Daniel Stone 

National Geographic News

October 31, 2012

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/10/121031-alps-tsunami-geneva-nature-geoscience-science/

This article is about researchers discovering that a Tsunami destroyed Geneva, Switzerland 1,500 years ago. There had long been stories of a giant wave destroying the town in texts from that time, but now after studying a soil deposit in the Rhone River that spurred a tsunami wave to hit Geneva which at this point was already a trading hub in the region. The soil deposit was determined to have originated from above where the lake's surface used to be and had fallen into the eastern corner of the lake. The wave that was created by the landslide was somewhere between 9 and 26 feet, the size depending on the speed of the landslide which the scientists could not measure. The scariest part of the researcher's findings was that multiple Swiss cities are in danger of similar disasters with Geneva being the most at risk. With its 200,000 residents and many international and local businesses the danger is very real. Also many of those residents live in low elevation areas. Researchers have also said that the the likelihood of another tsunami hitting Geneva is low but if it did happen it would be catastrophic. I think that this is a very interesting article because while having learned a few things about tsunamis I have never heard of one happening in a lake, and especially this far from an ocean. Although I don't think that Geneva or Switzerland needs to take any serious action to ready themselves for this unlikely event it is another interesting example of danger appearing in an unexpected place. Much like the volcano in Iceland that erupted in 2010. It was a very unlikely place for a global travel cirsis to arise from but none the less it did create a significant problem in our modern society.

Great Barrier Reef loses half its coral in 27 years

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/9578969/Great-Barrier-Reef-loses-half-its-coral-in-27-years.html

It is time to face the terrifying fact that the amazing Coral Reef- one of the best parts of untouched nature in the world, has lost half of it's coral in only three decades. The Coral Reef, which runs the length of Queensland’s coast and stretches 155 miles from shore, is said to have an enemy- The Crown on Thorns starfish. Marine biologists believe that this is the one creature to hold responsible for most of the disappearance of corals. When the time is right, a starfish can produce up to millions, and ten millions, of larvae, which strip entire reefs of coral. These predators, just in one gap, can swallow about a 17 inch diameter of coral- this is why it is believed to be so dangerous. Imagine millions of those... Can the Coral Reef be safe with such predators?
Another reason, is cyclone, or climate change. There has been a significant rise in the temperature of the sea, and corals can only survive at a certain temperature. This cannot be controlled by scientists, and it something the Earth is going through. However, another important factor in this Coral Reef damage is the storms. They can in no way be prevented, but are an extreme danger to corals, since they ruin their environment. 
The only thing scientists can do, is work hard, on some kind of limitation of the number of Starfish. Everything else is in the hands of the Earth, and it will take at least 10-20 years to recover from such a loss...

The Mystery of the Vanishing Beetles

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9685410/The-mystery-of-the-vanishing-beetles.html

Over a certain period of time already, researchers have noticed a significant decrease in the population of insects in general- but one of the largest decreases are noted for the Beetles. Some beetles are even dropping in the numbers so rapidly, that they are already considered endangered in many areas. Nobody can determine the mysterious cause of this unexpected change in population of beetles. It is known that beetles are often collected, or their dead bodies kept in glass as decoration, but it is still not an explanation for such a significant loss of them on Earth. Are people killing them? Keeping them as pets at home, n removing them from nature? People do not understand that the loss of even such a small species can be extremely dangerous for the rest of the ecosystem. Farmers rely on beetles to eat a large amount of slugs, and aphids, as well as weed seeds, stopping the crops from being ruined by these unwanted 'guests'. This decline is a serious issue that will affect the rest of the insect population, and later on the ecosystem. Scientists need to learn more about this!

Scientists Pioneer Method to Predict Environmental Collapse

At the University of Southampton, scientist may have devised a technique used to predict when an ecosystem is likely to collapse. They are currently testing their theory out in Lake Erhai, China.

The theory is based off of a mathematical formula which is now being applied to real world situations. It may also have the potential to predict crises in agriculture, fisheries and even social systems. The mathematical model helps prove a theory that ecosystems fluctuate dramatically between healthy and unhealthy states right before they collapse.

Due to pollution, Lake Erhai, a lake in the Yunnan province of China, has undergone an environmental collapse. The research team collected fossilized algae from sediment at the bottom of the lake and charted the variations and levels between them over a 125-year period. The results of the sample data showed that the alge had grown consistently until up to 30 years before the collapse of the ecosystem. During these 30 years there were dramatic changes in the types and concentrations of algae present in the water.

Dr. Rong Wang, the researcher who led the study said that: "Dramatic swings can be seen in other data, suggesting large external impacts on the lake over a long time period -- for example, pollution from fertilisers, sewage from fields and changes in water levels -- caused the system to switch back and forth rapidly between alternate states. Eventually, the lake's ecosystem could no longer cope or recover -- losing resilience and reaching what is called a 'tipping point' and collapsing altogether."

I believe this is very interesting and may be reflected in man-made systems as well such as the stock market etc. This may help us predict ecological and agricultural crises in the future as well and help us prevent them from happening.

