ApocaDocuments (6) for the "Species Collapse" scenario from this week
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Sat, Jan 10, 2009
from New Scientist:
Medicinal plants on verge of extinction
THE health of millions could be at risk because medicinal plants used to make traditional remedies, including drugs to combat cancer and malaria, are being overexploited. "The loss of medicinal plant diversity is a quiet disaster," says Sara Oldfield, secretary general of the NGO Botanic Gardens Conservation International.
Most people worldwide, including 80 per cent of all Africans, rely on herbal medicines obtained mostly from wild plants. But some 15,000 of 50,000 medicinal species are under threat of extinction, according to a report this week from international conservation group Plantlife. Shortages have been reported in China, India, Kenya, Nepal, Tanzania and Uganda.
Commercial over-harvesting does the most harm, though pollution, competition from invasive species and habitat destruction all contribute. "Commercial collectors generally harvest medicinal plants with little care for sustainability," the Plantlife report says. "This can be partly through ignorance, but [happens] mainly because such collection is unorganised and competitive." ...
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Thank goodness for pharmaceuticals!
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Sat, Jan 10, 2009
from Telegraph.co.uk:
Destructive alien species being transported around the world by sea
[T]he cargo ships are unwittingly transporting larvae and tiny organisms that could cause damage to other species. This is because cargo ships take up water for ballast once they have discharged their load. When they arrive at the new destination the water is dumped -- along with any living stowaways on board.
Over the years ships have transported comb jellyfish from the US to the Black Sea, where they have decimated fish stocks. The European green crab has caused problems in the US and Australia and Asian kelp has caused havoc in New Zealand, Europe and Argentina.
In the UK the Chinese mitten crab and European zebra mussel are just some of the invasive maritime species transported by sea threatening native species.
It is estimated that up to 10 billion tonnes of ballast water is transferred globally each year. ...
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A billion tonnes here, a billion tonnes there, and pretty soon you're talking real problems.
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Fri, Jan 9, 2009
from Cheboygan News:
Biologist on the case of dipping smelt population
For years now, the spring smelt runs have been shadows of their former selves. Gone are the days when rivers and streams would run black, teaming with billions of migrating smelt. With only a few dips of the net, garbage cans could be filled with the tasty, bite-sized fish.
Runs like those haven't been experienced in years.... From predatory demand to the introduction of zebra and quagga muscles to climate change, each theory has merit but needs some explaining.... "Based on my field observations, I can say this situation will not change any time soon," said Schaeffer. "We recorded very few smelt and the ones we did get were very small, too small for anglers to keep." ...
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Based on our field observations, many situations will not change any time soon.
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Thu, Jan 8, 2009
from News10.net:
What's killing California pelicans?
The calls started coming in to the International Bird Rescue Research Center just after Christmas. Something strange was going on with pelicans up and down the coast of California.
"We started getting calls of pelicans acting a little weird," said IBRRC Director Jay Holcomb. "They were landing in weird spots, on highways on runways, in people's yards."
Holcomb said they have received more than 150 calls and 75 of the sick birds have been brought in to the centers in Cordelia and San Pedro. "As we looked at them they seemed to be disoriented like they didn't know where they were. They were confused," Holcomb said. The aquatic bird specialists at the IBRRC are baffled by the sick pelicans. "We don't know what's going on," said Holcomb. "It could be some kind of viral thing, some kind of toxin in the environment that they're eating." ... "We've had calls from people in Baja (Mexico) that have seen the same thing and have actually literally seen hundreds of pelicans dying on the beaches," said Holcomb. ...
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Maybe it's "white beak syndrome."
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Thu, Jan 8, 2009
from Bennington Banner:
Bats with White Nose Syndrome appearing in area
Dorset and Strafford area residents have reported bat sightings in recent weeks, when the nocturnal flyers are supposed to be hibernating. The unusual behavior is being caused by White Nose Syndrome, a mysterious affliction that is devastating bat populations in the Northeast, according to Scott Darling, a bat biologist with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.... Darling said this year could be worst than last. "It's pretty discouraging," he said. "The bats came into winter in pretty bad shape." ...
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We were hoping we could put these bat stories to bed all winter.
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Wed, Jan 7, 2009
from The Peninsula Gateway:
Keeping an eye on feathered friends
"The information gathered is public domain for scientists," Hands said. "One of the most important things is to look for trends. If something is unusual, they would have wondered what’s going on in the water. The birds are the canary in the coal mine. There is a certain standard number of birds we expect to see. If there's an increase or decrease, there could be something important going on, and this is our first notification.
"The last two years, we have been having a problem in declines with water birds.".... "They are a great indicator for the whole ecosystem," bird counter Charlie Wright said. "It's a really good way to monitor the health of the water."
Wright said sea birds are important indicators because they follow the fish populations.
"They follow the herring and other small fish," he said. "We don't know how they do it, they just do." ...
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We don't know how Nature does it either -- it just does. Or, at least, once did.
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