Mining the Sea-floor for Rare-Earth Minerals

Mining the Sea-floor for Rare Earth Minerals

This article is about the mining of minerals found on the bottom of the sea floor called manganese nodules. These minerals are rare, and highly valuable, and also very hard to obtain for the USA at the times. China controls about 95% of the Earth's supply of these minerals, which makes them even more rare for the USA. But, recently China has stopped their embargo to collect these minerals, which means it is a rush to get them for the USA. This could mean getting closer to China in the hunt for rare Earths.

My opinion is that it is a good thing China is done with the hunt, because it means we now have our chance. This will also give our country very rare metals. It is very important that the USA gets, and stays in front of China in this race. There will lots of money made with this, and the USA needs it.

1. Do you think this race is important? Why?

2. Do you think that the USA could make a lot of money with this?

3. How do you think the USA could better be spending their time?

Wildlife Conservation Society finds wild cat mimicking monkey calls

This picture is of a pied tamarin. They are native to South America.

Wildlife Conservation Society finds wild cat mimicking monkey calls
Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) have discovered a wild cat species imitating the call of its prey, a small monkey the size of a squirrel called the pied tamarin. They have heard reports of such happenings by the natives of the region, but have not been able to record it in action. They finally were able to record it in the Reserva Florestal Alsolpho Ducke in Brazil.

The first recorded incident in 2005 went a little something like this: a group of eight pied tamarins were feeding in a fiscus tree, when they heard the calls coming from a margay behind a tangle of vines. (The sounds the margay made were similar to those made by baby tamarin monkeys.) A “sentential” tamarin went down to investigate, and once he discovered the source of the cries, he sent up an alarm to warn the other monkeys to flee.

Even though this particular occurrence was futile, the scientists were astonished by the “ingenuity of the hunting strategy.” Dr. Avecita Chicchón said, "This observation further proves the reliability of information obtained from Amazonian inhabitants; this means that accounts of jaguars and pumas using the same vocal mimicry to attract prey--but not yet recorded by scientists--also deserve investigation."

The WSC is currently observing the species of this population because they are listed as “endangered” on the IUCN’s Red List and is looking for financial support to carry on the study.

Questions:
1.How do you think the cats were able to distinguish and recreate the sounds of the tamarins?
2. Do you think that this is an adaptation that the cats have developed? Or have they always been able to make these sounds?
3. Do you think that any other animals use this trait for hunting? Which ones?

Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-10-drugs-tap-water_N.htm

Summary: Many pharmaceutical drugs have been found in the drinking water that Americans drink everyday. Although the conentartion of these drugs are small, scientist are worried of the long term effect it may have on humans. Recent studies have said that low levels of ramdom combinatioin pharmaceuticals have actually had an alarming effect on human cells and wildlife. Just in Philadelphia, officials have found 56 drugs in treated drinking water and 63 were found in our citys watershed. The reason for such high pharmaceuticals is partly becuause the federal government does not require any testing and hasn't set saftety limits for drugs in water.
Long term effects of pharmaceuticals in the drinking water supply are just now being evaluated. Without mandatory testing and consitent standards, research will be difficult to conduct. Now is the time to start the testing of the nation's water supply to protect our future.



Quote: "We recognize it is a growing concern and we're taking it very seriously," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, assistant adminstrator for water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency


Questions:
1. Did you know that there were drugs in the water you drink?

2. Are you now worried that the water your drinking could harm you in the long run?

3. If you read the whole article, What can you do to stop drugs from entering drinking water?

An Underwater Fight Is Waged for the Health of San Francisco Bay

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/science/earth/02seaweed.html?partner=rss&emc=rss


Summary: An invasive species, Undaria pinnatifida (known as wakame), was found in the San Francisco Bay. Wakame, a "costly, aggressive intruder", is an invasive species from Asia and is thought to have come over to our waters stuck to hulls or as stowaways in ballast water. This species harms native kelp, mucks up marinas and the undersides of boats, and damages mariculture. Additionally, money to help fix these issues is not easy to come by, since getting rid of wakame is not a high priority for the state of California's agenda. The wakame is predicted to spread as far as Canada before the waters get cold enough to stop movement; therefore, this problem is going to get a lot worse before it can get better. Luckily, Dr. Zabin (biologist with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center who discovered the wakame) and colleagues from nonprofit groups and state and federal agencies have been doing all that they can to make this wakame leave. 


