National Secular Society - IHEU attacks Islamic states over freedom ...

International Ethical and Humanist Union representative Roy Brown has again reminded Islamic States of their responsibility to uphold the right to freedom of expression.

Mr Brown delivered the below statement this week at the 22nd regular session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Freedom of Expression and the OIC

Mr President,

Freedom of expression is once again under sustained attack from the member states of the OIC: In Saudi Arabia last week, two activists were sentenced to ten years in jail for exposing hundreds of cases of human rights abuse in the kingdom.

In Iran, we have seen protesters imprisoned and even sentenced to death, for "waging war against God". But what strange logic can possibly equate criticism and peaceful protest with waging war? And since when did any government equate itself with God?

In Morocco, a colleague has had to flee for his life because he wrote of his doubts about Islam.

In Mauritania, last Saturday, a group of nine antislavery protesters were attacked and severely beaten by police.

In Pakistan, hundreds of Shias have been murdered for holding the "wrong" beliefs.

But we have waited in vain for condemnation by the OIC of human rights abuses carried out by agents of the State within its member States. Instead, we have seen protests against Islamic extremism condemned as "Islamophobia", which was recently described by the prime minister of Turkey as "a crime against humanity".

A crime against humanity, Mr President? No Sir. We see murder, ethnic cleansing, torture, kidnappings, suicide bombings, and terrorist attacks as crimes against humanity.

It is people that have human rights, Mr President, not beliefs. Protesting against human rights abuse, and pointing out where the responsibility lies, is not a crime, it is a duty. And it is the duty of every member state of this Council to uphold the right to freedom of expression, not condemn it.

Thank you Sir.

IHEU, to which the National Secular society is affiliated, is the sole world umbrella organisation for humanist, atheist, rationalist, secularist, skeptic, laique, ethical, cultural, freethought and similar organisations world-wide.

Also see: More work from the IHEU team in Geneva:
Iran admits torture following pressure from IHEU at the UN
"Why must I be killed?" asks Moroccan atheist

Source: http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2013/03/iheu-attacks-islamic-states-over-freedom-of-expression

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When hungry, Gulf of Mexico algae go toxic

Mar. 12, 2013 ? When Gulf of Mexico algae don't get enough nutrients, they focus their remaining energy on becoming more and more poisonous to ensure their survival, according to a new study by scientists from North Carolina State University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The study shows that harmful and ubiquitous Karenia brevis algae, which cause red tide blooms across the Gulf of Mexico, become two to seven times more toxic when levels of phosphorus, a major algal nutrient found in fertilizers and human waste, are low. Like wearing a suit of armor, producing highly toxic cells allows the algae to defend themselves against opportunistic waterborne grazers like zooplankton.

Red tide blooms in the Gulf are linked to fish kills and other ecological and economic damage in the region, and are also linked to respiratory ailments in humans. These blooms occur annually in the Gulf, but it's hard to predict where or when they'll occur or how long they'll last.

Drs. Rance Hardison and Damian Shea, co-authors on a paper appearing online in the journal PLOS ONE, say that the findings could help coastal managers make better predictions about the harmful effects of red tide blooms.

"Public-health managers can test phosphorus levels in waters across various Gulf locations," Hardison said, "and know that low levels could indicate highly toxic red tide blooms. Then they can close nearby shellfish beds or take other measures to keep sea life -- and humans -- safe."

The researchers tested five different K. brevis species from varied geographic locations and limited some samples' growth by withholding phosphorus while allowing others to enjoy a full diet of phosphorus. Depending on the species, algal cells with limited access to phosphorus had 2.3 to 7.3 times more toxin than algal cells that were filled up with phosphorus.

"At the end of a red tide bloom, when the nutrients are used up, K. brevis cells produce a burst of toxicity. Now we understand the biological mechanism behind some of the varied toxic levels seen in Gulf algal cells," Shea, an NC State professor of biology and environmental toxicology, said.

The irony of the inverse relationship between phosphorus and algal toxicity is not lost on the researchers. In a modern-day catch-22, excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen play key roles in fueling algal growth and harmful algal bloom development. As bloom density increases, cells use up the available nutrients such as phosphorus. This slows the growth of K. brevis cells, causing them to become more toxic. Previous research conducted by Hardison, a NOAA oceanographer who received his Ph.D. from NC State, showed similar effects when nitrogen was the limiting nutrient.

"We believe the findings will be useful to help model future toxic algal blooms and how harmful they'll be," Hardison said.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by North Carolina State University.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Donnie Ransom Hardison, William G. Sunda, Damian Shea, Richard Wayne Litaker. Increased Toxicity of Karenia brevis during Phosphate Limited Growth: Ecological and Evolutionary Implications. PLoS ONE, 2013; 8 (3): e58545 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058545

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/Xv704HDMuEs/130312171620.htm

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Georgianna Donadio, MSc, Ph.D., D.C.: How Happy Couples Behave

It is not a coincidence that the partners in happy couples share many of the same behavioral patterns in how they treat one another. Often we think that being happy means we have fun sharing the same hobbies or doing everything as a couple. While sharing activities enhances relationships, the most important components to successful relationships are found in how the individuals within the couple treat each other, and in large part it has to do with communication and behavior. Listed below are some of the most important aspects of having a successful relationship with your significant other.

1. Be Friends - Being friends and genuinely liking your partner is one of the most important components of a happy and successful relationship. If you don't like the other person, how can you truly love them?

2. Enjoy your friend and partner's company - Laughter is not only good medicine but it is also the glue that binds relationships and creates memories. Laughing together and even crying together is meaningful in good relationships.

3. Be spontaneous - All of us have preferences, likes and dislikes. To be spontaneous about trying new food, travel plans, places to visit and so forth we expand our personal horizons and show respect for our spouse's or partner's preferences as well. Life is more interesting if we can be spontaneous together!

4. Have your own life - Developing a healthy relationship is about two independent and emotionally mature individuals joining company to share their lives together. Sometimes our needs can become interjected into our relationships in a way that creates a co-dependent dynamic and this can derail happiness in an intimate relationship.

5. Be Fully, Purely Present to Your Partner - It has been said that there is no greater gift than our full, complete presence to another. Being authentically interested and attentive to the other person is a hallmark of a healthy, happy relationship.

6. Show and Express Affection - Physical touch is an important part of happiness and fulfillment in relationships. Couples will often say that just holding hands or sharing affection with their partner is the very important part of their feeling loved and cared for.

7. Be Caring and Kind - It cannot be stated enough that kindness, compared with criticism or complaints, is one of the most attractive things about another person. When we are kind not only do we feel good about our behavior but the person we are in a relationship with feels good about our behavior too.

