Navigation Links
Airborne technology helps manage elephants
Date:8/6/2012

Washington, D.C. For years, scientists have debated how big a role elephants play in toppling trees in South African savannas. Tree loss is a natural process, but it is increasing in some regions, with cascading effects on the habitat for many other species. Using high resolution 3-D mapping, Carnegie scientists have for the first time quantitatively determined tree losses across savannas of Kruger National Park. They found that elephants are the primary agentstheir browsing habits knock trees over at a rate averaging 6 times higher than in areas inaccessible to them. The research also found that elephants prefer toppling trees in the 16-to-30 foot (5-8 m) range, with annual losses of up to 20% in these height classes. The findings, published in Ecology Letters, bolster our understanding of elephant conservation needs and their impacts, and the results could help to improve savanna management practices.

"Previous field studies gave us important clues that elephants are a key driver of tree losses, but our airborne 3-D mapping approach was the only way to fully understand the impacts of elephants across a wide range of environmental conditions found in savannas," commented lead author Greg Asner of Carnegie's Department of Global Ecology. "Our maps show that elephants clearly toppled medium-sized trees, creating an "elephant trap" for the vegetation. These elephant-driven tree losses have a ripple effect across the ecosystem, including how much carbon is sequestered from the atmosphere."

The technology used for monitoring trees is Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), mounted on the fixed-wing Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO). It provides detailed 3-D images of the vegetation canopy at tree-level resolution using laser pulses that sweep across the African savanna. The CAO's lasers can detect even small changes in each tree's height, and its vast coverage is far superior to previous field-based and aerial photographic evaluations.'/>"/>

