Kenyan conservancy euthanises last male northern white rhino; only two females remain

Yesterday, Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy announced they had euthanised the last male northern white rhino, Sudan, on Monday, after consulting with wildlife officials. Sudan was 45-years-old, and now only two northern white rhinos, both female and descendants of Sudan, remain.

"Sudan was being treated for age-related complications that led to degenerative changes in muscles and bones combined with extensive skin wounds", the conservancy said. "His condition worsened significantly in the last 24 hours; he was unable to stand up and was suffering a great deal", they added.

Sudan, who was born in the early 1970s, suffered a wound in his right hind leg in late February. He was born in South Sudan, and at that time around 700 northern white rhinos were alive.

Sudan was in captivity for the last 38 years. Earlier, he was kept at the Dvůr Králové Zoo in Czech Republic before he was moved to Kenya. He stayed in a 90 thousand acre (about 140 square mile, 364 square kilometre) reserve with the only two remaining female northern white rhinos, 27-year-old Najin and seventeen-year-old Fatu. Najin and Fatu are Sudan's daughter and granddaughter, respectively.

Ol Pejeta said they collected Sudan's genetic material on Monday. The conservancy said, "The only hope for the preservation of the subspecies now lies in developing in-vitro fertilisation techniques using eggs from the two remaining females, stored northern white rhino semen from males and surrogate southern white rhino females."

Last year, an account was opened on dating platform Tinder on Sudan's behalf, to raise money for a fertility treatment after attempts at natural mating proved futile. Suni, second to last male of the subspecies, died four years ago, in October 2014 in San Diego Zoo, US. He was 42.

Ol Pejeta's CEO, Richard Vigne, said Sudan "was a great ambassador for his species and will be remembered for the work he did to raise awareness globally on the plight facing not only rhinos, but also the many thousands of other species facing extinction as a result of unstable human activity".

In 2008, the World Wildlife Foundation declared northern white rhinos extinct in the wild.


Murió el último rinoceronte blanco del norte macho del mundo

Sudán, el último rinoceronte blanco del norte macho en el mundo, murió el lunes 19 de marzo en la reserva de vida salvaje Ol Pejeta Conservancy ubicada Kenia, según informó oficialmente Ol Pejeta Conservancy. El rinoceronte murió debido a problemas de salud derivados de su avanzada edad y por una serie de infecciones.

Empleados de Ol Pejeta Conservancy tomaron la decisión de terminar con la vida del rinoceronte de 45 años para poner fin a su sufrimiento debido a complicaciones en su salud. Estaba siendo tratado por cambios degenerativos en sus huesos y músculos, y por heridas extensas en la piel. Al principio del mes su salud había mejorado, pero en los últimos días su condición había empeorado y no podía mantenerse en pie. El domingo en la mañana su pata trasera izquierda cedió y no podía levantarse.

El director de Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Samuel Mutisya, dijo a Reuters que «Es muy triste perder a Sudan porque eso muestra claramente el alcance de la codicia humana y la clase de impacto que los seres humanos pueden hacer en la naturaleza».

Sudan anteriormente vivía en cautiverio en el Zoológico de Dvůr Králové en la República Checa, y fue trasladado en el 2009 a la reserva Ol Pejeta Conservancy en Kenia.

El rinoceronte blanco del norte —de nombre científico Ceratotherium simum cottoni— es una de las dos subespecies de rinoceronte blanco que antiguamente habitaba en África central, y que a diferencia de la subespecie rinoceronte blanco del sur, su población se ha estado reduciendo rápidamente, y actualmente solo quedan con vida tan solo dos hembras de la subespecie.

El número de rinocerontes se ha ido reduciendo a lo largo del siglo XX debido a la caza furtiva para obtener sus cuernos, muy demandados en Asia, en donde se utilizan cuernos de rinoceronte molidos para los mercados de medicina tradicional.

El personal de la reserva recogió material genético de Sudan que podría usarse en el futuro para intentar la reproducción de rinocerontes blancos del norte. Los científicos tienen aún la esperanza de evitar la extinción de la subespecie mediante la fertilización in vitro, utilizando gametos de las dos hembras que quedan, inseminando con semen almacenado de rinocerontes blancos del norte e implantar los embriones en una hembra de rinoceronte blanco del sur sustituta. Sin embargo hay críticos que señalan que esto tendría pocas posibilidades de éxito, ya que nunca se ha realizado una fertilización in vitro con éxito en la conservación de rinocerontes y la tecnología para llevar a cabo esto está a diez años de ser perfeccionada. Por eso, la reserva Ol Pejeta solicita donaciones para apoyar la investigación de la fertilización in vitro de estos animales.


Laatste mannetje noordelijke witte neushoorn overleden

In het natuurreservaat Ol Pejeta in Kenia is gisteren Sudan (en) overleden, het allerlaatste mannelijke exemplaar dat er nog was van de noordelijke witte neushoorn. Sudan leefde in het reservaat onder streng toezicht van parkwachters, zodat hij niet het slachtoffer zou worden van stropers. Sudan was 45 jaar en leed al enige tijd aan bot- en spierziekten. Ook had hij meerdere infecties en verwondingen. Een paar weken geleden werd hij al ernstig ziek, maar leek nog even te herstellen. De laatste 24 uur ging Sudans gezondheidstoestand echter zeer snel achteruit, waardoor hij niet meer op zijn poten kon staan. Dierenartsen hebben hem laten inslapen zodat hij niet langer onnodig leed.

Met de dood van Sudan lijkt de noordelijke witte neushoorn definitief tot uitsterven gedoemd. Het WWF verklaarde de soort in 2008 al uitgestorven in het wild. Er zijn in hetzelfde natuurgebied nu alleen nog twee vrouwtjes van de soort in leven, Najin (27) en Fatu (17) (de dochter en kleindochter van Sudan), die zich echter beide niet kunnen voortplanten. Bij Sudan is wel sperma afgenomen voor wetenschappelijk onderzoek, in de ultieme hoop dat dit nog iets oplevert om de soort alsnog te redden (bijvoorbeeld via stamceltechnologie). Ook is er genetisch materiaal van hem afgenomen. Vorig jaar werd op datingplatform Tinder nog een speciale actie voor Sudan op touw gezet om geld in te zamelen voor een vruchtbaarheidsbehandeling.

Het uitsterven van de neushoorn is grotendeels het gevolg van stropen. Samuel Mutisya, bioloog en leidinggevende bij Ol Pejeta, verklaart tegenover Reuters: "Het is triest om te zien hoe duidelijk dit aantoont dat de menselijke hebzucht heel ver gaat, net als de impact ervan op de natuur. Als we niet voorzichtiger zijn met wat we hebben, gaan we nog meer bedreigde diersoorten verliezen."


Умер последний самец северного белого носорога

В понедельник, 19 марта 2018 года, в Кении умер последний самец северного белого носорога[1] по имени Судан. Об этом сообщили в заповеднике Ol Pejeta (Ол Паджета), находящемся недалеко от города Наньюки, где жил носорог.

Судан усыплён после продолжительной болезни.
Животное было подвергнуто эвтаназии после резкого ухудшения здоровья: носорог уже не мог стоять, его мышцы и кости разрушались, через кожные трещины на задней правой ноге проникла инфекция, вызвавшая сильное воспаление.

Носорог родился в 1973 году, в Судане (ныне эта территория относится к государству Южный Судан).
Ему было 45 лет, что считается глубокой старостью для носорогов.
Носорог давно страдал от заболеваний, сопутствующих его преклонному возрасту.

Судан стал последним самцом северного белого носорога после смерти носорога Ангалифу (скончался в декабре 2014 года в зоопарке Сан-Диего).

Теперь на планете осталось лишь две самки этого подвида крупных млекопитающих, которые по размерам уступают только слонам: дочь и внучка Судана — Наджин и Фату.

Единственной надеждой на продолжение вида является разведение потомства путём экстракорпорального оплодотворения с использованием яйцеклеток оставшихся самок и сохранившихся сперматозоидов мужских особей. Суррогатными матерями могут стать самки южного белого носорога.

Кенийский заповедник «Ол Педжета» совместно с чешским зоопарком «Двур Кралове» (чеш. ZOO Dvůr Králové; в Чехии носорог содержался до 2009 года) выпустил официальное заявление о его смерти. Биологи отметили, что своей силой и достоинством Судан завоевал сердца тысяч людей.

Белый носорог — крупнейший представитель носорогов и второе по величине животное после слона, проживающее на суше. Есть два подвида — южный и северный. Южные белые носороги обитают в ЮАР, Намибии, Зимбабве и Мозамбике. Оба вида находятся под угрозой исчезновения из-за браконьерства.

20 марта 2018 года


Koalas labeled as 'endangered' in eastern states of Australia

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

On Friday, Australia’s federal environment minister Sussan Ley declared the koala an endangered species in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

The announcement follows proposals in 2020 by World Wildlife Fund Australia (WWF-Australia) and other organizations. The koala was previously considered a vulnerable species, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) still lists it as one in the rest of the world.

Some link the decline in koala population with previous natural disasters in the country, especially the 2019-2020 Australian bushfire season. The bushfires had "killed, injured or affected" 60 thousand of the animals, according to WWF-Australia. This, along with droughts, urbanization and habitat destruction, had contributed to the drop in population. Efforts to prevent the koala's extinction have also been announced by the government.

A report in April 2020 indicated the decline of koala populations in eastern Australian states since 2001 reached 50% in Queensland and 62% in New South Wales. In that month, WWF-Australia, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Humane Society International (HSI) proposed the IUCN change the species' category. It has been designated 'vulnerable' for a decade.

A New South Wales inquiry in June 2020 predicted the extinction of the koala could occur by 2050 without appropriate prevention measures.

In her announcement, Ley said these events "have led to the advice". Ley has also stated actions to protect the species are being planned: "There is still time to save this globally iconic species if the uplisting serves as a turning point in koala conservation. We need stronger laws and landholder incentives to protect their forest homes."

According to Ley, AUD 74 million (USD 52.9 million) have been funded to back these decisions.

Some conservation groups have expressed their disapproval. President of the Australian Koala Foundation Deborah Tabart argued the species is also endangered in Victoria and South Australia, and blamed the federal government for continuing to "approve" the animal's habitat loss.

HSI campaign director Alexia Wellbelove advised the government to adequately address the country's environmental problems. Wellbelove defended the decision should be reviewed by former competition watchdog head Graeme Samuel, who concluded a year ago that the government didn't take the appropriate steps for conservation and proposed a change in environmental standards.


Koala nu officieel bedreigd in Australië

De Australische regering heeft de koala nu officieel aangemerkt als een bedreigde diersoort in New South Wales, Queensland en het Australisch Hoofdstedelijk Territorium. In deze drie gebieden kreeg het buideldier tien jaar geleden ook al de status van kwetsbaar, die nu dus is opgehoogd.

Minister van Milieu Sussan Ley (en) heeft gezegd dat het beschermen van de koala vanaf nu in de politiek meer prioriteit zal krijgen. Eind vorige maand heeft de Australische overheid al omgerekend een bedrag van ruim 30 miljoen euro extra uitgetrokken om de habitat van de soort te ondersteunen.

De beslissing om aan de koala de status van bedreigde soort toe te kennen is het resultaat van jarenlang lobbyen van onder meer de Australische afdelingen van WWF en Humane Society International (en).

De koala wordt in Australië sinds enkele decennia zijn voortbestaan bedreigd door met name langdurige droogte, bosbranden, ziekten en toenemende verstedelijking. Hoe sterk de koalapopulatie er de laatste jaren precies is afgenomen, is onduidelijk. Onderzoeksinstituut CSIRO (en) concludeerde onlangs dat er nog ca. 180.000 in het wild levende koala's over zijn, maar de Australian Koala Foundation (en) kwam uit op een veel lagere schatting van tussen de 50.000 en 80.000 exemplaren.


Kyoto Protocol comes into effect

New York —
The Kyoto Protocol, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from developed nations, came in force on Wednesday at 6am UTC. The treaty has been signed by 141 nations who together account for 55% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

The treaty was proposed in December 1997 and requires signatories to reduce their combined greenhouse gas emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by the year 2012 in an effort to reduce the impact of global warming. Each country has individual targets.

