The SeaOrbiter is a new human adventure dedicated to the Planet. It is part of the history of the great explorations of our universe led by illustrious predecessors and great adventurers such as Jules Verne, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Jacques Piccard ...
It also constitutes a new planetary challenge. Its purpose is to foster the emergence of a new relationship between man and the sea by the awakening, awareness and action of all to meet tomorrow’s every requirement for a future based on the precepts of sustainable development, particularly related to the sea. The Seaorbiter's mission will be to explore the ocean still widely unknown in order to refine knowledge about marine ecosystems, to better understand the influence of oceans on climate notably in the current context of global warming.
Exploring the seas and the oceans like no other vessel before it, the SeaOrbiter plans to drift around the world propelled by sea and ocean currents - allowing continuous 360° observation of the aquatic world.
This NOAA video shows the March 11, 2011, Japanese tsunami, the debris created by its force and that debris being carried out to sea. It incorporates a NOAA ocean model animation using University of Hawaii data to project where and when debris might make landfall on US coastlines (in Hawaii this winter), US and Canadian Pacific coast in 2013, and then head back to Hawaii in 2014. Credit: NOAA
Tracking marine debris from the Japanese tsunami
Debris from the tsunami that devastated Japan in March could reach the United States as early as this winter, according to predictions by NOAA scientists. However, they warn there is still a large amount of uncertainty over exactly what is still floating, where it's located, where it will go, and when it will arrive. Responders now have a challenging, if not impossible situation on their hands: How do you deal with debris that could now impact U.S. shores, but is difficult to find?
Federal agencies join forces
To learn more about the tsunami debris, NOAA researchers have been working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners to coordinate data collection activities.
NOAA and its partners are also coordinating an interagency assessment and response plan to address the wide-range of potential scenarios and threats posed by the debris.
"We're preparing for the best and worst case scenarios — and everything in between," says Nancy Wallace, director for NOAA's Marine Debris Program.
As the tsunami surge receded, it washed much of what was in the coastal inundation zone into the ocean. Boats, pieces of smashed buildings, appliances, and plastic, metal, and rubber objects of all shapes and sizes washed into the water — either sinking near the shore or floating out to sea. The refuse formed large debris fields captured by satellite imagery and aerial photos of the coastal waters.
The Japanese government estimated that the tsunami generated 25 million tons of rubble, but there is no clear understanding of exactly how much debris was swept into the water nor what remained afloat.
What remains of the debris?
Nine months later, debris fields are no longer visible. Winds and ocean currents scattered items in the massive North Pacific Ocean to the point where debris is no longer visible from satellite. Vessels regularly traveling the North Pacific have reported very few sightings. Only two pieces have been clearly linked to the tsunami.
NOAA is coordinating new interagency reporting and monitoring efforts that will provide critical information on the location of the marine debris generated by the tsunami. Ships can now report significant at-sea debris sightings and individuals or groups can request shoreline monitoring guides at [email protected].
Where is it?
Computer models run by NOAA and University of Hawaii researchers show some debris could pass near or wash ashore in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument) as early as this winter, approach the West Coast of the United States and Canada in 2013, and circle back to the main Hawaiian Islands in 2014 through 2016.
Researchers caution that models are only predictions based on location of debris when it went into the water, combined with historical ocean currents and wind speeds.
Conditions in the ocean constantly change, and items can sink, break down, and disperse across a huge area. Because it is not known what remains in the water column nor where, scientists can't determine with certainty if any debris will wash ashore.
Worst- and Best-case Scenarios
The worst-case scenario is boats and unmanageable concentrations of other heavy objects could wash ashore in sensitive areas, damage coral reefs, or interfere with navigation in Hawaii and along the U.S. West Coast. Best case? The debris will break up, disperse and eventually degrade, sparing coastal areas.
Debris will not go away completely, even in a best-case scenario. Marine debris is an ongoing problem for Hawaii and West Coast states, where garbage and other harmful items regularly wash up on beaches, reefs and other coastal areas.
What else is NOAA doing?