8. Be Honest - If we give our partners a sense that we are devoted and loyal to them and they provide that for us, we create the foundation of a truly lasting and loving relationship. Many times marriages or relationships break up because of trust issues. Trust is the foundation of a all good interactions.

9. Be Committed - When we are committed to someone it means that we are there for them and we can be counted on to support them and be there in times of need. This is what we all want from our relationships and in order to get that we need to give that as well.

10. Communicate - By actively communicating with your partner on an ongoing basis you can avoid many of the problems that arise in relationships before they occur. By being proactive and checking in with each other on a regular basis to see how things are for the other person, this will go a long way in preventing and avoiding conflicts.

Creating and sustaining a loving, trusting and lasting relationship is one of the most fulfilling experiences most of us long for and look forward to. While it is not a complicated process it does require awareness and cultivation, just like raising a child or growing a garden.

If we keep the weeds from infiltrating the flower beds we can enjoy the uninterrupted beauty of our longed-for relationship and reduce the wear and tear that neglect can produce. Relationships take time, caring and commitment, but they are truly worth it.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgianna-donadio-msc-phd/how-happy-couples-behave_b_2784122.html

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Answering messages behind the wheel is as dangerous as being twice over the limit

Public release date: 13-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: SINC
info@agenciasinc.es
34-914-251-820
FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology

Scientists from various Australian universities in collaboration with the University of Barcelona have compared the effects of mobile use while driving with the effects of alcohol using a simulation. Their experiment demonstrates that using a handsfree kit or sending text messages is the same as being above the legal alcohol limit.

The Australian universities of Wollongong, Victoria, Swinburne of Technology, the Institute for breathing and sleep and the University of Barcelona have measured the reaction capacity behind the wheel of twelve healthy volunteers who participated in a driving simulation test lasting two days, each a week apart.

On the one hand, they took the test having consumed alcohol, and on the other, while using the mobile telephone. Habitual drinkers and those who had never consumed alcohol before the test were not allowed to participate.

"We conducted the study in Australia and the participants, who were volunteer students holding a driving licence, had to keep their position in the centre of the left lane on the screen at a speed of between 60 and 80 kilometres per hour, breaking every time a lorry appeared," as explained to SINC by Sumie Leung Shuk Man, co-author of the study published in the 'Traffic Injury Prevention' journal and researcher at the University of Barcelona.

By comparing the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) with the effects of mobile phone usage, they saw that when the telephone conversation required high cognitive demand or when answering a text message, the BAC test was above legal limits in Spain (0.5 gram/litre). Headphones and a microphone were used to simulate the handsfree effect.

Handsfree does not pass the test

"When the conversation using the handsfree was simple, the effects were comparable to a BAC level of 0.04 g/l, which is below the legal limit of 0.5 g/l in countries like Spain and Australia. However, when more attention was required, their alcohol level analogue shot up to 0.7 g/l, which is above the legal limit in both countries yet below in other countries, like the USA or the UK where up to 0.8 g/l is allowed. When answering text messages, the rate stood at 1 g/l, which is illegal in any of all of these countries," states the scientist.

The two different handsfree conversation levels studied are the equivalent to: a natural conversation in which the subject and the scientist speak about an interesting subject but as a way of passing the time; and a dialogue with more specific, cognitively demanding questions, such as "can you describe the car journey from your work to your house?" or "how many of your friends have names that begin with a vowel?".

"Our results suggest that the use of handsfree devices could also put drivers at risk. Although they should be allowed, they require more research to determine how they should be regulated and, of course, the thorough knowledge that national authorities should have regarding their pros and cons," concludes the expert.

###

References:

Sumie Leung, Rodney J. Croft, Melinda L. Jackson, Mark E. Howard y Raymond J. Mckenzie, "A Comparison of the Effect of Mobile Phone Use and Alcohol Consumption on Driving Simulation Performance", Traffic Injury Prevention 13 (6): 566-574, noviembre 2012. DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2012.683118.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 13-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: SINC
info@agenciasinc.es
34-914-251-820
FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology

Scientists from various Australian universities in collaboration with the University of Barcelona have compared the effects of mobile use while driving with the effects of alcohol using a simulation. Their experiment demonstrates that using a handsfree kit or sending text messages is the same as being above the legal alcohol limit.

The Australian universities of Wollongong, Victoria, Swinburne of Technology, the Institute for breathing and sleep and the University of Barcelona have measured the reaction capacity behind the wheel of twelve healthy volunteers who participated in a driving simulation test lasting two days, each a week apart.

On the one hand, they took the test having consumed alcohol, and on the other, while using the mobile telephone. Habitual drinkers and those who had never consumed alcohol before the test were not allowed to participate.

"We conducted the study in Australia and the participants, who were volunteer students holding a driving licence, had to keep their position in the centre of the left lane on the screen at a speed of between 60 and 80 kilometres per hour, breaking every time a lorry appeared," as explained to SINC by Sumie Leung Shuk Man, co-author of the study published in the 'Traffic Injury Prevention' journal and researcher at the University of Barcelona.

By comparing the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) with the effects of mobile phone usage, they saw that when the telephone conversation required high cognitive demand or when answering a text message, the BAC test was above legal limits in Spain (0.5 gram/litre). Headphones and a microphone were used to simulate the handsfree effect.

Handsfree does not pass the test

"When the conversation using the handsfree was simple, the effects were comparable to a BAC level of 0.04 g/l, which is below the legal limit of 0.5 g/l in countries like Spain and Australia. However, when more attention was required, their alcohol level analogue shot up to 0.7 g/l, which is above the legal limit in both countries yet below in other countries, like the USA or the UK where up to 0.8 g/l is allowed. When answering text messages, the rate stood at 1 g/l, which is illegal in any of all of these countries," states the scientist.

The two different handsfree conversation levels studied are the equivalent to: a natural conversation in which the subject and the scientist speak about an interesting subject but as a way of passing the time; and a dialogue with more specific, cognitively demanding questions, such as "can you describe the car journey from your work to your house?" or "how many of your friends have names that begin with a vowel?".

"Our results suggest that the use of handsfree devices could also put drivers at risk. Although they should be allowed, they require more research to determine how they should be regulated and, of course, the thorough knowledge that national authorities should have regarding their pros and cons," concludes the expert.

