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Archive for February 14th, 2013
Sweden: Drugs Leaked Into Rivers Make Fish Antisocial
Posted by LiveScience: Douglas Main on February 14th, 2013
LiveScience: Drugs taken by humans can have unintended side effects -- on fish, in the natural environment. Turns out, fish fed extremely low concentrations of an antianxiety drug eat more quickly, and act bolder and more antisocial than their un-medicated peers, a new study finds.
"We can see profound effects at the low levels that we find in surface water. Exposed fish are more bold," Jerker Fick, a co-author and researcher at Umea University in Sweden, said at a news conference here at the annual meeting...
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Amphibian Biodiversity Makes Entire Ecosystem More Robust
Posted by redOrbit: April Flowers on February 14th, 2013
RedOrbit: A new study from the University of Colorado, Boulder shows that the richer the biodiversity of amphibian species living in a pond, the more protection that ecosystem has against parasitic infections.
The finding of the study support the broader theory that greater biodiversity in large-scale ecosystems such as forests or grasslands may also provide greater protection against diseases, including those that attack humans. A larger number of mammals in an area, for example, may curb cases of Lyme...
Study Says Wetland Trees Significant Source Of Greenhouse Gas Methane
Posted by redOrbit: Lee Rannals on February 14th, 2013
RedOrbit: While wetlands represent an enormous source of atmospheric methane, researchers taking measurements of the gas at ground level in these regions have noticed a significant drop in methane levels compared to what they have measured in the air around tropical areas.
The team of scientists studied both swamps and flooded forests in the tropics. After taking ground-based measurements of methane, they found that levels of the simple organic gas have fallen short of the quantities detected in tropical...
NOAA: February 2012 to January 2013 Warmest on Record
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 14th, 2013
Climate Central: January was warmer and wetter than average in the contiguous U.S., despite the persistent drought in the nation's heartland, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday.
The average temperature in the lower 48 states reached 32.0°F last month. At 1.6°F above the 20th century average, January 2013 ties 1958 as the 39th-warmest January on record.
That was still warm enough to make February 2012-to-January 2013 the warmest February-to-January period since record-keeping began...
Thinning Ice Is Turning Arctic into an Algae Hotspot
Posted by Climate Central: Lauren Morello on February 14th, 2013
Climate Central: Shrinking, thinning Arctic sea ice appears to be accelerating the growth of algae in polar waters, a new study finds, a development that could alter the region's ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
Scientists cruising central Arctic waters last summer aboard the research ship Polarstern were stunned to discover dense, shaggy deposits of the algae Melosira arctica clinging to the bottom of sea ice.
The green color of water in a melt pond atop Arctic sea ice hints at the riotous growth...
Sweden: Anxiety drug found in rivers changes fish behaviour
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 14th, 2013
Guardian: Drugs to treat anxiety in people may alter the behaviour of fish when the chemicals are flushed into rivers, according to scientists. Swedish researchers found that European perch exposed to tiny concentrations of a drug became less sociable, ate more and became more adventurous – all changes in behaviour that could have unexpected ecological impacts on fish populations.
When scientists at Umeå University in Sweden screened rivers for pharmaceuticals they found that a drug for treating anxiety,...
Activists arrested at WH over climate change protest
Posted by CNN: Shannon Travis on February 14th, 2013
CNN: Dozens of environmental activists - including Bobby Kennedy Jr. and actress Daryl Hannah - cuffed themselves to a White House gate on Wednesday in a climate change protest that ultimately resulted in their arrests.
Chanting, "President Obama, we don't want no climate drama!" activists demanded concrete government action on the issue. Their first hope: the Obama administration's rejection of the controversial Keystone Pipeline XL.
"We're out here saying, 'President Obama, you must reject the...
Fracking in New York? Not for another year, if ever
Posted by Reuters: Edward McAllister on February 14th, 2013
Reuters: The fracking debate in New York state is hitting new heights as regulators delay a final decision on the controversial natural gas production method, but it looks increasingly clear that it will be a year - if ever - before drilling begins again.
Governor Andrew Cuomo missed a Wednesday deadline for completing a report on the environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking, that was to form the basis for new drilling rules.
As a result, a now-four year moratorium on shale...
One in five reptile species face extinction – study
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 14th, 2013
Guardian: Nearly one in five of the world's estimated 10,000 species of lizards, snakes, turtles, crocodiles and other reptiles are threatened with extinction, according to a study conducted by 200 experts.
But the risk of extinction was found to be unevenly spread throughout the extremely diverse group of animals. According to the paper, an alarming 50% of all freshwater turtles are close to extinction, possibly because they are traded on international markets.
The study, published by the Zoological...
Canada to Unveil Long-Delayed Rules on Oil Sands Emissions
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 14th, 2013
Reuters: Canada said on Thursday it was close to unveiling long-delayed rules on greenhouse gas emissions from the oil sands, a move that could help persuade U.S. skeptics that Ottawa is serious about curbing climate change.
High-profile protesters, citing what they say is Canada's poor green record, want President Barack Obama to block TransCanada Corp's proposed Keystone XL pipeline from the Alberta oil sands to the Gulf Coast.
Obama made clear in his State of the Union speech this week that he wanted...