Our Drugs Make Fish Flounder

Name of Article: Our Drugs Make Fish Flounder
By: Richard A. Lovett
Published on: Scientific American

You may not think about this often but the medicine we use often ends in waterways and then affects several species. An example of such a fluoxetine (found in Prozac) which reaches waterways through urine as sewage-treatment plants are unable to remove it. When it does reach waters it affects the species of fathead minnows greatly. In fact, it the male fathead minnows are so affected that they start ignoring the females, consequently halting the reproduction process.

Meanwhile, another research indicated that 17-β-estradiol (a chemical found in birth control pills) affects the ability of fathead minnows larvae to escape predators and slows down their reflexes.

Effects such as those put the species in danger. While they do not face immediate extinction, a steady decline is inevitable.

Street lights 'changing ecology on the ground'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18158529

Even though we have used street lights for years, and years now, and we got completely used to them, only now have researchers found that they mights be having a negative impact on the environment. Insects are an important part of the food chain, since many species of birds feed on them. Now, it is found that they might be affected by street lamps and lights. Even though researchers have counted the population of various bugs for a few years now, none of them have researched their behavior- especially at night. It is found, after these studies, that most of the bugs, both during the day and at night, are near the lights. This is ruining their nocturnal behavior, and not allowing the bugs to act a certain way during the day, and at night. Overall, this artificial lighting might be ruining the life cycles of many species of animals, which we might not even be aware of. There is no alternative way for now, but maybe not making the street lights as strong and bright as they are at night- this could maybe help solve, or at least reduce the problem.

Boat Race Fuels Ecology Argument

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/7444456.stm

The Round Britain Power Boat Race is raising a huge debate within the country. Marine Charity called The Sea does not support this event, because they believe that the fast-moving boat, and the oil from their motors can damage all of the wildlife n the coast- especially dolphins, which are close to becoming endangered species. The areas that the dolphins live in are very sensitive, and any unknown object coould do potential harm. Since this is a large event which uses up to £300m yearly, many tourists are expected to be there, which will surely leave a negative impact on the wildlife of the marine society. There are many porpoises, fish, and other species of marine inhabitants that The Sea is afraid will be in danger because of this race. Even though the organizers of this race say that they have kept ecology in mind, and that the bots will be spread out at least a few meters, and that they will watch where they will go exactly, The Sea is still unsure of the fact that this is a good idea. But, with all of the technology we created, can any animal be completely safe?

Christine Dell'Amore
National Geographic News
November 21, 2012
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/11/121121-mount-doom-volcano-new-zealand-science-eruption/

This article is about Mount Tongariro in New Zealand which is on North Island. This volcano erupted on November 21st for five minutes and through clouds of ash 2.5 miles up into the atmosphere. The volcano is 6,490 feet tall and had previously erupted in August, which was the first eruption since 1987. There is also predictions that a similar eruptions will take place in the next few weeks although the activity on the mountain has stopped for the moment. Much like Mount  Eyjafjallajökull, the Icelandic volcano that erupted in 2010, air travel has become difficult. Obviously not on the same scale as the eruption of  Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, which crippled air travel throughout all of Europe. But air travel on New Zealand's North Island has been stopped. The reason for the cancellation of flights is that in volcanic dust there is microscopic pieces of glass and when they enter a turbine engine they can become hot enough to melt. When they melt they can create significant damage within the engine and sometimes cause it to stall. On top of that the visibility of pilots can be reduced to zero when they fly through the ash and it can also damage the windows of the plane. Much like sandstorms can damage the windshield of a car. One interesting part of this volcano is that it neighbors the mountain depicted as Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I think that this is not a global environmental issue because the volcano that erupted is not large enough to affect a significant part of the planet like Mount  Eyjafjallajökull did in 2010. However if a full scale eruption was to happen the impact on New Zealand would be terrible. Especially with the affect it would have on the beautiful landscape from the North Island that is featured in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. 

Title  Superstorm Sandy Is "What Global Warming Looks Like"

Author News Editor

Date October 30th 2012

This article is about the recent hurricane that affected the East Coast of the United States and how some claim that it is tied to climate change. The article begins with a description of the storms impact, including the fact that the death toll is at 50 with a predicted rise once search and rescue teams continue their work throughout the city. It then begins to describe how one group of scientists believes that the storm was caused by climate change. Their evidence being that with climate change the currents of the ocean are being affected meaning that the hot and cold air collisions that cause hurricanes are becoming more and more extreme. Also that hurricanes will begin to effect unlikely places more often, such as New York and the East Coast of the United States. Also part of the article is political. It talks about the amount of the money spent on the 2012 election and how that money could be better spent on the environment. Then the article talks about the opinion of Dan Kottlowski, an expert senior meteorologist with Accuweather. He disagrees with the idea that this storm was more damaging because of global warming. His explanation is that every 40 years the Atlantic Ocean goes through a warming cycle which causes storms to hit the East Coast like Sandy did this year. I think that it is vitally important to be sure that this storm was caused by global warming. If indeed it was this would be an incredibly effective way to show people what will happen if we do not stop climate change. For the vast majority of people climate change hasn't begun to fully change their surroundings, they can still question whether or not it is fact or fiction and procrastinate more and more with the work that has to be done.

Is it time for Geoengineering?

