The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Wednesday, May 4, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Wednesday, May 4, 2011

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First rainforests arose when plants solved plumbing problem (May 4, 2011) -- A team of scientists has discovered that leaves of flowering plants in the world's first rainforests had more veins per unit area than leaves ever had before. They suggest that this increased the amount of water available to the leaves, making it possible for plants to capture more carbon and grow larger. A better plumbing system may also have radically altered water and carbon movement through forests, driving environmental change. ... > full story

Tiger-parrots show their true evolutionary stripes (May 4, 2011) -- New genetic research is helping scientists better understand how Australian birds evolved. ... > full story

Rotational grazing in native pasturelands benefits wildlife (May 4, 2011) -- Rotational grazing of cattle in native pasturelands in Brazil's Pantanal and Cerrado regions can benefit both cattle and wildlife, according to a new study. ... > full story

Keeping oysters, clams and mussels safe to eat (May 3, 2011) -- Eating raw or undercooked mollusks may pose a safety hazard if they are harvested from waters polluted with pathogenic microbes, so scientists are studying ways to enhance the food safety of these popular shellfish. For example, a molecular biologist in Dover is exploring new techniques that will decontaminate mollusks while protecting the seafood's flavor, texture and color. ... > full story

Formidable fungal force counters biofuel plant pathogens (May 3, 2011) -- An international team of researchers has compared two rust fungal genomes to identify the characteristics by which these pathogens can invade their plant hosts and to develop biocontrol methods. ... > full story

Rice's origins point to China, genome researchers conclude (May 3, 2011) -- Rice originated in China, a team of genome researchers has concluded in a study tracing back thousands of years of evolutionary history through large-scale gene re-sequencing. Their findings indicate that domesticated rice may have first appeared as far back as approximately 9,000 years ago in the Yangtze Valley of China. ... > full story

Saving the Asiatic wild ass in the Mongolian Gobi (May 3, 2011) -- Considerable attention is currently being paid to the conservation of migratory birds, as such species may face threats not only in their breeding and wintering areas but also en route between them. But many mammals are also migratory and because most of them are unable to fly they face a number of additional challenges to survive. ... > full story

Scientists track evolution and spread of deadly fungus, one of the world's major killers (May 3, 2011) -- New research has shed light on the origins of a fungal infection which is one of the major causes of death from AIDS-related illnesses. The study shows how the more virulent forms of Cryptococcus neoformans evolved and spread out of Africa and into Asia. ... > full story

Early history of genetics revised: New light shed on 'rediscovery' of Mendel's laws of heredity (May 3, 2011) -- The early history of genetics has to be re-written in the light of new findings, new research suggests. Scientists in Europe have found out that the traditional history of the 'rediscovery' of Gregor Johann Mendel's laws of heredity in 1900 has to be adjusted and some facets have to be added. ... > full story

Shootingstars provide clues to likely response of plants to global warming (May 3, 2011) -- Researchers delved into the post-Pleistocene history of two rare species of shootingstars (Dodecatheon), thinking that their response to post-glacial warming might provide clues to the response of plants to global warming. They found that one species was a glacial relict but the other was an ecotype, or variant, of a widespread species that had adapted to the cooler cliff habitat. ... > full story

Receptor for Ebola virus identified (May 3, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a cellular protein that acts as a receptor for Ebola virus and Marburg virus. Furthermore, the team showed that an antibody, which binds to the receptor protein, is able to block infection by both viruses. The results suggest that a human-compatible version of the antibody might provide a way to prevent initial infection during an outbreak. ... > full story

'Apple a day' advice rooted in science (May 3, 2011) -- Daily apple consumption shows long-term cardioprotective effects in postmenopausal women. ... > full story

Minor cause, major effect: Interactions in ecosystems can intensify impact of climate change (May 3, 2011) -- Marine biologists show that highly complex interactions in ecosystems can intensify the impact of climate change within a relatively short period of time. ... > full story

