Mary Lusk of UF found that Florida’s 76,000 ponds emit more carbon via gas than they store. Carbon measures were taken from pond muck and gas on the pond surface. The research will inform scientists’ estimates of carbon levels in the atmosphere as Florida continues to become more urban.

“Our results suggest that when they’re new, they emit large proportions of carbon from the landscape,” Lusk said. “This means the older ponds are doing less of an ecosystem disservice to us than the younger ponds… we will always have a fresh new batch of young ponds that are just pumping carbon out to the atmosphere.”

• Mary Lusk