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Contributions to Zoology, 78 (2) - 2009
Variation in the nocturnal foraging distribution of and resource use by endangered Ryukyu flying foxes (Pteropus dasymallus) on Iriomotejima Island, Japan
Ya-Fu Lee1,4, Tokushiro Takaso2,5, Tzen-Yuh Chiang1,6, Yen-Min Kuo1,7, Nozomi Nakanishi2,8, Hsy-Yu Tzeng3,9, Keiko Yasuda2
Keywords: abundance, bats, Chiroptera, diet, figs, frugivores, habitat.
The nocturnal distribution and resource use by Ryukyu flying foxes was studied along 28 transects, covering five types of habitats, on Iriomote Island, Japan, from early June to late September, 2005. Bats were mostly encountered solitarily (66.8%) or in pairs (16.8%), with a mean linear density of 2.5 ± 0.6 bats/km of transect/night. Across the island, however, bat densities were distributed non-randomly among transect-nights, not correlated with transect length, and showed a slightly clumped distribution (variance/mean = 3.3). Outskirt trails contributed higher values to the relative importance of bat abundance, but the highest mean abundances occurred mostly at village sites on the west coast, which on average devoted only a quarter of their land area to agriculture/husbandry compared to those on the east coast. This supports our prediction that higher bat abundances are found in areas with less anthropogenic interference and more forest. Among habitats, the mean total abundance and density were lower in cultivated areas than in villages and inland forests. Bat perches in cultivated areas were also lower, and were in correspondence with lower shrub and canopy heights, and less canopy coverage. Flying fox abundance was correlated moderately with the heterogeneity of the tree composition, and strongly with the density of major fruiting trees. Thirty-nine species of plants and some animal items were used by Ryukyu flying foxes, including at least 31 species of fruits, 13 species of flowers, and leaves of seven species, with 14 species new to the record. Ficus septica and F. variegata were the most frequently encountered and dominant items in both fecal and rejecta/dropped samples, followed mostly by other figs and mulberries in the former, but by larger-seed non- Moraceae plants in dropped samples. Our results suggest that for conservation of flying foxes undisturbed forests providing an adequate resource basis are of major importance.
Mutual relationships between plant-eating animals and their food plants, where animals may play a role as seed dispersers, pollinators, or both, represent one of the key ecological interactions (Howe and Westley, 1988). This is supported by phytophagous bats in the Neotropics (e.g., Galindo-Gonzalez, 2000) as well as in the Old World tropics (Marshall, 1983; Hodgkison et al., 2003). They are recognized as essential keystone species for maintaining ecological integrity in some areas, and are also beneficial for the human economy (Fujita and Tuttle, 1991; Wiles and Fujita, 1992; Shilton et al., 1999; Nyhagen et al., 2005). On the other hand, many species in this category and their delicate ecological attributes have been under threat to different degrees and warrant conservation attention (Racey and Entwistle, 2003), notably Old World pteropodid fruit bats (Cox et al., 1991; Rainey et al., 1995; Thiriet, 2005; Welbergen et al., 2008).
The Ryukyu flying fox (Pteropus dasymallus Temminck, 1825), together with the Bonin flying fox (P. pselaphon Lay, 1829) on Ogasawara Islands, and the Japanese flying fox (P. loochoensis Gray, 1870) of Okinawa, are the most northerly distributed pteropodids on the Pacific islands (Mickleburgh et al., 1992). Ryukyu flying foxes have the widest latitudinal distribution of these species, ranging along the West Pacific island chain from southern Japan south to Batan and other northern Philippine islets (Heaney et al., 2008), and five subspecies are recognized. These include (1) Erabu fruit bats P. d. dasymallus on Kuchinoerabu and most of the Tokara Islands; (2) Orii's fruit bats P. d. inopinatus on Okinawa; (3) Daito fruit bats P. d. daitoensis on Kita-daito and Minami-daito; (4) Yaeyama fruit bats P. d. yayeyamae on Tarama of the Miyako Islands and most of the Yaeyama Islands; and (5) Formosan fruit bats P. d. formosus occurring on Lutao (Green Island), Taiwan (Yoshiyuki, 1989; Ota, 1992).
All five subspecies had been classified as endangered, mainly due to limited distribution and threats of deforestation and hunting (Ota, 1992; see the current status for the species level as "Near Threatened"; IUCN, 2008).Some information is available for a few colonies of the three northern subspecies (Erabu, Daito, and Orii's fruit bats) at limited sites (e.g., Funakoshi et al., 1993, 2006; Izawa et al., 2001; Nakamoto et al., 2007a). Yet, little is known about the two southern subspecies, except for some anecdotal or sporadic notes (Lin and Pei, 1999; Nakamoto et al., 2007b). The paucity of critical data on their distribution, abundance, and ecological needs has spurred an urgent call recommending a top priority for assessing the southern-most islands off the main islands of Japan and in Taiwan (Mickleburgh et al., 1992).
Previous studies on Ryukyu flying foxes have been concentrated either in few adjacent village sites (Funakoshi et al. 1991, 1993), in an urban area (Nakamoto et al., 2007a), or focused on few bats on a small islet (Funakoshi et al., 2006). Flying foxes, however, can use various habitats with different degrees of dependence (e.g., Brooke et al., 2000; Vardon et al., 2001; Banack, 2002). Our study reports the first attempt to investigate the nocturnal distribution, relative abundance, and resource use by the least-studied Yaeyama subspecies on one of the largest inhabited islands. We tested the hypothesis that habitat modification and food availability will affect bat foraging, and predicted that bats will be less abundant in more-populated and anthropogenically modified areas where they potentially would experience greater disturbance (Wiles et al., 1989; but see work in Australia suggesting the opposite, Parris and Hazell, 2005; Williams et al., 2006). Flying foxes may travel distances up to 50 km for foraging (e.g., Marshall, 1985; Banack, 2002; Marcus and Hall, 2004); the availability of fruiting plants appears to be a key factor affecting their abundances and movements (Eby, 1991; McConkey and Drake, 2007). Hence we examined diets and food resource use of Yaeyama fruit bats, and predicted that the nocturnal dispersion and foraging of fruit bats should be positively correlated to the density of their major food plants.
Materials and methods
Study sites
Iriomote (24°15'-25'N, 123°40'-55'E; an area of 289 km2 , the highest elevation at 470 m above sea level) is the largest among the nine islets of the Yaeyama Islands, at the southernmost tip of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1. Study site map showing Iriomote and the census sites, Ryukyu Islands of Japan in the left panel, and the Yaeyama Islands indicated by the arrow in the left panel, and enlarged in the right panel.
Together with nearby islands (e.g., Ishigaki and Taiwan), they are central to the northern West Pacific island arc, between the rest of the Ryukyu Islands and the main islands of Japan to the north, the East China Sea to the west, and the Philippines to the south. Hot-humid summers and warm winters typify Iriomote (Japan Meteorological Agency data), with a mean annual rainfall exceeding 2300 mm, and a mean temperature of c. 23°C from April to October, peaking at c. 29°C in July but descending to 17-18°C in January.Over 80% of this mountainous inland is covered by intact primary or secondary subtropical broadleaf forests (Schmidt et al., 2003), and is dominated by Quercus miyagii Koidz., Chinquapins Castanopsis sieboldii (Makino) Hatus., figs (Ficus spp.), and Schima wallichii (Schima). Lowlands below 100 m are distributed along the 130 km or so of shoreline and around a few major rivers, where human settlements and cultivated areas are located; these are more prominent on the eastern and northern coasts. Hernanadia nymphaeifolia (Presl) Kubitzki and horsetail pines Casuarina equisetifolia L. are common in coastal forests, but mangroves of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam, Rhizophora mucronata, and R. stylosa prevail along estuaries and rivers. Figs (e.g., F. superba Miq. and F. virgata Reinw. ex Blume) are interspersed with Cerbera manghas L., Heritiera littoralis Dryand, hanging-flower checkerboard foot Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Blume ex DC,and screwpines Pandanus odoratissimus L. f. in swampy wetland forests (Walker, 1976).
Bat and habitat census
From early June to late September 2005, we conducted 48 nocturnal censuses along 28 transects at 14 sites (1-3 transects/census; Fig. 1). Each transect was assessed at least four times. Seven sites were located in the eastern and the other seven in the western half of the island, except the southwestern-most corner, Funauki, due to its inaccessibility by land. Site-to-site distances were c. 2 km in the west, and c. 3-4 km in the east. Sites covered five major types of habitats over most lowlands and ranged up to 5 km from the coast into inland areas, where fruit bats are known to fly for nightly foraging (M. Matsumoto, pers. comm.). Each site had two transects separated by 200 m or farther, and the length of each transect varied depending on accessibility (mean, 1.24 ± 0.19 km/transect; 34.79 km in total).
At each site, one transect circled around or penetrated a village, running through residential and cultivated areas, whereas the other meandered along the outskirts and toward more inland areas, representing natural habitats and some smaller fields. Between censuses we alternated sites in the west and east and randomly picked transects until the entire transect set was completed in a period of 2-3 weeks. We also alternated the nightly sequence among transects, so that each transects got surveyed at different times of the night. We arrived at a site 30 min before sunset to observe arrivals or passing of bats until sunset. A census began within 30 min after sunset and ended when all designated transects had been surveyed for the night, usually within 4 h. We walked each transect at roughly an equal pace of about 1 km/h, and travelled by vehicle between transects.
Bats were searched for with binoculars (Leica 10 × 42 BN, Solms, Germany), aided with spotlights or headlights, and by listening to their sounds while feeding or interacting with each other. Upon each encounter, we tallied the number of bats present, and recorded the species of plants on which a bat perched, the perch height, and the distance from the transect (DFT). We measured vegetation-related habitat variables on site or later in the daytime, including height variables, i.e., top (TCH) and bottom (BCH) heights of tree canopy, shrub height (SH), herb height (HH), and coverage variables, i.e., canopy coverage (CC) and ground coverage (GC). Types of behaviors displayed, such as flying, non-flying moves, and feeding, were recorded, and the food eaten determined. We restricted our searches to a strip of 30 m on either side and assumed a complete census. Our prior tests indicated that this is a suitable distance in most habitats, but in inner forests we acknowledge that our observations were more limited.
Feeding traces and dietary analysis
Flying foxes can swallow small seeds of fruits, but often spit larger seeds and fibrous wads (Richards, 1990), thus we searched for feeding traces by bats, including feces, rejecta pellets, and dropped fruit remains or vegetative parts (Thomas, 1989; Banack, 1998), along the surveyed transect lines during daylight hours. Throughout the study period we surveyed each transect at least four times, amounting to c. 150 working hours. Traces were clumped or also widely scattered along transects, presumably due to aggregation, feeding roost spots, or flying of bats. Any two adjacent feces or pellets of a similar freshness and within a distance of 5 m were treated as if they were from the same site location. Dropped fruits were recorded on site, but each retrievable fecal item or pellet was collected, sun-dried, and then stored in a single labelled envelope for later analysis. Along transect lines we further investigated the tree composition and abundances of fruiting trees at each of those sites. The heterogeneity of the tree composition and the density of major fruiting trees were estimated.
