Towing Icebergs to Africa?

By: Mark Brown

Published: August 10, 2011

Link

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/iceberg-towing-drinking-water/

Picture

Here is a simulation of what George Mougin’s idea would look like. Small tugs boat will hold a “skirt” around the iceberg and gently pull the iceberg towards the Canary Islands. The iceberg will provide clean water for Africa. 

Summary:

As most of us probably know, clean drinking water isn’t always available to the people living in Arica. The water in Africa is usually contaminated and is also limited, but French engineer, George Mougin, has a solution that might possibly work. George Mougin has created a simulation showing how you can use two tug boats to pull an iceberg from Antarctica to Africa. The iceberg then melts into fresh drinking water. Though many people find his plan crazy, he believes that his plan could work.  With the availability of newer technology, Mougin was able to create his plan that took him three decades to design.  Now he can answer many questions, like how much of the iceberg would melt before it reached the Canary Islands and how long the whole process would take. Overall the whole trip would take about 141 day and about 38% of the iceberg would melt. Though it might be tough to accomplish, George Mougin hopes to make clean water easily available to many people in Africa.

Opinion/Reflection

I know that limited drinking water in Africa is a becoming huge problem and I am glad to hear that people are trying to come up with a solution.  Although it seems like a crazy idea, it could have the potential to really help people in Africa.  I think his plan could work and I think it’s worth trying.  We reached a point that people are now finding ways to bring clean, sanitary water to Africa.  I drink water every day, and I can’t imagine what it would be like to not have that resource easily available.  Water fountains, facets, and even bottled water, are some of the many ways in which I get my water. Not being able to have it easily available would be bad for my health and those around me.  I hope that his plan will inspire other ideas that would help the people in Africa.

Questions

1)      This invention has the potential to cost a lot of money. Do you think that it is worth the potential cost? Why or why not?

2)      Is unsanitary water in Africa becoming a big problem?

3)      What are some other ways in which clean water can become more available in Africa?

4)      How do you think the people in Africa are responding to this simulation?

5)      What are some factors that make towing an iceberg to Africa a bad idea?

Panamanian Gold Frog Almost Extinct

Summary
http://www.stri.si.edu/english/about_stri/headline_news/news/article.php?id=359

This article may be six years old but those frogs were in the critically endangered list no doubt about it. Not only were they hunted but a deadly fungus was killing them too. The fungus is called chytridiomycosis and it infects only amphibians and it had killed 57 of the 70 frog species. In the article it was talking about how it could have became extinct in 5 to 6 years but in February 2, 2008 in this article. In the article it explains how the fungus kills them. The frog's skin acts like its lungs when that fungus spreads it covers its skin and then it can no longer breathe and then dies. There is a bright side to this though in Maryland there is a zoo that is trying to regrow their numbers. There are also other zoos that are trying to do this like the one in Detroit. They hope that the frog’s population will once again boom in numbers as the tadpoles hatch in only a couple of hours.

 In this picture it shows a small 2 inch male Panamanian Gold frog as it tries to look for a remaining female.http://www.stri.si.edu/images/news_photos/big/2006Feb13_DeadlyFungusGFrog.jpg

Reflection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBQyifAgReA   In that video it talks about the frogs mating patterns. I had watched the full documentary on it they said that they were lucky to record it because after them no one can have film of them or have outside human contact other than the scientist who is taking care of the poor little creature. It is funny because in the YouTube video they wave for there territory but on the frogs expression it seemed sad as if it were going to die. In this article http://www.celsias.com/article/golden-frog-waves-goodbye-then-goes-extinct-in-the/ they said they have currently become extinct in Panama in February 2, 2008. I hope that the conservation efforts keep the frog safe will increase their population. I love all animals and hearing that there might be hope makes me happy. I also hope that the fungus will go away.

Questions

1. Did this fungus affect other animals? If so where else did this fungus affect other animals?

2. Can this fungus affect humans at all?

3. Usually where does this fungus occur? (Such as in warmer climates or colder climates).

As the Panamanian frog does this blogger is waiving good bye. :)

Bald Eagles

Bald Eagles are back!


