Amphibian Declines, Disease Ecology, Biodiversity Are Highlighted at Conference [News Release]
National Science Foundation
08 Aug 2006
Photo Courtesy of Nicolle Rager-Fuller, National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds ecology research in many areas,
ranging from ecological ethics to tracking diseases responsible for amphibian declines,
from human-landscape interactions to the ecological effects of Gulf Coast hurricanes,
and biodiversity's importance to human and ecosystem health
Scientists are presenting results of this research at the annual
Ecological Society of America (ESA) meeting in Memphis, Tenn, Aug. 6-11, 2006,
Ecological research results supported by NSF are highlighted below.
All research results are embargoed until the time of their presentation.
>>>FULL NEWS RELEASE AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CONFERENCE TOPICS
Outbreak: Rapid Appearance of Fungus Devastates Frogs, Salamanders in Panama
Special Report: Ecology of Infectious Diseases
Wildlife Propagator Served With 21 Charges
toledoblade.com
08 Aug 2006
Steve Pollick
A Holmes County commercial wildlife propagator has been served with 21 wildlife charges alleging sloppy record-keeping following an investigation by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
The case is important because wildlife authorities around the country think that sloppy record-keeping and maintenance by commercial wildlife propagators has been a major force behind the spread of dreaded chronic wasting disease in deer and elk.
CWD, always fatal, is similar to mad cow disease.
It now is present in wild and/or captive herds in at least 14 states and two Canadian provinces. Though so far it has not been detected in Ohio and Michigan despite extensive monitoring, it has appeared as near as northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
>>>FULL ARTICLE
Bat Warning
WHSV-TV/DT Harrison, VA
08 Aug 2006
Shane Symolon
Photo Courtesy of WHSV
The State of Virginia has issued a warning about bats with rabies. Rabies cases are rare in the United States. However bats account for most of the cases where humans get the infection. Wildlife experts say not to worry, the advisory is more a message of vigilance then a threat.
Tour guides at grand caverns like Austin Keeler have no fear of these bats.
"We see bats all the time," says Keeler. The animals usually keep to themselves, so there's not a lot of fear of direct contact.
"They don't want to go towards us they have no desire to be near us, the only time a bat would bite you is if your messing with it, or the bat is injured, other than that we wouldn't even be considered something they bite," says Edward Clark of the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
WHSV-TV/DT Harrison, VA
08 Aug 2006
Shane Symolon
Photo Courtesy of WHSVThe State of Virginia has issued a warning about bats with rabies. Rabies cases are rare in the United States. However bats account for most of the cases where humans get the infection. Wildlife experts say not to worry, the advisory is more a message of vigilance then a threat.
Tour guides at grand caverns like Austin Keeler have no fear of these bats.
"We see bats all the time," says Keeler. The animals usually keep to themselves, so there's not a lot of fear of direct contact.
"They don't want to go towards us they have no desire to be near us, the only time a bat would bite you is if your messing with it, or the bat is injured, other than that we wouldn't even be considered something they bite," says Edward Clark of the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
Plague Again Hits County, Draws Concern:
Third Case in Five Weeks Brings Total to 5 Human Cases in a Year
The Durango Herald
08 Aug 2006
Ann Butler
The third human case of plague in the last five weeks has been reported in La Plata County, according to the San Juan Basin Health Department. The male patient was released from the hospital after several days and is recovering at home, said Lynn Westberg, the executive director of the Health Department. While it is the third case of the plague in the county in 2006, there have been five human cases in the last 12 months.
"I am quite concerned by the situation in La Plata County right now," said Joe Fowler, regional epidemiologist for the Health Department. "The entire state of Colorado has never had more than four cases in a single year, but this year, if our residents do not take precautions to protect themselves, La Plata County could single-handedly surpass that number."
In New Mexico this year, two of the six people who have contracted the disease died. Historically, in Colorado, about one in five cases results in death, the health department said in a news release.
Montana Beefs Bison Hunt
The Washington Times
08 Aug 2006
The number of licenses to hunt bison that wander into Montana from Yellowstone National Park this winter will almost triple from last season, state wildlife commissioners decided last week.
In June, the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission endorsed a tentative plan to authorize 100 licenses, double last season's number. Last week, they added 40. The increase will focus on bison cows, making the hunt more of a herd management tool "rather than just tipping them over for trophies," Commissioner Shane Colton said.
Activists opposed to any hunting of Yellowstone bison condemned the decision. "If you want a public-relations nightmare, I think you're moving in the right direction," said Dan Brister of the Buffalo Field Campaign. The state considers the hunt part of a plan to manage bison that migrate from Yellowstone and may carry the cattle disease brucellosis.
No comments:
Post a Comment