IAN is committed to producing practical, user-centered communications that foster a better understanding of science and enable readers to pursue new opportunities in research, education, and environmental problem-solving. Our publications synthesize scientific findings using effective science communication techniques.

Impacts of Hypoxia on Zooplankton Spatial Distributions in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (Page 1)

Impacts of Hypoxia on Zooplankton Spatial Distributions in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Roman MR, Pierson JJ, Kimmel DG, Boicourt WC, and Zhang X ·
2012

The northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOMEX) was surveyed to examine the broad-scale spatial patterns and inter-relationships between hypoxia (< 2 mg L-1 dissolved oxygen) and zooplankton biovolume. We used an undulating towed body equipped with sensors for conductivity, temperature, depth, oxygen, fluorescence, and an optical plankton counter to sample water column structure, oxygen, and zooplankton at high spatial resolution (1 m-vertical; 0.25-1 km-horizontal).

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Landscape controls on the timing of spring, autumn, and growing season length in mid-Atlantic forests

Elmore AJ, Guinn SM, Minsley BJ, and Richardson AD ·
2012

The timing of spring leaf development, trajectories of summer leaf area, and the timing of autumn senescence have profound impacts to the water, carbon, and energy balance of ecosystems, and are likely influenced by global climate change. Limited field-based and remote-sensing observations have suggested complex spatial patterns related to geographic features that influence climate.

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Megacities in the coastal zone: Using a driver-pressure-state-impact-response framework to address complex environmental problems (Page 1)

Megacities in the coastal zone: Using a driver-pressure-state-impact-response framework to address complex environmental problems

Sekovski I, Newton A, and Dennison WC ·
2012

The purpose of this study was to elaborate on the role of coastal megacities in environmental degradation and their contribution to global climate change. Although only less than 4 percent of the total world's population resides in coastal megacities, their impact on environment is significant due to their rapid development, high population densities and high consumption rate of their residents.

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Swine waste as a source of natural products: A carotenoid antioxidant (Page 1)

Swine waste as a source of natural products: A carotenoid antioxidant

Cahoon LB, Halkides CJ, Song B, Williams CM, Dubay GR, Fries AS, Farmer J, Fridrich W, and Brookshire C ·
2012

Development of Environmentally Superior Technologies for swine waste management has focused on extraction of products with relatively low unit values. Analyses of the bacterial composition of swine waste lagoon samples confirmed the presence of several purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) species known to produce a variety of carotenoids. We examined a carotenoid naturally abundant in North Carolina swine waste lagoons dominated by PNSB.

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The coastal syndromes and hotspots on the coast (Page 1)

The coastal syndromes and hotspots on the coast

Newton A, Carruthers TJB, and Icely J ·
2012

Human intervention has resulted in a number of global and river syndromes that are mirrored by coastal syndromes caused by erosion, subsidence, salinization of aquifers, urbanization, eutrophication, invasive species and over exploitation of natural resources. These problems are now global, with few coastal zones remaining unaffected and pristine. However, the problems are particularly severe at "hotspots" in the coastal zone.

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Timing of climate variability and grassland productivity

Craine JM, Nippert JB, Elmore AJ, Skibbe AM, Hutchinson SL, and Brunsell NA ·
2012

Future climates are forecast to include greater precipitation variability and more frequent heat waves, but the degree to which the timing of climate variability impacts ecosystems is uncertain. In a temperate, humid grassland, we examined the seasonal impacts of climate variability on 27 y of grass productivity. Drought and high-intensity precipitation reduced grass productivity only during a 110-d period, whereas high temperatures reduced productivity only during 25 d in July.

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Baltimore Harbor's Ecological and Human Health: 2010

Caroline Donovan, Heath Kelsey, Sara Powell ·
14 December 2011

To help lead private citizens, government, and businesses toward a healthy Baltimore Harbor, the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore needed to know the current health of the Harbor and its watershed. Using six ecological indicators and three human indicators, the current health of Baltimore's Harbor was established. This newsletter provides the overall results of the full report.

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A vision for the Gulf of Mexico Report Card (Page 1)

A vision for the Gulf of Mexico Report Card

McKinney L, Tunnell W, Harwell M, Gentile J, Dennison WC, Kelsey RH, Thomas JE ·
7 December 2011

The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, has partnered with IAN and Harwell Gentile & Associates, LC, to develop a vision for a report card on the health of the Gulf of Mexico. The report card will be a graphical representation of the environmental condition of the Gulf that is scientifically based, widely accessible, and readily understandable by policy-makers, stakeholders, scientists, and, most importantly, the general public.

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