We identified seeds in fecal/pellet samples to the lowest taxonomic level possible, mostly to species, and counted seed numbers, whereas animal items were sorted and identified to order, under a dissecting microscope (Zeiss Stemi 2000-C, 10 × 5 magnification, Oberkochen, Germany). The dry mass of each species of seed and each animal item in each sample was measured to the nearest 0.01 g with an electronic balance (Precisa XS3250C, Dietikon, Switzerland). We determined the relative frequency of occurrence (FO) and proportion of mass (PM) of each food item in fecal/pellet samples. We calculated the FO as the number of samples in which a particular food item was identified divided by the sum of the numbers of samples containing each food item that was identified. This provides a standardized measure, ranging from 0% to 100%, of the commonness of each food item in the diet. We averaged the PM of a food item across all samples to provide an index of the proportional contribution in mass of each food item to the diets of bats.
Data analyses
Data are presented as the mean ± standard error (SE). We arcsine-transformed data on proportions to meet the normality requirement (Zar, 1999). The statistical significance level α was set to P < 0.05, using Statistica 6.0 (StatSoft, 2001). A χ2 test was used to determine if the frequency distribution was random among abundance levels. For each site, a relative importance value was estimated by incorporating the FO and relative abundance (RA) of bats (Lee et al., 2007). We assessed the correlation (Pearson's R) between FO and RA of bats, FO with the mean bat linear density (per km of transect) for both habitat type and among census nights, and the mean linear density with tree heterogeneity and density of major fruit plants. We performed multiple regression analysis to examine the relationship of bat density with canopy variables and coverage variables among habitat types. During our study, three typhoons formed and passed through or close to Iriomote, including strong typhoons 0505 Haitang (with winds at 198 km/h at its center) and 0513 Talim (190.8 km/h at its center), which coincided with our census periods of every 2-3 weeks. We used analysis of variance (ANOVA) to examine the difference in mean bat linear density among the four periods, divided by typhoons. Multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to examine the effects of site location and habitat types on variances in total bat abundances, mean density, perching height, and distance to the transect. We adopted MANOVA to examine location differences (west vs. east) in the mean human population size, number of residences, village area, population/ha of village area, and residences/ha of village area (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau data; N. Nakanishi, aerial-photo data). When significant differences emerged, we used additional multiple-range comparisons (Fisher's PLSD) to locate the differences. A t-test was applied to compare the area devoted to cultivation between eastern and western parts of the island. We also used the converted Simpson index to assess the heterogeneity of fruit trees. A higher index value indicates a more-diverse tree composition with a more-even proportional distribution (Krebs, 1999).
Spatio-temporal variation in nocturnal distributions and relative abundances
We recorded 650 bats (2.2 ± 0.18; range, 1-20) in 298 encounters during 120 transect-nights of field censuses. A single bat was observed in 66.8% of encounters, followed by pairs of bats (16.8%), and in only 3% of cases were bats detected in groups larger than 10 (χ2 = 426.5, d.f. = 4, P < 0.001). On average, we had 6.2 ± 0.53 (range, 0-14) encounters of 13.4 ± 1.43 bats (range, 0-43) per night; or 2.7 ± 0.24 encounters (range, 0-12) and 5.5 ± 0.57 bats (range, 0-32) per transect night, at an overall encounter probability of 75%. Mostly, we recorded five or fewer (72.5%), and rarely over ten (9.2%), bats per km of transect. Bat abundances were not randomly distributed among transect nights (χ2 = 75.75, d.f. = 4, P < 0.001) and were not correlated with the length of the transect (r = 0.135, F 1, 26 = 0.35, P < 0.6). After incorporating the length of each transect, our data translated into a mean linear density of 2.5 ± 0.6 bats/km of transect/night, with a ratio of the variance to the mean of 3.3 (χ2 = 89.3, d.f. = 27, P < 0.001).
Mean density of bats were similar among the 4 periods (2.3 ± 0.66, 2.0 ± 0.54, 2.9 ± 0.76, and 2.3 ± 0.73 bats/km of transect/night) interrupted by three typhoons (F 3, 116 = 0.16, P > 0.5). Among transects, the outskirt trails of Shirahama, Otomi, Midara, and Komi contributed the index values of highest relative importance, followed by Hoshidate Village and Toyohara trail. Each one led in either of the frequency of occurrence, the total relative abundance, or both, and together they accounted for over 54% of the RI value (Table 1).
Table 1. Relative frequency of occurrence, abundance, importance value, and mean linear density (± SE) per kilometer of transect, of flying foxes at different sites on Iriomote.
These two measures were correlated to each other (R = 0.795, F 1, 26 = 44.65, P < 0.001). The highest mean linear density, however, occurred mostly at villages, i.e., Hoshidate, Mihara, Shirahama, Sonai, and Urauchi-Sumiyoshi (Table 1). All villages with higher bat densities, except Mihara, are located on the west coast (W), whereas five villages and three outskirt trails contributed no bat records, seven of which are along the east coast (E). Villages in the east and west did not differ in mean area (ha; E, 12.8 ± 3.3; W, 10.2 ± 0.9), number of residences (E, 78.2 ± 25.2; W, 87.6 ± 10.6), population size (E, 157.5 ± 51.5; W, 163 ± 20.7), population/ha of village land (E, 17.1 ± 3.3; W, 16.4 ± 2.1), or residences/ha of village land (E, 8.8 ± 2.0; W, 8.8 ± 1.1; MANOVA: Wilks' λ = 0.353, F 5, 7 = 2.57, P = 0.125). Each village in the east, however, had over a four-fold larger surrounding land area (82.93 ± 19.8 ha) used for agriculture or husbandry activities than in the west (20.21 ± 5.03 ha; t = 3.07, d.f. = 10, P < 0.05). Sites in the west also had higher fruit-tree density (47.14 ± 11.13/ha; t = 2.11, d.f. = 12, P < 0.05) and heterogeneity of tree composition (5.39-6.99) than eastern sites (22.15 ± 4.13/ha; 1.5-4.52, except 7.51 for Komi).
Mean linear densities were positively correlated to frequencies of occurrence of bats both among census nights (R = 0.837, F 1, 40 = 89.03, P < 0.001; Fig. 2a), and also among habitat types (R = 0.772, F 1, 3 = 4.44, P < 0.15; Fig. 2b) but with a larger variation. Occurrence and spatial distribution of bats were affected by both the site location (Wilks' λ = 0.161, F 4, 70 = 2.82, P < 0.05) and the associated habitat types (Wilks' λ = 0.147, F 4, 70 = 2.69, P < 0.05). The mean total abundance (Fisher's LSD, P < 0.05) was higher in villages than in other habitats except inland forests, and the mean linear density (P < 0.05) was higher in villages than in mangroves and cultivated land (Fig. 3). Bats perched at lower heights in cultivated areas than in inland forests (P < 0.05), at lower heights on the east coast than on the west (P < 0.05), and were further distances from trails when occurring in mangrove forests than in inland and costal forests (P < 0.05; Fig. 3). Among the five types of habitats, bottom canopy height and ground coverage were positively correlated, but shrub height was negatively correlated, with the numbers of bats occurring (multiple regression R = 0.49, F 6, 170 = 8.93, P < 0.001; Table 2).
On average, bat perches in cultivated land had lower top- and bottom-canopy heights, lower shrub height, and less canopy coverage than those of most other habitat types, especially inland forests. While top canopy heights were higher in villages than in inland and coastal forests, perches in inland forests had greater canopy coverage, and ground coverage of bat perches was lower in coastal forests than in inland forests and cultivated land (Table 2). The heterogeneity of trees (TH) at the < 3 m range was higher in cultivated fields (6.55) and villages (6.19) than in other forested habitats (3.43-4.39). Yet, cultivated fields had the lowest TH at ranges of 3-5 (4.50) and > 5 m (3.79) compared to all other habitats (3-5 m, 5.26-5.78; > 5 m, 4.61-6.19), whereas that of inland forests was highest at both levels (3-5 m, 5.78; > 5 m, 6.19). The bat densities were correlated both with heterogeneity of tree composition (r = 0.655, F 1, 12 = 9.04, P < 0.05; Fig. 4a), and strongly with the density of major fruiting trees (R = 0.893, F 1, 12 = 47.12, P < 0.001; Fig. 4b).
Fig. 4. Relationships of mean (± SE) linear density (bat/km of transect) of flying foxes with (a) the heterogeneity of tree composition and (b) the density of major fruiting trees.
Diets and patterns of resource use
Yaeyama fruit bats fed on at least 31 species of fruits, 13 species of flowers, and seven species of leaves, of a total of 39 species, 21 families, and 28 genera of plants (Table 3). We found feces more frequently (360 locations, 5.1 ± 0.71 locations /transect-day, N = 70) than rejecta pellets (153, 2.5 ± 0.29, N = 62) and dropped fruits (17, 1.4 ± 0.19, N = 12) (χ2 = 63.7, d.f. = 2, P < 0.001). In contrast, the mean number of samples per locations recorded varied, with greater numbers of pellets (8.1 ± 1.25) and dropped fruit remains (5.7 ± 3.11), but lower numbers of feces (2.9 ± 0.17) at each location. We found 53 piles of feces or traces of food remains repeatedly or periodically directly beneath or very near trees of 16 species. The happiness tree Garcinia subelliptica and Ficus septica had the greatest proportions, followed by the large-leaved banyan F. superba, guava Psidium guajava,and charcoal tree Trema orientalis; leaves of the latter were most frequently consumed (Table 3).
Plants dominated the food composition, with seven cultivated species (17.9%). Animal items occurred in lower frequencies and included mostly insects but also a vertebrate (Table 4). Figs were the major items, but with various importance values among the types of samples. Ficus septica and F. variegata were the most dominant items in both fecal and dropped samples. They accounted for over 63% of the FO and 81% of the PM in fecal/pellet samples, followed mostly by other species of figs, mulberries Morus spp., happiness trees,and charcoal trees in lower ranks. In dropped samples, F. septica and F. variegata also led in FO (37%) and PM (61.3%), but were followed, especially in mass proportion, by more non-Moraceae plants in higher proportions, such as chinaberry Melia azedarach, guava, and ebony Diospyros egbert-walkeri (Table 4).
Variation in nocturnal distributions and relative abundances
Yaeyama fruit bats are solitary or form mostly very small groups while foraging, but at a larger scale, their nocturnal spatial distribution is slightly clumped. Among habitats, the mean abundance and density were lower in cultivated areas than in villages and inland forests. This explains the across-island variation in bat distribution, where higher abundances were found in western than in eastern village sites, and supported our predictions. Villagers appeared tolerant to flying foxes, including their excretion and sounds (Y.F. Lee, unpubl. data; M. Matsumoto, pers. comm.). On average, however, eastern villages devoted a four-fold larger area of land to agriculture/husbandry activities, areas presumably with a higher rate of disturbance and intensity of human activities. Eastern sites also had lower fruit-tree density and heterogeneity range in tree composition. On Daito Island, where a high intensity of cultivation has made mangrove forests one of the few remaining undisturbed habitats, fruit bats are consistently found roosting in the border of mangroves (Izawa et al., 2001).
The distribution of foraging bats was correlated with land use patterns, habitats, as well as with food supplies, which is consistent with that reported for grey-headed flying foxes P. poliocephalus in Australia (McDonald-Madden et al., 2005). Bat density was correlated moderately with heterogeneity of tree composition, strongly with the density of major fruiting trees, and supported our predictions. Shifts in foraging sites by flying foxes for better food availability have been frequently documented and may occur between types of forests in an area (Banack, 2002), across various distances within a short period of time (Tidemann and Nelson, 2004; McConkey and Drake, 2007), or during migration (Hall and Richards, 2000). Nakamoto et al. (2007a) reported Orii's fruit bats using certain fruiting trees intensively in an urban area. On Iriomote, bats in larger groups were observed frequenting some village sites, such as Hoshidate and Sonai, where large fruiting trees and ample food supplies occurred.