###

References:

Sumie Leung, Rodney J. Croft, Melinda L. Jackson, Mark E. Howard y Raymond J. Mckenzie, "A Comparison of the Effect of Mobile Phone Use and Alcohol Consumption on Driving Simulation Performance", Traffic Injury Prevention 13 (6): 566-574, noviembre 2012. DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2012.683118.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/f-sf-amb031313.php

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Rotoworld: Team-by-team NFL free agent buzz

Free agency came hard, and it came fast on Tuesday. We here at Rotoworld were cranking out blurbs all day long as the smoke wafted out of our keyboards.

There were a couple of first-day winners, but I won?t go as far as to say there were losers. After all, we?re only one day into the madness. Let?s get to the action, and there sure was plenty of it.

The 49ers enjoyed a relatively quiet Tuesday after making noise on Monday. ? San Francisco has lined up three free-agent visits for the coming days: safeties LaRon Landry and Charles Woodson and defensive end Glenn Dorsey. Landry and Woodson make sense as cheaper replacements for free agent safety Dashon Goldson. Dorsey would be a nice fallback plan to free agent Ricky Jean-Francois. ? The Niners were interested in defensive lineman Desmond Bryant, but they never got a chance to talk to him. He inked a monster five-year, $34 million deal with the Browns on Tuesday. ? San Fran is said to still be in the mix for free agent cornerback Sean Smith, but common assumption is that he?s out of their price range. ? The Ed Reed speculation figures to be a smokescreen, but we wouldn?t rule it out just yet.

The Bears spent some coin on the opening day of free agency. Chicago locked up left tackle Jermon Bushrod to a five-year, $36 million pact and tight end Martellus Bennett to a four-year, $21 million deal. Bushrod will replace turnstile J?Marcus Webb on Jay Cutler?s blindside, while Webb and Gabe Carimi figure to duke it out for the right tackle gig. Bennett was arguably the top tight end on the market. He?s young, an excellent blocker, and creates mismatches over the middle of the field. Bennett has TE1 fantasy potential as Cutler?s No. 2 target in the passing game. ? The Bears were interested in free agents left guard Andy Levitre and Phil Loadholt before they signed with the Titans and Vikings respectively. ? Franchise player Henry Melton signed his tender and will earn $8.5 million in 2013. ? Chicago has yet to respond to free agent Brian Urlacher?s contract proposal, and they don?t appear to be in a rush to do so. GM Phil Emery could look Urlacher and fellow free agent linebacker Nick Roach?s way on Wednesday.

The Bengals kept the wallet tightly closed on Tuesday, just as we?ve grown accustomed to with them. They did re-sign 29-year-old left end Robert Geathers to a new deal. He?s the Bengals? longest-tenured player, and will be entering his tenth season with the club. ? Free agent running backs Mike Goodson, Beanie Wells, and Reggie Bush are expected to make visits. Bush might not make it out of Detroit. Wells is essentially the same player as BenJarvus Green-Ellis, except worse. We do like Goodson?s fit as a change-of-pace back.

The Bills? lone move on Tuesday was the release of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The transaction brings a $10-plus million cap hit for 2013, but GM Buddy Nix realized it was time to move on from that mistake. Nix was recorded in a phone conversation saying he believed Fitzpatrick was nothing more than a backup. Buffalo looks to be the early favorites for West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith in the draft. The Bills pick No. 8 overall, but they may have to trade up to the No. 1 spot to get ahead of Jacksonville at No. 2.

The Broncos were one of the more active teams on Tuesday. Denver signed left guard Louis Vasquez away from the division rival Chargers on a four-year, $23.5 million deal. Vasquez, 26 next month, is a fine pass blocker and was arguably the top guard on the market. His arrival puts incumbent right guard Chris Kuper?s future in Denver in doubt. Kuper, 30, hasn?t been able to stay healthy anyway. ? Defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson was re-signed to a two-year deal. He started 14 games last season and proved to be a quality run defender. The Broncos are reportedly close to an agreement with free agent defensive tackle Terrance Knighton to play next to Vickerson. They?ve also kicked the tires on free agent Richard Seymour. ? The Broncos are said to be the favorites for free agent running back Rashard Mendenhall, but he may not make it out of his visit with Arizona. His signing would likely spell the end for Willis McGahee. ? Free agents cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, safety Louis Delmas, and linebacker Stewart Bradley are scheduled to visit Denver. ? Right end Elvis Dumervil has changed his stance on the pay cut front, and he is now open to a slash. Peyton Manning wants his old buddy free agent Dwight Freeney to join him in Denver. Speaking of Manning, the Broncos guaranteed his $20 million base salaries for 2013 and 2014.

The Browns made two of the biggest signings of the day. Outside linebacker Paul Kruger agreed to a five-year, $41 million deal, and defensive lineman Desmond Bryant signed the dotted line of a five-year, $34 million contract. Cleveland?s front seven is looking pretty sharp. Kruger will bookend Jabaal Sheard, and Bryant will likely play end on the front line with Ahtyba Rubin and nose tackle Phil Taylor. ? Free agent outside linebacker Quentin Groves will make a visit. He played under DC Ray Horton in Arizona last season.

The Bucs didn?t spend any money on Tuesday, but they?re linked to plenty of big names. Tampa Bay is rumored to be the destination for Darrelle Revis via trade, but there are still hurdles to be cleared. Other teams may be interested, as well. ? The Bucs are in the midst of wooing free agent safety Dashon Goldson, and the two sides are said to be close on a deal. ? Tampa Bay is one of a handful of teams in the mix for free agent cornerback Sean Smith. ? As you can see, there?s a common theme here. The Bucs are intent on fixing a dreadful pass defense. ? Other free agents linked to the Bucs: cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Derek Cox and defensive end Cliff Avril. ? GM Mark Dominik is actively searching for a No. 2 quarterback and someone to push Josh Freeman. The Bucs came up as a potential destination for Patriots quarterback Ryan Mallett. Dominik is also interested in free agent Drew Stanton. ? Offensive lineman Jamon Meredith is reportedly up for trade. They?d be lucky to get a late-rounder for him.

The Cardinals have plenty of free-agent visits lined up, and they include quarterback Drew Stanton, running backs Reggie Bush and Rashard Mendenhall, safety LaRon Landry, linebacker Rey Maualuga, and cornerback Jerraud Powers. Bush is unlikely to make it to the desert. The Lions are putting the full-court press on him. Mendenhall is more realistic. Maualuga and Daryl Washington would make a nice inside linebacker duo. ? Arizona is one of free agent returner Josh Cribbs? two choices, and free agent linebacker Lorenzo Alexander is rumored to be signing with the Cardinals.

