Booming Industry: GM Recycling Oil Booms in Chevy Volt Parts
December 29, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Delana in Energy & Fuel, Nature & Ecosystems, Transit & Auto. ]
It is anything but news that the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a truly devastating event. And though the well is now capped and the oil has stopped flowing, the environmental impact of the disaster will continue to be felt for many years and in many, many ways. Car-making giant GM is doing its small part in reducing the spill’s toll by recycling some of the booms used to trap oil into parts for its hybrid car, the Chevy Volt.
GM plans to use around 100,000 pounds of boom material in its innovative recycling scheme. But it is far from a solitary effort on GM’s part: a whole collection of organizations are involved in the plan. The boom material was collected by Heritage Environmental, then the oil and water were separated (via a high-speed spinning process) by Mobile Fluid Recovery. Lucent Polymers prepared the plastic before GDC, Inc. used it to produce radiator air deflectors for the Volt.
There should be enough materials available to produce radiator air deflectors for at least the first model year of Volts. There may even be enough for produce parts for other models, as well. If left to rot in landfills, the boom materials would take hundreds of years to even begin breaking down, so GM’s plan to give them new life does somewhat reduce the environmental fallout from the devastating BP spill.
The irony of using oil spill detritus to supply parts for cars which will ultimately perpetuate the use of petroleum products is not lost on GM or any of the other companies involved in the unusual plan. But when compared to using brand new, pre-consumer plastics, producing the needed parts from recycled oil booms is a smart move that might just win GM a few green credits in the hearts of environmentalists.
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It’s ALWAYS the Season for Caring
September 13, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
Barbie and Martin Maldonado’s first house burned down in 1996, and the roof on their current house leaked every time it rained. They have also had their share of trials and tribulations as they care for children and grandchildren with health problems. Recently, the family was nominated to “Season for Caring” by the nonprofit agency WBC Opportunities. Now, Jimmy Jacobs Custom Homes will build them a 1,294-square-foot custom home, accessible to people with disabilities. Green building techniques should help it qualify to be certified by the national Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. Read the story by Katy Ballard in the Austin American Statesman: www.statesman.com/life/season-for-caring
Beth
The Electronic Cigarette: One Way to Go Green
July 29, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Marc in Food & Health, Technology & Gadgets. ]
At this point, most people are well aware of how cigarettes and their smoke affect health, but not nearly as many are aware of how they affect the environment. Trillions of cigarettes are created each day, and when they’re smoked, their is nothing to do but toss them away. Now that the addictive affects of cigarettes are well documented, there are a ton of smokeless alternatives coming to the market that promise to lessen the health affects, and the environmental effects, of smoking.
(Images via e-cig-environ, diytrade, 7gadgets)
A lot of people love to puff on their old pipe, but as the smell of pipe tobacco once brought to a mind a library full of books and a fireplace, it now brings up images of tar filled lungs. One solution is an electronic pipe that gives you the chemicals your body has become dependent upon, without sacrificing the pipe that has become such an indelible part of your image.
(Images via trendhunter, soccerphile, safetobacco, ecigaretteblog, electroniccigreviews)
Electronic cigarettes are touted as an environmental asset, as they are reusable, and can help offset the 4.5 trillion non biodegradable cigarette butts piled into landfills each year (source: tobacco control). Some of the earlier solutions and cigarette alternatives look more like torture devices or spy gadgets than the cigarettes we’re used to, but some of the newer ones look sleek and even light up as you inhale, or let out a smoke-like vapor when you exhale.
(Images via best4smoke, coolest-gadgets, shopgomi, amazon, alibaba)
Smokeless ashtrays are not as effective at preventing worldwide pollution from cigarettes, but at least they incentivize people to dispose of their cigarettes properly, and not just toss them to the ground. Most smokeless ashtrays are intimidating and appear straight out of a sci fi movie, but attempts have been made to add a little aesthetic improvment (and gadget aesthetic).
(Images via delhi, realecig, blogcritics, free-press-release)
E cigarettes can now be reloaded on the road. With mini docking stations that look more like a GPS, the excuses for not switching from environment harming cigarettes to electronic versions, are becoming hard to stand behind. People used to rally behind their victimization by money grubbing cigarette companies, but these alternatives allow you to ease off (or fully indulge) one’s addictions, without spreading the burden of the harmful smoke and litter onto the rest of the community.
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20 Green Gadgets For Your Green Thumb
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Surprise Finds: 10 Strange Yet Exciting New Species
July 18, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Chris in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
(Images via: Gabrielle Wang, Science Codex, Baanmaha, Bangko Biz News, OMG Log, The Were 42, National Geographic, Natural History Museum, National Geographic, National Geographic)
The International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University recently released its top 10 list of newly discovered species, bringing together a fascinating collection of weird (a football-shaped, rat-eating plant), trippy (a psychedelic creature of the deep sea) and sexual innuendo (a modestly endowed, foul-smelling fungus).