We observed variation between habitats in the height and DFT of perching bats. Heights of bats were lower in cultivated areas, and were in correspondence with lower canopy and shrub heights, and less canopy coverage, in this habitat. The DFT of perching bats was probably, at least in part, due to environmental features that restrict accessibility, such as tidal patterns in mangroves, and paths tended to be narrower and tree boundaries closer to trails in inland and coastal forests. An alternative but not mutually exclusive explanation is that the height and DFT may reflect a perceived or actual risk of predation. Fruit bats may fall prey to snakes, raptors, and other mammals (Pierson and Rainey, 1992; Klose et al., 2009). On Iriomote these at least include Beauty Rat Snakes Elaphe taeniura (Cope, 1861), Japanese Lesser Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis (Temminck and Schlegel, 1844), feral cats Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758, and Iriomote Cats Prionailurus iriomotensis (Imaizumi, 1967) (Watanabe et al., 2003). Lower perching heights may reduce the risk from aerial raptors, particularly at trees of less canopy coverage, and in more open cultivated areas; lower shrub heights may make terrestrial predators more difficult to conceal and less possible to approach a perching tree from surroundings. The latter is also supported by the negative correlation between shrub height and bat density. At greater distances from paths and often depending on tides, bats in mangroves may be free of predation pressure from most terrestrial predators. This is supported by the fact that with a generally higher mean upper-canopy layer, perching heights of bats in mangroves were among the lowest, where terrestrial predators are most restricted.
Diets and resource use
Food plants used by Yaeyama fruit bats, as previously reported based mostly on anecdotal and sporadic notes, include 16 species of fruits, ten species of flowers, and fibrous stalks of sugarcane, for a total of 25 species (Nakamoto et al., 2007b). This study added another 14 species of plants to this list. Overall, the diet was less diverse than that reported for Orii's fruit bats on Okinawa (fruit: 53 species, flower: 20 species, leaf: 18 species; Nakamoto et al., 2007a), but broader than that of Erabu (fruit: 19 species, flower: eight species, leaf: 11 species, bark: two species) and Daito fruit bats (fruit: 22 species, flower: nine species, leaf: six species; Funakoshi et al., 1993; Nakamoto et al., 2007b). Compared to other tropical pteropodids (e.g., Marshall, 1985), Funakoshi et al. (1993) attributed the broader diet of Erabu fruit bats to the warm-temperate seasonality in the food supply. This was not fully supported by our study conducted at a lower latitude near the Tropical of Cancer, and equally or more-diverse diets reported more recently in other paleo-tropical fruit bats (e.g., on American Samoa, Banack, 1998; Malaysia, Tan et al., 1998).
Instead, the latitudinal variation in the diet breadth of Ryukyu flying foxes, and the fact that our assessments were conducted only in the prime summer season, suggest a connection between diversity and variation in diets of fruit bats with food availability that is influenced by local phenology and the size of the distribution area where bats occur. This is confirmed by results for other species in the Pacific (e.g., McConkey and Drake, 2007). We observed asynchronous fruiting among individual trees of the same fig species, which also explains the high variation in abundances of bats recorded among transect-nights, and is an indication of local movements (Funakoshi et al., 1993). Food availability to frugivorous bats is often difficult and complicated to accurately estimate (Stashko and Dinerstein, 1988; but see Kalko, 1998), and it has not been quantitatively assessed for most subspecies of Ryukyu flying foxes. Our data provide evidence of a positive correlation between bat abundances and heterogeneity of tree compositions and the density of fruiting trees.
The Moraceae is the single most important family of food plants for Yaeyama fruit bats, and figs are the predominant food type, which was reported in almost all previous studies on diets of flying foxes (Marshall, 1985; reviews in Shanahan et al., 2001) and even other non-pteropodid fruit bats (Kalko et al., 1996; Korine et al., 2000). On Iriomote where the human population is low and mature primary forests remain intact on a large proportion of the land, bats feed mainly on native fruit plants (32 of 39 species of plants, 82.1%). This is a proportion closer to but higher than the one observed in Erabu fruit bats on Kuchinoerabu (22 of 29 species of plants, 75.9%; Funakoshi et al., 1993), and much higher than the one found in Daito fruit bats (15 of 26 species of food plants, 57.7%; Nakamoto et al., 2007b). Nakamoto et al. (2007a) concluded that the diverse diet of Orii's fruit bats results from adaptation to cultivated plants (30 of 78 species of food plants, 38.5%) in urbanized environments, as also has been noted in grey-headed flying foxes (McDonald-Madden et al., 2005; Williams et al., 2006). Yet, nutrient deficiencies may be the real drive why flying foxes feed on a more diverse group of plants, as high proportions of cultivated plants have replaced native species, especially figs (Nelson et al., 2000). Most of the major fruits identified in samples, i.e., figs and mulberries, contain small but many seeds, which is consistent with feeding behavior described for flying foxes (Richards, 1990). Common garcinia, which contains a few large seeds, is an exception and also a fruit found favored by Daito fruit bats (Kinjo et al. unpubl. data). The dropped fruit remains, retaining seeds, were often located beneath or very close to the trees where bats fed, and the distances the seeds were dispersed by bats appeared greatly reduced.
We found seven species of leaves in the diet, and various animals at a notable frequency (11.9%), but with a minute proportion in mass. These have not been reported previously in the Yaeyama subspecies (Nakamoto et al., 2007b). Leaves appear in an increasing number of species of fruit bats of both the Paleo- and Neotropics (e.g., Kunz and Diaz, 1995; Courts, 1998; Nelson et al., 2000), and support the idea that folivory provides essential nutrients (e.g., carbohydrates, proteins, and calcium) for daily requirements (Rajamani et al., 1999; Nelson et al., 2005). While animal items are not uncommon in diets of pteropodids (e.g., Barclay et al., 2006), they are often attributed to incidental ingestion. It requires further observations or experiments for us to fully verify this possibility or alternatives, such as a rare case of carnivory in megachiropterans (Courts, 1998).
Implications for flying fox conservation
Our study provides an opportunity to draw parallels for a comparison with another closer and less studied subspecies, and it offers insights important for the conservation of island flying foxes. Formosa fruit bats suffered a dramatic decline, starting over 30 years ago, from exploitation and habitat alteration and destruction, and remains extremely rare (Lin and Pei, 1999; Heaney et al. 2008; D.J. Lin, unpubl. data). The historical hunting episode on Lutao, lasting for 10-15 years, presumably arose from economic incentives, for most bats were snared and later exported (Lin and Pei, 1999), and coincided with significant trading during the same period in other Pacific islands (e.g., Guam and the Mariana Islands, Wiles and Payne 1986). Hunting has been officially banned and fruit bats are legally protected on Lutao, yet their future fate is far from certain due to other factors such as habitat alteration, lack of stable food availability, and possible human disturbance (Lin and Pei, 1999).
Unlike bats that inhibit Lutao (c. 17.3 km2 at low tide), Yaeyama fruit bats occur among islands of a total land area exceeding 550 km2. Typhoons frequent both areas, but have no apparent effects on flying foxes on larger islands, e.g., Iriomote (this study). Yet, remnant populations on small islands may still be vulnerable to disturbances, even by chance (Pierson et al., 1996). The resident density (c. 173.4/km2) and annual tourist numbers (> 300,000) on Lutao are 25-fold and one- or two-fold those on Iriomote (Statistics Bureau data, Japan; National Statistics data, Taiwan), and cause inevitably more intensive habitat alteration or destruction. Ota (1992) noted a rapid decline in bat colonies on Hateruma after plantings replaced native forests. Plantations may provide substitution, but over time bats may still suffer from nutrient deficiencies (Nelson et al., 2000), or need to travel farther for more foraging options, which will be increasingly more difficult for bats on isolated or small islands (Meyer and Kalko, 2008; Meyer et al., 2008), and poses additional threats.
Concerning the status of Ryukyu flying foxes, and Pacific Island flying foxes in general, Yaeyama fruit bats on Iriomote are a good learning case. Human attitudes toward bats are extremely important conservation aspects (Y.F. Lee, unpubl. data; McCallum and Hocking, 2005; Thiriet, 2005). Habitat preservation and restoration, preferably through efforts by the local communities (Entwistle, 2001), to recover native forests and suitable food plants (e.g., figs) need to be implemented. Tourism and development should be carefully evaluated and tightly regulated, particularly for critical and small islands, such as Lutao. It remains unclear whether the currently few bats on Lutao are returnees of dwindling colonies that left Lutao for refuges, remnants of a formerly larger population, or immigrants from elsewhere. Further studies should focus on dispersal patterns and population dynamics on multiple islands over the entire or most of the distribution area of this species to achieve a deeper understanding of the ecology of the species in support of improved and more effective conservation strategies.
We thank the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Japan, for funding our work, also M. Matsumoto, the staff of the Iriomote Project, A. Nakamoto, and the Lutao Cultural and Ecological Society (D.J. Lin) for assistance. Director-General Hidaka, M. Izawa, and H. Ota kindly provided advice. The Taiwan National Science Council supported to YFL (NSC 95-2621-B-006-005-MY2, 96- 2621-B-006-005-MY3). YFL is especially grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Matsumoto, Mr. Kenji, and Dr. M. Izawa for their hospitality. The authors TT and TC, NN and YK contributed equally to this work. Two anonymous reviewers offered invaluable comments to an early version of this manuscript.
Received: 28 January 2009
Accepted: 8 June 2009
Published online: 14 August 2009
Editor: V. Nijman
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Meyer CFJ, Frund J, Lizano WP, Kalko EKV. 2008. Ecological correlates of vulnerability to fragmentation in Neotropical bats. Journal of Applied Ecology 45: 381-391.
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Accidentally overwrite important photos, videos, document including Microsoft Word docx files, Powerpoint Presentation ppt files, Microsoft Excel files, pdf data, folders or other data on Windows computer hard drive, external usb device, memory card (SD card, MicroSD card, CF card, xD card), pen drive, thumb drive, flash drive, external hard drive etc, how to recover overwritten files and folders?
You never know whether the files and folders are truly overwritten or replaced. This is because even system reported that there's same file name and overwrite it, internally it could be possible that the data is written to another space and the original space is marked as deleted. In this case, the files are recoverable by data recovery program. So the best way is to try some data recovery program to see whether files are recoverable. Download data recovery software from link below.
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subset: commoncrawl