The Chargers signed a couple second- or third-tier free agents in offensive tackle King Dunlap and tight end John Phillips. Phillips was given a three-year deal. He?ll likely replace Randy McMichael as the blocking tight end in San Diego. McMichael was released on Tuesday, along with nose tackle Antonio Garay. ? Free agent cornerbacks Derek Cox and Jerraud Powers are scheduled to visit. ? Running back Fozzy Whittaker was claimed off waivers from the Cardinals.

The Chiefs snatched up a few depth players as free agency opened. Defensive lineman Mike DeVito signed a three-year, $12.6 million deal, tight end Anthony Fasano inked a four-year, $16 million pact, and quarterback Chase Daniel was signed for three years and $10 million. DeVito likely replaces free agent Glenn Dorsey at right end, and Fasano will be the No. 2 tight end and blocking specialist behind Tony Moeaki. Daniel got a nice payday for a backup, but we wouldn?t expect him to give Alex Smith a run for the starting job in 2013. ? Kansas City is reportedly trying to trade Matt Cassel, but they?re not going to find any takers.

Free agency came hard, and it came fast on Tuesday. We here at Rotoworld were cranking out blurbs all day long as the smoke wafted out of our keyboards.

There were a couple of first-day winners, but I won?t go as far as to say there were losers. After all, we?re only one day into the madness. Let?s get to the action, and there sure was plenty of it.

The 49ers enjoyed a relatively quiet Tuesday after making noise on Monday. ? San Francisco has lined up three free-agent visits for the coming days: safeties LaRon Landry and Charles Woodson and defensive end Glenn Dorsey. Landry and Woodson make sense as cheaper replacements for free agent safety Dashon Goldson. Dorsey would be a nice fallback plan to free agent Ricky Jean-Francois. ? The Niners were interested in defensive lineman Desmond Bryant, but they never got a chance to talk to him. He inked a monster five-year, $34 million deal with the Browns on Tuesday. ? San Fran is said to still be in the mix for free agent cornerback Sean Smith, but common assumption is that he?s out of their price range. ? The Ed Reed speculation figures to be a smokescreen, but we wouldn?t rule it out just yet.

The Bears spent some coin on the opening day of free agency. Chicago locked up left tackle Jermon Bushrod to a five-year, $36 million pact and tight end Martellus Bennett to a four-year, $21 million deal. Bushrod will replace turnstile J?Marcus Webb on Jay Cutler?s blindside, while Webb and Gabe Carimi figure to duke it out for the right tackle gig. Bennett was arguably the top tight end on the market. He?s young, an excellent blocker, and creates mismatches over the middle of the field. Bennett has TE1 fantasy potential as Cutler?s No. 2 target in the passing game. ? The Bears were interested in free agents left guard Andy Levitre and Phil Loadholt before they signed with the Titans and Vikings respectively. ? Franchise player Henry Melton signed his tender and will earn $8.5 million in 2013. ? Chicago has yet to respond to free agent Brian Urlacher?s contract proposal, and they don?t appear to be in a rush to do so. GM Phil Emery could look Urlacher and fellow free agent linebacker Nick Roach?s way on Wednesday.

The Bengals kept the wallet tightly closed on Tuesday, just as we?ve grown accustomed to with them. They did re-sign 29-year-old left end Robert Geathers to a new deal. He?s the Bengals? longest-tenured player, and will be entering his tenth season with the club. ? Free agent running backs Mike Goodson, Beanie Wells, and Reggie Bush are expected to make visits. Bush might not make it out of Detroit. Wells is essentially the same player as BenJarvus Green-Ellis, except worse. We do like Goodson?s fit as a change-of-pace back.

The Bills? lone move on Tuesday was the release of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The transaction brings a $10-plus million cap hit for 2013, but GM Buddy Nix realized it was time to move on from that mistake. Nix was recorded in a phone conversation saying he believed Fitzpatrick was nothing more than a backup. Buffalo looks to be the early favorites for West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith in the draft. The Bills pick No. 8 overall, but they may have to trade up to the No. 1 spot to get ahead of Jacksonville at No. 2.

The Broncos were one of the more active teams on Tuesday. Denver signed left guard Louis Vasquez away from the division rival Chargers on a four-year, $23.5 million deal. Vasquez, 26 next month, is a fine pass blocker and was arguably the top guard on the market. His arrival puts incumbent right guard Chris Kuper?s future in Denver in doubt. Kuper, 30, hasn?t been able to stay healthy anyway. ? Defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson was re-signed to a two-year deal. He started 14 games last season and proved to be a quality run defender. The Broncos are reportedly close to an agreement with free agent defensive tackle Terrance Knighton to play next to Vickerson. They?ve also kicked the tires on free agent Richard Seymour. ? The Broncos are said to be the favorites for free agent running back Rashard Mendenhall, but he may not make it out of his visit with Arizona. His signing would likely spell the end for Willis McGahee. ? Free agents cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, safety Louis Delmas, and linebacker Stewart Bradley are scheduled to visit Denver. ? Right end Elvis Dumervil has changed his stance on the pay cut front, and he is now open to a slash. Peyton Manning wants his old buddy free agent Dwight Freeney to join him in Denver. Speaking of Manning, the Broncos guaranteed his $20 million base salaries for 2013 and 2014.

The Browns made two of the biggest signings of the day. Outside linebacker Paul Kruger agreed to a five-year, $41 million deal, and defensive lineman Desmond Bryant signed the dotted line of a five-year, $34 million contract. Cleveland?s front seven is looking pretty sharp. Kruger will bookend Jabaal Sheard, and Bryant will likely play end on the front line with Ahtyba Rubin and nose tackle Phil Taylor. ? Free agent outside linebacker Quentin Groves will make a visit. He played under DC Ray Horton in Arizona last season.

The Bucs didn?t spend any money on Tuesday, but they?re linked to plenty of big names. Tampa Bay is rumored to be the destination for Darrelle Revis via trade, but there are still hurdles to be cleared. Other teams may be interested, as well. ? The Bucs are in the midst of wooing free agent safety Dashon Goldson, and the two sides are said to be close on a deal. ? Tampa Bay is one of a handful of teams in the mix for free agent cornerback Sean Smith. ? As you can see, there?s a common theme here. The Bucs are intent on fixing a dreadful pass defense. ? Other free agents linked to the Bucs: cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Derek Cox and defensive end Cliff Avril. ? GM Mark Dominik is actively searching for a No. 2 quarterback and someone to push Josh Freeman. The Bucs came up as a potential destination for Patriots quarterback Ryan Mallett. Dominik is also interested in free agent Drew Stanton. ? Offensive lineman Jamon Meredith is reportedly up for trade. They?d be lucky to get a late-rounder for him.