Of the major industrialized nations, the USA and Australia are notable absentees from the list of signatories. Both argue that the treaty is flawed and that signing the protocol is not in their national economic interests. The United States produces more CO2 emissions than any other single country in the world, both in total (5,410 million metric tons) and also per capita (20.1 tons per capita).

Despite this, the way was paved for ratification of the treaty after Russia signed up in November 2004.

Other criticisms of the protocol are that the treaty does not include India and China, or other developing nations.

Countries that ratify the treaty will have access to the emerging international market in carbon credits, estimated to be worth billions of dollars each year. This system allows individual countries to trade in their emission allowances - a country can buy credit from another that has cut emissions, and then increase their own carbon dioxide production.


Este miércoles entra en vigor el Protocolo de Kioto

15 de febrero de 2005Kioto, Japón —

Este miércoles 16 entrará en vigencia el Protocolo de Kioto, tratado firmado en 2002 y que obliga a los países industrializados a reducir sus emisiones de gases al nivel de 1990 en el periodo entre 2008 y 2012 (la UE deberá reducirlos un 8% y Japón un 6%), con el fin de disminuir el efecto invernadero, fenómeno responsable de buena parte de los trastornos climáticos que sufre nuestro planeta. En total, 141 países firmaron el acuerdo, sin incluir a los Estados Unidos, que se niegan a ratificarlo con el argumento de que "dañaría seriamente la economía del país". Australia también se ha opuesto al acuerdo, mientras que Liechtenstein y Mónaco no lo han ratificado. El tratado obliga a los países industrializados a reducir sus emisiones, pero no a los países en desarrollo, a pesar de que China e India aportan niveles bastante altos de gases.

Para reducir sus emisiones, los países pueden apelar a tres mecanismos flexibles: "intercambiar sus cuotas asignadas de emisión (comercio de emisiones), implementar proyectos conjuntos o presentar proyectos de reducción o captura de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI)", esto último conocido como Mecanismos de Desarrollo Limpio (MDL). Por ejemplo, un países como Colombia recibirá hasta US$25.200.000 gracias a este sistema, suma que será invertida en proyectos acordes con el tratado.

No obstante, el escepticismo es alto entre algunos expertos que afirman que el tratado, a pesar de sus buenas intenciones, es insuficiente en sí mismo y mucho más sin la ratificación de los Estados Unidos.


Macedonia declares state of emergency due to heat wave

The Macedonian government declared a nationwide state of emergency on Thursday in face of a heatwave that is predicted to get worse.

As forest fires rage across the country, temperatures of over 44°C (111°F) are predicted for the weekend. The emergency plan, which has been implemented for at least two weeks, reduces working hours to six hours a day, calls for special shifts for outdoors workers, and warns people to stay out of the sun and take other common sense precautions.

The new working hours for state and public workers are from 7am to 1pm indoors, and two shifts of 7am to 11am and 6pm to 8pm outdoors. All pregnant women have been given paid leave. Although these measures are not compulsory for the private sector the government has recommended that they are adopted where possible. It is expected that lost time will be made up through Saturday working over the rest of the year.

According to Pande Lazarevski, director of the government's Crisis Management center, over 200 fires have been registered across the country, destroying roughly 2,500 hectares of land, mainly forests.

Health services have seen an increase in emergency calls and the Red Cross has teams on stand-by.

Meteorologists have explained that the soaring temperatures are caused by a heat mass from Africa, and have predicted that temperatures will start dropping next weekend.

At least 35,000 people died in the European heatwave of 2003.


Mazedonien erklärt Notstand wegen Hitzewelle

Mazedonien, 23.07.2007 – Die Regierung Mazedoniens hat am Donnerstag landesweit den Notstand ausgerufen angesichts der Hitzewelle, die noch schlimmer werden soll.

Während Waldbrände durch das Land rasen, werden Temperaturen von 44 Grad Celsius (111 Grad Fahrenheit) für das Wochenende vorausgesagt. Der Notfallplan, der mindestens zwei Wochen lang ausgeführt werden wird, verringert die Arbeitszeit auf sechs Stunden je Tag, verlangt spezielle Schichten-Regelungen für Außenarbeiter und warnt die Menschen, nicht in die Sonne zu gehen und andere naheliegende Vorsichtsmaßnahmen vorzunehmen.

Die neuen Arbeitszeiten für staatliche und öffentliche Arbeiter sind von 7:00 Uhr bis 13:00 Uhr im Haus, sowie zwei Schichten von 7:00 Uhr bis 11:00 Uhr und von 18:00 Uhr bis 20:00 draußen. Alle schwangeren Frauen haben bezahlten Urlaub erhalten. Obwohl diese Maßnahmen für den privaten Sektor nicht bindend sind, empfiehlt die Regierung, dass sie wo möglich übernommen werden. Es wird erwartet, dass die verlorene Zeit mit Arbeit am Sonnabend über das restliche Jahr wieder reingeholt wird.

Nach Aussage von Pande Lazarevski, dem Direktor des Krisenmanagementszentrums der Regierung, wurden über 200 Brände im Land registriert, die grob 2.500 Hektar Land verwüstet haben, hauptsächlich Wälder.

Gesundheitseinrichtungen beobachten einen Anstieg der Notrufe und das Rote Kreuz hält Teams in Bereitschaft.

Meteorologen erklären die Temperaturen mit verstärkter Heißluftzufuhr von Afrika und sagen voraus, dass die Temperaturen ab nächstem Wochenende wieder fallen.

Mindestens 35.000 Menschen starben in Europa bei der Hitzewelle im Jahre 2003.


Macedonia declara estado de emergencia tras ola de calor

El gobierno macedonio ha declarado un estado de emergencia nacional el Jueves (19) a raíz de la intensa ola de calor que está pronosticada que empeorará.

Al tiempo que los incendios forestales se extienden a lo largo del país, temperaturas por arriba de los 44 °C (111 °F) fueron pronosticadas para este fin de semana. El plan de emergencia que ha sido implementado hace dos semanas, reduce las horas de trabajo a seis por día, movimientos especiales al aire libre por parte de los trabajadores y advierte a la gente al exponerse al sol y a otras precauciones comunes.

El nuevo horario de trabajo para las oficinas estatales y organismos públicos es de 7,00 a 13,00 hs para los que están en oficinas, y de 7,00 a 11,00 hs y de 18,00 a 20,00 hs para los que trabajen al aire libre. A todas las mujeres embarazadas les han dado un permiso especial. Aunque estas medidas no sean obligatorias para el sector privado, el gobierno ha recomendado que sean adoptadas cuando fuera posible. Lo que se pierda de tiempo se recuperará trabajando los Sábados durante el resto del año.

De acuerdo con Pande Lazarevski, director del centro de gestión de crisis del gobierno, más de 200 incendios han sido registrados en todo el país, destruyendo alrededor de 2.500 hectáreas de tierra, principalmente bosques.

Los servicios de salud han visto un aumento de las llamadas de emergencia y la Cruz Roja tiene equipos preparados.

Meteorólogos explicaron que las altas temperaturas son causadas por un frente cálido venido de África, y predicen que comenzarán a descender hacia el próximo fin de semana.

Al menos 35.000 personas murieron en la ola de calor europea del año 2003.


Macédoine : la vague de chaleur entraîne l'état d'urgence

Le gouvernement macédonien a déclaré l'état d'urgence nationale jeudi en raison de la vague de chaleur dont l'intensité devrait augmenter.
Alors que les incendies de forêts font rage au travers du pays, des températures de plus de 44°C sont prévues pour la fin de semaine. Le plan d'urgence, qui a été conçu ces deux dernières semaines, réduit à six heures par jour les heures de travail, institue des pauses spécifiques pour les travailleurs en extérieur, et avertit la population de rester à l'ombre et de prendre d'autres précautions de bon sens.
Les nouvelles heures de travail pour les fonctionnaires et les travailleurs du privé s'étendent de 7h à 13h en intérieur, et en deux périodes de 7h à 11h et de 18h à 20h en extérieur. Toutes les femmes enceintes se sont vues octroyer des congés payés. Bien que ces mesures ne soient pas obligatoires pour le secteur privé, le gouvernement a recommandé leur adoption si possible. On espère que le temps de travail perdu sera rattrapé par des samedis travaillés le reste de l'année.
Selon Pande Lazarevski, directeur du centre de gestion de crise gouvernemental, plus de 200 feux ont été enregistrés dans le pays, détruisant près de 2 500 hectares de terrain, principalement des bois.
Les services de santé ont vu une augmentation des appels d'urgence et la Croix rouge a mis ses équipes en alerte.
Les météorologistes ont expliqué que ces températures exceptionnelles sont causées par une masse de chaleur venant d'Afrique, et ont prédit que ces températures commenceront à chuter en fin de semaine prochaine.


Male Magellanic penguins pine for pairings: Wikinews interviews biologist Natasha Gownaris

In findings published earlier this month in Ecological Applications, scientists from the University of Washington and Center for Ecosystem Sentinels examine the reason for the plummeting numbers of female Magellanic penguins, Spheniscus magellanicus, that have been reported at the birds' breeding sites in South America over the past twenty years and more. Wikinews caught up with postdoctoral researcher and study co-author Natasha Gownaris to learn more.

In a press release, Gownaris said, "Two decades ago, there were about 1.5 adult male Magellanic penguins for every adult female at Punta Tombo[...] Today, it's approaching three males for every female." The findings suggested a disparity in the death rate of juvenile and adult penguins, rather than differences in chick survival, account for this difference.

Punta Tombo is one of the annual breeding sites for the species; it is in Argentina. The penguins travel thousands of miles each year to reach these sites.

The work involved building population models out of over thirty years of data collected by tagging individual penguins.  Findings also suggested the pronounced sex disparity might make population models used to predict survival among other birds with a more even gender balance inappropriate for use on Megallanic penguins.

According to the data, since 1987, overall population of Magellanic penguins in Punta Tombo at one of their annual breeding sites in Argentina has declined 40%, while the male-to-female ratio has greatly increased.

Since 1983, the research team has been putting stainless steel bands on tens of thousands of chicks hatched at the Punta Tombo breeding site in Argentina, noting which juvenile and adult birds make it back to the site the next year and extrapolating how many lived and died.  Among juveniles, there was a 17% survival rate for males and 12% for females.  Among adults, it was 89% and 85%.  These effects became compounded every year, reaching as high as six males to one female among older penguins.

The researchers noted implications for penguin conservation: Gownaris remarked, "Over the years, this team has helped preserve the land and waters around breeding colonies like Punta Tombo[...] But now we're starting to understand that, to help Magellanic penguins, you have to protect waters where they feed in winter, which are thousands of miles north from Punta Tombo."

Gownaris answered a series of questions for our correspondent.

((Wikinews))  What prompted your curiosity about Magellanic penguins?

Natasha Gownaris: I've wanted to be a marine scientist since I was a child, when I would collect sand crabs (Emerita talpoida) from local beaches in New York. I studied fish as a graduate student, but I have a pair of adopted parrots and I am generally fascinated by birds. Plus, penguins eat fish! Studying penguins seemed like a great way to merge my love for the ocean and my love for birds. Penguins and other seabirds are also important to study because they tell us something about the health of the ocean ecosystems they feed in, similar to the use of canaries to test air quality in coal mines. Unfortunately, the decline of many seabird species worldwide is yet another warning sign of the negative and widespread impacts humans are having on the ocean.

((WN))  How did you approach putting together such a large-scale study?

NG: This study started in 1982, long before my joining the lab in March of 2016. Dr. Dee Boersma began this study as a response to a Japanese company's interest in harvesting penguins for their skin, meat, and oil. Although the project has evolved over time, Dr. Boersma had the foresight to start banding chicks in 1983 and to set up a standard protocol that we follow each year. Since then, over 44,000 chicks have been banded at Punta Tombo. We’ve been able to follow some individuals for 30+ years, collecting detailed information on things like how often they breed and how many mates they've had.

((WN))  How much time did you end up spending in Argentina? What was it like at the breeding site?

