Year: 2008

http://www.eurekalert.org/bysubject/atmospheric.php
Go to the URL above for lengthier, more detailed versions of the blurbs below.

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Public Release: 24-Apr-2008
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Brown scientists say biodiversity is crucial to ecosystem productivity

In the first experiment in a natural environment,
Brown University scientists have shown that
greater plant diversity significantly enhances an
ecosystem’s productivity. The finding, published
in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, underscores the importance of
biodiversity to an ecosystem’s value, such as
capturing the global warming gas carbon dioxide.
Brown Univerisity, InterAmerican Institute for
Global Change Research, Agencia Nacional de
Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, Argentina’s
National Research Council

Contact: Richard Lewis
richard_lewis@brown.edu
401-863-3766
Brown University

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UK butterflies ‘need good summer’ 
 
The Duke of Burgundy butterflies have seen their numbers fall
 
Butterflies need a warm summer in order to help numbers recover from last year’s washout, say conservationists.

Data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme showed that eight species were at an all-time low as a result of an unsuccessful summer in 2007.

The main reason behind the decline was an above average rainfall, which meant the insects, such as the common blue, had fewer chances to feed or breed.

Early forecasts suggest this summer could be wetter than average.

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