Robbins, Jim. “Is Climate Change Putting World's Microbiomes at Risk?” Yale E360, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, 28 Mar. 2016, e360.yale.edu/feature/is_climate_change_putting_world_microbiomes_at_risk/2977/.
1.I already knew about the fragility of so-called "microbiomes". These often specialized microorganisms are the foundation of ecosystems and are especially susceptible to the effects of environmental erosion or climate change.
2. From this paper, I learned that microbiomes around the world are at risk of being destroyed or degraded as the result of anthropogenic climate change. When scientists moved soil from a wet high-altitude location to a drier, lower-altitude location, the microbes in the soil were unable to adapt. This is concerning to scientists as these fragile microorganisms are extremely important foundations to many ecosystems. I also learned that these organisms convert vegetation into greenhouse gases when previously frozen plants are thawed as the result of global warming. I found it interesting that one of the issues addressed is concerned with our lack of knowledge concerning these organisms. However, recent molecular processes are resulting in a breadth of new discoveries.
3. I found this article to be relevant to our studies as it relates to the effect humans have on their surrounding environment. With new research tools allowing scientists to begin to truly understand microbiomes, it is becoming evident that these tiny organisms play a massive role in their ecosystems. These microbes can also be used as a natural, sustainable, non-toxic pesticide which has massive potential in terms of sustainable agriculture.
4. I found this article to be very thought provoking. I had no idea that the race to understand microbes could be compared to the Manhattan Project...! Seems like this will be something that we will hear about more and more as the technology and research develops...
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