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TIFF: Michelle, Andrea and Felicity in buzzy films.
Paolo here. Day 6 of TIFF brings movies about love and passion crossing borders and oceans or trying to, despite the difficulties. Ladies and gentlemen, bring your handkerchiefs or roll your cynical eyes.
THE LADY (Luc Besson)
Most of you must already know about detained Burmese President-elect Aung San Suu Kyi (Michelle Yeoh), but her unlikely entry into political life happened so long ago that we, especially the younger generations, forget a few facts. First, that she lived in Oxford and bore two boys for her husband Michael Aris (David Thewlis), a professor of Southeast Asian studies and that the reason for her untouchable status in a military dictatorship is her ties to England. Second, that the reason the university intellectuals have chosen her as the figurehead of the Burmese democracy movement is because her father, a general, fought for the same goals after World War II.
The story of her adult life is now adapted to the screen as The Lady directed by Luc Besson. This movie allows Besson to diversify his CV but I personally couldn't avoid looking for his trademarks. Suu is Besson's female heroine, Michael his the Tati-esque old man, and a superstitious general is the campy, quirky villain. Besson keeps the violence to a reverent level this time, even if Suu's father becomes a martyr in the film's first scene. The Lady also has a few montages which chronicle the news of Suu's planned rallies spreading throughout the streets of Rangoon. They went on a bit longer than necessary.
As biopics go, The Lady has a surprsing lack of naturalism. Take this paraphrasal of one of Suu and David's conversations:
'The world reveres you as someone with no negative qualities.'
'I will list my negative qualities right now.'
'Your negative qualities made me fall in love with you.'
But because I like this, I'll call it 'classic English dialogue', pulled off well by Thewliss and especially Yeoh who has perfected a politician-style elegance; in a festival full of misanthropy, characters who are 'too nice' are a welcome change.
W.E. (Madonna)
The title of Madonna's much-discussed new film, is an acronym for the most gossiped marriage in the past century between Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough) and King Edward VIII (James D'Arcy). The couple belong to a story within the story, which is an obsession for fairytale-stricken Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish), who comes close to the couple's property six decades after their exile. Wally is bored of her neglectful husband while befriending a foreign Sotheby's security guard (Oscar Isaac). I'll assume that Madonna took on this story in engender her own so-called feminist perspective, and she brings a sympathetic and sometimes humorous light to the maligned woman. I would have preferred to see a movie based on "Famous Last Words," Timothy Findley's novel about Wallis.
More on what I liked about W.E. and disliked about Like Crazy after the jump.


