Yates spoke with U. of I.
Collaboration with Mexico will help conserve grassland birds
Ensuring long term sustainability is the goal of College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) professor Mike Ward’s ongoing work to track and study grassland birds that migrate between the United States and Mexico.
University of Illinois professor contributes to dire IPCC climate change report
URBANA, Ill. – Human-induced climate change is already causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world. The consequences will grow much worse with time unless more concerted efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the expected changes start now.
iSEE, NRES Seeking Levenick Resident Scholar for 2022-23
The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES), invites applications and nominations for the Stuart L. and Nancy J. Levenick Resident Scholar in Sustainability Leadership for the 2022-23 academic year at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Illinois research reveals cadmium's route into chocolate
URBANA, Ill. – Committed chocoholics, be warned. A health-robbing heavy metal, cadmium, lurks in the velvety recesses of your favorite indulgence.
NRES professor named associate director for campus sustainability
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Associate Professor Jennifer Fraterrigo has been named Associate Director for Campus Sustainability in the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE).