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GLOBAL WARMING COULD BE AFFECTING WOLF-MOOSE BALANCE ON ISLE ROYALEWolves are up and moose are down this spring at Isle Royale National Park, the home of a 46-year study of predators and their prey. Researchers suspect that a global warming trend may be behind the shift. The moose population has slid to 750 on this Lake Superior wilderness island park, down from 900 last year and 1,100 in 2002. In the meantime, the number of wolves has seesawed upward over the past decade and is now up to 29, as many as the park has seen since 1980 and 11 more than last year. What's bad for moose has been good for the wolves, and moose throughout North America have been hit hard by warmer temperatures that began in 1998 with El Nino and never let up, according to Professor Rolf Peterson (SFRES), who has lead the study of Isle Royale's wolves and moose for 34 years. "What we think is happening is that wolves are cashing in on moose vulnerability that's been induced by a warmer climate," Peterson said. The moose population has been stressed by higher temperatures, particularly the drought of 1998 and then warm fall of 2001. "Moose can't feed in the summertime if it's too hot," Peterson said. "They have a big fur coat on, and they can't sweat. They just sit in the shade or in the water." When moose don't eat enough in summer, they can become weak, sickly and easy prey for wolves during the winter. And heat precipitates another blight for the big herbivores: ticks. "Warm weather in spring and fall leads to ticks the following winter, and ticks can kill moose," Peterson said. A single moose can be host to tens of thousands at a time, several per square inch, and each tick can suck up about a cubic centimeter of blood. Rather than browse, the moose scratch themselves against trees or bite their hair out trying to remove the parasites. Weight and blood loss often prove such a handicap that the moose don't survive. As the moose population struggles against the heat and ticks, the wolves have thrived, largely because it's been easier for them to bring down their biggest prey. "The wolves are killing about twice as many moose as they did last year," Peterson says, which allows them to maintain their peak population. Initially, researchers didn't know what warmer temperatures would mean for Isle Royale's wolves and moose. "In this region the change has involved warmer winters, especially in the late 1990s and early years of this century," Peterson said. "We couldn't anticipate the effect for moose, because warmer winters mean less snow and more tree growth, which helps them. "But it also leads to more ticks, and it impacts their feeding. With two pluses and two minuses, there was no way to forecast how it would come out in the wash. But it looks like it might be to the detriment of moose." As to what has been causing the warmer temperatures, Peterson cites climate models presented in the journal Science that suggest that greenhouse gases may be the culprit. While researchers do not have proof that increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other gases are warming the Earth's atmosphere, the best computer models of climate can only account for such higher temperatures if greenhouse gases are included. Peterson's study is funded by the National Park Service, the National Science Foundation and Earthwatch. ____________ BOARD OF CONTROL TO MEET FRIDAYThe Board of Control will meet on Friday, March 5, at 8:30 a.m. in Memorial Union Ballroom B. The board is expected to give final approval to a new BS degree in Psychology and will hear a proposal for a new PhD program in Industrial Heritage and Archaeology. The Ad Hoc Committee on the University Budget will give a report on its findings, and the board will discuss a proposal to rescind the recent paycuts. Board of Control meetings are open to the public, and all members of the MTU community are welcome to attend. ____________ CAMPUS SYMPOSIUM ON FILE SHARING MARCH 10submitted by Patty Lins Subpoenas, lawsuits, accusations and defiance have all plagued the entertainment industry since the wide-spread adoption of peer-to-peer technology to download and share music and movie files. Indeed, can anything be done to patch the adversarial relationship between industry and consumer? Join us for a discussion lead by Vince Han, founder of Ruckus Network, a company formed in the halls of MIT. Ruckus Network has spent the past year trying to find a solution to this digital conflict. Ruckus Network is partnering with MTU this fall to pilot a legal entertainment-over-IP service that will allow students to access high-quality