A team of researchers have recently witnessed behavior in the wild that could offer critical clues about how the endangered whale shark reproduces.&nbsp;



This surprising discovery, made by a research team off northwestern Australia, could be pivotal for the species’ conservation.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whale-sharks-move-into-dangerous-territory-as-the-climate-warms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Whale sharks</a>, recognized as the world’s largest fish, have long posed a challenge for scientists who strive to understand the details of their life cycles - particularly their mating rituals.&nbsp;



Given that whale sharks are currently listed as endangered, every insight into their reproductive strategies is essential for crafting effective measures to protect them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collecting-data-on-whale-shark-behavior">Collecting data on whale shark behavior </h2>



At Ningaloo Reef, a <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESCO World Heritage Site</a> on the northwestern coast of Western Australia, annual expeditions have taken place each May from 2009 to 2024. This specific timeframe captures the peak period when whale sharks migrate to the region and aggregate in considerable numbers.&nbsp;



Scientists have used these field seasons to observe and collect data on the behaviors of whale sharks, hoping to uncover patterns that would illuminate everything from feeding habits to potential <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fascinating-mating-behaviors-of-leopard-seals-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mating rituals</a>.



During the 2024 expedition, a research team documented a mature male whale shark engaging in what appeared to be following and biting behaviors toward a smaller female shark.&nbsp;



Although it remains unclear if this encounter culminated in mating, the new observations provide a rare glimpse into the courtship interactions of these elusive giants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-hand-accounts-of-unusual-behavior">First-hand accounts of unusual behavior</h2>



“Following and biting are common copulation behaviours in other species within the subclass of cartilaginous fish that the whale shark belongs to,” explained PhD candidate Christine Barry, a member of <a href="https://www.murdoch.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Murdoch University</a>’s Harry Butler Institute and the <a href="https://www.aims.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australian Institute of Marine Science</a>.&nbsp;



Barry and her colleagues noted that these behaviors have been observed in several other cartilaginous fish, including various shark species. Such actions typically denote an attempt by the male to stabilize or secure the female’s position during mating.



“This is also consistent with previous reports by fishers recounting behaviours they’d observed out on the water of sexually mature males towards females at different aggregation sites,” Barry added.&nbsp;



These anecdotes, now supported by direct evidence, add weight to the idea that whale sharks’ mating rituals may mirror those of other large sharks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-piecing-together-mating-clues">Piecing together mating clues</h2>



The research team, led by Barry alongside Dr. Mark Meekan of the University of Western Australia, published their conclusions in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1507072/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Marine Science</a>.&nbsp;



According to Barry, it is unlikely that the encounter during this expedition resulted in a successful mating event. Nonetheless, the instance of following and biting strongly suggests that whale shark mating behavior follows a pattern akin to many other shark species.



By placing these newly documented behaviors in the broader context of whale shark biology, scientists can form hypotheses regarding the mating process of the species.&nbsp;



Additionally, the research group underscores that knowledge of how whale sharks court and reproduce can significantly boost conservation efforts, particularly as populations remain vulnerable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-avoidance-behavior-by-female-whale-sharks">Avoidance behavior by female whale sharks </h2>



Whale sharks, which can grow up to 12 meters or more in length, have a global distribution in warm temperate and tropical waters. Despite their widespread presence, many aggregation sites show an overwhelming number of males.&nbsp;



“At Ningaloo Reef, and many aggregation sites around the world, males outnumber females with a ratio of one female to three males,” Barry said. The reasons behind this imbalance have puzzled scientists for years.



“This could explain why female whale sharks may be avoiding aggregation sites. Particularly for juvenile female sharks, the energetic costs of unwanted attention from males could imply a reason for strong male biases,” Barry added.&nbsp;



Female whale sharks, particularly younger ones, might seek refuge in areas with fewer adult males to steer clear of the stress and energy demands associated with repeated courtship attempts.&nbsp;



This avoidance behavior could be a crucial factor influencing whale shark population structures at various aggregation points.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-conservation">Implications for conservation</h2>



One pressing question is what these findings mean for managing whale shark populations worldwide. As an endangered species, whale sharks already face numerous challenges, including interactions with fisheries, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/basking-sharks-are-exceptionally-vulnerable-to-ship-strikes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vessel strikes</a>, and habitat degradation.&nbsp;



Understanding their mating behavior, including how males and females interact at aggregation sites, can aid biologists and policymakers in deciding how to protect critical habitats - such as identifying areas where females can avoid male-dominated gatherings.



