Ecology / Conservation posts
- May 23, 2011
- 09:43 PM
- 1,448 views
Reproduction: Secret Weapon of the Dogfish?
by Chuck in Ya Like Dags?
Spiny dogfish are one of the rare success stories in the management of shark fisheries, with the U.S. Atlantic population representing one of the few shark stocks ever to fully recover from overfishing. At first glance this doesn’t seem to make any sense: spiny dogfish are one of the longest-lived and slowest-growing of the sharks that regularly interact with human beings, and with a 2-year pregnancy it doesn’t seem as though they could replace their numbers in anything less than th........ Read more »
Carrier, J.C., Pratt, H.L., & Castro, J.J. (2004) Reproductive biology of elasmobranchs. Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives, 269-286. info:/
Hanchet, S. (1988) Reproductive biology of Squalus acanthias from the east coast, South Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 22(4), 537-549. DOI: 10.1080/00288330.1988.9516324
- May 23, 2011
- 06:23 PM
- 1,492 views
The Global Extinction Crisis – species area relationships, habitat loss, and population dynamics
by Southern Fried Scientist in Southern Fried Science
We are in the midst of a global extinction crisis. Biodiversity is in decline as species after species disappear. Some estimates predict that up to 50% of species will be committed to extinction by 2050. Other estimates claim the current rate of extinction may be 10,000 times the background rate. Many ecologists and conservationists have declared the [...]... Read more »
He F, & Hubbell SP. (2011) Species-area relationships always overestimate extinction rates from habitat loss. Nature, 473(7347), 368-71. PMID: 21593870
Neigel, J. (2003) SPECIES–AREA RELATIONSHIPS AND MARINE CONSERVATION. Ecological Applications, 13(sp1), 138-145. DOI: 10.1890/1051-0761(2003)013[0138:SARAMC]2.0.CO;2
- May 23, 2011
- 03:03 PM
- 1,207 views
Extinction rates have NOT been over-estimated
by Greg Laden in Greg Laden's Blog
There are several things that cause extinction, but ultimately it is always the same: The last individual (or small number of individuals) of a species die. That may sound like a trivial explanation for extinction but consider what happens when you work backwards from that tragic moment in time. Well, you have more individuals in a population that was once much larger but was reduced in size somehow, which then dwindled to the last few, the last one, then zero. But how did that small populat........ Read more »
He, F., & Hubbell, S. (2011) Species–area relationships always overestimate extinction rates from habitat loss. Nature, 473(7347), 368-371. DOI: 10.1038/nature09985
- May 23, 2011
- 12:51 AM
- 1,110 views
Dromochorus pruinina is not extirpated in Missouri… yet!
by Ted MacRae in Beetles in the Bush
When Chris Brown and I began our study of Missouri tiger beetles back in 2000, our goal was simply to conduct a faunal survey of the species present in the state. Such studies are fairly straightforward—examine specimens in the major public and private collections, and do lots and lots of collecting, especially in areas with [...]... Read more »
MacRae, T. C. and C. R. Brown. (2011) Distribution, seasonal occurrence and conservation status of Dromochorus pruinina (Casey) in Missouri. CICINDELA, 43(1), 1-13. info:/
- May 20, 2011
- 10:44 AM
- 1,375 views
The story of the fig and its wasp
by Katie Kline in EcoTone
Inside the rounded fruit of a fig tree is a maze of flowers. That is, a fig is not actually a fruit; it is an inflorescence—a cluster of many flowers and seeds contained inside a bulbous stem. Because of this unusual arrangement, the seeds—technically the ovaries of the fig—require a specialized pollinator that is adapted [...]
