"Coral Moves North to Beat the Heat"

Coral offspring are gradually moving north. Around Japan, coral polyps, or offspring are moving up to eight and a half miles per year. This has been going on since 1930. Coral needs cool water to survive and it seems that global warming is pushing this coral farther north, away from the equator. This may just save the coral from extintion. The polyps are able to grow farther north. The coral is finding a new place to live. Although this may save the coral, the species that depend on it for survival may be out of luck. "For corals it is good news, but for ecosystems, maybe not," said Hiroya Yamano.
This shows just how much we have changed our planet.
Do you think that the corals can be driven back to their native place?
How could this be done?

Mountain Mice Show Adaptation to Altitude

ScienceDaily (July 5, 2010)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100701204354.htm

Scientists have found a adaptation in high altitude mice to use oxygen more efficiently than low altitude mice. The Andean mouse species have been able to maximize their energy while little oxygen is in the air. These mice prefer carbohydrates as a source of energy instead of fatty acids. This prefrence has made it possible for them to get the most energy while in such a low oxygen filled environment. While scientists have just recently discovered this, they believe this prefrence for carbohydrates has also been adapted into other mammals. Even high-altitude native humans have adapted this method. The increased use of carbohydrates has been proven to lead to more energy produced.

This discovery has proven to be very interesting and possibly usefull. I think we should see how low altitude humans could get the most energy produced with the oxygen amount surronding them. The method high altitude mice use could be helpfull to us and I think scientists should study more about this species.

Do you believe this adaptation could be helpful to us?

Should scientists study more about these mice and their preference for carbohydrates?

Do you think the high-altitude mice have a advantage over the low-altitude mice, while surviving?

Unleash the Wasps

Scientists now have another problem on their hands. The foreign species of beetle, the Emerald Ash Borer is now multiplying and this is becoming a problem. This beetle got to the U.S from asia in a cargo ship in 1990. Now this beetle is multiplying and causing problems. These beetles are destroying ash trees around the Michigan area and they are now spreading. It will cost the U.S over 7 billion dollars to replace the dead ash trees. Due to this tremendous amount, scientists came up with the idea to release chinese wasps to destroy the larvae of these beetles. Though this seems harmless, this can become a problem. Dr. James Dunn says, "Bringing in an exotic species to control an invasive species can create a lot of problems." Dr Dunn says that there is a lot probability of this plan working and if it does not, it can trouble the native species around the area. Researchers have now found an alternative solution that can also help. It will be a trap that can capture these beetles and now 47/50 states have adopted this idea.

I think that releasing these wasps is not a good idea. It has a low chance of working and can be very dangerous . Along with that, scientists are not sure if they will not attack any native species of beetles. If they do, it can further damage the native species of our country and maybe cause some to go extinct. I think that the trapping idea is a lot safer but not as effective but it can help greatly. Overall, I agree with Dr. Dunn that releasing these wasps can end up bad but if it works out it can be very effective.

What do you think about the releasing of these wasps?
Do you think the plan will work? Why?
What do you predict will happen to our ash trees int he future?

Lucy the prehistoric primate

Article: "Fossil find puts 'Lucy' story on firm footing"
by Jonathan Amos, Science Correspondant
BBC News - Feb 10 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/new/science-environment-12412662

A foot bone from an ancient primate was recently discovered by scientists in Hadar, Ethiopia. The bone helps prove that the species Australopithecus afarensis was able to walk upright in the same way that modern humans do. This adaptation would have allowed it to move quicker and easier than other primates that climbed trees. Scientists believe that the creature lived more than 3 million years ago and was an ancestor of humans. The first skeleton of this species was found in 1974 and was named "Lucy".

I think that it is important for our species to study its origin because we can't expect to understand other things without first understanding ourselves. I hope that this research will help us learn more about how our bodies work so that we can cure disease, create new inventions, etc. Also, this article reminds me of an exhibit that I saw at the National Museum of Natural History that displayed the skeletons of various creatures. Maybe one day our skeletons will be on display and being studied the same way that Lucy's is now!

What are your opinions on the evolution of the human race?
How intelligent do you think Lucy was?
What other adaptations do humans have that make us special among the animals?

Coral doctor sounds the alarm about more acidic seas

This article has to do with ecosystems and the carbon cycle. Basically what is happening to our oceans is that the phytoplankton (the base of the aquatic food chain) absorbs 1/3 of the carbon dioxide we put into the air, which slows the process of the greenhouse effects a great deal. But, what some marine biologists are discovering is that this poses a major threat to the ocean life due to acidification. If this process continues at the rate it is moving, it shows a huge problem for the entire marine ecosystem. Scientists have figured out that the ocean absorbs about 22 million tons of carbon dioxide everyday. The problem is the absorbtion is climbing to a rate not seen in millions of years. Measurements have indicated that the acidic level is about 30% more acidic since the industrial revolution. Acid wears down the corals skeletons and that therefore ruins most of the marine ecosystems and food webs. Without them we would be lost because this affects even the smallest phytoplankton to the largest barracudas. The carbon dioxide rate has to be lowered soon, say most scientists, because as John Guinotte says “If marine systems start to crash, it may well be too late to stop the train.”

hello everyone! ;)