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News Archives
Week of April 11, 2004
More Miscellaneous News
Loggerhead turtles are nesting early
In fact, 10 days earlier than they did 15 years ago. Scientists from the University of Central Florida believe the turtles are responding to rising temperatures due to climate change. edit: This is potentially a problem, since if the young turtles hatch early, they may be out of synch with their normal food source. We shall see.
Environmental issues may swing youth vote
Economy and the war may be overriding issues for most voters, but recent efforts to turn out voters in the 18-24 year old bracket seem to suggest that environmental issues may be paramount for younger voters.
Report claims that the Smoky Mountains are "beginning to die"
An assessment recently released by the US EPA and the National Parks Conservation Association, claims that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is declining in health and may not survive. High ozone levels, acid rain, and expansion of roads are all cited as reasons for the park's ecological problems.
Posted by Jennifer on Saturday, April 17 2004, 5:09 PM
Picture of the Day
Argh! I am once again over-busy, though I do still have those water reports sitting here. While you wait, have a picture. This one is of Rabbitkettle Lake, part of the Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
Photo © Corel Corp., used under license
Posted by Jennifer on Friday, April 16 2004, 6:27 PM
Primates and Culture
We know that most animal behavior can be explained as a combination of genes and environment. But there is a level of behavior especially found in primate species which is considered to arise from culture, that is to say learned from the community around the animal. This can include different sorts of habits such as tool-using, grooming, or courtship behavior.
In a study recently published by the Public Library of Science, an extraordinary cultural change was observed in a troop of baboons. This particular community had been studied for several years, from 1978 through the late 80s. As with most baboons, the males were aggressive towards each other, struggling for dominance and sometimes engaging in bloody battles. But towards the end of the study, in a surprise twist, the most aggressive males all died out. This came about because the dominant males had taken to eating trash from a nearby tourist lodge, and contracted bovine tuberculosis. The lower-class males didn't have access to the enticing garbage pit, and so they survived.
As the study ended, researchers observed that the troop had become more peaceful and calm, since the more aggressive and violent males had died off. The gender composition of the troop was also radically changed, with the ratio of females to males more than doubling. At this point, the study ended and the researchers left.
In 1993, the researchers returned to observe the Forest Troop again. And much to their surprise the cultural changes remained in force, even though none of the original males were still with the troop. Compared with another nearby troop which was observed as a control group, the dominant Forest Troop males were much more tolerant of lower-ranking males, and engaged in more grooming and other soothing types of social behavior. As new males entered the group, they apparently learned these social norms, and took on the gentler behavior of the Forest Troop, rather than the more aggressive behaviors still observed in the control group. Apparently aggressive behavior is controlled by culture rather than genetics, at least to a far greater degree than we had assumed in the past.
The article itself is completely fascinating. If you don't want to wade through the entire journal article, at least read this summary also provided on the site.
Posted by Jennifer on Thursday, April 15 2004, 2:03 PM
Mea Culpa
You know, I was thinking about my post earlier today, where I implied that plants might have feelings because of some research that related to their chemical response to the stimulus of the sound of a predator. And of course, I realized that it's entirely likely that the response evolved as any physical trait evolves, as something which gives a reproductive advantage. And the wasps evolved over time with an advantage from attending to the chemical, since it showed where their food source was located. So I shouldn't have implied it was emotion that drove them.
I guess that means that the cicadas currently invading Washington D.C. probably aren't doing it because they're pissed about this administration's environmental policies. Damn.
Posted by Jennifer on Wednesday, April 14 2004, 9:02 PM
News of the Day
NASA will assist bird researchers
On the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia sits a large polymetric radar installation which is used by NASA to study rainfall. The radar is so sophisticated that NASA has to use many filters to keep out objects other than the raindrops they wish to study. When Barry Truitt of The Nature Conservancy heard that, he asked whether it would be possible to turn the filters off and gather information on birds instead. As it turns out, that's easy enough to do, and now TNC is purchasing radar time from NASA to perform in-depth study of bird migration patterns.
Western US is suffering another drought this year
For much of the western USA, this will be the sixth year in a row of drought. In many states the threat of wildfires is very high. Arizona is facing its worst year ever, with two major reservoirs only half full. Lake Powell, which provides water and electricity for a number of western states, is down to 42% of capacity. Recent snowstorms in the Rocky Mountains have brought some relief to Colorado and northern New Mexico, but much of Idaho and Montana are in a state of "exceptional drought", according to the US Department of Agriculture, meaning there may be no irrigation water available.
Do plants have feelings? Researchers say "Definitely"
According to research being published in the journal Plant Physiology, plants both sense and react to threats, sending out chemical signals that warn other plants when a leaf-eating grub is heard. These chemical signals are not only picked up by plants, but by a type of wasp which preys on the grubs, which would then arrive and potentially protect the plants from being eaten. Researchers worked primarily with a type of bean, but found similar reactions in other plants tested.
Posted by Jennifer on Wednesday, April 14 2004, 11:49 AM
Interesting articles, not exactly news
A couple of things have come to my attention lately that I thought you might enjoy. The first one has already received pretty wide publicity, but it deserves more. It is, simply, the story of a young woman on a motorcycle who has travelled extensively throughout the region of Chernobyl, and who documents her travels with photos and text. If you haven't seen it yet, you should.
The second is a set of articles on old growth logging in Australia, which give a remarkably frank description of both the attitudes of the loggers and of local people who don't want their trees taken. The series has these three articles:
• A star exhibit in a 'museum of old growth'
• 210 years to grow, 23 minutes to fall
• My life as a log (number 138692)
Posted by Jennifer on Monday, April 12 2004, 7:46 PM
News of the Day
Deforestation continuing in the Amazon
WWF reports that in 2003 deforestation continued at a rapid pace in the Amazon rainforest, with more than 23,000 sq. km. of forest vanishing, much of it crucial wildlife habitat. Of the five areas that scientists and governments consider critical habitat, one completely lost its forest cover, and the other four lost roughly half. This analysis is the result of reviewing satellite survey pictures. The deforestation in Brazil is largely due to agricultural expansion.
Scientists discover gaps in protection of endangered species
A report in the latest issue of Nature magazine (available by subscription only) says that hundreds of exotic species worldwide are not receiving protection under the law. The analysis of more than 11,000 species was completed by scientsts at Conservational International, using a global database of protected areas and the most up-to-date information on threatened species around the globe. The scientists hope that this gap analysis can be used to help direct conservation efforts towards areas which lack protection.
China plants trees in an attempt to control desertification
Since 1982, more than 40 billion trees have been planted in China, in an attempt to stop the spread of the Taklimikan Desert. It's still not clear whether the effort will help in the end, but this account of the program is fascinting. As with all New York Times articles, this one will vanish into the archives soon, so read it while you can.
Posted by Jennifer on Monday, April 12 2004, 1:21 PM
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