Lichen evolved on two tracks, like marsupials and mammals (May 3, 2011) -- Lichen -- those drab, fuzzy growths found on rocks and trees -- aren't as cuddly and charismatic as kangaroos or intriguing as opossums, but they could be a fungal equivalent, at least evolutionarily. ... > full story

'Small fry' fish just as vulnerable to population plunges as sharks or tuna (May 3, 2011) -- Sharks, tuna, billfish and other oceanic top predators have suffered major population declines in recent decades, causing many researchers to consider them the species at the highest risk of extinction. But now researchers have found that anchovies, sardines and other small fishes are at an equal or greater risk of suffering a collapse. ... > full story

No nuts for 'Nutcracker Man': Early human relative apparently chewed grass instead (May 3, 2011) -- For decades, a 2.3-million- to 1.2-million-year-old human relative named Paranthropus boisei has been nicknamed Nutcracker Man because of his big, flat molar teeth and thick, powerful jaw. But a definitive new study shows that Nutcracker Man didn't eat nuts, but instead chewed grasses and possibly sedges -- a discovery that upsets conventional wisdom about early humanity's diet. ... > full story

Global warming won't harm wind energy production, climate models predict (May 3, 2011) -- The production of wind energy in the US over the next 30-50 years will be largely unaffected by upward changes in global temperature, say a pair of scientists who analyzed output from several regional climate models to assess future wind patterns in America's lower 48 states. ... > full story

Winners of mass extinction: With predators gone, prey thrive (May 3, 2011) -- In modern ecology, the removal or addition of a predator to an ecosystem can produce dramatic changes in the population of prey species. For the first time, scientists have observed the same dynamics in the fossil record, thanks to a mass extinction that decimated ocean life 360 million years ago. ... > full story

Caves and their dripstones reveal the uplift of mountains (May 3, 2011) -- Geologists from Austria and the UK report on ancient cave systems discovered near the summits of the Allgäu Mountains that preserved the oldest radiometrically dated dripstones currently known from the European Alps. ... > full story

A billion tons of biomass a viable goal, but at high price, new research shows (May 3, 2011) -- Very high yield biomass would be needed in order to meet the ambitious goal of replacing 30 percent of petroleum consumption in the US with biofuels by 2030. But according to researchers, unless biomass prices are really high, high yield perennial grasses are going to have a hard time competing with crops like corn, soybean and wheat for the prime agricultural land they require. ... > full story

Germ Genie kills keyboard germs -- even C. difficile, scientists find (May 3, 2011) -- Scientists who proved the effectiveness of Germ Genie, a tool to prevent infections from keyboards, have now found that it can kill C. difficile. ... > full story

Model of island ecology sheds new light on the origins of island species (May 2, 2011) -- Animal and bird species found only on a single island should still be common within that island. ... > full story

Lesser-known Escherichia coli types targeted in food safety research (May 2, 2011) -- Almost everyone knows about Escherichia coli O157:H7, the culprit behind many headline-making outbreaks of foodborne illness in the United States. But the lesser-known relatives of this pathogenic microbe are increasingly of concern to food safety scientists. ... > full story

Washing with contaminated soap increases bacteria on hands, research finds (May 2, 2011) -- People who wash their hands with contaminated soap from bulk-soap-refillable dispensers can increase the number of disease-causing microbes on their hands and may play a role in transmission of bacteria in public settings, according to new research. ... > full story

Endogenous proteins found in a 70-million-year-old giant marine lizard (May 2, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered primary biological matter in a fossil of an extinct varanoid lizard (a mosasaur) that inhabited marine environments during Late Cretaceous times. Using state-of-the-art technology, the scientists have been able to link proteinaceous molecules to bone matrix fibres isolated from a 70-million-year-old fossil -- that is, they have found genuine remains of an extinct animal entombed in stone. ... > full story