The annual expeditions at Ningaloo Reef also serve as a model for studying whale sharks in their natural environment without relying on anecdotal sightings.&nbsp;



By systematically gathering data and applying scientific methods, researchers can more accurately identify patterns and track changes in whale shark behavior over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-continuation-of-whale-shark-research">Continuation of whale shark research</h2>



This new information about potential mating interactions is just the latest in a series of findings by Christine Barry, Dr. Meekan, and other scientists at Murdoch University’s School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences and partner institutions.&nbsp;



Their previous studies have covered topics ranging from the impact of tourism on whale shark well-being to prey dynamics in waters frequented by these fish.



Moving forward, the researchers intend to broaden their focus to include additional observational and genetic studies, in hopes of confirming how often such pre-mating behaviors occur and what leads to successful reproduction.&nbsp;



In this way, the data gleaned at Ningaloo Reef and other aggregation sites may help scientists develop clearer conservation strategies tailored to the unique reproductive needs of whale sharks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saving-the-largest-fish-in-the-sea">Saving the largest fish in the sea</h2>



The newly documented behaviors at Ningaloo Reef represent a pivotal step in unraveling one of the great mysteries of marine biology: how whale sharks reproduce.&nbsp;



While much remains to be learned about courtship and mating in these gentle ocean giants, the direct observations of following and biting offer valuable context for a species that has long eluded scientific understanding.



With further research, scientists hope to clarify whether female whale sharks avoid highly male-dominated sites as a means to reduce the stress and energy costs of unwanted attention.&nbsp;



Such knowledge could shape guidelines for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-marine-protected-areas-boost-human-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine protected areas</a> and responsible ecotourism that minimize disturbances to whale shark breeding practices.&nbsp;



Ultimately, uncovering the nuances of whale shark mating is a vital piece of the puzzle in ensuring the survival of these endangered animals for generations to come.



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Whale shark mating behaviors observed for the first time in the wild

A team of researchers have recently witnessed behavior in the wild that could offer critical clues about how the endangered whale shark reproduces.&nbsp; This surprising discovery, made by a research team off northwestern Australia, could be pivotal for the species’ conservation.&nbsp; Whale sharks, recognized as the world’s largest fish, have long posed a challenge for scientists who strive to understand the details of their life cycles - particularly their mating rituals.&nbsp; Given that whale sharks are currently listed as endangered, every insight into their reproductive strategies is...

Adult,Shetland,Sheepdog,Seen,From,Above,Looking,Up,With,On

In an insightful delve into canine behavior, researchers from the <a href="https://www.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Florida</a> have revealed that the way to a dog's heart might indeed be through its stomach with food rather than enticing them with toys. The study, a pioneer in examining dogs' preferences in rewards, brings new insights that could significantly impact methods of dog training and interaction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-canine-behavior">Studying canine behavior</h2>



Under the guidance of Nicole Dorey, a lecturer at the UF Department of Psychology, and her team, the study embarked on uncharted territory by investigating whether <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-dog-day-celebrating-all-the-ways-that-dogs-make-life-better/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> have a stronger inclination towards food or toys. The revelation was startling but clear: a staggering majority of dogs involved in the study exhibited a preference for food over their favorite toys, even within a training simulation context.



Dorey expressed surprise at these findings, acknowledging that prior to this, there had been no significant look into how dogs evaluate toys versus food as rewards. The study's innovative approach sheds light on a crucial aspect of understanding canine motivation and behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-or-toys-dogs-given-a-choice">Food or toys: Dogs given a choice</h2>



The study was meticulously structured to ensure a fair assessment of the dogs' choices. Researchers enlisted 10 pet <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/typical-american-dog-knows-18-words-and-love-is-at-the-top-of-the-list/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> from the local vicinity, presenting them with an array of six food items and six toys. The variety ensured a wide representation of commonly used treats and toys, ranging from cheese and hot dogs to tennis balls and squeaky toys.



