InfoAnda - Moles, not magic, make worm 'grunting' work

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Korea Hot Stocks | 19 August 2010
Japanese electioneering tiptoes into Internet age | 4 August 2009
Uranium enrichment not discussed in Iran deal: Brazil | 29 May 2010

Disney Sends Muslim Employee Home For Wearing Headscarf | 20 August 2010

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Moles, not magic, make worm 'grunting' work

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Search Search: Moles, not magic, make worm 'grunting' work By BRENDAN FARRINGTON,Associated Press Writer AP - 2 hours 52 minutes ago TATE'S HELL, Fla. - Gary Revell gets up every morning before sunrise, heads into the woods and grunts. Not because it's so early. It's the term for coaxing worms from the ground by the hundreds to be scooped up and plopped in a tin can until he can sell them for fishing bait. ADVERTISEMENT He pounds a two-foot wooden "stob" or stake into the earth and rubs it with a 10-pound piece of flat iron. The vibration or "grunting" causes worms to panic, and they wriggle from the ground. For years it was just a guess why. Vanderbilt University biological sciences professor Ken Catania wanted to expand on a theory put forth by Charles Darwin that worms may sense moles are pursuing them if the ground trembles. He joined Revell and his wife, Audrey, on a recent expedition and concluded that when Revell rubs the stob, worms do indeed sense that the predators are digging through the earth to eat them. The worms hightail it to the surface, only to be scooped up by Revell for fish food instead. "Ken calls me the giant mole-man," Revell said with a laugh as he carried his equipment deep into Tate's Hell State Forest. "All I'm doing is mimicking the mole but in a larger scale, you know what I'm saying? That's how come they come up in a large area." On a recent day, Revell, who has been scooping up worms for some 50 years, was out with two other grunters as the first light filtered through Tate's Hell. The only sounds were crickets chirping, woodpeckers pecking, birds singing and mosquitoes and horse flies buzzing _ until Revell got to work. The loud sound of metal pounding wood was followed by a steady, grunting rhythm as Revell got on his padded knees and began rubbing the stob. Almost immediately, worms starting to come up. "They look good!" Revell yelled to his partners, clearly taking pride in his work. "Boy, that's pretty bait. Makes me want to go fishing." For a good three yards around Revell, the ground was crawling and the other grunters were busy picking up worms. "Oh yeah, it's magic," Revell said during a break. "There's an art to it. I've tried to teach people how to do it, and they just give up. You have to be really determined. It's got to be in your blood." Some of the "magic" might be that the sound of the stob's vibration is strikingly similar to a recording of a mole digging, Catania said. He stuck a microphone in the ground to record the noise the stob makes and also measured how fast worms crawled away after reaching the surface. "It seemed like they were scared of something as they came up sort of rushing, for a worm, out of the ground," Catania said. The Revells are what the worms would consider a "rare enemy," according to Cantania's study. "Coming out of the ground is not the smartest thing for a worm to do," said Catania. "In some areas it's really hot and dry, and there's predators out there _ we saw them get attacked by ants and snakes and lizards now and then. Why would they do that?" He believes it's because for millions of years, moles have been eating worms, and they've developed an escape instinct when they sense the predators are burrowing nearby. The Revells, whose main source of income is selling the worms he gathers, work the Apalachicola National Forest, which covers nearly 600,000 acres southwest of Tallahassee, and Tate's Hell, immediately to the south. Before meeting the couple, Catania had never witnessed the practice. "It's amazing to me, there's nothing like going to see it. I thought it was incredible," Catania said Later, while sipping iced tea at the Revells' home, he put a mole into a bucket filled with dirt and worms. "It was amazing, man," Revell said. "When he dropped that mole in that bucket of worms, it was just like fear was in them. They come out of that ground, right out of that bucket. That pretty much let him know what he wanted to know about them. It was a predator/prey like thing." Catania repeated the experiment under more controlled conditions, filling a container with dirt and a specific number of worms, waiting until they were all settled under the surface, and then letting a mole loose through a tube at the bottom of the container. The worms soon began fleeing out the top as fast as they could. He also filled a much larger container with worms and ran a water sprinkler over it, simulating rain. The worms didn't rush out. That helped disprove the theory Revell has long had about why grunting works. "This particular study was just wonderful because each little step made so much sense," Catania said. "It just all sort of fit together one piece after another all stemming from that original thought Darwin had." Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Sign in to recommend this article » 0 users recommend Related Articles: World Dodd's wife serves on health care company boardsAP - 2 hours 35 minutes ago Ask AP: Following Sotomayor, movie closed captionsAP - Saturday, June 13 John Brown's fearsome pikes still hold fascinationAP - Saturday, June 13 UK's Cambridge awards Bill Gates honorary degreeAP - Saturday, June 13 Fake German Rockefeller guilty of kidnapping in U.S.Reuters - Saturday, June 13 Most Popular – World Viewed Obama signs note for girl who played hooky to see him Luanda is world's most expensive expat city: survey Ramsay eats humble pie after mum scolds him Dumped mattress lands cash in trash in Israel Earth-Venus smash-up possible in 3.5 billion years: study View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Saturday, 13 June 2009
Iranians flock to vote in tight election
Britain's Thatcher breaks arm in new health scare
Kenya gets undersea broadband fibre optic cable
U.N. widens sanctions on North Korea; China joins in | International |
US Congress passes historic curbs on tobacco industry
US tech group Rambus, EU close in on anti-trust settlement
Malawi court allows Madonna to adopt second child
Fears of fallout as Iraq Sunni leader assassinated
No systematic violence in Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai | International |
Afghan civilian casualties must be cut: US, NATO
Ethiopian troops cross deeper into Somalia: residents | International |
UN climate chief confident of global warming pact
U.N. widens sanctions on North Korea
With digital transition, more focus on smaller TVs | Technology |
Australia tries tough love to heal Aboriginal woes
House panel would deny benefits to detainees
IRS: cell phone tax notice to save firms money | Technology |
Fallen Pa. trooper remembered as hero, joker
U.N. council expands sanctions against North Korea
Moles, not magic, make worm 'grunting' work
Plane hitch delays Thai PM's return from Cambodia
Juror takes 5th in probe of fashion designer trial
Japanese minister steps down in setback for PM
Even before opening, cutbacks at science museum
Indonesian air force helicopter crash kills 4
John Brown's fearsome pikes still hold fascination
At least 39 militants killed in Pakistan's Swat
Fake German Rockefeller guilty of kidnapping in U.S.
WHO official praises China's swine flu response
4-5 years for 'Rockefeller' in daughter kidnapping
S.Korea sends more troops to N.Korea border
Outgoing GM dealerships by state
Anti-Taliban cleric killed in Pakistani blast
US student says Italian police extracted false statements
Madame Tussauds ready for Hollywood close-up
Hollywood, Bollywood meet Bradford: "City of Film"
English city of Bradford named UN City of Film
Malaysia Airlines slides into the red in first quarter
Music Review: New Jonas Bros disc is legit
World banks must act against toxic assets: China
S.Korea PM urges tighter cross-border regulation
Madame Tussauds ready for Hollywood close-up | Entertainment |
Conan loses viewers after Tonight Show debut | Entertainment |
With digital transition, more focus on smaller TVs | Entertainment |
Hollywood, Bollywood meet Bradford: City of Film | Entertainment |
Keyboardist, producer Beckett dies in Tennessee | Entertainment |
Ashanti eases on down the road in 'The Wiz'
U.S. porn industry had 16 unpublicized HIV cases | Entertainment |
Madame Tussauds ready for Hollywood close-up
EA creates a racket (and a golf club) on the Wii
Kuwaiti director stages an Arabic Richard III | Entertainment |
Hollywood, Bollywood meet Bradford: "City of Film"
Kuwaiti director stages an Arabic Richard III
Friday marks final signoff for analog TV service
Malawi court allows Madonna to adopt second child
Chanel film ad breaks Hong Kong smoking laws: campaigner
Authorities block Chinese gay pride events: organisers
Music Review: Morello, Riley team up for politics
Suicide attack kills eight Afghans: official
French black box search focuses on 40-mile radius
US pulls plug on analog TV
Ahmadinejad scores big win in Iran vote | International |
Ahmadinejad set for crushing win in disputed Iran vote
EU wants to 'deepen' dialogue with Cuba
Shuttle set for launch to space station
8Monkey Labs videogame recreates dark days in history
N.Korea threatens military action, to enrich uranium | International |
Rivals both claim victory in Iran's election
Cessna Aircraft to slash additional 1,300 jobs
Global PC makers vying for "Green" crown
Top Sunni lawmaker killed outside Baghdad mosque
Twitter To Launch New Feature To Eliminate Celebrity Imposter Accounts
Madonna wins second Malawi adoption on appeal