We Want An Attenborough’s Pitcher, Not A Belly Itcher
(Images via: Think and Change, Ekawaaz, Retrieverman’s Weblog, Nip the Bud)
With a name that evokes images of the game of baseball, the newly discovered plant named the Attenborough’s pitcher is actually similar to a football in shape and size. Discovered on the island of Palawan in the Philippines, this plant uses fluids in its long pitcher to trap insects and rats, and then eat them.
Bombardier Worms: Mean, Green Bombers
(Images via: KeSimpulan, Scientific Computing)
Discovered in the deep seas off the coast of California, the bombardier worm is also known as the “green bomber.” When having to protect themselves, mature and juvenile bombardier worms will detach modified, illuminating gills (see top images) that scare off potential predators and thus give these swimming worms their cool names.
Don’t Be Such A Bug-Eating Slug All of Your Life
(Image via: BM Factory)
As its name suggests, this slug eats bugs. What’s the big deal, you ask? Well, when considering that all other slugs eat algae, this insect-eating slug discovered on the Gulf of Thailand is certainly unique, as evident by the fact that it was categorized into its own family of slugs.
Straight Out of Transylvania: The Dracula Minnow
(Images via: Cosmos Magazine, Signs of the Times, Pet FRD)
I’m not sure I’ll be using the Dracula minnow any time soon when fishing for bigger keepers. With its unique tooth-like fangs, the Dracula minnow is certainly a bit intimidating upon a up-close view; however, these fangs are not used to suck blood but rather to spar with other males.
Killer Sponges: Soaking ‘Em Softly
(Image via: National Geographic)
Discovered last year in deep sea waters off of New Zealand, the killer sponge was more than sponge worthy when getting named to the top list of new species. Unlike other softer sponge species, the killer sponge stands out with its spiky skeleton-like structure. While looking relatively harmless to the eye, this sponge is carnivorous and more dangerous than it appears.
Omars’ Banded Knifefish: Not What It Appeared to Be
(Images via: National Geographic, Seriously Fish, Wild Tropical Animal)
For more than 30 years, researchers in Uruguay have been using this electric fish (see top image) to understand electrocommunicaton. However, after comparing this fish with other members of the Gymnotidae family (see other images), it turned out that Omars’ banded knifefish was actually its own unique species that had been misidentified the entire time. Oops! Talk about flushing 30 years of research down the drain.
Psychedelic Frogfish: “I’m Freaking Out Man!”
(Images via: NewScientist, Daily Kos, Somethin Ordinary)
Discovered in Indonesia, Histiophryne psychedelica (what’s more commonly known as the psychedelic frogfish) is not only unique for displaying a trippy pattern of concentric rings that cover its entire body, but having a flat face. I don’t know about you, but the psychedelic frogfish certainly would have worked over its fair share of Hippies back in the day.
Coming Soon to IKEA: The Uber Orb-Weaver
(Images via: Scientific Computing, Earth Times, Telegraph)
What the heck is an uber-orb weaver? It’s actually a spider (with the common name of Komac’s golden orb spider) that is part of the Nephilidae family, which is known for spinning some of the largest webs around. Recently discovered in South Africa, the uber orb-weaver (also known as Nephila komaci) is especially interesting in that females have body lengths that are 5 times longer than those of males.
Can You Do Me A Small Favor?
(Images via: Potteric Carr Wildlife News, Microfield Scientific, Countryside Info)
No, I’m not talking about borrowing some money but rather learning about a new stinkhorn fungus recently found in an isolated West African island country. Also known as Phallus drewesil, this two-inch mushroom is characterized by not only its sexually-suggestive shape but a foul odor that attracts flies to spread its spores.
Udderly Weird Yam: A Name That Doesn’t Disappoint
(Image via: Claude Marcel Hladik )
Discovered in Madagascar, the udderly weird yam is in fact edible, thought it’s not likely to be on my Thanksgiving dinner table any time soon due to its gross look and critically endangered status. For more on the udderly weird yam and the other top new species, visit the ASU International Institute for Species Exploration.
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Jaws 7: Amazing New Shark Tales and Discoveries
June 6, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Chris in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
(Images via: Scrape TV, Flickr, Discovery, Reef Ed, Big Blue Tech, Pagog, Mom and Pop’s Internet Shop)
During a recent bout of insomnia, the classic movie “Jaws” was on television, a flick that is the reason I have and will never set a foot in the ocean. In honor of that amazing Steven Spielberg feature and its all-at-once intimidating yet intriguing star, here are seven cool (and even surprising) recent discoveries about sharks, including everything from camouflage sharks and sharks with ESP to shark attack probabilities and peaceful interactions with smaller fish.