music and movies files in digital format from their computers. "The Digital Conflict--A Discussion of Peer-to-Peer File Sharing" will be held Wednesday, March 10, 7-8:30 p.m. in Dow 642. This campus symposium is sponsored by Information Technology. For more information contact Jim Cross at 487-3544. ____________ "SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR" TO VISIT TECH MARCH 11Internet business pioneer John Furton will give a talk, "Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur," on Thursday, March 11, at 7 p.m. in Dow 642. Furton is president and CEO of Sourcelight Technologies and the co-founder of Peapod.com, the nation's leading online grocer. The Sourcelight Discovery Engine, used by Blockbuster, can help determine what movies an individual will enjoy based on how they rate movies they've already seen. The product can be used by individuals to decide what video to rent and by businesses to match customers with videos that they will actually want to watch. To try it out, visit http://www.sourcelight.com and click on "Try it!" Furton will talk about how Sourcelight was created, recruiting employees, raising business capital and other aspects of entrepreneurship. After earning a BS in Computer Science from Michigan Tech in 1987, he held various management positions with Kraft Foods before turning to entrepreneurship. Furton led Peapod's market expansion, operations and technology areas before joining Sourcelight. His visit is sponsored by Michigan Tech's Entrepreneurs and Inventors Club. For more information, contact Paul Nelson, 487-2809, pnelson at mtu.edu . ____________ FACULTY AND STAFF VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR NEW READING INITIATIVEFaculty and staff volunteers are needed to facilitate discussions on Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" during orientation. As part of a new reading initiative, incoming students will read the novel over the summer. During orientation, they will watch movie versions and attend a talk by Rensselaer professor Langdon Winner in addition to participating in the discussion groups. "We want volunteers from across campus," said Humanities chair Robert Johnson. The new initiative is designed to create a sense of community between first-year students and faculty and staff as well as enhance the academic side of orientation. Volunteers will lead student groups in 90-minute discussions on Wednesday, Aug. 25, and will be assisted by the student orientation team leaders. Workshops for volunteers will be held April 28 and 29. If you aren't familiar with "Frankenstein," you can still volunteer. Free copies will be provided to all facilitators. If you want to be added to the list of potential facilitators, e-mail Robert Johnson at rrjohnso at mtu.edu by Monday, March 15. "Reading as Inquiry: A Summer Reading Initiative for First-Year Students" is sponsored by the Department of Humanities and the Office of First-Year Programs. ____________ MICHIGAN TECH FUND MERIT AWARD NOMINEES SOUGHTsubmitted by Dorthey Behrend If you know an outstanding senior student at Michigan Tech, consider nominating them for a Michigan Tech Fund Merit Award. The awards are presented annually to a senior man and woman who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and service to the university. Recipients are given a personal memento and a cash gift. Nominees must be full-time seniors in good standing with a minimum 2.5 GPA. President Curt Tompkins will present the awards Thursday, May 6. The deadline for submitting nominations is Wednesday, March 31. Nomination forms are available at the Wadsworth Hall manager's office, the J. R. Van Pelt Library circulation desk, the Campus Store and the Meese Center. You can also call Dorthey at 487-3324 to have a form sent to you. ____________ UWC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 15The University Women's Club Endowed Scholarship valued at $1,300 will be awarded at the University Women's Club's spring meeting. The scholarship will be available for the 2004-05 academic year. Applicants must be full-time female students at Michigan Tech with a minimum GPA of 2.75; currently in their freshman, sophomore or junior years, and carrying a minimum course load of 12 credits. The recipient will have demonstrated leadership, contributed to extracurricular student activities or performed community service within the past three years. Financial need will be a consideration. Applications may be picked up at the Financial Aid Office. All completed applications must be submitted by March 15. For additional information, contact Marie Ryding, Financial Aid Office, 487-2622.
