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PhysOrg.com
Nature reserves attract humans, but at a cost to biodiversity Rather than suppressing local communities in developing nations, nature reserves attract human settlement, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. Ethanol byproduct produces green results Commercial flower and plant growers know all too well that invasive, ubiquitous weeds cause trouble by lowering the value and deterring healthy growth of potted ornamental plants. To control weeds, many commercial nursery owners resort to the expensive practice of paying workers to hand-weed containers. Some growers use herbicides, but efficacy of herbicides is questionable on the wide range of plant species produced in nurseries, and many herbicides are not registered for use in greenhouses. Genomics Research Focuses on Rice Variety Improvement Crop varieties can be improved through the study of genomics without creating genetically transformed varieties. That is the mission of a multistate research project led by the University of Arkansas System`s Division of Agriculture. Patriotic new lilacs introduced Lilacs. The word evokes memories of promising spring days and visions of colorful, perfumed blooms. Lilacs have long been well-loved staples in America's yards and gardens, and have played a storied role in U.S. history. Groups seek drilling halt near sage grouse habitat (AP) -- Two conservation groups have asked the federal government to impose new restrictions on oil and gas development in the West to protect the greater sage grouse, a popular game bird on the decline. An impossible coexistence: Transgenic and organic agriculture The study was carried out by researcher Rosa Binimelis of the UAB Institute of Environmental Science and Technology. Binimelis is working on the European project ALARM (Assessing Large Scale Risks for Biodiversity with Tested Methods) and analyses the application of the concept of coexistence between Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and conventional organic agriculture in the European Union. The results of the research have been published in Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics. New research could lead to no scent, no sex for the Japanese beetle No scent. No sex. If a male Japanese beetle is unable to detect the sex pheromone released by a female, he won't be able to locate her and reproduce. Ancient oak trees help reduce global warming The battle to reduce carbon emissions is at the heart of many eco-friendly efforts, and researchers from the University of Missouri have discovered that nature has been lending a hand. Researchers at the Missouri Tree Ring Laboratory in the Department of Forestry discovered that trees submerged in freshwater aquatic systems store carbon for thousands of years, a significantly longer period of time than trees that fall in a forest, thus keeping carbon out of the atmosphere. Mars teams up with IBM to map cocoa genome US chocolate and sweets giant Mars is teaming up with IBM to study and map the cocoa genome in a move which could enhance the production of stronger plants, the companies said Thursday. Unique pheromone detection system uncovered Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have overturned the current theory of how a pheromone works at the molecular level to trigger behavior in fruit flies. ... |