The Cardinals have plenty of free-agent visits lined up, and they include quarterback Drew Stanton, running backs Reggie Bush and Rashard Mendenhall, safety LaRon Landry, linebacker Rey Maualuga, and cornerback Jerraud Powers. Bush is unlikely to make it to the desert. The Lions are putting the full-court press on him. Mendenhall is more realistic. Maualuga and Daryl Washington would make a nice inside linebacker duo. ? Arizona is one of free agent returner Josh Cribbs? two choices, and free agent linebacker Lorenzo Alexander is rumored to be signing with the Cardinals.

The Chargers signed a couple second- or third-tier free agents in offensive tackle King Dunlap and tight end John Phillips. Phillips was given a three-year deal. He?ll likely replace Randy McMichael as the blocking tight end in San Diego. McMichael was released on Tuesday, along with nose tackle Antonio Garay. ? Free agent cornerbacks Derek Cox and Jerraud Powers are scheduled to visit. ? Running back Fozzy Whittaker was claimed off waivers from the Cardinals.

The Chiefs snatched up a few depth players as free agency opened. Defensive lineman Mike DeVito signed a three-year, $12.6 million deal, tight end Anthony Fasano inked a four-year, $16 million pact, and quarterback Chase Daniel was signed for three years and $10 million. DeVito likely replaces free agent Glenn Dorsey at right end, and Fasano will be the No. 2 tight end and blocking specialist behind Tony Moeaki. Daniel got a nice payday for a backup, but we wouldn?t expect him to give Alex Smith a run for the starting job in 2013. ? Kansas City is reportedly trying to trade Matt Cassel, but they?re not going to find any takers.

The Colts weren?t afraid to open up the pocketbook. Indianapolis went out and got a right tackle in Gosder Cherilus on a five-year, $34 million deal. He?s a massive upgrade on Winston Justice, and is a strong pass protector. Offensive guard Donald Thomas was brought in to help the interior of the line. He can play all three spots. ? Cornerback Greg Toler was signed to a three-year, $15 million contract. Fellow cornerback Darius Butler re-upped in Indianapolis for two more years. Toler and Vontae Davis will likely handle the outside, while Butler mans the slot. ? The Colts also brought in a couple of pass-rushers. Outside linebacker Erik Walden got the surprise deal of the day at four years and $16 million. GM Ryan Grigson added outside linebacker Lawrence Sidbury to the mix, too. It remains to be seen if free agent Cliff Avril is still on the radar. ? Free agent safety LaRon Landry set up a visit.

The Cowboys laid low on Tuesday. They don?t have any money to spend, but Dallas was mentioned as having interest in free agent linebackers Brian Urlacher and Chase Blackburn. Urlacher doesn?t make a whole lot of sense with Sean Lee in the middle already, but Blackburn could compete for the strong-side job. The Cowboys were also linked to free agent DeAngelo Hall. They reportedly view him as a free safety. ? Franchise player Anthony Spencer signed his tender and will earn $10.627 million in 2013.

The Dolphins were the big spenders of the day. They fired the first shots by signing receiver Mike Wallace to a five-year, $60 million contract that includes $30 million guaranteed. We?re not big on Wallace?s fantasy prospects in Miami, but his addition certainly opens up the offense. ? Miami added a pair of linebackers, while also subtracting two. Dannell Ellerbe signed a five-year, $35 million deal, and Philip Wheeler inked a five-year, $26 million contract. It?s not quite certain what spots they?ll play, but middle linebacker Karlos Dansby and strong-side linebacker Kevin Burnett were released to make room. Ellerbe is strong against the run, and Wheeler can do it all. ? Free safety Chris Clemons re-upped for one year. ? GM Jeff Ireland missed on tight ends Jared Cook and James Casey. ? The Fins are likely moving on from free agent left tackle Jake Long, and they appear dead-set on moving Jonathan Martin to the blindside. ? The Dolphins are interested in a trio of free agent cornerbacks: Antoine Cason, Captain Munnerlyn, and Chris Houston. They could be searching for two starters.

The Eagles were never expected to go after any big-ticket items in free agency, and they didn?t. Philadelphia did bring in a handful of quality players, though. Outside linebacker Jason Phillips and cornerback Bradley Fletcher signed two-year deals. H-back James Casey, nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga, and safety Pat Chung inked three-year deals. Sopoaga?s is for $12 million. ? We really like the signings of Casey, Chung, and Fletcher. Casey is a perfect fit as a ?joker? in Chip Kelly?s spread-out offensive attack. Fletcher is a big corner who can play press coverage in DC Billy Davis? system, and Chung was with Kelly at Oregon. He?s a physical player, and is easily the best safety on the team at the moment. ? The Eagles finally released cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Fellow cornerback bust Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will not be re-signed.

The Falcons continued locking up their own players. Left tackle Sam Baker, one of the better free-agent left tackles left on the market at the time, re-upped on a six-year deal. It?s quite the score for a guy that has battled back issues throughout his career. Baker picked the right time to have his best season. ? A report leaked that free agent cornerback Brent Grimes was re-signing in Atlanta, but that was later retracted. Grimes is still on the market. ? Center Todd McClure announced his retirement. Peter Konz is expected to move to center in 2013. ? The Falcons are sniffing around on free agent defensive tackle Richard Seymour. He?d be a good fit. Atlanta needs to get bigger in the middle.

The Giants are another team that is strapped by the cap at the moment. However, they did bring back a familiar face on Tuesday. Cornerback Aaron Ross returns to New York after a one-year stint in Jacksonville. ? Running back Ryan Torain was re-signed after being non-tendered as a restricted free agent. ? With Martellus Bennett now officially out of the picture, second-year tight end Adrien Robinson might see an increased role. He played very limited snaps as a rookie, but he?s a height/weight/speed specimen.

The Jaguars weren?t linked to a single free agent on Tuesday. They?re not expected to join the fray until the second wave of free agency.

The Jets were pretty active for a team with limited funds. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie and receiver Santonio Holmes restructured their deals to help alleviate some pressure. Nose tackle Sione Pouha was released in a money-saving move. ? Gang Green is interested in quite a few second-tier free agents: quarterback Jason Campbell, receivers Braylon Edwards, Mohamed Massaquoi, and Brandon Gibson, and running back Mike Goodson. Gibson is the only one that has scheduled a visit. He?d vault to the No. 2 receiver spot on the depth chart if signed. ? The Jets are engaged in Darrelle Revis trade talks, but no deal is imminent. That could change any moment.