... Read more »
Kislev, M. (2006) Early Domesticated Fig in the Jordan Valley. Science, 312(5778), 1372-1374. DOI: 10.1126/science.1125910
Jander, K., & Herre, E. (2010) Host sanctions and pollinator cheating in the fig tree-fig wasp mutualism. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 277(1687), 1481-1488. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2009.2157
- May 20, 2011
- 09:14 AM
- 1,542 views
Thyme for something new? Orangutans and new food choices.
by Serious Monkey Business in This is Serious Monkey Business
A recent study examined captive orangutans' learning processes in trying new foods and whether or not neophobia persists in captive orangutans. Also includes what this exactly means.... Read more »
Gustafsson E, Krief S, & Saint Jalme M. (2011) Neophobia and Learning Mechanisms: How Captive Orangutans Discover Medicinal Plants. Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology, 82(1), 45-55. PMID: 21525772
- May 20, 2011
- 02:35 AM
- 1,208 views
Harvesting Light with Nanostructures: New Crops for Silicon Devices
by Paige Brown in From The Lab Bench
It seems that cat-like reflexes pay off for solar cell technology... Nanowhiskers deposited on traditional silicon solar cells help in the harvesting of bountiful deep-red solar rays. Researchers are steadily making progress towards improved solar cell technologies, like Combine harvesters barreling down a field of tall golden crop. The benefits are huge; the problem is getting there without spending a fortune. A major limitation in the harvesting of solar energy is a common problem in almost ev........ Read more »
Chang CH, Yu P, Hsu MH, Tseng PC, Chang WL, Sun WC, Hsu WC, Hsu SH, & Chang YC. (2011) Combined micro- and nano-scale surface textures for enhanced near-infrared light harvesting in silicon photovoltaics. Nanotechnology, 22(9), 95201. PMID: 21258142
- May 19, 2011
- 12:00 PM
- 1,203 views
Full Text And Details For Nature Letter “Data Archiving Is A Good Investment”
by Heather Piwowar in Research Remix
We hope publishing the argument in this high-visibility venue will inspire hallway conversations amongst scientists and influence how they view long-term data archive funding. Particularly those scientists who also wear hats in funding agencies!... Read more »
Piwowar, HA, Vision, TJ, & Whitlock, MC. (2011) Data archiving is a good investment. Nature, 473(7347), 285-285. DOI: 10.1038/473285a
Piwowar HA, Vision TJ, & Whitlock MC. (2011) Data from: Data archiving is a good investment. Dryad Digital Repository. info:/10.5061/dryad.j1fd7
- May 19, 2011
- 10:22 AM
- 1,169 views
A bunch of hot heads
by Alistair Dove in Deep Sea News
Driving through more remote parts of the Australian countryside when I was a young tacker, my Dad would often stop the old Mazda Capella so that we kids could investigate some reptilian thing warming itself on the black road surface; it was usually a fat shingleback or bombastic blue tongue, but sometimes a . . . → Read More: A bunch of hot heads... Read more »
Alexander, R. (1995) Evidence of a counter-current heat exchanger in the ray,(Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii: Batoidea: Myliobatiformes) . Journal of Zoology, 237(3), 377-384. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1995.tb02768.x
ALEXANDER, R. (1996) Evidence of brain-warming in the mobulid rays, Mobula tarapacana and Manta birostris (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii: Batoidea: Myliobatiformes). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 118(2), 151-164. DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1996.tb00224.x
Dickson KA, & Graham JB. (2004) Evolution and consequences of endothermy in fishes. Physiological and biochemical zoology : PBZ, 77(6), 998-1018. PMID: 15674772
Runcie, R., Dewar, H., Hawn, D., Frank, L., & Dickson, K. (2009) Evidence for cranial endothermy in the opah (Lampris guttatus). Journal of Experimental Biology, 212(4), 461-470. DOI: 10.1242/jeb.022814
- May 19, 2011
- 10:22 AM
- 495 views
A bunch of hot heads
by Alistair Dove in Deep Type Flow
