http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/46657
Nowadays, it is becoming harder to grow our food without pesticides. In a 2005 study about apples, it was shown that that 98% of apples contained pesticides in it. The farmer's yield is great, while there are hazardous material in the produce. However, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Integrated Agriculture Systems (CIAS) is working with several apple growers in order to wean farmers of overusing pesticides. Instead, they will use better farming techniques in order to have greater yields. Some techniques include better weather predictions and insects traps in order to reduce pesticide use. As a result, pesticide use has been decreased by 46% where this program had been used.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Ultraviolet nets significantly reduce sea turtle bycatch
http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/46669
Bycatch is the act of fishermen accidently catching an unwanted species and throwing it back in the sea, usually dead or close to death. Many species are significantly declining due to bycatch, particularly sea turtles. However, there is good news. It was discovered that leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles are sensitive to ultraviolet light, while many desired fish absorb the ultraviolet light and are not affected by the UV. Nets equipped with this new technology show that by catch has been slashed, with no effect on desired fish catch. It also turns out that the by catch of sea birds is also declining due to this new method. This technology would bring a great benefit tov populations decimated by climate change, overhunting and until recently bycatch.
Bycatch is the act of fishermen accidently catching an unwanted species and throwing it back in the sea, usually dead or close to death. Many species are significantly declining due to bycatch, particularly sea turtles. However, there is good news. It was discovered that leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles are sensitive to ultraviolet light, while many desired fish absorb the ultraviolet light and are not affected by the UV. Nets equipped with this new technology show that by catch has been slashed, with no effect on desired fish catch. It also turns out that the by catch of sea birds is also declining due to this new method. This technology would bring a great benefit tov populations decimated by climate change, overhunting and until recently bycatch.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Spotted: Rare Cat Species Captured on Camera in Borneo
http://news.yahoo.com/spotted-rare-cat-species-captured-camera-borneo-142902954.html
In a heavily logged part of Northern Borneo, scientists had dismal hopes of finding the elusive bay cat, a species thought to number around 2,500 individuals. However, scientists received much more than they anticipated. Not only did scientists capture a bay cat, they also documented four other rare cat species on their camera. They recorded the Sunda clouded leopard, a leopard cat, flat-headed cat and the marbled cat. Three of these four cat species are considered vulnerable to extinction. This concentration of rare cat species has never been recorded before, particularly in the heavily logged island of Borneo. Hopefully with this new information, we can better protect these magnificent cat species.
In a heavily logged part of Northern Borneo, scientists had dismal hopes of finding the elusive bay cat, a species thought to number around 2,500 individuals. However, scientists received much more than they anticipated. Not only did scientists capture a bay cat, they also documented four other rare cat species on their camera. They recorded the Sunda clouded leopard, a leopard cat, flat-headed cat and the marbled cat. Three of these four cat species are considered vulnerable to extinction. This concentration of rare cat species has never been recorded before, particularly in the heavily logged island of Borneo. Hopefully with this new information, we can better protect these magnificent cat species.
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