The Lions were the pre-free agency darlings. They were being connected to almost every free agent, but they didn?t make any major moves on the opening day. Special teams ace Kassim Osgood re-upped for one year. Kicker Jason Hanson said he?d like to return for another season. He?s a free agent, but the two sides will likely work something out. Detroit extended a second-round tender to restricted free agent defensive end Willie Young. Safety Amari Spievey, a restricted free agent, signed a one-year deal, as well. ? The Lions have four free-agent visits lined up. Running back Reggie Bush is already in town, and Detroit has reportedly offered him the full-time running back gig. They?re considered the front-runner. Defensive lineman Jason Jones and safeties Glover Quin and LaRon Landry are also expected to make visits. ? Detroit made an offer to free agent receiver Domenik Hixon, but he has tabled it as he searches for a better one.

The Packers remain the favorites for free agent running back Steven Jackson?s services, and there are reports that a deal is close to being done. Jackson would be a massive upgrade on who Green Bay has been trotting out there in recent years. ? Free agent running back Peyton Hillis visited on Tuesday. ? The Packers extended a second-round tender to restricted free agent cornerback Sam Shields. They failed to tender offers to tight Tom Crabtree and linebackers Frank Zombo and Rob Francois, making them free agents. ? Green Bay reportedly made free agent receiver Greg Jennings an offer for $10 million annually. If true, Jennings would be crazy not to take it. Some think Jennings is likely to end up back in Green Bay, and we tend to lean that way, too. Jermichael Finley could then be released in a corresponding move.

The Panthers are another team that is expected to keep quiet during the opening days of free agency. Carolina released linebacker James Anderson to free up a little bit of money, and they re-signed tight end Ben Hartsock. Anderson, 30 in September, was one of ex-GM Marty Hurney?s many busts. Thomas Davis, Jon Beason, and Luke Kuechly will handle linebacker duties. ? Carolina failed to tender offers to defensive tackle Andre Neblett and cornerback Nate Ness.

The Patriots lurked in the shadows on Tuesday. New England lets everyone else make the silly deals, and they find value. ? Talks have reportedly broken down with free agent slot receiver Wes Welker, but we?re still not ready to rule him out. Fellow free agent slot machine Danny Amendola is waiting in the wings as a fallback plan. ? A Ryan Mallet trade is unlikely. The Browns and Bucs remain interested. ? New England is one of free agent return man Josh Cribbs? top-two choices, along with Arizona.

The Raiders cut bait with three more players. First-round busts receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and safety Michael Huff were among them. Defensive end Dave Tollefson, a free agency failure from last offseason, was the other. We like Heyward-Bey as a fit with the Vikings or Patriots. It?s quite possible Oakland has the worst roster in the league. We certainly think so. ? Cornerback Phillip Adams wasn?t tendered an offer as a restricted free agent, but he later re-signed for one year and $630,000. He might have a shot at a starting job in 2013 the way it?s looking now.

The Rams had their sights on tight end Jared Cook, and they landed him for five years and $35.1 million. He?s essentially replacing Danny Amendola as the slot receiver in St. Louis, since he can?t block much at all. The Rams were set on finding more weapons for Sam Bradford, and Cook?s vertical skills are some of the best in the league. Cook chose the Rams over the Dolphins and Browns. ? Free agent left tackle Jake Long will visit on Wednesday, and he is expected to sign as long as he passes a physical. ? Free agent safety Louis Delmas arrived in St. Louis on Tuesday night and he?ll also officially visit on Wednesday. His old position coach with the Lions, Tim Walton, is the new defensive coordinator with the Rams. ? The Rams re-signed defensive end William Hayes to a three-year, $10.5 million deal. It?s a good keep after Hayes had a career year in 2012. He was expected to draw heavy interest on the open market. ? St. Louis extended an original-pick tender to safety Darian Stewart.

The Ravens suffered a crushing blow by losing linebacker Dannell Ellerbe to the Dolphins, but they did lock up a few of their own free agents on Tuesday. Special teams ace David Reed signed a two-year, $2.5 million deal, long snapper Morgan Cox re-upped, safety James Ihedigbo signed a one-year contract, and offensive lineman Ramon Harewood inked a one-year pact of his own. ? Baltimore also added a new face to the defensive line. Chris Canty signed a three-year, $8 million deal. He?s likely to play end for the Ravens. ? Baltimore is believed to be one of two teams interested in free agent receiver Danny Amendola.

The Redskins continued to keep the 2012 team together as much as possible. Defensive end Kedric Golston re-signed for three years and $5.2 million. The rotational lineman recorded 16 tackles in 16 games last season. Santana Moss reworked his deal, and he?ll be back to compete for a roster spot this summer.

The Saints lost a big part of their offense in left tackle Jermon Bushrod on Tuesday. He was thought of as a top priority in New Orleans, but the Saints wouldn?t fork out the dough. He instead signed a five-year, $36 million deal in Chicago. Charles Brown is expected to compete for the starting job on Drew Brees? blindside. ? Defensive end Will Smith and linebacker both took pay cuts to stay with the Saints. Smith took a $6 million hit, and Vilma took a $3.7 million slash. New Orleans also released linebacker Will Herring. ? Free agent cornerback Derek Cox is scheduled to make a visit.

The Seahawks were busy introducing new acquisition Percy Harvin to the media on Tuesday. He?ll wear No. 11 for Seattle, and he inked a new six-year, $67 million deal upon his arrival. Harvin is now the league?s fifth-highest paid receiver in terms of annual average behind Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Wallace, and Dwayne Bowe. ? Kick returner and running back Leon Washington was released. The 30-year-old should latch on elsewhere. ? There reportedly isn?t much cooking on the Matt Flynn trade front.

The Steelers took care of a few of their own on Tuesday. Fullback David Johnson re-signed for one year, linebacker Larry Foote re-upped on a three-year deal, and receiver Plaxico Burress is expected to get a one-year deal, too. Outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley finally restructured his deal, and left guard Willie Colon was released. Pittsburgh designated him as a post-June 1 cut, allowing them to spread the cap hit out over 2013 and 2014. ? The Steelers are interested in free agent running back Beanie Wells. Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski and linebacker Dan Connor are scheduled to make free-agent visits. Connor played his college ball at Penn State. We don?t like the Wells fit. Pittsburgh already has two plodders in Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman.

The Texans remained quiet, as well. Houston released receiver Kevin Walter, clearing the way for the team to finally address the No. 2 receiver spot with an athlete. ? Free agent outside linebacker Connor Barwin?s chances of re-signing remain slim.