Rare deep-sea starfish stuck in juvenile body plan (May 2, 2011) -- Scientists have combined embryological observations, genetic sequencing, and supercomputing to determine that small disk-shaped animals that once were thought to represent a new class of animals are actually starfish that have lost the large star-shaped, adult body from their life cycle. A computational biologists used a supercomputer to help support his contention that class-level status of Xyloplax does not reflect their evolutionary history. ... > full story

Eddies found to be deep, powerful modes of ocean transport connecting atmospheric events and deep ocean (May 2, 2011) -- Massive, swirling ocean eddies -- known to be up to 500 kilometers across at the surface -- can reach all the way to the ocean bottom at mid-ocean ridges, some 2,500 meters deep, transporting tiny sea creatures, chemicals, and heat from hydrothermal vents over large distances. ... > full story

Chemical in plastic, BPA, exposure may be associated with wheezing in children (May 2, 2011) -- Exposure to the chemical bisphenol A during early pregnancy may be associated with wheezing in children, according to new research. ... > full story

New material could improve safety for first responders to chemical hazards (May 2, 2011) -- Carbon nanofibers with the same chemical properties as the activated charcoal used in respirators have a similar ability to absorb chemical pollutants. Their photonic structure means that they will change color as pollutants accumulate, a warning that the filter canister has lost effectiveness. Researchers describe how they made the microsensors and demonstrate their ability to detect volatile organic compounds. ... > full story

Ancestors of land plants revealed (May 2, 2011) -- It was previously thought that land plants evolved from stonewort-like algae. However, new research shows that the closest relatives to land plants are actually conjugating green algae such as Spirogyra. ... > full story

Several baffling puzzles in protein molecular structure solved with new method (May 2, 2011) -- A protein's molecular structure shapes its function. The structures of many protein molecules however, remain unsolved even after experts apply an extensive array of approaches. An international collaboration has led to a new, high-performance method that rapidly determined the structure of protein molecules in several cases where previous methods had failed. Protein structure information is useful in disease research, nanotechnology, and drug design, among other fields. ... > full story

Actin filaments, cellular 'workhorses,' caught in action (May 2, 2011) -- Scientists have succeeded in showing the breakup of actin filaments, the thread-like structures inside cells that are crucial to their movement, maintenance and division. ... > full story

Biocontrol: Fungus and wasps released to control emerald ash borer (May 2, 2011) -- Scientists are making an effort to contain the emerald ash borer's destructive march through U.S. forests. Researchers are testing a fungal pathogen that could be used as a biocontrol, along with the release of non-stinging wasps that are the beetle's natural enemies. Wasps have now been released in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland, and releases are planned in several other states. ... > full story

Animal-assisted therapy decreases patient anxiety in pre-MRI setting, study suggests (May 2, 2011) -- Patients who undergo MRI often suffer from elevated anxiety. Patient discomfort may cause poor image quality due to motion artifacts or early termination. Anxiolytic medications are currently used to reduce this anticipated anxiety, but animal-assisted therapy may be a non-invasive alternative treatment with fewer adverse effects, according to new research. ... > full story

Scorpion venom: Bad for bugs, good for pesticides (May 1, 2011) -- Fables have long cast scorpions as bad-natured killers of hapless turtles that naively agree to ferry them across rivers. Scientists, however, see them in a different light. Insect toxicologists and neurobiologists have studied the effects of scorpion venom with the hopes of finding new ways to protect plants from bugs. The results have revealed new ways in which the venom works. ... > full story

Spiders in space: Researchers observe arachnid habits in a microgravity environment (May 1, 2011) -- The very idea of spiders in space brings to mind campy, black and white horror films involving eight-legged monsters. In actuality, it is a scientific investigation called Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus Science Insert-05 or CSI-05, in which researchers observe arachnid habits in a microgravity environment. This is the second spider investigation on the International Space Station -- the first was CSI-03 -- and researchers have high hopes that the sequel will eclipse the original. ... > full story

