Skimmers Summer Pond wallpaper
Insects that skim along the top of the water in lakes and ponds generally belong to the family Gerridae – some common names include water bug, water skitters, water scooters pond skaters and water striders. They are able to skim across the top of the water thinks to water surface having a certain degree of elasticity due to water surface tension.
Now a new paper published in the August 5 Science shows that bats n the Northeast may not have much time left. Researchers including Winifred Frick of the University of Santa Cruz and Boston University (BU) and Thomas Kuntz of BU analyzed population data of the little brown bat from the past 30 years and then modeled the impact of the WNS. They found that within 20 years the bat species could be all but wiped out in the Northeast. Here’s what Frick said in a statement:
This is one of the worst wildlife crises we’ve faced in North America. The severity of the mortality and the rapidity of the spread of this disease make it very challenging and distressing. Researchers have been working very hard since it was first discovered four years ago to try to better understand the disease and find potential solutions to the problem.
The culprit is a mysterious ailment called white-nose syndrome (WNS). Like snakes, many people find bats creepy. That public perception does have an affect on conservation efforts. How does one make a case for brown bats under these conditions. The first and major issue for the loss of a species in the unknowns. Losing brown bats may have ripple effects on the biodiversity of the entire continent. These bats consume their weight in insects every night. Can people, plants and other animals live with the increase in insect populations. Some of which spread diseases of their own like Nile virus. We could use toxic insecticides to compensate, but that has real costs in tax payer dollars and in adverse consequences for human and pet health. Owls sometimes prey on brown bats. How will the bat’s demise effect the health of the owl population.
New Ford Explorer is 85% recyclable
Oil Spill Cleanup Workers Include Many Very, Very Small Ones – Interesting article on the bacterium Alcanivorax and how bio-degradation works.
Summer camp encourages girls to pursue careers in marine-science fields through hands-on activities
Each week has a different theme, with this week’s being “Girls Love Science,” but the overall goal is to pique the girls’ interest in marine sciences. This is achieved through engaging them in activities such as surfing, kayaking and tide-pooling, as well as trips to the Seymour Center Aquarium and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
This camp happens to be in California, but there are similar science themed camps around the country. If you can’t find a camp sometimes local natural science museums and public universities have special events to introduce kids to hands-on science.
Recycled goods finding their way into backpacks this year
Motherboard pen: Two’s Company, $5; made from electronic motherboards recycled from old televisions, radios and computers (available at Studio Dan Meiners, 2500 West Pennway, 816-842-7244, http://www.danmeiners.com).
Earth Write pencils: Paper Mate, $2.70 for a 10-pack; feature recycled cedar wood from the U.S.
Biodegradable pen: Paper Mate, $1.40, in red, blue, purple or black; corn-based plastic disintegrates in compost or soil.
Recycled notebooks: Mead, $3.79-$5.79, in six colors; 100 percent recycled paper and 30 percent post-consumer waste.
Eco-friendly school supplies have been top sellers for the last few years.
tangledwing 