@lovendures Hi, its not just the manatees it is a worldwide problem with seagrass loss.
Accelerating loss of sea grasses across the globe threatens coastal ecosystems
https://www.pnas.org/content/106/30/12377
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/emr.12452
The planet has lost one quarter of its sea grasses globally (Waycott et al. 2009) with widespread and accelerating losses continuing (Statton et al. 2018; Evanset al. 2019). Declining fisheries around the world are linked to the loss of sea-grasses, which also play a critical role in supporting a diverse range of marine life (Unsworth et al. 2018). Sea grass meadows represent globally significant carbon sinks (‘Blue Carbon’ Valuable ecosystems, such as coral reefs, macro algae, mangrove forests, salt marshes and sea grass meadows (Fig. 1), are in the precarious position of being a buffer between the terrestrial and marine environments. They will continue to be under increasing pressure from anthropogenic activities through coastal development, pollution and climate change (Lotze et al. 2006; Duarte et al. 2015). The planet has lost one quarter of its sea grasses globally (Waycott et al. 2009) with widespread and accelerating losses continuing (Statton et al. 2018; Evans et al. 2019). Declining fisheries around the world are linked to the loss of sea grasses, which also play a critical role in supporting a diverse range of marine life (Unsworth et al. 2018). Seagrass meadows represent globally significant carbon sinks (‘Blue Carbon’; McLeod et al. 2011), contribute to water quality (Barbier et al. 2011; Lamb et al. 2017) and stabilise sediments (Orth et al. 2006a). Losing sea grasses, particularly the larger species that support critical habitat provision and ecological functions, will lead to further reduction in an ability of seagrass habitats to resist climate impacts through carbon sequestration (Arias- Ortiz et al. 2018) and shoreline stabilisation (Donatelli et al. 2019). This increased understanding of the value of ecosystem services is laying the foundation to improve conservation of our remaining seagrass meadows, as well as expand restoration activities to recover damaged meadows.
Some sites on helping to restore sea grass areas
https://seagrassrestorationnetwork.com/#home-1-section
OUR MISSION: TO ENABLE THE SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS FOR SEAGRASS CONSERVATION, RECOVERY AND RESTORATION AND FOSTER AN INTEGRATED LONG-TERM APPROACH TO DEVELOPING RESTORATION SOLUTIONS.
https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/coasts/explore-and-learn/seagrass-restoration-in-sa
https://www.operationposidonia.com/
Healing old wounds restoring underwater meadows
Kelp beds are also in trouble
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-22/tropical-fish-sea-urchins/100396162
Key points:
Tropical fish numbers are increasing in usually temperate waters due to climate change Along with migrating sea urchins, they are eating kelp, leading to a decline in kelp forests Western Australia has lost more than 1000 square kilometres of kelp forests while sea urchins on the eastern coast are even cleaning up the turf algae that replaces kelp.
Something a bit more positive
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210406-how-kelp-can-help-solve-climate-change
Regards to all
That is a great loss of sea grass!
@lovendures It sure is. After I read your item on the manatee I remembered the article I had read a couple of days ago about tropical fish getting down to Sydney. So I started googling information and I was really surprised how bad it was. I knew that fishing grounds were being depleted and assumed overfishing but looking at the loss of seagrass I would say its collapsing food chains that are behind the loss of fishing grounds. The fish that feed on seagrass are the fish that bigger fish feed on and so on. With us at the top of the food chain, being stupid and selfish and greedy. I think I prefer dogs.
Where are the Mystical They, as in They should be doing something. At least it looks like there are some They groups trying to replant, hope more and more come about. Hope in this case its not too little too late.
I guess we also have to start understanding the Mystical They are all of us. We should try our best to do what we can in our own backyard to help change and improve things, even if its only donating to someone who can, helping a neighbour, recycling, protesting about pollution, getting people to vote for good people and don't despair, always stay hopeful. I think we can change, we are going to have to.
Off my soapbox now and will shut up.
Regards to all
Here is a great article out this week from National Geographic about bees in a tiny southern part of Arizona which borders Mexico. It has the highest rate of bee-diversity on earth. 497 species of bees live within just over six square miles of the particular valley.
These bees come in a dazzling array of colors and sizes. Residents include the nation’s tiniest bee, Perdita minima, orange and sleek, measuring three millimeters long—about the size of the word “trust” (from “In God We Trust”) on a U.S. quarter. Then there are much larger ones, such as carpenter bees (Xylocopa californica), which are more than an inch long, black, and fuzzy.
Many of the bees visit only one plant, or one group of related plants. For example, the chimney bee (Diadasia rinconis), a winsome species covered in long pale yellow fuzz, only feeds upon and pollinates prickly pear cacti. European honeybees, descendants of feral bees that escaped from commercial hives, were also found in small numbers.
Much more can be found at the ink below.
@lovendures I loved this story. I hadn't realized how many species there were of bees. We have carpenter bees, unfortunately. But I'm so loving bees, that maybe even carpenter bees are okay. I loved the photo of the two bees mating. They both look so fuzzy and cute. As for the fact that Trump's Border wall is causing havoc with wild life, including insects and disrupting endangered species and bees, grrrrrrrr.
I figured this would be the best topic for this .