Cells send signals via membrane nanotubes (May 1, 2011) -- A new research discovery may help to explain how cells cooperate to develop tissue in the embryo and how wounds heal. Last year researchers discovered that electrical signals were being passed through nanotubes from one cell to another at high speed (roughly 1-2 m/sec). Now the scientists are seeking answers as to why the cells send signals to each other in this way. The process could explain how cells are coordinated during embryo growth, researchers say. ... > full story

Chemical found in crude oil linked to congenital heart disease: Fetal exposure to solvents may damage heart (May 1, 2011) -- While it may be years before the health effects of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are known, a new study shows that fetal exposure to a chemical found in crude oil is associated with an increased risk of congenital heart disease. ... > full story

NASA building instrument to study magnetic reconnection (May 1, 2011) -- Whether it's a giant solar flare or a beautiful green-blue aurora, just about everything interesting in space weather happens due to a phenomenon called magnetic reconnection. Several spacecraft have already sent back tantalizing data when they happened to witness a magnetic reconnection event in Earth's magnetosphere. However, there are no spacecraft currently dedicated to the study of this phenomenon, yet. Scientists and engineers are now working on a crucial element of the Magnetospheric Multiscale instrument suite: the Fast Plasma Instrument. ... > full story

'Explosive' evolution in pupfish (May 1, 2011) -- Two groups of small fish, one from a Caribbean island and one from the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, exhibit some of the fastest rates of evolution known in any organism, according to a new study. ... > full story

Thinking outside the column: New insights into brain structure reveal new facets of information processing in nervous system (May 1, 2011) -- For more than 50 years, a dominating assumption in brain research was that nerve cells in the cortex of the brain are organized in the form of microscopically small columns. Subsequently, it became a textbook standard that connections are created predominantly between nerve cells within these columns. Researchers now show that this view has to be revised: input from cells that lie outside this column plays a much more important role than previously assumed. ... > full story

Database on environmental impact of major urban ecosystems created (May 1, 2011) -- An innovative study examines the environmental impact of major urban ecosystems. The team researched such details as airplane and motor vehicle travel, paper and plastic use, recycling and waste disposal, household utility records, and on-site measurements of vegetation and landscape. ... > full story

Plant extract may be new therapy for hay fever, study suggests (April 30, 2011) -- Fighting hay fever with a plant extract? It works, as was shown in a new clinical study. Allergic symptoms were alleviated significantly better than with the usual histamine receptor antagonists. ... > full story

Genes control fruit flies' social groupings (April 30, 2011) -- A new study reveals how a fruit fly's genes can influence the company it keeps. Using male flies that had been bred for varying levels of aggressiveness, researchers observed how the males formed groups when placed into an enclosure with females. ... > full story

Wild hogs: Researchers examine impact of feral pigs in eastern North Carolina (April 30, 2011) -- America's feral pig population continues to expand, increasing the potential for interaction with humans and domestic swine -- and for spreading diseases. Researchers at North Carolina State University examined feral pigs from eastern North Carolina to determine exposure to two parasites that can be transmitted from animals to people -- Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and Trichinella. ... > full story

Through unique eyes, box jellyfish look out to the world above the water (April 30, 2011) -- Box jellyfish may seem like rather simple creatures, but in fact their visual system is anything but. They've got no fewer than 24 eyes of four different kinds. Now, researchers have evidence revealing that four of those eyes always peer up out of the water, regardless of the way the rest of the animal is oriented. ... > full story

New solar cell technology greatly boosts efficiency (April 29, 2011) -- With the creation of a 3-D nanocone-based solar cell platform, scientists have boosted the light-to-power conversion efficiency of photovoltaics by nearly 80 percent. ... > full story

Mutant mouse reveals new wrinkle in genetic code (April 29, 2011) -- Call it a mystery with a stubby tail: an odd-looking mouse discovered through a US government breeding program in the 1940s that had a short, kinky tail and an extra set of ribs in its neck -- and nobody knew why. ... > full story