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Puppy: Bird
Friends: 3
Member Since: June 21, 2011Add to Friends
Hi, I'm Bird and I'm working hard to be the best stinker I can be! For example, I love to collect socks and take them to the living room for hiding. Too bad my parents always find them. It just means I have to get them again. Sometimes I don't think anyone understands how hard it is to be a puppy! Generally, I'm a well-rounded puppy. I like to chew pine cones, run, point birds, run, somersault into the bushes, run, cuddle on the couch and say hi to everyone I meet. I also make lots of funny sounds like a Jawa, which make people love me even more. If you see me out walking, make sure to say hello and, if you have a treat, all the better.View Profile


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Steven Simpson Named CEO of Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital
Russ Spray Named CEO of Southern Tennessee Regional Health System Winchester-Sewanee
Brian Sinotte Named Market President of UP Health System
LifePoint has affiliated healthcare facilities and providers in communities across the U.S.
The terms "LifePoint," "LifePoint Health," or the "Company" as used in this website refer to LifePoint Health, Inc. and its affiliates, unless otherwise stated or indicated by context. The term "facilities" or "hospitals" refer to entities owned or operated by subsidiaries of LifePoint Health, Inc. References to "LifePoint employees" or to "our employees" refer to employees of subsidiaries of LifePoint Health, Inc.