Camouflage Sharks: Sounds Scary Enough to be True
(Images via: Observations of a Nerd, University of Tampa Shark Lab, Wikipedia)
Did you know that approximately 50 species of sharks, that is 10 percent of all sharks, are able to emit light that allows them to disappear from both predators and prey? That’s right, according to a recent study in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Specifically studying a luminous shark known as the velvet belly lantern shark, researchers discovered that this type of shark can produce and emit light from underneath its body, essentially allowing the shark to mimic environmental light and thus camouflage itself from other unsuspecting fish. Fortunately, the velvet belly lantern shark does not feast on humans, who could find themselves in quite a pickle if this camouflaged creature were to pass by.
The Spidey Senses of Sharks
(Images via: Elasmo Diver, Flickr, Geekologie, Wikimedia)
While some sharks are blessed with the ability to disguise themselves via self-emitted light, all sharks are blessed with super senses similar to humans and advantageous in the deep sea. Take for instance the fact that sharks have ESP – electric sense perception – thanks to electroreceptors that are extremely sensitive to picking up the electric signals of wounded or trapped fish. Or that sharks have eyes like us (with the exception of lenses) that allow them to control light and see well in dark conditions underwater. Or that sharks have perceptive noses that allow them to pick up chemicals in the water. Or that they rely on an incredible sense of touch – both when hearing (through small hairs in the ear that allow them to feel water changes) and tasting (by first biting their prey to determine whether it is a worthy meal). Or that sharks have a lateral line that allows them to detect the movement and sense the direction of any solid body that moves through water, a sense that is not comparable to humans. When you package all of these shark senses together, it’s no wonder this creature rules the seas.
Remembering Not to Forget: Shark Long-Term Memories
(Images via: Liverpool Daily Post, Crusader Travel, Discovery, AIMS, Shark Information, Swim at Your Own Risk)
Geez, given all of these super senses, it wouldn’t seem that sharks need any more advantages. Well, that’s not the case for tiger sharks, which apparently have incredible memories, specifically when it comes to remembering hot spots for good meals. According to a study to be published in the journal Marine Biology, tiger sharks will memorize previous locations that offered good meals and will repeatedly return to those areas even if thousands of miles away (quite possibly by using internal clocks that guide their movements back to these bountiful feeding locales). In a similar light, Galapagos sharks also remember filling locations, though they do not stray as far from these spots as the tiger sharks.
Shark Gumption for the Sake of More Consumption
(Images via: Brine Queen, Arkive, Glaucus, Bootleg)
Judging by the incredible senses, memories and other capabilities of sharks, it’s hardly surprising that these animals would be a little full of themselves and feel as if they’re untouchable. Well, a recent study pulled out some surprises in terms of the confidence and risk-taking abilities of some gill sharks, which entered waters more than 900 feet below sea level to feast on pig carcasses dropped in by researchers. These sharks were willing to enter these dead zones – where oxygen is extremely low and suffocation is a very real possibility – all for the sake of the meal. Guess some sharks just love the thrill and spoils of the hunt, although the study did find that some depths were just too deep for even these cocky sharks to venture.
Reversed Waters: Lifting Great White Sharks Out of the Sea
(Images via: National Geographic, Surfer’s Village)
Apparently, some researchers want to know what it’s like to be God, that is via the use of a hydraulic lift that is able to carry SUV-sized great white sharks out of the water, all for the sake of research purposes. As to be depicted on the new television series Expedition Great White, researchers began lifting great white sharks out of the water in 2007, first beginning with smaller great whites and then advancing to larger great whites. After catching a great white with tuna, the researchers would lift the mammoth creature out of the water for no more than 15 minutes, using this time to take blood samples, make measurements and attach tracking devices on the shark’s dorsal fin to study movement, feeding and reproduction patterns. While the great white sharks were probably a bit surprised and certainly not too happy about getting pulled out of the water, the researchers were considerate of their feelings, using a hydration hose to pump seawater into the sharks and thus avoid suffocation. While certainly a frightening proposition, the shark elevator has apparently allowed researchers to examine great whites in ways that were previously only possible with dead specimens, especially when considering the dangers of being in the water with live great whites.
You Might Be a Shark Attack Victim If…
(Images via: Surfer’s Village, Shark Attack Photos, Extreme Survive, Panoramio)
Speaking of recent shark discoveries, a new study recently found that 21 percent of the global number of shark attacks that occurred between 1999 and 2008 took place on 47-mile strip of Florida’s coastline. Luckily, most of these attacks were by smaller sharks that were confused by humans, and no worse than a dog bite (I’ll have to take the study on its word regarding this last point). Especially interesting, the study was able to determine that people were more likely to be bitten by sharks on a Sunday (when more people were in the water), when wearing black and white shorts (due to the visual adeptness of sharks at picking up contrasts), when swimming during a new moon or full moon (when the tides are highest) and when swimming in less than 6 feet of ocean water. Last but not least, shark attacks in this area were more likely to happen to men than women since men tend to spend more time in the water.
