Home Care In Tropic, UT

AUSTIN, Texas — Tropical forests often harbor hundreds of species of trees in a square mile, but scientists often struggle to understand how such a diversity of species can coexist. In a study published in Science, researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have provided new insights into the answer by uncovering a key characteristic of the spatial distribution of adult trees.

Combining computational modeling with data collected during a 30-year period, the researchers discovered that adult trees in a Panamanian forest are three times as distant from other adults of the same species as what the proverbial “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” would suggest.

Annette Ostling, an associate professor with the University’s Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences and the Department of Integrative Biology, and postdoctoral researcher Michael Kalyuzhny used data collected from a forest research plot the size of 100 football fields located on Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal, which has been studied for the past 100 years. The researchers discovered the distance that the trees are from one another is much greater than the distance that seeds typically travel.

“This is a steppingstone to understanding the dynamics of things like carbon storage that matter in relation to climate change,” Ostling said. “It’s such a fundamental question that, even if the applications are not yet known, there’s still a lot to learn, and this is one ingredient in understanding.”

The team wondered why there would be so much repulsion (repelling) of the juvenile from its parent tree. The only theoretical explanation is something that would prevent them from establishing near their parents.

Using computational models, they found each tree species is much more negatively affected by its own kind than by other species, probably because species suffer from species-specific enemies: pathogens such as fungi or herbivores such as insects. These enemies “make room” for other species to establish around every tree, leading to a more diverse forest and keeping any one species from dominating.

“Due to an abundance of available data on this particular forest, we knew the exact location of every tree and also how far seeds travel,” Kalyuzhny said. “We were able to ask: How should the forest look if trees just established where the seeds fell? With our computational models, it turned out that the real forest does not look like this at all – the real trees are much more far apart.”

In a time of an ongoing mass extinction, scientists have been working to better understand what determines species diversity. The researchers said the study helps bridge the gap between contrasting theories on how forests are shaped and provides critical tools to learn how tropical forests in particular and their inhabitants change through time.

“Trees are the engineers that provide resources for the entire ecosystem, and since most of the species in the world reside in the tropics, we must better understand what maintains the biodiversity of planet Earth,” Kalyuzhny said. “Many medications are sourced from the tropics, including thousands of substances with anti-cancer activity. The research digs into this fundamental question about the natural world.”

In addition to Ostling and Kalyuzhny, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s S. Joseph Wright, a senior scientist and collaborator on this research, and Jeffrey K. Lake of the University of Michigan co-authored the research.

The research was funded by the Michigan Life Sciences Fellowship, Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program, sabbatical support from the University of Michigan and Adrian College, MCubed, The University of Michigan, Associate Professor Support Fund, and the Ostling Lab at The University of Texas at Austin.

The skies began to darken over southern Texas on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Harold hurtled toward the state, just as California began cleanup from the historic storm system Hilary.

Texas, still grappling with the effects of one of the hottest and driest summers on record, is now bracing for a deluge. As Harold continued on its westward trajectory after sweeping through the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters warned it could drop up to 7in of rain in some areas with risks of flash flooding.

“Tropical storm force winds will accompany the system as it progresses inland, as well as rough surf along the coast,” the National Weather Service said in a discussion on Tuesday. The meteorologists added that as the system pushes into other areas of the south-west there may be “additional flash flooding concerns, especially near the more flood-prone slot canyons in Utah on Thursday”.

About 1.3 million people were under a tropical storm warning due to Harold, as dangers from damaging gusts and downpours stretch across the south-east coast of Texas. The powerful system, which pushed ashore along Padre Island, Texas, at about 10am local time, also caused widespread outages in the area, leaving more than 35,000 homes and businesses without power on Tuesday afternoon, according to Poweroutage.us.

The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, deployed the state’s national guard, water rescue teams, and other emergency services as Harold hammered the state, encouraging Texans to heed all guidance from local officials managing response efforts.

“Texas stands ready to deploy all available resources to south Texas as tropical storm conditions impact the region this week,” the governor said in a written statement issued on Monday night.

Harold came as California is still cleaning up damage caused by Storm Hilary.

Hilary, the first tropical storm to make landfall in southern California in 84 years, slammed the US west coast with record amounts of rain and intense winds that caused flooding and mudslides. Thousands were left without power as flooding downed power lines. One power outage at a Los Angeles hospital prompted the evacuation of at least 21 patients in critical condition to other facilities.

The intense flooding and mud wrought by Hilary stranded many people in vehicles and videos on social media showcased the harrowing scenes of escape from cars trapped in flood waters.

There were reports of at least 12 people at a senior living center who were rescued after being trapped in mud, and unhoused people in an encampment near the San Diego river who were saved from the rising waters on Monday as the storm surged on.

There were no US deaths caused by or attributed to Hilary, Reuters reported, as the system moved north. Risks of flash flooding still lingered across the northern Great Basin and intermountain west on Tuesday, along with the threat of more thunderstorms, according to the NWS.