Following the initial selection phase where dogs identified their <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/can-dogs-eat-bananas-and-other-fruits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">favorite food</a> and toy, the experiment escalated, requiring the dogs to exert more effort to receive their reward. The response was telling, as most participants demonstrated a quicker surrender when striving for toys compared to treats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-human-interaction">Role of human interaction</h2>



While the study offers substantial evidence highlighting food as a primary motivator, it also recognizes the potential complexity of canine preference. Other research in the field has suggested that human attention might rival food in its value to dogs.



Dorey recommends an expanded approach for future research, incorporating attention, food, and toys to obtain a more holistic view of what drives dogs, especially in training scenarios. This comprehensive perspective could revolutionize training methodologies and improve human-canine relationships.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-food-when-training-dogs">Using food when training dogs</h2>



The findings challenge some conventional dog training techniques, where toys are often advocated as rewards to circumvent issues like overfeeding. Dorey and her team suggest that if trainers prefer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/playfulness-is-a-key-personality-trait-of-gifted-dogs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">using toys</a>, these should not be in direct competition with food rewards.



Drawing parallels with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mischievous-dogs-experts-reveal-the-top-ten-naughtiest-breeds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">training protocols</a> for search and rescue dogs, Dorey mentions that starting early with toys as a form of positive reinforcement can indeed be effective. This adaptation requires a strategic approach, ensuring that the dog’s motivation is correctly aligned with the reward system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-continued-research">Continued research</h2>



The significant contributions of undergraduate students, notably Xenabeth Lazaro and John Winter, were instrumental in the study's success, demonstrating the value of academic collaboration and student involvement in research. Expertise from other esteemed institutions, including the <a href="https://www.fit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florida Institute of Technology</a> and <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a>, further enriched the research.



This study marks a critical step forward in behavioral psychology concerning domestic pets. It invites further exploration while providing current dog owners and trainers with profound insights into more effective training and stronger bonding strategies. As our understanding of canine preferences evolves, it paves the way for enhanced welfare and happiness for our four-legged companions.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/19/3073" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Animals</a>.



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Do dogs prefer food or toys? Scientists conducted a study to find out

In an insightful delve into canine behavior, researchers from the...

Fin,Whale

<a href="https://www.ucla.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCLA</a> biologists have found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/echoes-of-the-past-whalings-long-term-impact-on-genetic-diversity/">whaling</a> in the 20th century wiped out 99% of the Eastern North Pacific fin whale breeding population. This percentage is 29 percent higher than prior assessments. The alarming revelation is a stark reminder of human impacts on the environment.&nbsp;



“When you look at whaling records, you can only tell how many were killed. You can’t tell how many there were to begin with,” said study co-author Meixi Lin. “We know 20th century whaling was severe, but we didn’t know how severe it was for fin whales.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-diversity-nbsp">Genetic diversity&nbsp;</h2>



However, the researchers also found a silver lining. They determined that genetic diversity among the remaining fin whales of the Eastern North Pacific is still rich enough to ensure that - with adequate conservation measures - these whales can recover without facing the threats of inbreeding.



The UCLA study is a significant advancement from previous research, which was restricted to whaling records or mitochondrial DNA. With the entire genome at their disposal, the researchers now possess a comprehensive understanding of the current size and genetic diversity of these whales.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-industrial-whaling-nbsp">Industrial whaling&nbsp;</h2>



While most whale species faced devastation due to 19th-century whaling, the larger species, particularly blue and fin whales, managed to remain largely unaffected.&nbsp;



However, industrial whaling in the subsequent century flipped this scenario, leading to the near extinction of fin whales, especially in the Eastern North Pacific.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenging-field-research-nbsp">Challenging field research&nbsp;</h2>



The methods employed in the research were not only innovative but also challenging. Gathering DNA samples from the whales was not easy.&nbsp;



“Getting samples from live whales is hard, because you don’t know where they’re going to be - and when they come up, you only have a moment to take the sample before they go back underwater,” said study co-author Nigenda-Morales. “It is a humbling experience to conduct field research and interact with the second-largest animal on the planet.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



Overall, 50 whales were studied, including fin whales from the Gulf of California. These whales were not targeted by whalers, but belong to a small, isolated group.



"Nevertheless, this population has been small with limited gene flow from and to the Pacific for thousands of years," noted the study authors. "In contrast, the Eastern North Pacific population was large, interconnected, and overexploited."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned-nbsp">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



The analysis revealed that the Gulf of California fin whales diverged about 16,000 years ago, maintaining a population of around 114 adult breeders.