"The Arctic 'Death Spiral'"
by Peter Wadhams (Professor of Ocean Physics at Cambridge)
Scientific American Magazine

Global warming is plaguing the arctic and actions must be taken soon to prevent the cataclysmic environmental damage that will effect the entire world. The thickness of the ice in the arctic has decreased by about 43% between 1976 and 1999, as water levels have gradually risen. According to Cambridge University Ocean Physics Professor, Peter Wadhams, by 2015, the "summer melting will outstrip the accumulation of new ice in winter and the entire ice cover will collapse. He also claims that the weakening ozone layer will lead to lower rates of solar radiation reflection, which explains the planet's rising temperature. It is also predicted that the change in climate will melt the arctic permafrost, releasing mass amounts of methane, further contributing to global warming. A recent Russian study shows that the seabeds are in fact rising in methane content. This will lead to what experts are calling an environmental 'death spiral' that will greatly damage our planet. Wadhams then proposes that we use geoengineering techniques to combat climate change, before it is too late. Basically, geoengineering is when environmentalists modify features of the environment to benefit it. Wadhams proposes that they make the clouds whiter in order to block the sun, releasing balloons full of sulfates, and painting roofs and pavement white. He claims that "we can no longer afford the luxury of talking about reducing CO2 emissions... we need action now."

Methods of Geoengineering

I strongly agree with the ideas proposed in this article, since we desperately need to take action against global warming soon, since the arctic damage is building up, and we have no way to control it. Also, the methane buildup and potential for release could prove disastrous  since methane is more harmful to the atmosphere than CO2. However, Geoengineering an extremely controversial method of environmental preservation, which has gotten a lot of attention lately after the Haida Salmon Restoration Corp. tried to release large quantities of iron into the ocean to mimic a volcanic explosion in order to help raise the population of salmon (more on this story here: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fertilizing-ocean-with-iron-to-save-salmon-and-earn-money). I think Geoengineering has a lot of potential for helping solve environmental issues, while utilizing our technological advances. However, I believe that extensive research and laboratory simulation should be conducted before actually carrying out the actions. These different methods of modifying the environment to counteract the pollution shows promise for solving issues temporarily, while we find ways to cut back on our carbon emissions and pollution. Today, geoengineering is commonly used, but on a larger scale, it could greatly improve the environment, especially at the earth's poles where the ice is melting rapidly. I also think regulation should be heavily enforced, so that no unauthorized projects, the the sea iron fertilzation don't happen. Overall, I believe that geoengineering has a lot of potential for solving many of our climate issues and should be heavily researched, but also, heavily regulated. 

Great apes may have 'midlife crisis', a study suggests

By Jeremy ColesReporter, BBC Nature

"What we are testing is whether the U-shaped curve can describe the association between age and well-being in non-human primates as it does in humans," psychologist and lead author Dr Alexander Weiss of the University of Edinburgh told BBC Nature.

An international team of researchers is suggesting that orangutans and chimpanzees might be going through a "mid life crises" aswell, just as humans. 
Experiments have shown that happiness and enjoying life is rich in the younger ages of apes, they tend to be unhappy while being an "adult" but return to the state of happiness again when reaching the old age. This is the known u-shaped curve, which humans also go through. 

Dr Weiss predicted and was hoping that the results would have a similar curve due to the close relationship between humans, chimpanzees and orangutans and in fact, the curve is the same. 

Testings :

The study constisted of 508 chimpanzees and orangutans from varying age levels, from zoos, sanctuaries and research centres. Zoo keepers, volunteers, researchers and caretakers who had worked with this subject for a couple of years watched the apes. They knew everything about their behaviour. The helpers had to score the animals numerically for well being and happiness on a short questionnaire. This was based on a human well being model, but made for use in non human primates. 
"Dr Weiss said that the similarities between humans, chimps and orangutans go beyond genetics and physiology. You don't have the chimpanzee hitting midlife and suddenly they want a bright red sports car. But there may be other things that they want like mating with more females or gaining access to more resources."

So in fact, chimpanzees and orangutans go through a very similar mid life crisis just as humans do. I found it really interesting to see that apes are actually that similar to us humans. No one would have thought that they tend to question their life or go crazy when they are in the middle of their lifes. But as the research showed, apes are more similar to us than we think, even on the psychological level.

Grasshoppers Change Their Tune to Stay Tuned Over Traffic Noise

A recent study shows that humans are not only responsible for climate change but also for animal behavior. A study done by Ulrike Lampe and colleagues from the University of Bielefeld, Germany, showed that the sound that grasshoppers made was affected by man-made sounds such as traffic on busy roads. Grasshoppers use the sounds to mark territory, find mates, warn off predators and other means of communication.

 Lampe collected 188 male bow-winged grasshoppers. Half of them from quite locations and the other half next to busy roads with loud traffic. They made the grasshoppers produce their sounds by exposing them to female grasshoppers. Close to 1000 recordings showed that the grasshoppers that lived near busy roads made different sounds. It was found that the grasshoppers raised the volume of the lower-frequency sounds since the traffic was making these lower-frequency sounds less audible.

