Between a quarter and a third of the world's wildlife has been lost since 1970, according to data compiled by the Zoological Society of London. Populations of land-based species fell by 25%, marine by 28% and freshwater by 29%, it says. Humans are wiping out about 1% of all other species every year, and one of the "great extinction episodes" in the Earth's history is under way, it says. Pollution, farming and urban expansion, over-fishing and hunting are blamed.
Between a quarter and a third of the world's wildlife has been lost since 1970, according to data compiled by the Zoological Society of London.
Populations of land-based species fell by 25%, marine by 28% and freshwater by 29%, it says.
Humans are wiping out about 1% of all other species every year, and one of the "great extinction episodes" in the Earth's history is under way, it says.
Pollution, farming and urban expansion, over-fishing and hunting are blamed.
Fleas are an irritation for many people, but for Robert George they are a passion. For the past 58 years he has compiled detailed records of the blood-sucking parasites to create an atlas of fleas. "It's kept me out of mischief," Mr George, 86, said. "They intrigue me. I've always been able to find a lot of time for fleas." He has counted and identified fleas in samples sent to him by other researchers, on the bodies of animals, in their nests and, for bats, in their faeces to get an accurate idea of how they are spread across the British Isles. People are bitten most frequently by the human flea, Pulex irritans, but our blood is also a favourite of the cat and hen fleas. Others that like to take a bite out of people include the hedgehog flea and the grey squirrel flea.
Fleas are an irritation for many people, but for Robert George they are a passion. For the past 58 years he has compiled detailed records of the blood-sucking parasites to create an atlas of fleas.
"It's kept me out of mischief," Mr George, 86, said. "They intrigue me. I've always been able to find a lot of time for fleas."
He has counted and identified fleas in samples sent to him by other researchers, on the bodies of animals, in their nests and, for bats, in their faeces to get an accurate idea of how they are spread across the British Isles.
People are bitten most frequently by the human flea, Pulex irritans, but our blood is also a favourite of the cat and hen fleas. Others that like to take a bite out of people include the hedgehog flea and the grey squirrel flea.
And of course...White Noise - Here come the Fleas
keep to the Fen Causeway
Home to high-rise hotels and bus-loads of tourists, Benidorm is not an obvious destination among tourists looking for an eco holiday. But maybe it should be, says Tom Heap, presenter of Radio 4's Costing the Earth. Of all the choices you'll make this year, where to go on holiday may well be the one with the biggest environmental consequences. Maybe you fancy trekking with the Kalahari bushmen and living on grubs; a quick lounge on the hot sand; or a long lunch in Dubrovnik. To reach a decision you'll weigh up the usual things - cost, excitement, relaxation and available time. But increasingly people are beginning to add environmental impact into the mix. The travel industry has, of course, spotted this and green claims abound. But holidaymakers may be surprised to find out that frequently it's not the painted lady of eco-tourism, but the modest, unpretentious beach break, that should win the plaudits.
Home to high-rise hotels and bus-loads of tourists, Benidorm is not an obvious destination among tourists looking for an eco holiday. But maybe it should be, says Tom Heap, presenter of Radio 4's Costing the Earth.
Of all the choices you'll make this year, where to go on holiday may well be the one with the biggest environmental consequences. Maybe you fancy trekking with the Kalahari bushmen and living on grubs; a quick lounge on the hot sand; or a long lunch in Dubrovnik.
To reach a decision you'll weigh up the usual things - cost, excitement, relaxation and available time. But increasingly people are beginning to add environmental impact into the mix.
The travel industry has, of course, spotted this and green claims abound. But holidaymakers may be surprised to find out that frequently it's not the painted lady of eco-tourism, but the modest, unpretentious beach break, that should win the plaudits.
If the point is that going to see an unspoilt natural environment before it's gone is not very good for said environment, sure, but Benidorm??? When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
WASHINGTON (AP) -- While carbon dioxide has been getting lots of publicity in climate change, reactive forms of nitrogen are also building up in the environment, scientists warn. "The public does not yet know much about nitrogen, but in many ways it is as big an issue as carbon, and due to the interactions of nitrogen and carbon, makes the challenge of providing food and energy to the world's peoples without harming the global environment a tremendous challenge," University of Virginia environmental sciences professor James Galloway said in a statement. "We are accumulating reactive nitrogen in the environment at alarming rates, and this may prove to be as serious as putting carbon dioxide in the atmosphere," said Galloway, author of a paper and co-author of a second on the topic in Friday's issue of the journal Science.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- While carbon dioxide has been getting lots of publicity in climate change, reactive forms of nitrogen are also building up in the environment, scientists warn.
