Filed under: Animals
As we have already learned in class this year, roads can disrupt and divide ecosystems. Arizona is trying something new to help drivers and animals. An animal “crosswalk” is going to be opened for the first time in Arizona.
An electrified fence will surround a three mile area of Arizona 260, which is approximately 7 miles east of Payson. The fences only allow the animals to cross the highway at certain spots. Motorists will see large signs and lights flashing at them to warn them an animal , most likely a large one, is going to cross the highway. The signs and lights use infarered camaras and military-grade software to determine whether an animal is about to cross.
Although Arizona is not the first state to use animal crosswalks, they are the first to do it using fencing. The crosswalk will be evaluated in 2 years to see how effective it has been.
Not only will this $700,000 project give animals the chance to cross the highway with aware drivers, but also the camaras can monitor the animals behavior. As well, “electronic global postioning collars” have been placed on elk to see how the crosswalk changes their patterns. The camaras also monitor how fast the cars are traveling and how fast their reaction time is to slow down.
Elk (Photo credit: www.wikipedia.com)
I think that this is a good idea. It doesn’t really cost that much, plus it makes drivers think about how fast they are going. The article didn’t mention whether or not drivers could receive tickets if they were going over the speedlimit. I am not sure if I think that they should, especially if they do slow down in enough time when the signs and lights begin to flash. I think that it is good that it will be evaluated in 2 years because it might effect the way the elk move and their behavior. I guess that we will just have to wait and see.
Arizona Tests Wildlife ‘Crosswalk’ By: Associated Press http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=11954
When I saw the heading of this article, I remember the movie that we watched right before Christmas Break. Right now there are about 200 million cane toads in Australia that have spread 1900 miles from northeast Queenslands to Darwin. Darwin is located in Australia’s tropical north. The cane toads were brought to Australia in 1935 in an attempt to control the cane beetle population.
The cane toads, whose skin is poisonous, have been killed by everything from golf clubs to air rifles. They are currently being caught in traps and plastic bags.
picture from: http://en.wikipedia.org
Some peopl want the toads to be completely eliminated while some are not ready for them to leave. One lawmaker wanted a national attack on hte toads to be called for. However, this idea was withdrawn because of criticism by animal rights groups.
I don’t know what should be done about the cane toad issue in Australia. I guess that the government will have to take a closer look at what can be done to solve the issue. I am not sure whether the cane toads have done their job, but I do know that they have also decreased other populations. The people in Australia need to come to an agreement on what should be done that will satisfy all aspects.
Australia’s Military Asked to Battle Cane Toads http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa012&articleID=FA93AC46951909A7575D591BC4D85CE6
Snow leopards are on the list of the most endangered big cats. There are only 3000 to 6000 snow leopards that are still in the wild. This is becasue poachers make thousands of dollars off of their coats. They are sold in the blackmarker in numerous places, particularily in China.
The snow leopards movements can be tracked by their communication method with other snow leopards. They leave marks on certain lenadscapes. Some of the marks they leave inlclude: shallow holes that they dig and scent marks they leave behind.
Snow leopard (photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org)
Becuase of these marks, researchers are better able to keep track of the snow leopard population. They are then better able to determine whether and where snow leopards are bing illegally hunted.
One organization aimed to deture people from poaching snow leopards “works with local herding families to make woll handicrafts sold in Mongolia and in the United States to relieve the economic pressure to poach.”
I think that it sad that people have to resort to killing innocent animals to make money. I do, however, understand that some of the poachers might not be able to take care of themselves and their families without killing the snow leopards. I think that the organization that helps families to make wool handicrafts is a really good idea. It gives them money and doesn’t force them to become poachers.
Protecting the Snow Leopard from Poachers by: Elizabeth Arnold http://www.npr.org/templates/story.story.php?storyId=66267700
According to new research, the fish and seafood population will collapse by 2048. The marine biodiversity is significantly decreaseing with 29% of marine species already in collapse. The collapse that is estimated for 2048 would effect all marine species, including ocean mammals.
Photo Credit: www.wikipedia.com
Why exactly is a collapsing marine biodiversity important? Well, for starters the ocean would be less able to deal with global climate change, pollution and over-explotation, amoungst other major issues. Plus, seafood would no longer be a part of the human diet. The populations would be gone, thus no seafood to eat for us. There being no seafood for us to eat would also hurt the economy. People would loss out on jobs, which translates into losing out on money.
The population is decreasing due to over-fishing and the ruining of the oceans. Marine-life reserves and no fishing zones should be put in place to help prevent the collapse of marine biodivresity.
A No Fishing Zone
Photo credit: http://www.montereybay.noaa.gov/new/news/italia/asinara.html
Something needs to be done quickly about this. It not only effects wildlife, but it also affects humans. Not only the quality of life for humans is affected (not being able to enjoy seafood), but also what humans do for jobs to support themselves and their families. The oceans being less able to handle major changes also would place a burden on humans. If the oceans cannot support the changes of global warming, etc. something is going to have to change. People are going to have to be more consciencious of what they are doing, i.e. driving a SUV, etc.