This is important because traffic noise may be harmful to the grasshopper’s mating system. Lampe says that "Increased noise levels could affect grasshopper courtship in several ways. It could prevent females from hearing male courtship songs properly, prevent females from recognizing males of their own species, or impair females' ability to estimate how attractive a male is from his song."

I found this quiet shocking. I was unaware that humans had such a great impact on animal behavior. This should act as a wakeup call for us as humans and remind us that we are not the only species that belong to this planet.

Combatting Indoor Air Pollution from Downtown Cities

Combatting Indoor Air Pollution from Downtown Cities
By Allison Winter
Environmental News Network

 It is safe to assume that most people we know, including ourselves, have air conditioning. However, something we don't think about more often than not is the way air conditioning pollutes environment through circulating air. Moreover, think of buildings. Imagine that every flat has air conditioning, they all circulate air. Now, there is a building next to it. It will intake the pollution.
This is a lot more striking when you actually live in a building, like I do.

Now, a team of researchers from Concordia University thought of an environment friendly way to deal with this kind of pollution. They set up an experiment in the university lab that consisted of placing models of all kinds of buildings next to one that was polluting. They measured the amount of pollution absorbed by the buildings and looked for the place where the concentration of toxins was the highest.
According to the results, the level of pollution depended on the height of the buildings, and how far apart they were - which is actually very logical, but now there is a scientific proof.

Anyway, their plan was to place intake vents upwind of the polluter, to the wall that is more sheltered. Also, they should not be placed on roofs where they are not protected. Of course, the spaces between buildings should also be increased.
The plan will be of most use to people who start building stuff in the future, and should help in reducing pollution on the long run, but it will not make any immediate changes.

I feel that this is a very important issue that should be looked into, as a great number of people lives in cities and they are subjected to air pollution at all times. Also, once people start taking care of themselves, the environment will become less polluted.

Human Thirst Makes Earth Quake

Human Thirst Makes Earth Quake

By David Biello

scientificamerican.com

What initially interested me in this article/podcast was the unusual title. Apparently, we might be able to influence and cause earth quakes?
Last May, an earth quake hit Lorca, in Spain, killing nine people. According to an analysis published by Nature Geoscience, it happened because too much groundwater was extracted from the area.

It is not exactly sure whether the quake was going to happen anyway because of other factors, and the human action only made it happen sooner, or it was caused mostly by it.
In any case, it is baffling how much impact our actions have on nature.

What happened in Spain is something that cannot be just shrugged off. People tend to ignore global warming, for example, or extinction of certain species, because they can't see that kind of damage. That is not the case qith an earth quake - people died. Action should be taken to reduce behavior that is harmful to Earth.

The Battle Against Badgers

Badger Battle Erupts in England
by Geoff Brumfiel
ScientificAmerican.com

As part of a recent governmental campaign, England has introduced a policy where farmers and hunters will kill large amounts of Badgers. Badgers can carry a strain tuberculosis (TB) that can easily be transferred directly or indirectly to cattle, causing a major issue for farmers. In addition, this disease is transferable to humans through the milk of infected cattle. If this problem is not controlled, than the government predicts that they will lose 1 billion pounds to the issue within the next ten years. This is an extremely controversial issue, because many animal rights activists are furious with the plans to kill a large amount of the species. Studies conducted show that killing 70% of the population in large areas would reduce Bovine TB by about 16%. One issue concerning the strategy is the unknown Badger population in England. Since they are very common animals, and the largest predators in the country, it is impossible to estimate exactly how many animals would have to be killed to amount to 70% of the population.  Jack Reed, who is spokesman for the Badger Trust claims that the percentage "doesn't sound terribly meaningful to [him]" since it is still a relatively small reduction. The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs released a new plan in July of 2011, aimed at completely eliminating Bovine TB. They focused on increasing surveillance and security on farms, as well as their "science-led policy" of hunting Badgers in areas greatly effected by the disease. The Governments in Wales and Ireland are also working to eliminate this serious issue, through snare-trapping campaigns and immunizations of the animals. 

I think Bovine TB is a very serious issue and needs to be combated, but I think there are other ways to do it rather than killing a large amount of animals. I agree with Jack Reed that a 16% TB reduction among cattle isn't a sufficient amount to justify the slaughter of around 70% of an animal population. They could add more security to cattle ranches, to prevent badgers from coming into contact with the cows, as well as conducting more frequent checks for the disease. Also, I think it is worth making an attempt to immunize badgers or cattle, so that they cannot catch or spread TB. However, I do agree that farmers should be able to shoot badgers if they see them on their property in order to protect their cattle and therefore their business. The mass reduction of England's main predator species could wreak havoc on the local ecosystems, throwing the food webs out of order because several species would loose their main predator. Overall, I think other methods of TB repression should be attempted before they kill massive amounts of Badgers. 