The Eastern North Pacific population remained stable at around 24,000 individuals for millennia. However, 20th-century whaling caused a catastrophic reduction from 24,000 individuals to only 305 in just 26 to 52 years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-severe-decline-nbsp">Severe decline&nbsp;</h2>



While earlier studies estimated a 70% decline, the current data illustrates the contrast. The severe drop made the genomic reduction distinctly evident, as noted by Nigenda-Morales.



“It’s usually hard to detect such strong recent reductions in the genome. But in this case, fin whales were really abundant before, which made the sudden reduction very obvious in our data. If the reduction hadn’t been so strong, we wouldn’t have been able to detect it,” said Nigenda-Morales.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recovering-whale-populations">Recovering whale populations</h2>



The research also revealed the significance of the Eastern North Pacific fin whale population for the fin whales in the Gulf of California.&nbsp;



While the Gulf of California population has faced its set of challenges, including the amplification of harmful genes, occasional visits from Eastern North Pacific whales have introduced new genetic material, ensuring their survival.



However, the situation remains fragile. While current protections appear adequate, they need to be sustained for an extended period, ensuring the continued recovery of these whale populations.&nbsp;



External threats, including climate change and human disturbances like ship strikes, could still threaten this progress.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-computational-models-nbsp">Computational models&nbsp;</h2>



“With improvement in computational models, we can incorporate factors like climate change and relate the risk of extinction from human-mediated processes with what’s happening at the genomic level,” said study co-author Kirk Lohmueller. “Continuing to develop such models is as important as collecting more data.”



The research, which was conducted in dedication to the late UCLA Professor Robert Wayne, represents a significant step forward in understanding the complexities and challenges faced by fin whales.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40052-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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The alarming decline and hopeful recovery of fin whales

UCLA biologists have found that whaling in the 20th century...

Scientists have continuously explored xenotransplantation over the years for its potential as a viable solution to organ shortage in humans. The findings from a recent study on pig kidney xenotransplantation suggest we may be a step closer to perfecting the process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-successful-xenotransplantation-procedure">Successful xenotransplantation procedure</h2>



Researchers from<a href="https://nyulangone.org/"> NYU Langone Transplant Institute</a> have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into the human body, with the transplanted kidney functioning fully for 61 days.



This is the longest we have seen a genetically engineered kidney function in the body of a human.



Xenotransplantation is the process of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-bioprinted-fully-functional-human-skin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transplanting organs</a> or tissues from an animal into humans. Just last year, a team of surgeons from the University of Maryland Medical Center transplanted a pig heart into a dying man. However, the heart failed after two months, leading to doubts about the suitability of pig organs for human use.



The team of surgeons made a similar attempt on July 14, 2023. They transplanted a functional kidney from a genetically engineered pig into a 58-year-old man who had been declared brain dead.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-pig-named-galsafe">A pig named GalSafe</h2>



The donor pig was an engineered pig called GalSafe, which is a product of<a href="https://www.revivicor.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Revivicor Inc.</a>



The team of surgeons who oversaw the transplant was led by Dr. Robert Montgomery and Dr. H. Leon Pachter, chair of the Institute’s Department of Surgery.



Dr. Montgomery and his team left the transplanted kidney in the patient for 61 days, leaving the body on a ventilator throughout the period. They observed that the kidney was fully functional with no issues whatsoever.



“We have learned a great deal throughout these past two months of close observation and analysis, and there is great reason to be hopeful for the future,” noted Dr. Montgomery.



“None of this would have been possible without the incredible support we received from the family of our deceased recipient. Thanks to them, we have been able to gain critical insight into xenotransplantation as a hopeful solution to the national organ shortage."



The team concluded the study after the predetermined period of the experiment, and the body of patient was returned to the family in line with their wishes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-xenotransplantation">Implications for xenotransplantation</h2>



One of the most remarkable aspects of this procedure is that by "knocking out" the only gene responsible for immediate rejection, these pig organs have a chance to function within the human body.



The team also prevented delayed immune responses by fusing the pig's thymus gland, which is responsible for updating its immune system, with its kidney. However, they encountered a mild rejection process that needed intensified immunosuppression medication to reverse it completely.



This study marks a significant step forward in xenotransplantation. The results open new doors for further research, with scientists hoping to analyze further the data collected over the past two months to determine cellular and molecular changes.