NOAA has convened experts to review available data and information from models and provide their perspectives on debris fate and transport. They are gathering information on significant sighting of marine debris in the North Pacific through NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operation's Pacific fleet, the NOAA Voluntary Observing Ship Program, which includes industry long-haul transport vessels, as well as the NOAA Pacific Island Regional Observer Program and their work with the Hawaii longline fishing industry. NOAA is also working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of Hawaii on shoreline debris monitoring in the Papahānaumokuākea Monument.
The Southwest Indian Ridge is a spreading center between the African tectonic plate (top left, yellow-orange) and the Antarctic plate (bottom left, red). (Photo credit: NOAA Geophysical Data Center)
Camera teams have ventured deep down into the South-west Indian Ridge of the Indian Ocean to film the ecosystems surrounding 'black smokers', the volcanic underwater vents whose super-hot waters afford life to an array of weird deep-sea creatures, some of which are thought new to science, including yeti crabs and scaly-foot snails.
"To conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity." Audubon Society's mission.
For more than a century, Audubon has built a legacy of conservation success by mobilizing the strength of its network of members, Chapters, Audubon Centers, state offices and dedicated professional staff to connect people with nature and the power to protect it.
A powerful combination of science, education and policy expertise combine in efforts ranging from protection and restoration of local habitats to the implementation of policies that safeguard birds, other wildlife and the resources that sustain us all—in the U.S. and Across the Americas.
Successes include:
Protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other fragile habitats;
The ongoing recovery of the imperiled California condor and brown pelican;
Adoption of innovative policies that balance habitat protection with green energy development on millions of acres;
Continuing restoration of the Everglades and Long Island Sound
How does Audubon do it:
Nearly 500 local Chapters nationwide engage members in grassroots conservation action;
Audubon environmental policy, education and science experts guide lawmakers, agencies, and our grassroots in shaping effective conservation plans, actions and the policies to support them;
More than 2,500 Audubon-designated Important Bird Areas identify, prioritize and protect vital bird habitat from coast to coast—in partnership with BirdLife International, our IBA conservation efforts support species and their habitats across the Western Hemisphere;
“Citizen Scientists” collect vital data, through Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count, the new Coastal Bird Survey, and other initiatives, generating groundbreaking analyses and guiding scientists and policy makers in addressing the needs of birds and other wildlife;
Special ecosystem-wide conservation initiatives focus on protection and restoration of the nation’s most special places from Alaska’s Tongass to Sagebrush country and the Louisiana Coast;
Audubon Centers and sanctuaries are hubs of conservation exploration, research, and action, allowing millions to discover and defend the natural world;
Educational programs and materials combine with Audubon, the nation’s most acclaimed conservation magazine to introduce schoolchildren, families and nature-lovers of all ages to the wonders of nature and the power of conservation at home and around the world.
J. J. Audubon. Credit: Constantine Alexander's Collection
Osprey fishing at Kangasala, Finland. photo by Jari Peltomaki
As fisheries are privatised around the world, this film looks at the case of Britain – and shows how a small number of powerful companies are benefiting from privatisation, while the majority of fishermen are being left behind.
Tree frogs that look similar hear chromosome difference in calls; Offers new insight to frog evolution
Carl Gerhardt, Curators Professor of Biological Sciences in the MU College of Arts and Science found female frogs can hear chromosome difference in the calls of potential mates. Credit: MU News Bureau
When it comes to love songs, female tree frogs are pretty picky. According to a new study from the University of Missouri, certain female tree frogs may be remarkably attuned to the songs of mates who share the same number of chromosomes as they do. The discovery offers insight into how new frog species may have evolved.
Carl Gerhardt, Curators Professor of Biological Sciences in the MU College of Arts and Science and doctoral student Mitch Tucker studied two closely related species of grey tree frogs that live in Missouri, the eastern grey tree frog (Hyla versicolor) and the Cope's grey tree frog (H. chrysoscelis).
"To the naked eye – human and frog – the two frogs look exactly alike," Gerhardt said. "The frogs differ only in the number of chromosomes. The eastern grey tree frog has double the number of chromosomes."
To the ears of potential mates, the two species differ in their vocal performances.
