Climate change projected to alter Indiana bat maternity range

Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
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Contact: Susan Loeb
sloeb@fs.fed.us
864-656-4865
USDA Forest Service ? Southern Research Station

Research by US Forest Service scientists forecasts profound changes over the next 50 years in the summer range of the endangered Indiana bat. In an article published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, Forest Service Southern Research Station researchers Susan Loeb and Eric Winters discuss the findings of one of the first studies designed to forecast the responses of a temperate zone bat species to climate change.

The researchers modeled the current maternity distribution of Indiana bats and then modeled future distributions based on four different climate change scenarios. "We found that due to projected changes in temperature, the most suitable summer range for Indiana bats would decline and become concentrated in the northeastern United States and the Appalachian Mountains," says SRS research ecologist Loeb. "The western part of the range (Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio)currently considered the heart of Indiana bat maternity rangewould become unsuitable under most climates that we modeled. This has important implications for managers in the Northeast and the Appalachian Mountains as these areas will most likely serve as climatic refuges for these animals when other parts of the range become too warm."

In general, bat species in temperate zones such as Indiana bats may be more sensitive than many other groups of mammals to climate change because their reproductive cycles, hibernation patterns, and migration are closely tied to temperature. Indiana bat populations were in decline for decades due to multiple factors, including the destruction of winter hibernation sites and loss of summer maternity habitat.

Due to conservation efforts, researchers saw an increase in Indiana bat populations in 2000 to 2005, but with the onset of white-nose syndrome populations are declining again, with the number of Indiana bats reported hibernating in the northeastern United States down by 72 percent in 2011. The study predicts even more declines due to temperature rises from climate change, with much of the western portion of the current range forecast to be unsuitable for maternity habitat by 2060.

"Our model suggests that once average summer (May through August) maximum temperatures reach 27.4C (81.3F), the climatic suitability of the area for Indiana bat maternity colonies declines," says Loeb. "Once they reach 29.9C (85.8F), the area is forecast to become completely unsuitable. Initially, Indiana bat maternity colonies may respond to warming temperatures by choosing roosts that have more shade than the roosts that they currently use. Eventually, it is likely that they will have to find more suitable climates."

The models the researchers produced provide resource managers guidance on areas that are likely to contain maternity colonies now and in the future, depending on the availability of suitable habitat in those areas. "Managers in the western parts of the range should be aware of the potential changes in summer distributions due to climate change and not assume that declines are due to habitat loss or degradation," says Loeb. "Management actions that foster high reproductive success and survival will be critical for the conservation and recovery of the species."

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Access the full text of the article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.440/abstract

Headquartered in Asheville, NC, the Southern Research Station comprises more than 120 scientists and several hundred support staff who conduct natural resource research in 20 locations across 13 southern states (Virginia to Texas). The Station's mission is "to create the science and technology needed to sustain and enhance southern forest ecosystems and the benefits they provide." Learn more about the Southern Research Station at: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Susan Loeb
sloeb@fs.fed.us
864-656-4865
USDA Forest Service ? Southern Research Station

Research by US Forest Service scientists forecasts profound changes over the next 50 years in the summer range of the endangered Indiana bat. In an article published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, Forest Service Southern Research Station researchers Susan Loeb and Eric Winters discuss the findings of one of the first studies designed to forecast the responses of a temperate zone bat species to climate change.

The researchers modeled the current maternity distribution of Indiana bats and then modeled future distributions based on four different climate change scenarios. "We found that due to projected changes in temperature, the most suitable summer range for Indiana bats would decline and become concentrated in the northeastern United States and the Appalachian Mountains," says SRS research ecologist Loeb. "The western part of the range (Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio)currently considered the heart of Indiana bat maternity rangewould become unsuitable under most climates that we modeled. This has important implications for managers in the Northeast and the Appalachian Mountains as these areas will most likely serve as climatic refuges for these animals when other parts of the range become too warm."

In general, bat species in temperate zones such as Indiana bats may be more sensitive than many other groups of mammals to climate change because their reproductive cycles, hibernation patterns, and migration are closely tied to temperature. Indiana bat populations were in decline for decades due to multiple factors, including the destruction of winter hibernation sites and loss of summer maternity habitat.

Due to conservation efforts, researchers saw an increase in Indiana bat populations in 2000 to 2005, but with the onset of white-nose syndrome populations are declining again, with the number of Indiana bats reported hibernating in the northeastern United States down by 72 percent in 2011. The study predicts even more declines due to temperature rises from climate change, with much of the western portion of the current range forecast to be unsuitable for maternity habitat by 2060.

"Our model suggests that once average summer (May through August) maximum temperatures reach 27.4C (81.3F), the climatic suitability of the area for Indiana bat maternity colonies declines," says Loeb. "Once they reach 29.9C (85.8F), the area is forecast to become completely unsuitable. Initially, Indiana bat maternity colonies may respond to warming temperatures by choosing roosts that have more shade than the roosts that they currently use. Eventually, it is likely that they will have to find more suitable climates."

