Tag: eco

White-Nose Syndrome is Driving Conservation Batty

by | 10.27.2011 at 3:36pm
Little brown bat with white-nose syndrome in Greeley Mine, Vermont, March 26, 2009.

Scientists report in a recently published article in Nature that the fungus Geomyces destructans found on bats afflicted with White Nose Syndrome is the primary cause of the disease. However, amidst all the muck of doom and gloom, researchers report in the July issue of the Journal of Wildlife Diseases that affected bats can be nursed back to health with constant medical attention, food, warmth, and water. With no signs of the infection slowing and more than one million bats succumbing to white nose syndrome in the past five years, the conservation community should be on high alert.

Executive Courses in Sustainable Coastal Economies, Urban Resilience, and Conservation

by | 10.21.2011 at 11:17am
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The Center for Environmental Research and Conservation at Columbia University provides professionals with the knowledge and tools to be effective environmental leaders and decision makers in the 21st century. It is an evening program in which environmental issues are discussed, debated and examined, where participants develop an in-depth understanding of conservation science and practice through case studies and a focus on Environmental Policy, Management and Finance.

Robotic Bug Sparks a Flighty Debate on Evolution

by | 10.20.2011 at 4:14pm | 1 Comment
Black-chinned Hummingbird -- Moab, Utah, USA

A robotic bug’s attempts to fly were no match for gravity – the critter was unable to soar above the ground. The findings shed light on a longstanding debate about the evolutionary origins of flight, as scientists have long debated whether birds first evolved flight as ground dwellers or tree jumpers.

Green Sidewalk is Electrifying

by | 10.14.2011 at 11:37am
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Utilizing innovative technology to transform physical impact into electricity, PaveGen is literally, as the company tagline describes, “Generating Energy from footsteps.”

Ecological and Urban Resilience

by | 10.12.2011 at 4:49pm
Davie, Fla., August 27, 2005 -- Winds from Hurricane Katrina knocked over this tree crushing this Mobile home. The residents had evacuated. Many Mobile homes homes are damaged and residents are displaced. Photo by Marvin Nauman/FEMA

Resilience science has been evolving over the past decade, expanding beyond ecology to reflect systems of thinking in fields such as economics and political science. And, as more and more people move into densely populated cities, using massive amounts of water, energy, and other resources, the need to combine these disciplines to consider the resilience of urban ecosystems and cities is of paramount importance.

Cycle of Abuse Among Nazca Boobies

by | 10.11.2011 at 3:03pm
Nazca booby (Sula granti) on Espanola, Galapagos Islands - Photo by putneymark

Researchers studying Nazca boobies of the Galápagos Islands found high correlations between degree of aggressive behavior among adults and the amount of abuse they endured as nestlings. The findings have implications for those who study human psychology and behavior, as some social scientists argue that abused children are statistically more likely to become abusers later in life.

Polyandrous Mouse Lemurs – The Larger the Better

by | 10.10.2011 at 4:58pm
Gray Mouse Lemur - Photo by Gabriella Skollar.

Researchers report that larger female mouse lemurs mate with more male partners at once than smaller females. The findings have implications for polyandry and other mating systems.

Critter Corner: News Roundup on Biodiversity – Week of 10/3

by | 10.7.2011 at 2:37pm
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Read more about how humans are just modified fish, the discovery of a rare seahorse, the relationship between climate change, elk, and aspen, and the the structure of ambrosia beetle colonies in this week’s edition of The Critter Corner.

This Year in Conservation – FREE Panel Discussion

by | 10.7.2011 at 9:13am
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The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation is hosting a free evening program on Wednesday, October 12.

Humans Continue to Evolve

by | 10.4.2011 at 12:34pm | 1 Comment
Popularized Image of "Human Evolution" - Photo by Tkgd2007

Modern day human evolution is a contentious topic, but an array of recent studies indicate that our species is still evolving.