A Blad Eagle in flight, happy in it's habitat :)

Here is an article about the success of the bald eagles.
http://articles.cnn.com/2007-06-28/tech/bald.eagle.delisting_1_bald-eagle-golden-eagle-protection-act-eagle-habitat?_s=PM:TECH
"Bald Eagles soars off Endangered Species List"
By: Peggy Mihelich
June 28, 2007


Also, below is a link of a Good Morning America video that shows a specific example, and a cute eagle!
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video?id=3601140

Summary: Over a century (1870 to 1970) bald eagle populations were taking a hit and decreasing rapidly. Eagles were not only hunted, but their habitats were being destroyed, causing a decrease. Also, the chemical DDT, found in insectisides, build up in ecosystems, and eventually make their way to the top predators of a food chain, which was the eagle. After years of struggling for these creatures, in 1972, the government took action to preserve them. They banned DDT from being used in an effort to prevent the eagle's eggs from being too frail and cracking (making it impossible to reproduce). Also, they put eagles under protection of The Endangered Species Act, which meant that the government could conserve their habitat and prevent hunting. Now, with all of this in place, the number of nesting eagles has gone from 417 to 9,789 in just about 40 years! With such a pheonominal increase, the eagle has been removed from the endangered species list, which is rare and exciting! However, this means that the government will not be protecting their habitat or hunting issues. While this success is exciting, considering the recovery rate of endangered species is about 1%, professionals fear without protection, the eagles may be at risk of returning to being endagnered. However, this success of America's symbol is an inspiration!

Reflection: This really made my day! In articles or on the news, when you see or hear the words "endangered species", it is usually one being added to the list. This, however, is a rare occurance! I also find it amazing that our nation's symbol was able to be recovered. This article really made me think about how we would feel as Americans if our national symbol became extinct. That would give us little hope. If our national symbol couldn't make it out of a sticky situation, then how could we in a time of economic ressesion? Even though people are saying the eagles may be at more of a risk since they are not under as much restricion, I feel this should be exciting. People have worked hard to make this happen, and I find it completely worth it. Now, new species can be put into the spotlight of being saved. However, I think hunting animals like this should be illegal regaurdless. It is uncalled for, and there is no need for them to be targeted, expecially considering they are not a common food source to us.

Questions:

1. Do you feel that maybe the bald eagle's success was because the government favored them as our nation symbol?
2. Did DDT affect others? Was this chemical the reason other species were added to the endangered species list?
3. Are you worried about the protection of the eagle? Do you feel it's population will decrease again without the government's restricitions?
4. Since it said there was a 1% success rate of getting off the endangered species list, which other animals were successful? Do you think they were larger animals? Key food sources? Why?

The Python Posse

Patrik Jonsson wrote an aricle on whether killing too many pythons in Florida would be an overkill.  The article is called "'Python Posse' Set to Hunt Florida Snakes. Is It Overkill?" and this article was written on July 15th, 2009. Here is the link: http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000294576
If you cannot enter the Sirs website for some reason, here is the log in information: Username: PL2298H  Password: 19044 (however, I do not think you will need this).
Summary:
The Governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, created the first ever "Python Posse" to cut down the snake population inside the state, and the Everglades. This entire situation came about when a young toddler was killed by a python, and then bounty hunters went into action. Orginally the snake population grew when locals began to keep the Burmese Pythons as pets. But again, they found themselves wondering, "is killing them really the answer?" A letter that will be written by PETA, states that there will be a ban on all exotic pets in the United States, and that the hunt will be humane, because the snakes are hard to kill without causing suffering. Oh the other hand, a snake expert says that pythons have killed 12 people in the US, and maybe a hunt is actually neccessary. By the end of the article, it seems a conclusion had been made and that licensed and well trained trappers will kill the snakes on state lands.
Image: http://www.examiner.com/exotic-pets-in-salt-lake-city/burmese-python-with-open-mouthphoto


This photo is of a Burmese python, (obviously a hungry one as well!). This just goes to show how dangerous this species is, and why a hunt is neccessary. This image connects to the article because this type of snake is the main focus.
Opionion/Relflection:
I found this article to be very interesting,but yet very controversial. I feel as if the trappers and government are just killing the pythons for human safety (and tourists), but do they take into consideration what would happen to the rest of the ecosystem if the python was elimenated? I suppose I was just taken back when the article mentioned very little of what the effects of killing this snake would do. I made a connection to class when the article brough up 'exotic pet', and clearly what it had done to the native species. I still don't neccessarily agree with killing these snakes, I mean they only killed 12 people in the US, and yet about 311,591,917 live here. I believe that the government and other snake experts should have came up with a better plan, rather than completely destroying the species.
Questions:
1. What is your opinion on killing the pythons-are you for it or against it? Why?
2. What happened to create this entire "Python Posse" situation?
3. What exactly does the PETA plan on writing in their letter?
4. How do you feel about Dr. Greene's view on the issue? Agree? Disagree?
5. What animal does the python eat? How will eliminating the python effect that species?