"The males are both singing the same love song – just one frog is singing it slower. It's kind of like the difference between Eric Clapton's original and unplugged versions of Layla," Tucker said.
In previous studies, the scientists found that tree frogs with more sets of chromosome have larger cell sizes, which slows down the trill rate. What was not known was whether the calling preferences of females are similarly linked to chromosome number.
To answer this question, Tucker simulated the chromosome duplication event by replicating spring temperatures early in the frog development. Females were grown to maturity and then exposed to computer-generated, synthetic male calls that differed by trill rate. They found that the females hopped toward the calls with the trill rate of the males with matching chromosome numbers, which indicates female preference.
"This shows that chromosome number alone can control the behavior that keeps the species separate," Gerhardt said. "In turn, as chromosome number increases, so does the size of cells, which is probably the immediate cause of the changes in calls and preferences."
In animals, the origin of species is often associated with geographic barriers. A large body of water or range of mountains, for example, splits a large population and prevents mating. The eastern grey tree frog, according to Gerhardt, may represent a rare case of rapid evolution occurring by chromosome duplication, changes in behavior and reproductive isolation.
The report, titled "Parallel changes in mate-attracting calls and female preferences in autotriploid tree frogs," was published by the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences. The study was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the University of Missouri Research Board.
For 25 years, Earth Island Institute has been a hub for grassroots campaigns dedicated to conserving, preserving, and restoring the ecosystems on which our civilization depends.
The Institute's Project Support program acts as an incubator for start-up environmental projects, giving crucial assistance to groups and individuals with new ideas for promoting ecological sustainability. Since its founding, the Eart Island Institute has provided fiscal sponsorship to more than 100 projects around the globe. Earth Island Institute was founded in 1982 by legendary environmentalist David R. Brower. Rather than create dozens of separate non-profit groups with the same basic administrative needs, Earth Island acts as an umbrella organization, providing individual projects with the freedom to develop new initiatives by offering a wide range of professional services, from fiscal administration and program management to office space and equipment.
John H. "Jack " Byrne, Ph.D., and other UTHealth neuroscientists are using sea snails to learn more about memory mechanisms. Credit: R. Clayton McKee
Efforts to help people with learning impairments are being aided by a species of sea snail known as Aplysia californica. The mollusk, which is used by researchers to study the brain, has much in common with other species including humans. Research involving the snail has contributed to the understanding of learning and memory.
At The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), neuroscientists used this animal model to test an innovative learning strategy designed to help improve the brain's memory and the results were encouraging. It could ultimately benefit people who have impairments resulting from aging, stroke, traumatic brain injury or congenital cognitive impairments.
The proof-of-principle study was published on the Nature Neuroscience website on Dec. 25. The next steps in the research may involve tests in other animal models and eventually humans.
The strategy was used to identify times when the brain was primed for learning, which in turn facilitated the scheduling of learning sessions during these peak periods. The result was a significant increase in memory.
"We found that memory could be enhanced appreciably," said John H. "Jack" Byrne, Ph.D., senior author and chair of the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at the UTHealth Medical School.
Building on earlier research that identified proteins linked to memory, the investigators created a mathematical model that tells researchers when the timing of the activity of these proteins is aligned for the best learning experience.
Right now, the scheduling of learning sessions is based on trial and error and is somewhat arbitrary. If the model proves effective in follow-up studies, it could be used to identify those periods when learning potential is highest.
"When you give a training session, you are starting several different chemical reactions. If you give another session, you get additional effects. The idea is to get the sessions in sync," Byrne said. "We have developed a way to adjust the training sessions so they are tuned to the dynamics of the biochemical processes."
Two groups of snails received five learning sessions. One group received learning sessions at irregular intervals as predicted by a mathematical model. Another group received training sessions in regular 20-minute intervals.
Five days after the learning sessions were completed, a significant increase in memory was detected in the group that was trained with a schedule predicted by a computer. But, no increase was detected in the group with the regular 20-minute intervals.
The computer sorted through 10,000 different permutations in order to determine a schedule that would enhance memory.
To confirm their findings, researchers analyzed nerve cells in the brain of snails and found greater activity in the ones receiving the enhanced training schedule, said Byrne, the June and Virgil Waggoner Chair of Neurobiology and Anatomy at UTHealth.
