Latest news with #JMU
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Study finds 65% decline in urban bee population, heat and land use are main culprits
Across the globe, the diversity of insect species and their populations are falling rapidly. A few research studies have gone as far as to estimate insect biomass has nearly halved since the 1970s. Bees are particularly hard-hit, suffering from habitat loss driven by agriculture and urban development, compounded by the growing effects of climate change. A latest study conducted by a team of scientists from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) in Germany analyzed the combined effects of land use and rising temperatures on insects at 179 sites across Bavaria. Their research, part of the LandKlif project within the Bavarian Climate Research Network (bayklif), was led by Professor Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, with the findings published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. The findings indicated that insects inhabiting different trophic levels react differently to the combination of increased temperatures and extensive land use. While bee populations in forests are able to withstand the heat, those in urban areas saw a staggering 65% decline. Similar to humans, bees are impacted not just by high daytime temperatures but also by warmer-than-average nights. According to biologist Dr. Cristina Ganuza, from the Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology at JMU, the impact of night-time temperatures on diurnal insects is particularly significant. This is due to the fact that average night-time temperatures are rising faster than daytime temperatures, further stressing insect populations. Although insects higher up the food chain managed better with the heat, populations faced challenges in open agricultural habitats. "This can have a negative impact on agricultural production because insects that contribute to natural pest control should be similarly affected," said Dr. Sarah Redlich, research fellow at JMU's Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology. The study also showed that the situation for these insects improved in areas where agricultural land was interspersed with natural habitats. This mixed landscape provides more diverse environments, allowing bees and other insects to thrive by offering both the resources they need and natural corridors for movement. The research team focused on understanding how climate change and land use were specifically affecting bee populations. Summarizing their findings into three key insights, the scientists observed that warmer daytime temperatures can boost the number and diversity of bees, but only in natural habitats like forests and grasslands. This underscores the critical need to preserve and create interconnected natural areas within agricultural and urban spaces. However, the story takes a troubling turn when it comes to warmer nights. As part of their second takeaway, the researchers found that higher night temperatures significantly reduce bee richness across all habitat types. This previously unknown impact reveals a new threat to insects, highlighting the urgency for further research to understand the physiological effects behind it. Finally, the study revealed that climate change and land use don't affect all insects equally. Insects higher and lower in the food chain respond differently, which could disrupt food webs and important ecosystem services like pest control and pollination.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Yahoo
Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office seeks help to find 14-year-old boy
IBERIA PARISH, La. – Sheriff Tommy Romero and the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office are requesting assistance from the public in locating Montae Barthelemy, a 14-year-old boy who has been reported missing. Officials said Montae was last seen on March 29, around 11 a.m. at his family's residence in the 1800 block of Pembroke Street, in Iberia Parish. He is described as having brown hair and brown eyes and standing approximately 5 feet 1 inches tall and weighs 120 lbs. He was last seen wearing a white or black Nike hoodie and black shorts Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Kite reportedly made contact with United flight near Reagan National Airport: airline Louisiana holds off JMU in wild Saturday night affair, 8-7 Tollett's Complete-Game Shutout Helps Louisiana Complete Sweep of JMU, 3-0 Comedian Paul Rodriguez arrested on drug charge in California, police say Houston's defense carries Cougars into 7th Final Four with win over Tennessee Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Virginia colleges dismantle DEI programs after federal funding threat
Virginia universities and colleges are buckling under the threat of losing federal funding if they don't eliminate their diversity, equity and inclusion programs and policies. Why it matters: As conservatives celebrate the end of DEI, some higher education experts say it could set civil rights work back 50 years. State of play: Virginia's secretary of education, Aimee Guidera, recently told university boards to investigate and end any race-based initiatives. Her directive reinforced the Trump administration's January order to end DEI from colleges nationwide. And for the schools, major funding is at stake. VCU, for example, relies on nearly a half-billion dollars in federal money for student loans and research grants. The latest: In recent weeks, VCU and UVA's Board of Visitors voted to dissolve their DEI offices and review all university programs, including financial aid and scholarships. Virginia Tech is likely next, per the Roanoke Times. The school has already begun removing DEI-related web pages, which Tech students told a student-run outlet were a source of support for people of color on campus. It's unknown how many jobs this will affect, but UVA board member Bert Ellis told the Daily Progress that "every aspect of DEI is to be ripped out, shredded and eliminated." The state board overseeing 23 community colleges in Virginia also ordered community colleges to end their DEI initiatives. Zoom in: Other universities — like JMU, CNU and VSU — have quietly scrubbed mentions of DEI from their sites or taken down pages referencing it altogether. JMU sites for anti-racism resources and a DEI committee for JMU athletics are down. So is CNU's site about a President's Council on DEI, which has sponsored grants for student research. VSU is deleting and editing DEI-related webpages, reports the VSU Spectator, and links to programs like " the Coming Together for Racial Understanding" are down. George Mason — which is being federally investigated for alleged "race-exclusionary practices" — has renamed its DEI office to the "Office of Access, Compliance and Community." And before last week's board decision, VCU posted on their job site that it no longer requires diversity statements in faculty hiring. Between the lines: Though state Attorney General Jason Miyares has given public universities guidance about how to ax DEI programs, the guidance is confidential.
Associated Press
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Arkansas State women beat top-seeded James Madison for the program's first NCAA Tournament bid
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Crislyn Rose scored 23 points, Mimi McCollister added 16 and No. 2 seed Arkansas State beat top-seeded James Madison 86-79 in overtime on Monday for the program's first Sun Belt Tournament championship. Arkansas State (21-10) clinched the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance after handing James Madison (28-5) its first loss since Dec. 19. JMU entered on a 20-game winning streak, including an 18-0 conference record. The Dukes were seeking their second Sun Belt Conference title since joining in 2022 and their 11th league tournament championship in program history. McCollister made back-to-back 3-pointers in a span of 23 seconds to tie it at 63-all with 5:57 left in the fourth quarter. Following JMU's second straight turnover, Rose sank another 3-pointer to give Arkansas State its first lead since it was 23-21 late in the first quarter. Rose made a long jumper with her foot on the arc and she added a 3-pointer from the corner on the next possession for a 77-71 lead in overtime. Ashanti Barnes finally made JMU's first overtime field goal at the 2:02 mark. But the Dukes gave up two offensive rebounds at the other end and McCollister and Wynter Rogers combined to make 3 of 4 free throws to make it 80-73. Anna Griffin added 13 points, Rogers had 12 and Kennedie Montue 11 for Arkansas State. Peyton McDaniel led James Madison (28-5) with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Barnes also had a double-double with 17 points and 13 boards. McDaniel scored seven points during a 17-0 run in the second quarter to give James Madison a 40-23 lead. The Dukes led 40-32 at the break. A win would have marked 21 consecutive victories for the Dukes, matching the longest winning streak in program history with the 1990-91 team. ___
Washington Post
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
JMU and Arkansas State play for Sun Belt Championship
Arkansas State Red Wolves (20-10, 16-3 Sun Belt) vs. James Madison Dukes (28-4, 19-0 Sun Belt) Pensacola, Florida; Monday, 2 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: JMU squares off against Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Championship. The Dukes' record in Sun Belt games is 19-0, and their record is 9-4 in non-conference games. JMU is third in the Sun Belt scoring 73.4 points while shooting 43.1% from the field.