This insight is crucial for managing these organs in future studies and one day in living, breathing humans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-organ-transplant-needs">Organ transplant needs</h2>



The numbers are staggering when it comes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/3d-printed-lungs-lives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">organ transplant</a> needs. Over 800,000 people are living with end-stage kidney disease in the United States. 



The national organ waiting list currently has over 100,000 people on it, with about 90% of those in need of a kidney, according to the <a href="https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network</a> (OPTN).



"In order to create a sustainable unlimited supply of organs, we need to know how to manage pig organs transplanted into humans," said Dr. Montgomery. "Testing them in decedents allows scientists to optimize the immunosuppression regimen and choice of gene edits without putting a living patient at risk."



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Xenotransplantation: Using pig organs for human transplants is almost reality

Scientists have continuously explored xenotransplantation over the years for its...

In the heart of one of the globe’s most active cities, Hong Kong, the Eurasian <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/prehistoric-asian-otter-discovered-in-europe-for-the-first-time/">otter</a> (Lutra lutra) currently faces significant challenges. Recent findings from a paper in <a href="https://www.oryxthejournal.org/">Oryx—The International Journal of Conservation</a>, casts a spotlight on these challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-threatened-habitat">Threatened habitat</h2>



Within the bustling confines of Hong Kong, the Eurasian otter, a species dependent on lowland wetlands, faces major threats.&nbsp;



This vulnerability stems mainly from the metropolis’ pace of urban development and a proposed government construction project targeting otters’ primary habitat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



The study delves deep into 131 years of data, offering an unprecedented view of the otter’s historical distribution in Hong Kong. The findings indicate that these creatures were once more prevalent than they are today.



According to the experts, between 1890 and 2020, there has been a worrisome reduction in the Eurasian otter’s presence in Hong Kong. Notably, Hong Kong’s Deep Bay wetlands have been identified as the lifeline habitat for these creatures, a revelation crucial for conservation discussions.



The Eurasian otter, while spread across Europe, Asia, and North Africa, finds its status in Asia quite shaky. Despite being marked endangered, there’s a notable gap in research surrounding its Asian existence and challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned-nbsp">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



The analysis revealed that urban growth from the 1930s is the main cause behind the dwindling otter numbers. Otters’ reliance on lowland wetlands makes them an easy target for urban development threats.&nbsp;



Accelerating this issue is the city’s infrastructural evolution and subsequent water pollution, which erodes these wetlands, impacting otters and their food sources.



From the examined records, a significant 80 percent referred to the Yuen Long floodplain, linked to the Deep Bay catchment. These records, from the 1900s through 2019, underscore this region’s importance for otter conservation in Hong Kong.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-data-nbsp">Historical data&nbsp;</h2>



To assemble this dataset, the scientists undertook a comprehensive review of all otter-related records from various publications from 1890 to 2020, including a detailed examination of 14,231 newspaper articles.&nbsp;



The increasing reliance on historical data, like newspapers and traditional ecological records, has become instrumental in understanding species and ecosystem patterns in the absence of contemporary ecological data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-support-is-needed">Public support is needed</h2>



“The otter is a resilient species and can live in human-dominated landscapes, provided that healthy riverine or coastal ecosystems are available,” said Michael Ka Yiu Hui, a wildlife conservationist at the <a href="https://www.kfbg.org/en/">Kadoorie Farm and Botanical Garden</a> in Hong Kong.&nbsp;



“Urbanization leads to the direct loss of otter habitat, and the extensive river channelisation scheme and pollution problem appear to be the major drivers of local otter decline. The plight of the local Eurasian otter needs to be widely publicized to garner public and government support and galvanize immediate conservation efforts across society.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-significance-nbsp">Study significance&nbsp;</h2>



Co-author Bosco Pui Lok Chan, a conservationist at the <a href="https://www.wwf.org.hk/en/">World Wildlife Fund Hong Hong</a>, also stressed the study’s value for the holistic management of Hong Kong’s otters and their aquatic surroundings.&nbsp;



“Conservation action is particularly crucial with the looming Northern Metropolis mega development plan recently released by the Hong Kong government, which will drastically change the rural landscape of the ecologically invaluable Yuen Long floodplain," said Chan.&nbsp;



"A holistic nature-positive land-use plan must be designed to balance economic development and nature conservation, and ecologically sensitive areas must be preserved."