NKOTB Sue Company For Trying To Name Another Boy Band NKOTB
CIA adopting Web 2.0 tools despite resistance
British soldier among three dozen killed in Afghanistan
Miley Cyrus Wants Woman Behind Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Against Her To Pay Legal Fees
Simon & Schuster opens e-book shop at Scribd
Mousavi claims landslide victory in Iran vote
Court Grants Madonna's Appeal To Adopt A Malawian Girl
Twitter dabbling with verifying identities
Susan Boyle Still Not Confirmed To Join "Britain's Got Talent" Tour
Breakdown of Iranian electorate
Dissident neurosurgeon allowed to leave Cuba | International |
US calls for free press in Venezuela, Latin America
Madonna Wins Appeal For Mercy's Adoption
Second Autopsy Says David Carradine Did Not Commit Suicide
Cher's Daughter To Undergo Sex Change
Britney Spears Reaches 50-50 Custody Agreement With K-Fed
TV Actor Johnny Palermo Dies At Age 27
Global PC makers vying for Green crown | Technology |
Endeavour launch delayed due to hydrogen leak
Report says LAPD federal consent decree should end
North Korea says it will 'weaponize' its plutonium
AP NewsAlert
Dallas reaches settlement in 2004 gorilla attack
Japan to impose ban on exports to NKorea: reports
NASA scrubs Saturday morning space shuttle launch
UN chief hails NKorea sanctions amid US warning
AP NewsAlert
Final day of China gay pride kicks off in Shanghai
Obama envoy in Syria to push for Mideast peace
Myanmar high court sets date for Suu Kyi appeal
Man 'cooked' to death in Australian prison van
Administration speeds overseas detainee relocation
Vietnam Finance Academy staff gambling: report
Obama announces 73 mln dlrs in US aid to Zimbabwe
Feds ask court to reconsider CIA renditions suit
Call for halt to golf courses in Vietnam: report
Japanese Emperor to visit Canada in July: Harper
Second autopsy of Carradine suggests no suicide | Entertainment |
Thai car sales drop 26.2 pct in May
It's Sir Count Dracula for actor Christopher Lee | Entertainment |
China's Ping An to invest up to 22bn yuan in bank
Pakistan c.bank sells 10 bln rupees of T-bills
China Eastern confirms Shanghai Airlines merger
Paulina Rubio moves to City on new album | Entertainment |
Shaky recovery hopes dominate G8 finance talks
Phish, in first appearance, comes home to Bonnaroo
Japan incentives boost sales of green cars, TVs
Court records: Singer Usher files for divorce
Company alleges Chinese software has stolen code
Paulina Rubio moves to "City" on new album
Tata Indian Hotels profit plunges 96 pct
It's Sir Count Dracula for actor Christopher Lee
Bonnaroo festival gives stage to African acts
Former Miss Calif.: Gay comment cost me my crown
Second autopsy of Carradine suggests no suicide
TV vampires cloak Friday's Los Angeles Times cover
Susan Boyle back on stage after stint in London clinic
Sarah Palin: Letterman owes women an apology
Israeli officials: Iran vote shows growing threat
U.S. envoy talks Middle East peace with Syria's Assad | International |
U.N. seeks review of special forces in Afghanistan | International |
Pakistani warplanes strike Taliban's Waziristan redoubt | International |
U.S. envoy talks Middle East peace with Syria's Assad
Ethiopia denies its soldiers in central Somalia | International |
Forty-one to stand in Afghan presidential vote
Iraq Sunni leader killed at mosque, fears of fallout | International |
Ahmadinejad wins 63% of vote in most of Iran: official
New Moroccan party leads in local elections | International |
GOP slams Democrats' climate bill as an energy tax
Vietnamese arrests lawyer who defended activists
Thai swine flu cases double
Militants kill 5 Philippine marines in ambush
S.African expat denies $1.2 bln 'Ponzi' scheme
Taliban claim responsibility for slaying cleric
US space shuttle launch delayed over hydrogen leak
4 dead as insurgents attack in southern Thailand
GOP slams Democrats' climate bill as an energy tax
Six killed in Thai south as govt team arrives
Obama wants new cuts in federal health spending
Militants kill six troops on Philippine island
A look at North Korea's nuclear program
NKorea says it will 'weaponize' its plutonium
Obama pledges to quickly sign anti-smoking bill
US mil: American soldier killed by bomb in Iraq
Analysis: Shielding Afghan civilians will be key
'Slumdog' filmmakers say movie is Indian at heart
'Dark Knight' wins 8 Key Art Awards, best poster
E-Cigarette Controversy Arises Amidst New Legislation On Regulating Tobacco Industry
Two Climbers Fall To Death In Mount McKinley
Hydrogen Leak Grounds Space Shuttle Mission
Obama Axes Inspector General Of AmeriCorps Program
Boy, 9, Set On Fire By Teen Playmates
Facility To Catch Greenhouse Gases Get OK To Restart
Federal Registry Would Detect Faulty Hip, Knee Implants
German Conman Sentenced To 5 Years For Kidnapping Daughter
June 12, 2009: High Points In The U.S. Economy
Wall Street Ends Mixed, Dow Goes Positive For The Year
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01