Where are the bees?
Bees are essential to the production of food we eat. Bees make honey, but they also pollinate large areas of crops, such as straw berries, apples and onions. About a third of the food we eat is a result of pollination of the bees. Unfortunately, bees have been disappearing at an alarming rate.
In 2006, bee keepers started reporting about something called Colony Collapse Disaster (CCD).The main sign of CCD is the loss of adult honey bees from a hive. In October of 2006, some beekeepers reported that they had lost between 30 and 90 percent of their hives.
There were many theories for the disappearance of the bees. But the most convincing one has to do with pesticides and lifestyles of bees today. Nowadays, beekeeper get most of their income not from producing honey but from renting bees to pollinate plants. This means that the life of the typical bee now consists of travelling all around the country to pollinate crops as the seasons change. That means a lot of traveling on trucks, which is very stressful to bees. It is not unusual for up to 30% of the hive to die during transport due to stress. In addition, bees that spend most of their time locked up on trucks are not exposed to what they usually live on. Instead, they live on a sweet liquid from corn, usually polluted with pesticides.
The exact reason for the disappearance of bees is not sure, but losing bees is very costly to the economy. The bee pollination services are worth over $8 billion a year. With no bees, pollination will have to be done by hand, which would have effects on the quality of food and increased food priced. We hear a lot about big environmental disasters almost every day. But one of the biggest may just be the less of that tiny flying insect.
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Could goats become our new best friends?
In a new paper in the journal Biology Letters, researchers from QMUL's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences found that goats respond to people by gazing at them when facing a problem they cannot solve alone, and their responses change depending on the person's behaviour.
To investigate, the team trained goats to remove a lid from a box to receive a reward. They made the reward inaccessible and recorded their reaction. In the test, the goats redirected their gaze frequently between the inaccessible reward and human experimenters. They also gazed towards a forward facing person earlier, more often and for longer compared to when the person was facing away.
The results provide strong evidence for complex communication between humans and goats, which were domesticated primarily for agricultural production, and show similarities with animals bred to become pets or working animals, such as dogs and horses.
The research indicates that the domestication of animals has a much broader impact on our knowledge about human-animal relationship than previously believed. For example, it's thought that the capacity of dogs to be aware of information from humans is the result of changes to the brain from becoming a companion animal through domestication.
“Goats were the first livestock species to be domesticated, about 10,000 years ago,” said lead author Dr Alan McElligott from the School's Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology.
From our research, we know that many domesticated animals for agricultural production are smarter than their reputation suggests, and these results show how they can communicate and interact with their human handlers just as pets or working animals.
The researchers hope the study will lead to a better understanding of how skilled livestock are in their ability to solve problems and interact with humans. They also wish that an improvement in animal welfare would be reached ultimately.
Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
The sport you choose may
Zoos are hugely popular attractions for adults and children alike. But are they a good thing?
Critics of zoos would argue that animals often suffer physically and mentally as a result of being caged. Even the best artificial environments can’t match the space, diversity and freedom that animals have in their natural habitats. This deprivation causes many zoo animals to become stressed or mentally ill. It is common that marine parks often force dolphins and whales to perform tricks. These mammals may die decades earlier than their wild relatives, and some may try to commit suicide.
On the other hand, by bringing people and animals together, zoos have the potential to educate the public about conservation issues and inspire people to protect animals and their habitats. Zoos also carry out important research into subjects like animal behavior and how to treat illness. One of the most important modern functions of zoos is supporting international breeding programs, especially those for endangered species. A good zoo will enable these species to live and breed in a secure environment. Furthermore, as the number of some wild species drops, there is an increasing danger of populations becoming too genetically similar. Zoo-bred animals can be released into the wild to increase genetic diversity.
However, opponents of zoos say that the vast majority of breeding programs do not release animals back into the wild. Extra animals are sold not only to other zoos and circuses but also to hunting ranches in the US or South Africa, where some people are willing to pay a lot of money for the chance to kill an animal in a fenced enclosure.
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Since the dawn of civilization, crop diversity has always been holding an important position as the foundation of agriculture. Food plants have been domesticated, selected, exchanged, and improved by farmers in traditional ways, within traditional production systems. This process has been hugely accelerated and focused by scientific crop improvement, leading to the steady rise in yields since the 1960s. Half of the increase in food production globally can be attributed to genetic improvement.
But experts say the number of crops has decreased sharply during the past century. One of the world’s largest seed conservation projects has predicted further losses. The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership is warning that up to one hundred thousand plant species could permanently disappear. The rich collection of genes that decide their qualities would disappear with them.
Many experts blame climate change for damaging plant life. Rising temperatures, changing seasonal patterns and increasing frequency of extreme weather events are the invisible hand behind the great reduction. Others say human activities and poorly planned, overly heavy use of land also are responsible. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says modern business farming is responsible for loss of farmers’ traditional crop varieties. Though the use of modern commercial farming methods saved millions of people from starvation, some traditional crops were lost during the process.
More recently, the UN Sustainable Development Goals have called for global efforts to highlight the protection and revival of crop diversity as an important means to ensure that crop diversity is conserved and made available for food and nutritional security to feed the increasing population of our planet. On top of the agenda is to maintain the genetic diversity of seeds and cultivated plants through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels. Equally important, more government funds be channeled into rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in less developed countries.
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Blowing a Few Tops
Ever stopped to consider the upside of volcanic eruptions? It’s not all deaths, destruction and hot lava---scientists have a plan to cool the planet by simulating one. It would probably work, but it could have devastating consequence, and there is nothing to stop any country or company from deploying the technology.
Solar geo-engineering(气候工程) involves simulating an erupting volcano by spraying aerosols (气溶胶) into the atmosphere. When they combine with oxygen, droplets of acid form. These droplets reflect sunlight away from Earth, cooling the planet. All good in theory, but the consequences are largely unknown and a few could be disastrous. In a study recently published, researchers led by Anthony Jones, a climate scientist from the University of Exeter, found that using this technology in the Northern hemisphere could reduce the number of tropical cyclones hitting the U.S. and Caribbean. But there’s a worrying problem: more cyclones in the Southern hemisphere and a drought across the Sahel region of Africa. That’s because the entries climate system is linked--- disrupting one region will invariably affect another. How would a nation react if another was causing its weather to get much worse? Would that be an act of war?
There is, however, a case for using solar geo-engineering on a global case. Jones says it could be used to “take the edge of “the temperature increases scientists are predicting. It could be used while the world searches for more effective strategies.
The study also highlights a far bigger problem with solar geo-engineering: its complete lack of regulation. “There is nothing that could stop one country just doing it,” Jones says. “It’s deeply disturbing that we have this technology that could have such a massive influence in the climate, yet there’s just no regulation to stop countries or even organizations from doing it.”
Jones cautions that there is much about the climate system we do not understand, as well as more work that will need to be done before solar geo-engineering is deemed safe—or too dangerous to even discuss.
Coco-Cola’s Innovative Solution to Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing problem of the 21st Century with plastic waste almost everywhere. It is estimated that just in 2016, the world produced over 320 million tons of plastic, and this number is set to double by 2034.
Plastic waste even makes its way into our oceans with 8 million pieces of plastic pollution per day polluting our waters and destroying the habitat for hundreds of species. It is now believed that there may be around 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean weighing in total up to 269,000 tons. It’s been crystal clear for a long time that the situation is horrible and something needs to be done, and fast. Luckily, Coca-Cola stepped up to the challenge and came up with one innovative and rather effective solution. The firm is replacing its plastic wrapping in Europe with a new paper board technology.
This new tech is called the KeelClip and it is a first for the non-alcohol ready-to-drink (NARTD) industry. Using KeelClips, Coca-Cola aims to remove all plastic wrap from its can multipacks in all? European Union markets by the end of 2021. The firm is optimistic that the move will save 2,000 tons of plastic and 3,000 tons of CO2 annually.
“Innovation is a key principle of our sustainable packaging work and the application of this fully recyclable paperboard KeelClipTM, which is composed of a top board that the cans clip into and central cardboard ‘keel’ — similar to a ship’s keel — that stabilizes the pack, is another example of how we are delivering on our commitment to remove all unnecessary and hard to recycle single- use plastic from our products. We hope this eco-friendly initative is a conscious approach to dealing with plastic pollution,” said Joe Franses, Vice President, Sustainability at Coca-Cola European Partners.
Population Change of European Birds
The breeding bird populations in Europe have seen a great shift over the past three decades, driven by both climate crisis and human interferences, according to one of the world’s largest citizen science projects on biodiversity.
Overall, 35% of birds increased their breeding range. Dr. Iván Ramírez, senior head of conservation at BirdLife Europe and central Asia, said: “Those birds that have been legally protected have been doing better than those which are not protected. This is a really important message within the European Union. We have one of the oldest policies – the Birds Directive – and we can prove that it works.”
In addition, as the climate warms, forests are stretching into northern and agricultural regions. In parts of northern Europe, there has also been tree planting (mainly for wood and paper) and land abandonment (specifically in Mediterranean areas), which benefited many woodland species such as woodpeckers and warblers but caused damage to a number of other species as well. The research shows a total of 25% of birds now occupy a smaller area.
Generally, farmland birds are bigger losers, suffering overall declines in population and reduced distribution because agricultural intensification means there is less food, such as insects and remainder from harvesting. The State of Nature in the EU 2013-2018 assessment showed 80% of key habitats were in poor or bad condition, and intensive farming is a major driver of decline. The UK’s farmland birds have declined by 55% since 1970.
“Predictably, there are winners and losers. We can see how some species have expanded across the continent rapidly and have begun to colonize UK wetlands. In contrast, we can see ranges shrinking as species of northern Europe feel the impact of climate change, and species such as the dotterel are declining in numbers and range in northern Britain,” he said.
Effects of Acid Rain
After studying the Hubbard Brook Forest and other areas, researchers found several important effects of acid deposition, more commonly referred to as acid rain, on both natural and man-made environments. Aquatic (水生的) settings are the most clearly affected because acidic precipitation falls directly into them.
As this acidic liquid flows into larger bodies of water, it is diluted (稀释). However, over time, acids can increase and lower the overall pH of the body of water. Acid deposition also causes clay soils to release aluminum and magnesium, further lowering the pH in some areas. If the pH of a lake drops below 4.8, its plants and animals risk death. It is estimated that around 50,000 lakes in the United States and Canada have a pH below normal (about 5.3 for water). Several hundred of these have a pH too low to support any aquatic life.
Aside from aquatic bodies, acid deposition can significantly affect forests. As acid rain falls on trees it can make them lose their leaves, damage their bark, and stunt their growth. By damaging these parts of the tree, it makes them vulnerable to disease, extreme weather and insects. Damage to forests by acid rain is seen all over the world, but the most advanced cases are in Eastern Europe. Half of the forests in Germany and Poland and about 30 percent in Switzerland, are estimated to have been damaged.
Finally, acid deposition also has an effect on architecture and art because of its ability to corrode certain materials. As acid lands on buildings (especially those constructed with limestone), it reacts with minerals in the stones, sometimes causing them to disintegrate and wash away.
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