The Softer Side of Sharks: Going to the Fish Car Wash
(Image via: Ningaloo Kayak Adventures)
While these previous discoveries may have hardly changed your opinions or fears about sharks, it should be known that some sharks pay respect to smaller fish. In the Osprey Reef, more than 1100 sharks were observed gathering in fish cleaning stations where the sharks would take a vertical pose, signifying to smaller fish that they were there to be cleaned. In none of these cases did researchers ever see the sharks eating the smaller fish; rather it appeared that the sharks were respecting the process, which benefitted them by removing mucus, algae and dead tissues and also aided the smaller fish by providing them with essential nutrients. Maybe sharks aren’t as bad as they’re cracked up to be, that is when there is something to benefit them in the long run.
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Feats of Strength: 6 Amazing/Surprising Animal Superpowers
April 25, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Chris in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
(Images via: Reef Seekers, Mirror, Less Loss, Beke, Rocking Facts, What’s That Bug)
From daredevil damselfish and borneo ninja slugs to super-seeing bees and incredibly strong dung beetles, animals that seem rather ordinary on the surface will occasionally surprise us humans with incredible feats or unusual behavior reminiscent of fictional superpowers.
Hardly Damsels in Distress: Damselfish Daredevils
(Images via: Ralph Fuller, Sea Baja, Nova, Flickr, Dive Rosa)
While recently studying personality traits of damselfish, researchers were surprised when this species of fish suddenly became more aggressive and bold in the water. Turns out that increases in water temperature cause these fish to be more active than usual, particularly when another fish was made visible outside the water during a controlled study. On average, the damselfish were four times more aggressive and bold than normal when water temperatures increased. Since damselfish are cold-blooded to begin with, warmer temperatures provide them with more energy to pursue food and take more chances, which could also be their end doing if not keeping lookout for larger predators. Such are the risks of being damselfish daredevils.
Borneo Hills Ninja Slugs
(Images via: Flickr, Flickr, Flickr, Dawn)
Recently in the mountains of the Malaysian port of Borneo, researchers discovered a slug with a tail three times the length of its head and a unique ability to initiate the reproduction process. Shooting calcium carbonate and hormone-filled darts at potential mates, the new species was dubbed the Borneo ninja slug, even though its martial arts skills are up for debate.
Beyond the Sting: Super-Seeing and Sniffing Bees
(Images via: Eye Design Book, Ugly Overload, ASM International)
How it’s currently good to be a bumblebee. With spring having arrived, these fellas will be out and about in droves soon enough, ready to invade summer picnics and even sting when necessary. With the ability to see the world five times faster than humans, it’s no wonder that bees are so quick to pick up on freshly served food during summer grill outs and to navigate many different situations in the wild, including shady, unclear bushes. And it appears that some super-seeing bees are only getting stronger. To combat a recent decline in honeybees killed by a parasite called varroa mites, scientists have bred super-sniffing bees that will better allow them to locate and root out these pests when present in their hives. Guess this superpower is worth having if it will ensure future populations of honeybees and bottles of honey. In related news, super-smelling wasps have recently been trained to mimic sniffing dogs capable of uncovering illegal drugs and toxic chemicals while desert ants also have been shown to use olfactory cues like maps when navigating back to their nests.
Greater Mouse-Eared Bat Signal: The Sunset
(Images via: Democratic Underground, Wild Things Bap, J Waller, Bats)
Like desert ants, the greater mouse-eared bat always seems to know where it’s at in relation to its roosting site. Despite being creatures of the night, these bats utilize the position of the sun at sunset to determine direction. These bats then calibrate their magnetic fields with the sun, ultimately using this gigantic orb as a compass to orient themselves, according to recent research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Even when placed in unfamiliar settings, these bats were able to find their way home rather quickly based on this uncanny and envious tracking system.
Stop-and-Go Elephants: Equipped with Four-Wheel Drive
(Images via: The BS Report, Hansen Maud, Best Week Ever, Flickr, Telegraph)
Not only do elephants look like SUVs, they work like them. According to fascinating new research, elephants are believed to be the only four-legged animals in the wild to have four-wheel drive, which refers to power being applied independently to each limb, ultimately allowing them to brake and accelerate with each leg. All other four-legged animals are believed to have rear-wheel drive, where the hind legs are used to accelerate and the front legs are used to brake. According to researchers, four-wheel drive makes elephants less efficient and much slower runners. However, elephants do have more power over their movements as a result of their self-contained 4-wheel drive.
