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Why Do Woodpeckers Peck? | Earth Wise

October 21, 2022 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Scientists understand why woodpeckers peck

Most of us have heard the sound of a woodpecker drumming on a nearby tree, or unfortunately, on the walls of our house where it can be very destructive.  We were often told that the birds were hunting for insects inside the wood, or perhaps trying to open up a nest. But a new study at Brown University has found evidence that woodpeckers are just additional musicians in the bird orchestra who happen to be percussionists.

The researchers studied the forebrains of birds and found characteristic gene expression specializations in songbirds.  Songbirds sing to communicate for various reasons – such as staking out territory or seeking mates.  The study looked at birds that are not known to sing, such as the emu, penguin, flamingo, and woodpeckers.  It turns out that among these, only woodpeckers had forebrains that anatomically resembled those of songbirds.  The study is the first time a neural basis has been identified for the communication activities of animals other than primates.

There are over 200 species of woodpeckers around the world and each species has its own characteristic drumming speed and rhythms.  Woodpecker drumming may well have evolved through a form of vocal learning, which is the way songbirds learn to make their own melodious sounds.  And like the calls of songbirds, these drumming patterns change depending on what the birds want to communicate and to whom.

So, the little downy woodpecker that is poking holes in your walls is probably not hunting for insects.  It is more likely to be telling another woodpecker to get out of its territory.

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Why do woodpeckers peck? New discovery about bird brains sheds light on intriguing question

Photo, posted June 15, 2021, courtesy of Tony Oldroyd via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

visit site by the doctor who prescribed the drug. Prescription. If the drug is sold in Russia without a prescription, it is necessary to make sure that the drug will also be sold abroad without it. You can find out in advance and, for example, write a letter to a specific pharmacy abroad, or you can be reinsured and ask to make a prescription form for the drug from your doctor.

A Miracle Tree | Earth Wise

September 27, 2022 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Pongamia could be a miracle tree

The world needs to be fed without destroying the environment.   We need to grow more trees to store more carbon on earth and reduce the amount in the atmosphere.  But meanwhile, we decimate rainforests to produce palm oil and grow soybeans.

A startup company in California called Terviva thinks they have a solution.  It’s called pongamia, which is an ordinary looking tropical tree.  It produces beans packed with protein and oil, much like soybeans.  However, it has the potential to produce much more nutrition per acre than soybeans and it is hardy enough to grow on pretty much any kind of land without the use of pesticides, fertilizers, or irrigation.  In short, it is a miracle crop for a hot and hungry planet that is running out of fertile farmland and fresh water.

Pongamia is not a new or rare tree.  It is common in India but grows all over the world.  It is often planted as an ornamental here in the U.S.

The initial idea for making use of the hardy tree was to use its oil as a biofuel.  The seeds of pongamia are known to have a bitter taste and disagreeable odor, which is why the seeds or oil were never used for human or animal feed.  However, Terviva has developed a way to de-bitter pongamia oil.  Once this is done, it becomes a golden-colored substitute for olive oil. It also has enormous potential as a protein for plant-based milks and meats, since it contains all nine essential amino acids.

Terviva has raised more than $100 million to further develop pongamia and is now partnering with Danone, a $25 billion multinational food company, to develop pongamia as a climate-friendly, climate-resilient, non-GMO alternative to soy and palm oil.

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This super-tree could help feed the world and fight climate change

Photo, posted December 15, 2015, courtesy of Lauren Gutierrez via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

A Food For The Future | Earth Wise

September 19, 2022 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Breadfruit is a climate resilient food for the future

Researchers predict that climate change will negatively impact most staple food crops, including rice, corn, and soybeans.  Therefore, climate resilient food crops – those that are salt, drought, and heat resilient – will have an important role to play in global food security.  Examples of climate resilient crops include quinoa, kernza, amaranth, millet, and tepary beans.    

According to a new study by researchers from Northwestern University, breadfruit – a starchy tree fruit native to the Pacific Islands – will be relatively unaffected by climate change.  Because breadfruit is climate resilient and well-suited to grow in regions with high levels of food insecurity, the research team suggests breadfruit could be a part of the solution to global hunger.

While it has ”fruit” in its name, breadfruit is more like a potato.  It’s starchy and seedless, and is closely related to jackfruit.  Breadfruit is nutrient-rich, and high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.  It can be steamed, roasted, fried, fermented, and even turned into flour.  People in tropical regions around the world have been eating breadfruit for thousands of years. 

In the study, which was recently published in the journal PLOS Climate, researchers determined the climate conditions necessary to cultivate breadfruit and then looked at how these conditions are predicted to change in the future.  They examined two future climate scenarios: one that reflects high greenhouse-gas emissions and another in which emissions stabilize.

In both scenarios, the regions suitable for breadfruit cultivation were mostly unaffected.  Additionally, the researchers identified new suitable land where breadfruit cultivation could expand.   

As the climate continues to change, breadfruit might soon be on a table near you.

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Climate-resilient breadfruit might be the food of the future

Photo, posted August 11, 2007, courtesy of Malcolm Manners via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Losing Forests Is Felt Far Away

July 6, 2018 By EarthWise 2 Comments

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/EW-07-06-18-Losing-Forests-is-Felt-Far-Away.mp3

Large areas of forests in our country are vulnerable to drought, fires and disease.  When forests are heavily damaged, there are well-known local impacts:  drier soils, stronger winds, increased erosion, loss of shade and loss of habitat.

[Read more…] about Losing Forests Is Felt Far Away

Is A Real Christmas Tree Or A Fake One Better for the Planet? 

December 7, 2017 By EarthWise 2 Comments

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/EW-12-07-17-Real-or-Fake-Xmas-Trees.mp3

For many, the Christmas tree is a quintessential part of the holiday season.  According to the American Christmas Tree Association, 81% of Christmas trees Americans decorated in 2016 were artificial.  But are artificial trees really the better option for the environment?

[Read more…] about Is A Real Christmas Tree Or A Fake One Better for the Planet? 

The Southern Pine Beetle

October 13, 2017 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/EW-10-13-17-The-Southern-Pine-Beetle.mp3

Recent sightings of a destructive tree-eating beetle in northeast pine forests have been alarming.  And a new study from Columbia University has confirmed what ecologists had feared all along:  they’re here to stay.

[Read more…] about The Southern Pine Beetle

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