How Wind Stilling Is Affecting Insects Search For Food

[unhappycamper]

http://www.capitalwired.com/how-wind-stilling-is-affecting-insects-search-for-food/22714/



How Wind Stilling Is Affecting Insects Search For Food
September 21, 2014
by Rasim van Nierop

With dramatic change in global weather patterns, alterations are seen in climate, wind speed and other meteorological factors. These changes have drastically affected animals and plants behavior towards their environment as reported by Brandon Barton in a news release. Brandon Barton is a postdoctoral investigator at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr.Brandon with his team analyzed global stilling and its effect on foraging behavior of insects through his research work. The study is published in Journal of Ecology and was sponsored by National Science Foundation. He also shared his experience of witnessing a strong blow of wind bending stalks of corn with his students; the sight forced him to think about the insect dwelling on the stalk and the effect of a heavy gust on the tiny creature.

Global stilling, the term which defines the decline in speed of wind is a complex problem world is facing from past few years. A study with lead investigator Bichet A. reported 0.3% decrease in mid latitude land area wind velocity over a period of 30 years in northern hemisphere. This stilling is hazardous for environment causing significant damage to the ecosystem.

The study done in UW-Madison under Dr.Brandon focuses on the effect of changes in wind speed on insect’s behavior. The word foraging describes the insects’ habit to look for food resources, the behavior is typically important in maintaining an insect’s fitness while functioning and reproducing. This research has basically elaborated the side effects expected after a study previously published concluding 15% decrease in Midwest within the 21st century.

The investigators notified global warming as a major factor behind this stilling phenomenon. The rise in temperature worldwide has decelerated the wind velocity. The air revolving around the world is getting warm declining the temperature difference that led to formation of winds. Nevertheless, colder winds are required to produce strong winds.

[coldbeer]

1. We will have to recondsider Wind Farms.

Is that what this study at good ol' Wisconsin
University is leading to? Big Oil in the background?

[marble falls]

2. Couldn't we use them as fans, too?

[coldbeer]

5. LOL!!!

What a great reply. I missed your point
on Monday because, as usual, my
sense of humor is lacking.

Criminy sakes, why am I so goddamned
serious all the time.

Thanks Marble Falls

[marble falls]

6. To stick together, we gotta laugh together. Hope your Monday improved. There's a Congressman....

down here in Texas that says wind is a finite resource and that wind farms are using up the wind. My thought is to put a mini turbine in front of his mouth to power up his underpowered brain.

[Scuba]

3. Well, if "notified" means "blamed", then the opposite is true.

[coldbeer]

4. good point Scuba

I need to remind myself to think both pro and con.
Being a Democrat and not liking Wisconsin's GOP
I may have taken the wrong viewpoint.

thanks