Information from: http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=11584 Article: Ocean Fish, Seafood Could Collapse by 2048 By: Deborah Zabarenko
A fence in India that was put up about 3 years ago between the India – Pakistan border is now having some major impacts on the wildlife in the surrounding area. This fencing was put up to stop “guerrilla activity linked to a separatist revolt.” The fence is about 8 feet high and stretches for about 460 miles in the region, dividing Kashmir.
This fence is not allowing for the free movement that the leopards and the black bears in the area are used to. They are now moving into villages and killing people. They are dragging people from their houses and mauling them. At least 12 people have been killed by the wild animals. 5 of those 12 were killed last month and numerous others have been injured.
Photo credit: www.wikipedia.com
The number of bear and leopard populations have been increasing since a ban on hunting them was put in place in 1970; however, the number of pine forests have been decreasing, leaving the wild animals no where to go. There are approximately 8,000 leopards in India. The number of leopards in Kashmir is not known, along with the number of black bears in both places.
Control rooms are being set up and the authorities are educating the local people, cautioning them about the issue.
In approximately the last 10 months, six bears and leopards have been killed by villagers and authorities together.
I understand the concern about the militant groups crossing the border, but I think that a new solution needs to be developed. It is not fair that the wildlife in the area is suffering. Plus not only is the wildlife suffering by not being able to move freely and by being killed, but the people are being hurt. They are being seriously injured and even killed. Another solution needs to be found.
Information from: http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=11708 Article: Fenced in, Kashmir’s Leopards, Bears Stalk Villages By:Ashok Pahalwan
Mohave Generating Station, coal power plant in Nevada
The Environmental Protection Agency required coal-fired power plants to reduce mercury pollution earlier in 2006. Many individual states disagreed with this rule and watned the standards to be set highere. About 12 states have increased the requirements for coal-fired power plants.
One of the states, Michigan, is going to require that plants “to cut 90 percent of mercury emissions by 2015.”
Is it really possible? Yes. In fact, 1 power plant, We Engeries, has already began reducin as much as 90% of its mercury from its emissions. “It is the first in the country to permanently install the necessary equipment.”
Althouh We Engeries in Michigan is doing this, pollution controls will not be needed to be installed accross the US for mayny years to come.
However, some argue that decreasing the mercury emissions from coal-fired plants will not necessarily decrease mercury in the State’s fish.
I think that is worth a try and even if it doesn’t decrease mercury in the fish, it would probably still help the environment. Plus it might. We won’t know until we try.
States Toughen Federal Mercury Pollution Rules By: Elizabeth Shorgren Information from: www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6444174 Picture from: www.wikipedia.org
I did not realize how species are moving from continent to continent. It’s amazing how they can survive. Here in the US I don’t think that it is as big of a deal as it is in other countries because we have the money and resources to destroy them. However, in poorer countries, specifically in Africa, these species are ruining some tof their major industries. Something needs to be looked at to determine how to effectively stop this problem.
The US Administration had planned on leasing wetlands near Teshekpuk Lake in Arctic Alaska for oil development. This, however, will not be happening in light of a federal judge’s decision which temporarily halted this plan.
These wetlands are home to migratory waterfowl from 3 continents during their featherless molting period, as well as to a herd of caribou.
If the US Bereau of Land Management (BLM) was able to complete the sale as expected on September 27, 1.4 billion barrels of oil would be up for grabs.
According to US District Court Judge James Singleton, the BLM did not consider what the oil development would do to the areas near the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The sale stipulations did, however, include that the
Both sides are able to dispute this preliminary ruling until September 15.
As of September 8, both sides were considering what they should do next in the very touchy issue.
In my opinion, this is a lot of oil that could be put to good use; however, we should wait until better ways of getting the oil are developed. Another solution is to develop a more fuel efficient car…that way not only would we be disturbing wildlife in the arctic, but we would polluting our air less.
http://www.sciam.com/print_version.cfm?articleID=9E9A30B74C49D07D8150C8C83B1…
By: Yereth Rosen (September 8, 2006)
Filed under: Animals
A new species of bird was found in India last May; however, experts just released this information today. The bird, named Bugun Liocichla after the Bugun tribesman who live on the land it was found on, has olive and yellow-golden plumage, a black cap and flame-tipped wings.
So far, only two of these new species have been found and scientists are doing what they can to help protect them. Killing a species is common to research it for scientific study; however, experts were able to obtain feathers, photographs, and record the bird’s song, according to Ramana Athreya, a professional astronomer and keen birdwatcher.
The bird has been declared a new species by experts and the name has been approved by the International Commission on Zoologican Nomenclature.
A new bird species has not been found in the mainland of India since 1948. The Rusty-throated “Mishmi” Wren-babbler Spelaeornis badeigularis was found at that that time.
The Bugun Liocichla was first spotted in 1995 by Ramana; however, he never succeeded in trapping it with nets until 2006.
What is most remarkable is that this bird has no “geographically close relatives.” The closest looking bird to it is the Emei Shan liocichla found in only a few mountains in central China.
What an amazing miracle!
http://www.sciam.com/print_version.cfm
