Understanding the capacity to reduce wildfire risk and restore dry forests on Western national forests is a key part of prioritizing new accelerated restoration programs initiated by the Forest Service.

Epiphytic lichens are bioindicators of climate, air quality, and other forest conditions and may reveal how forests will respond to global changes in the U.S. Pacific States of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. We explored climate indication with lichen communities surveyed by using both the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) and Alaska Region (R10) methods. Across the Pacific States, lichen indicator species and ordination “climate scores” reflected associations between lichen community composition and climate. Indicator species are appealing targets for monitoring, while climate scores at sites resurveyed in the future can indicate climate change effects.

Southeast Alaska is a remote area, located approximately 700 miles north of Seattle, Washington. Most of the region’s goods are imported by barge, creating logistical and economic challenges not faced by many other parts of the United States. In this context, we used life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the potential environmental impact on global warming potential (GWP) of converting home heating systems from heating oil to wood pellets in southeast Alaska. Once the current level (status quo) was established, we evaluated imported pellet utilization at 20-, 40- and 100-percent penetration into the residential heating oil markets. We also modeled local production of wood pellets in southeast Alaska, assuming a 20-percent penetration. Our research found that reductions in GWP resulting from the conversion to wood pellets ranged from 10 to 51 percent, with the greatest reductions being associated with the highest levels of imported pellets. The scenario of producing wood pellets in southeast Alaska to meet local needs had a reduction in GWP of 14 percent (versus the status quo).

In frequent-fire forests of the interior Western United States, historical (prefire suppression) conditions are often used as a reference to set management objectives, guide prescriptions, and monitor treatment effectiveness. We quantified the historical size, density, composition, and spatial patterns of dry mixed-conifer forests in the Blue Mountains of Oregon to establish reference conditions that could be used for ongoing forest-restoration efforts.

This report describes the evidence for invasion of Pacific Northwest streams by Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) that have escaped from marine salmon farms, and assesses the potential impact of farmed salmon invasion on native fishes inhabiting streams on National Forest System lands. The current risk to streams on National Forest lands in the Pacific Northwest from Atlantic salmon invasions appears to be low and is limited to a few areas in northwest Washington and southeast Alaska. However, long-term risks may be substantial if fish continue to escape from marine rearing pens or freshwater hatcheries. The two greatest threats appear to be that (1) Atlantic salmon could transmit a serious disease or parasite to native fishes, and (2) escaped salmon could eventually adapt to local conditions, leading to self-sustaining populations. If Atlantic salmon populations are eventually established, this species' preference for swiftly flowing stream habitats could facilitate competition with currently at-risk species such as steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). This could result in a pattern of expansion similar to that observed in other nonnative aquatic plants and animals, in which a prolonged early colonization period is followed by a rapid phase of exponential growth as breeding populations adapt to local conditions.

During September 19-20, 2006, a conference was held at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, Seattle, WA, with the title "Meeting the challenge: invasive plants in Pacific Northwest Ecosystems." The mission of the conference was to create strategies and partnerships to understand and manage invasions of non-native plants in the Pacific Northwest. The audience included over 180 professionals, students, and citizens from public and private organizations responsible for monitoring, studying, or managing non-native invasive plants. This proceedings includes twenty-seven papers based on oral presentations at the conference plus a synthesis paper that summarizes workshop themes, discussions, and related information. Topics include early detection and rapid response; control techniques, biology, and impacts; management approaches; distribution and mapping of invasive plants; and partnerships, education, and outreach.

Nonnative plants affect the composition and function of natural and managed ecosystems and have large economic effects through lost or degraded land use and eradication costs. In spite of their importance, very little comprehensive information on the abundance, distribution, and impact of nonnative invasive plants is available.

Once gathered only for subsistence and cultural purposes, wild huckleberries are now also harvested commercially. Drawing on archival research as well as harvester and producer interview and survey data, an inventory of North American wild huckleberry plant genera is presented, and the wild huckleberry harvesting patterns of early Native Americans and nonindigenous settlers are described. The social, technological, and environmental changes that gave rise to the commercial industry in the Pacific Northwest by the 1920s and the industry's demise after World War II are explained. The resurgence of the commercial wild huckleberry industry in the mid-1980s and national forest management issues related to the industry are presented as are possible strategies that land managers could develop to ensure wild huckleberry, wildlife, and cultural sustainability.

The Pacific Northwest Research Station launched a Biodiversity Initiative to assist natural resource professionals in integrating complex biodiversity concepts into natural resource management processes. We canvassed clients from various affiliations to determine the main challenges they face in biodiversity management, to define their information needs, and to understand how best to deliver biodiversity information within a collaborative framework. The biodiversity management challenges that emerged included (1) the lack of well-defined biodiversity management policies, (2) understanding and quantifying the interaction effects between a number of factors (e.g., disturbance types, management practices) and biodiversity, (3) the lack of applied biodiversity monitoring strategies, (4) difficulty in locating and accessing biodiversity information, and (5) balancing conflicting values relating to biodiversity. We also list the biodiversity information product needs of clients, as well as preferred technology transfer methods, and we discuss the future direction of the Biodiversity Initiative.