The Titans were the big winner of the day. Tennessee addressed one of the biggest holes on the team by signing top free agent guard Andy Levitre to a six-year, $46.8 million deal. Levitre is a top pass-blocking guard, but he?s also a quality run blocker. Jake Locker and Chris Johnson certainly signed off on it. The Titans could make their line one of the best in football by drafting one of Jonathan Cooper or Chance Warmack with the No. 10 overall pick in the draft. ? Tight end Delanie Walker inked a four-year, $17.5 million contract. One of the top blocking tight ends in football, Tennessee will likely pair him with raw and athletic Taylor Thompson to replace Jared Cook?s production. ? Tennessee is also expected to sign free agent defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill. The wide-bodied former Lion is adept at pushing the pocket. Free agent linebacker Moise Fokou has scheduled a visit. ? The Titans released guard Mitch Petrus and safety Jordan Babineaux. They?re also shopping receiver Nate Washington as they eye free agent Danny Amendola.

The Vikings were also a winner on the opening day of free agency. Sure, they didn?t go out and sign any new players, but they kept some important pieces. Mauling right tackle Phil Loadholt re-signed for four years and $25 million after flirting with the Bears. Exceptional lead blocker fullback Jerome Felton agreed to a three-year, $7.5 million deal. Run-stuffing weak-side linebacker Erin Henderson agreed to a two-year contract, as did safety Jamarca Sanford. Backup center Joe Berger signed a one-year deal, and so did receiver Jerome Simpson. We don?t like the Simpson deal. At all. ? However, the Vikings did make a release that rubbed some people in the organization the wrong way. Cornerback Antoine Winfield was cut. He?s still one of the best slot corners in the game, and shouldn?t be on the market for long. ? Tight end John Carlson restructured his contract. He?s shaping up as a free-agent bust. ? The Vikings aren?t actively pursuing free agent receiver Greg Jennings, but they could if his price comes down. Danny Amendola could also be an option. Minnesota badly needs receivers. ? Minnesota may be interested in quarterback Matt Cassel once he gets released by the Chiefs.

Source: http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/42754/310/nfl-hot-stove-day-2

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No. 1 Gonzaga rolls over Saint Mary's 65-51 at WCC

Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk, left, tries to strip the ball from Saint Mary's Matt Hodgson during the first half of the West Coast Conference tournament championship NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk, left, tries to strip the ball from Saint Mary's Matt Hodgson during the first half of the West Coast Conference tournament championship NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Saint Mary's Matthew Dellavedova (4) passes the ball off against Gonzaga's Elias Harris during the first half of the West Coast Conference tournament championship NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Gonzaga's Kevin Pangos reacts after hitting a 3-point basket against Saint Mary's during the first half of the West Coast Conference tournament championship NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Gonzaga's Kevin Pangos (4) tangles with Saint Mary's Stephen Holt during the first half of the West Coast Conference tournament championship NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Saint Mary's Jorden Page winces after injuring his knee during the first half of the West Coast Conference tournament championship NCAA college basketball game against Gonzaga, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

LAS VEGAS (AP) ? Kelly Olynyk had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and top-ranked Gonzaga bolstered its case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament by routing Saint Mary's 65-51 in the West Coast Conference final Monday night.

Already headed to the NCAA tournament for the 15th straight season, Gonzaga (31-2) sure had the look of a No. 1 seed, playing a superb game at both ends.

The deep Zags shot 52 percent, dominated inside and teamed up to hound Gaels leading scorer Matthew Dellavedova everywhere he went. Elias Harris added 19 points for Gonzaga, which had a 42-18 in the paint.

Saint Mary's (27-6) labored against Gonzaga's attacking defense, particularly after point guard Jorden Page injured his right knee midway through the first half.

Dellavedova struggled for the second straight game, scoring two points on 1-of-8 shooting, and the Gaels went 7-for-27 from 3-point range.

Stephen Holt led Saint Mary's, which should have a solid enough resume to earn an at-large NCAA bid.

Gonzaga has been the marker for mid-major success, reaching the NCAA tournament 14 straight seasons and the regional finals four times, including the past two seasons.

This season, the Zags broke through a big barrier on their way to 30 wins for the first time: No. 1.

Behind the Olynyk, the long-haired Canadian with the Seattle-grunge vibe and way-above-the-rim game, Gonzaga lost just two games ? to ranked teams ? and became the first team to go 16-0 in the WCC. That earned the Bulldogs a spot atop The Associated Press poll for the first time last week.

While glare at the top was too much for many teams in this season of parity, Gonzaga handled prosperity well, closing the regular season with a rout over Portland. Gonzaga then beat Loyola Marymount in the semifinals of the WCC tournament to reach the title game for the 16th straight season.

Waiting for them was a familiar foe.

The Gaels and Bulldogs have met 15 times the past five seasons, trading WCC tournament championships each of the past four seasons.

Gonzaga beat Saint Mary's both times they met during the regular season, 83-78 at home and 77-60 in the Bay Area. The Gaels nearly missed a third shot, needing a late 3-pointer by Dellavedova and overtime to hold off San Diego in the WCC semifinals.

Saint Mary's managed to keep it close until Page got hurt at 11:42 of first half, then went more than 6 minutes without a field goal against Gonzaga's aggressive man defense.

Olynyk brought the mostly pro-Gonzaga crowd to its feet by stripping Dellavedova and streaking in for a breakaway dunk, then Kevin Pangos kept the roar going with a jumper off another steal. Harris followed with another basket on the break, putting the Bulldogs up 33-21 and the fans back on their feet.

Gonzaga kept making shots and led 38-29 after halftime after shooting 16 of 25 from the floor.

Dellavedova, who went 2 for 12 in the semifinals, barely had room to move against Gary Bell Jr.'s in-the-jersey defense, scoring two points on 1-of-4 shooting. The Gaels went 3 of 16 from 3-point range in the half.

Gonzaga didn't let up in the second half.

Olynyk opened with a basket inside, Bell put the Zags up 43-29 with a 3-pointer from the wing and Olynyk later put a punctuation mark on the runaway, soaring in for a one-handed dunk over Brad Waldow that made it a 19-point lead.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-03-11-BKC-T25-WCC-Saint-Mary's-Gonzaga/id-dffb031466d44f43b8ef4ef4d857ec8d

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Dot Earth Blog: Some Resilience Seen in Northern and Tropical Flora in a Warming Climate

Separate comprehensive studies published in the last couple of days in Nature Climate Change and Nature Geoscience find that from the northern tundra to the tropical forests, plant communities are showing substantial capacity to tolerate global warming.