Driving through more remote parts of the Australian countryside when I was a young tacker, my Dad would often stop the old Mazda Capella so that we kids could investigate some reptilian thing warming itself on the black road surface; it was usually a fat shingleback or bombastic blue tongue, but sometimes a lovely . . . → Read More: A bunch of hot heads... Read more »
Alexander, R. (1995) Evidence of a counter-current heat exchanger in the ray,(Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii: Batoidea: Myliobatiformes) . Journal of Zoology, 237(3), 377-384. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1995.tb02768.x
ALEXANDER, R. (1996) Evidence of brain-warming in the mobulid rays, Mobula tarapacana and Manta birostris (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii: Batoidea: Myliobatiformes). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 118(2), 151-164. DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1996.tb00224.x
Dickson KA, & Graham JB. (2004) Evolution and consequences of endothermy in fishes. Physiological and biochemical zoology : PBZ, 77(6), 998-1018. PMID: 15674772
Runcie, R., Dewar, H., Hawn, D., Frank, L., & Dickson, K. (2009) Evidence for cranial endothermy in the opah (Lampris guttatus). Journal of Experimental Biology, 212(4), 461-470. DOI: 10.1242/jeb.022814
- May 17, 2011
- 05:51 PM
- 1,188 views
Are Wind Turbines Ugly? New Research gives Answers…
by Stuart Farrimond in Dr Stu's Science Blog
For many of us, Wind Turbines symbolise hope. The image of a slowly rotating wind turbine on a blue sky represents a rose-tinted future where energy is abundant and free; global warming has been conquered (and bunnies leap gaily around fields). But who would really want to live near a wind farm? We long for … Continue reading »... Read more »
Frantál, B., & Kunc, J. (2011) Wind turbines in tourism landscapes. Annals of Tourism Research, 38(2), 499-519. DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2010.10.007
- May 17, 2011
- 01:47 PM
- 869 views
Why the poor live in cities
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
If you ask any big city mayor what is one of the most pressing problems facing his or her city, I’m guessing poverty will be high on the list. Cities across the United States are filled with pockets of hardship, and while rural poverty is widespread, too, impoverishment within metropolitan areas tends to be strikingly [...]... Read more »
Glaeser, E., Kahn, M., & Rappaport, J. (2008) Why do the poor live in cities The role of public transportation. Journal of Urban Economics, 63(1), 1-24. DOI: 10.1016/j.jue.2006.12.004
- May 17, 2011
- 07:43 AM
- 1,495 views
The ecology of virus emergence - the role of rodents and biodiversity
by Connor Bamford in The Rule of 6ix
The inter-species transmission of viruses and other pathogens (see data below) poses a serious threat to public health, the global economy as well our environment and biodiversity. Just look at Ebola; SARS and Hendra viruses. With the numbers of emerging viruses increasing year on year, how best are we to deal with this incoming threat? As they say, the most effective bioterrorist is nature herself; so how can we stop her?
Increasing numbers of emerging infectious diseases. ........ Read more »
Orrock, J., Allan, B., & Drost, C. (2011) Biogeographic and Ecological Regulation of Disease: Prevalence of Sin Nombre Virus in Island Mice Is Related to Island Area, Precipitation, and Predator Richness. The American Naturalist, 177(5), 691-697. DOI: 10.1086/659632
- May 16, 2011
- 10:05 PM
- 779 views
Small Radio Transmitters Record Bumblebee Transit Behavior
by Michael Long in Phased
Bumblebees may commonly travel distances of over two kilometers, and range a home habitat of over 100 acres.... Read more »
Hagen, M., Wikelski, M., & Kissling, W. D. (2011) Space Use of Bumblebees (Bombus spp.) Revealed by Radio-Tracking. PLoS ONE, 6(5). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019997
- May 16, 2011
- 05:31 PM
- 702 views
If we can’t turn the tide, should we not try to ride it?