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Archive | Jul, 2011
How to Manually Update To New Android Market
If you just can't wait for the Android Market to automatically update on your phone over the next few weeks, follow these simple steps below to manually install the updated Market on your phone (no root required).
Download the Market App HERE
Open the file on your SD Card using a file manager
Select the file, then click OK to replace the old market app
Select Install
Movies cannot be played on rooted devices at this time, however there are a number of […]
New Android Market Released
Google released an update to the Android Market, which bring books and movie rentals as well as a ton of other changes. The new market also sports a new UI, top picks, Editor's Choice, and Staff Pics.
This update will start rolling out in the next few weeks and is only available for Android 2.2 or higher and for the US only; however Google has stated they have plans to roll this out to other countries in the future.Check out the […]
HTC to Unlock Bootloaders Starting in August
Earlier this month, HTC announced that they will no longer be locking bootloaders on their devices, and they're starting with the Sensation and the EVO 3D. See the announcement below from HTC. (via Facebook)
We wanted to provide an update on HTC's progress with bringing bootloader unlocking to our newest phones. We know how excited some of you are for this capability, and we've put significant resources behind making this change as soon as possible. While we wish we could flip […]
How to Get the Thunderbolt Update Manually
If you haven't received the OTA already, you can get the latest Thunderbolt (which fixes the reboot issues) by following the steps below.
Go to Menu -> Settings
Select About Phone
Choose Software Updates
Check Now


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Green Thumbon September 4, 2015 at 12:01 am
A houseplant is like a canary in a coal mine, but instead of acting as an indicator for dangerous gases, a houseplant can act as an indicator for how much free time you actually have.
I drew this comic hot on the heels of yesterday's comic! Wooo! Let's see how long I can keep up this steady but manageable pace of updates… Follow along on the Facebook and Twitter to find out! *goes to bed*


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About the Holiday Pre-Party…
It seems only fitting with New Years Eve falling on a
Monday to begin the celebration early.
Following in the weekends theme of Neiman Marcus-inspired
quality and luxury, Saturday nights pre-party will be
hosted in the finest venue's in the Big Easy. The guest
list, as always, will remain exclusive and handcrafted, as
will the rest of the weekends festivities.
For those unfamiliar with Georges particular style of
revelry, this intimate, on-premise event will be an exciting
primer for those already initiated with the lifestyle, and
for those looking to explore a little further.
In total, this year's four-night celebration will begin on
Friday, December 28, 2012 and conclude with the 6th Black
Tie and Lingerie Ball on New Years Eve. However, the
opportunity to attend only Saturday nights penthouse
holiday pre-party is an option for those who are as of yet
unacquainted with such events or who may have previous
For the gentlemen, jackets would be appropriate.
About George...
For George, entrée into the lifestyle is about much more
than casual sex. With the carnal aspects of their
relationships satisfied, swinging friends often become
intimates on a myriad of levels. George finds sincerity and
clarity in his swinging relationships that is all too rare
with couples unfamiliar with the lifestyle.
Like anything truly worthwhile, admission to Georges
upscale fetes is contingent on a well-defined vetting
process, thus ensuring the standard of guests is high. The
criterion of admission to my parties is deliberately set
very high, says George, my guests are thus assured to be
both intellectually and physically energized with each
liaison. I host private parties, and this is a personal
choice. Always the gentleman facilitator, George offers
advice to those who are not quite an ideal complement to his
parties, with the proliferation of lifestyle parties and
club choices on the Internet, there truly is a venue
available for every person out there. First Timers should do
thorough research on any venue before knocking on the door.
Whether experienced or a First Timer, George and his many
friends in the lifestyle are certain to show you a time
worthy of your more excessive Grecian epics.
So the next time you see an attractive person with whom
youd like to play, go ahead, just say it: Do You Know
George? Your answer just might be yes.
19 members are attending this event.
Click NEW ORLEANS Swingers to find local swingers


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There is an exquisite moment near the start of Stephen Mear's revival of this soppy 1963 Broadway musical about two squabbling parfumerie assistants in the 1930s who don't realise they are besotted pen pals. The staff arrive at the shop, regretting that they have to work on such a glorious day, and as they imagine what they might otherwise be doing they break into dance. The dancing springs completely naturally from real emotion, and is a reminder of why Mear is the musical choreographer of the moment. But he can do showy, too: in one of the evening's best numbers, the atmosphere of the Café Imperial owes more to Sally Bowles's Berlin than it does to Danube-style romance.
Despite these high points, as well as Jerry Bock's exquisite score and the fact that it is getting the chamber production it needs and deserves on Anthony Ward's exquisite panelled-glass set, the show is seldom as enchanting as it needs to be. The American accents grate, some of the action drags, and there is no discernible spark of sexual attraction between Joe McFadden's bland Georg and Dianne Pilkington's slightly smug and irritating Amalia. They do not make you long for them to get together for any other reason than that it would be nice to go home 10 minutes earlier.
The show may lack the beating heart it needs, but it has compensations – in Annette McLaughlin's Ilona, for example, who delivers the fabulous A Trip to the Library with just the right mixture of yearning and comedy, and in some big-hearted performances from a supporting cast who lend this love affair some of the warmth it requires.


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Tag: australia
2012 in Travel Awesomeness
This year has gone by unbelievably quickly. In my mind, it's a blur from Israel to Australia—and nearly everywhere in between. The thing that lures me to pack my suitcase again and again in pursuit of adventure is that sense of wonder in learning new things about the world. My family and friends who know [...]
Posted: December 28th, 2012 under General.
Tags: aspen, australia, Big Island, British Columbia, chile, dominica, Hawaii, israel, kauai, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, mexico, Napa, new orleans, puerto rico, Santa Maria, Scottsdale, utah, wales, Yosemite
Comments: none
Don't Tell Mom
The Perspex cylinder cage was suspended about the pool by three thick metal chains. Goggles in hand, I climbed down the shiny silver ladder and planted my feet at the bottom of the cage, where it skimmed the top of the water. Only 5 feet away was a monster of a saltwater crocodile, eyeing me. [...]
Posted: October 20th, 2012 under Australia.
Tags: australia, cage diving, crocodile, crocosaurus cove, darwin, saltwater crocodile
Comments: none


text: Wednesday , Dec , 22 , 2010 Hoopsvibe Tweet LeBron on Dec 25th game vs. Lakers: I would rather be home with my family James says any player in the league "would rather be home with their families." He's been in the NBA eight seasons – and his teams have now been chosen to play on the marquee Christmas schedule five times. Link HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Credit LeBron James for being truthful. James admitted he'd rather be home with family and friends on Christmas than leading the Miami Heat against the Los Angeles Lakers. Fair enough. Too bad, though. James has to play. And he won't get any sympathy from the public. Superstar athletes, like James, earn millions of dollars and enjoy an amazing lifestyle. With the money come expectations –like the possibility of having to entertain the masses on Jesus' birthdays. This is the deal with being an NBA player. And the positives of this deal far outweigh the negatives. –Oly Sandor. Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below. Tags: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat


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I will have a spin pretty much dialed w2w with little line tension, so I want to take it bigger and into the flats. Thus I load the line harder and end up pitching over the nose on landing. I am always on axis, just over the nose, what gives? I have seen guys like Lyman, Greenwood, Harris, Etc. take these tricks big and into the flats, what am I doing that results in my landing over the nose? Is it just adding more weight to my back foot on the cut in?