Dung Beetles: Super Strong and Apparently Steroid Free
(Images via: The Age, Science Score, Terrenoire, Flickr)
The dung beetle (Onthophagus taurus) was recently declared the world’s strongest insect after demonstrating the ability to pull 1,141 times its body weight. In comparable terms, that would be equivalent to a human being lifting almost 180,000 pounds. Not all dung beetles are this strong; for those that are not, they compensate in different ways. According to recent research in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, dung beetles that are not blessed with the strength to fight other males for female mates are known for having much bigger testicles than their stronger counterparts. With this advantage, these less strong dung beetles are able to produce much more sperm, thus giving them their own special appeal to females.
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The Global Carbon Offsets Scam
April 23, 2010 by admin · View Comments
Carbon offsets were supposed to be The Next Big Thing, the have-your-cake-and-eat-it-to solution to global warming. They certainly are the next big business; the United Nations has predicted that the carbon offset market will be worth close to $100 billion soon.
But the eco-friendly free pass may just be a fraud.
The New England Center for Investigative Journalism (NECIJ) and the Christian Science Monitor teamed up to investigate the carbon offset craze. They found an industry that’s unregulated, largely unaccountable and virtually unwatched. “Carbon offsets are the environmental equivalent of financial derivatives: complex, unregulated, unchecked and — in many cases — not worth their price,” writes Doug Struck for the NECIJ.
What follows makes it clear Struck has understated the matter. The Vatican, for example, signed an agreement with KlimaFa, a Hungarian compnay, to offset its carbon footprint by “hir[ing] hundreds of workers to plant thousands of trees” near a village with high unemployment, Struck writes. Villagers and the Vatican were equally thrilled, although the Pontiff may have been a bit too quick to the punch: the Vatican declared itself the “first carbon-neutral sovereign state” in 2007.
Meanwhile, not a single tree has been planted by KlimaFa. Yep. Not one.
That’s not the only scandal. In some parts of the world, offset projects are pushing the poor deeper into poverty. Writer Ben Arnoldy uncovers the story of Indian tribesmen who have been displaced from their small farms by a windmill project that sells offsets around the world. One windmill, according to Arnoldy, took up less than an acre of Yashwant Malche’s farm — but losing even that little bit of land left Malche without enough money to make ends meet. Now he migrates for part of the year to another state to work on a sugar cane farm, and he’s down one of his three changes of clothes.
Critical Condition: 12 Very Rare and Endangered Animals
April 11, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Chris in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
(Images via: Lists O Plenty, ESA Blawg, Davo Trip, Fat Birder, Say I Am Green, Current, Flickr, The Age, The Website of Everything, Green Packs, Flickr, It’s Nature)
Last week the Wildlife Conservation Society released a report called The Rarest of the Rare, which detailed 12 animals that are “critically endangered” (i.e. “at an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild”). See what made the list of critically endangered animals, some of which have seen their populations decline by approximately 80 percent in the last 10 years.
Cuban Crocodile: Say Goodbye to My Hardly Little Friend?
(Images via: NGS, Flickr, Independent)
Reaching lengths of up to 11 feet, the Cuban crocodile has dwindled to an estimated population of 4,000, with some of these crocodiles likely hybrids of Cuban and American crocodiles. Illegal hunting that targets Cuban crocodile meat has been a large culprit in the decline of this species.
Florida Bonneted Bat: Not Extinct, But Close
(Images via: Tree Hugger, Bat Con, Animal Diversity, Bat Conservation)
The largest bat in the Sunshine State, the Florida bonneted bat was thought to be extinct until 2002, when a small colony was discovered in a suburb. Only 100 Florida bonneted bats are thought to exist today, with pesticide spraying and deforestation that has destroyed roosting sites believed to have clipped these bats known for their 21-inch wingspans.
Fungus Makes Green-Eyed Frogs Feel Green
(Image via: Davo Trip)
Once common in Costa Rica and Panama, the diminutive green-eyed frog is not only small in size (roughly 2.5 inches long) but population, with only a few hundred of these frogs still living today. Chytrid fungus and exposure to agricultural chemicals have killed and deformed these frogs.
Grenada Dove: A National Bird for How Long?
(Images via: OAS, Wildlife Extra, Life Afloat, Flickr)
Featured on postage stamps in this Caribbean island, the Grenada dove has been reduced to an estimated population of 150, with this pink-breasted, national bird severely impacted by habitat loss and the predatory introduction of mongooses, cats and rats. A 10-year recovery plan has been implemented to boost populations of the Grenada dove, which hopefully won’t become a thing of the past.
Hirola: Concern for the Spectacled Antelope
(Images via: Rufford Small Grants, Discovery, Wangui)
With white markings around the head, the African antelope known as the hirola or Hunter’s hartebeest looks like it is wearing glasses. Forgive the hirola if it appears more than a little concerned: only an estimated 600 of these antelopes exist today as a result of disease, predators, habitat loss, severe droughts and poaching. Sadly, the hirola has been legally protected in places like Kenya and Somalia since the 1970s; however, enforcement has been more than ineffective during this time period.