Piers Morgan has given an update on GMB host Kate's husband Derek Draper who is battling coronavirus

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Film star Daniel Radcliffe launches new Harry Potter at Home series with the first celebrity video reading

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Life Science Centre in Newcastle hosts challenging debate and here's how to join its online audience for free

Newcastle United player Jonjo Shelvey's wife Daisy, who used to be in S Club Juniors, is now makeup artist in the city

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Blyth schoolboy Ryan Office has recently returned from receiving proton beam therapy in Florida after being diagnosed with a very rare brain tumour

The Newcastle United notebook is back with news of a potential PiF plan and speculation about the Reuben Brothers

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All the latest Newcastle United takeover headlines with updates on the Saudi Public Investment Fund and Gary Neville

Former iHEARTMEDIA Top 40 KHTS (CHANNEL 933)/SAN DIEGO morning co-host STEVE KRAMER, now hosting his "CERTIFIED MAMA'S BOY" podcast, raised over $6000 to feed third shift … more

The four parts of the UK could now move at ‘different speeds’ in adapting their Coronavirus restrictions

Outdoor recreation organisation conducts important survey influencing government policy

The RADIO ADVERTISING BUREAU's next webinar in its "Business Unusual" program's "Open for Business" series, “Creating Audience Engagement,” will … more

Singer-songwriter JP SAXE and GRAMMY Award-nominated artist JULIA MICHAELS today released a new video of their duet "If The World Was Ending" to help support the international … more

He made his debut in August 2018 and has gone on to make 52 appearances for the Reds.

If they don't get help within six months the 150-year-old charity will collapse

As Premier League is warned not to take option of completing season behind closed doors for granted

THE EAGLES have announced that their “Hotel California” concerts in several cities including DALLAS, DENVER, LOS ANGELES, PHOENIX, SAN FRANCISCO and ST. PAUL, MN have been … more

COVID-19's financial impact has hit MINNEAPOLIS-based HUBBARD RADIO with company-wide layoffs. If you have been affected by this unfortunate set of circumstances please email ALL ACCESS … more

Great to hear from BETTIE LEVY, who runs BCL ENTERTAINMENT and was a producer of the “THE CALL TO UNITE” #answerthecall on FRIDAY (5/1) which was a 24-hour global event to lift … more

During the COVID-19 lockdown, and during the gradual re-opening of communities, PPM meters are now coming back online and meter counts are inching up as more people get in cars and resume a … more

The team at the UF/ IFAS Extension office show us how to create a pond, and fill it with native aquatic plants, to attract wildlife to our yards.

Bike EXIF is one of the world’s largest motorcycle-related websites, with around two million pageviews a month. It focuses on custom motorcycles and cafe racers, with an emphasis on clean design and high-quality photography. Why it’s in the Showcase: Bike...

IFC is the home of offbeat, unexpected comedies. Series like Portlandia, Maron and Comedy Bang! Bang!air alongside fan-favorite movies and comedic cult TV shows. Owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc., along with sister channels AMC, SundanceTV and WE tv,...

Statement highlights: Oscillometric devices, which use an electronic pressure sensor within the blood pressure cuff, can reduce human error and the risk to the environment from older devices which use mercury. Patients who measure their blood pressure at home should use a device with an upper arm cuff that has been checked for accuracy by a healthcare provider.

Statement Highlights: In a new scientific statement, the American Heart Association supports the creation of specialized multidisciplinary clinical programs that combine cardiovascular medicine and genetics expertise. These specialized programs would use genetic information to better treat patients with inherited heart conditions, as well as assess family members without current heart problems and take steps to reduce their risk.

Statement Highlights: Improving lifestyle habits – such as attaining and maintaining a healthy body weight and getting regular, moderate physical activity – may be useful additions to physician-guided management of atrial fibrillation (AF), a serious...

Research Highlights: Researchers have found a specific bacterial profile in the gut of people with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a chronic and progressive disease that causes constriction of arteries in the lungs. The unique bacterial profile...

DALLAS, March 24, 2020 — As part of its global response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic, the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health and research, is committing  $2.5 million to research...

Study Highlights: Middle age may not be too late for women to substantially lower their stroke risk through lifestyle modifications. Middle-aged women who quit smoking, started exercising, maintained a healthy weight and made healthy food choices saw...

DALLAS, 4 de abril del 2020 — El día de ayer, se publicó una investigación en Circulation, la revista insignia de la American Heart Association, cuyo objetivo es ayudar a generar aún más conciencia sobre las manifestaciones cardiovasculares del ...

Research Highlights: Black immigrants from Africa and from the Caribbean differ from U.S.-born blacks in rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and overweight/obesity. The research supports a more detailed look at black populations and the...

Research Highlights: Middle-aged adults who walked the most steps-per-day had a 43% lower risk of diabetes and a 31% lower risk of high blood pressure, compared to people of similar age who accumulated the lowest number of daily steps. Among women, ...

Puntos destacados de la investigación: Los adultos de mediana edad que caminaron una mayor cantidad de pasos al día mostraron un 43% menos de riesgo de padecer diabetes y un 31% menos de riesgo de hipertensión arterial, en comparación con personas de...

Research Highlights: A genetic risk score from a blood test identified more men age 50 and older who are at higher risk of an aortic aneurysm and could benefit from ultrasound screening. Weakness and bulging in the wall of the aorta, the major blood ...

Botones para compartir de AddThis Compartir en Facebook Compartir en Twitter Compartir por correo electrónico Compartir para imprimir DALLAS, 20 de abril del 2020 — Debido a que la pandemia del coronavirus (COVID-19) ha cambiado las...