Fishing boats pushing seabirds to extinction

There has been a common understanding among marine scientists and conservationists that longline fisheries are the main cause of seabird population declines. This has stemmed from the knowledge that fishing lines, after being deployed, fail to sink straight away therefore allowing seabirds to dive down and attempt to eat the baited hooks. Instead of a successful feed however, seabirds tend to get stuck on the hook and drown as the line sinks.

Some fishing fleets have drastically reduced seabird mortalities through the use of methods such as weighted hooks which allow the line to sink faster after entry into the water and also through the use of bird – scaring lines. However, other fishing fleets have failed to monitor the decline in seabirds or have poorly implemented steps that could reduce the problem to negligible proportions.

Researchers from the RSPB and Birdlife International suggest that much of the data on seabird populations and the fishing impacts on them are poor, particularly in areas such as Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, distant Asian fishing grounds and the Mediterranean. They have estimated that bird deaths range from 160,000 – 320,000 with the Spanish longline fleet killing around 50,000 birds a year (mostly shear waters and fulmars) and the Japanese tuna fleet killing an estimated 20,000 seabirds a year.

Orea Anderson, policy officer and lead author of the study on fishing impacts and associated seabird decline, says “it is little wonder that so many of the affected seabird species are threatened with extinction – their slow rate of reproduction is simply incapable of compensating for losses on the scale this study has demonstrated .”

With seabird populations facing an uphill struggle for recovery it is now up to countries worldwide to step up and implement effective measures to protect them, none more so than the UK. The UK overseas territories in the South Atlantic hold a third of the world’s breeding albatrosses. As a result, the UK holds a major responsibility to ensure fisheries in these territories employ methods to reduce seabird mortalities. Pressure is also being placed on the EU to deliver a robust set of remedial measures after the forthcoming EU plan of action for seabirds.

Some successes have already been achieved in reducing seabird declines. Tough measures around South Georgia in the South Atlantic have brought about a 99% reduction in seabird mortality with South Africa achieving an 85% drop in its foreign licensed fleet in 2008. Recent developments in April of this year saw Brazil pass a law requiring stringent by-catch measures in its domestic tuna fleets.

The Albatross Task Force (set up by Birdlife International and the RSPB) are discussing further mitigation measures including; dying fish bait blue to make it less visible to birds, setting lines at night when birds are less active, setting lines deeper underwater through the use of chutes and controlling the discards of unwanted fish. It is indisputable that the further implementation of stringent measures is required in order to stop the irreversible loss of seabird species.     

By Anthony Kubale

Roles reveresed as the hunter becomes the hunted

Some of the more obvious and even famous examples of predator and prey relationships include the lion and wildebeest in Africa, the bear and salmon in Canada and of course the farmers arch enemy; the rabbit that eats the lettuce. However, there is one particularly unprecedented predator-prey relationship that has caught the attention of researchers at the Department of Zoology at Tel-Aviv University in Israel.

In a study published in the online journal PLoS ONE, hungry larvae of two recently discovered beetles of the genus Epomis have been found to have reversed their predator-prey relationship with amphibians, thus becoming the predator themselves. Usually it is amphibians that catch unsuspecting bugs for a tasty snack, but it appears that this particular type of larvae has evolved to take advantage of their would-be predators with an almost 100 per cent success rate.

Laboratory research has shown that the larvae combine a sit-and-wait strategy while enticing the amphibians with a ‘dance’ of their mouths and antennae. The study shows that when the amphibian ‘goes in for the kill’ of what it expects to be a relatively easy meal, the larva dodges the predator's tongue and uses its unique double-hooked mouthparts to attach itself to the amphibian's body. From the safety of its host, the larvae will feed on the defenceless and duped amphibian, ultimately resulting in death.

“Normally amphibians eat small larvae, so the larvae seem to be taking their revenge here,” said entomologist and leader of the study, Gil Wizen.

According to the report about 10 per cent of predator-prey relationships in the animal kingdom result in a smaller animal eating a bigger one, but they are all active attacks — not a small creature luring its prey and outwitting them in a magnificent feat of evolution.

These novel findings extend the perspective of co-evolution between predator and prey and suggest that this counterattack, defense behavior has evolved into predator-prey role reversal; the hunter has become the hunted.

Is this just a unique and one-off accident of nature or is it an extremely rare glimpse of what is to come in the next steps of evolution? Will it be the wildebeest that turns on the lion in a glorious battle of revenge, or a school of salmon taking on a bear in a Canadian waterfall?

Who knows what will become of the notorious relationship between the rabbit and the lettuce.

By Nicki Hollamby

The promiscuous nature of deep sea squid

 

Scientists have recently gained a rare glimpse into the reproductive activities of deep sea squid. This was after remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) in the Moterey Submarine Canyon, off the coast of California, revealed footage of these extraordinary creatures engaging in same sex mating. 

Previous studies on deep sea squid found that males use a long penis like organ to deposit spermatophores (a complex sac like structure containing millions of sperm), onto a female, which are then absorbed into her tissue. Recent studies by Dr Hendrik Hoving, a marine biologist form the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research

Institute (MBARI) has shed new light on the reproductive strategies of deep sea squid. 

The focus of Dr Hoving’s studies was on Octopoteuthis deletron, which measures about 12 cm long (5 inch) and tends to be found at depths ranging from 400m to 800m.

Encounters with potential mates in the dark depths of the ocean are rare and consequently the ability of deep sea squid to distinguish between sexes is restricted. The lack of keen senses in helping deep sea squid to find a partner has led males to adopt an unusual sexual strategy that helps them to deal with the difficult conditions of the deep sea.

It was found that a similar number of males and females had spent sperm sacs on their bodies. This is thought to be the result of a combination of factors including bad light, similar male to female body size and the rarity of encounters. Dr Hoving suggested that this male strategy in wasting sperm on any squid that is encountered regardless of sex is apparently less costly than honing their ability to spot females. This unusual behaviour is simply the male squid’s way of increasing the likelihood of successfully passing on its genes in a very challenging environment. 

This behavioural strategy is particularly important as deep sea squid species only reproduce once and encounters are so rare between individuals especially those of the opposite sex.

Dr Hoving and his team of researchers are aiming to undertake further studies on deep sea squid by using genetic techniques to determine the paternity of the sperm packages. This will hopefully reveal whether more than one male is attempting to deposit its sperm on males and females.     

By Anthony Kubale

World Rhino Day 2011!

Many believe that we are now facing the worst rhino poaching crisis for decades, with techniques and methods used to hunt the powerful mammals becoming increasingly sophisticated.  However, anti poaching awareness is reaching a new height as today is World Rhino Day!  Demonstrations, marches, petitions and even skydives are being carried out in South Africa today, campaigning for more effort to be put into protecting the beautiful beasts.  Awareness is also being raised in schools, with local children learning about rhino conservation and making posters to celebrate the day.  If you want to help there are many rhino petition sites online, or you could get up close and personal with the rhinos on some of Frontier's South Africa wildlife expeditions.

To celebrate the day we have put together 10 top facts about rhinos:

1.    The 5 living species of rhinos, from largest to smallest are the Indian (Greater Horned) Rhino, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Jarvan Rhino and finally the Sumatran Rhino.

2.    There is an extinct and hornless species of rhino called Paraceratherium which was the largest land mammal to ever walk the earth weighing about 20 tonnes and growing up to 5.5 meters at the shoulder, although with its head raised it would be much taller.

3.    Rhinos can live solitary lives, although black and white rhinos are often found in groups of mothers and calves.  Somewhat fittingly, a group of rhinos is called a ‘crash’.

4.    Rhino gestation can last up to 16 months, with the young calf being cared for by its mother until it is old enough to live independently at 4 years old.

5.    Both the White and Black rhino are actually grey in colour, so the way to tell the difference is too look at their mouths.  The black rhino has a triangular shaped mouth adapted best for browsing shrubs and bushes.  The white rhino has a far wider and square shaped mouth which allows it to easily graze from the ground.