Ploughshare Tortoise: Carrying a Large Burden
(Images via: Lists O Plenty, The Conservation Report, Wildlife Extra)
With only 200 mature and 400 individual members remaining in northwestern Madagascar, the ploughshare tortoise is expected to go extinct within the next 30 years if current threats such as hunting, poaching and smuggling for the international pet trade continue to go undeterred.
Island Gray Fox: Small in Size and Population
(Images via: Wildlife North America, Britannica, Wildlife Mysteries)
Weighing 3 to 4 pounds, the island gray fox is not only the smallest fox in the United States but a rapidly declining species. Less than 1,000 island gray foxes are left today on 6 of the California Channel Islands as a result of canine diseases, golden eagle threats, and previous programs that killed these foxes to protect another endangered species, the endemic loggerhead shrikes. Thankfully, these killing efforts were stopped in 2003.
Sumatran Orangutans: Hardly Worth Laughing About
(Images via: Bio Web, Orangutan Foundation, Durrell)
Mostly living in Indonesia, the Sumatran orangutan population is down to roughly 6,600 individuals, according to a 2008 survey. Logging and deforestation have had adverse effects on these orangutans, which have been orphaned, captured for trade or killed for various reasons.
Vaquita: A Porpoise That Needs A Purpose
(Images via: CSI Whales Alive, Save the Vaquita, Save Bio Gems, INE)
A porpoise that looks a bit like a plump dolphin, the vaquita is respectively recognized by dark rings around its eyes and patches on its beak. Nowadays the vaquita is hardly recognized due to its small numbers: only 150 individuals are left as the result of fishing gillnets, reduced water flows and water pollution.
White-Headed Langur: Finding It Hard to Reproduce
(Images via: New York Times, Flickr, New York Times)
As few as 59 white-headed langurs are left on the once isolated but more recently populated Cat Ba Island near Vietnam, with many of these species split into all female groups. In addition to deforestation, a major threat to these langurs has been hunting, specifically for a traditional Chinese medicine preparation called monkey balm.
Romer’s Tree Frog: Easy to Get Lost
(Images via: Yearbook, Compunicate, Yearbook, Electronic Gallery of HKU)
Less than 0.8 inches long, the Romer’s tree frog of Hong Kong was once thought to be extinct following airport construction that wiped out its habitat. In good news, this tree frog is still alive, with active breeding programs contributing to a couple thousand Romer’s being released in the wild in the 1990s.
Przewalski’s Horse: Back Kicking in the Wild
(Images via: ZSL, Shoarns, National Zoo)
Did you know that the Przewalski’s horse, with its stocky body and short neck, is the only true living species of wild horse? Or that this horse once became extinct in the wild and could only be found in zoos? In recent years the Przewalski’s horse has been reintroduced into native habitats in Mongolia following dedicated conservation efforts. Today there are more than 300 Przewalski’s horses in the wild, not only serving as an important reminder to protect endangered animals but offering proof that there is hope for other threatened species if saved in time. For more information on these critically endangered animals, check out the WCS report: The Rarest of the Rare.
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Animal Native Tongues: Decoding 5 Cool Languages
April 4, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Chris in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
(Images via: Doctor Spiller, Travel Blog, Science Junkies, Powerful and Awesome, Ugly Overload, Rhoney Pots, Aintree Hospitals)
Just because animals are unable to talk like you and me doesn’t mean that they are unable to communicate with each other. In the case of giggling hyenas, growling dogs, squeaking catfish, singing woolly bats and beeping honeybees, certain sounds and actions are rich in meaning and symbolic of complex animal communication systems.
Giggling Hyenas: Laughing With You, Not At You
(Images via: MSU, Daily Mail, How Stuff Works, Flickr)
If you ever see a hyena laughing at you, don’t take personal offense. According to recent research in the journal BMC Ecology, the giggling that comes from spotted hyenas is used to convey information about age, dominance and identity. More specifically, the pitch of hyena giggles details age while note variations describe dominance and subordination. Such hyena giggles are typically heard during contests for food and are a good way for these animals to establish some sort of order rather than a free-for-all, feed-all.
More to a Dog Growl Than What Meets the Ear
(Images via: Hub Pages, Ask Dryin’, Flickr, Pet Partners Dog Training, K9 Corner)
According to a recent study, specific meanings are embedded in different types of dog growls, which are used by canines to convey important cues to each other. After recording three types of dog growls (one from a friendly dog looking to play tug-of-war, another from a concerned dog threatened by a stranger, and yet another from a protective dog guarding food) and then playing these sounds from a hidden speaker, researchers were surprised by the reactions of a dog approaching a bone. When hearing the friendly and threatened dog growls, the inquisitive dog stopped for a bit to listen to the growls and then continued in the pursuit of the bone. However, when hearing the protective growl, the dog jumped back from the bone, apparently getting the message to leave the food alone and suggesting a hidden meaning behind dog growls. Two things that especially surprised the researchers were how similar the threatened and protective dog growls were in sound but how different the approaching dog’s reaction was to these two types of growls.
