An historic event occurred this week at 7:27pm on Saturday December 12, 2015 in the conference center in Le Bourget. After weeks of discussions and negotiations, all nations pledged action on climate change. What is their aim? To restrict global warming to well below 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels and to strive to limit it to 1.5 degrees C. To read more of the details of the summit and the information reviewed, read here…
Phys.org has also compiled a special report of all of the best articles covering the scientific, political, and economic challenges beyond Paris. Read them here…
Over the years we have heard of transportation companies and countries banning the trade of shark fin but this week a ban came from a unique source. GrubHub, the widely used online food delivery service, made a statement that they would no longer permit the sale of food products made with shark fin. GrubHub covers over 35,000 restaurants in 900 cities. The company stated that “[they] deeply value [their] relationships with restaurants that provide Chinese cuisine on GrubHub and feel that is is the right choice to protect the world’s endangered species”. Read more…
This week, another baby orca was born in the Puget Sound. This is the eighth orca bron since last December to the small, endangered populations of killer whales. According to the Center for Whale Research, a decade ago there were more than 140 southern resident killer whales. The number declined to 71 in the 1970s due to increased killer whale captivity for aquariums and amusement parks. The current population is now 84! It is possible that this boom is a result of a good salmon year on the Columbia river. Read more…
A group of scientists from Dalhousie University and University of California- Irvine recently published an analysis in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The report found that the ability of fish populations to reproduce and replenish themselves is declining across the globe. The declining populations are directly correlated to the change in ocean temperature which affects the phytoplankton populations. Read more…
5. Are You Ready to Track Gnaraloo’s Sea Turtles?
The Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation Program (GTCP) is working with Aub Strydom (University of Queensland) to attach satellite trackers onto 10 adult loggerhead turtles. This will provide data on the migratory patterns and habitats of the species. Habitats of interest are the area adjacent to the nesting beach where females go to develop their eggs and foraging areas that are linked to Gnaraloo’s rookeries. The information will fill major knowledge gaps and will provide insight into how the southeast Indian Ocean loggerhead turtle population can be preserved. To follow the project and the turtles see the project’s webpage here…
This week, BBC reported on Chinese fishermen who are deliberately destroying coral reefs around the tiny Philippine-controlled island of Pagasa. The sea floor was covered in debris and left the coral smashed into pieces. The boats were also collecting giant clam shells to auction off for a few thousand US Dollars. To watch the horrifying story visit the link here…
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