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.

Mechanical And Aerospace Engineers Use Satellites To Track Ozone Levels

Mechanical And Aerospace Engineers Use Satellites To Track Ozone Levels

Engineers process data from NASA’s Aura satellite to more accurately monitor airborne pollution and ozone concentration. This will help them track and predict the movement and concentration of pollution that causes harm to the ozone layer.

In most major cities the ground level ozone and pollution level can be a concern of public health and should therefore be closely monitored.

 NASA’s Aura satellites can pick-up the amount of air pollution particles in the air and predict their movements. This can warm people of specific areas about hazardous polluted air hours in advance.

In the future, it is said, satellites can help us understand ozone better and protect public health.

90% of ozone is found in the stratosphere high above the ground. It’s purpose it to absorb ultra-violet rays from the sun which can be extremely hazardous to humans. The remaining 10% of ozone  is in the troposphere which is much closer to ground level. At this low of an altitude, ozone can mix with air pollutants and create smog, a hazardous chemical that can effect crop and forest growth as well as human health.

The information we are able to obtain through satellites can help us understand ozone better and help us prepare for hazardous air pollutants far in advance.

This article is not necessarily for or against saving the environment but mainly for the benefit of humans. It can however in the future be used to pin-point areas with high ozone levels and pollution and help us bring these down to a less hazardous level. I believe the use of satellites are very effective even today and that they can be used to a much higher extent in the future to help us deal with environmental problems.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/1010-tracking_pollution_from_space.htm

 

 

Antarctic bivalves change gender

By Ella DaviesReporter, BBC Naturehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19543557

The species was first described in 1845, but by that time, no one knew which gender the mussels would have, until they were discovered by scientists from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.
Scientists think, that the mussels would be able to change their gender in order to reproduce in very cold water. It was earlier discovered, that female Antarctic mussels can support up to 70 young mussels inside their shell and breed them till the 18th month. But while looking at the cellular growth, the scientists found out, that the eggs were present in male bodies. The team suggests, that the mussels breed their eggs as a male until they are old enough themselves to breed up to 70 eggs and then switch to be a female. The researchers have the opinion, that the bivalves will be maximizing their efficiency when it comes to reproduction. They also found out, that after a male changing to a female, the male tissue still exists in the mussels body for quite a long time.
Scientists still havent finished their research on Antarctic Bivalves, and will continue their methods during the next few month, so the gender change of the mussels still isnt completly figured out.
I think it is quite interesting that scientists still discover animals like this. Most of us people think, that the scientific world has discovered nearly everything, or that there aren't a lot of things in nature which may still surprise us, but scientists keep on exploring new animals or new facts about animals. I wouldn't have thought that there are more animals which can change their sex, it is not a very common ability. So it is fascinating that there is so much more to discover and I guess there always will be a lot to discover, we might never be finished finding out new facts about the nature and environment we live in.

Agrofuels

Does Using Plant-Derived Agrofuels Create more problems than it solves?
by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss
ScientificAmerican.com
 

Agrofuels, also known as Biofuels are fuels created from plants rather than fossil fuels. They show great promise for powering a carbon-neutral society and combating the rising gas prices. Once they die, plants release the CO2 they contained back into the atmosphere in a harmless way that does not contribute to global warming. By using them for fuel, we don’t release any extra CO2 into the air, thereby staying carbon-neutral.  Fossil fuels, on the other hand, release CO2 rapidly into the atmosphere. They were contained below the earth’s surface and their CO2 release upsets the carbon balance, contributing to global warming. Though the agrofuels themselves do help protect the environment, producing them does not. Growing, harvesting, processing, and transporting crops requires the use of lots of fossil fuels, ultimately emitting more greenhouse gasses than those they would save. Another issue that arises with this alternative energy is hunger and potential food shortages caused by devoting parts of agriculture to energy production. According to the Friends of the Earth International, “The production of agrofuels…is generating serious environmental damage and eroding the people’s ability to control the production, trade, and consumption of food… [while] more and more agricultural land is being devoted for energy crops.” Though agrofuels have potential for creating a carbon-neutral world and solving the energy crisis, there are still many issues regarding the production and distribution of them.

In this article, both anthropocentric views are presented. The authors claim that agrofuels offer promise for eventual carbon-neutral technologies and industry, thereby greatly helping the environment. However, they also argue that the crops should be used for human consumption, and agrofuel production threatens local famers and small businesses. In my opinion, other methods of alternative energy should be explored before agrofuels because of fossil fuel’s large part in their production.  Also, agrofuels threatens small business, as large, industrial farms and farming facilities start to dominate the market. This would also lead to a decreased about of land, since more land would be taken up by large farms. I also think that before we can use foods for energy, we must first deal with world hunger and ensure people are fed. Other clean energy sources, like solar power or hydroelectricity should be pursued before agrofuels, since they do minimum damage to the environment and would not harm the agricultural industry or burn excess fossil fuels during production. In conclusion, though agrofuels have potential for creating carbon-neutrality, there are still many issues with production and crop distribution.

Writing a Current Event

Be sure to read the SCIENCE NEWS each week. 

When posting:  

• Choose a current article to write about in your blog 
• Post by each DAY 4. 
• Be sure to include the title of the article, the author, the date it was written and the link to the article. 
• Take notes as you read the article to be sure that you are paraphrasing and outlining the main ideas not just copy-pasting (This will be checked in your notebook). 
• Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If it's someone elses words, you need to use quotation marks and put the persons name at the end in parentheses who said it. 
• (You should include quotes in the article when writing your reflection to strengthen your points) 
• The minimum is 250 words for your blog post, but your goal is to improve your writing each time.
• Read other classmates posts.
• Comment on at least two student blogs each week when you write your own post.
• When responding to a blog: Read a selection of your classmates’ postings. As you read their responses, note those to which you would like to respond with advice, questions, comments, and/or encouragement for improvement.
  Respond to two or more of your classmates postings in any of the following ways:
• Provide feedback
• Ask a question
• Share an insight - (A connection or thought)
• Offer an opinion
• Make a suggestion
• Note a similarity or difference to your posting

Return to your post in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Reflect on what you learned and/or any insights you gained, and how these comments improve your writing. You do not have to write this, you are welcome to comment back on your post to help you remember for next week of what you wanted to improve.

Welcome!!!

Welcome to the collaboration spot of the Environmental Systems and Societies course! 

We have much to discover and learn. As we learn, our environmental values and perspectives will be challenged, developed and perhaps even refined.  

The main goal of this blog will be to build on our abilities to understand the world we live in, gain more knowledge of the major issues occurring in the news, the formation of policies and the development of solutions to these issues. 

All of you will be reading environmental news each week (in a 6 day rotation) and you each will post a short summary of one of the articles you read, state the environmental perspective of the article, as well as your thoughts of what you read.  You will also be responsible for commenting on at least one classmates blog post each rotation (by Day 6). 

I look forward to reading your posts and taking part with you on this journey of the two year course.