NG: Members of the Boersma lab and volunteers spend approximately six months each year at Punta Tombo. I was fortunate enough to spend nearly four months at the colony between 2015 and 2017. It's an incredible, otherworldly place. Magellanic penguins nest in burrows or bushes, and some areas of the colony are so dense with burrows that you feel like you're on a different planet. The colony has declined by over 40% since the study started...so I can't even imagine what it was like in the 1980s. My favorite time of the day is around 8PM, when (hopefully fat) penguins are returning to the colony en masse after a foraging trip. They are also most vocal in the morning and evening, making their characteristic braying sound— the related African penguin earned the name "jackass penguin" because they sound a bit like donkeys. The colony is also full of other beautiful and interesting creatures, including a llama-like species called the guanaco and an ostrich-like species called the rhea.

((WN))  Do you have any theories on why more female juveniles die at sea? You mention starvation; what might be the causes of that, and are there other possible explanations you can think of?

NG: We are not yet certain why females are more likely to die, but we think it must be related to their smaller body size. Because the mortality is most uneven in juveniles, higher mortality doesn’t seem to be related to greater costs of breeding for females than for males. Female Magellanic penguins are about 17% lighter than males and have smaller bills. We think that, because of this size difference, females have a lower storage capacity, can't dive as deep, and can't take as wide a range of prey as males — all disadvantages when faced with limited and unpredictable food resources. These disadvantages hit juvenile females even harder, as juveniles are still learning how to forage and often travel further than adults do in the non-breeding season. Counts of carcasses in the species' migration range support starvation as the main cause of female-biased mortality; while oiled carcasses have a sex ratio of 1:1, females outnumber males in carcasses of starved birds. The only other possibility is that females are moving to other colonies at higher rates than are males, but this species is known to almost always return to its natal colony to breed.

((WN))  You suggest conservation efforts should look at protection of feeding grounds. What sort of measures do you think might be beneficial?

NG: Because penguins migrate such long distances over the non-breeding season, a mixture of tools (including no-take marine protected areas and traditional fisheries management tools, like catch limits) is likely to be needed. Although there is currently some spatial protection surrounding the species’ breeding colony, this protection does not extend to their migratory route. And, of course, everyone can contribute to penguin conservation by reducing their plastic waste, making more sustainable food choices, and reducing their carbon footprint.

((WN))  What do you think might be causing pressure on food sources for the penguins?

NG: The two main threats to the food sources of this colony are climate change, which cause shifts in primary productivity and fish stocks, and fisheries. Fisheries compete with penguins for fish species such as hake and anchovy.

((WN))  Have you noticed differences in behavior among the penguins as the ratios become increasingly skewed?

NG: In a separate study currently under review, we have shown that aggression between males of Magellanic penguins is higher when the sex ratio at the colony is more skewed towards males. We also showed that nearly all females at the colony breed but that, over time, fewer and fewer males find mates. Single male penguins sometimes intrude [on] nests of mated pairs and interrupt the incubation of eggs or feeding of chicks, leading to mortality. In some cases, they will even attack and kill chicks.

((WN))  Your release mentioned sexing the penguins was problematic; how did you achieve it with confidence?

NG: We have some methods of sexing penguins that we feel confident about — using genetics or measures of cloaca size around egg laying, for example. However, these methods are time intensive, so we have also developed visual cues for sex penguins (bill size, behavior, forehead shape). We looked at individuals that had been sexed using both a certain method (e.g. genetics) and visual methods to calculate how often we got it right based on visual cues alone and found that we have very high accuracy. We also used statistical tools to help to deal with uncertainty in the sex of some individuals.

((WN))  How well can you extrapolate population trends at Punta Tombo based on the birds you tagged? More broadly, how well do you think this work represents global populations?

NG: It is likely that females have higher mortality than males at other colonies of this species and in other penguin species. We unfortunately do not have enough information from other colonies of this species (e.g. sex ratio and population trends) for an accurate global assessment of population trends. We do know that some colonies of the species are growing but that, at the global level, the species is still in decline.

((WN))  In your opinion, for how much longer are penguin populations sustainable without intervention?

NG: This is nearly impossible to answer without more information on other colonies of the species, but the Punta Tombo colony is declining rapidly. We estimate declines of at least 43% since 1987 from our annual surveys at the colony, but it is likely that actual declines are higher because of the increasingly skewed sex ratio.

((WN))  What are your next plans moving forward with your work?

NG: We are currently studying the sex ratio in Magellanic penguin chicks (at hatching and at fledging) to determine how this influences the sex ratio in adults. There are two priorities moving forward — 1) estimating sex ratio at other colonies of this species and determining whether females are more likely to leave Punta Tombo for other colonies than are males and 2) determining the mechanisms underlying lower female survival, e.g. by studying the foraging behavior and diet of males and females and the individual characteristics (like body size) that correlate with survival.


維基新聞採訪生物學家娜塔莎·古納瑞斯

在2019年1月發表在《生態學應用》（Ecological Applications）上的研究結果中，來自華盛頓大學和生態系統哨兵中心的科學家們研究了過去20多年來南美洲鳥類繁殖地雌性麥哲倫企鵝（Spheniscus magellanicus）數量驟減的原因。英文維基新聞於2019年1月尾，採訪了博士後研究員和研究合着者娜塔莎（Natasha Gownaris），以了解更多訊息。

娜塔莎在一份新聞稿中說：「20年前，在阿根廷蓬塔通博（Punta Tombo），每隻成年雌企鵝約有1.5隻成年雄性麥哲倫企鵝（Spheniscus magellanicus）。如今，每隻雌企鵝的比例接近3隻雄企鵝。」研究結果表明，幼年企鵝和成年企鵝死亡率的差異，而不是雛鳥存活率的差異，是造成這種差異的原因。

在阿根廷丘布特省，蓬塔通博（Punta Tombo）是麥哲倫企鵝的繁殖地之一，企鵝每年都要旅行數千英哩才能到達這些地點。

這項工作涉及通過標記單個企鵝收集的三十多年的數據來建立種羣模型。研究結果還表明，明顯的性別差異可能會使用於預測其他鳥類生存率的種羣模型與更均勻的性別平衡不適合用於大熊貓企鵝。

根據數據顯示，自1987年以來，在阿根廷蓬塔通博，麥哲倫企鵝的總體種羣數量下降了40%，而男女比例卻大大增加。

從1983年開始，研究小組就在阿根廷蓬塔通博繁殖地孵化的數萬隻雛鳥身上套上不銹鋼帶，記錄下第二年哪些幼鳥和成鳥能回到繁殖地，並推算出有多少隻幼鳥活着和死亡。在幼鳥中，雄鳥的存活率為17%，雌鳥為12%。在成年人中，分別為89%和85%。這些影響每年都變得更加複雜，在老年企鵝中，達到了6隻雄企鵝對1隻雌企鵝的比例。

研究人員指出了對企鵝保護的影響。娜塔莎說：「多年來，這個團隊一直在幫助保護像蓬塔通博這樣的繁殖地周圍的土地和水域。 但現在我們開始明白，為了幫助麥哲倫企鵝，你必須保護牠們冬季進食的水域，這是從蓬塔通博向北數千英哩的地方。」

娜塔莎回答了維基記者的一系列問題。

維基新聞 Wikinews 是甚麼促使你對麥哲倫企鵝產生了好奇心？

娜塔莎：我從小就想成為一名海洋科學家，當時我在紐約當地的海灘上收集沙蟹（Emerita talpoida）。我讀研究生時研究的是魚類，但我有一對領養的鸚鵡，而且我普遍對鳥類很着迷。另外，企鵝也吃魚！研究企鵝似乎是將我對海洋的熱愛和對鳥類的熱愛融合在一起的好方法。企鵝和其他海鳥的研究也很重要，因為牠們能告訴我們一些關於牠們覓食的海洋生態系統的健康狀況，就像用金絲雀來測試煤礦的空氣質量一樣。不幸的是，世界上許多海鳥物種的減少是人類對海洋產生的廣泛負面影響的又一個警告信號。

WN 你是如何把這樣一個大規模的研究放在一起的？

娜塔莎：這項研究開始於1982年，早在我2016年3月加入實驗室之前。迪·布爾斯瑪（Dee Boersma）博士開始這項研究是為了回應一家日本公司對收穫企鵝的皮、肉和油的興趣。雖然這個項目隨着時間的推移而發展，但布爾斯瑪博士有遠見地在1983年開始帶小雞，並建立了一個標準協議，我們每年都會遵循。從那時起，在蓬塔通博已經有超過44,000隻雛鳥被綁帶。我們已經能夠跟蹤一些個體30多年，收集牠們繁殖的頻率和牠們有多少配偶等詳細訊息。

WN 你最後在阿根廷花了多少時間？在繁殖地是甚麼樣的？

娜塔莎：布爾斯馬實驗室的成員和志願者每年在蓬塔通博度過大約六個月的時間。2015年至2017年期間，我有幸在棲息地度過了近四個月的時間。這是一個不可思議的、另類的地方。麥哲倫企鵝在洞穴或灌木叢中築巢，棲息地的一些地區洞穴非常密集，以至於你覺得自己是在另一個星球上。自研究開始以來，這個棲息地已經減少了40%以上……所以我根本無法想像它在80年代是甚麼樣子。我一天中最喜歡的時間是晚上8點左右，這時（希望是胖的）企鵝在覓食後集體返回棲息地。牠們在早晚的時候聲音也最大，發出特有的叫聲，相關的非洲企鵝因為聽起來有點像驢子，所以得了個「千斤頂企鵝」（Jackass penguin）的名字。棲息地還有其他美麗有趣的生物，包括一種類似駱駝的物種「瓜納科」（Guanaco）和一種類似鴕鳥的物種「瑞亞」（Rhea）。

WN 你有甚麼理論可以解釋為甚麼更多的雌性幼魚死在海上嗎？你提到了飢餓，這可能是甚麼原因，還有其他可能的解釋嗎？

娜塔莎：我們還不能確定為甚麼雌性更容易死亡，但我們認為這一定與牠們較小的體型有關。因為幼鳥的死亡率最不均勻，所以死亡率較高似乎與雌鳥的繁殖成本比雄鳥高有關。雌性麥哲倫企鵝比雄性輕17%左右，而且喙較小。我們認為，由於這種體型上的差異，雌性的儲存能力較低，不能像雄性那樣潛得那麼深，也不能像雄性那樣廣泛地捕獲獵物；這些都是面對有限的、不可預測的食物資源時的劣勢。這些劣勢對幼年雌性的打擊更大，因為幼年雌性仍在學習如何覓食，在非繁殖季節往往比成年雌性走得更遠。該物種遷徙範圍內的屍體數量支持飢餓是導致雌性偏向死亡的主要原因；雖然油污屍體的性別比為1:1，但在飢餓鳥類的屍體中，雌性數量超過雄性。唯一的其他可能性是，雌鳥遷往其他聚落的速度高於雄鳥，但眾所周知，這一物種幾乎總是返回其原生聚落進行繁殖。

WN 你建議保護工作應着眼於保護飼養場。你認為甚麼樣的措施可能是有益的？

娜塔莎：由於企鵝在非繁殖季節的遷徙距離如此之長，很可能需要混合使用各種工具（包括禁捕海洋保護區和傳統的漁業管理工具，如捕撈限額）。雖然目前該物種的繁殖地周圍有一些空間保護，但這種保護並沒有延伸到牠們的遷徙路線。當然，每個人都可以通過減少塑料垃圾、選擇更多可持續的食物和減少碳足跡來為企鵝保護做出貢獻。

WN 你認為是甚麼原因造成了企鵝食物來源的壓力？

娜塔莎：對這一族羣食物來源的兩個主要威脅是氣候變化（導致初級生產力和魚類種羣的變化）和漁業。漁業與企鵝爭奪鱈魚和鳳尾魚等魚種。

WN 當比例越來越傾斜時，你是否注意到企鵝之間的行為差異？

娜塔莎：在目前正在審查的一項單獨的研究中，我們已經表明，當羣落中的性別比例更偏向於雄性時，麥哲倫企鵝雄性之間的攻擊性更強。我們還表明，幾乎所有的雌企鵝都在繁殖，但隨着時間的推移，找到配偶的雄企鵝越來越少。單隻雄性企鵝有時會闖入交配對的巢穴，干擾蛋的孵化或雛鳥的餵養，導致死亡。在某些情況下，牠們甚至會攻擊和殺死小企鵝。