The Squeaking Catfish Says: Give Me That Filet-O-Fish
(Images via: Daily Mail, Info Wave Media, Madgeburger Joe, Aces)
If you find yourself fishing this spring and pulling a squeaking catfish out of the water, chances are the fish may feel threatened (and rightfully so with a hook in its lip). According to a recent study in the journal BMC Biology, catfish communicate to each other by rubbing the spines of their pectoral fins into shoulder grooves, thus making a squeaking sound. Typically, the catfish squeaking sounds are used to warn other catfish of potential predatory threats in their areas and to communicate when competing, presumably for food or a mate. What especially surprised the researchers is that both young and old catfish squeak to communicate, with the squeaking sounds growing in intensity and length as the catfish age. Based on this finding, researchers have determined that catfish squeaking is a much more complex communication system than what it’s been credited for in the past.
Clear-Winged Woolly Bat Signals
(Images via: Budak, Ecology Asia, Flickr, Animal Pictures Archive)
A recent study in the Royal Society Biology Letters declared that the highest pitched calls in nature come from the clear-winged woolly bat, which can reach initial frequency ranges of 235-250 kilohertz (approximately 120 times higher than those of human female singers) and move from higher to lower notes at a frequency range of up to 170 kilohertz (compared to less than 2 kilohertz for a human singer). While the audio abilities of the clear-winged woolly bat are certainly impressive, what do they mean? Apparently, these bats emit a series of echoing calls that help relay information about the size and location of prey to other bats. Amazingly, the bats increase the frequency of their calls as they got closer to the prey, with the researchers suggesting that there are different bat calls to distinguish from insects, spiders, leaves, twigs and other potential sources of food.
Honeybee Stop Signs: The Headbutt and Beep Beeps
(Image via: Neurophilosophy)
Honeybees are known for doing a waggle dance (see above image) to communicate with each other about fruitful feeding sites near their hives. However, when trouble is looming at a feeding site, the bees will alter their communication by headbutting and beeping at each other, according to a recent study in the journal Current Biology. In the past researchers thought that bees could only deliver excited messages; however, this viewpoint changed during a study in which the bees reacted to simulated attacks by predatory crab spiders. By apparently butting heads and beeping, the bees were able to warn each other to avoid the dangerous feeding site, with these bee signals essentially acting as a stop sign and demonstrating the first ever inhibitory or negative message from bees.
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In honor of NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday, WebEcoist provides a Sweet Sixteen of the most recent bizarre, intriguing and exciting animal discoveries. 1 Comment - Click Here to Read More
Selection Sunday: A Sweet 16 of Cool Animal Discoveries
March 14, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Chris in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
(Images via: Caught Offside, Hollow Hill, Its Nature, Wildshores, Above the Buzz, Lists O Plenty, Game Winning Graphics, Ehow, Organic Garden Info)
As any college basketball fan knows, today is Selection Sunday, when 65 teams will be slotted in the NCAA Tournament (also known as March Madness). In celebration of this annual holiday, WebEcoist has selected some of the coolest, strangest and most interesting animal discoveries from recent months. From bottlenose dolphins turning diabetes off and on to extremely drunken bats flying straight to gorillas possibly eating monkeys, this Sweet Sixteen of recent animal stories and findings certainly fits the bill of downright weird, exciting and intriguing.
Must See TV: What’s Been Brewing Under the Sea?
(Images via: Hi Tech Dolphin, Babble, Dive Discovery, Flickr, Big Island Divers)
Dolphins have been previously included among the world’s smartest mammals, and now according to new research, our bottlenose friends may be able to induce type II diabetes to sustain their large brains. Suggested by new findings, bottlenose dolphins are able to turn on diabetes (when sugar builds up in the blood rather than the cells as a result of insufficient or ignored insulin) when food is scarce and then turn off the condition after eating a meal. Commonly viewed as enemies to dolphins, sharks apparently are not bloodthirsty hunters 24/7. According to a new study, sharks and manta rays commonly visit fish cleaning stations – where smaller fish suck off algae, mucus, dead tissue, etc. – peacefully letting the cleaner fish pick them clean for hours at a time. Who new that sharks were capable of embracing their softer sides?