Tropical storms are a rare event off the US west coast due, in part, to its relatively cool waters. But scientists have warned that events like this one could become more likely as the ocean and atmosphere continue to heat up due to human-caused climate change. There have already been 15 disasters causing at least $1bn in damages this year, a record.

“We’re seeing just this increase in the number of severe weather events but not just in the number, but the severity of these events,” said Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

ST. GEORGE — While it made a large impact in California, Tropical Storm Hilary proved to be more fizzle than fear in Southern Utah.

“It just didn’t make it all the way to St. George,” Christine Cruse with the National Weather Service’s Salt Lake City office told St. George News.

While early expectations were for a record amount of rainfall from Sunday night into Monday morning, there was a trickle of measurable rain overnight in St. George, according to the National Weather Service.

“All the guidance we had suggested a heavy rain threat,” Cruse said. “Sometimes the guidance doesn’t happen.”

The closest the St. George area came to a severe threat was a strong cell from Hilary that moved through in the 6 p.m. hour Sunday night and prompted a weather service warning.

“We had one supercell at 6 p.m.. that did have the signatures of tornado activity,” Cruse said. “We watched it closely as it moved through.”

Cruse said Hilary did dump a large amount of rain east of the St. George area, with about an inch of rain in Zion National Park over the last 24 hours. The Virgin River rose 3 feet for a time in the park Sunday night, according to U.S. Geological Survey river gauges.

High winds from a combination of Hilary and another weather system blew through northern Washington County, Iron County and Beaver County overnight but there were no reports of damage.

The same cannot be said for Southern California. According to the Associated Press, San Diego had its wettest day on record while as of Monday morning, all roads leading in and out of Palm Springs – including Interstate 10 – are impassible.

Los Angeles is dealing with flooded roads, mudslides and downed trees and schools in the second-largest school district in the country were closed Monday. Interstate 15 was closed for a time in both directions in Barstow.

As of 6 a.m., MDT, the National Hurricane Center closed its reports on Hilary, saying it had deteriorated quickly overnight into a post-tropical depression. As of Monday morning, what was left of Hilary was moving quickly northward from northern Nevada into Idaho.

Back in Southern Utah, a flash flood watch remains in effect through midnight on Tuesday for all five Southern Utah counties, as unstable tropical air remains over the region.

“We’re still going to see the threat of heavy thunderstorms,” Cruse said. “We don’t want people to feel like it didn’t happen yesterday so it won’t happen today, so people should still be weather aware into tomorrow and avoid slot canyons.”

St. George News reporter Jeff Richards and the Associated Press contributed to this story.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

The Florida Gators will change their travel plans for the season opener at Utah as Tropical Storm Idalia bears down on the Sunshine State.

Coach Billy Napier’s squad will travel Tuesday to Dallas and then fly Wednesday to Salt Lake City for Thursday night’s contest.

The Gators already faced a major challenge as 6.5-point underdogs against the No. 14 Utes. Utah is the two-time reigning Pac-12 champion and has won 14 straight games at Rice-Eccles Stadium, dating to a 2020 loss to USC.

The Gators opened the 2022 season with a dramatic 29-26 upset of No. 7 Utah in the Swamp led by quarterback Anthony Richardson.

But UF failed to build on the momentum, losing the next week at home to Kentucky en route to a 6-7 finish during Napier’s debut season in Gainesville.

Much has changed since then. Florida returns just seven starters, has added several dozen players and seen more than two dozen transfer during the past eight months.

The key newcomer is Wisconsin transfer quarterback Graham Mertz. The 22-year-old has much to prove after going 19-13 with the Badgers.

Last season’s struggles and the uncertainty surrounding 2023 led SEC media to pick Florida to finish fifth in the SEC East division.

The Utes, however, have their own problems. Quarterback Cam Rising and tight end Brant Kuithe are recovering from knee surgery and potentially unavailable, but coach Kyle Whittingham declined Monday to provide updates.

Rising had 307 total yards, including 91 rushing, while Kuithe had 105 receiving yards and a score on 9 catches against the Gators last season.

First-year freshman safety Jordan Castell, a former standout at West Orange, will start his first college game after impressing coaches and teammates since he arrived as an early enrollee.

Castell earned the nod ahead of Michigan transfer R.J. Moten, who started 10 of 13 games last season for Michigan — the Big Ten champions and a College Football Playoff semifinalist.

“He’s earned it,” Napier said. “He showed up in January and he’s made the most of each opportunity. We reward what we see.”

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Castell was an Under Armour All-American cornerback with unique size and speed along with a high football IQ.

“He’s super-instinctive,” quarterback Graham Mertz said. “You turn on the tape and he’s fast — and he plays fast. There’s no hesitation. He trusts himself.”

Castell was not the only surprise on the season’s first two-deep depth chart.

Former walk-on wide receiver Kahleil Jackson will start along with senior leader Ricky Pearsall and promising sophomore Caleb Douglas. Jackson, a redshirt sophomore, is the son of former Gators receiver Willie Jackson Jr., who was a first-team All-SEC player in 1991 for Steve Spurrier and played nine NFL seasons.

