EU-funded researchers studied genomic changes in water fleas for signs of evolutionary adaptation linked to human activities, such as phosphorous contamination in lakes. The results shed light on how species respond to environmental changes, and could feed into measures to protect biodiversity and ecosystems.
Forests are versatile renewable resources, but load-carrying forestry machines can damage the soil. An EU-funded project has developed a tracked, off-road timber transporter, or forwarder, that exerts less pressure on soil, as well as a device to measure soil disturbance - part of a sustainable solution to protecting Europe's valuable forests.
EU-funded researchers have developed new marine sensors to meet the growing need for real-time data on the state of our oceans. Such timely and accurate information will help scientists and policymakers react quickly to ecological threats and ensure that environmental policies are properly implemented.
In an effort to reduce agricultural pressure on water resources - the sector accounts for up to 80 % of water use in some parts of the EU, researchers are on a mission to improve on-farm irrigation management. More precise land-surface data will make soil-water content estimates more accurate and reduce water use.
An EU-funded project is calling for a step-change in how nature-based solutions like green roofs and city lagoons are used for sustainable urbanisation and in tackling climate change. But first, the project's researchers are addressing a yawning knowledge gap on current best practices and impacts.
EU-funded researchers are reconstructing how the chemical composition of the world's sea water evolved, using brachiopod shells. Their findings should advance understanding of recent changes to our climate.
EU-funded research into North Atlantic sponge grounds aims to discover unique sponge ecosystems. This should improve understanding of such ecosystems functioning, help predict threats, ensure their sustainable use and assess their links to human well-being.
Buoys, floats, moorings and research vessels, to name just a few examples - data about the state of the Atlantic is collected by a number of means. And by a profusion of actors, who could jointly produce even better results if they applied a common strategy. EU-funded researchers are driving the development of an integrated system.
An innovative start-up is finalising the development of open-ocean fish farming technology that could reshape the global aquaculture industry, enabling farmers to raise larger quantities of fish in healthier, more natural conditions while minimising environmental impacts.
As temperatures rise, water scarcity and quality in the Mediterranean basin are growing concerns. An EU-funded team has developed clever, safe aquifer management solutions for a market that is set to expand as rainfall becomes less predictable.