by Zed in Wasting Words
It has been my sentiment for a long time that non-native species get too much bad press. No one ever looks on the bright side. Large-scale environmental change is not avertible, we will have no choice but to embrace the ...... Read more »
Schlaepfer MA, Sax DF, & Olden JD. (2011) The Potential Conservation Value of Non-Native Species. Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, 25(3), 428-437. PMID: 21342267
PRESCOTT-ALLEN, R., & PRESCOTT-ALLEN, C. (1990) How Many Plants Feed the World?. Conservation Biology, 4(4), 365-374. DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.1990.tb00310.x
Hobbs, R., & Mooney, H. (1998) Broadening the Extinction Debate: Population Deletions and Additions in California and Western Australia. Conservation Biology, 12(2), 271-283. DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-1739.1998.96233.x
- May 14, 2011
- 10:19 AM
- 1,346 views
Predicting Microbial Communities in the Deep-sea
by Holly Bik in Deep Sea News
I recently reported on the awesomeness of high-throughput sequencing technologies, and commented on their huge potential for transforming the way biologists do business. (Seriously, people, its going to be like the renaissance of 21st century science – you heard it here first!) As a follow up to my previous post, I wanted to . . . → Read More: Predicting Microbial Communities in the Deep-sea... Read more »
Brazelton, W., Ludwig, K., Sogin, M., Andreishcheva, E., Kelley, D., Shen, C., Edwards, R., & Baross, J. (2010) Archaea and bacteria with surprising microdiversity show shifts in dominance over 1,000-year time scales in hydrothermal chimneys. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(4), 1612-1617. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0905369107
- May 12, 2011
- 11:33 AM
- 1,115 views
Bees, CCD, and Cell phones: Still no Link.
by bug_girl in Bug Girl's Blog
Once again, the media is going bonkers over a bee paper, and making claims way out of proportion to any actual results. Here are some sample headlines: Cellphones cause bees to swarm and die Phone signals confuse bees and cause them to fly erratically before suddenly dying It’s official–cell phones are killing bees I do [...]... Read more »
Daniel Favre. (2011) Mobile phone-induced honeybee worker piping. Apidologie. info:/10.1007/s13592-001-0016-x
- May 12, 2011
- 03:00 AM
- 1,158 views
How to give agrobiodiversity an even break
by Jeremy in Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog
Our friends at Bioversity have meta-done it again. After a milestone contribution a few years ago on the patterns of landrace diversity in farmers’ fields, now arrives a monumental review of the kinds of things that can be done to keep it there. It comes as part of a special issue of Critical Reviews in [...]... Read more »
Jarvis, D., Hodgkin, T., Sthapit, B., Fadda, C., & Lopez-Noriega, I. (2011) An Heuristic Framework for Identifying Multiple Ways of Supporting the Conservation and Use of Traditional Crop Varieties within the Agricultural Production System. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 30(1), 125-176. DOI: 10.1080/07352689.2011.554358
- May 11, 2011
- 08:31 AM
- 1,127 views
Spills of GM seed - do we need to worry?
by Rebecca Nesbit in The birds, the bees and feeding the world
GM oilseed rape imported into the EU gets spilt at ports. Even though we don't cultivate these varieties, are natural habitats and farmland at risk?... Read more »
Devos Y, Hails RS, Messéan A, Perry JN, & Squire GR. (2011) Feral genetically modified herbicide tolerant oilseed rape from seed import spills: are concerns scientifically justified? : Feral GMHT oilseed rape from seed import spills. Transgenic research. PMID: 21526422
- May 10, 2011
- 12:56 PM
- 491 views
A quick video about the environmental chemistry of carbon dioxide
by csoeder in Topologic Oceans
I find some dry ice and hilarity ensues. Veron JE, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Lenton TM, Lough JM, Obura DO, Pearce-Kelly P, Sheppard CR, Spalding M, Stafford-Smith MG, & Rogers AD (2009). The coral reef crisis: the critical importance of Marine pollution bulletin, 58 (10), 1428-36 PMID: 19782832... Read more »
Veron JE, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Lenton TM, Lough JM, Obura DO, Pearce-Kelly P, Sheppard CR, Spalding M, Stafford-Smith MG, & Rogers AD. (2009) The coral reef crisis: the critical importance of. Marine pollution bulletin, 58(10), 1428-36. PMID: 19782832
topics
join us!
Do you write about peer-reviewed research in your blog? Use ResearchBlogging.org to make it easy for your readers — and others from around the world — to find your serious posts about academic research.
If you don't have a blog, you can still use our site to learn about fascinating developments in cutting-edge research from around the world.