WN 你的發佈提到對企鵝進行性愛是有問題的，你是如何自信地實現的？

娜塔莎：我們有一些我們有信心的企鵝性別鑑定方法，例如，利用遺傳學或產卵前後洩殖腔大小的測量。然而，這些方法是需要時間的，所以我們也開發了視覺線索來判斷企鵝的性別（喙大小、行為、額頭形狀）。我們觀察了同時使用某種方法（如遺傳學）和視覺方法進行性別鑑定的個體，計算出僅憑視覺線索就能正確判斷的頻率，發現我們的準確率非常高。我們還使用統計工具來幫助處理一些個體性別的不確定性。

WN 根據你標記的鳥類，你能多好地推斷出蓬塔通博（Punta Tombo）的種羣趨勢？更廣泛地講，你認為這項工作在多大程度上代表了全球種羣？

娜塔莎：在該物種的其他繁殖地和其他企鵝物種中，雌性的死亡率可能高於雄性。遺憾的是，我們沒有從該物種的其他繁殖地獲得足夠的訊息（如性別比例和種羣趨勢），無法對種羣趨勢進行準確的全球評估。我們確實知道，該物種的一些繁殖地正在增長，但在全球範圍內，該物種的數量仍在下降。

WN 在您看來，如果不進行干預，企鵝種羣還能持續多久？

娜塔莎：如果沒有關於該物種其他棲息地的更多訊息，這幾乎是不可能回答的，但蓬塔通博的棲息地正在迅速下降。根據我們對該棲息地的年度調查，我們估計自1987年以來，該棲息地的數量至少減少了43%，但由於性別比例越來越偏斜，實際減少的數量可能更高。

WN 您下一步的工作計劃是甚麼？

娜塔莎：我們目前正在研究麥哲倫企鵝雛鳥的性別比（在孵化和雛鳥期），以確定這如何影響成年企鵝的性別比。有兩個優先事項正在推進，第一是估計該物種其他棲息地的性別比，並確定雌性是否比雄性更有可能離開蓬塔通博去其他棲息地；第二是確定雌性存活率較低的機制，例如通過研究雄性和雌性的覓食行為和飲食，以及與存活率相關的個體特徵（如體型）。


Man becomes first to swim at North Pole

Lewis Gordon Pugh, 37, a man from the United Kingdom has become the first person to swim at the North pole. The water, 29 degrees F (-1.8 C), is believed to be the coldest waters any human has ever swam in on the planet.

"I am obviously ecstatic to have succeeded but this swim is a triumph and a tragedy. A triumph that I could swim in such ferocious conditions, but a tragedy that it's possible to swim at the North Pole," said Pugh who swam 0.6 miles in just under 19 minutes through cracks in icebergs.

Pugh says he swam at the North Pole to demonstrate the effects that global warming is playing on the Earth and is hoping that his act will gain the attention of leaders from around the world.

"The decisions which they make over the next few years will determine the biodiversity of our world. I want my children, and their children, to know that polar bears are still living in the Arctic — these creatures are on the front line up here," added Pugh.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which sponsored the swim, states that the only reason Pugh was able to swim in the freezing waters was due to global warming.

"[The swim was] a bittersweet victory, as this swim has only been possible because of climate change," said WWF U.K. spokesman, Colin Butfield. The waters were completely frozen ten years ago and the swim would have been impossible to complete.

Pugh has also swum in the waters of Antarctica where he was credited to being the only person to swim so far south earning him the nickname "The Polar Bear." Pugh also swam the Indian Ocean.

"It was frightening. The pain was immediate and felt like my body was on fire. I was in excruciating pain from beginning to end and I nearly quit on a few occasions. It was without doubt the hardest swim of my life," added Pugh.


Un británico se convierte en el primer hombre en nadar en el Polo Norte

Lewis Gordon Pugh, un británico de 37 años de edad, se convirtió en el primer hombre en nadar en el Polo Norte. El agua que tiene una temperatura de 29 °F (-1.8 °C) es considerada una de las más frías del planeta donde hasta ahora ningún humano se había animado a nadar.

"Estoy obviamente muy emocionado por haber tenido éxito, pero éste nado es un triunfo y una tragedia. Un triunfo porque he podido nadar en feroces condiciones, pero una tragedia porque es posible nadar en el Polo Norte", dijo Pugh quien nado 0.6 millas durante 19 minutos atravesando icebergs.

Pugh dice que nadó en el Polo Norte para demostrar los efectos que el calentamiento global están causando en la Tierra y espera que este hecho pueda llamar la atención de los líderes alrededor del mundo.

"Las decisiones que ellos tomen durante los próximos años determinarán el futuro de la biodiversidad en nuestro mundo. Quiero que mis hijos y sus hijos puedan conocer como viven los osos polares en el Ártico - éstas criaturas están en la línea del abismo" añadió Pugh.

El Fondo Mundial para la Naturaleza (WWF), quien apoyó el nado, indicó que la única razón por la que Pugh fue capaz de nadar en las heladas aguas se debe al calentamiento global.

"[El nado fue] una victoria agridulce, ya que se debió simplemente a causa del cambio climático", dijo Colin Butfield, portavoz de la WWF para el Reino Unido. Las aguas estaban completamente congeladas diez años atrás y nadar hubiera sido completamente imposible.

Pugh además ha nadado en las aguas de la Antártida donde se convirtió en la única persona en nadar tan lejos al sur ganándose el sobrenombre de "El oso polar". Pugh también ha nadado en el Océano Índico.

"Fue tenebroso. Un dolor inmediato y sentir como si mi cuerpo estuviera en llamas. Fue un dolor espantoso desde el comienzo hasta el fin y estuve cerca de abandonar mi meta en varias oportunidades. Fue sin dudas el nado más difícil de mi vida", finalizó diciendo Pugh.


Massive snowstorm blasts most of United States

A massive winter storm has hit most of the United States with large amounts of blowing snow, rain, severe thunderstorms, and high winds, causing blizzard conditions in many areas, and hitting places like Chicago, Illinois with snow at the rate of 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) per hour. The massive storm stretches from New Mexico to Maine.

Chicago received 19.5 inches (45.53 cm) of snow by Wednesday morning, and winds reached speeds of 50 mph (80.46 kph) in the night. Other places such as Buffalo, New York could get up to eight inches (20 cm) of snow by Thursday. The storm brought badly needed rain to areas in the United States south, but also hit the Florida panhandle with a tornado watch.

Chicago and nearby areas also experienced thundersnow at times. Thundersnow is a type of thunderstorm with snow falling instead of rain.

Many power failures occurred in hard-hit areas, due to icing, which coated power lines with thick ice. Up to 18,000 customers in Indiana lost power, and almost 80,000 ComEd customers in the Chicago area were without power. Thousands in Oklahoma also lost power.

"If you don't have to travel, don't do it. If you can stay home, do it. You might get in. You won't get back," Kansas governor Sam Brownback advised.

In Illinois, Governor Pat Quinn activated over 500 National Guard troops, and Missouri activated 850 Guard troops. Over 20% of flights in the United States were grounded due to bad weather, and Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport had to close Tuesday morning due to an ice storm.

The snowstorm may affect 100 million Americans, roughly a third of that country's population. "It's unusual for a storm to affect such a broad swath of the country and so many big cities," said :The Weather Channel meteorologist Mark Ressler. The snowfall rate in some places was "incredibly heavy," he added.

In Chicago, where snow was heaviest, 2,200 flights were cancelled at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Chicago Midway Airport, the city's smaller airport, suspended flight operations. Classes within the Chicago Public School system were cancelled for Wednesday, the first time since 1999. The City of Chicago also obtained fifty snowmobiles to reach stranded residents.

The National Weather Service advised, "Do not travel! Stay inside!"

Dave Bursten, First Sgt. of the Indiana State Police, seemed resigned.

"There's only so much man can do to control Mother Nature, and ultimately Mother Nature will always win," he said.


USA: Riesenchaos nach Blizzard im Mittleren Westen

Chicago (Vereinigte Staaten), 04.02.2011 – Ein Blizzard im Mittleren Westen der Vereinigten Staaten löste am Dienstag und Mittwoch (1. und 2. Februar) in weiten Teilen der Vereinigten Staaten chaotische Zustände aus. Zahlreiche Bundesstaaten waren betroffen, die Auswirkungen des Schneesturms reichten von Texas im Süden bis nach Neuengland und den kanadischen Seeprovinzen im Nordosten. Der Wetterdienst hat mitgeteilt, dass der Schneesturm einer der heftigsten seiner Art seit Jahrzehnten gewesen sei.

Mehr als elftausend Flüge fielen in den USA am Dienstag und Mittwoch aus, zahlreiche Flughäfen mussten geschlossen werden, darunter mit dem O’Hare International Airport in Chicago und dem Flughafen Dallas/Fort Worth zwei der größten Flughäfen Nordamerikas. In Dallas soll am kommenden Sonntag der Super Bowl stattfinden, für die Amerikaner das wichtigste Sportereignis des Jahres. In vier Bundesstaaten – Illinois, Indiana, Missouri und Oklahoma – wurde die Nationalgarde mobilisiert, nachdem die Behörden den Notstand erklärt hatten. Inzwischen beginnt sich der Flugverkehr zu normalisieren, doch auch noch am Donnerstagvormittag kam es noch zu 2119 Flugstreichungen, darunter 364 in Chicago-O'Hare.

In Chicago kam das öffentliche Leben fast vollständig zum Stillstand. Erstmals seit 1999 fiel wegen der starken Schneefälle der Schulunterricht aus. Tausende von Autofahrern blieben in bis zu 60 Zentimeter hohen Schneewehen stecken und mussten stundenlang warten bis die Straßen geräumt wurden. Viele ließen ihre Autos stehen oder mussten von Rettungskräften in Sicherheit gebracht werden, weil ihnen das Benzin ausgegangen war. Die Behörden ließen steckengebliebene, verlassene Autos schließlich abschleppen, um die Straßen wieder befahrbar machen zu können. Besonders betroffen war hier der Lake Shore Drive. Mancherorts brachen Dächer unter der Schneelast zusammen, so etwa in einer Schule in Connecticut und ein Tankstellendach auf Long Island. Wie Peter Judge, ein Sprecher der Gefahrenabwehrbehörde in Massachusetts, dem Boston Globe mitteilte, stürzten in dem Bundesstaat 44 Bauten ein. In Upstate New York hielt ein Stall dem Gewicht des Schnees nicht stand, berichtete Associated Press. Die Kühe darin wurden durch die herunterfallenden Bauteile eingeklemmt.

Am Donnerstag zog der Blizzard dann über Nova Scotia hinweg. Hier wurden öffentliche Einrichtungen und Schulen geschlossen und örtlich fiel über 40 Zentimeter Neuschnee. Der Sturm ist inzwischen auf den offenen Atlantik hinausgezogen.

Mindestens 15 Menschen starben durch die Auswirkungen des Blizzards, unter ihnen drei Insassen eines SUV in Oklahoma. Das Fahrzeug war auf schneebedeckter Fahrbahn der Interstate 44 aus bisher nicht geklärter Ursache von der Straße abgekommen und in einen zugefrorenen Fluss gestürzt. Fünf Personen konnten sich auf das Dach des Fahrzeuges retten, von wo aus sie Rettungsmannschaften in Sicherheit brachten.


NASA: Arctic Sea's icecap is melting

NASA scientists say that the Arctic Sea's icecap is melting and that the icecap is melting fast.

According to images captured by NASA's QuikSCAT satellite, the Arctic icecap has lost at least 14% of its 'perennial' ice between 2004 and 2005. Data shows that at least 280,000 square miles of ice, at least the size of Texas has been lost. The eastern Arctic has lost at least 50% of its ice, but scientists say that ice was shifted by wind and other weather factors from the east to the west Arctic, causing the western areas of ice to actually grow.

Between October 2005 and April of 2006; however, the icecap lost an additional 70% of frozen water.

Between 04 and 05, the perennial ice, which is supposed to remain frozen year-round, was replaced by 'seasonal' ice, which scientists say melts faster during the Summer months. This event has never before been witnessed. Perennial ice is normally 3 meters (10 feet) thick or more and seasonal ice is only 0.3 meters (1 feet) to 2 meters (7 feet) thick.