Here's a moral dilemma for you all: In the deep south we have a fair number of invasive species, among them the Cuban tree frog. These guys look like regular tree frogs but are much larger and instead of being green, they're sort of a mottled gray-brown. They eat native tree frogs and lizards. There's a growing colony of them living around my back porch. The environmentally correct thing is supposed to be put some benzocaine on their back (to anesthetize them) then put them in a ziploc bag in the freezer to humanely kill them. I like frogs and find this a hard thing to do but maybe I should for the sake of the native green tree frogs.
What's the morally "right" thing? Interested in hearing opinions.
Morals aside, please do dispose of the invasive frogs and the sooner the better. If you have ever been to the island of Hawaii and heard the invasive frogs there, you would not hesitate. It isn't the fault of the frogs that they ended up in the wrong place but invasive species cause colossal damage that can be permanent.
I hate to kill creatures and sympathize with your reluctance but please say a prayer and send them on their way, humanely, as you have noted.
@ana Apparently for the one species of cane toad that is invasive in Australia that was in this article, they suggest putting them in the refrigerator first where their brains doze off so they don't feel any pain once they go into the freezer. Then they go into the freezer for several days until they are definitely frog-cycles. It's the most humane way. I don't think I could do it. But then I've not lived where they have invaded. Every summer, however, I eagerly and mercilessly with my bare hands kill off the slugs and beetles who eat my plants. But frogs, man, that would be tough. It is awful, and it's no one's fault, but it has to be done.
OK-- thanks . I will consider myself absolved of guilt when I must send an invasive froggie to the Great Swamp in the Sky.
If you are going to read a story in the news today, read this one about Boji, a transportation traveling street dog with his own Twitter account in Istanbul. There aren't many reasons which would bring me to Istanbul, but Boji would be a strong contender.
A street dog named Boji has become something of a celebrity in Istanbul, where he travels around the city on its ferries, trams and subway cars.
His adventures came to light a couple of months ago, and municipal officials began to track his movements. They were amazed at his resourcefulness.
“He knows where to go. He knows where to get out,” said Avlin Erol, the head of customer relations at Metro Istanbul.
Boji is estimated to travel up to 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) a day, passing through dozens of Metro stations and taking at least two
“He’s such a free spirit,” said Chris McGrath, a Getty Images photographer who recently spent a day following Boji around the city. “All he wants to do is ride on transportation. Every time he goes past a bus or van or any form of transport, he just wants to get on it. It’s really quite bizarre.”
When Boji gets on a ferry, he knows exactly where to go: the side with the sun.
“He loves the water,” McGrath said. “When the ferry starts going, he starts barking at their waves.”
McGrath laughed as he recalled the dog choosing between two ferries.
“He checked one, and people were getting on. I don’t know how he knows, but that one was going to Eminönü. And the other one was going to Beşiktaş. So he checked the Eminönü one and went no, that’s not the right one. And then he ducked under the turnstiles and went on to the Beşiktaş one. I don’t know how he knows, but he seems to like riding the Beşiktaş ferry.”
More cn be found at the link below.
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2021/10/travel/dog-istanbul-boji-cnnphotos/
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Posts: 167
01/20/2022 10:28 pm
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-19/cygnet-rescue-wetland-perth/100752956
A good news story in that the baby black swans are rescued, the bad news is the environmental problems we are causing that made it necessary,
Regards to all
FEBbby23,lenor,Maggieciand 2 people liked
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Joined: 11 months ago
Posts: 167
01/27/2022 5:15 am
Hi guys
A lot of our wild koalas are infected with chlamydia and they have been trying to find a cure.
https://amp.9news.com.au/article/34a02881-5b67-4baf-a610-7a91ba2ba0cb
New chlamydia vaccine could save Koalas from extinction
https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/7595070/vaccine-trial-offers-hope-for-koalas/?cs=12
Vaccine trial offers hope for koalas
Regards to all
Unk p,lenor,Vestaand 2 people liked
(@ana)
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Posts: 712
01/27/2022 4:46 pm
Have you heard of the "John Oliver Koala Chlamydia Ward"?
British-American comedian John Oliver bought a large quantity of items (including a jockstrap) from actor Russell Crowe's "divorce sale" in 2018. He donated the items to the last Blockbuster Video Store (located in Alaska), so they could put the items on display to drum up business (it didn't work well enough).
In return Russell Crowe donated the money to help koalas--
See amusing video here:
https://amp.abc.net.au/article/100851458
Magpies have outwitted scientists by helping each other remove tracking devices
Australian magpies are no exception. As a generalist species that excels in problem solving, it has adapted well to the extreme changes to its habitat from humans.
The birds needed to problem solve, possibly testing at pulling and snipping at different sections of the harness with their bill. They also needed to willingly help other individuals, and accept help.
The scientists had good intentions the tracking devices were to help them understand more about magpies, trouble was they didn’t ask them what they thought.
Regards to all
Perhaps we can improve the plight of animals by understand animals better.
Take bees for example. Scientists just discovered that bees can do math. Really?
They found that bees are the only known animal besides humans that can understand odd and even numbers.
Studies have shown honeybees can learn to order quantities, perform simple addition and subtraction, match symbols with quantities and relate size and number concepts.
I bet they aren't the only other animal to learn these concepts. I mean, chimps? Dolphins...I bet they could learn or already know this as well. But who would have thought bees!
https://phys.org/news/2022-04-honeybees-humans-animals-difference-odd.html