PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Palms reveal the significance of climate change for tropical biodiversity

Scientists at Aarhus University have spearheaded research results that shed new light on the processes forming the composition of species assemblages in the tropics

2012-04-24
(Press-News.org) Scientists at Aarhus University have spearheaded research results that shed new light on the processes forming the composition of species assemblages in the tropics.

"It comes as a surprise to us that climate change over millions of years still leaves a signature in the composition of species assemblages we see today. If species are severely affected by current and future climate change, it'll mean that there are long-lasting consequences for biodiversity, maybe over many millions of years to come – at least much longer than we've ever dreamt of before," says Daniel Kissling, who initiated the ground-breaking research results shortly to be published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA (PNAS).

Tropical areas provide similar conditions with high temperatures and humidity regardless of whether you are in Asia, Africa or South America. And you can find lush rainforests in all these places. However, tropical rainforests are not the same. There are fundamental differences in the species composition in the rainforests on the different continents.

Palms are much more than just the coconut palms we see on beaches of pure white sand. There are actually more than 2400 species of palms and, by studying them, the researchers have shown that the palm assemblages we find in the tropics today are to a large extent formed by climatic changes of the past, taking place over millions of years.

South America has had a relatively stable humid and warm climate over the last 50 million years, and rainforests have been widespread throughout this entire period. This is where species diversity is highest. There have been good living conditions and plenty of space for many new species to arise. As species formation has been concentrated in particular groups, the species-rich South American palm communities are now dominated by closely related species.

Africa, on the other hand, has been hit by severe drying during the last 10 to 30 million years. The area of rainforest has thus diminished dramatically, until it reached a minimum during the cold, dry ice ages that have repeatedly affected the world over and over again during the last 3 million years. As a result of past climatic changes, many species have simply disappeared entirely from the continent. There are therefore far fewer palm species in Africa than in South America. The poor palm flora of Africa thus has a relict character, and consists of species that are often not closely related to each other.

INFORMATION:

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Bark beetle management and ecology in southern pine forests

2012-04-24
Periodic outbreaks of bark beetles can cause annual losses of millions of dollars and pose serious challenges for forest managers, and the suppression of outbreaks is particularly difficult and expensive. According to T. D. Schowalter, author of a new open-access article in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management called "Ecology and Management of Bark Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Southern Pine Forests," preventative measures are most effective in minimizing losses to these beetles, and several factors should be considered in planning bark beetle ...

Nano-devices that cross blood-brain barrier open door to treatment of cerebral palsy

2012-04-24
A team of scientists from Johns Hopkins and elsewhere have developed nano-devices that successfully cross the brain-blood barrier and deliver a drug that tames brain-damaging inflammation in rabbits with cerebral palsy. A report on the experiments, conducted at Wayne State University in collaboration with the Perinatology Research Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, before the lead and senior investigators moved to Johns Hopkins, is published in the April 18 issue of Science Translational Medicine. For the study, researchers used ...

TeamSupport.com Boosts Efficiency at Wren Solutions

TeamSupport.com Boosts Efficiency at Wren Solutions
2012-04-24
TeamSupport.com (http://www.TeamSupport.com) - the popular provider of web-based customer support and help desk software solutions - today announced a successful deployment of the company's Enterprise Edition by Wren Solutions, a leading supplier of physical security solutions for loss prevention. The Jefferson City, Missouri-based company offers a comprehensive suite of Web-based applications under the Encapsulon brand for enterprise-level security and operations management. Seeking a well integrated solution to streamline Wren's internal support workflows, IS and ...

New Data Shows How New York Drivers Rank Against Others; More Traffic Tickets Than Most States

2012-04-24
Ever wonder how New York drivers compare to drivers in other states? Are NY drivers as safe? Do they tend to receive more traffic tickets or have more citations for drunk driving? Thanks to a statistical analysis compiled from data provided by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), the American Motorists Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), it is possible to compare how New Yorkers fair behind the wheel versus drivers in other states. The data gathered from NHTSA, the American Motorists Association and MADD were translated ...

Leading Perimeter Hotel Provides Close Lodging to the Global Imports Cycling Challenge

Leading Perimeter Hotel Provides Close Lodging to the Global Imports Cycling Challenge
2012-04-24
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta N-Perimeter Mall Hotel in Sandy Springs, GA offers nearby lodging to guests attending and participating in the Global Imports Cycling Challenge. Part of the USA Southeast Crit Series' Speed Week, the race will take place May 6, 2012. The course goes through Sandy Springs, running on Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs Place, Hilderbrand Drive, and Blue Stone Road. Different categories of racers feature juniors, women, men, and masters. The fast paced races consist of multiple short laps run through the city streets. The Sandy ...