"This study shows the feasibility of using computational methods to assist in the design of training schedules that enhance memory," Byrne said.
Other contributors from the UTHealth Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy include lead authors Yili Zhang, Ph.D., research fellow, and Rong-Yu Liu, Ph.D., senior research scientist, as well as George A. Heberton, medical student; Paul Smolen, Ph.D., assistant professor; Douglas A. Baxter, Ph.D., professor; and Len Cleary, Ph.D., professor.
The study, which is titled "Computational Design of Enhanced Learning Protocols," received support from the National Institutes of Health and the Keck Center National Library of Medicine Training Program in Biomedical Informatics of the Gulf Coast Consortia.
As the Danish EU presidency begins, University of Copenhagen will host 2 workshops preceding the formation of UN's Panel for Biodiversity IPBES
As the Danish EU presidency begins, University of Copenhagen will host two workshops preceding the formation of UN's Panel for Biodiversity IPBES (Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services). The workshops are arranged together with EPBRS (European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy) and the Danish Ministry of Environment. Professors Carsten Rahbek and Neil Burgess from Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate will contribute with several talks and professional discussions.
The first workshop "Informal IPBES workshop on the thematic content of the first IPBES work programme" takes place January 16th-18th. It aims to clarify EU's political viewpoint on biodiversity, and the outcome is reported directly to the European Commission. Each country is represented by a scientific and a political delegate, as well as invited researchers and independent experts. A total of 85 participants are expected to take part of the first workshop.
The following workshop "EPBES meeting on peer review procedures and procedures for election of authors, editors and reviewers" is held January 19th-20th. During these days the procedure for peer-review of IPBES reports are to be defined. The universities are requested to contribute with significant input in terms of the problems facing IPCC (panel on climate change) due to the use of non-peer-reviewed information. Around 60 participants are expected.
For more information on the representation of University of Copenhagen at the workshop, please contact Professor Carsten Rahbek.
The island scrub-jay is the only island endemic passerine species in the continental United States. Although it is not classified as endangered, the species faces a number of threats to its long-term survival, and climate change is expected to exacerbate those challenges. A new study discusses the conservation management of the island scrub-jay, and highlights how management of this species may set the stage for management planning of many species in a changing world.
"The island scrub-jay poses an interesting problem for conservationists today, because right now, the species doesn't seem to be experiencing a problem" said Scott Morrison, Director of Science for The Nature Conservancy of California. "But, we know that with climate change there are serious threats on the horizon. So we have an opportunity to act now to prevent problems in the future."
The study, published in the December issue of Bioscience, cites the continuing spread of diseases such as West Nile virus, diseases whose spread is enhanced by climate change, as a critical challenge for the conservation of species such as the island scrub-jay. The 20 authors, representing 16 research and management organizations, outline four proactive management options for species like the island scrub-jay: captive propagation, vaccination against diseases such as West Nile virus, implementation of biosecurity measures and the establishment of a second free-living population.
"This paper provides a thorough discussion of the threats facing island species in light of climate change and habitat loss," said Alan Lieberman, Director of Regional Conservation programs for San Diego Zoo Global's Institute of Conservation Research. "We hope this work will provide a template for the conservation of the many other island bird species that are facing the same challenges."
The San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research is dedicated to generating, sharing and applying scientific knowledge vital to the conservation of animals, plants and habitats worldwide. The work of the Institute includes onsite research efforts at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (historically referred to as Wild Animal Park), laboratory work at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research, and international field programs involving more than 235 researchers working in 35 countries. In addition to the Beckman Center for Conservation Research, the Institute also operates the Anne and Kenneth Griffin Reptile Conservation Center, the Frozen Zoo® and Native Seed Gene Bank, the Keauhou and Maui Hawaiian Bird Conservation Centers, Cocha Cashu Biological Research Station and the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center. The Zoo also manages the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo Safari Park, which includes a 900-acre biodiversity reserve, and the San Diego Zoo. The important conservation and science work of these entities is supported in part by The Foundation of the Zoological Society of San Diego.