6.    All rhino species are herbivorous with their diets consisting of vegetation such as leaves, grass and buds.

7.    Rhinos are notoriously grumpy and aggressive; however they have managed to strike up a symbiotic relationship with their good friend the ox pecker.  The small birds ride on the rhinos back and keeping them clear of ticks as they browse on vegetation.

8.    Rhinos have bad eye sight, which is why it is best advised not to get to close to them as they may begin charging.  They do however have very good hearing and smell, so it would be hard to go unnoticed if you did try to creep up on one.

9.    The rhino’s horn is unusual in the animal world as it has no bone core, but is made only of keratin, the same protein that makes up our hair and nails.  Unfortunately it is the rhino’s horn which makes it so attractive to poachers.

10.    Of the world’s five Rhino species, the Black, Javan and Sumatran rhinos are critically endangered, with the Indian rhino listed as vulnerable.  The horns of the rhinos are turned into dagger handles and used for medicinal purposes, which are not supported by science.

World Rhino Day hopes to raise global awareness on the plight of the rhino and ensure their protection for the future. So spread the news and let your friends know just how amazing rhinos are!

By Lizy Tinsley

Set out your best china and bake your signature cake, earth is host to several new species!

We are constantly bombarded with information of animal populations decreasing, and ultimately ceasing to exist. Although this alarming reality is sadly reported in the media at a higher frequency, every so often we do hear good news about the biodiversity of our planet.

Professor S. D. Biju of Delhi University has led 20 years worth of research in the rainforests of India's Western Ghats. During Professor Biji’s research on the frog genus Nyctibatrachus, 12 new species were discovered and 3 species were rediscovered after they were believed to be extinct. The rediscovered Coorg Night Frog (N. sanctipalustris) was last seen 91 years ago, the Kempholey Night Frog (N. kempholeyensis) was last seen 75 years ago and the Forest Night Frog (N. sylvaticus) was last seen 52 years ago.

Some really exciting news for cetacean fans; a new species of bottle nose dolphin has been discovered in Victoria, Australia. PhD researcher Kate Charlton-Robb has confirmed the new species (Tursiops australis) by using DNA anaylsis, examining skulls and noting differences in appearance from extant dolphins and museum specimens. T. australis has a different cranial structure and a smaller skull and beak than the common bottlenose dolphin. Currently, only two resident populations are believed to exist with approximately 100 found in Port Phillip Bay and 50 in the Gippsland Lakes.

Twitchers will be glad to know they can confirm any sightings of the Italian sparrow as a new species to tick off their list. The Italian sparrow has always thought to have been a hybrid between the Spanish sparrow and the house sparrow. Until now, their existence as a separate species has not been confirmed by science. Dr. Glenn-Peter Saetre from the University of Oslo has proved the Italian sparrow has its own distinct genetic make-up and is no longer breeding with the Spanish sparrow, presenting a rare speciation event to the scientific community.

These discoveries have only been made over the past month, proving that it’s not all doom and gloom out there and that the planet is still home to an array of intriguing species.

By Haley Dolton

Early start to bushfire season as dry spell hits Australia

A dry start to spring has seen a number of bushfires burning across eastern Australia over the past few days. Much of New South Wales and northern Victoria have had dry spells, with little more than one millimetre of rain falling since the beginning of September.

Temperatures of up to 30 degrees Celsius and dry north-westerly winds have seen the humidity drop to 10 per cent in some regions, resulting in an increase in combustible fuel. According to the Rural Fire Service, fuel loads are their highest in 30 to 40 years meaning authorities will be on high alert as the bushfire season officially begins on October 1.

Inland regions such as the Riverina in northern Victoria have seen higher than average rainfalls over the past winter, yet this has only increased the risk of fires with rapid growth of vegetation.

Several bushfires are currently burning south of Sydney and in the Blue Mountains. Despite a cool change moving up the coast, there is little reprieve along the western coast of New South Wales with temperatures forecast to remain at 30 degrees, with wind gusts of up to 70km/h fanning the fires.

Rural Fire Service (RFS) spokeswoman Caroline Rembridge said that the cause of the fires was unknown as they focus on containing the blazes however arson has not been ruled out.