The work builds on earlier research on the responsiveness to climate change of both tropical and Arctic plant communities. Given trajectories pointing to centuries of warming this is no reason to relax, of course. And, as you?ll read below from an expert on the relationship of climate to Arctic communities, there?s plenty of disruption coming. But it is important to weigh such work in calculating risks and benefits of various climate policies.

Both papers are by international teams of authors consisting of many of the best and brightest minds probing these two parts of the globe. I have queries out to some of both and will update this post as replies come in.

Here are links, abstracts and some excerpts:

The North

The paper in Nature Climate Change, ?Temperature and vegetation seasonality diminishment over northern lands,? pulls together a wide array of research, including the work by Bruce Forbes of the University of Lapland last year, on what I called ?pop-up forests? ? patches of rapidly-growing tundra shrubs.

Here?s an excerpt from the NASA news release (NASA funded the study; Boston University, the academic home of the two lead authors, has also posted a big cache of images and other background):

Vegetation growth at Earth?s northern latitudes increasingly resembles lusher latitudes to the south, according to a NASA-funded study based on a 30-year record of land surface and newly improved satellite data sets.

An international team of university and NASA scientists examined the relationship between changes in surface temperature and vegetation growth from 45 degrees north latitude to the Arctic Ocean. Results show temperature and vegetation growth at northern latitudes now resemble those found 4 degrees to 6 degrees of latitude farther south as recently as 1982.

?Higher northern latitudes are getting warmer, Arctic sea ice and the duration of snow cover are diminishing, the growing season is getting longer and plants are growing more,? said Ranga Myneni of Boston University?s Department of Earth and Environment. ?In the north?s Arctic and boreal areas, the characteristics of the seasons are changing, leading to great disruptions for plants and related ecosystems.??

However, researchers say plant growth in the north may not continue on its current trajectory. The ramifications of an amplified greenhouse effect, such as frequent forest fires, outbreak of pest infestations and summertime droughts, may slow plant growth.

Also, warmer temperatures alone in the boreal zone do not guarantee more plant growth, which also depends on the availability of water and sunlight.

?Satellite data identify areas in the boreal zone that are warmer and dryer and other areas that are warmer and wetter,? said co-author Ramakrishna Nemani of NASA?s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. ?Only the warmer and wetter areas support more growth.?
This new science fits with how I described the Arctic in 2011: ?a?physical system that amplifies warm or cool jogs and a biological system attuned to such changes.?

At the end of this post you can read some thoughts from Bruce Forbes (who is an author) on the impact of projected shifts in coming decades on Arctic reindeer and the herders who depend on them.

The Tropics

The paper in Nature Geoscience, on the tropics, is ?Simulated resilience of tropical rainforests to CO2-induced climate change.? It is well summarized in Nature?s news article by Olive Heffernan, ?Tropical forests unexpectedly resilient to climate change.?

Here?s an excerpt from the abstract:

Using simulations with 22 climate models and the MOSES?TRIFFID* land surface scheme, we find that only in one of the simulations are tropical forests projected to lose biomass by the end of the twenty-first century?and then only for the Americas. When comparing with alternative models of plant physiological processes, we find that the largest uncertainties are associated with plant physiological responses, and then with future emissions scenarios. Uncertainties from differences in the climate projections are significantly smaller. Despite the considerable uncertainties, we conclude that there is evidence of forest resilience for all three regions.
[* The clunky acronym refers to this model: "Top-down Representation of Interactive Foliage and Flora Including Dynamics."]

Here?s one important line from the body of the paper:

Forest biomass carbon stocks in Asia and Africa are projected to be greater in year 2100 than at the present day, in all simulations. This is also true for the Americas/Amazon, except for the HadCM3 climate model [background on that model is here]. There is however a decreasing ability to sequester carbon in biomass; many pathways have a C_v? [vegetation carbon, including live roots] peak towards the end of the twenty-first century.

Swinging back to the north, here?s Bruce Forbes?s response to the question I posed to the authors of the paper on shifts in seasons at high latitudes. I asked them which findings were most troubling and which most encouraging:

1) Shifts in albedo [the amount by which surfaces reflect energy back to space] and feedbacks to the atmosphere potentially accelerating ongoing warming will probably be evident from structural changes within the tundra zone well befoere the coniferous forests migrate north.

2) There are interactions between increasing shrub cover and winter snow capture and spring melt that have strong implications for (1).

3) Increasing frequency and intensity of rain-on-snow and crusted snow events in reindeer and caribou grazing systems has the potential to significantly increase mortality in herds of animals upon which large numbers of people and wildlife depend.

4) The reduced seasonality (e.g. 3) will likely place additional stress on human populations already under pressure from oil and gas development.

5) The reduced seasonality means rivers and lakes freeze up later in autumn and melt out earlier in spring. We have seen this in Fennoscandia [click for background on this region] and northern Russia and it strongly affects both indigenous and non-indigenous livelihoods, like reindeer herding, tourism, oil and gas (winter road use), etc.

6) The reduced seasonality means insect harassment of reindeer begins earlier, which has implication for calf mortality as the exposure to intense harassment would begin before they reach their summer pastures on the arctic coast (Kara and Barents seas). Those shores are typically windy, whereas the inland areas by which they approach the coast are generally much less windy.

On the encouraging side:

1) The reindeer pastures of the tundra zone in west Siberia have been characterized as moderately to heavily ?overgrazed? for 5 to 6 decades, and accordingly the reindeer population has long been expected to crash. Yet with no supplemental feeding (unlike in Finland) the reindeer population has more than doubled since World War II from 300,000 to over 630,000 animals. And during the satellite era we find the productivity of the tundra zone has actually increased significantly (the pop-up forests paper and this paper). The west Siberian tundra is certainly becoming more steppe-like, patches of tall shrub woodlands interspersed with low shrub graminoid-dominated vegetation. In other words, a state change is afoot. So, I think it is time to reassess what is meant by ?overgazed? with less subjective metrics than outdated models of ?carrying capacity.?

2) High densities of reindeer managed by herders in northwestern Eurasia may be able to help check increases in shrub growth and height by concentrating grazing in existing low shrub areas before they grow taller. We have two large projects going on this now in Fennoscandia and western Siberia.

3) People and reindeer have been together through episodes of warming and cooling in the past 1,500 years or so. I suspect, but don?t have the solid evidence yet, that human agency is underestimated as a key factor in stucturing past and present tundra and forest-tundra ecosystems of northwest Eurasia. This is one reason we need the paleo data from terrestrial systems in my study regions.

As I explained above, I?ll add more thoughts here as they come in.

Source: http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/11/resilience-seen-in-norther-and-tropical-flora-in-a-warming-climate/?partner=rss&emc=rss

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