Thanks for reading and have a hissss-terical day! :) 

Crossed Fingers for a Threatened Butterfly

Article

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/crossed-fingers-for-a-threatened-butterfly/?scp=1&sq=crossed%20fingers%20for%20butterfly&st=cse 

By: Jim Witkin

Published- February 7, 2012

Summary

                Edgewood Park in San Francisco, California is starting conservation projects to save the Bay checkerspot butterfly.  Dr. Stuart Weiss, conservation biologist and leader of this study, is hoping to help bring back the butterfly that was once native to this area. Nitrogen emissions from the nearby interstate have really affected this butterfly. Nitrogen has gotten into the soil and has made some plants grow faster while it has affected the growing rate of other native plants. The native plants that the butterflies eat aren’t growing fast enough and are dying. The butterflies are dying also and the loss of its biodiversity in California is becoming a big problem. Efforts to help bring the butterfly back include planting more native plants that the butterfly eats and collecting butterfly larvae before the harsher winter months.  Hopefully the effort to save the checkerspot butterfly is successful.

Opinion/Reflection

                Reading this article I was shocked to see how nitrogen was a cause to the threatened butterfly. Since the nitrogen was stopping the growth of some plants, the butterflies have had a harder time finding food. I think the work that Dr. Weiss is doing will really help the butterflies become a more diverse species.  Hopefully Dr. Weiss’ work will help save the biodiversity of the butterfly, because if he waited too long more biodiversity could have been lost. I think his efforts will help the butterfly because he is going to plant more food. Unfortunately the interstate will still be a main cause to the nitrogen problem that is affecting the bay checkerspot butterfly.

Questions

1.       Why is Dr. Weiss concerned about saving the butterfly?

2.       What are some other ways that could help save the butterflies?

3.       In the article, it said the biodiversity loss in California is becoming a bigger problem than global warming. Do you agree with this?

4.       What other problems could be harming the butterflies?

5.       Will the efforts to save the butterfly be successful? Why or why not?

Picture

 Dr. Stuart Weiss is looking for butterflies in the park where they are native.  Notice the interstate in the background that is release about 15 pounds of nitrogen into the air every year.

A Growing Movement to Save Sharks

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/opinion/a-growing-movement-to-save-sharks.html?_r=1&ref=endangeredandextinctspecies

Article published: October 3, 2011
New York Times

Picture: This picture shows the fin of a shark cut off. It might be a graphic picture, but this picture represents the topic well because some people might not realize how serious a problem like this is until they see what is actually happening.

Summary: Throughout different parts of the world, sharks are being killed just for their fins. Due to this, the population of sharks have decreased incredibly, causing them to become a threatened species. If sharks became extinct, many problems could arise and effect the marine food chain extremely. More than 70 million die each year for their fins. Killing sharks just for their fin is called “Finning”. People across nations will continue doing this, unless there is some government movement to stop the finning of the sharks. Since 2000, the U.S has banned shark finning, but still allow shark fishing. In some areas the sale of shark fins is banned, especially in places like, California, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii. Some places like China and East Asia on the other hand have a harder time restricting the shark finning considering the extreme popularity for shark fin soup and other foods. Eventually though, we hope that shark finning can be banned all over.


Opinion/ Reflection
This article took me by surprise considering I had no idea that sharks were a threatened species. I never knew “finning” was so popular either. I think that a topic like this should be much more publicized then it is in order to get the attention of more people and actually get some people to listen. I personally don't like seafood, and when I hear stories about shark fin soup, it disgusts me. I don't think such horrible things should be done to sharks just to make soup out of their fin. This should be put to a stop.

Questions
1.) Why is shark finning so popular?
2.) What is another way besides banning that could help save more sharks?
3.) Where is shark finning actually banned?
4.) How could the extinction of sharks effect the marine food chain?
5.) Why do you think there is more of a passion of shark finning in Asia and not in the United States?