“You have to be suspicious on these occasions” said RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, “there’s an absence of a natural cause and we’re working closely with the police force.” Mr Fitzsimmons went on to say, “the bottom line is if anyone wants to participate in that sort of criminal activity, then they deserve to be caught, arrested and put before the courts” a sentiment shared by rural communities after the devastating Black Saturday bushfires in 2009.

Holly Alsop

Saving virgin forests

Deforestation has again come to the forefront of environmental attention with a new study published on how to manage deforestation in the future.  Researchers comment that “when it comes to maintaining tropical biodiversity, there is no substitute for primary forests”, which are millions of years old and hold many unique species.

The results of 138 reports which compared the biodiversity of virgin forests with modified forests were used in the recently published study. The impacted forests varied in their disturbance levels from complete clearance for agriculture, to selective logging where only certain species of trees were taken from an area.  It was found that all types of forest modification, other than selective logging, had an extremely negative impact on biodiversity, in particular bird, insect and plant species.

A commendable aspect of this study is that it does not simply state the doomed future of the forests or deny that human utilisation of forests will continue.  Scientists instead discuss how best to approach conserving biodiversity alongside human utilisation for the benefit of both parties.

The two possible conservation options include ‘land sharing’ and ‘land sparing’.  Land sharing involves nature and humans coexisting throughout a large expanse of forest. The impact is widely dispersed in this scenario, yet still affects nature.  In contrast, land sparing considers isolating human activity, such as agriculture and development to one smaller area of forest.  This concept protects the forest while still allowing humans access to the resources and expansion space they need.

Land sparing has already been found to have a positive effect on nature and society, with increased protection for nature and higher agricultural production. However, if agriculture and development were intensified in smaller areas which were, for example, upstream from a conserved area of forest, the chemicals and waste from human settlement may impact the dynamics of the ‘untouched’ forest further down stream.  Thus, if the land sparing route is taken, areas of human activity will require closely monitored management plans.
 
Forests are still being cut down at an astonishing rate, largely due to financial incentives and the need for people to provide for their families. Currently, there is a need for the introduction of a strategy which includes the training of local people to monitor areas of primary forest and species distribution. This comes at a time where factors such as climate change may influence species distribution and cause populations to move geographically as temperatures alter. Due to this issue, land sharing may become a better strategy in the future as it will allow species to move fluidly though habitats as their distribution changes, rather than being trapped by the surrounding blocks of human civilisation.

The two pronged strategy of forest protection that has been proposed by the study provides conservationists with two clear pathways of how to go about protecting forests in the future.  We can only hope that the right strategies are applied correctly in the right areas to help protect unique and irreplaceable biodiversity and forest for the future.

By Lizy Tinsley

New study estimates 8.7 million species on Earth

In the past week, scientists have published findings of a study which concluded that there are approximately 8.7 million species on the planet. The paper which was published in the journal Public Library of Science Biology comes at a time where the number was previously thought to be anything between three and one hundred million.

To come up with the most accurate species estimate to date, the team adopted a new approach by studying the relationships between individual species and the wider assemblages to which they belong.

The research found that there are 6.5 million species living on the land and 2.2 million in the world’s oceans and rivers. However exciting, this figure represents only a promising start in our bid to understand our place on the planet, with around 86% of all terrestrial species and 91% of marine species yet to be discovered, described and catalogued.

Study leader, Dr Camilo Mora of the University of Hawaii said "The question of how many species exist has intrigued scientists for centuries and understanding the variety of life around us was important because human activities were accelerating the rate of extinctions."

‘‘Many species may vanish before we even know of their existence, and of their potential contribution to improved human well-being,’’ he said in a commentary in the journal.

The impact of humans on the environment has also been assessed in a separate study. Scientists used mathematical models in nature to calculate the effect of human existence on our surrounding habitat. By scaling Earth's age to 46 years, the study estimated that human existence is equivalent to approximately four hours. When analysed in the model, the impact of human activities on species was shown to be at a rate 1000 times faster than is considered normal in evolutionary terms.

The dependence of humans on natural resources for food, water, health and livelihoods has increased significantly in recent years and it is unclear just how many species have suffered as a direct result. Consequently, it is not known what impacts this may have on habitats that humans rely so heavily upon for resources.
 