The models the researchers produced provide resource managers guidance on areas that are likely to contain maternity colonies now and in the future, depending on the availability of suitable habitat in those areas. "Managers in the western parts of the range should be aware of the potential changes in summer distributions due to climate change and not assume that declines are due to habitat loss or degradation," says Loeb. "Management actions that foster high reproductive success and survival will be critical for the conservation and recovery of the species."

###

Access the full text of the article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.440/abstract

Headquartered in Asheville, NC, the Southern Research Station comprises more than 120 scientists and several hundred support staff who conduct natural resource research in 20 locations across 13 southern states (Virginia to Texas). The Station's mission is "to create the science and technology needed to sustain and enhance southern forest ecosystems and the benefits they provide." Learn more about the Southern Research Station at: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/ufs-ccp012813.php

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New online, open access journal focuses on microbial genome announcements

Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
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Contact: Jim Sliwa
jsliwa@asmusa.org
202-942-9297
American Society for Microbiology

The American Society for Microbiology has published the first issue of its new online-only, open access journal, Genome AnnouncementsTM, focusing exclusively on reports of microbial genome sequences.

Genome Announcements features short manuscripts announcing the availability of recently sequenced genomes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes and viruses in public databases. These announcements inform readers of the availability of new genome sequences and provide the rationale for sequencing a particular organism, as well as details of the methodologies and protocols used in assembly of the genome sequence.

Although genome sequence data typically are deposited in GenBank or other shared databases, the rationale for sequencing a particular organism and the detailed methodologies and protocols used often are not readily available. In the past, several ASM journals published Genome Announcement article types, brief reports stating that the genome of a particular organism has been sequenced and deposited which provide a citable record of the corresponding GenBank submission. Over the years submissions for Genome Announcements have increased where they warrant a dedicated journal.

"The exponential increase in submissions and the usage of Genome Announcements has confirmed the value and service they bring to the scientific community. As a result, ASM will now publish all Genome Announcements in a single, dedicated, online-only, open-access journal starting January 2013," says Phil Matsumura of the University of Illinois at Chicago, editor of the new journal.

Manuscripts submitted to Genome Announcements must include an abstract, an acknowledgments section indicating the source of support for the work, and a nucleotide sequence accession number and are limited to 500 words (exclusive of the abstract and acknowledgments). Sequences must be made publicly available before a submission will be considered for publication, and the nucleotide sequence accession number(s) must be provided in a separate paragraph at the end of the text. Manuscripts may not include figures, tables, or supplemental material used to present data or analysis. However, multiple related sequences and their accompanying accession numbers and URL may be presented in tabular form. Publication of Sequence Read Archives (SRAs) is not permitted.

Genome Announcements manuscripts do not require peer review, but may be reviewed at the editor's discretion. Publication of an article in Genome Announcements does not preclude a later publication (e.g., a full comparative analysis) on the same organism in another ASM journal. Genome Announcements articles will be published continuously and will be collected into bimonthly issues throughout the year.

###

More information on the journal, including the first issue, can be found online at http://genomea.asm.org.

The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of over 39,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences as a vehicle for understanding life processes and to apply and communicate this knowledge for the improvement of health and environmental and economic well-being worldwide.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa
jsliwa@asmusa.org
202-942-9297
American Society for Microbiology

The American Society for Microbiology has published the first issue of its new online-only, open access journal, Genome AnnouncementsTM, focusing exclusively on reports of microbial genome sequences.

Genome Announcements features short manuscripts announcing the availability of recently sequenced genomes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes and viruses in public databases. These announcements inform readers of the availability of new genome sequences and provide the rationale for sequencing a particular organism, as well as details of the methodologies and protocols used in assembly of the genome sequence.

Although genome sequence data typically are deposited in GenBank or other shared databases, the rationale for sequencing a particular organism and the detailed methodologies and protocols used often are not readily available. In the past, several ASM journals published Genome Announcement article types, brief reports stating that the genome of a particular organism has been sequenced and deposited which provide a citable record of the corresponding GenBank submission. Over the years submissions for Genome Announcements have increased where they warrant a dedicated journal.

"The exponential increase in submissions and the usage of Genome Announcements has confirmed the value and service they bring to the scientific community. As a result, ASM will now publish all Genome Announcements in a single, dedicated, online-only, open-access journal starting January 2013," says Phil Matsumura of the University of Illinois at Chicago, editor of the new journal.