Quote: “I had that moment of ‘Oh God, this is it, it’s here,’ ” said Dr. Zabin, a biologist with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. “I was really hoping I was wrong.”


Photo: 

Pictured is wakame, or Asian Kelp, in the water.

Opinion/Reflection: This is very disturbing to me. I think that San Francisco/California's water patrol should have a better look out for invasive species such as wakame, that could be detrimental to the ecosystem's native species. My motto is that it's easier to prevent the problem from happening than to fix it after it has already occurred, and I believe that whoever is in charge of keeping the waterways safe should also live by this motto. I am connected to this issue in the sense that any drastic change to a food chain in any given ecosystem could ultimately affect me. Dr. Zabin and her colleagues better work as hard as possible to evacuate this Asian kelp!


Questions:
1) It was mentioned in the article that the wakame emitted an odor that made beachgoers unwilling to go to the beach. If an occurrence such as this happened at the Jersey Shore, would you decide not to go to the beach because of the smell? 
2) What are some ways the water police could stop invasive species from coming over?
3) If you were Dr. Zabin, would you take her approach and instead of being upset that the government isn't giving the fund any money, try and fix the problem yourself? Why or why not?

See Through Species
This species is a new found, see through, type of Tanaid, which is a small crustacean. They found this species living in swarms along the coast of Australia. Finding this species will also help in uncovering more new species, and studying future ocean changes.

Questions:
1. Do you think it is a surprise they are still discovering new species in the ocean?

2. How many more undiscovered species do you think there are in the ocean?

3. Based on your answer to question two, do you think that is a good or bad thing?

Katie's Blog

Katie’s Blog

Topic: Helping Condors Relearn Their Wild Ways

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2003007,00.html?xid=rss-topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Ftopstories+%28TIME%3A+Top+Stories%29

Summary:

One of the greatest environmental stories of the past quarter-century is the saving of California Condors from extinction. Although the giant birds were saved, they were only able to survive in captivity and depended on human beings for food and protection from the elements. Attempts to release birds back to their natural habitat were met with failure as the birds resorted to campground-raiding and dumpster-diving rather than hunting and scavenging in the wild. The eventual solution was to release birds slowly with the assistance of human helpers as opposed to “hard release” techniques that sent inexperienced birds out to the wild. Releasing birds into “feeding situations” with other wild condors provides instruction to the once-captive birds. Eventually the birds learn to fly, feed and nest on their own. This technique is now being extended to other endangered species.

Opinion/Reflection:

I was impressed with the persistence shown by the environmentalists to come up with a solution to the condor extinction problem. It is encouraging to know that other species may benefit from the innovative solutions devised to help the condors. I am concerned about species facing extinction and am excited that they can be successfully returned to their natural habitat

Questions:

1. Why did it take scientists so long to discover the successful technique?

2. How many condors did not survive previous efforts?

3. What other species will benefit from this technique?

4. What other challenges do wild condors face?

here's a picture of what a California condor looks like.

Female fish abandoned by males to raise offspring on their own

This picture is of an African Cichlid. There are many different types of cichlids. Some of them are: Malawi, African, Jack Dempsey, and Parrot cichlids.

The cichlid fish, a native to the crater lakes of Nicaragua, look after their young by protecting them from predators. However, studies have shown that the male fish have a tendency to abandon their female mates, leaving them to care for their young alone. Professors from Finland, Australia, and Germany have spent time observing the behaviors of this species. Dr. Wong from Monash University stated that what urged the males to desert their mates was the availability of chances for additional mating. Research has shown that when the male cichlid deserts the female, the female is no longer able to sufficiently care for her young.

1. What are some other possible reasons why the male cichlid fish would leave the female?

2. What, if anything, could be done to the male fish from abandoning the females, OR, what could be done to help the females survive on their own?

3. Do you think the female cichlids will be able to adapt to not having a father figure by their side to help raise their young? Why or why not?