"The public does not yet know much about nitrogen, but in many ways it is as big an issue as carbon, and due to the interactions of nitrogen and carbon, makes the challenge of providing food and energy to the world's peoples without harming the global environment a tremendous challenge," University of Virginia environmental sciences professor James Galloway said in a statement.
"We are accumulating reactive nitrogen in the environment at alarming rates, and this may prove to be as serious as putting carbon dioxide in the atmosphere," said Galloway, author of a paper and co-author of a second on the topic in Friday's issue of the journal Science.
The university press release is here.
The two articles in Science are:
Transformation of the Nitrogen Cycle: Recent Trends, Questions, and Potential Solutions -- Galloway et al. 320 (5878): 889 -- Science
Humans continue to transform the global nitrogen cycle at a record pace, reflecting an increased combustion of fossil fuels, growing demand for nitrogen in agriculture and industry, and pervasive inefficiencies in its use. Much anthropogenic nitrogen is lost to air, water, and land to cause a cascade of environmental and human health problems. Simultaneously, food production in some parts of the world is nitrogen-deficient, highlighting inequities in the distribution of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Optimizing the need for a key human resource while minimizing its negative consequences requires an integrated interdisciplinary approach and the development of strategies to decrease nitrogen-containing waste.
and
Impacts of Atmospheric Anthropogenic Nitrogen on the Open Ocean -- Duce et al. 320 (5878): 893 -- Science
Increasing quantities of atmospheric anthropogenic fixed nitrogen entering the open ocean could account for up to about a third of the ocean's external (nonrecycled) nitrogen supply and up to 3% of the annual new marine biological production, 0.3 petagram of carbon per year. This input could account for the production of up to 1.6 teragrams of nitrous oxide (N2O) per year. Although 10% of the ocean's drawdown of atmospheric anthropogenic carbon dioxide may result from this atmospheric nitrogen fertilization, leading to a decrease in radiative forcing, up to about two-thirds of this amount may be offset by the increase in N2O emissions. The effects of increasing atmospheric nitrogen deposition are expected to continue to grow in the future.
Last one is a good example why "seeding the oceans" may not be an altogether beneficial solution for atmospheric CO2 reduction.
Poems by the Scottish poet William McGonagall, who died in 1902, are expected to fetch up to £6500 at auction.
The public failed to share McGonagall's generous assessment of his own talent, and he was regularly subjected to ridicule while hawking his poems on the streets of Dundee.
Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay! Alas! I am very sorry to say That ninety lives have been taken away On the last Sabbath day of 1879, Which will be remember'd for a very long time. McGonagall Online
McGonagall Online
McGonagall Online: The Death of Lord and Lady Dalhousie
The Death of Lord and Lady Dalhousie ALAS! Lord and Lady Dalhousie are dead, and buried at last, Which causes many people to feel a little downcast; And both lie side by side in one grave, But I hope God in His goodness their souls will save. And may He protect their children that are left behind, And may they always food and raiment find; And from the paths of virtue may they ne'er be led, And may they always find a house wherein to lay their head. Lord Dalhousie was a man worthy of all praise, And to his memory I hope a monument the people will raise, That will stand for many ages to come To commemorate the good deeds he has done. He was beloved by men of high and low degree, Especially in Forfarshire by his tenantry: And by many of the inhabitants in and around Dundee, Because he was affable in temper, and void of all vanity.
ALAS! Lord and Lady Dalhousie are dead, and buried at last, Which causes many people to feel a little downcast; And both lie side by side in one grave, But I hope God in His goodness their souls will save.
And may He protect their children that are left behind, And may they always food and raiment find; And from the paths of virtue may they ne'er be led, And may they always find a house wherein to lay their head.
Lord Dalhousie was a man worthy of all praise, And to his memory I hope a monument the people will raise, That will stand for many ages to come To commemorate the good deeds he has done.
He was beloved by men of high and low degree, Especially in Forfarshire by his tenantry: And by many of the inhabitants in and around Dundee, Because he was affable in temper, and void of all vanity.