The study was published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the wildlife protection organization <a href="https://www.fauna-flora.org/">Fauna Flora International</a>.



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Eurasian otters threatened by urban development in Hong Kong

In the heart of one of the globe’s most active...

Albatrosses are known for their remarkable long-distance migrations and expansive foraging journeys. These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seabirds-have-different-strategies-to-survive-storms/">seabirds</a> spend most of their lives soaring over the open ocean, traveling vast distances in search of food.&nbsp;



Albatrosses can cover thousands of miles during their migrations and often traverse entire ocean basins. They can circle the Southern Ocean multiple times in a single year.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-navigation-tool-nbsp">Navigation tool&nbsp;</h2>



In a study from the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Liverpool</a>, researchers have unveiled new clues in how these massive migrations are executed.&nbsp;



The study has produced the first evidence indicating that wandering albatrosses might employ infrasound as a navigation tool.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-infrasound-nbsp">Infrasound&nbsp;</h2>



The term "infrasound" refers to sound frequencies that fall below the range of human audibility. It's a low-frequency sound that is omnipresent in marine environments.&nbsp;



One significant source of this infrasound is microbaroms, which are a class of atmospheric waves generated by the collision of ocean waves. Microbaroms are also known as the "voice of the sea."



Interestingly, regions with these colliding waves often experience strong winds, which play a crucial role in aiding the albatrosses' efficient flight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers set out to understand the potential link between albatrosses and their use of infrasound for navigation. They deployed GPS trackers to chart the flight routes of 89 wandering albatrosses that breed in the Crozet Islands archipelago, located in the Southern Ocean.&nbsp;



By comparing the tracked flight paths with acoustic maps specifically modeled for this study, which depict the distribution of microbarom infrasound, the team made an intriguing discovery.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned-nbsp">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



The data shows that when embarking on directed flight segments, wandering albatrosses display a tendency to head towards areas where microbarom infrasound is pronounced.&nbsp;



This behavior suggests that these birds might possess the capability to detect and react to microbarom infrasound even when it's disseminated over vast distances.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fundamental-question">Fundamental question</h2>



The study was jointly led by Dr. Natasha Gillies, a seabird ecologist with the University’s School of Environmental Sciences, and Dr. Lucía Martín López.



“How animals navigate and search for resources over large spatial scales exceeding 100s-1000s km is a fundamental question in ecology," said Dr. Gillies.



“For marine animals, such as seabirds, this question is especially intriguing due to the limited availability of visual information, meaning that other cues must be involved in movement."



“It has been proposed that seabirds could use infrasound to help them navigate the huge expanses of featureless ocean environment that they fly over in order to forage."



“Our results offer the first evidence for responsiveness to infrasound in a movement context for a free-ranging animal.”



The research is part of a Human Frontier Science Program grant, which brings together an international team of collaborators (Stellenbosch University in South Africa, University of Florida, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute in the Netherlands).



“It is only through interdisciplinary science like this, which brings together scientists across diverse fields, that we can achieve such new and exciting insights," said Dr. Samantha Patrick, who led the grant.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2218679120" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Albatrosses use the voice of the sea for long distance navigation

Albatrosses are known for their remarkable long-distance migrations and expansive...

Antarctic fur seals, once hunted to the brink of extinction, have made an impressive comeback in their population.&nbsp;



But now, research led by the <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">British Antarctic Survey</a> (BAS) has exposed a looming threat due to a decline in the primary food source for these seals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



The study was conducted primarily on the sub-Antarctic islands of South Georgia, where most fur seals reside. The experts found that the fur seal population peaked in 2009 with around 3.5 million <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-fur-seals-are-struggling-in-a-warmer-climate/">seals</a>. Although this is a substantial figure, it's much lower than past estimations.&nbsp;



A detailed count on Bird Island indicated a sharp decrease in the availability of krill, a shrimp-like crustacean essential to the fur seal diet, over the last decade.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-good-news-and-bad-news">Good news and bad news</h2>



“We found both good and bad news about the fur seals. The population has recovered very impressively throughout the twentieth century when seal hunting was banned. But twenty-first century changes to the abundance of krill in the Southern Ocean are now threatening these iconic animals all over again," explained study lead author Dr. Jaume Forcada.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inflated-figures-nbsp">Inflated figures&nbsp;</h2>