Albert Einstein once said "If bees disappeared, man would only have a few years to live. No more pollinisation, no more grass, no more animals, no more men".

The new estimate has naturally come under criticism, with error bars of plus or minus 1.3 million. However, the figure is by no means definitive and the calculations simply mark the beginning of an assessment of all life on Earth.

Strategising hyenas

Hyenas are highly social animals and will live with approximately 5 - 90 other individuals within one clan (led by a single matriarch). Hyenas in larger clans will partition themselves into smaller clans to hunt and socialise during the day, recognising the individuals that display desirable altruistic qualities. Several hyenas will leave the clan entirely during the day to hunt. Smaller clans and lone individuals are very vulnerable from attack from other predators.

There are four extant species of hyena and recent research by Michigan State University has shown the ability of one species; the spotted hyena, to count the number of rivals in nearby clans to assess their position if an altercation arose. If a clan outnumbers their rivals they will take more risks by approaching the competition. However, if the number of rivals outnumbers a clan they are far more wary of the potential opposition.

Researchers played recordings of other hyenas to clans and their reaction was highly dependant on the number of intruders played and the number of individuals present. Hyenas in groups of three were far more likely to approach the source of the sound than a pair or individual. In addition to this finding, the study has also demonstrated (for the first time) that hyenas are capable of recognising up to three different individual voices regardless of whether they are known to the individual or not.

Other studies also imply the reaction to intruders displayed by hyenas as being similar to the response shown by lions and chimpanzees in recognising potential conflicts and advantages of interacting with other individuals. Studies also imply convergent evolution has occurred between primate and spotted hyena intelligence due to increased volume of the frontal cortex. These comparisons suggest that the spotted hyena display a higher level of intelligence than previously thought.

By Haley Dolton

Rhinos still under threat as poaching increases

      

The poaching of rhinos for their horns has again been highlighted in the news, showing that poaching is not a fading issue. Of the world’s five Rhino species, the Black, Javan and Sumatran rhinos are critically endangered, with the Indian rhino listed as vulnerable. It is only after hard conservation work that white rhinos are not threatened however there are fears that poaching may destroy these efforts.

Rhino horns are currently worth up to £50,000 a kilo and the past weekend has seen more poaching attacks. A female rhino that was soon to be of breeding age was sadly killed at Mauricedale Game Ranch in South Africa, the first poaching attack there since 2007. Reports suggest that the horn was removed with clinical precision, raising concerns that poachers have become increasingly sophisticated in their techniques. Three more rhinos, two males and a female, also came under attack in Aquila Game Reserve, Cape Town although the poachers were more brutal, using chain saws and machetes to completely hack off their prize. Luckily, park rangers came in time to treat one badly injured female and provide veterinary care to another that poachers had only had a chance to tranquilise.

Rhinos have been targeted by humans for many thousands of years, for reasons that are usually woven into cultural tradition. In Islamic culture, 12 year old boys are given a Jambiya, a dagger with a bejewelled rhino horn handle as a right of passage into manhood and as a sign of devotion to the Muslim religion. Chinese traditional medicines which use powdered rhino horns are said to cure everything from fevers to devil possession, with cancer and strokes also being listed. Such findings are supported by very limited scientific evidence, and it has been suggested that it would be as much use to chew your own fingernails as it would be to use rhino horn as they are both made of keratin.

The high demand created for these uses has caused the increases in poaching, with conservationists and game reserves taking serious action against poachers. Many game reserves have even gone as far as employing armed ex-military guards to assist the anti-poaching effort. John Hum the self-claimed largest rhino owner in the world suggests that the crisis is larger than officially publicised and is in “firm opinion that the only way to save rhinos from extinction is by legalising the trade in their horns”. 

Legalisation of rhino horns would prevent the underground trade of the product and allow it to be strictly monitored and controlled yet the proposal is not without controversy. In a bid to increase public awareness, the UK has collaborated with CITES to create a new campaign which aims to expel myths that rhino horns have curative properties. The initiative also hopes to set up workshops to help improve co-operation between countries that are affected by poaching.

By Lizy Tinsley