"If the seasonal ice in the east Arctic Ocean were to be removed by summer melt, a vast ice-free area would open up. Such an ice-free area would have profound impacts on the environment, as well as on marine transportation and commerce," said Son Nghiem, the leader of research at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

For several decades, the icecap has melted about 0.7% a year during the Summer months and has increased at least "18 times" faster than past decades, but Nghiem also said that the icecap has melted with "some variability" over the past years and was at times a "much smaller" of a loss of ice.

"If we average that over the long term we find a reduction of between 6.4% and 7.8% per decade. What we have here is 14% in one year - 18 times the previous rate. In previous years there is some variability, but it is much smaller and regional. [The changes between] 2004 and 2005 is enormous," added Nghiem.

Global warming is believed to have played a role in melting the ice.

"It has never occurred before in the past. It is alarming. ... This winter ice provides the kind of evidence that it is indeed associated with the greenhouse effect," said Josefino Comiso, another NASA researcher and scientist.


NASA: Rasanter Rückgang des „Ewigen Eises“ in der Arktis

Pasadena (Vereinigte Staaten), 15.09.2006 – Wissenschaftler der NASA berichten in der jüngsten Ausgabe der Fachzeitschrift „Geophysical Research Letters“, dass die Eisdecke der Arktis mit einer deutlich höheren Geschwindigkeit abnimmt, als bisher bekannt war.

Nach einer Auswertung von Bildern des Satelliten QuikSCAT hat die Arktis allein zwischen 2004 und 2005 14 Prozent ihres „ewigen Eises“ verloren, eine Fläche, die ungefähr der Größe Pakistans oder der Türkei entspricht. Die ständige Eisdecke (perennial ice), deren dramatischer Rückgang nun ermittelt wurde, ist eine bis zu drei Meter dicke Eisschicht, die auch die Sommermonate in gefrorenem Zustand überdauert. Dieses Eis ist deutlich unterscheidbar, da es einen geringeren Salzgehalt hat und mehr Lufteinschlüsse enthält als das saisonale Eis.

Der Rückgang wurde überwiegend in der östlichen Arktis beobachtet, zu der die arktischen Regionen Nordasiens und Europas zählen.

Bisher war angenommen worden, dass das arktische Eis alljährlich um etwa 6,4 bis 7,8 Prozent pro Jahrzehnt beziehungsweise etwa 0,7 Prozent jährlich zurückgeht. Von der jetzt beobachteten Schrumpfung um 14 Prozent innerhalb nur eines Jahres zeigt sich Forschungsleiter Son Nghiem vom Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena alarmiert.

„Wenn das saisonale Eis [das im Winter das geschwundene ständige Eis ersetzt] in der östlichen Arktis während der Sommerperiode schmilzt, würde sich eine gewaltige eisfreie Region öffnen. Solch ein eisfreies Gebiete hätte tiefgreifende Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt wie auch auf die Schifffahrt und den Handel“, sagte er.

Während der Rückgang teilweise mit ungewöhnlichen Windverhältnissen im Laufe des Jahres 2005 erklärt wird, nehmen die Wissenschaftler an, dass die Klimaerwärmung eine wichtige Rolle spielt. Die Arktis erwärmt sich ungefähr doppelt so schnell wie der Rest des Planeten.

Entscheidend wird die Frage sein, ob es sich bei der von den Forschern beobachteten Schrumpfung um ein einmaliges Ereignis handelt oder ob sich hiermit eine dramatische Beschleunigung des Abschmelzens der arktischen Eiskappe ankündigt. Im letzteren Falle wäre eine weitere Beschleunigung der globalen Erwärmung die wahrscheinliche Folge, da die Eiskappen das Sonnenlicht in den Weltraum reflektieren. Nach ihrem Abschmelzen würde die Erde mehr solare Energie absorbieren und sich somit stärker erwärmen.


Льды Арктики тают

Учёные NASA а журнале «Geophysical Research Letters» сообщают, что ледяной покров Арктики сокращается быстрее, чем до сих пор считалось.

В результате анализа снимков сделанных спутником QuikSCAT, учёные сделали вывод, что только за период с 2004 по 2005 годы Арктика потеряла 14% площади ледяного покрова, что соответствует площади такой страны как Пакистан или Турция. Ледяной покров Арктики — это слой льда толщиной от одного до трёх метров. Этот лёд отличается от сезонного льда незначительным содержанием соли и большим включением воздуха.

Сокращение ледяного покрова большей частью происходит в восточных областях Арктики (арктические регионы Европы и Азии).

До сих пор считалось, что ледяной покров сокращается на  6,4 — 7,8 % в десятилетие (0,7% в год).

Сильное сокращение ледяного покрова связывают с необычным распространением ветров в 2005 году и с потеплением климата. Арктика прогревается, примерно, в два раза быстрее, чем другие районы планеты.

Пока не ясно, произошло ли это резкое сокращение ледяного покрова только однажды, или это начало резкого ускорения процесса таянья льдов. В последнем случае это будет означать дальнейшее глобальное потепление, так как снежный покров отражает солнечный свет. С уменьшением ледяного покрова, всё больше солнечной энергии будет поглощаться Землёй, что способствует потеплению.

15 сентября 2006 года


New South Wales, Australia government says entire state in winter 2018 drought

On Wednesday, the New South Wales, Australia Department of Primary Industries (DPI) reported fifteen percent of New South Wales, Australia (NSW) was in "intense drought", and the rest of the state "in drought" or "drought-affected". Farmers were reportedly running out of food for cattle and had to make difficult decisions about the collection times for their crops; food for cattle became harder to get, and more expensive.

The report from DPI indicated "up to 48% of the state as Drought Affected, 37% in Drought and 15% in Intense Drought". The areas of intense drought included "parts of Western, North West, Central West, Central Tablelands, South East, Hunter, Greater Sydney and Northern Tablelands LLS regions", according to the report. The drought indicator was based on agronomic data, remote sensing, and field reports, including soil moisture and pasture conditions.

The report from DPI named "the southern alpine zone, the greater Hilltops (Young) region and parts of the south and north coast" as areas with better conditions.

Furthermore, according to ABC (the Australian Broadcasting Corporation), the chair of the Australian Fodder Industry Association, Frank McRae, said many farmers in NSW had barely any food for their cattle. He said, "There's pretty much virtually nothing in NSW and supplies are rapidly drying up in southern Victoria [state bordering NSW on the south] [...] You have to go back to 1981–1982 to see a drought this widespread and so severe."

The BBC reported Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull saying some farmers bought hay for animal feed for as much as AUD 10,000 per truckload.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair remarked many people were hoping for rain to come and farmers were needed to make difficult decisions about the best viable time for crops collection. He said, "This is tough, there isn't a person in the state that isn't hoping to see some rain for our farmers and regional communities [...] Producers are now faced with some very difficult decisions on whether to graze sown crops or rely on potential rainfall in the next two months in order to increase yield production."

According to ABC's reports, Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) meteorologist Jane Golding said these conditions were unlike previously observed climatic conditions in NSW with rain in June, July and August. He said, "This year we haven't really seen either of those and last year as well we didn't really see too much of the either of those rain-bearing systems making their way into NSW [...] It is unusually dry and also unusually warm which exacerbates the problems, so the warm temperatures dry out the soils even more."

According to BBC, Queensland, north of NSW, was also experiencing dry conditions, as well as parts of South Australia and Victoria. The report from DPI mentioned last autumn's failed growing season.

About the forecast conditions and risks, the report from DPI said dry and warm conditions were "likely" to continue in the next three months, with an El Niño 50% likely in NSW in spring, which would mean depressed rainfall. The Australian forecasting services have an El Niño Watch on the region according to the report.


حكومة ولاية نيوساوث ويلز الأسترالية تعلن حالة جفاف مع نهاية الشتاء

أعلنت وزارة الصناعات الأولية بولاية نيوساوث ويلز أول أمس الأربعاء أن نسبة الأراضي التي ضربها جفاف حاد في الولاية الأسترالية بلغت %15، في حين حددت باقي المناطق على أنها جافة أو متضررة بالجفاف.

وذكر التقرير الذي صدر عن الوزارة أن %48 من مساحة الولاية قد تأثر بالجفاف، بينما %37 جاف أو قاحل، و%15 من الولاية شديد الجفاف، وذلك في أكثر شتاء جاف شهدته أستراليا منذ 1981، حسبما أدلى به فرانك ماكري رئيس الجمعية الأسترالية للصناعات الغذائية. ويعود سبب هذا الجفاف بالطبع لظاهرة النينيو، التي ستستمر معها الأجواء الجافة والحارة للأشهر الثلاثة القادمة (كامل فصل الربيع في النصف الجنوبي من الأرض).

وبهذه الموجة القاحلة التي تضرب أستراليا اضطر العديد من المزارعين الذين نفذ منهم علف الماشية إلى اقتناءه بأسعار باهضة وصلت إلى 10 آلاف دولار أسترالي للشحنة الواحدة، حسب تصريح رئيس الوزراء الأسترالي مالكولم تورنبال لبي بي سي. وقال ماكراي: "تقنيا لا يوجد أي شيء في نيوساوث ويلز والإمدادات تنقضي بسرعة في فيكتوريا (ولاية محاذية لنيوساوث ويلز من الجنوب)."

وقالت جاين غولدين وهي خبيرة أرصاد في المكتب الوطني الأسترالي لعلم الطقس: "لم نر مثل هذا الطقس في نيوساوث ويلز، فحسب البيانات المناخية السابقة فقد كانت أشهر يونيو ويوليو وأغسطس ممطرة، هذا العام لم نر أيا من هذا، أما العام الماضي فقد كانت الظروف المناخية أحسن رغم أن الولاية لم تشهد أنظمة مطرية كافية".

وحسب بي بي سي فإن كلا من ولايات كوينزلاند وشمال نيوساوث ويلز وأجزاء من ولاية جنوب أستراليا وفيكتوريا تشهد موجة جفاف حادة. وكان تقرير وزارة الصناعات الأولية قد ذكر أيضا فشل موسم الحصاد الخريفي (مارس إلى يونيو).

السبت 11 أغسطس 2018


New species of dart frog discovered in Colombia

Scientists have discovered a new species of venomous dart frog in Colombia.

The new species, dubbed the 'golden frog of Supatá', is 2cm (0.8 inch) long and has a range of just 50 acres (20 hectares), which is believed to be the reason why the frog remained undiscovered until now.

The frog was found in February during an expedition arranged by the Conservation Leadership Program (CLP), a nonprofit organization, but the discovery has only just been announced.

However, according to Giovanni Chaves, a biologist from the CLP, the frog is in imminent danger. "This frog exists in a little fragment of cloud forest that is under intense {{w|anthropogenic]] pressure, mainly the destruction of the forest for cattle-raising and agriculture," he said.

"This discovery allows us to know a little more about the ecology of these beautiful animals, and it will also allow us to use it as a symbol to carry out campaigns of environmental education in this area, to show the need to protect and to conserve the fauna and flora of this region of Colombia."

Colombia has one of the richest diversities of amphibians in the world, with more than 583 known species.


Descubren una nueva especie de rana venenosa de dardo en Colombia

Científicos han descubierto una nueva especie de rana venenosa de dardo en Colombia.

La nueva especia, apodada "rana dorada de Supatá" es de 2 cm (0,8 pulgadas) de largo y tiene un rango de hábitat de tan sólo 50 acres (20 hectáreas), razón por la cual se considera que no había sido descubierta hasta hoy.

La rana fue encontrada en febrero durante una expedición arreglada por el Programa de Conservación de Liderazgo (PCL), una organización sin ánimo de lucro, pero el descubrimiento ha sido anunciado recientemente.

Sin embargo, de acuerdo a Giovanni Chaves, un biólogo del PCL, la rana está en peligro inminente.

"Esta rana existe en un fragmento de nuboselva que está bajo gran presión antropogénica, pricipalmente la destrucción del bosque por prácticas ganaderas y agropecuarias", dijo.

"Este descubrimiento nos permite saber un poco más sobre la ecología de estos hermosos animales, y también nos permitirá usarlo como símbolo para llevar a cabo nuestras campañas de educación ambiental en este área, para demostrar la necesidad de proteger y conservar la fauna y flora de esta región de Colombia".

