By the End of the Century, Half of All Species Will be Extinct: Does That Matter?

Populations of animals, plants, and tress are becoming so small that are susceptible to small disasters such as flooding, severe thunderstorms, etc. Scientists have estimated that species are becoming extinct at a rate of one species per million per year. Today we are living among the sixth greatest extinction. Throughout the 20th century the causes of extinction such as: habitat degradation, overexploitation, agricultural monocultures, human-born invasive species, human-induced climate-change, have increased exponentially. The problem with this is that most people have no idea that this is occurring. What does this mean to us as humans? Biologists believe that mass extinction poses a threat to human existence. It is our duty to help save these species and put the world back together. The world before us suffered at least five mass extinctions, and was threatening to human existence. Our treatment of nature is just wrong. The destruction of habitats is increasingly a problem as development throughout the world is booming. It is up to us humans to save the species of flora and fauna that are being threatened today. If not, after the end of the century there will be a whole new species of flora and fauna, unrecognizably different from that existing today.

To read more on the extinction of more than half of existing species: http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2494659.ece

Unusual April Weather Suggests Global Warming Threat is Closer Than We Think

From previous years and experience with the weather, does April's weather seem out of the ordinary to you? Well, some researchers suggest that the hotter and drier days that we have experienced in April are a result of the ever-present threat of global warming. Meterologists have reported the temperatures in April to be 8-10 degrees (Centigrade) higher than normal April temperatures should be. Not only is this trend evident in the U.S.A., but also in other parts of the world. The higher temperatures have lead to increased glacial melting, and in return, higher water levels in rivers and lakes. Some parts of the world are experiencing heat waves, and wildfires because of extremely high temperatures and dryness. Ecologists are suggesting that we alter the way we live in order to alleviate the pressures that global warming is providing. The question is: Do you think that you can have an impact on global warming? Is there a particular lifestyle that you are willing to forfeit in order to provide a slim chance of reducing global warming? These are questions that need to be asked. Global warming seems so distant from us, yet it is increasingly getting closer!

If you want to read more on global warming check out this website: http://www.worldecology.com/

New Bioplastic Could be Very Beneficial

Producers have developed a new bioplastic, called Mirel, that is made from a form of bacteria that can be mended to produce plastic or hard crystalline. The great thing about Mirel is that there are several different microbes that feed on the bacteria and decompose it more readily than other types of bacteria. There is already a bioplastic availabe to consumers, however, it only breaks down in industrial compost facilities. Mirel is biodegradable in soil, oceans, and wetlands. This is extremely beneficial to the environment, considering the amount of plastic that consumers use worldwide. Bioplastic would pose a minimal threat to the environment and help protect plants and animals threatened by the effects of incorrectly disposed plastics.

Celebrating Earth Day

April 22, 2007, was a great day to appreciate and celebrate the Earth! However, like so many other holidays, we call special attention to the Earth for one day, and the day after it's practically forgotten and we go back to life as "normal". In the case of Earth day, we concern ourselves with the well being of ecology for one day in particular, and then go back to life as wasteful. We, as human beings, have the resolve to work on issues such as global warming, toxic waste, agricultural mismanagement and wetlands destruction, before they become uncontrollable and we overwhelm ourselves to the fact that future generations will live out their lives in a drastically impoverished world. Local participation is critically important in improving our world today. Also, National participation is equally important in global issues that need to be respected and taken care of. So, this year take the time after the celebration of such a wonderful relationship we can have with the Earth, and plan a way that you can give back to the world that gives so much to you!

View of Global Warming from a Non-Scientist

After reading an article on MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17997788/site/newsweek/) and another article from a nonscientist (http://www.savaspublishing.com/02-25-07.html), I have varied opinions on global warming. I agree that global warming is something that should be studied and monitored, however it should not be taken out of its content. Ecologists are using global warming as a way to get people in tuned to the impact of their lifestyle choices. I do not fully believe that I personally have an impact on global warming, but I am willing to change certain lifestyles that are believed to be harmful to the environment. It is my duty as a human being to respect the Earth that I live on for future generations. In order to understand the full effects of global warming, researchers and scientists will have to use substantial data, other than weather patterns, to prove the soon coming effects to our environment. I learned something interesting about CFC's and the environment. For a while, scientists posed a threat of CFC's affecting the increasing risk of global warming. The argument was that CFC's rise into the atmosphere and assist in the greenhouse effect. This is striking to me because the density of CFC's is so great that it is almost impossible for them to affect the atmosphere. Upon further investigation, scientists had to rethink their argument and gather further data on CFC's. I think that this needs to be done with global warming. In the meantime, it does not hurt to alter one's lifestyle for the better of the environment!

