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Studies show global warming is likely to drive big changes in California's coastal waters

Computer simulations show that wind-driven upwelling along the California coast will intensify over the next 50 years due to increased carbon dioxide concentrations. The upwelling season is expected to extend further into the fall, supporting some of the observational work showing a trend toward increased upwelling intensity.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 17, 2003

Species vs. Species

The San Clemente loggerhead shrike's federal recovery program has hindered the species' co-existence with island foxes. Researchers propose shifting funds from predator control to habitat restoration to support both species. This approach may enable species co-existence, benefiting conservation efforts.

SourceSociety for Conservation Biology·JournalConservation Biology·DateSep 23, 2003

Researchers discover birds protect trees in neotropics by eating insects

Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered that birds play a crucial role in protecting Neotropical forests by consuming leaf-eating insects. By eating caterpillars on leaves, birds drastically reduce damage to foliage, with average damage levels increasing by 86% where they could not reach.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 23, 2003

Researchers show why active mountains don't get taller

Active mountains, despite constant uplift, do not get taller because of erosion forces balancing uplift and sediment transport. Researchers found that river erosion rates closely match the rate at which rocks move up, with abrasion by suspended particles doing most of the down cutting.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience·DateSep 19, 2002

Finding by Syracuse University and University of Michigan researchers reveals secret to mass extinction events

Researchers used a new technique to analyze fossilized otoliths, revealing seasonal temperature records that led to the discovery of colder winters as the cause of the Eocene/Oligocene boundary mass extinction. This finding sheds light on the global-scale problem and provides new insights into climate change's impact on evolution and e...

SourceSyracuse University·JournalNature·DateOct 17, 2000

Twentieth century the warmest of last five centuries

A new study of borehole temperatures reveals that the 20th century was the warmest of the past five centuries, with Earth's temperature increasing about 1 degree Celsius since 1500. The analysis, which combined data from over 600 sites worldwide, found a greater warming trend in the Northern Hemisphere than previously estimated.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature·DateFeb 15, 2000

Drug trends among American teens

The Monitoring the Future study found that overall illicit drug use among American teens remained steady in 1999, with only modest changes in various drug categories. Inhalant use continued its gradual decline, while crack cocaine use decreased significantly among younger teens. Conversely, MDMA use increased among older teens.

Melatonin Shapes Brain Structure In Songbirds

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified melatonin as a key hormone that regulates brain plasticity in songbirds. The study found that melatonin reduces overall volume of the high vocal center, a brain area involved in song production, despite exposure to artificial daylight hours.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 14, 1999

Improving Salmon Management

A $500,000 grant will support research to develop methods for estimating the productivity of Pacific salmon stocks and improving pre-season forecasting. The goal is to help managers choose appropriate target numbers of spawners in response to changing environmental conditions.