Colombia tiene una de las diversidades más ricas de amfibios en el planeta, con más de 584 especies conocidas.


Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Kenyan environmental activist

OSLO — The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded today to Dr Wangari Maathai from Kenya. She is the first African woman to win the Peace prize, and the 12th woman to win the prize since its inception in 1901. The Nobel committee cited "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace" as the reasons for awarding the prize. It is the first Peace prize awarded to an environmentalist.

Dr Maathai is a member of parliament in Kenya, the country's deputy environmental minister, and holds a Ph.D. in anatomy from the University of Nairobi. For seven years she was the director of the Red Cross in Kenya, and is most known for founding the Green Belt Movement — a non-governmental organization dedicated to environmental conservation and protecting forests. Since its founding in 1997, the organization claims to have planted over 30 million trees, in the process employing thousands of women — offering them empowerment, education and even family planning.

The GBM organises rural women in Kenya to participate in environmentally friendly activities such as reforestation; economically-conducive activities like eco-tourism and training in forestry and food processing; as well as community development.

On her Green Belt Movement project, Dr Maathai told the UNESCO Courier in 1999, "If you want to save the environment, you should protect the people first, because human beings are part of biological diversity. And if we can't protect our own species, what's the point of protecting tree species?"

In accepting the prize, Dr Maathai said that she was humbled by the recognition and uplifted by the honor of receiving the award, and discussed social and environmental problems that still challenge Africa and the rest of the world. The award includes a cash component of 10 million Swedish Kronor (approximately US$1.4 million).

Dr Maathai's project was opposed by the Kenyan government during Daniel arap Moi's  rule, and Dr Maathai's demonstrations to protect the forests often met with violent resistance; eventually, she was jailed.

"The government thinks that by threatening me and bashing me they can silence me," Dr Maathai said. "But I have an elephant's skin and somebody must raise their voice."

In 1997 Dr Maathai ran for president on the Liberal Party of Kenya ticket. In 2002 — after Moi's Kenya African National Union party lost the presidential race — she was elected to Parliament, and was appointed deputy minister of environment for the new government the next year, a position she holds today.


Friedensnobelpreis an Wangari Maathai

Oslo (Norwegen), 10.12.2004 -  Die Kenianerin Wangari Maathai wurde heute in Stockholm mit dem Friedensnobelpreis ausgezeichnet.

Damit ist Wangari Maathai die erste afrikanische Frau, die die begehrte Auszeichnung seit ihrem Bestehen entgegen nehmen durfte. Der Grund für die Verleihung ist ihr großes Engagement für die Aufforstung von Wäldern in ihrer Heimat und zugleich ihr Einsatz für Menschenrechte und Demokratie. Dotiert ist der Preis mit 1,1 Millionen Euro.

1984 wurde Maathai bereits mit dem  Alternativen Nobelpreis ausgezeichnet.


Non-industrial emissions key for meeting Kyoto targets in Europe

The European Environment Agency (EEA) released a report which shows that the European Union is on track to meet their Kyoto Protocol commitments to limit and reduce emissions responsible for the greenhouse effect on our earth.

The five member states France, Germany, Greece, Sweden and the United Kingdom have already reached the target. All other member states, except Austria, which has to strengthen its efforts, expect to reach the target, too.

EEA Executive Director Professor Jacqueline McGlade said: "It is encouraging that Europe's climate-changing emissions are expected to continue decreasing, outperforming the objectives set by the Kyoto Protocol. Such an accomplishment should encourage all countries to agree on much larger reductions of global emissions, sealing a global deal in Copenhagen this December. Commitments to deep emission cuts are urgently needed to preserve our chances to keep planetary temperature increases below 2ºC."


Nicht-industrielle Emissionen erreichen Koyoto-Ziele in Europa


Norman Borlaug, father of the Green Revolution, dies at age 95

American agronomist and Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug has died aged 95. Borlaug, known as the father of the Green Revolution that transformed agriculture in the 20th century, died of complications from cancer at his home in Dallas, Texas in the United States late on Saturday evening.

Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his development and introduction of high yield crops, and also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal, the two highest civilian awards in the U.S.. His work is often credited as saving over a billion lives.

Born in 1914 in Cresco, Iowa Borlaug worked on the family farm before enrolling at the University of Minnesota, gaining a master's and a Ph.D. in plant pathology and genetics.

In 1944 he began working for the Cooperative Wheat Research and Production Program, a joint project of the Mexican government and the Rockefeller Foundation. It was there that he led the development of new disease-resistant, high yield wheat varieties.

His introduction of these varieties to Southeast Asia in the 1960s averted mass famines, and led to countries such as India and Pakistan becoming self-sufficient in food. This was soon heralded as the start of a "Green Revolution", and later his efforts were extended to Africa.

From 1984 until his death Borlaug taught as Distinguished Professor of International Agriculture at Texas A&M University, whilst continuing his research in Mexico and his promotion of agricultural development around the world. In 1986 he established the World Food Prize to recognize contributors to improvements in world food supplies. In 2006 A&M created the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture to continue his work.

As well as his agricultural work, when younger he was a keen wrestler, competing for his high school and the University of Minnesota. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1992.

Borlaug is survived by two children, Jeanie and William, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In a statement his children said: "It is the hope of the Borlaug family that his life be an example to all. We would like his life be a model for making a difference in the lives of others and to bring about efforts to end human misery for all mankind."

A memorial is planned to be held at Texas A&M.


訃報 ノーマン・ボーローグ氏

アメリカ合衆国の農学者でノーベル平和賞受賞者のノーマン・ボーローグ氏が9月12日夜（UTC-5）、癌による合併症のためテキサス州ダラスの自宅で死去したとAP通信などが伝えた。95歳だった[1][2]。同氏が名誉教授を務めるテキサスA&M大学のスポークスマンが同日明らかにした[2]。

1914年3月、アイオワ州生まれ[1][2]。1960年代、インド・メキシコなどの開発途上国における食糧難の解決策として、小麦など穀物の高収穫品種の開発に成功。「緑の革命」と呼ばれる穀物大増産の貢献者となった。この功績が認められ、1970年にノーベル平和賞を受賞した[1][2]。

本ニュースは「日刊スポーツ」と「共同通信」の以下の報道を情報源としている。


Obama lessens US ban on offshore drilling

US President Barack Obama has announced that he will ease the country's ban on offshore oil drilling, which has been in place since the 1980s.

According to the plan, offshore drilling would now be allowed in parts of the Atlantic, from Delaware down to 125 miles beyond the shoreline of Florida, in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The move, however, does have some restrictions; drilling further northeast or along the West Coast is still prohibited.  Contracts in Bristol Bay, Alaska were also suggested, but were scrapped due to environmental concerns.

The president remarked that he decided the move was needed to lessen the country's need for additional energy, adding that he had studied the issue for over a year.  "This is not a decision that I've made lightly," he said.

"We're announcing the expansion of offshore oil and gas exploration but in ways that balance the need to harness domestic energy resources and the need to protect America's natural resources," Obama continued, speaking at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. "My administration will consider potential new areas for development in the mid and south Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico."

"Drilling alone can't come close to meeting our long-term energy needs, and for the sake of our planet and our energy independence, we need to begin the transition to cleaner fuels now.  I know that we can come together to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation that's going to foster new energy — new industries, create millions of new jobs, protect our planet, and help us become more energy independent."

Obama said that the plan was partially intended to garner support from Republicans in Congress for a climate-change bill to lower greenhouse gas emissions, which has been languishing for months due to lack of support from Republicans.

Some environmental groups, however, condemned Obama's move. Phil Radford, who is with the Greenpeace group, said that "[e]xpanding offshore drilling in areas that have been protected for decades threatens our oceans and the coastal communities that depend on them with devastating oil spills, more pollution and climate change." Greenpeace also said that lifting the ban fuelled the US' "addiction to oil".

Republican leader for the House of Representatives John Boehner, meanwhile, said he agreed with lifting the ban in the Atlantic, but remarked that it "makes no sense" not to have lifted it in other areas as well. "Opening up areas off the Virginia coast to offshore production is a positive step, but keeping much of the Pacific Coast and Alaska, as well as the most promising resources off the Gulf of Mexico, under lock and key makes no sense at a time when gasoline prices are rising and Americans are asking 'Where are the jobs?'", he said.

"Today's announcement is a step in the right direction, but a small one that leaves enormous amounts of American energy off limits," said the Senate Minority leader, Republican Mitch McConnell.

According to the US Minerals Management Service, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and parts of the Atlantic south and east of the continent could contain up to 5.8 billion barrels of oil and 40.5 trillion cubic feet of gas. The West Coast, meanwhile, which remains off limits for drilling, contains 10.5 billion barrels of oil with 18 trillion cubic feet of gas.


États-Unis : Barack Obama souhaite relancer le forage en mer

L'interdiction d'effectuer des forages sur les côtes américaines pour accéder à des gisements de pétrole ou de gaz sera bientôt annulée, a annoncé, hier, le président Barack Obama. Du même coup, ce dernier revient sur une promesse faite pendant sa campagne électorale.

« Ces forages permettront de régler certains problèmes énergétiques et de mettre à la disposition du pays des énergies alternatives. Nous annonçons (…) donc l'expansion de l'exploration sur nos côtes, pour tenir compte de nos besoins en énergie domestique, tout en protégeant les ressources naturelles américaines », a déclaré le chef de l'exécutif.

Ce changement de cap devrait permettre de procéder à de nouveaux forages dans l'océan Atlantique, sur la côte sud, face au Mexique et à proximité de l'État de l'Alaska. Toutefois, le plan de M. Obama prévoit d'annuler toutes les autorisations de permis de forage en Alaska, sauf une.

« Nous disposons de moins de 2 % des réserves mondiales. Nous consommons plus de 20 % de la production mondiale. Cela signifie que les forages prévus ne sauraient un tant soit peu couvrir nos besoins énergétiques à long terme », a-t-il conclu.

Durant la campagne présidentielle de 2008, Barack Obama avait déjà évoqué les forages.

Si le chef d'État insiste sur le fait que son programme énergétique vise essentiellement à développer de nouvelles sources d'énergie, certains démocrates se montrent déçus par cette annonce, tandis que Les Verts la dénoncent.


Opening positions spark debate at Global Climate Change Conference

2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference

At the U.N. conference on Global Climate change in Bali, the early talk has focused on whether some of the major developed countries will commit to cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years. European states are pushing for steep reductions in emissions, but environmentalists accuse some others of dragging their feet.

The European Union's climate chief, Artur Runge Metzger, says his organization wants greenhouse emissions cut by half by the middle of the century.

"We would like to see global average temperatures rise no more than an average of two degrees compared to pre-industrial levels," Metzger said. "And that would require that global emissions go down by at least 50 percent of the 1990 emissions by the year 2050."

Greenhouse emissions are thought to be causing global warming. Metzger downplayed differences between the EU and other countries on reduction targets, saying he believes the response to the 50 percent proposal has been increasingly positive. He noted that Japan, Canada and some members of the U.S. congress have expressed support for the idea.

Those same countries, however, have been targeted by environmental groups, who say they have failed in their initial statements here to come out strongly enough for significant cuts. Hans Verolme of the group WWF says Japan is being criticized for not including binding targets in its proposal for emission control discussions.

"That in our view would be quite disastrous. It would delay action and it would in fact lead to dangerous climate change," Verolme said.

Japan says its proposal is merely an attempt to get the conversation started, and U.N. climate change chief Yvo de Boer has also sought to downplay any differences. De Boer repeatedly points out that the Bali conference is not meant to produce a new climate-change treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol. That 1997 agreement is set to expire in 2012.

"This meeting in Bali will not finalize a post-2012 climate change deal, that's much too complicated to do in 10 days, but what it can do is put in place a two-year process to work towards such a deal," De Boer said.

Even the two-degree temperature rise that the European Union talks about is predicted to have serious effects on humans and the environment. The U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted such a rise would increase the frequency of damaging storms, and make 30 percent of the world's species more vulnerable to extinction.

Thousands of delegates from more than 180 countries are meeting in Bali, which is due to run through December 14.