Thanks.
Make sure you are still taking off of your back foot a bit like you should on a regular wake to wake spin. Also, a grab helps because you will time it better.
Thanks, I will try to really focus on coming off my back foot more. I would say its not so much timing since the rotation is right on, I usually dont over-rotate, just land with all my weight on my lead foot.
When I say timing, I mean spinning to early off the wake. That makes you land on your front foot also.
Ahhh, alright. I am pretty positive that wouldnt be the case on the BS 180s since I dont even start that rotation until at the peak coming down. Maybe on the 3's and 5's tho.

Thanks again.
|All times are GMT -7. The time now is 7:15 PM.


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WICHITA, Kansas – This weekend marked the 15 year anniversary of a tornado that stormed through south Wichita and Haysville.
Courtney Williams was 13 years old and in 7th grade when the tornado came through Haysville on May 3rd, 1999.
Williams says her family took shelter in their basement for more than an hour to wait out the tornado.
"I looked up, our roof came off, everything came apart, a chair came down and hit my sister in the head," said Williams.
Her sister, Jessie, who was 15 years old at the time, wasn't seriously injured and the rest of her family came away unharmed.
Williams says she can still remember the sounds and noises she heard in her basement as she tried to stay safe.
"It's glass shattering, just boards breaking everything around you and literally it was just explosions and screaming," said Williams.
The tornado flattened Williams childhood home and destroyed many of her and her families belongings.
She did manage to grab a hummingbird clock her grandmother gave her before she died. She still has the clock in her home today.
Looking back on that day, Williams still gets emotional recalling the event she lived through.
"You just gather the strength and you just look around and your fortunate to have your family," said Williams.
Williams says that even though its been 15 years since the tornado hit, that it's an event herself and her community won't soon forget.
"The May 3rd tornado affected everybody, whether your house was a direct hit, had some damage, you knew somebody that was affected," said Williams.
The tornado that hit Haysville and south Wichita was measured as an F-4, meaning it had winds from 207 to 260 miles per hour, according to the Fujita Scale.


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Keeper of Secrets
Posted by Anjuelle Floyd
Keeper of Secrets: Translations of an Incident
Anjuelle Floyd
Three Muses Press, June 15, 2007
About the Book
Memories of the Hindu icon of dancing Siva compel wife and mother, Raven Clarke, to intervene in the attack of one restaurant patron on another.
Watching from a distant table, Lahni Irete# !nds herself driven back to the violence of her childhood and adolescence. The next day she shares her account of the happening with psychiatrist, Reynard Williams. Williams embraces the tale as a man seeking help to confront the core of pain that has distanced him from his wife and left him sexually and spiritually impotent.
Along the way Williams consults with Sahel Denning, an injured psychologist no longer practicing psychotherapy. Engineer, Michael Banks, !nds the restaurant incident a map guiding him on his path to reclaiming the events of the morning before he fell from the Richmond Bridge. Rumor and innuendo cloud Ariane Gadsen's acquaintance with the story, propelling her down the path of reconciliation with what she is hiding.
The restaurant scene stirred regret and despair within Trey Williamson, a widower, on his !rst date since the death of his wife three years earlier. The intimate backdrop of the restaurant o%ers containment wherein newly discharged Captain Darryl Sharpton reveals his most dark and intimate truth.
Read an Excerpt
Keeper of Secrets: Translations of an Incident is available wherever books are sold and online at the following:
The First World Books & Specialty Shop
Praise for Keeper of Secrets: Translations of an Incident . . .
"Karmic truth, the effect of our decisions with our secrets and our deepest loves, comes back and squeezes our hearts!"
— Clive Matson, author of Let the Crazy Child Write!
"…a formidable debut worthy of classic status incorporating elements of Edith Wharton, Andrea Lee, and Gwynne Forster. The convoluted lives of upper-class Blacks break new ground in American literature. With skillful, imaginative writing, this first literary offering of Three Muses Press is sure to be a crossover hit!
— Dera R. Williams, APOOO BookClub
"In a world where cookie-cutter novels have become the norm rather than the exception, debut author Anjuelle Floyd has broken the mold. . . Told in a refreshingly intellectual tone, Keeper of Secrets, rather then excluding, invites a wide range of readers to imbibe words that stimulate, educate, and entertain!"
— Dr. Linda Beed, On Assignment Reviews, author of Business Unusual
5 Responses to "Keeper of Secrets"
My Characters' Obsessions | Anjuelle Floyd Says:
August 26th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
[…] written 8–all unpublished–my published work is a collection of short stories, "Keeper of Secrets…Translations of an Incident"—that I'm identifying and honing in on my major character's […]
Fear of Intimacy... | Anjuelle Floyd Says:
August 26th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
[…] with the aspect of intimacy. The major and minor characters in my collection of short stories, Keeper of Secrets…Translations of an Incident, though successful by society's standards carry deep wounds—injuries that their external […]
How do you know you're a writer? | Anjuelle Floyd Says:
August 26th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
[…] and see a publisher's request to review the mss of MFA thesis, a collection of short stories, Keeper of Secrets…Translations of an Incident. That publisher went on to bring my collection of interconnected short stories to print in June […]
Last Edits, My Personal Best, and Being Present… « anjuellefloyd Says:
February 8th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
[…] particularly so, since I'm self-publishing this novel. My first work, Keeper of Secrets…Translations of an Incident" a collection of short stories, was brought to print by a traditional publishing […]
Promises to Myself, Blogging, and Passion… « anjuellefloyd Says:
March 10th, 2010 at 7:17 am
[…] collection, Keeper of Secrets…Translations of an Incident, was then taken by a small publisher in Oregon and became my first […]


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bill-swift - April 12, 2012
With Rihanna, you just never know. And I mean that in a good way. I could quite easily believe she is wearing absolutely nothing beneath her trenchcoat out to dinner in Sydney; I could believe it and it could easily be true. Full commando beneath the trenchcoat is in her arsenal. (It was in my game until some completely outlandish police charges against me and some stupid rule about distance to local parks.)
What say you, is Rihanna flying full perv style under that coat? Enjoy.