Manuscripts submitted to Genome Announcements must include an abstract, an acknowledgments section indicating the source of support for the work, and a nucleotide sequence accession number and are limited to 500 words (exclusive of the abstract and acknowledgments). Sequences must be made publicly available before a submission will be considered for publication, and the nucleotide sequence accession number(s) must be provided in a separate paragraph at the end of the text. Manuscripts may not include figures, tables, or supplemental material used to present data or analysis. However, multiple related sequences and their accompanying accession numbers and URL may be presented in tabular form. Publication of Sequence Read Archives (SRAs) is not permitted.

Genome Announcements manuscripts do not require peer review, but may be reviewed at the editor's discretion. Publication of an article in Genome Announcements does not preclude a later publication (e.g., a full comparative analysis) on the same organism in another ASM journal. Genome Announcements articles will be published continuously and will be collected into bimonthly issues throughout the year.

###

More information on the journal, including the first issue, can be found online at http://genomea.asm.org.

The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of over 39,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences as a vehicle for understanding life processes and to apply and communicate this knowledge for the improvement of health and environmental and economic well-being worldwide.

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/asfm-noo012813.php

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Harbaugh parents could become Super Bowl TV stars

NEW YORK (AP) ? Jack and Jackie Harbaugh would do well to practice their impassive faces in front of a mirror before the Super Bowl.

The parents of Baltimore Ravens coach John and the San Francisco 49ers' Jim Harbaugh will be watched closely during Sunday's Super Bowl ? if anybody finds them ? for any visual evidence that mommy and daddy really do love one boy or the other best.

It promises to be a fascinating sidebar to CBS' coverage of the game because, as Lynn and Rick Raisman can attest, parent cams are valuable in sports coverage. NBC's clip of the Raismans watching daughter Aly perform on the uneven bars during last summer's Olympics in London went viral, with stage parents everywhere relating to their murmurs and facial contortions.

"I had no idea it was going to be so great," said David Michaels, senior producer at NBC Sports, who often produces and directs coverage of gymnastics and figure skating, events where parental involvement can be particularly intense.

Michaels makes it a point to know where parents are sitting during competitions, tracking them through spotters or sometimes sports governing bodies that know where parent seats have been assigned. Or where they are not sitting: Sometimes a dad who retreats to a concession stand because he can't bear to watch an offspring compete is a good story, too.

Michaels said he tries not to overdo it, sticking with parents who he knows are interesting and very involved in their children's competitive undertakings.

"It has certainly gotten more ubiquitous," he said. "Sometimes it's fantastic and sometimes it's just too gratuitous."

Jack, a former college and high school football coach, and his wife will be attending the Super Bowl. On a conference call last week, the parents said they did not know where they would be sitting. Even if they did, they'd be unlikely to inform a horde of reporters about their seat locations.

The senior Harbaugh was a college head coach at Western Michigan and Western Kentucky and an assistant at several places, including Michigan, Pittsburgh and Stanford. His son-in-law, Tom Crean, is the Indiana University men's basketball coach. It doesn't seem like a family that would want to watch a game casually while piling their plates with nachos.

The couple had a practice run to see what it would be like to watch their sons coach against each other on Thanksgiving 2011, when older brother John's Ravens beat the 49ers 16-6.

During that game, the couple watched in an office. Jack said his wife's face looked "nearly comatose" throughout the contest.

"She just stared at the screen," he said. "Not a word was spoken. And at the end of the game, it was just over."

They'll experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat ? all at once. A 75-yard touchdown pass that would be reason to stand up and cheer for one son is another son's horrible defensive lapse.

"I am going to be neutral in the game," Jackie Harbaugh said. "I know one is going to win and one is going to lose, but I would really like to end in a tie. Can the NFL do that?"

CBS Sports President Sean McManus said there will be a pregame feature about the familial battle. It would be hard to argue otherwise; no matter how much the brothers want to downplay it, it's a unique situation. But McManus said CBS would try not to let it dominate its coverage of the game.

Given the need for the coaches' parents to stay neutral, longtime TV critic David Bianculli said he wondered how much of a story it will be visually for CBS. If they really maintain impassive faces, how much will viewers want to see them on the screen?

"I would advise them to pay attention to the field, more than anything else," said Bianculli, who teaches about television for Rowan University.

A stone face is a story, too, Michaels said. The only question is how much a producer should go back to the shot.

He said he can't imagine CBS not knowing where the couple is. If they're out in public, the network will likely keep a close eye on their reactions.

"As a producer or a director in this kind of a situation, it's incumbent upon you to know where every element of the story is because you never know how it's going to evolve," Michaels said.

Finding the right approach ultimately shouldn't be much of a problem for CBS, he said.

"It's a little bit of a distraction at times," he said. "But they'll figure out the best way to deal with it. The pictures won't lie."