Debates acalorados en la Conferencia de Bali tras discursos de posiciones

5 de diciembre de 2007Bali, Indonesia —

En la Conferencia de la ONU para el Cambio Climático – realizada en Bali, Indonesia – las discusiones se han centrado en argumentos para que los países desarrollados se comprometan a recortar sus emisiones de gases invernaderos en los próximos años. Varios estados de Europa han favorecido medidas para reducciones importantes en las emisiones, pero varios ambientalistas acusan que otras varias naciones no se esmeran lo suficiente.

Artur Runge Metzger, responsable para cambio climático de la Unión Europea (UE), declaró que su organización aboga recortes de hasta la mitad, para la mitad del siglo, en emisiones de gases invernaderos. "Nos gustaría que las temperaturas medias globales aumenten no más de un promedio de dos grados comparadas a niveles pre-industriales", dijo Metzger. "Y eso requerirá que las emisiones globales disminuyan en al menos 50 por ciento de las emisiones de 1990 para el año 2050."

Se cree que son las emisiones de gases invernaderos las que causan el calentamiento global. Metzger minimizó las diferencias entre la UE y otros países en cuanto a objetivos de reducción, diciendo que cree que la respuesta a la propuesta del 50% ha sido positiva. Además destacó que Japón, Canadá y algunos miembros del Congreso de los Estados Unidos han apoyado la idea.

No obstante, estos mismos países han sido puestos en la mira por grupos ambientalistas, que dicen que han fallado en sus declaraciones iniciales para llegar a acuerdos sobre recortes significantes. Hans Verolme del grupo WWF dijo que Japón está siendo criticado por no incluir objetivos vinculantes en su propuestas para el control de emisiones.

"Eso, en nuestro punto de vista, es bastante desastroso. Retrasaría la acción y de hecho causaría un cambio climático peligroso", afirmó Verolme.

Japón dijo que su propuesta es meramente un intento para que comiencen las negociaciones, y el responsable de la ONU para el cambio climático, Yvo de Boer, también ha minimizado diferencias. De Boer destacó repetidamente que la Conferencia de Bali no tiene el objetivo de producir un nuevo tratado sobre el cambio climático para reemplazar el Protocolo de Kyoto.

El acuerdo, con fecha de 1997, expira en 2012.

"Esta reunión en Bali no finalizará en un acuerdo sobre cambio climático post-2012; eso es muy complicado para hacer en 10 días, pero lo que podemos hacer es poner en práctica un proceso de dos años para trabajar en dicho acuerdo", reafirmó De Boer.

Algunos han reprochado que incluso el aumento de dos grados que propuso la UE tendrá serias consecuencias sobre los humanos y el medio ambiente. El Panel Intergubernamental del Cambio Climático de la ONU predijo que tal aumento incrementaría la frecuencia de tormentas arrasadoras, y harían a un 30% de las especies del planeta vulnerables a la extinción.

Miles de delegados de más de 180 países se han reunido en Bali en una conferencia mundial que tendrá fin el 14 de diciembre.


Panda gives birth at San Diego Zoo

Bai Yun, a Giant Panda, has given birth Friday at the San Diego Zoo, after two and a half hours in labor. After birth, the cub was immediately taken into the arms of its mother.

Bai Yun has had three other cubs, Hua Mei, 1999, Mei Sheng, 2003, and Su Lin, 2005.

The newborn cub's gender is not yet known - zookeepers want to avoid going close to the cub for a few days, and are watching on a closed-circuit camera.

While Bai Yun has been relatively fertile in captivity, other animals have had difficulty mating. Since these pandas possess extremely low hormonal desires for sex, scientists in China have recently developed a method involving "panda porn" to induce the animals into mating.

Bai Yun, however, seems to be getting along just fine, producing her previous two cubs with a male panda named Gao Gao.

Dr. Ron Swaisgood, who helped deliver the newest cub, has said that “Gao Gao is a very proficient mater.”


Nace un oso panda en el Zoológico de San Diego

4 de agosto de 2007San Diego, California —

Bai Yun, una Panda Gigante, ha dado a luz el viernes en el Zoo de San Diego, luego de dos horas y media de trabajo de parto. Luego del nacimiento, el osezno fue llevado a los brazos de la madre.

Bai Yun tiene otro tres oseznos: Hua Mei, 1999, Mei Sheng, 2003, y Su Lin, 2005.

Aún no se sabe el sexo del osezno recién nacido - los cuidadores del zoológico quieren evitar acercarse la osezno por un par de días, y lo vigilan por cámara.

Mientras que Bai Yun ha sido bastante fértil, otros animales han tenido dificultades al copular. Ya que estos pandas poseen deseos hormonales para el sexo bajos, los científicos de China han desarrollado un método que involucra "porno panda" para inducir a los animales a procrear.

Bai Yun, sin embargo, no tiene problemas y ha procreado a sus últimos oseznos con un panda macho llamado Gao Gao.

El Dr. Ron Swaisgood, que ayudó en el parto del osezno, dijo que "Gao Gao es muy competente".


Polar bears reviewed to become "threatened" species

The United States is giving some thought to adding polar bears to the list of threatened species. The proposal to list polar bears has resulted from a lawsuit settlement the Bush administration reached in February with Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council,[1] and a decsion was to be made 12 months after that settlement, based on the Endangered Species Act petition process[2].

"Today the Interior Department's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list polar bears as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. We are making this proposal because a scientific review of the species by the Fish and Wildlife service found that populations may be threatened by receding sea ice, which polar bears use as a platform for many activities essential to their life cycle, including hunting for their main prey, Arctic seals," said Dirk Kempthorne, the Secretary of the Interior in the U.S.

"[Polar bears are] one of nature's ultimate survivors, but we are concerned the polar bears' habitat may literally be melting," added Kempthorne.

"[We have never had a species] listed with such a close correlation to climate change as this one," said an attorney with Natural Resources Defense Council, Andrew Wetzler.

"Global warming is the single biggest threat to polar bears' survival, and this will require the government to address the impacts on the polar bear," added Wetzler.

The "threatened" category encompasses "vulnerable," "endangered," and "critically endangered." Currently, polar bears are listed as "vulnerable" under the World Conservation Union.

Although the United States Fish & Wildlife Service makes no formal mention of increasing or decreasing polar bear population within US borders or worldwide, it is estimated that there are between 22,000 and 25,000 polar bears living[3], some 4,700 are living in the state of Alaska[4], and about 15,000 live in Canada[5][6].


Eisbären sollen in den USA auf die Liste bedrohter Tierarten

Washington D.C. (USA), 28.12.2006 – Die Vereinigten Staaten denken darüber nach, Eisbären auf die Liste bedrohter Arten zu setzen. Falls die Eisbären als bedroht eingestuft werden, wäre es die erste Art, die aufgrund der globalen Klimaerwärmung dazu kommt.

Als Ursache für die schwindenden Eisbärpopulationen wird das Abschmelzen des arktischen Eises genannt.

„Heute legt das Fisch- und Wildamt des US-Innenministeriums einen Vorschlag vor, Eisbären als eine bedrohte Art im Sinne der Verordnung für bedrohte Arten aufzulisten. Wir bringen diesen Vorschlag ein, weil eine wissenschaftliche Überprüfung der Art durch das Fisch- und Wildamt ergeben hat, dass Populationen durch das zurückgehende Meereseis bedroht sein könnten. Eisbären benutzen dieses Eis als Grundlage für viele Aktivitäten, die entscheidend für ihren Lebensablauf sind, einschließlich Jagd auf ihre Hauptbeute, arktische Robben“, sagte US-Innenminister Dirk Kempthorne.

„[Eisbären] gehören zu den ultimativen Überlebenskünstlern der Natur, aber wir befürchten, dass ihr Lebensraum buchstäblich wegschmelzen könnte“, fügte Kempthorne hinzu.

„[Es gab bisher noch keine Art], die in so engem Zusammenhang mit dem Klimawandel auf die Liste kam“, sagte Andrew Wetzler, ein Anwalt des Natural Resources Defense Council.

Er sagte weiter: „Die globale Erwärmung ist die mit Abstand größte Bedrohung für das Überleben der Eisbären, und es bedarf der Regierung, sich der Auswirkungen auf die Eisbären anzunehmen.“

Arten auf der Liste bedrohter Arten stehen eine Stufe unter der Einstufung für gefährdete Arten.

Im Moment leben weltweit mindestens 25.000 Eisbären, mit mindestens 4.700 davon im Bundesstaat Alaska.


Les États-Unis se proposent de considérer l'ours polaire comme une espèce menacée


Polyurethane plastic substitute can biodegrate in seawater, say scientists

On Thursday, September 23, scientists at the University of California San Diego reported in the journal Science of the Total Environment that a type of polyurethane already used in biodegradable land-based products can also break down when immersed in seawater.  This polyurethane is already used as a substitute for plastic in foams and shoes.

The research team performed their experiments at the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier and Experimental Aquarium.  They cut the polyurethane into cubes similar in size and shape to those naturally formed by EVA plastics.  They wrote that several types of marine bacteria and fungi stick to the polyurethane and break it down to its component chemicals, which they then consume for food.  The polyurethane microbes had already made detectable progress when the scientists checked the samples after four weeks in the water.

"Improper disposal of plastic in the ocean breaks down into microplastics and has become an enormous environmental problem," said study co-author Stephen Mayfield, director of the California Center for Algae Biotechnology. "We've shown that it's absolutely possible to make high performance plastic products that also can degrade in the ocean."

Humans deposit roughly 8 billion kg of plastic in the ocean each year, where it can be mistaken for food by marine organisms.  Natural forces break the plastic into the small pieces that we call microplastic, while larger chunks form near-islands, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.  By mass, about half the patch is commercial fishing waste, such as discarded nets, but reducing the amount of post-consumer plastic in the ocean would still make a considerable dent in the planet's plastic problem.

This type of polyurethane is can be used to make flip-flops and parts of other shoes, which make up a large portion of the world's plastic waste.


Stworzono pianki poliuretanowe, które w pełni podlegają biodegradacji w środowisku morskim

22 września 2022 roku w czasopiśmie Science of the Total Environment ukazał się artykuł pod tytułem "Biodegradation of renewable polyurethane foams in marine environments occurs through depolymerization by marine microorganisms". Autorami pracy byli Natasha R. Gunawan, Marissa Tessman, Daniel Zhen, Lindsey Johnson, Payton Evans, Samantha M. Clements, Robert S. Pomeroy, Michael D. Burkart, Ryan Simkovsky, Stephen P. Mayfield  z Uniwersytetu Kalifornijskiego San Diego. Naukowcy prezentują badania dotyczące biodegradacji pianek poliuretanowych w środowisku morskim.

Badacze opracowali wcześniej odpowiednią do zastosowań komercyjnych piankę poliuretanową pochodzącą z odnawialnych materiałów biologicznych, która mogła być depolimeryzowana do swoich monomerów składowych i zużywana przez mikroorganizmy w glebie lub kompoście. Kolejnym etapem było sprawdzenie, jak pianka zachowa się, gdy, tak jak wiele innych plastików, niezamierzenie trafi do środowiska morskiego.

W tym badaniu wyizolowano i zidentyfikowano pojedyncze mikroorganizmy z sześciu lokalizacji morskich wokół San Diego zdolnych do depolimeryzacji, metabolizowania i gromadzenia biomasy przy użyciu pianek poliuretanowych.

Naukowcy z Uniwersytet Kalifornijski w San Diego przeprowadzili swoje eksperymenty na Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier and Experimental Aquarium. Pocięli poliuretan na kostki podobne pod względem wielkości i kształtu do tych, które zwykle tworzą tworzywa sztuczne. Napisali, że kilka rodzajów morskich bakterii i grzybów przykleja się do poliuretanu i rozkłada go na składowe substancje chemiczne, które następnie konsumują jako pokarm. Mikroby poliuretanowe poczyniły już wykrywalne postępy, gdy naukowcy sprawdzili próbki po czterech tygodniach w wodzie.

"Pokazaliśmy, że możliwe jest stworzenie wysokowydajnych produktów z tworzyw sztucznych, które również mogą ulegać degradacji w oceanie" - powiedział współautor badania Stephen Mayfield, dyrektor California Center for Algae Biotechnology.