India: Nearly 300 elephant deaths in Orissa

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20150702

About 300 elephants have suffered death in Orissa, India over the past couple years.
Most of the deaths were caused by electricity wires hanging from the electric path so the elephants got an electric shock and died.
But deaths were also caused by poising from farmers, trying to protect their fields. Elephants were running through their crops and damaging it. The farmers tried to stop this by spraying poison on their fields.
Some elephants were also poached, people are hunting them, which is not very ethical.
This is a serious problem in india, because elephants are becoming extinct. It is also very unusual because elephants are worshipped by a large amount of people there, so the sinking number of elephants has caused a serious conflict between people killing the elephants and people trying to protect nature and the animals.
Members from the forest, envorinment and energy departments are trying to fight against these procedures and trying to stop the deaths.

River Floods Predicted Using New Technology

Science dAILY

october 29th, 2012

            Scientists have devised a new solution to provide real-time predictions of floods caused by climate change and human activities. The RAMWASS research project devised a tool that was able to measure and predict the dangers of potential flood in specific river zones. The system uses a combination of environmental data from satellites, sensors and information from the ground to render a 3-D model result of the flood with maps of water speeds, flows and elevations. It also provides risk maps and flood times. The results are available online with the use of a system developed by CIMNE and are accurate to the minute. This helps with emergency situations especially when conditions of a flood are known to change instantly. The system offers protection at a low cost. This allows for places to be evacuated potentially days in advance and reduced flood losses and deaths. It can help governments and funding agencies to test “what-if” situations that may cause harm to people and public or private property.

            I believe this is an essential part of emergency predictions. The techniques used today to predict flash floods are primitive. Climate change is progressing and human activity is potentially to blame. This new technology allows us to monitor emergency situations that are caused by environmental factors, climate change and human activity. It allows areas that may be destroyed to be evacuated in advance and to prevent floods from escalating to emergency-floods. It also allows governments and other companies to simulate potential emergency situations and plan ahead to avoid them entirely. 

Carbon Emissions Impact Mental Health Of Fish

Over Acidification Can Mess with a Fish's Mind
by Mark Fischetti
ScientificAmerican.com

Recent studies show that Carbon Emissions are taking a harsh toll on many aquatic species. When Carbon Dioxide is released into the atmosphere, it is eventually absorbed into the oceans, which makes the water more acidic. If the pH in an ecosystem is too low, smaller organisms, like Shellfish have trouble reproducing and forming their shells or skeletons. Also, it makes them use up more energy to combat the negative effects on their metabolic functions. A recent study, by Philip Munday, of the James Cook University suggested that lower pH levels can also harm organisms minds. For example, clown fish usually stay close to the coral reefs, but when pH is decreased they journeyed further from home, making it more likely for them to be eaten by a predator. Also, it significantly harmed their sense of smell, making it harder for them to recognize other members of the species. Another example would be the Chilean abalone snail. In acidic waters, their speed and reaction times were much slower than in water with lower Carbon concentration. According to Munday, the low pH levels harm the neurotransmitter, called GABA, in their minds, which moderates the nervous system and is vital to life. In order to test this, his team closely observed several fish in a high-acid environment to see how their sense of smell was affected. Then, he released a chemical that helped regulate GABA function, which showed that the Neurotransmitter was in fact effected by the acid levels. Overall, studies show that low pH levels can significantly harm aquatic organisms' brain functions.

GABA neurotransmitter is essential to proper
neurological function

I think this article provides a fascinating insight into how high Carbon emissions are damaging the environment. It shows that not only does it harm the atmosphere and change climate, but it has a strong affect on ocean acidity and wildlife. This demonstrates that action is needed to combat greenhouse gas emissions, since many species' lifestyles and survival instincts are jeopardized by water pollution. If no action is taken, many organisms will be in greater danger, because of their compromised mental states. I also think that the change in water acidity could also lead towards more adaptations that the animals accumulate in order to survive. On the other hand, if they are unable to adapt fast enough, it could ultimately lead to extinctions or endangerment, which would dramatically change ecosystems. In conclusion, this study shows the negative effects of high Carbon emissions and brings to light the effect it has on aquatic ecosystems.  

Sea Otters Strike a Blow for the Environment?

Urchin-eating ways may reduce local carbon emissions by as much as 11 percent.

Author:Kate Andries

From:National Geographic News

Published September 10, 2012

When hungry sea otters whack spiky urchins against rocks on their chests, the mammals may also be striking a blow against global warming.

By preying on urchins—which themselves devour greenhouse gas-absorbing kelp forests—the sea otters encourage the plants to flourish.

The result? An otter-assisted kelp forest "can absorb as much as 12 times the amount of CO2 [carbon dioxide] from the atmosphere than if it were subject to ravenous sea urchins," according to the study, published Friday in the journalFrontiers of Ecology and the Environment.

Based on a new analysis of 40 years of data on both otters and Pacific kelp forests off Alaska and Canada, the study concludes that "otters 'undoubtedly have a strong influence' on the cycle of CO2 storage," if only in their local environments.

So are sea otters the new global warming "warriors," as some headlines have it?

Not exactly, said Jeffrey Dukes of the Purdue Climate Change Research Center in Indiana.

The otter-induced increase in CO2 absorption is "relatively inconsequential in terms of the big picture of climate change," said Dukes, who wasn't part of the study. But, he added, it's "an interesting study identifying how dramatically a predator can alter the cycling of carbon in an ecosystem."

Study co-author Chris Wilmers, a biologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, agreed that the offset is "unlikely to have a big effect on global warming" worldwide.

