Planet Earth - Winter 2002
NERC's award-winning free magazine, Planet Earth, is aimed at non-specialists with an interest in environmental science.
This issue is no longer in print.
* Unless specified, all articles are less than 1MB in size.
Looking forward to wildernessRecreating lost fenland requires careful research, especially when it comes to getting the right water levels for human and wildlife needs, writes Owen Mountford.
Polar punches and tropical trucesWhen floating ice scrapes and grinds the seabed, resistance is useless but also vital for polar marine biodiversity. David Barnes explains.
Remotely operated cucumberIan Hudson reports on how an oil company lent scientists its remotely operated vehicle to investigate deep-sea sea cucumbers in a North sea oil field.
Phenology. Pastime or science?Is spring coming earlier? Is autumn arriving later? Tim Sparks and Nick Collinson report on the science of interpreting data on seasonal change.
Unlocking the mystery of the Mascarene PlateauDave Robins explains how understanding plankton is vital for the sustainable development and conservation of the shallow sea between the Seychelles and Mauritius.
Singing in the face of uncertaintySometimes making the right choice can be a matter of life and death, especially if you're a robin, write John McNamara and Innes Cuthill.
The changing flora of the UK (*2·2MB)An exciting new survey of UK wild plants reveals that arable weeds are fewer and further between, tall plants are doing well, and so are plants that like fertile soil, writes Chris Preston.
Take a deep breathHow do creatures such as whales, marine turtles, seals and penguins spend almost their entire lives submerged without being able to breathe underwater? NERC PhD student Lewis Halsey tells all.
The secret life of virusesRobert Possee reports on new research that suggests that at least some insects may carry the viral seeds of their own destruction.
Phocine distemper epidemicAilsa Hall and Catriona Stephenson explain why harbour seals have been dying in their thousands.
Soil carbon on a plateMicrobes and invertebrates keep the soil buzzing with hungry activity. Today's special dish? Carbon with all the trimmings, of course, writes Nick Ostle.