Protesters arrested at climate change rally

Almost a thousand protesters at The Copenhagen Climate Change Summit were  arrested yesterday for unruly conduct. Although most of the protests were peaceful, one group began destroying windows of nearby buildings.  Tens of thousands of protesters held multiple rallies throughout the Danish capital. Marches have also formed in Australia, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Indonesia and the Philippines.  One of the demonstrators, Nnimmo Bassey, of Friends of the Earth, summed the rallies with "Let's dance, sing and be happy, because power is in your hands,".

Protesters included actress Helen Baxendale, model Helena Christensen and former Irish president Mary Robinson.  Baxendale was quoted "I think it's also important that people come and make their voices heard as well. I think, in the end, that's what will make real, positive change."

The Copenhagen Summit opened last Monday, and has representatives from nearly 190 nations to discuss caps on greenhouse gas emissions.  A draft proposal calls for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 50–90% by 2050 and 25–40% by 2020 for developed nations.


Copenhague : manifestations sur le réchauffement climatique

Des activistes en faveur de l'environnement se sont mobilisés hier afin de réclamer des engagements concrets de la communauté internationale pour la lutte contre le réchauffement climatique.

Ainsi, des dizaines de milliers de manifestants ont défilé dans les rues de Copenhague, capitale du Danemark. Ils ont brandi des pancartes et crié des slogans. Certains étaient même déguisés en ours polaires, espèce menacée par la fonte des glaces. Parmi les manifestants, on a dénombré environ 300 activistes vêtus de noir, qui ont été détenus par la police au motif que le groupe semblait « chercher à provoquer des incidents ».

Par ailleurs, en Australie, au moins 40 000 personnes ont participé à une marche contre le réchauffement climatique et l'on signalait des manifestations également à Pékin, en Indonésie, à Manille et à Taipei.

Entre temps, la controverse se poursuit sur le projet de texte qui circule parmi les participants au sommet de Copenhague, et qui prévoit notamment un pic des émissions en 2020 et une réduction de 50 % des émissions de gaz à effet de serre à l'horizon 2050. Ce brouillon de traité ne plaît pas aux pays en voie de développement, qui attendent toujours des engagements concrets de la part des pays industrialisés pour les aider à financer leurs efforts de lutte contre le réchauffement climatique.


Puffin numbers are falling on UK's Farne Islands

Puffin numbers are declining on the Farne Islands, where the United Kingdom's largest colony resides. During the past five years, the puffin population on the islands has decreased by a third. Experts had expected numbers to rise this year, but now with news of the decline, are citing an inability to find food as the probable cause.

Numbers of puffins have also been declining on the Isle of May, 100 miles north. Professor Mike Harris, Emeritus Research Fellow at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, said that the birds spend eight months at sea, and some do not return, which may be the cause of the lowering population.

Puffins, like many auks, feed on fish and zooplankton. It is not known if man-made causes, such as over-fishing or climate change, have lowered the amount of food available to puffins, causing them to starve while at sea.

"Whether it is climate change or man-induced we just don't know but I suspect the cause is oceanographic and it has resulted in the birds being unable to find enough to eat," said Professor Harris.


תוכי־הים באיי פארן הולכים ונכחדים

אוכלוסיית תוכי הים הולכת ומידלדלת באיי פארן, המקום בו שוכנת מושבת תוכי הים הגדולה ביותר ברחבי הממלכה המאוחדת. במרוצת חמש השנים האחרונות, מספרי תוכי הים על איים אלה פחתו בכשליש. מומחים צפו כי המספרים ישובו ויעלו בשנה זו, ברם, בהגיע החדשות על המשך ההידלדלדות אף בשנה זו, הם מייחסים אותה לחוסר יכולת תוכי הים לאתר מקורות תזונה כסיבה המסתברת לתופעה מדאיגה זו.

מספרי תוכי הים ירדו משמעותית גם באי מיי השוכן מאה מילין צפונה. פרופסור מייק האריס, עמית מחקר אמריטוס במרכז לאקולוגיה ולהידרולוגיה, גורס כי בעלי-הכנף מעבירים שמונה חודשים בשנה במרחבי הים, וחלקם פשוט אינם שבים, ואפשר שזוהי הסיבה לכך שהאוכלוסייה הולכת ופוחתת.

תוכי הים, בדומה ליתר בני משפחת האלקיים, ניזונים מדגה בעיקר. אין בידי המדע המידע האם גורמים שבהשפעת האדם הם שיצרו את הבעיה, דוגמת שינויי אקלים או דיג יתר, והם אלו שגרמו לתוכי הים לרעוב למוות בעודם שוהים בים.

"לשאלה האם אלו הם שינויי אקלים או גורמים מושפעי אדם - אינני יודע אך אני חושד שהגורם הינו אוקיאנוגראפי והוא שגרם לציפורים להיות משוללות יכולת לאתר כמות מספקת של מזון", אמר פרופסור האריס.


Rare snow storm in Portugal

Today an uncommon snow storm covered much of Portugal. Apart from mountainous regions, snow is usually a rare vision in this south European country because flat terrain and a Mediterranean climate. However, January 2006 saw a cold wave sweeping across Europe, and since early morning snow fell in seaside towns like Figueira da Foz, in central Portugal, and the storm reached record south locations such as Algarve.

Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, received snow for the first time in 52 years. Other towns with a record snowfall were Leiria, Santarém, Évora, Setúbal, Portalegre, Sesimbra, Palmela, Fátima, Pombal, Abrantes, Torres Novas and Ourém.

Highways and roads were closed in much of central and south Portugal. In Montejunto, one hundred people were evacuated from their vehicles. The storm caused electricity to be cut in Elvas and other parts of the Alentejo region. A number of car accidents and fallen trees were reported to have only resulted in minor injuries.  In Lisbon, the city government demanded subway stations to remain open overnight, so that homeless people could find shelter.

At 1500 GMT, phone companies saw a record level of calls and text messages due to surprised people contacting and warning each other.


Neve em Lisboa depois de 50 anos

Hoje, Lisboa deu por si coberta por um manto branco. A neve e muito frio marcaram o domingo inesperado dos lisboetas e de muitos outros portugueses.

Pela primeira vez em mais de 50 anos, a neve aparece. Eram 15h  e já os termómetros apresentavam 0.5°C, 3.5°C abaixo da temperatura mínima prevista pelo Instituto de Meteorologia.

Nevou em vários concelhos do Distrito de Lisboa, excluíndo-se aguns com excepcional influência marítima.

Foi criado, pela Câmara Municipal de Lisboa (CML) um centro para abrigar os sem-abrigo. A CML disponibilizou também a Polícia Munipal e vários grupos de pessoas que trabalham recolhendo os necessitados da rua.


Rare woodpecker discovered in Arkansas

Thursday, April 28, 2005

Wildlife scientists confirmed on Thursday that a bird long thought extinct, the Ivory-billed woodpecker, has been found in Arkansas. The remarkable birds have a 30-inch wingspan and stand nearly 20 inches high.

The birds inhabited a wide swath of American bottomlands and mountain pine forests until the latter part of the 1800s. They require a large feeding ground, and it is thought the expansion of towns and cities closed off their domain. They went extinct in Cuba during the same period. Ornithologists say each mating pair of Ivory-billed woodpeckers needs three square miles of forest to survive. There were thought to be only 22 of them left in 1938.

There have been several independent sightings of the bird in Arkansas over the last year, and even a videotape. In an effort to support the birds, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, The Nature Conservancy, and other groups have joined to form the Big Woods Conservation Partnership to conserve 200,000 acres of forest habitat and rivers in the area during the next 10 years.

John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology told the Associated Press, "the bird captured on video is clearly an ivory-billed woodpecker. Amazingly, America may have another chance to protect the future of this spectacular bird and the awesome forests in which it lives."

The story premiered Thursday in the online version of Science magazine.


Pájaro raro descubierto en EEUU

Los científicos de vida salvaje confirmaron jueves pasado el descubrimiento en Arkansas de un pájaro que se consideraba extinto desde hace mucho tiempo, el Campephilus principalis, pájaro carpintero real, o ivory billed woodpecker en inglés. El ave es un pájaro carpintero de cabeza roja, aproximadamente del tamaño de un cuervo, de cerca de 50 centímetros.

Estos pájaros habitaban una gran área de las tierras bajas americanas y los bosques de pinos, hasta la segunda mitad del siglo XIX. Necesitan de mucha alimentación y se cree que la expansión de poblados y ciudades hayan acabado con su hábitat natural. También se extinguieron en Cuba durante el mismo periodo. Los ornitólogos dicen que cada pareja de Campephilus principalis necesita de casi 8 kilómetros cuadrados de bosque para sobrevivir. Se creía que existían solamente 22 de ellos en 1938.

Hubo varias visiones independientes del pájaro en Arkansas, el año pasado, y existe incluso una grabación en video. En un esfuerzo para ayudar los pájaros, el Laboratorio de Ornitología de Cornell (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), el grupo de Conservación de la Naturaleza y otros grupos, se juntaron para crear la Asociación de los Grandes Pájaros Carpinteros, con el fin de conservar en el área 200 mil acres de bosques de hábitat y ríos durante los próximos 10 años.

John Fitzpatrick, director del Laboratorio de Ornitología de Cornell declaró a la Associated Press: "los pájaros que fueron capturados en vídeo son claramente de la especie pájaro carpintero real. De forma increible, América tiene otra oportunidad de proteger el futuro de ese espectacular pájaro y los impresionantes bosques en los que ellos viven."

La historia apareció el jueves pasado destacada en la versión online de la revista Science.


Pica-pau raro descoberto nos EUA

Cientistas da vida selvagem confirmaram quinta-feira passada a descoberta no Arkansas de um pássaro que pensava-se achar há muito tempo extinto,  o pica-pau Real ou Campephilus principalis  (ivory billed woodpecker,  em inglês).     A ave é um pica-pau de topete vermelho, aproximadamente do tamanho de um corvo, com cerca de 50  centímetros.

Os pássaros habitavam uma grande área das terras baixas americanas e as florestas de pinheiros até  a segunda metade do século 19. Eles precisam de muita  alimentação, e acredita-se que a expansão de povoados e cidades tenham acabado com seu habitat natural. Eles também foram extintos em  Cuba durante o mesmo período. Os ornitólogos dizem que cada casal de  Campephilus principalis precisa de quase 8 quilômetros quadrados de floresta para sobreviver. Acreditava-se que existissem somente 22 deles em 1938.

Houve várias visões independentes do pássaro no Arkansas, o ano passado, e há até mesmo um videoteipe.  Num esforço para ajudar os pássaros, o Laboratório de Ornitologia de Cornell (Cornell Lab of Ornithology),   o grupo de Conservação da Natureza, e outros grupos, juntaram-se para criar a Parceria dos Grandes Pica-Paus, a fim de conservar na área 200 mil acres de florestas de habitat e rios durante os próximos 10 anos.

John Fitzpatrick, diretor do Laboratório de Ornitologia de Cornell contou para a Associated Press: "os pássaros que foram capturados em vídeo são claramente  do pica-pau Real [ivory-billed woodpecker, em inglês].  De forma fantástica, a América tem outra chance de proteger o futuro desse espetacular pássaro e as impressionantes florestas em que eles vivem."

A história apareceu quinta-feira (28/04/2005) passada como destaque da versão online da revista Science.


Researchers: Wild gorillas seen using tools

Wild gorillas were seen using tools, researchers for the U.S. based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said.

Images show one female gorilla apparently using sticks to test the depth of water, another female made a bridge with a stump detached from a bush to help her cross muddy ground, and a female using a stump from a bush as support as she dug for herbs.

Thomas Breuer, of the WCS operating in the Republic of the Congo, called the discovery "truly astounding" and added that it was "quite surprising to me and my team to make this observation". Only wild chimps, orangutans, and captive gorillas were previously known to use tools, meaning that now all of the four great apes were oberserved using tools, suggesting that the usage of tools might predate the evolution of modern humans.

But, tool usage seems to be infrequent among wild gorillas. They were observed for some ten years in the Mbeli Bai area before this discovery was made.

Nevertheless, Breuer is fascinated by what he calls a "similarity" between humans and gorillas: "If you or me want to cross a swamp, we use the same solutions as gorillas."

Gorillas are an endangered species; they appear on the Red List of IUCN.