Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Measurements of CO2 Fluxes at Non-Ideal Eddy Covariance Sites
Published on: June 24, 2019
Aeroecology: probing and modeling the aerosphere
Thomas H Kunz1, Sidney A Gauthreaux, Nickolay I Hristov
1*Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK; Department of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89069, Ulm, Germany; Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-1610, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; **USDA-ARS, 1500 N. Central Avenue, Sidney, MT 59270, USA; Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; USDA-ARS, 2771 F&B Road, College Station, TX 77845, USA and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, USA.
Aeroecology studies how the aerosphere, or planetary boundary layer, impacts organisms like birds and bats. Understanding these atmospheric influences is key for ecosystem and human health.
Area of Science:
- Aeroecology integrates atmospheric science, ecology, earth science, geography, computer science, computational biology, and engineering.
Background:
- The aerosphere (planetary boundary layer) is a critical environment for many organisms.
- Organisms using the aerosphere are immediately affected by atmospheric conditions and forces.
- Aerosphere conditions drive evolutionary adaptations in organismal traits and behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define aeroecology as an interdisciplinary field focused on the aerosphere.
- To highlight the significant influence of the aerosphere on organismal life and evolution.
- To emphasize the need for integrated research for future advancements.
Main Methods:
- This study is a conceptual review integrating existing knowledge from multiple scientific domains.
- It synthesizes information on the physical and biotic interactions within the aerosphere.
- It discusses the impact of atmospheric conditions on organismal traits and functions.
Main Results:
- The aerosphere profoundly influences organismal movement, evolution, and physiology.
- Organisms in the aerosphere experience direct and indirect effects from atmospheric dynamics.
- Interdisciplinary research is crucial for advancing aeroecological understanding.
Conclusions:
- Aeroecology is vital for understanding life in the planetary boundary layer.
- Integrated research across disciplines will drive future discoveries in aeroecology.
- Understanding aeroecology is essential for assessing and maintaining ecosystem health, human health, and biodiversity.
More Related Videos
13:27Exploring the Effects of Atmospheric Forcings on Evaporation: Experimental Integration of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Shallow Subsurface
Published on: June 8, 2015
06:27Measurement of Aerosols Optical Thickness of the Atmosphere using the GLOBE Handheld Sun Photometer
Published on: May 29, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Variation of Atmospheric Pressure
Assuming the air temperature is constant at a given altitude and that the ideal gas law of thermodynamics describes the atmosphere to a good approximation, one can find the variation of atmospheric pressure with height.
Let p(y) be the atmospheric pressure at...
The Kinetic Model of Gases
Microbes and Climate Change
Boundary Layer Characteristics
The Carbon Cycle
Influence of Earth's Curvature and Atmospheric Refraction on Leveling