Wolves changing Yellowstone

Biologists call it a "trophic cascade".  Wolves, a top predator, were re-introduced into Yellowstone National Park in the mid-90's and we are now seeing reverberations all the way down the food chain.

Here's how it works.  Because the wolves prey on elk, the elk population has dropped from nearly 20,000 in 1994 to about 6,100 in 2010.

Because elk have a taste for aspen, willow, and other trees, their populations have shot up.  Here are two photos showing the change in the aspen population in just the last five years and the aspen saplings that would never have survived grazing by a massive population of elk. (Photo credit: Ripple and Beschta, 2011)

And there's more.  The beaver populations benefit from more willows.  The streams will benefit from more beavers.  The songbirds benefit from more aspens.  The bison poplations are increasing because they don't have to compete with a massive population of elk anymore...you get the idea.

We are getting a first glimse of historical Yellowstone.  All this from less than 100 wolves.   Phenomenal.

(Source; pdf)

Live action wildlife cams

Screen time with biodiversity:

Butterfly cam - American Museum of Natural History

Naked mole-ratcam - Smithsonian National Zoo

Penguin cam - California Academy of Sciences

Rainforest cam - Brazil

Sea Otter cam - Monterey Bay Aquarium

Leafcutter ant cam - Natural History Museum, London

Polar bear cam - San Diego Zoo

Biodiversity posters for a kid's room

Found some amazing posters that would look great on a wall in the kid's room (or for your living room for that matter!)

Connecting all of the dots

Green living usually means two things: either you are trying to save the "environment", or you are trying to protect your health. Many times an action does both, sometimes not. But, almost always, they both protect biodiversity.
Think that new vinyl smell is bad for your health? Probably not so good for other vertebrates either.

...(L)aboratory studies indicate phthalates cause a broad range of birth defects and reproductive impairments in animals exposed in utero and shortly after birth (e.g. Marsman 1995; Wine 1997; Ema 1998; Mylchreest 1998, 1999, 2000; Gray 1999; CERHR 2000). Phthalate exposures damage the testes, prostate gland, epididymis, penis, and seminal vesicles in laboratory animals (e.g. Mylchreest 1998); most of these effects persist throughout the animal's life. Phthalates have also been shown to bioaccumulate in fish tissue and to affect estrogen levels in fish (Jobling 1995).

Prefer organic food for your kids? Also better for nearby birds and other wildlife.

It is estimated that of the roughly 672 million birds exposed annually to pesticides on U.S. agricultural lands, 10%– or 67 million– are killed. This staggering number is a conservative estimate that takes into account only birds that inhabit farmlands, and only birds killed outright by ingestion of pesticides. The full extent of bird fatalities due to pesticides is extremely difficult to determine because most deaths go undetected.

Giving up number 7 plastic? The amphibians will thank you.

A new study reveals that by interfering with thyroid hormone, exposure to low levels of bisphenol A (BPA) slows the rate at which tadpoles develop into frogs. Thyroid signals are necessary both for normal frog metamorphosis and for human development. In these experiments, exposure levels similar to those found in human infants kept certain genes from turning on, thus delaying tadpole development.

Facebook chat among charismatic megafauna

The coolest citizen science project ever.

The number of ways that citizens can contribute to real research is many and, because of budget cuts, growing.  I promise a post is coming soon covering the full plethora of ways you can volunteer.  In the meantime, this has to be the top of my list.

The Whale Song Project is asking the public to help marine researchers understand whale communication.  Volunteers listen to calls from killer whales and pilot whales, and then try to match the distincive sounds to other calls in the database. 

Green gifts for kids

Great ideas for gifts for kids that support wildlife and protect biodiversity, with bonus 'stuff' that kids love.  BTW - all of these are Four Star charities according to Charity Navigator:

Oceana:

 

World Wildlife Fund:

Snow Leopard Trust:

Sea Turtle Conservancy:

Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International:

What is biodiversity?

Species of life on earth

When someone says ‘biodiversity’, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?

According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, about 1.75 million species of plants, animals, and microorganisms have been identified, and there may be as many as 13 million different species on earth.

From the tiny bacteria in the deep of the ocean to the algae that grow in the snow at the poles, all species are vitally important to the balance of the ecosystems in which they evolved.

One of my favorites. The indomitable Water Bear.

Can survive from -200 to 151°C and remain in a completely dry state for up to 100 years. Can survive boiling alcohol and the vacuum and radiation of space. Can find them in your backyard.

Inaugural post

The one process now going on that will take millions of years to correct is the loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural habitats. This is the folly our descendants are least likely to forgive us. -E.O. Wilson