Page 34 - 2003 DT 12 Issues

Bee-Ware! ○ the ambush procedure in 1999, say the ○ lion species that inhabit the planet. The
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bees have developed a non-chemical ○ diversity of plant and animal life is amaz-
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n the 1967 film The Graduate, Dustin ○ counter measure. When an ant is hang- ○ ing, yet not inexhaustible. The Diversity
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Hoffman receives one word of career ○ ing around the nest, 97% of returning ○ Endangered traveling exhibit examines
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Iadvice—“plastics”! It should have ○ bees veer away. Nearly half make a sec- ○ the causes, consequences, and potential
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been—“insects”! An entomologist is ○ ond approach, trying to slip in from the ○ solutions to the loss of biological diver-
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never out of work . . . or out of projects. ○ far side. Others land some distance away ○ sity.
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Insects represent perhaps the largest, ○ and walk home. The bee will be safe if ○ The exhibit was originally made pos-
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most diverse—and most successful— the ant continues scanning the sky or ○ sible by a grant form the National Science
group of creatures on earth. moves on. The warning for bees seems ○ Foundation and has been brought to the
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Over one million separate to be visual. Various tests with dead ○ Visitor Center courtesy of the Bureau of
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species have been discov- and chemically neutralized ants ○ Land Management, Friends of Red Rock
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ered so far. Some estimate or even black plastic squares did ○ Canyon, and the Red Rock Canyon In-
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there may be as many as not fool the bees. terpretive Association.
10 million. What we’ve Once a bee falls into the ○
learned is fascinating; what ambush, it has no way to learn ○ ○ April Board Notes:
we have yet to learn is daunt- from its mistake. How bees have ○ ○
ing. come to recognize the ant danger is a ○ ➤ A motion to provide up to $2,500
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Social insects such as ants, termites, mystery. ○ in funding for a “Traveling Tortoise Kit”
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and social bees and wasps, exhibit com- ○ ○ for Clark County schools was carried
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plex and highly organized behaviors. Trash Bash 2003 ○ ○ unanimously. The Desert Research Insti-
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Their biomass and energy consumption ○ ○ ○ tute will develop it for the Environmental
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is greater than all the vertebrates on earth. ○ he first annual Trash Bash on Sat- ○ Education Committee. Bechtel has
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They can be predators or prey, planters ○ urday, April 19, resulted in the ○ offered a $400 grant.
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or harvesters, builders or pirates, helpful Tclean-up of the Highway 159 ○ ➤ A motion to dedicate the Friends
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or harmful. And many species evolve new wash as well as the 13-Mile campground ○ ○ donation box to the National Wild Horse
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skills and social traits in the never-end- access road by approximately 45 volun- ○ Association on one day during April,
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ing battle to outwit each other. ○ teers, BLM staffers and Friends May, and June 2003 for support of the
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Communication among social insects members. These motivated volunteers ○ Red Rock Canyon wild horse herd was
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is largely based on chemical systems. collected about 2 tons of trash, filling half ○ unanimously carried.
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Sweat bees are generally very small in- of the dumpster. ○ ➤ Friends and BLM will explore
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sects that are abundant nearly worldwide. ○ “Trashina,” Red Rock’s own Melissa ○ assisting the start-up of the Sloan Can-
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They nest in the soil or in wood and ex- Campbell, was dressed in accumulated ○ yon Friends organization.
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hibit many diverse behaviors. When one trash collected in the Canyon. Trashina, ○ ➤ The board will draft a position
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species, Lasioglossum umbripenne, in her shabby tent, enthusiastically ○ paper, in accordance with the mission and
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arrives home, it typically pauses at the greeted guests to the Visitor Center with ○ charter of Friends, in support of the Ne-
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door to be “sniffed over” by a guard bee vivid examples of the refuse of unedu- ○ vada Senate bill SB358 that seeks to limit
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before being allowed entry to the nest. cated Red Rock users. ©Leave No Trace ○ development on Blue Diamond Hill.
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But there is danger in the delay. The tropi- methods were presented in a very un- ○ ➤ While the new Visitor Center is
cal ant, Ectatomma ruidum, hangs around usual, but very effective, manner.—Pat ○ ranked in the top ten projects approved
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the nest waiting to ambush a returning Williams ○ by the Executive Committee of the
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bee. When the bee stops for an identity ○ ○ Southern Nevada Public Lands Manage-
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check, the ant jumps the bee and stings it New Exhibit Opens ○ ment Act, funding will not be approved
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to death, dragging it back home for ○ ○ until after the 60-day public comment
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supper. ○ new traveling exhibit, Diversity ○ period, ending May 5. Members are
According to a recent report in ○ Endangered, opens May 1, at ○ asked to write to Mr. Jim Stobaugh,
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Science News, researchers at the Centre Athe Red Rock Canyon Visitor ○ BLM, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las
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d’Entcologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive ○ Center. Scientists have named only about ○ Vegas, NV 89130 advising him of the
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in Montpelier, France, who first described ○ 1.7 million out of an estimated 30 mil- critical need for a new facility.
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