Ways to Cut Down on Carbon

Scientists have released ways of cutting down on carbon. If you really want to help save the planet, try some of the following alternatives:
(1) Refresh the Fridge and Freezer
Defrost and keep coils dust free. Dirt increases energy use by up to 30 per cent. Cool and cover foods before storing. Replace damaged door seals — they let the heat in.
(2) Rest the Tumble Dryer
(3) Bypass the Bin
Imagine not being able to chuck anything out for a week and watching the food and packaging waste piling up on your nice kitchen floor. Now hold that thought, start recycling all glass, paper, cardboard, cans and plastic and avoid buying overpackaged food that needs a bodybuilder to wrestle it open. If you have a garden, try composting all that food waste.
(4) Sitting Room
Train yourself to turn off those little lights twinkling on your hibernating TV, DVD player, computer or hi-fi. Make yourself some SWITCH ME OFF stickers to label different appliances as a reminder.
(5) Bedrooms
Pile extra blankets on the bed, get out those PJs and turn the heating off at night. During the day, turn your thermostat down by 1 degree C and shed some serious carbon weight.
(6) Choose the Shower
An average bath uses 80 litres (16 buckets) of water, a five-minute shower only 35 litres. It’s also easier to share a shower.

These are just a few of the countless ways that you could help save the planet. To get more ideas and advice, check out this website: http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article1689439.ece

Night-Shining Clouds could be a Sign of Climate Change

Fifty miles above Earth's surface, silvery-blue clouds are present. These clouds have been increasing recently in possible relation to increase in carbon dioxide and methane emissions from human activity on Earth. Because the clouds are increasing in brightness, scientists are concerned with the well-being of the mesosphere, a small portion of the atmosphere. The clouds are said to be made up on tiny ice crystals, and present in the coldest region of the Earth's atmosphere. The significance of the ice crystals is that greenhouse gases like CO2 that warm Earth's lower atmosphere also cool the mesosphere, possibly enhancing conditions for ice crystal formation. CO2 emissions are linked to these clouds and could be another possible outlet for studying global warming, and finding answers to difficult questions.

More information about these beautiful, yet disconcerting clouds can be found at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070410131926.htm

Amphibians Losing To The Environment

Even though they had the ability to evolve and survive for several hundreds of years, amphibians are slowly losing their race to global changes in the environment. Evolution is constraining several species into decline, and possibly even extinction. Scientists have estimated that the rate of plant and animal extinction is greater now than any known in the last 100,000 years. Because amphibians have such a complex life cycle they face more challenges to changes in the environment. For example, they have permeable skin, live on both land and water, and their eggs have no shells. According to scientists, natural selection and species adaptation may, in time, allow amphibians to react to and recover from the new environmental threats. Overall, amphibians are more vulnerable than any other species of life during such drastic changes in our environment.

To read more on these amphibians: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070501075044.htm

One of the Rarest Butterflies in America is Making a Comeback

During the Spring and Summer, we see butterflies fluttering all around us and in most cases we take them for granted. Have you ever just stopped to take in the beauty of nature and the wonderful creations that butterflies are? Well the rarest, and most beautiful, butterflies of America are coming back around one-by-one thanks to a very patient ecologist.

Jana Johnson has been breeding butterflies one-by-one in a laboratory in her home. The species of butterflies is called Palo Verdes blue butterfly. With each hatch of a butterfly, the Palo Verdes species is one step further from extinction. Once she breeds these butterflies, the goal is to develop habitats that are safe for them. Previously this particular species was found mostly on military land in the U.S.A. For now, Jana Johnson focuses her time and energy on allowing this species to make a comeback, and she is so close! Next time you see a butterfly, take the time to watch it and appreciate its existence in nature!

Everday Air Pollution Potentially More Harmful than a Nuclear Fallout

Did you ever think that the air you breath may be more harmful to you than a nuclear fallout from an atomic bomb? I never considered the air to be that harmful. Our air today is polluted by cigarette smoke, automobile exhaust, factory productions, etc. that are extremely harmful to us. Estimates suggest that a lifelong smoker might on average lose ten years of life because of the habit, while someone who is severely obese at 35 might lose four to ten years. By contrast, atomic bomb survivors who were exposed to high levels of radiation within 1,500 meters of the center of a blast could expect their lives to be shortened by an average of 2.6 years. The increased risk of dying from heart disease caused by passive smoking if you live with a partner who smokes is estimated to be 1.7 percent. This compares to a 2.8 percent increased risk of dying from the adverse effects of the higher air pollution. Next time the option is available to help protect and purify the air we breathe, take it! Air pollution is something that we can help control, so make it a goal to take active steps to protect our environment.