But while otters alone can't do the job, such seemingly incremental, natural advantages may become ever more important as we look for ways to blunt climate change's impacts, according to study co-author James Estes, also of UC Santa Cruz.

"The general phenom in which the interactions between species are linked to the carbon cycle," he said, "is going to be very important."

Well after I've done reading the article I was confused about that and there're several points I want to say.

1.I remembered that sea otters are endangered for a long time so they could not  hugely affect the environment for sure. 

2.Why the article compares the few otter area to the large-amount one? There's no reason to put them together.......Both have big problems.

3.There are advantages of keeping the kelp-forests, like providing places for organisms to hide, Urchins eat their roots and that's  the way to "protect" the environment.

As what we've mentioned in class, otters, urchins and kelp set up a food chain and without any part the local ecosystem would be orderless. If there's no otter, the mass of urchin would grow up rapidly and soon destroy the whole kelp-forest, small fish that depends on hiding in kelp would reduce, then more and more organism would be involved in.

Obviously, the key point is to balance the relationships between species but not to look at just a few parts of the biosphere and judge the problems without objective attitudes. In addition, it's a lot better asking "Why they strike a blow for the environment" instead of writing an article like that.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/09/120910-sea-otters-global-warming-urchins-kelp-frontiers-science/

Article: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/09/120924-giant-panda-cub-national-zoo-death-animals-science/
Author: Katie Andries
Published: September 24th 2012

This article is about the death of a Panda cub in the United States National Zoo in Washington D.C. It is still unknown why the Panda died however during the necropsy performed on the cub it was reveled that there was strange fluid found in the cubs abdomen and liver irregularities were found. It is not known whether or not either of those contributed to the death of the panda but the lab tests over the next week should give a definite answer. Suffocation was ruled out after the lungs and heart of the panda were examined and seemed normal. Zoo Director Dennis Kelly said that currently the zoo's staff has no evidence that they should have done something differently to ensure the cubs safety. The mother of the baby Panda has returned to mostly normal behavior but still cradles a small toy in its den, which trainers think is the Panda still readjusting from her role as a mother. The reason that Panda cubs are so hard to raise are because of how small the cubs are compared to their mothers who weigh around 200 pounds. For example in China a Panda accidentally crushed it's cub as it was nursing. However over the last 25 years the breeding of Pandas in captivity has gotten to be much better. For example in the San Diego and Atlanta Zoos eight panda cubs have been raised effectively over the last 13 years. Also in China a reserve for transferring Pandas back into the wild has shown success. I think the article gives a good overview of one of the most difficult challanges that faces the human cause to save endangered species, which is to save Pandas. Because of the Panda's eating habits and the incredibly short ovulation period of female Pandas it has proven to be a very difficult task to save the Pandas. However with the reserve in China and the successes in San Diego and Atlanta the species may well be on it's way to a resurgence despite the death of this Panda cub in Washington D.C.

Article: http://www.whereexcusesgotodie.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RT.jpg

Author: Christine Dell'Amore

Published: September 11th, 2012

This article is about the most endangered animals on the planet, specifically the Sumatran Rhinoceros. All of these endangered animals have been showcased in a new book called Priceless or Worthless?. The book presents the most endangered species in the world as determined by the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The book talks about whether or not certain endangered species are vitally important to the continued existence of the Earth and that of humans. One of the book’s authors, Jonathan Bailie is quoted as saying “…the book “challenges the way we think about nature,””. The article then goes on to explain that the book is about how some species don’t have a very concrete and justifiable reason for saving them but we should protect them for ethical reasons and because ultimately it will be better for the planet. Also it talks about how some species who have been categorized as endangered by the IUCN are not getting the conservation attention that they need. There are no mechanisms in place such as no hunting zones and captive breeding programs to protect them. I think this article represents a very important part of the environmental movement and societies view on the environment at the moment, which is that we need to protect the environment not only because it has a direct effect on our standard of living, but because it is the ethical thing to do. If we are the reason behind the near extinction of a species of animal than it is our duty to do what we can to ensure the survival and ultimate revival of that animal.

Deal to turn whisky 'leftovers' into biofuel for cars

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-19708915

By Ken Macdonald

BBC Scotland Science Correspondent

A deal in Scottland has been signed, in order to try to turn whiskey left overs into biofuel for cars. 
Over 90% that comes out of a general whisky distillery is actually not whiskey, it is left overs, for example draft and pot-ales. A spin out company from Napier University in Edinburgh is planning on feeding certain bacteria the left overs from the process of making whiskey. Butanol will be produced out of this procedure, which can be used as bio fuel for cars. The Napier Universitys Biofuel Research Centre has already proven that if a special bacteria is fed with these leftovers, it will for sure produce butanol.The leftovers have been reused before, but things like fertiliser and cattle feed were made out of them.
Professor Martin Tangney, the founder of Celtic Renewables, has signed a deal with the whiskey producer Tullibardine. He says, that their partnership is a very big and important step in the development of our environment, because it combines two of the most significant scottish characteristics: whisky and renewables. Their project shows that resources can be used very easily to help create a healthy environment. 
Douglas Ross, the managing director of the whiskey company Tullibardine said : "It takes a cost to us and turns it into something that has social as well as commercial value." Which better way could there be?
I think this is an excellent way to help the environment, but also use resources. The left overs can be reproduced as something that could actually change a big problem in the world right now. Car fuel prices are going up and up, because the resources are getting smaller, but by using this procedure, another resource would be created which maybe could have a huge impact on the environment.. and also our purse.

