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Mechanisms that maintain plant diversity at local and regional scales have long captured the interest of ecologists. Recently, the role of plant-microbe interactions in structuring the composition of plant communities has become clear.

During undergraduate field courses, students leave the classroom and learn about natural phenomena while outdoors. These experiences provide valuable learning opportunities for students but to date, there has been little research about their effectiveness.

Tropical forests play a critical role in the global carbon cycle and are of utmost importance for the world’s biodiversity. Yet, large uncertainties remain on how these forests will respond to ongoing global environmental changes.

A conversation on conservation with Dan Ashe, President of The Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and Dr. Ricardo Stanoss of the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation.

This seminar will examine the evolution of thermal tolerance and performance in response to the urban heat island effect using an acorn-dwelling ant species.

Most of the human body that is not bone is composed of protein, each built with an array of amino acids that contain nitrogen.  Reflecting the homogenization of our diets in the modern world, most of the nitrogen in those amino acids can be traced, isotopically, to the use of industrial nitrogen fertilizer to grow the grains we eat or to feed the animals that we eat.

Tropical savannas and grasslands experience multiple processes, such as fire, herbivory and soil leaching, that lead to losses of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) across the landscape. Yet many of these habitats support high secondary production of diverse animal assemblages.

In this seminar, Dr. Wilson will discuss two arms of his research program in pasture agroecology, and the potential for their integration to help scientists and land managers maintain healthy, productive landscapes in a world of increasing change.

Researchers at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies observed a massive algal bloom in the Hudson River Estuary in a large stretch from Kingston to Norrie Point in Staatsburg. The bloom has been confirmed as Microcystis, a cyanobacteria that can produce toxins that are harmful to people, pets, and wildlife. 

The excrement of farmed salmon may contribute as much nitrogen as 2,500,000 people without sewage treatment—hardly acceptable in an era when the water quality of estuaries is essential for the health of both humans and fisheries.

Frances Beinecke explores whether America has taken the steps necessary to prevent another oil spill tragedy.

This summer, scientists bushwhacked their way to 80 sites in Colorado, New Mexico, and California that burned in 15 fires during 2024, collecting data to create an atlas of burn severity that will cover the entire American West. 

In September, an unprecedented harmful algal bloom struck the Hudson River. Dense colonies of bright green microcystis — a cyanobacteria that can produce toxins dangerous to humans, pets and wildlife — have clouded the river from Beacon north to Hudson. 

Journalist and travel writer Fen Montaigne chronicles how climate change is threatening Adélie penguins.

In our team’s last blog post, Cary Institute’s Shannon LaDeau explained the potential ecological importance of greening efforts in cities, and how local residents and community organizations can get involved. In this blog post, we’ll explain why this research matters for urban planning and conservation. 

As the Next Generation Science Standards go into effect in many states, schools across the nation are scrambling to update their curricula. The standards emphasize real-world scientific skills, and divide the sciences into life, physical, and Earth sciences. Unfortunately, like many school districts, Baltimore City Public Schools has no high school Earth science teachers or courses.

To help overcome this barrier, Alan Berkowitz — Head of Education at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies — is leading EarthX, a project that is bringing Earth science lessons to nearly 10,000 Baltimore high school students who otherwise would never learn about the subject, making them better prepared to engage with the pressing problems of environmental sustainability. 
 

In the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the streams are telling us a story about forest recovery following acid rain and logging. According to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, long-term watershed chemistry reveals that recovering forests are mining rocks for nutrients. While this leads to improved pH in nearby streams, it further depletes soils, leaving forests less resilient to future pollution. 

Cary scientist Dr. Amy Zanne brings guests into the rich and often unseen world of dead trees. Discover the role deadwood plays in ecosystems and the myriad creatures who rely on fallen trees.