To read more on these statistics check out this article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article1605122.ece

Al Gore Speaks on Global Warming

Al Gore spoke of the critical issue facing the world today...Global Warming. The strongest point that he made in this speech is that global warming is a symptom of a bigger and deeper underlying issue. The issue is that we are witnessing a collision between our civilization and the earth and three factors are responsible for that: population growth, scientific and technological revolution, and our way of thinking. In my opinion, the weakest point of his speech is that global warming can be validated by record cold temperatures, just as easily as warmer temperatures. Gore believes that by conservation, a reduction in emissions and political activism, a solution is possible. In my opinion, the impacts that humans have on global warming is minute to the impacts of natural causes. I do agree, however, that it is our duty to future generations to take care of the global environment to the best of our ability.

Do You Know What Possibly Has More Genes Than You?

The Coral may possibly possess the same amount, if not more, of genes as humans do! Also more amazing is that as distant as it is from humans, it possesses many of the same genes in the immune system as humans do that protect against disease. Corals are among the simplest animals in the world – yet they may possess a set of genes as large and complex as our own. Scientists have found that around 10 or 12 percent of the known coral genes are in fact shared uniquely with vertebrates – these are genes that have been lost from all other animals so far examined. These include genes for the development of nerves, vision, DNA imprinting, stress responses and key immune system genes. This discovery is great in relation to all vertebrates.

Bugs Trafficing Carbon Underground

The exchange of carbon underground is ten times greater than carbon produced by burning fossil fuels. There is a particular fungi located on almost 80% of plant roots that is assisting in the trafficing of carbon. This fungi produces filaments that spread widely throughout the soil and help the plants take in water and phosphates. The major pathways produced by fungi lets the carbon travel from the plants to the soil more readily. The discovery of this fungi helps researchers determine what what preserves a healthy soil and providesrecycled carbon for supporting below ground biodiversity. It will alsoopen up a new understanding of the food-webs and nutrient flow in soil which is fundamental to sustainable agriculture.

Alien Predators are More Dangerous Than Native Predators

In a new study, experts believe that introduced, or "alien," predators are more dangerous than native predators because their prey are naïve to the hunting tactics of alien predators.
In contrast, where predators and prey have coexisted for long periods, prey often respond by developing behaviors and defenses such as camouflage coloring that prevent detection or help them escape an encounter with a familiar predator.
The revelation of these findings provides a challenge of how to create the best programs to protect native species from predation. Scientists believe that more frequent contact between predator and prey populations has made prey populations less naïve to alien predators by exposing them to similar predator behaviors. Ongoing predation pressure means that remnant populations of prey are very vulnerable to extinction from other pressures such as diseases and habitat loss.
Particular measures should be taken to help protect prey from alien species.

More information on this topic can be found here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070314093316.htm

Deformed Frogs found in Minnesota

Deformed frogs have been found in Minnesota and other parts of the U.S.A. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency began a study to determine the reasons for deformity, but discontinued the study shortly after. Most of the frogs suffer from deformities of the legs and/or eyes. This is important because frog species throughout the country are suffering and diminishing. These frogs tend to serve as an alert to our environment that something is going wrong. Frogs are especially sensitive to pollution because they live where land meets water, and can simply absorb pollutants through their skin. What can you do in your area to help the frogs? Help protect them and the environment by reducing the amount of harmful chemicals that are used and disposed of, and keep a close watch on frogs in the area to ensure that no deformities are present.

To find out more information about the deformed frogs and how you can help and support frogs in your area visit this website: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/hot/frogphotos.html

Critical Thinking Model: How it relates to Ecologists

The Critical Thinking Model can be used as a guide for professionalism in any career. Specifically in ecology, the critical thinking model is extremely beneficial because it keeps the ecologist on track and ensures that thinking is occuring at the highest level possible. Using this model, ecologist can professionaly learn and represent the various elements involved in the surrounding natural world to the best of their ability. Initially, an ecologist will identify a specific topic of interest and/or concern to study. Identifying this concept can be difficult because so many different subcategories of ecology exist. Once a specific interest is identified, the ecologist begins to gather all sorts of information to assist in the particular study. Gathering information will take quite a while, but it is essential to gain a deep understanding and representation of the topic. After gathering vast amounts of information, ecologists must examine it to sort through the redundant and unnecessary information. Without this ability, ecologists would be bogged down in trying to understand every single detal of a topic, rather than the important and vital aspects. Next, the examination of this information will lead to the formulation of ideas. Ecologists base their hypotheses on observations, and experiments in order to formulate new facts about a particular area. Formulation must occur on a deep level, so that ecologists are accurately representing new information to its fullest extent and so that new information is being applied correctly. Applying what is learned can be difficult without careful attention and critical thinking. The application must be beneficial to the subject, but also informative and correct. After applying all of the information, the professional ecologist must have the ability to evaluate their own work. Evaluation is a professional skill that helps one to recognize the pros and cons of a particular study, and also provides the ecologist with insight into his/her own ability. Finally, throughout the model of critical thinking, the ecologist must continuously reflect on previous achievements or failures to assist in improving future endeavors. Reflection is not only important at the end of the cycle, but also during each and every step.