Tasmanian Devils' best hope for survival could rest on being less ferociousey

    Tasmanian Devils are not far from extinction because of their ferociousness. What meeting, they often bite each other, and scientists discovered that the bites cause the disease (  Devil Facial Tumor  ). The bites that they often inflict on each other are the reason why the disease is spread, according to British Ecological Society's Journal of Animal Ecology. However the ones that get bitten often become resilient over time, therefore the less they get bitten the more likely it is they will get the disease. "Our results --- that devils with fewer bites are more likely to develop DFTD --- were very surprising and counter-intuitive." 

    Hence, the more aggressive they are, the more likely they are to be infected, because the aggressive ones usually bite and do not get bitten often. It turns out; the less aggressive Tasmanian Devils are less likely to get DFTD, because they get bitten often

Retrieved from:  http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/04/world/asia/eco-tasmanian-devil-cancer/index.html?iref=allsearch

Aleksandra Ivkovic
11 ESS
Due on: 24/09/12

                           Snakes Declining at Alarming Rate, Say Scientists

Over the past few years, there has been a trend of a few snake species dying out at an alarming rate. Even though some species have shown a small increase, the majority have shown a sharp reduction. The reason of that is believed to be the loss of both habitats and prey. Since the human activity has gone up in many biomes, snakes often lose their shelter, and suffer from the inability of finding a new one. Also, since humans cut down many trees, there are no places for the snakes to be during the day, or to hide while catching their food. Also, other species that the snakes feed on, such as mice, frogs, etc, have also decreased in numbers, making there less food for the snake. Since the natural cycle has been influenced on by humans, leaving the untouched nature unpreserved, and leaving animals to find their own food in a human- influenced environment. It is also believed that one of the other reasons for the drastic change in snake population is climate change. This could be a regular cycle that the Earth goes through, and it might be normal, but it could also be people influenced climate change, caused by air pollution etc. Snakes are vital to our food chain, and with them dying out, we would lose many other species in the food chain. The only solution is to preserve forests, and wildlife where these creatures live, and to make sure they have a healthy environment to feed in.

Extinct Species of 2012 - Priceless or Worthless?

Extinct Species of 2012 – “Priceless or Worthless?”

On Tuesday, 11^th September 2012, the book Priceless or Worthless was released at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) congress in Jeju, South Korea where a group of scientists spoke about the 100 most threatened organisms they have identified in their research. The book’s purpose is to challenge our thoughts about nature and how we should behave towards it. The recognized species are predicted to die out due to their low or none at all value to the human kind. The scientists make a grand point stating that we, humans, contain a strictly “business” relationship with nature, acknowledging its value only in moments when it contributes and helps us. Is it possible that more than 50% of organisms on Earth lack conservation attention? Are we really that occupied with our own lifestyles that we are unable to prevent the organisms living around us from extinction? Sometimes the solutions are much simpler when we give it a bit more thought. All that these creatures need are captive breeding programs, which are environments with restricted surroundings like wild life reserves, zoos, etc, and no hunting zones.

For example, the Santa Catarina Guinea Pig, which has only around 40 to 60 rodents left living on the petit Moleques do Sul island in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Why is this specie extinct? Habitat disturbance and hunting is to blame.

Another organism that is losing its population is the Tunkin Snub Nosed Monkey, which currently exists only in eastern Vietnam. Due to habitat loss and hunting, there are only 200 species left, even though it is known a new conservation area and rules against hunting are all it would take to safe this animal.

We are not the only population on this Planet and we cannot afford to act like it anymore. Step by step, the human kind is destroying our biodiversity and future of the Earth. If stepping it up and trying to clean this mess is not motivated by ethical reasons, then it should be out of fear, as there is so much more for us to learn. 

Sumatran Rhinoceros

Santa Catarina Guinea Pig

Religious Ivory Demand Killing Elephants by Thousands

Religious Ivory Demand Killing Elephants by Thousands
Written by: Oliver Payne
For: National Geographic News

The sale of ivory is banned or at least very restricted in most countries, as it led to a drastic decline in elephant population. In only ten years, during the second-to-last decade of the twentieth century, the population of elephants in Africa dropped from 1.3 million to 600 000 (source - Wikipedia). However, despite the ban, elephants are still being killed in order to get ivory. According to the article, it is mostly used for creating religious items such as figures of Jesus or Buddha, rosaries, amulets etc. Ivory is considered 'precious' and using anything less than it or gold would be considered disrespectful.
This article is yet another reminder that humans are leading to the extinction of species for their own gain. While I understand the importance of religion to people I am highly skeptical of why ivory needs to be used for making merchandise. Why would any god want its own creation to be killed off just so another one could make money? Those elephants are being killed only for the personal gain of the ivory sellers, some of them may be deluding themselves with religious ideas, but in reality they are just putting a whole species in great danger. This sort of reminds me of what happened to the American Buffalos, and while some action is taken to protect elephants I am afraid that it is not enough to stop them from having the same faith. Selling ivory is illegal, and more needs to be done to stop it before it takes its toll.