___

AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/harbaugh-parents-could-become-super-bowl-tv-stars-161126834--nfl.html

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Partial list of winners at 19th annual SAG Awards

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? MOVIES:

Supporting actor: Tommy Lee Jones, "Lincoln"

Supporting actress: Anne Hathaway, "Les Miserables"

Stunt ensemble: "Skyfall"

___

TELEVISION:

Actor in a movie or miniseries: Kevin Costner "Hatfields & McCoys"

Actress in a movie or miniseries: Julianne Moore, "Game Change"

Actor in a comedy series: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Actress in a comedy series: Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Comedy series cast: "Modern Family"

Stunt ensemble: "Game of Thrones"

___

Life Achievement: Dick Van Dyke

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/partial-list-winners-19th-annual-sag-awards-021225006.html

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Film Review: Parker ? ColumbusUnderground.com

Historically Jason Statham films have been released on a pretty stable schedule. Almost without fail his film?s are released in two periods of the year; January through April and August through October. Other than that the calendar is otherwise pretty much Statham free. That?s why when you see a Jason Statham film being released during what is normally considered a theatrical dead zone you shouldn?t necessarily think it?s because it?s a crummy movie, it?s because the studio follows a specific formula (Statham + Off Season Release Date = Cash).

After pulling a daring heist, a career criminal is betrayed by his co-conspirators and left for dead. Instead of moving on with his life he decides to get revenge by hatching a daring plan to get what is owed to him.

Most Jason Statham characters have a lot in common with each other; they?re charming, physically gifted, have a unique moral code, a beautiful and understanding girlfriend, an older father figure that taught them the ropes, and have some kind of military or criminal past that they?re trying to escape so he and the aforementioned girlfriend can live out the rest of their lives in quiet luxury. Parker is not an exception to that rule, in fact it?s further proof that he?s been playing the same character for almost a decade. What sets Parker apart is the fact that it?s the best Statham headlined film since 2008?s The Bank Job.

It may be business as usual on screen for Statham, but nevertheless Parker might be one of the most balanced films in Statham?s career thanks large in part to the direction of Taylor Hackford. Best known for his work on An Officer and a Gentleman, Dolores Claiborne, and the Ray Charles biopic Ray, Hackford brings a lot of maturity to Parker while still remaining entertaining. It?s no surprise that two of Statham?s best recent performances have come at the hands of seasoned directors like that of Roger Donaldson on The Bank Job.

The script, by Black Swan writer John J. McLaughlin, effectively takes author Donald E. Westlake?s Parker character and adapts him to fit Statham?s strengths. Hackford and McLauglin make the right decisions on how much humor, action, and drama they inject into the film and time it appropriately. Rarely did Parker take itself too seriously, there are plenty of opportunities for humor but it never becomes too tongue-in-cheek.

Despite Statham?s limited range he?s enjoyable to watch. Most of the supporting cast is made up of strong ensemble players; some are household names like Michael Chiklis, Nick Nolte, and Clifton Collins Jr. Others like Emma Booth and Micah Hauptman aren?t as well known but still deliver enjoyable performances. Parker?s weakest link is Jennifer Lopez; she just felt completely wrong for the film from top to bottom. Her presence in Parker reeks of desperation to be seen in something other than a romantic comedy. Lopez and Statham have no chemistry together; their platonic relationship adds about as much excitement to the story as her character?s car repossession storyline? in other words, none. Women and Latinos may be more interested in checking out Parker with her name attached to the project, but the film itself doesn?t benefit from her inclusion.

It doesn?t feature non-stop action, but Parker is no slouch either. Statham is a more human hero than in many of his previous films; he?s not the invincible Superman type action star we?ve seen so many times before. If there?s an area where the action suffers however it?s in the form of some questionable CGI. More than once there are some jarringly cheap looking special effects that look absolutely ridiculous by 2013 standards, even for a modestly budgeted action film.

Parker doesn?t re-invent the action film, but I doubt many people expected it to. If you enjoy a well produced action film or Jason Statham films in general than it?s a pretty safe bet that Parker is going to suit your needs. Taylor Hackford?s direction is a pleasant surprise, Statham continues show that he?s this generations Arnold or Sly, and overall Parker is a fun film that hits most of the right notes.

Check out other recent reviews of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Broken City, Mama, and The Last Stand at MoviesHateYouToo.com.

Source: http://www.columbusunderground.com/film-review-parker

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Karrueche Tran: Nude in Rolling Out!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/karrueche-tran-nude-in-rolling-out/

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Las Vegas Is One Bright Hole Straight to Hell

Paris may be the City of Light, but the City of Sin is looking to give it a run for its money. This pair of shots was tumblr'd (tumbled?) and tweeted by Colonel Chris Hadfield, who's currently up on the ISS. At night, the city looks like some pool of molten metal, scalding the desert's surface, burning a hole straight to hell. And maybe that's not too far from the truth. [Col. Chris Hadfeild] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Ys5Q_YGTI2k/las-vegas-is-one-bright-hole-straight-to-hell

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