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Salmon Raised In Hatcheries Have Different DNA Than Wild Relatives
Posted by Nature World: Samantha Mathewson on February 18th, 2016
Nature World: Seventy percent of salmon sold at the market are farm-raised and believed to be higher in contaminants and unhealthy fats than those caught in their natural habitat. What's worse is diseases can spread easily from farmed fish to their wild relatives. Experts say this could have a devastating impact on wild salmon populations, which have already suffered significantly from human activities such as overfishing and damming.
Attempts have been made to replenish salmon in Oregon and Washington using...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Salmon Raised In Hatcheries Have Different DNA Than Wild RelativesEl Niño Rains In Calif Spur Growth Of Mushrooms Lethal To Pets
Posted by Nature World: Samantha Mathewson on January 28th, 2016
Nature World: El Niño is bringing more than just heavy rain: Toxic mushrooms are sprouting up in areas of California and they could be lethal for pets.
Dogs, for example, are particularly vulnerable because of the amount of time they spend playing outdoors or in forested areas. In fact, veterinarians in Marin County, just north of San Francisco, said they have had at least one dog a week come in for a mushroom-related illness.
"Dogs can get very sick. Sometimes it's just vomiting, but other times it can...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on El Niño Rains In Calif Spur Growth Of Mushrooms Lethal To PetsWorld’s Lakes At Risk Of Continued Algal Blooms Triggered By Warm Waters
Posted by Nature World: Samantha Mathewson on December 21st, 2015
Nature World: The Earth's lakes may take a devastating hit from climate change, researchers report in a new study. Rapidly warming waters in freshwater bodies, including several Great Lakes and many reservoirs, trigger harmful algae blooms that ultimately threaten freshwater supplies for local ecosystems.
A team of researchers led by Catherine O'Reilly from Illinois State University analyzed satellite temperature data and long-term ground measurements taken from a total of 235 lakes, which store half of our...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on World’s Lakes At Risk Of Continued Algal Blooms Triggered By Warm WatersMigration: Alaskan Trout Retire Early and Feed On Salmon Eggs To Avoid Ocean Predators
Posted by Nature World: Samantha Mathewson on October 31st, 2015
Nature World: Seasonal migrations are hard on fish that have to travel from their river homes to oceans and back each year. To avoid the hassle, older Alaskan trout opt for an early retirement at the point when they have grown big and strong enough to survive off of their own fat reserves, according to a University of Washington (UW) study.
"As far as we know, no one has ever seen a population of large-bodied fish come back to freshwater and just park there for the rest of their lives," Morgan Bond, lead author...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Migration: Alaskan Trout Retire Early and Feed On Salmon Eggs To Avoid Ocean PredatorsEndangered Species’ Genetic Diversity Explains their Decline
Posted by Nature World: Samantha Mathewson on September 8th, 2015
Nature World: Some species may face extinction when they are not able to adapt as easily to changing environments or defend against new diseases. To better identify or rank threatened and engendered species, researchers from Purdue University suggest using the animals' rate of genetic diversity loss.
"Genetic diversity is a key component to the long-term survival of a population," Janna Willoughby, a then-doctoral student in wildlife genetics, said in a statement. "The approach we developed identifies populations...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Endangered Species’ Genetic Diversity Explains their DeclineDrought Conditions in California are Causing Severe Subsidence
Posted by Nature World: Samantha Mathewson on August 23rd, 2015
Nature World: As California continues pumping groundwater to combat the historic drought they are facing, land in the San Joaquin Valley is sinking at an increased rate of 2 inches more per month. The California Department of Water Resources released a NASA report illustrating their findings.
"Because of increased pumping, groundwater levels are reaching record lows -- up to 100 feet (30 meters) lower than previous records," Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin said in a statement. "As extensive...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Drought Conditions in California are Causing Severe Subsidence