http://freshare.net/article/ en bobk@freshare.net Copyright 2012 2012-02-07T22:27:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/road_runoff_spurring_spotted_salamander_evolution/ http://freshare.net/article/road_runoff_spurring_spotted_salamander_evolution/#When:19:01:00Z Researchers at Yale University observed spotted salamanders exposed to contaminated roadside ponds that are adapting to their toxic environments. Their study provides the first documented evidence that a vertebrate has adapted to the negative effects of roads apparently by evolving rapidly. Salamanders breeding in roadside ponds are exposed to a host of contaminants from road runoff. Chief among… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife 2012-02-03T19:01:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/a_spider_webs_strength_lies_in_more_than_its_silk/ http://freshare.net/article/a_spider_webs_strength_lies_in_more_than_its_silk/#When:18:47:00Z While researchers have long known about the incredible strength of spider silk, the robust nature alone of these tiny filaments cannot explain how webs survive multiple tears and winds that exceed hurricane strength. Now, a study by researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that combines experimental observations of spider webs with complex computer simulations has shown that… Nature and Wildlife, Science 2012-02-03T18:47:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/nasas_gcpex_mission_what_we_dont_know_about_snow/ http://freshare.net/article/nasas_gcpex_mission_what_we_dont_know_about_snow/#When:17:51:00Z Predicting the future is always a tricky business—just watch a TV weather report. Weather forecasts have come a long way, but almost every season there’s a snowstorm that seems to come out of nowhere, or one that’s forecast as ‘the big one’ that turns out to be a total bust. In the last ten years, scientists have shown… Nature and Wildlife, Environment 2012-02-03T17:51:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/acres_for_wildlife_program_helps_improve_environment/ http://freshare.net/article/acres_for_wildlife_program_helps_improve_environment/#When:21:38:00Z The quality of the environment in Arkansas is dependent upon decisions made by the many individuals who own and manage the land. Out of 33 million surface acres in the Arkansas, 29 million are under private ownership. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Acres for Wildlife coordinator Steve Fowler says the agency has initiated a new and… Nature and Wildlife, Conservation 2012-02-02T21:38:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/winged_predators_seek_certain_trees_when_foraging_for_caterpillars/ http://freshare.net/article/winged_predators_seek_certain_trees_when_foraging_for_caterpillars/#When:17:51:00Z Location matters for birds on the hunt for caterpillars, according to researchers at UC Irvine and Wesleyan University. Findings suggest that chickadees and others zero in on the type of tree as much as the characteristics of their wriggly prey. Unfortunately for caterpillars, munching on tree leaves that are healthy and tasty can dramatically boost their own risk… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife 2012-01-27T17:51:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/capping_pipes_can_save_birds_lives/ http://freshare.net/article/capping_pipes_can_save_birds_lives/#When:17:46:00Z Do you have a fence with hollow posts made of PVC or metal pipe? What about a metal sign post? Bird experts say these and other open vertical pipes can be death traps for birds and other wildlife. Wildlife Ecologist Brad Jacobs with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) learned about the problem from Audubon California’s Kern River… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife, Birding 2012-01-27T17:46:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/bird_feeding_staples_black_oil_sunflower_seed_magic_mix/ http://freshare.net/article/bird_feeding_staples_black_oil_sunflower_seed_magic_mix/#When:17:33:00Z Feeding birds in yards enthralls many thousands of Arkansans every winter. When they are ready to move up a notch from using bags of mixed seed from discount stores and groceries, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission suggests, there are two effective steps to take. - Black oil sunflower seed. - Magic… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife, Birding 2012-01-27T17:33:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/eagle_watching_opportunities_abound_in_arkansas_winter/ http://freshare.net/article/eagle_watching_opportunities_abound_in_arkansas_winter/#When:13:38:00Z When winter is in full swing in late January and in February, numbers of Arkansans and their visitors who enjoy the outdoors go looking for eagles. A few decades back, seeing an eagle was rare in the state. Now you stand a good chance of seeing one or more in nearly every section of Arkansas. Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife, Birding 2012-01-19T13:38:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/hunters_and_wildlife_watchers_urged_to_report_swans1/ http://freshare.net/article/hunters_and_wildlife_watchers_urged_to_report_swans1/#When:13:34:00Z Hunters and wildlife watchers are urged to help count and identify Arkansas’s wintering swan populations. Karen Rowe, nongame migratory bird program leader with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said “Numbers of both trumpeter and tundra swans wintering in Arkansas appear to be on the increase. Some of these swans are wearing neck collars that can… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife, Birding 2012-01-19T13:34:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/timber_management_boosts_wildlife_and_preferred_trees/ http://freshare.net/article/timber_management_boosts_wildlife_and_preferred_trees/#When:14:30:00Z John Anderson enjoys hunting in woodlands. But he also wants a healthier white-tail deer herd and perhaps a return of bobwhite quail at his DeKalb County farm. So he gave his property the chainsaw treatment to boost bucks and birds. Down came honey locust and small shingle oak trees in carefully selected areas. Still standing amid those cuts… Nature and Wildlife, Conservation 2012-01-18T14:30:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/zom_bees_parasitic_fly_of_bees_different_from_fire_ant_attacker/ http://freshare.net/article/zom_bees_parasitic_fly_of_bees_different_from_fire_ant_attacker/#When:14:20:00Z The headlines were everywhere in January: “’Zombie’ Fly Parasite Killing Honeybees,” “Deadly parasite turns Bay Area honeybees into zombie slaves, and “’Zombies’ being created by deadly parasite.” All were spurred by the publication of research describing a parasite that turns honeybees into “zom-bees.” The stories have created some confusion among those who are familiar with efforts to control… Nature and Wildlife, Science 2012-01-18T14:20:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/warm_winter_weather_doesnt_always_mean_more_insects_this_spring_and_summer/ http://freshare.net/article/warm_winter_weather_doesnt_always_mean_more_insects_this_spring_and_summer/#When:05:01:00Z Many area lawn and garden enthusiasts are hoping above average winter temperatures right now don’t result in terrible outbreaks of plant eating insects this Spring and summer like so many old-timers say. However, one local horticulture specialist says “not so fast” on the speculation that warm winter weather equals more insects. “There… Nature and Wildlife, Environment 2012-01-18T05:01:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/new_research_helps_predict_bat_presence_at_wind_energy_facilities/ http://freshare.net/article/new_research_helps_predict_bat_presence_at_wind_energy_facilities/#When:17:48:00Z As bats fly close to turbines at wind energy facilities, the sudden air pressure change caused by the turbine’s rotating blades causes severe trauma to the bats’ lungs. The resulting bat fatalities occur frequently at wind farms. But the USDA Forest Service has come up with an interactive tool to help operators at these facilities make more informed decisions on… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife 2012-01-13T17:48:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/honeybee_deaths_linked_to_seed_insecticide_exposure/ http://freshare.net/article/honeybee_deaths_linked_to_seed_insecticide_exposure/#When:15:34:00Z Honeybee populations have been in serious decline for years, and Purdue University scientists may have identified one of the factors that cause bee deaths around agricultural fields. Analyses of bees found dead in and around hives from several apiaries over two years in Indiana showed the presence of neonicotinoid insecticides, which are commonly used to coat corn and… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife 2012-01-13T15:34:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/snowy_owls_pinch_hit_at_smithville_lake_eagle_days/ http://freshare.net/article/snowy_owls_pinch_hit_at_smithville_lake_eagle_days/#When:15:21:00Z Bald eagles, snowy owls and a chance to get outdoors on unseasonably warm winter days drew 3,000 visitors Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 7 and 8, to Eagle Days events at Smithville Lake. A rare appearance by snowy owls at the lake helped draw a record crowd for the annual event, said Derek Dorsey, park manager for the U.S.… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife, Birding 2012-01-13T15:21:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/in_tackling_lead_pollution_fungi_may_be_our_friends/ http://freshare.net/article/in_tackling_lead_pollution_fungi_may_be_our_friends/#When:13:27:00Z Fungi may be unexpected allies in our efforts to keep hazardous lead under control. That’s based on the unexpected discovery that fungi can transform lead into its most stable mineral form. The findings reported online on January 12 in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, suggest that this interaction between fungi and lead may be occurring in nature anywhere the… Nature and Wildlife, Environment 2012-01-13T13:27:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/my_christmas_bird_count/ http://freshare.net/article/my_christmas_bird_count/#When:16:11:00Z Despite a rudimentary knowledge of bird species, I looked forward to participating in a Christmas Bird Count. Here was an