Caledonian pinewoods threatened by spread of tree disease

Bbc news

20 September 2012

Dasthistorma needle blight originally a southern hemisphere disease, as mentioned in the article is spreading over commercial forests in Scotland. And it is estimated to have the biggest impact on the north and north east of Scotland. Hugh Clayden, Forestry Commission Scotland believes that what they need to do right now is to “buy time by reducing those areas that are most heavily infected”. The techniques are thinning and pruning, which is removing some trees and selective removal of parts of a tree. Which the forest omission says will “increase the air flow and reduce humidity”.  Commercial woods in the north have already started too felled as a result of the Dasthistorma needle blight, those woods where home to the endangered capercaillie and supposable many other. Neil Crookston of Scottish Woodlands said: "The forestry industry in Scotland is very important for the rural economy.” So stopping this needle blight is an upmost importance to Scotland, because its not only affecting the environment but Scotland’s economy. Because of the impact the disease could have on biodiversity “The Scottish government, through Forestry Commission Scotland, has been working very closely with the industry to raise awareness of the disease, not only to help forest managers identify it and assess its local severity but also to highlight the measures that can be taken to slow it's spread and limit the damage that it can cause" stated by Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Paul Wheelhouse. The Scottish Green Party has requested for a campaign to raise awareness of Dasthistorma needle blight. it is wary important for people to know how trees look like when they have the needle blight and they must know that it can be transferred thro shoes and clothing. Scientist know that the needle blight is spreading north because of climate change but what I think is important to know is how did it just appear in Scotland. It is important to know if it was human afflicted or not and how. I believe it is important because if we know how it appeared we can do something to stop it from accruing again. Now Scotland is considering an aerial spraying which they have not done over 20 years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19652046

Home Sweet Lab: Computerized House to Generate as Much Energy as It Uses

            The U.S National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been working on a new project that may revolutionize the way we live. On September 13^th, was the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a house that can generate as much energy as it uses. The house looks like a typical suburban house with two stories, four bedrooms and three bathrooms. However, no humans currently live inside the house, in fact, the house is called the Zero Energy Residential Test Facility. Currently the house is being “controlled” via software by researchers to simulate human activity. Everyday the lights are turned on and off, hot water is used and even small devices emit heat and humidity like humans. Researchers monitor the house 24/7 to make sure that the new design and technology is safe and ready to be adopted as the new living standards.

            A solar photovoltaic system is incorporated into the house and is the primary source of energy. On days where the weather is not ideal for the use of solar energy, the house will draw energy from the local energy grid. Any energy that the house does not use is then returned to the local energy grid. This cuts the cost of energy significantly and increases the productivity while making it sustainable.

            I believe that this is the future of sustainable energy. A house that produces only as much energy as it uses and then returns the excess energy into the local energy grid for other houses to use is the most cost-effective, practical and productive way of living. I believe soon enough these houses will be common and a huge milestone in sustainable development.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120913162708.htm

The Growing Risk of Invertebrate Extinction

“One Fifth of Invertebrate Species at Risk of Extinction”

By Brendan Borell

ScientificAmerican.com

Freshwater Snail

                Recent studies conducted by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have concluded that 1 out of every 5 invertebrate species are at risk of becoming extinct. These spineless animals account for an estimated 99% of the Earth’s biodiversity, but les that 1% of them have been evaluated by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which decides which animals are considered threatened or endangered. The “Red List” of endangered species tends to be “biased towards larger, more charismatic species,” according to Ben Collen, an expert in biodiversity from the ZSL Institute of Zoology. In order to examine the biodiversity of invertebrates, Collen and his team examined 12,000 species from 4 taxonomic groups in order to determine which are threatened. His studies have concluded that freshwater invertebrates, like crabs and snails are the most threatened. It is estimated that 34% of these freshwater organism are in great danger, with more than half of the freshwater slug and snail species facing extinction. In addition, saltwater invertebrates are also becoming endangered because of climate change, with causes higher acidic levels in the water and coral bleaching. In general, Collen has concluded that “habitat loss, pollution, and invasive species [represent] the biggest treats to invertebrate diversity around the world.”

                This recent study demonstrates the rising issues of fading biodiversity all over the world. If we don’t take action soon, many invertebrate species will face extinction, upsetting food chains all over the world and creating serious environmental issues. The loss of even a single species in an ecosystem can have catastrophic effect, tampering with the fragile energy pyramid, setting off a chain reaction that leads to the endangerment of other species, invertebrate and vertebrate alike. We need to start making more conservational efforts towards preserving ecosystems and protecting biodiversity, before it is too late. This can be done through preventing pollution and habitat destruction, while enforcing laws preventing the introduction of invasive species to non-native ecosystems. In conclusion, the threat of invertebrate extinction exemplifies the growing issue disappearing biodiversity worldwide and shows that immediate action is needed to prevent it.