“A good example of a guy who works extremely hard, is really opened up relative to communicating, being vocal, having good presence,” Napier said. “The guy has been a very productive player. He’s got traits. This guy is big. He’s long, he’s very skilled, he can get open and makes plays on the ball.”

Freshman tight end Tony Livingston of Tampa also earned a staring nod. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Livingston is a former basketball player with unique athletic ability.

Center Kingsley Eguakun, started 26 games the past two seasons, is questionable for Thursday’s game with an undisclosed injury.

Utah presents a stout defensive front led by All-Pac-12 defensive tackle Junior Tafuna.

Defensive tackle Chris McClellan and backup quarterback Jack Miller II, who sat out the last two weeks with a shoulder injury, are also questionable.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at [email protected]

Tropical Storm Harold made landfall on the South Texas coast late Tuesday morning, becoming the first storm in the US to do so in the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.

Harold came ashore just before 10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET) on Padre Island, Texas, with sustained winds of 50 mph and higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center. Heavy rain and strong winds will continue to slam portions of South Texas and Mexico and areas farther inland as Harold tracks westward Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Rain will increase in intensity and tropical-storm-force winds will become more widespread across South Texas through Tuesday afternoon.

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Tropical storm warnings have been issued from the mouth of the Rio Grande to Port O’ Connor, Texas, with tropical storm watches in effect from Port O’Connor to Sargent, Texas. More than 1 million people are under tropical storm warnings in Texas.

Harold will be able to dump 3 to 5 inches of rain across South Texas on Tuesday and Wednesday with locally higher amounts closer to 7 inches. Across Mexico, 4 to 6 inches of rain are expected.

Tropical-storm-force winds will occur in and around where Harold made landfall with sustained winds of 40 to 50 mph and gusts up to 65 mph likely. As the storm moves inland Tuesday afternoon, wind speeds may ease up slightly but locally-damaging gusts of 30-40 mph will still be possible.

A storm surge of 1 to 3 feet could briefly flood low-lying coastal areas along the mouth of the Rio Grande River to Sargent, Baffin Bay, Corpus Christi and Matagorda Bay. Life-threatening surf and rip currents conditions will last across the southern Texas coast through Tuesday, and it’s possible the state may also see a few tornadoes develop.

The storm threat is moving into southern Texas as the region continues to battle one of its hottest, driest summers on record.

While this tropical system’s rains could help quench parts of the drought-stricken state, some of the worst drought conditions – areas of extreme and exceptional drought in Central Texas – might miss out on much of the rain.

Texans brace for tropical impacts

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott deployed the Texas National Guard, swift water rescue boat squads, among other emergency resources ahead of the storm’s arrival. “Texas stands ready to deploy all available resources to South Texas as tropical storm conditions impact the region this week,” he said in a statement.

“I encourage Texans to remain weather-aware and heed the guidance of state and local officials and emergency management personnel as they work together to keep communities safe,” the governor added.

South Beach and North Beach were closed for driving and camping Monday in anticipation of the storm’s arrival, Padre Island National Seashore officials said. The national seashore is located along a barrier island south of Corpus Christi.

Corpus Christi officials told residents who must be outside during the incoming storm to drive slower than usual, turn on their headlights and be aware of possible flooding in low-lying areas.

Crews across the Corpus Christi area could be seen working Monday to prep critical canals and drainage infrastructure for the heavy rainfall.

About 40 miles northeast, the city of Port Aransas declared a local state disaster on Monday ahead of impacts from the storm.

The city is “under the threat of imminent disaster, injury, or loss of life or property, resulting from a Tropical Storm, which will impact the coastal beaches of the City of Port Aransas Nueces County, Texas with flooding or severe damage,” the proclamation said.

Naval Air Station Kingsville ordered those in the RV Park on the installation to evacuate, while voluntary evacuations were called in Riviera, Baffin Bay and Loyola Beach, authorities said.

Meanwhile, AEP Texas, which delivers power to South Texas, said it is lining up crews, equipment and other resources in anticipation of possible power outages.

Franklin packing potentially life-threatening flooding

Tropical Storm Franklin is set to slam Hispaniola by Wednesday with life-threatening flooding and mudslides. The storm will also bring heavy rainfall to Puerto Rico.

Franklin had sustained winds of 50 mph as of Tuesday morning, and was located over the Caribbean Sea about 260 miles south of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It is expected to make a hard turn to the north later Tuesday and make landfall in Hispaniola Wednesday.

Franklin will unload very heavy rain across Hispaniola Tuesday through Wednesday and raise the threat of flash flooding and mudslides. Isolated rainfall amounts up to 15 inches possible. Up to 6 inches of heavy rain could fall in Puerto Rico through Thursday, but the island will escape the worst of Franklin.

The Atlantic hurricane season is ramping up. Three tropical systems formed in 24 hours Saturday into Sunday. Harold now marks the fourth in four days.