*Research genetically traces flowers to a single common ancestor*
From southern Africa’s pineapple lily to Western Australia’s swamp bottlebrush, flowering plants are everywhere. Also called angiosperms, they make up 90 percent of all land-based, plant life.
New research published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides new insights into their genetic origin, an evolutionary innovation that quickly gave rise to many diverse flowering plants more than 130 million years ago. Moreover, a flower with genetic programming similar to a water lily may have started it all. (more…)
Elena Litchman, associate professor of ecology, who works at MSU's Kellogg Biological Station. Image credit: Michigan State University
EAST LANSING, Mich. — While Asian carp, gypsy moths and zebra mussels hog invasive-species headlines, many invisible invaders are altering ecosystems and flourishing outside of the limelight.
A study by Elena Litchman, Michigan State University associate professor of ecology, sheds light on why invasive microbial invaders shouldn’t be overlooked or underestimated.
“Invasive microbes have many of the same traits as their larger, ‘macro’ counterparts and have the potential to significantly impact terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems,” said Litchman, whose research appears in the December issue of Ecology Letters. “Global change can exacerbate microbial invasions, so they will likely increase in the future.”(more…)
*Australians Watched Nearly 3 Hours of Online Video per Viewer at YouTube.com in October*
Sydney, Australia, December 6 , 2010 – comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its October 2010 rankings of the top video properties in Australia based on data from its comScore Video Metrix service. The report found that nearly 80 percent of Australia’s Internet population viewed video online in October, with an average viewer watching nearly 8 hours of video during the month. The report also revealed that male online video viewers in Australia spend nearly double the amount of time viewing video compared to women. (more…)
*comScore Continues Emphasis on Expansion in Asia Pac*
Sydney, Australia, November 12, 2010 – comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today announced the appointment of Amy Weinberger as vice president for Australia and New Zealand. Ms. Weinberger brings nearly 12 years of digital research industry experience to her new role, including 8 years of experience with comScore in its San Francisco office where she was responsible for developing relationships and delivering value to some of the leading global technology brands. Ms. Weinberger will be responsible for new and existing business in Australia and New Zealand and will be based in Sydney. (more…)
*Consumers line up to be among the first to own new handsets.*
REDMOND, Wash. – Oct. 21, 2010 – The much-awaited launch of Windows Phone 7 has begun, with the first handsets going on sale yesterday in New Zealand, followed shortly in countries throughout Europe and Asia Pacific, including Australia, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Singapore, Spain and the U.K. (more…)
*Australians Watched an Average of 7 Hours of Online Video Per Viewer during Month*
Sydney, Australia, September 9, 2010 – comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its July 2010 rankings of the top video properties in Australia based on data from its comScore Video Metrix service. The report found that 81 percent of Australia’s Internet population viewed video online in July, with an average viewer watching more than 7 hours of video during the month.
The mystery of how the world’s largest living reptile – the estuarine crocodile – has come to occupy so many South Pacific islands separated by huge stretches of ocean despite being a poor swimmer has at last been solved by a group of Australian ecologists.