North Atlanta Hotel Offers Close Lodging to Atlanta Silverbacks Home Soccer Games

2012-04-24
The newly renovated Comfort Inn & Conference Center Northeast, a leading north Atlanta hotel, offers convenient accommodations to Atlanta Silverbacks soccer games. Upcoming 2012 home pro men's games, which are played at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, include: - Silverbacks verse Minnesota Stars FC, April 28 - Silverbacks verse FC Edmonton, May 12 - Silverbacks verse Tampa Bay Rowdies, May 19 - Silverbacks verse Carolina Rail Hawks, June 16 - Silverbacks verse Puerto Rico Islanders, June 23 The Atlanta Silverbacks are a second tier member of the North American Soccer ...

Tampa Bankruptcy Law Firm Clark & Washington Are Inspired By Willie Nelson's Bankruptcy Success

2012-04-24
Tampa bankruptcy attorneys Clark & Washington find inspiration in the story of Willie Nelson, who bounced back from a bankruptcy of $16.7 million in debt to be one of today's most successful musicians. If you are facing bankruptcy in Tampa, take heart from Nelson's story and know that filing for Tampa bankruptcy is a step towards a financially sound future. Willie Nelson rose to fame in the country music scene, but began to diverge into his own mixed style in the 1970s. Nelson was quite successful, working in groups with legends Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. However, ...

Orlando Bankruptcy Law Firm Clark & Washington Discusses National Bankruptcy Filings & Debt for 2011

2012-04-24
Orlando bankruptcy attorneys Clark & Washington have received data on the national rate of bankruptcies and overall consumer debt for 2011. Our great nation struggled through an extended recession in 2011, and many families acquired more debt than they could manage in trying to keep their families afloat and their homes from foreclosure. Many families realized that filing for personal bankruptcy was their only hope to escape their growing mountain of debt and start on the path to a more financially solvent future. In 2011, consumers filed for a total of 1,001,813 ...

Gatekeeper of brain steroid signals boosts emotional resilience to stress

2012-04-24
PHILADELPHIA - A cellular protein called HDAC6, newly characterized as a gatekeeper of steroid biology in the brain, may provide a novel target for treating and preventing stress-linked disorders, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Glucocorticoids are natural steroids secreted by the body during stress. A small amount of these hormones helps with normal brain function, but their excess is a precipitating factor for stress-related disorders. Glucocorticoids ...

Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorneys Clark & Washington Note That Georgia Had 2nd Highest Bankruptcy Rate

2012-04-24
The Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys at Clark & Washington wish to inform those facing bankruptcy in Atlanta that in 2011, Georgia was the state with the second highest consumer bankruptcy filings. 2011 was a rough year for many Americans as unemployment was up and the country was mired in a recession. Atlanta was one of the major cities that was hit the hardest by the recession with an unemployment rate that was usually higher than the national average. Many Georgia families found themselves struggling under their personal debt. The top five states with the most ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Mammals were adapting from life in the trees to living on the ground before dinosaur-killing asteroid

Low LDL cholesterol levels linked to reduced risk of dementia

Thickening of the eye’s retina associated with greater risk and severity of postoperative delirium in older patients

Almost one in ten people surveyed report having been harmed by the NHS in the last three years

Enhancing light control with complex frequency excitations

New research finds novel drug target for acute myeloid leukemia, bringing hope for cancer patients

New insight into factors associated with a common disease among dogs and humans

Illuminating single atoms for sustainable propylene production

New study finds Rocky Mountain snow contamination

Study examines lactation in critically ill patients

UVA Engineering Dean Jennifer West earns AIMBE’s 2025 Pierre Galletti Award

Doubling down on metasurfaces

New Cedars-Sinai study shows how specialized diet can improve gut disorders

Making moves and hitting the breaks: Owl journeys surprise researchers in western Montana

PKU Scientists simulate the origin and evolution of the North Atlantic Oscillation

ICRAFT breakthrough: Unlocking A20’s dual role in cancer immunotherapy

How VR technology is changing the game for Alzheimer’s disease

A borrowed bacterial gene allowed some marine diatoms to live on a seaweed diet

Balance between two competing nerve proteins deters symptoms of autism in mice

Use of antifungals in agriculture may increase resistance in an infectious yeast

Awareness grows of cancer risk from alcohol consumption, survey finds

The experts that can outsmart optical illusions

Pregnancy may reduce long COVID risk

Scientists uncover novel immune mechanism in wheat tandem kinase

Three University of Virginia Engineering faculty elected as AAAS Fellows

Unintentional drug overdoses take a toll across the U.S. unequally, study finds

A step toward plant-based gelatin

ECMWF unveils groundbreaking ML tool for enhanced fire prediction

The food and fuel that farms itself

Patient- and Community-Level Characteristics Associated With RSV Vaccination

[Press-News.org] Palms reveal the significance of climate change for tropical biodiversity
Scientists at Aarhus University have spearheaded research results that shed new light on the processes forming the composition of species assemblages in the tropics