Contact: Greg Asner
gpa@carnegiescience.edu
650-380-2828
Carnegie Institution
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Using cell phones to detect harmful airborne substances
2. Labor der Zukunft -- Tomorrows laboratory technology
3. The future of plant science - a technology perspective
4. The future of plant science a technology perspective
5. Ultracold matter technology from CU and SRI International licensed to Boulders ColdQuanta
6. UF researchers look for ways to make an emerging technology safe for environment
7. Breast cancer risk gene discovery fast tracked by new technology
8. Obese patients face higher radiation exposure from CT scans -- but new technology can help
9. NYU School of Medicine presents 2012 Dart/NYU Biotechnology Achievement Awards
10. Powerful sequencing technology decodes DNA folding pattern
11. New technology tracks sparrow migration for first time from California to Alaska
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/18/2013)... 18, 2013) An increasing number of U.S. ... to resolve, according to research presented at Digestive ... targeting obesity, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic Children,s ... pattern of exhaled breath compared to their lean ... compound levels that can be correlated to potential ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... group of proteins in the brain responsible for protecting ... that could increase cell survival. , The discovery, made ... published in the EMBO journal with additional ... therapies for stroke and other brain diseases. , The ... identified a protein, known as SUMO, responsible for controlling ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... An international team of scientists using a new X-ray ... a living frog embryo in greater detail than ever ... biological research and the search for new treatments for ... Institut fr Technologie in Germany, in collaboration with the ... Argonne National Laboratory, released the most precise depiction ever ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):New research identifies risks, interventions for children's GI health 2New research identifies risks, interventions for children's GI health 3SUMO wrestling cells reveal new protective mechanism target for stroke 2New X-ray method shows how frog embryos could help thwart disease 2
... Delbrck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch have discovered ... cell types and thus to be pluripotent. This pluripotency ... primarily known for its role in mediating cell-cell adhesion ... absent, the stem cells lose their pluripotency. The molecule ...
... A bacteria which infects people with cystic fibrosis ... team from Cardiff and Warwick Universities. Continuous use ... causing major health problems all over the world. New ... multidrug-resistant bacteria such as the MRSA superbug. ...
... Results of a study, involving 98,454 patients demonstrated that ... patients were approximately 20% less likely to be prescribed ... to healthy patients. These finding remained relatively unchanged at ... with a high number being prescribed the current standards ...
Cached Biology News:MDC researchers discover key molecule for stem cell pluripotency 2Cystic fibrosis bacteria could help fight back against antibiotic resistance 2Undertreatment of cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients following a heart attack 2
(Date:5/20/2013)... Interventional cardiologist Tony Farah, MD, and his ... Cardiovascular Institute have helped pioneer many breakthroughs in ... over the past three decades, from new disease-fighting medications ... artery stent implantation. , Today, AGH officials announced that ... in the study of a novel, first-of-its kind investigational ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... 20, 2013 Kitware, a leader in ... that enables the exploration of hospital costs across ... response to the recent release of “Medicare Provider Charge ... 100 most-billed procedures from the Centers for Medicare & ... similar procedures at hospitals across the country has sparked ...
(Date:5/19/2013)... The JM Internet Group (web: jm-seo.org), a leader ... that the company's YouTube channel on SEO tips ... YouTube. The company uses YouTube as a way to ... for small businesses with much success. , "I love ... for their SEO strategies", explained Jason McDonald, director of ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... occurs when the transplant recipient,s immune system identifies the ... was previously thought that T cells, the immune cells ... known as chemokines in order to migrate to the ... of Clinical Investigation , Fadi Lakkis and colleagues at ... chemokine stimulation of T cells is not required for ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Allegheny General Hospital Cardiovascular Institute Becomes Exclusive Pittsburgh Site for Study of Novel Coronary Artery Disease Device 2Allegheny General Hospital Cardiovascular Institute Becomes Exclusive Pittsburgh Site for Study of Novel Coronary Artery Disease Device 3Allegheny General Hospital Cardiovascular Institute Becomes Exclusive Pittsburgh Site for Study of Novel Coronary Artery Disease Device 4Kitware Enables Interactive Exploration of CMS Medicare Data 2YouTube Channel on SEO Tips Surpasses 175,000 Views, Announces JM Internet Group 2
... Lilly and Company,strongly objects to implications in a New ... results of negative clinical,trials., The story, based on ... (NEJM), cited Prozac and Lilly as high-profile examples of ... only was,the Times, story inaccurate when it comes to ...
... Collected on myLifetime.com in ... Protection Act Allows Women Choice to, Recuperate for at Least 48 ... ... -, NEW YORK, Jan. 18 "Desperate Housewives",star Marcia Cross will ...
... Corporation today,announced the appointment of Wendy Perrow, as ... Ms. Perrow will be responsible for,leading Alba,s marketing ... commercialization. Ms. Perrow will also serve as a,member ... are very pleased to announce that Ms. Perrow ...
Cached Biology Technology:In response to a New England Journal of Medicine article published yesterday and subsequent media coverage, Eli Lilly and Company issued the following statement: 2In response to a New England Journal of Medicine article published yesterday and subsequent media coverage, Eli Lilly and Company issued the following statement: 3In response to a New England Journal of Medicine article published yesterday and subsequent media coverage, Eli Lilly and Company issued the following statement: 4Emmy(R)- and Golden Globe(R)-Nominated Actress Marcia Cross to Join Lifetime Networks and Members of Congress From Both Parties at Capitol Hill Press Conference 2Emmy(R)- and Golden Globe(R)-Nominated Actress Marcia Cross to Join Lifetime Networks and Members of Congress From Both Parties at Capitol Hill Press Conference 3Alba Therapeutics Appoints Wendy Perrow as its Vice President, Marketing and Alliance Management 2
Required to perform reference file generation, flatfield calibration and performance verification processes on the GSD-501...
... TempliPhi 100 Amplification Kit, 100 reactions. ... sequencing in 4-6 h.Generate microgram quantities ... of starting material.Use amplified DNA directly ... from bacterial or M13 liquid cultures, ...
... Rack inserts fit into the ... allow you to greatly increase ... deepwell format plates at an ... from the shaker at once ...
BD FastImmune EDTA Solution. Applications: Flow Cytometry Storage Temperature: Refrigerate(2 to 8C)...
Biology Products: