Species unique to single island should not be rare there
Model of island ecology sheds new light on the origins of island species
2011-04-13
(Press-News.org) Animal and bird species found only on a single island should still be common within that island.
This is the finding of a new model developed by researchers from the University of Leeds and Imperial College London. The model could apply both to actual islands and isolated areas of habitat on the mainland that are home to unique species, such as the table top mountains of South America.
The natural history of islands is littered with examples of unusual species found only in one place, such as the Hawaiian Goose, Galápagos Tortoises and Dodo that may once have been common on their islands, but since human contact have become rare or even extinct. Now this new modelling approach shows that in general, most unique island species should be common on their island. If they are not, then the researchers believe human activity is most likely to be the cause.
"Models of island ecology have tended to focus on the total number of different species that you might expect to find on an island, rather than on how common or rare those species are and whether or not they are unique to the island," says Dr James Rosindell, of Leeds' Faculty of Biological Sciences. "Our model is able to predict the way that new species develop in isolation from the mainland as well as how many individuals of each species we could expect to see in their natural habitat. However, there is little data on population sizes and this highlights a real gap in knowledge that we need to fill."
To develop the model, the researchers collated data on bird species found across 35 islands and archipelagos. Modern genetics makes it possible to identify which species have diverged to create new species – so the team were able to test their model against actual data.
The model and data both show that whilst islands close to the mainland have no unique species, more distant islands tend to have unique species that are closely related to mainland species. Only the islands and archipelagos furthest from the mainland are expected to contain large numbers of unique species closely related to each other, such as Darwin's finches on the Galápagos and the Hawaiian honeycreepers.
"This model is still in its early stages of development, but we hope it will help to prompt more study of population sizes on islands," says Dr Albert Phillimore, from Imperial's Department of Life Sciences. "Comparing the predictions of different models to actual data can help us to identify where other factors are coming into play – such as additional ecological processes and human intervention. In the future, we plan to look at how the model could also help make predictions relevant to conservation strategy."
###
The work has been funded through an EPSRC research fellowship and an Imperial Junior Research Fellowship.
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Scots carbon emissions could be halved in decades, study suggests
2011-04-13
Cutting Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions by a half within 20 years is achievable, a study suggests.
Scientists say greener transport and cleaner power generation could help deliver big savings on CO2 emissions. The researchers say the use of smart meters for homes and businesses, improved recycling, and greener building designs could make a difference. They also recommend carbon capture and storage to reduce emissions from carbon-intensive industry and coal-fired power plants.
The study, carried out at the University of Edinburgh's School of GeoSciences and Business ...
SENTIDO Announces HolidayCheck Awards Success
2011-04-13
SENTIDO has been recognised by HolidayCheck, the largest German language travel and holiday portal on the web, with the hotel company winning three awards.
The four-star SENTIDO hotel Djerba Beach has enjoyed an especially large number of satisfied guests and so has captured the HolidayCheck Award 2011. It was voted one of the world's 99 most popular hotels and one of the best resorts in the category "Popular among guests aged below 30".
The four-star SENTIDO Djerba Beach is located on Djerba, Tunisia, not far from the island's capital of Houmt Souk and 25 kilometres ...
Current biofuels policies are unethical, says report
2011-04-13
Current UK and European policies on biofuels encourage unethical practices, says a report by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics today following an 18-month inquiry. Policies such as the European Renewable Energy Directive are particularly weak when it comes to protecting the environment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and avoiding human rights violations in developing countries. They also include few incentives for the development of new biofuel technologies that could help avoid these problems.
"Biofuels are one of the only renewable alternatives we have for transport ...
Natural gas from shale contributes to global warming
2011-04-13
Natural gas extracted from shale formations has a greater greenhouse gas footprint - in the form of methane emissions - than conventional gas, oil and coal over a 20 year period. This calls into question the logic of its use as a climate-friendly alternative to fossil fuels, according to Robert Howarth and colleagues, from Cornell University in New York. Their work (1) is published online in Springer's journal, Climatic Change Letters (2).
Shale gas* has become an increasingly important source of natural gas in the United States over the past decade. Howarth and team ...
Grand Imperial Restaurant Reveals Asian-Inspired Easter
2011-04-13
Grand Imperial London has put a spin on authentic Hong Kong cuisine by creating a collection of exquisite chocolate dim sum dumplings - ideal for chocolate lovers looking to indulge in an Easter celebration with Asian flair.
Each crispy dumpling is freshly prepared and filled with a warm silky chocolate sauce made with 70% cacao. The platter comes with four individual parcels; the crispy 'Canton Cracker' pastry, the 'Pumpkin Bundle', a miniature pumpkin made with pumpkin essence and lemon zest, the 'Cashew Crescent', a half moon pastry topped with cashew nuts and icing ...
Study finds public relatively unconcerned about nanotechnology risks
2011-04-13
A new study finds that the general public thinks getting a suntan poses a greater public health risk than nanotechnology or other nanoparticle applications. The study, from North Carolina State University, compared survey respondents' perceived risk of nanoparticles with 23 other public-health risks.
The study is the first to compare the public's perception of the risks associated with nanoparticles to other environmental and health safety risks. Researchers found that nanoparticles are perceived as being a relatively low risk.
"For example, 19 of the other public-health ...
Greenhouse gases from forest soils
2011-04-13
This release is available in German.
Reactive nitrogen compounds from agriculture, transport, and industry lead to increased emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) from forests in Europe. Nitrous oxide emission from forest soils is at least twice as high as estimated so far by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This is one of the key messages of the first study on nitrogen in Europe (European Nitrogen Assessment, ENA) that is presented this week at the International Conference "Nitrogen and Global Change 2011" in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Reactive ...
Northern Rock Launches Easy ISA Issue 2
2011-04-13
Northern Rock has announced the launch of its Easy ISA Issue 2.
Following the success of its recently launched Easy ISA, Northern Rock has improved the variable rate cash ISA account, which offers a competitive tax-free* interest rate for a minimum deposit of just GBP1.
Easy ISA can now be opened and administered by post, as well as in branch.
The Easy ISA Issue 2 account provides a variable rate of interest, and easy access to savings funds. With a minimum deposit of GBP1, a competitive flat rate of 2.65% tax free*/AER** pa, and the option to transfer across any ...
Wii key to helping kids balance
2011-04-13
By cleverly linking five Wii Balance Boards, a team of Rice University undergraduates has combined the appeal of a video game with the utility of a computerized motion-tracking system that can enhance the progress of patients at Shriners Hospital for Children-Houston.
The Rice engineering students created the new device using components of the popular Nintendo game system to create a balance training system.
What the kids may see as a fun video game is really a sophisticated way to help them advance their skills. The Wii Balance Boards lined up between handrails will ...
NewBlue, Inc. Joins EvoNexus to Launch Revolutionary Mobile Video Sharing Platform
2011-04-13
NewBlue, Inc., the fastest growing provider of integrated video effects technologies, and CommNexus, a nonprofit technology industry association that works to accelerate the success of the technology industry in the region, today announces that NewBlue has been accepted into EvoNexus, San Diego's only community-supported, fully pro-bono technology incubator.
Founded by proven, experienced entrepreneurs in digital media, NewBlue was created on the premise that video would become an integral part of popular culture and a critical player in the consumer marketplace. EvoNexus ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Scientists reverse Alzheimer’s in mice using nanoparticles
‘Good’ gut bacteria boosts placenta for healthier pregnancy
USC team demonstrates first optical device based on “optical thermodynamics”
Microplastics found to change gut microbiome in first human-sample study
Artificially sweetened and sugary drinks are both associated with an increased risk of liver disease, study finds
Plastic in the soil, but not as we know it: Biodegradable microplastics rewire carbon storage in farm fields
Yeast proteins reveal the secrets of drought resistance
Psychiatry, primary care, and OB/GYN subspecialties hit hardest by physician attrition
New Canadian study reveals where HIV hides in different parts of the body
Lidocaine poisonings rise despite overall drop in local anesthetic toxicity
Politics follow you on the road
Scientists blaze new path to fighting viral diseases
The mouse eye as a window to spotting systemic disease
AI and the Future of Cancer Research and Cancer Care to headline October 24 gathering of global oncology leaders at the National Press Club: NFCR Global Summit to feature top scientists, entrepreneurs
FDA clears UCLA heart tissue regeneration drug AD-NP1 for clinical trials
Exploring the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol for Alzheimer's
We need a solar sail probe to detect space tornadoes earlier, more accurately, U-M researchers say
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): Disease risk but not remission status determines transplant outcomes – new ASAP long-term results
Sperm microRNAs: Key regulators of the paternal transmission of exercise capacity
Seeing double: Clever images open doors for brain research
Inhaler-related greenhouse gas emissions in the US
UCLA Health study finds inhalers for asthma and COPD drive significant greenhouse gas emissions
A surgical handover system for patient physiology and safety
Cardiovascular health changes in young adults and risk of later-life cardiovascular disease
Nurse workload and missed nursing care in neonatal intensive care units
How to solve the remote work stalemate – dissertation offers tools for successful hybrid work
Chip-based phonon splitter brings hybrid quantum networks closer to reality
Texas Children’s researchers create groundbreaking tool to improve accuracy of genetic testing
Milken Institute, Ann Theodore Foundation announce more than $2.5 million in new funding for sarcoidosis research and launch new call for proposals
Boston University professor to receive 2025 Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award
[Press-News.org] Species unique to single island should not be rare thereModel of island ecology sheds new light on the origins of island species