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Changes in Dragonfly Distribution - Citizen Science to the Rescue!

6/20/2021

 
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Over the past 35 years, there have been large shifts in the distributions of many dragonfly species in Germany. Those of standing water habitats have declined, probably due to loss of habitat. Running-water species and warm-adapted species have benefited from improved water quality and warmer temperatures. The study highlights the importance of citizen science and natural history societies for long-term data collection.

​Read more about it in this Summary or in the Full Article .  Also read about where dragonflies may be going in Europe here

Crowdsourced Photos Show Expanding Ranges for Ticks

6/16/2021

 
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Seventy-five percent of arthropod-borne human disease in the U.S. is spread by ticks, and cases doubled in the U.S. between 2004 and 2016. With such significant rates of infection, information on the ranges of ticks that spread disease is essential. Read about how citizen scientists are improving the information about tick ranges.

New Forest Service Book Examines Invasives in US Forests

6/5/2021

 
​The introduction to a new book-length report from the US Forest Service, Invasive Species in Forests and Rangelands of the United States: A Comprehensive Science Synthesis for the United States Forest Sector, starts off with this paragraph:
​
"Invasive species are a historical, long-term, and continually growing threat to the ecology, economy, and infrastructure of the United States. Widely recognized as one of the most serious threats to the health, sustainability, and productivity of native ecosystems, invasive species issues have commonly been viewed as problems specific to Federal, State, and private landowners. However, it is increasingly apparent that the impacts from these species are all encompassing, affecting ecosystem processes in addition to the economics of land management, public and private infrastructure, the energy sector, international trade, cultural practices, and many other sectors in the United States."

Notice on the map below, that our region of Virginia has a high rate of invasives, 38 to 80 percent!

The book is available for free as a PDF--see this web page   
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Percent of forested Forest Inventory and Analysis program subplots invaded by one or more monitored invasive plant species. Map: Invasive Species in Forests and Rangelands of the United States: A Comprehensive Science Synthesis for the United States Forest Sector, US Forest Service, 2021, fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/61982.

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Chapter Administration
    • Sponsoring Agencies & Partners
    • In Memory Of
  • Events & News
    • Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
    • Chapter Awards & Recognition
    • Spotlight on Members and Presenters
    • Newsletters
  • Training & Education
    • Become a VMN >
      • Class XII Updates
    • Continuing Education >
      • Continuing Education Programs
      • CE Resources >
        • Field Guides
        • Nature Books & Readings
  • Volunteer Projects
    • Approved Volunteer Project
    • Project Accessibility Information
    • Activities by Interest >
      • Activities From Home
      • Animals
      • Birds
      • Habitats & Trails
      • Plants & Trees
      • Pollinators
    • New Project Proposal Request
  • Nature Blog
  • Contact Us