Unexpected Game Plans: Underwater Deception and Drama
(Images via: Bukisa, Ocean Explorer, Take Action, Twisted Physics)
Speaking of some more underwater surprises, normally big and bad Atlantic octopuses were recently documented mimicking the swimming style and appearance of smaller flounders to avoid predators. Rather than swimming with their arms trailing their heads, the Atlantic octopuses have been recorded folding and then athletically moving their arms like flounders, which allegedly would cause larger predators to pause before taking a bite at them as compared to when their arms are dangling about. In a similar light, startled vampire squid have been recently documented completely turning themselves inside out – allowing their arms to retract within their bodies – to throw off predators. As for the Hawaiian bobtail squid, it has been known to utilize a luminescent bacteria to light up its underside, thus providing a sense of invisibility and protection from sharks and other predators that may be lurking below. Just as in the NCAA Tournament, it’s apparently all about surviving and advancing in the marine world.
Sharp Shooters: Chameleons and Tentacled Snakes
(Images via: Yahoo! Video, Curious Animals, Flickr)
In the animal kingdom, the ability to sprint, swim, jump and perform other advantageous activities usually is slowed by drops in temperature; however, this is not the case for chameleons. According to recent research, chameleons feature a unique, weatherproof accelerator muscle in their tongues that allows them to snag prey at alarming speeds in all types of weather conditions. As for the curious tentacled snake, it uses two tentacles at the top of its head to hunt for and see fish in murky water conditions. Researchers recently learned that the tentacled snake adeptly forms its body into a “J” shape when hunting for food, which causes fish to dart towards rather than away from its mouth. It seems that some reptile athletes aren’t competing on a level playing field.
High Above the Rim: Drunken Bats and Shrewd Bees
(Images via: U.S. Forest Service, Divaboo, West County Gazette, Vee Three)
Up in the sky, there have been a variety of recent surprises, including that of the inebriated bat. According to recent research, bats can get drunk eating nectar and fermenting fruits; however, the intoxication hardly affects them thanks to sonar that allows even the most drunken bats to fly normal. Just as bats can suck up their fair share of alcohol without too many worries, the sucker-footed bat is rare in that it roosts upright as opposed to the normal upside down position. While researchers previously thought that the sucker-footed bat was able to roost this way as a result of using its pads like suction cups, it turns out these bats are more like tree frogs and certain other insects that use sweat and water adhesion to stay perched on leaves.
In terms of landing on leaves and other objects, bees recently amazed researchers with their abilities to use their eyesight when adjusting to different landing platforms. When coming to a surface, bees steadily slow down as the object gets larger, which helps them determine specific landing strategies, such as touching down their back legs first when approaching flat surfaces or making initial contact on vertical and upside-down platforms with their antennae and then using their front legs to help flip their hind legs onto the surface. Apparently masters at stopping, honey bees will alter their normal waggle dance, which typically signals good sources of food for other bees, by butting their heads into recipients, which apparently details sites that are dangerous and warns the other bees to avoid those areas. As for other unique insect communication and travel, a new finding detailed how migrating moths and butterflies are hardly slaves to the wind but rather active surfers of breeze, which allow them to travel to where they want to go at much higher speeds and in shorter time periods.
Freakish Plays: Microscopic Worms and Parasites
(Images via: Top News, Nature, Sunny Sweet Farms)
In the category of miscellaneous, intriguing and bizarre recent discoveries, scientists have found that microscopic worms can be paralyzed by ingestion of a light-sensitive chemical called dithienylethene. Once exposed to light, the microscopic worms regained normal wiggling movement; though it should be known that the paralyzing chemical eventually killed the worms. Now if it was only so easy for a parasite known as Wolbachia bacteria, which has been found to shut down the immune systems of wasps and other insects. Especially morbid, these parasites have been shown to turn male spiders, mites and nematode worms into females and cause virgin females to give birth. Even worse, these parasites can reproduce at rapid rates. Talk about a freak show.
Big Upsets: Monkey-Eating Gorillas & Autism-Treating Mice?
(Images via: Gorilla Doctors, Plus Maths, Anatom, Master New Media)
While wild gorillas have historically feasted on plants, fruit and the occasional insect, they may actually eat meat after all, according to new findings discovered nowhere else but in gorilla poop. A recent analysis found monkey and antelope DNA in gorilla feces, possibly suggesting that gorillas prefer a meaty meal every so often. If the thought of gorilla poop is a bit too filthy for your tastes, perhaps these recent findings on house mice will suffice. Hardly known to make a peep, male mice were recently observed singing ultrasonic love songs to court females, which responded with their own vocalization. According to the study’s researchers, learning more about mice vocalization may help us understand autism, a developmental disability marked by communication differences. Essentially, researchers note that some mice are better than others at vocalizing their love songs; if more can be understood about what makes certain mice better communicators, researchers propose that this may provide more insight on human communication gaps. Sounds promising.
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Unseasonably cold weather and globally warm scenarios pose grave animal dangers to tropical fish, sea turtles, colobine monkeys, gorillas and other marine animals. Click Here to Read More
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