REMOTE SENSING SEMINAR MARCH 8Brian A Tinsley of the University of Texas at Dallas will present a colloquium, "Solar Wind and Global Circuit Forcing of Clouds and Climates," on Monday, March 8, at 4 p.m. in M&M 113. This seminar is sponsored by the Department of Physics and the Remote Sensing Institute. ____________ FREE VIDEOCONFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO START A BUSINESSsubmitted by Paul Nelson A videoconference, "Developing a Sales Strategy," for faculty, staff, students and people from the community interested in starting a business will be held Wednesday, March 10, 6-8 p.m. in EERC B11. The videoconference will cover the basics of developing distribution channels and sales networks, sales techniques and partnering. This is the fourth in a series of five videoconference training sessions offered during spring semester for the Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest. These sessions are sponsored by the Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization, CenTILE, and the School of Business and Economics, along with the Michigan Tech Enterprise SmartZone and the Keweenaw Industrial Council. For further information, contact Paul A. Nelson at 487-2809. ============================================================ REGULAR FEATURES ============================================================ NEW STAFFTim Driscoll has joined the Athletic Department as assistant football coach/defensive coordinator. He previously held the same position at the University of Minnesota-Crookston. He received a master's degree in education from North Dakota State University. He lives in Hancock with his wife, Victoria, and their twin girls, Sloane and Sierrah, who were born Dec. 11. ____________ IN THE NEWSUndergraduate April Thoms is featured in the February issue of Prism in an article about the shortage of women studying engineering technology. She talks about how MTU's technology programs appeal to her interests in mechanics, computers and hands-on experience. ____________ NEW FUNDINGLTAP Director Terry McNinch (CEE) has received a $75,873 award for his project, "MCLS 2004," from the Michigan Department of Transportation--Traffic and Safety Division. ____________ BULLETIN BOARDBulletin Board is a new feature to help the faculty and staff at Michigan Tech connect with others who share similar interests. If you'd like to round up a foursome for bridge, find a fencing partner, start an organic gardening club, whatever, just e-mail ttopics@mtu.edu or send a note to Tech Topics via campus mail including what activity you're interested in, along with your phone number and/or e-mail address. We'll publish it in Bulletin Board, and you can start meeting people who enjoy the same things you do. Note: Just in case you were wondering, Bulletin Board is not a dating service. No personal ads, please. ____________ CALENDAR: MARCH5--Friday 6/7:15 p.m.--Club Indigo, Dinner/Movie, "West Side Story"--Calumet Theatre 6--Saturday 7:30 p.m.--"The Metamorphosis"--McArdle Theatre 7--Sunday 3 p.m.--"The Metamorphosis"--McArdle Theatre 7:30 p.m.--"The Metamorphosis"--McArdle Theatre 10--Wednesday 7-8:30 p.m.--Campus Symposium, "The Digital Conflict--A Discussion of Peer-to-Peer File Sharing"--Dow 642 6-8 p.m.--Videoconference, "Developing a Sales Strategy"--EERC B11 11--Thursday 7 p.m.--Lecture, "Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur"--Dow 642 27--Saturday 10 a.m.--Men's Tennis, Mercyhurst at MTU--Gates Tennis Center 28--Sunday 10 a.m.--Men's Tennis, Findlay at MTU--Gates Tennis Center ____________ MICHIGAN TECH POSITIONS AVAILABLEJob descriptions will be available at 1 p.m. on Friday, or by e-mail at <JOBS@MTU.EDU> The following positions will be posted Friday, March 5, 2004, at 1 p.m. through noon, Friday, March 12, 2004, in the Human Resources Office or at http://www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/postings/ Departmental Coordinator--Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (Internal posting only) Visiting Assistant Professor--Department of Social Sciences (Temporary, one-year appointment) University employees are reminded to apply in writing prior to noon, Friday, March 12, 2004, to be considered as internal candidates for bargaining unit positions only. Applicants from the recall pool will be given first consideration for non-bargaining-unit positions only. Vacancy announcements are normally posted every Friday at 1 p.m. in the Human Resources Office. Complete job descriptions are available in the Human Resources Office or by calling 487-2280. More information regarding employment opportunities is available by calling the Job Line at 487-2895. Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer. News | Entertainment and Enrichment | Seminars and Workshops | Regular Features | Calendar | Top |
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