Forest Service Research Helping Grasslands, Shrublands Endure Changing Climate (Sep 25, 2012)
USDA. Blog.
Forest Service researchers point to recent climatic studies in predicting that by the end of the century, 55 percent of future landscapes in the West will likely have climates that are in­compatible with the vegetation types that now occur on those landscapes.

Oregon State University Researchers Create Model for Analyzing Invasive Species Threat (Sep 13, 2012)
Oregon State University News.
A team at Oregon State University has developed a statistical model that aims to predict which non-native species might become invaders - and arm resource managers to prevent their spread. the project includes two essential elements for identifying invasive species: how they travel to non-native locations, and whether they could survive and thrive in the new environment. The model also calculates the economic impacts involved in managing the invasive species. Sam Chan, Oregon Sea Grant's invasive species specialist, said the model could be beneficial to resource managers. "If we had had this model in 2009 we could have shown that the city of Olympia, Wash., is a high-risk spot for New Zealand mud snails," said Chan.

Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) requests comments on ANSTF Strategic Plan 2013-2017
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.
The ANSTF is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to preventing and controlling aquatic nuisance species (ANS) and coordinating governmental efforts dealing with ANS in the U.S. with those of the private sector and other North American interests.
Note: Comments must be received within 45 days after Aug 6, 2012 -- by Sep 20, 2012; see corrected Federal Register Notice (Sep 19, 2012).

U.S. and Canada Sign Amended Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (Sep 7, 2012)
Environmental Protection Agency.
The U.S. and Canada signed an accord to protect the Great Lakes, the world's largest freshwater system. The agreement, last updated in 1987, addresses critical health issues in the Great Lakes region and is a model of binational cooperation to protect water quality. The two governments began negotiations in 2009 to strengthen the agreement. New provisions address the nearshore environment, aquatic invasive species, habitat degradation, and the effects of climate change.

Hormone Therapy for Fruit Flies Means Better Pest Control (Sep 4, 2012)
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
The Mexican fruit fly is a significant quarantine pest that could inflict billions of dollars in losses to citrus, peach, pears, avocado and other crops if it moved from Mexico into the U.S. A new treatment developed by ARS and cooperating scientists makes sterile male Mexican fruit flies more macho so they will out compete wild males to mate with female Mexican fruit flies.

With No West Nile Vaccine in Sight, Self-Protection Is Key (Sep 4, 2012)
ScienceDaily; University of Alabama-Birmingham.
As this year's threat from the West Nile virus continues, one infectious diseases expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham says a vaccine is not in our near future, so people need to protect themselves. The virus, most often spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, can lead to West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease.