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.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
How Does a Tick Do Its Dirty Work? Research Video Offers a Clue
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/science/earth/how-does-a-tick-do-its-dirty-work-research-video-offers-a-clue.html?ref=science&_r=0
So how does a tick pierce the skin and start feeding on a creatures blood. It turns out that tick have twin saws to break the skin. These twin saws also help the tick remained settled for days as it feeds on its victims blood. The tick that carries Lyme disease, such as the wood and deer tick, are about as big as a sesame seed, making it even deadlier since wounds could go unnoticed. About 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year in the U.S., however experts believe that there are more than 300,000 cases in the Northeast and Midwest alone each year. The tick is just an amazing tool of evolution that is unlikely to go extinct because of its simplistic lifestyle and ability to adapt and obtain resources.
So how does a tick pierce the skin and start feeding on a creatures blood. It turns out that tick have twin saws to break the skin. These twin saws also help the tick remained settled for days as it feeds on its victims blood. The tick that carries Lyme disease, such as the wood and deer tick, are about as big as a sesame seed, making it even deadlier since wounds could go unnoticed. About 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year in the U.S., however experts believe that there are more than 300,000 cases in the Northeast and Midwest alone each year. The tick is just an amazing tool of evolution that is unlikely to go extinct because of its simplistic lifestyle and ability to adapt and obtain resources.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Oil and gas development is key to US future. Don't ban it. Regulate it.
http://news.yahoo.com/oil-gas-development-key-us-future-dont-ban-144811377--politics.html
This article is discussing all of the benefits of drilling more for oil and gas. It states that by 2040, 80% of the world's energy will still come from fossil fuels. The U.S. has enough oil and natural gas to supply the whole world. Thanks to new technologies, we can extract oil and gas at unreachable places. However, I think this article is a bunch of bullcrap and is classified as junk media.This article was sponsored by Wellborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, P.C., an oil and gas company. Because of this, it can be inferred this article is highly biased.This article is stating none of the risks of fracking, such as pollution of our water supply.It also misleading. It states that these resources will help America energy independent. What this really means is that they sell it to foreign nations and little will go to the ordinary Americans. This article is constantly using fear, such as the power of oil, in order to scare people in order to support this. I just hope our government makes the right decision for once on this issue.
This article is discussing all of the benefits of drilling more for oil and gas. It states that by 2040, 80% of the world's energy will still come from fossil fuels. The U.S. has enough oil and natural gas to supply the whole world. Thanks to new technologies, we can extract oil and gas at unreachable places. However, I think this article is a bunch of bullcrap and is classified as junk media.This article was sponsored by Wellborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, P.C., an oil and gas company. Because of this, it can be inferred this article is highly biased.This article is stating none of the risks of fracking, such as pollution of our water supply.It also misleading. It states that these resources will help America energy independent. What this really means is that they sell it to foreign nations and little will go to the ordinary Americans. This article is constantly using fear, such as the power of oil, in order to scare people in order to support this. I just hope our government makes the right decision for once on this issue.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Moose Die-Off Alarms Scientists
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/15/science/earth/something-is-killing-off-the-moose.html?ref=science&_r=0
All across North America, moose are dying at alarming rates and no one has a definite answer. However, climate change is a widely accepted theory in the declining moose population. Moose cant survive in winters where it above 23 F, any higher stresses the animals out because they have to use extra energy to cool down. Another part to this climate change hypothesis is that less snow in fall means a spike in population of winter ticks, a devastating parasite that is causing moose populations to crash in New Hampshire. In British Columbia, pine bark beetles, which thrive in warmer climates, are pushing into moose territory destroying moose habitat. This leaves moose in the open of humans and the natural elements. Since many of the moose die off in the fall, this case needs further study. However, the tick problem is relevant because moose didn't evolve to groom tick off of them. Its up to the people of New Hampshire to decide what to do.
All across North America, moose are dying at alarming rates and no one has a definite answer. However, climate change is a widely accepted theory in the declining moose population. Moose cant survive in winters where it above 23 F, any higher stresses the animals out because they have to use extra energy to cool down. Another part to this climate change hypothesis is that less snow in fall means a spike in population of winter ticks, a devastating parasite that is causing moose populations to crash in New Hampshire. In British Columbia, pine bark beetles, which thrive in warmer climates, are pushing into moose territory destroying moose habitat. This leaves moose in the open of humans and the natural elements. Since many of the moose die off in the fall, this case needs further study. However, the tick problem is relevant because moose didn't evolve to groom tick off of them. Its up to the people of New Hampshire to decide what to do.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Woolly Mammoth Comeback? 5 Ethical Challenges
http://news.yahoo.com/woolly-mammoth-comeback-5-ethical-challenges-123927991.html
It is no longer science fiction, humans are now playing God. It is becoming possible to clone species such as Woolly Mammoths that are extinct. However, there is great debate over practical and ethical issues about bringing the species back. There are many key questions to this issue. Where would the woolly mammoths live? What would the mammoths eat? If they proliferate, would we treat them as pests? Would de-extinction detract from modern conservation efforts? Would the 21st-century microbial world suit the woolly mammoth digestive tract? I don't know why people are considering releasing these animals on the Great Plain, this article makes a great point. The Great Plains is mostly overrun by humans and mammoths would be like an invasive species. I personally believe that they shouldn't de-extinct these animals because they have been gone for 10,00 years, where would they fit in our world. A very interesting point they made is how would the mammoth survive without its original microbes. It makes me wonder if it could even survive with todays bacteria. Hopefully, these scientists make the right decision.
http://news.yahoo.com/woolly-mammoth-comeback-5-ethical-challenges-123927991.html
It is no longer science fiction, humans are now playing God. It is becoming possible to clone species such as Woolly Mammoths that are extinct. However, there is great debate over practical and ethical issues about bringing the species back. There are many key questions to this issue. Where would the woolly mammoths live? What would the mammoths eat? If they proliferate, would we treat them as pests? Would de-extinction detract from modern conservation efforts? Would the 21st-century microbial world suit the woolly mammoth digestive tract? I don't know why people are considering releasing these animals on the Great Plain, this article makes a great point. The Great Plains is mostly overrun by humans and mammoths would be like an invasive species. I personally believe that they shouldn't de-extinct these animals because they have been gone for 10,00 years, where would they fit in our world. A very interesting point they made is how would the mammoth survive without its original microbes. It makes me wonder if it could even survive with todays bacteria. Hopefully, these scientists make the right decision.
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