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2005 Draft Report Cards: Arizona-Chicago
By Jim Callis
2005 Draft Report Cards:
Best Pro Debut: RHP Micah Owings (1) went straight to Lancaster, a launching pad in a high Class A hitter's league, and went 1-1, 2.45 with a 30-4 strikeout-walk ratio in 22 innings. LHP Greg Smith (6) was named Rookie-level Pioneer League pitcher of the year after going 8-5, 4.15 and leading the league in wins, innings (82) and strikeouts (100). A plus curveball is his best pitch. C Josh Ford (9) made the short-season Northwest League all-star team with .282-0-25 numbers.
Best Athlete: No. 1 overall pick Justin Upton (1), who remains unsigned but is expected to eventually come to terms, can do it all. He's a superstar hitter with 80 speed and a 70 arm on the 20-80 scouting scale. Among the players under contract, it's OF Chris Rahl (5). His worst tool is his power, which is average.
Best Pure Hitter: Upton, with Rahl the best among the current signees.
Best Raw Power: Upton has more power than his brother B.J., the second overall pick in the 2002 draft, had at the same stage of his career. Among the players who've signed, it's Rahl, though Owings had excellent power as a two-way player at Tulane.
Fastest Runner: Once again, Upton and Rahl. Rahl is an above-average runner.
Best Defensive Player: Like his brother, Upton is prone to errors at shortstop because inconsistent footwork leads to bad throws. Though many clubs said they'd immediately move him to center field to expedite getting his bat to the majors, Arizona insists he can stay at short and just needs more repetitions in the field. If he does move to center, Upton still would be the best defender in this group. Rahl and 3B Rusty Ryal (14) stand out most among those who already have signed.
Best Fastball: RHP Jason Neighborgall (3) has had major control difficulties for two years, but he can put triple digits on a radar gun and pitch at 96-97 mph. Owings pitched at 94-97 mph working out of the bullpen. RHP Matt Torra (1) has a 92-95 mph heater, while RHP Matt Green (2) has a lively 91-93 mph sinker.
Best Breaking Ball: Arizona grades Owings' mid-80s slider and Torra's 12-to-6 curveball as plus-plus pitches.
Most Intriguing Background: Upton and his brother became the highest-drafted siblings since the draft started in 1965. Cuban defector Maels Rodriguez (22) was clocked at 100 mph during the 2000 Olympics, but injuries have sapped him of velocity; the Diamondbacks will try to build him back up in spring training. Smith manages an irregular heartbeat caused by a tiny hole in his heart, but his conditioning isn't life-threatening. Owings' brother Jon Mark is an outfielder in the Braves system. Unsigned C J.B. Paxson (33) turned down a Purdue football scholarship as a defensive end to play baseball at Walters State (Tenn.) CC.
Closest To The Majors: Owings, who was tired after pulling two-way duty for Tulane's College World Series team, will move back to the rotation next year. That shouldn't slow him down much, but Upton still should beat him to Arizona.
Best Late-Round Pick: Rodriguez, if his arm bounces back. If not, Ryal has decent all-around tools.
The One Who Got Away: RHP Brett Jacobson (11) was a first-rounder until his velocity dropped this spring. It didn't bounce back over the summer, making it easier for Arizona to let him become part of a banner Vanderbilt recruiting class.
Assessment: After the Diamondbacks spent $5.5 million in May to sign 2004 first-rounder Stephen Drew, most clubs expected them to go cheap after taking Upton to kick off the 2005 draft. Instead, Arizona grabbed a number of quality college arms.
Best Pro Debut: SS Yunel Escobar (2), a Cuban defector, was a fairly unknown commodity when he entered the draft in mid-May. Yet he was able to go to low Class A Rome and hit .313-4-19. RHP Joey Devine (1) went 1-1, 2.77 with six saves and 36 strikeouts in 28 innings with the Braves' three highest affiliates, mostly in Double-A, en route to the majors. RHP David Williams (37) was an all-star in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he had seven saves and a 0.47 ERA.
Best Athlete: Some teams liked OF Jordan Schafer (3) more as a lefthanded pitcher, but Atlanta will develop him as a center fielder. His tools are at least average across the board and he has the potential to become another Mark Kotsay.
Best Pure Hitter: Escobar. The Braves had more information on him than most teams because minor league catcher Brayan Pena grew up with him in Cuba.
Best Raw Power: Atlanta signed just six hitters out of the draft, and none is a true masher. Escobar has the bat speed to possibly hit 20 homers per season.
Fastest Runner: OF Quentin Davis (13) has 65 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale, a step ahead of Schafer, who rates a 60.
Best Defensive Player: The Braves say Escobar's hands and arm are as good as they've seen in an amateur shortstop in recent years. He made just six errors in 48 games at Rome.
Best Fastball: Atlanta signed five pitchers who can reach the mid-90s. Devine leads the way with a fastball that tops out at 97, followed by RHP Jeff Lyman (2), who gets up to 96. LHP Beau Jones (1) and RHPs Mike Broadway (4) and Tyler Bullock (6) all can touch 95. Broadway�s fastball has the best life among that group.
Best Breaking Ball: Righthanded hitters have a tough time dealing with Devine's Frisbee slider, which he throws from a low three-quarters angle. Jones has the best curveball, and RHP Kyle Cofield (8) has a good one as well.
Most Intriguing Background: Bullock is a converted catcher who didn't become a full-time pitcher until this year. When he was in high school, he played on the U.S. junior national team with Braves catching prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia. RHP Michael Nix' (11) uncle Paul is a former head baseball coach at Auburn.
Closest To The Majors: Atlanta's need for bullpen help made Devine the first 2005 draftee to reach the majors. Devine became the first player ever to surrender grand slams in both of his first two big league appearances, and he also gave up the season-ending homer to Chris Burke in the National League Division Series. Escobar could start 2006 in Double-A, and his development will be accelerated if Rafael Furcal leaves as a free agent.
Best Late-Round Pick: The Braves like Davis' athleticism and liked what they saw out of RHP Rudy Quinonez (12) and Williams out of the bullpen. Quinonez has a 90-92 mph fastball and a tight slider. Williams throws harder than most sidearmers, possessing a 90-91 mph heater with good life.
The One Who Got Away: RHP Louis Coleman (28) could win right away at Louisiana State. He has a good feel for pitching and changing speeds. RHP Tommy Hanson (22) remains under the Braves� control and should be a premium draft-and-follow next spring after a big summer in the new West Coast Collegiate League.
Assessment: When the Braves' first pick came up at No. 26, the top three players on their board were Devine, Jones and Escobar. They never imagined they'd be able to get all three.
Best Pro Debut: The Orioles' top four picks all enjoyed strong debuts. C Brandon Snyder (1) was the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Appalachian League, where he hit .271-8-35. OF Nolan Reimold (2) earned the same distinction in the short-season New York-Penn League, where he batted .294-9-30. Reimold added six more homers at high Class A Frederick, where he and LHP Garrett Olson (1) helped the Keys win the Carolina League title. Olson went 2-1, 1.99 with 59 strikeouts in 54 innings between the NY-P and CL. RHP Brandon Erbe (3) was the most spectacular, striking out 48 of the 78 batters he faced in the Appy League, where he was the top pitching prospect. SS Stuart Musslewhite (24) made the Appy all-star team by hitting .300-8-36.
Best Athlete: Reimold not only has all five tools, but he may have five plus tools. Snyder, who also played shortstop in high school, is more athletic than most catchers. OF Kieron Pope (4) already has a big league body.
Best Pure Hitter: Some clubs talked about moving Snyder out from behind the plate in order to expedite the development of his bat. He has a line-drive stroke with an advanced approach and the ability to pull pitches for power.
Best Raw Power: Reimold, who led NCAA Division I with a .770 slugging percentage at Bowling Green State during the spring, has more present power than Pope. But Pope, who isn't nearly as refined at the plate, could catch up to him.
Fastest Runner: OF Danny Figueroa (43) barely played the last two seasons at Miami because of Tommy John and shoulder surgeries, but he's still a well above-average runner. Reimold proved to be faster than Baltimore thought.
Best Defensive Player: Figueroa has excellent instincts in center field. 2B Paco Figueroa (9), his twin, is also a savvy defender who can play just about anywhere.
Best Fastball: Though Erbe, a Baltimore high school product, had a mediocre spring, area scout Dean Albany stayed on him and determined he was signable despite a commitment to Miami. Erbe's velocity rose once the weather heated up, and he was throwing 94-98 mph in pro ball. RHP Chorye Spoone (8), another homestate pitcher, was still throwing 94-96 mph in instructional league.
Best Breaking Ball: Olson's out pitch is his 12-to-6 curveball. It breaks away from lefthanders while his 88-92 mph fastball runs in on them, making him more difficult to deal with.
Most Intriguing Background: With the Figueroas, Baltimore was the only team to take two brothers in the 2005 draft. Snyder's father Brian pitched in the majors. RHP Ryan Stadanlick (10) was primarily an outfielder at St. Joseph's, where his conversion to the mound was delayed when he was declared academically ineligible last spring. But the Orioles had a good read on him because Hawks coach Shawn Pender used to crosscheck for Baltimore. Stadanlick has a 92-94 mph fastball with Mike Timlinesque sink.
Closest To The Majors: As a lefthander with three pitches, Olson is the prime candidate. Reimold will have a more difficult time leapfrogging Orioles outfield prospects such as Nick Markakis, Jeff Fiorentino and Val Majewski.
Best Late-Round Pick: Baltimore planned on tracking RHP David Hernandez (16) as a draft-and-follow. But area scout James Keller determined he was signable, so the Orioles came away with a pitcher who shows a 90-93 mph fastball and a plus slider at times.
The One Who Got Away: The Orioles inked their first 12 picks and hoped OF Brandon Kendricks (15) would attend a junior college, but they lost his rights when he went to Prairie View A&M.
Assessment: First-year scouting director Joe Jordan made finding athletes a priority and was successful. On the pitching front, Olson and Erbe already are two of Baltimore's top mound prospects.
Best Pro Debut: SS/2B Jed Lowrie (1) hit .328-4-32 and led the short-season New York-Penn League with a .429 on-base percentage. RHP Craig Hansen (1) used 10 scoreless minor league appearances, including eight in Double-A, as a springboard to Fenway Park. OF Jeff Corsaletti (6) and 2B Jeff Natale (32) both excelled at low Class A Greenville. Corsaletti hit .357-4-26, while Natale batted .338-2-35 with a .463 on-base percentage.
Best Athlete: OF Jacoby Ellsbury (1) did nothing to dispel Johnny Damon comparisons, batting .317-1-19 with 23 steals in 35 NY-P games before a hamstring injury sidelined him. OF Reid Engel (5) isn't nearly as refined, but he has similar speed and more power. RHP Clay Buchholz (1) was drafted for his electric arm, but he was a two-way star at Angelina (Texas) JC who offered lefthanded power and speed as an outfielder. Natale spent three years as a hockey forward at Trinity (Conn.).
Best Pure Hitter: Lowrie, who ended questions about his ability to hit with wood. A switch-hitter, he shortened his stroke from the right side after turning pro.
Best Raw Power: C Jon Egan (2), though he was a tentative hitter in his pro debut and was more of a pleasant surprise with his catching ability. Egan's status took a hit during the offseason, when he was arrested for driving while intoxicated and police also found traces of cocaine in his wallet.
Fastest Runner: When the short-season Lowell staff was timing players in the 40-yard dash, Buchholz (1) asked if he could participate and proceeded to run a 4.25 and a 4.27. Among the position players, Ellsbury's speed rates a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale, while Engel merits a 65.
Best Defensive Player: Ellsbury has excellent range and instincts in center field.
Best Fastball: Hansen has a wicked 93-95 mph sinker that can reach 97. RHP Michael Bowden (1) also has heavy life on a consistent 92-93 mph fastball. Buchholz usually pitched at 93-94 mph in the late innings at Angelina, though he worked more at 88-92 during the summer.
Best Breaking Ball: Hansen's slider is a swing-and-miss pitch but wasn't at its best in his first pro summer. Bowden has a legitimate power curveball, while Buchholz throws both a hard slider and a good curve.
Most Intriguing Background: Unsigned 1B Allan Dykstra's (34) father Lenny was a Red Sox nemesis in the 1986 World Series. Unsigned RHP Kirby Yates' (26) brother Tyler pitched for the Mets in 2004. LHP Jason Determann (35) had a promising future as a reliever, but turned down the opportunity to play pro ball in order to attend medical school.
Closest To The Majors: Hansen made three appearances for the Red Sox in September and should factor into their beleaguered bullpen in 2006. Ellsbury, Buchholz and Corsaletti are also on the fast track.
Best Late-Round Pick: Natale has uncanny hand-eye coordination and never hit less than .412 in four years at Trinity. RHP Chris Jones (29), who has the chance to have a plus fastball and curve, is healthy again after shoulder and heel injuries ruined his last two years at Indiana State.
The One Who Got Away: SS Pedro Alvarez (14), one of the best hitter to come out of New York City since Manny Ramirez, couldn't be lured away from Vanderbilt. The Red Sox signed all 16 picks before him.
Assessment: In his first draft as scouting director, Jason McLeod had five choices before the second round and made good use of them. A Red Sox system on the rise got even stronger as a result.
Best Pro Debut: LHP Mark Pawelek (1) didn't win a game because he was on tight pitch counts, but he was rated the top prospect in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he had a 2.72 ERA and 56 whiffs in 43 innings. OF Davy Gregg (27) hit .280-1-19 and led the short-season Northwest League with 36 steals.
Best Athlete: SS Dylan Johnston (4) has the tools to excel both offensively and defensively but needs to add some polish to his game. C/OF Yusuf Carter (12) has the athleticism one might expect from the nephew of five-time all-star Joe Carter.
Best Pure Hitter: Johnston. OF Johnny Defendis (29), who batted .327-2-20 in the NWL, doesn't have a standout tool but makes consistent line-drive contact.
Best Raw Power: Carter has a strong 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame. His 13 homers last spring set an El Paso (Texas) CC record.
Fastest Runner: Gregg has plus-plus speed. His 36 steals were six more than he totaled in three seasons at South Carolina.
Best Defensive Player: C Jake Muyco (8) has outstanding catch-and-throw skills. His defense is well ahead of his offense at this point.
Best Fastball: The ball comes out of Pawelek's hand easy, yet he's able to pitch at 94-95 mph and touch 97. RHP Scott Taylor (5) can hit 93-94 mph, and LHP Donald Veal (2) and RHP Mike Billek (3) did the same during the spring.
Best Breaking Ball: Billek, Pawelek and RHP Mark Holliman (3) all have good curveballs.
Most Intriguing Background: The Cubs selected Carter 24 years after making his uncle the No. 2 overall pick in the June 1981 draft. Unsigned C Michael Brenly's (43) father Bob was an all-star catcher and a manager in the majors, and he currently serves as a Cubs television broadcaster. INF Kyle Reynolds' (6) dad Craig is another former all-star. Pawelek's brother Dennis was a White Sox draft pick in 2002 and a backup kicker on Utah's undefeated football team in 2004. In April, then-Brigham Young 3B Brandon Taylor (17) became just the third NCAA player to hit for the cycle twice in one season.
Closest To The Majors: Billek or Holliman, the latter of whom signed late and has yet to make his debut. Muyco is a candidate if his bat comes along. Because he has a special left arm, Pawelek could pass them all.
Best Late-Round Pick: RHP Michael Phelps (11) and LHP Jayson Ruhlman (23) are potential steals. Phelps could develop three plus pitches, but he slid in the draft because of signability questions. A sophomore-eligible who sustained a fractured skull when his catcher hit him in the head with a throw in Central Missouri State's season opener, he could have been an early pick had he re-entered the 2006 draft. Ruhlman has deceptive offspeed stuff, and he showed a 90-93 mph fastball in the Cape Cod League in 2004.
The One Who Got Away: After the Cubs selected speedy Oregon State OF Tyler Graham (14), he learned he could take an injury redshirt season for 2003, allowing him to re-enter the 2006 draft while remaining a junior. Overall, the Cubs signed 28 of their first 30 picks.
Assessment: The Cubs grabbed two of the draft's most dynamic lefthanders in Pawelek and Veal. They took pitchers with their first four picks, while most of the hitters they selected will need time to make adjustments.
Best Pro Debut: 2B/SS Chris Getz (4) batted .304-1-28 with 11 steals at low Class A Kannapolis. OF Aaron Cunningham (6) was a Rookie-level Appalachian League all-star, hitting .315-5-25.
Best Athlete: Cunningham had little fanfare before 2005, when scouts discovered him while scouting Everett (Wash.) CC pitchers Zach Simons and J.T. Zink. Cunningham has plus power and slightly above-average speed and arm strength, a package that has some projecting him as a possible Brian Giles. LHP Clayton Richard (8) was a backup quarterback on Michigan's football team. RHP Lance Broadway (1) is a very good athlete for a pitcher.
Best Pure Hitter: Getz controls the strike zone and has a gift for making contact. He drew 36 walks and struck out just 12 times in 238 pro at-bats. Cunningham hits the ball with more authority.
Best Raw Power: 3B Chris Carter (15) is a 6-foot-4, 210-pounder whom scouts considered raw. Yet he managed to hit .283 with 10 homers in the Appy League. Power is Cunningham's best tool.
Fastest Runner: Getz has plus speed and is an even better baserunner because he has excellent instincts. He should fit nicely into the No. 1 or 2 hole in a lineup.
Best Defensive Player: Getz has the hands and range to play shortstop, but lacks the arm strength to make plays from the hole. He'll probably wind up at second base.
Best Fastball: RHP Ryan Rote (5) has a 94-95 mph fastball but got tagged for a 7.33 ERA in his pro debut because he's still working on his secondary pitches. Richard and RHPs Daniel Cortes (7) and Derek Rodriguez (13) all top out at 94.
Best Breaking Ball: Broadway had one of the best curveballs in the draft and commands it exceptionally well.
Most Intriguing Background: Getz and RHP Ricky Brooks (3) were Chicago's highest unsigned picks from the 2002 and 2003 drafts, respectively. Rote's grandfather Tobin quarterbacked the Detroit Lions to the 1957 NFL championship and the San Diego Chargers to the 1963 AFL title. RHP Stephen Squires' (49) father Mike was a Gold Glove first baseman for the White Sox and currently scouts for the Cardinals. Unsigned OF Jordan Danks' (19) brother John was the Rangers' first-round pick in 2003. LHP Brian Flores (37), a draft-and-follow candidate for next spring, was named most outstanding pitcher at the 2005 Junior College World Series and led national juco pitchers with 147 strikeouts in 110 innings. Chicago also took Flores in the 21st round the previous year.
Closest To The Majors: Broadway was the hottest pitcher in college baseball down the stretch and could ride a similar roll to Chicago. The White Sox aren't hurting for starters, but he can locate his average fastball and his curve wherever he wants. Brooks has similar polish, though he lacks the plus pitch Broadway has with his bender.
Best Late-Round Pick: Carter.
The One Who Got Away: One of the top power bats available in the draft, Danks would have gone by the end of the supplemental first round. But he wrote teams a letter asking them not to select him because he wanted to play at Texas, and he remained true to his word. The White Sox negotiated with him all summer but couldn't quite get a deal done. The Sox did sign their first 11 picks.
Assessment: Broadway and Brooks both play to the strengths of the big league club, throwing strikes and letting their defense make plays. Cunningham, Richard and Carter offer interesting upside for late-round choices.
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Anthony Davis signs NBA record $145 million deal with Pelicans
NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Davis may not have been the NBA MVP last season, but he's sure getting paid like it.
Just minutes into the first day of the league free-agent signing period, Davis signed a massive five-year extension worth $145 million with the New Orleans Pelicans.
#6MoreYears https://t.co/SpIoucIVxY— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 9, 2015
The former Wildcat's signature finalized the richest contract in NBA history and secures the foundation of an up-and-coming Pelicans team.
PelicansNBA pic.twitter.com/WOWZbFzzyA
— Anthony Davis (AntDavis23) July 9, 2015
ICYMI all the excitement last night/early this morning…
READ: http://t.co/yYvJA3Guho pic.twitter.com/fw5mWPMcmU— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 9, 2015
KSTV discussed Davis' lucrative new deal on Thursday's show, explaining why the former Wildcat will be worth every penny of it.
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