opportunity to do something outdoors during a festive season when many people are putting away Christmas decorations, and trying to find room for all the presents they acquired. We met for coffee at a McDonald’s in Hollister. A… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife, Birding 2012-01-06T16:11:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/deadly_fly_parasite_spotted_in_honey_bees/ http://freshare.net/article/deadly_fly_parasite_spotted_in_honey_bees/#When:22:55:00Z Honey bees can become the unwitting hosts of a fly parasite that causes them to abandon their hives and die after a bout of disoriented, “zombie-like” behavior, according to researchers at San Francisco State University. The phenomenon, first observed on the SF State campus, may help scientists learn more about colony collapse disorder (CCD). This mysterious ailment has… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife 2012-01-04T22:55:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/deer_antlers_inspire_a_new_theory_on_osteoporosis/ http://freshare.net/article/deer_antlers_inspire_a_new_theory_on_osteoporosis/#When:22:47:00Z A new theory from scientists in Spain could push osteoporosis research in a different direction. A group at the University of Castilla - La Mancha studied deer antlers to gain insights into mineral losses from bone structures. They believe that loss of the mineral manganese could result in a failure of calcium to stick to bones, thus leading to osteoporosis.… Nature and Wildlife, Science 2012-01-04T22:47:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/wildlife_restoration_unusual_animal_sightings_top_2011_conservation_news/ http://freshare.net/article/wildlife_restoration_unusual_animal_sightings_top_2011_conservation_news/#When:22:01:00Z Conservation has a place in Missouri’s news mix every year, but 2011 will go down in history for more than the fact that the Missouri Department of Conservation began its 75th anniversary celebration in November. Forests, fish and wildlife had a particularly prominent place in 2011 news. WILDLIFE RESTORATION 2011 began on an exciting note, as… Nature and Wildlife, Conservation 2012-01-04T22:01:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/little_bug_big_stink/ http://freshare.net/article/little_bug_big_stink/#When:21:50:00Z A new stinkier stinkbug may hitchhike into Missouri this year to destroy crops and upset homeowners, says a University of Missouri entomologist. The brown marmorated stink bug, a pest found in 33 states mostly to the east and south, will likely be found for the first time this year in Missouri, says Wayne Bailey of the MU Plant… Nature and Wildlife, Environment 2012-01-04T21:50:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/frogs_use_calls_to_find_mates_with_matching_chromosomes/ http://freshare.net/article/frogs_use_calls_to_find_mates_with_matching_chromosomes/#When:20:24:00Z When it comes to love songs, female tree frogs are pretty picky. According to a new study from the University of Missouri, certain female tree frogs may be remarkably attuned to the songs of mates who share the same number of chromosomes as they do. The discovery offers insight into how new frog species may have evolved. Carl… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife 2011-12-30T20:24:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/call_all_citizen_scientists_to_help_conduct_ok_wildlife_departments_winter_/ http://freshare.net/article/call_all_citizen_scientists_to_help_conduct_ok_wildlife_departments_winter_/#When:20:18:00Z The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Winter Bird Feeder Survey starts Jan. 5 and gives wildlife enthusiasts and their families an exciting way to kick off the New Year. Attracting birds and maintaining backyard feeders for wintering birds is popular in both urban and rural areas of Oklahoma. People in both places can help the Oklahoma… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife, Birding 2011-12-30T20:18:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/a_year_of_extremes/ http://freshare.net/article/a_year_of_extremes/#When:20:13:00Z Missouri weather in 2011 was anything but boring. From floods and drought to tornados and blizzards, the state saw more than a healthy dose of extreme weather events of every variety. “Missouri saw many extreme weather events from its beginning that continued throughout most of the year,” said Pat Guinan, Missouri’s state climatologist with the University… Nature and Wildlife, Environment 2011-12-30T20:13:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/hellbender_study_seeks_answers_for_global_amphibian_decline/ http://freshare.net/article/hellbender_study_seeks_answers_for_global_amphibian_decline/#When:17:27:00Z A new study on the endangered Ozark Hellbender giant salamander is the first to detail its skin microbes, the bacteria and fungi that defend against pathogens. The study details changes in the salamander’s declining health and habitat, and could provide a baseline for how changing ecosystems are affecting the rapid decline of amphibians worldwide. “Scientists and biologists view… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife 2011-12-21T17:27:00-06:00