Historically, fur seals were hunted for their pelts during the 1700s and 1800s. By the early 20th century, their numbers dropped so drastically that commercial hunting became unviable.&nbsp;



Benefiting from strict conservation measures, ample food, and rapid reproduction rates, the fur seal population surged, outpacing other hunted species in the region like the humpback whale.&nbsp;



It was estimated that South Georgia harbored between 4.5 to 6.2 million fur seals by 2000. Nevertheless, a closer look at this data suggests that these figures were likely inflated.&nbsp;



“Our new results show this was a massive overestimation. That matters because the fur seal population size is used to judge the overall health of the species and the wider Antarctic ecosystems. And it turns out that neither were as robust as people thought," said Dr. Forcada.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biased-surveys">Biased surveys</h2>



Contrary to what might be assumed, accurately counting seals is a complex endeavor. Standard surveys usually focus on seal breeding beaches, but these counts are often biased.&nbsp;



The majority of male fur seals in South Georgia typically breed only when they're about ten years old and even then, just for a few years.&nbsp;



Consequently, almost 80 percent of the male population is excluded from these counts, leading to potential exaggerations.&nbsp;



The recent estimate of 3.5 million is a product of intensive week-long helicopter surveys between 2007 to 2009, coupled with advanced assessment techniques.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bird-island-nbsp">Bird Island&nbsp;</h2>



Interestingly, Bird Island's fur seal population showcased one of the swiftest recoveries over the last century. Yet, this trend has taken a concerning turn. Since peaking in 2009, there has been an annual decline of seven percent.



This means that the island’s current population has dwindled to a level not seen since the 1970s, when the population was still recovering.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-conditions">Environmental conditions</h2>



Upon investigating the role of krill fishing on fur seal populations, the researchers found that it has been insignificant.&nbsp;



However, preliminary climate data analysis has linked escalating sea temperatures in the area with the decline in seal numbers, suggesting that a krill shortage is the probable culprit.



"Krill can make up to 80% or more of the diet of fur seals at South Georgia, so they experience catastrophic declines in the number of pups produced and survival of individuals when environmental conditions remove the krill from their immediate foraging areas,” explained Dr. Forcada.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



Given the fur seals' pronounced dependency on krill, and the availability of extensive population data, they serve as a pivotal indicator for the ecosystems surrounding Bird Island.



There is an urgent need for comprehensive research to investigate why Bird Island's krill availability has dwindled and the potential extent of this trend across the Southern Ocean.



“If the pressure on the fur seals at Bird Island also applies to the greater South Georgia population there could be an ongoing decline there as well," said Dr. Forcada. "So even though there were three and a half million of them there, the fast decline at Bird Island tells us they could be in trouble."



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Antarctic fur seals face an emerging threat of food shortages

Antarctic fur seals, once hunted to the brink of extinction,...

Conservation efforts aimed at curbing wild pig populations in the southeastern United States have been successful, according to a new study led by the <a href="https://www.uga.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Georgia</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



The study was focused on a reduction in wild pig <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exploding-population-of-macaque-monkeys-and-wild-pigs-poses-risk-of-another-global-pandemic/">populations</a> around the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina.



Within 24 months after the inception of control measures, there was a remarkable reduction in these populations by about 70 percent. 



Environmental rooting damage - a major concern with wild pigs - also plummeted by almost 99 percent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extensive-damages-nbsp">Extensive damages&nbsp;</h2>



According to the researchers, the study will help conservation groups manage a problem with both environmental and economic costs, as wild pigs were responsible for over $1.5 billion in property and crop damage in 2007.



“Through their destructive foraging habits, wild pigs cause extensive damages to crops across the country,” said Professor Jim Beasley. “Wild pigs also carry several diseases that can be transferred to livestock, adding to their substantial agricultural impact.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-introduction-of-wild-pigs">Introduction of wild pigs</h2>



The menace of wild pigs isn't a recent issue. These animals were introduced to the U.S. centuries ago as a potential food source. Over time, they mixed with the purebred Eurasian boar introduced for hunting.&nbsp;



With high reproductive rates and non-selective diets, hybridized wild pigs rapidly multiplied across the region. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw an exponential rise in their numbers, causing significant damage to the agricultural industry.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-control-programs-nbsp">Control programs&nbsp;</h2>



To counter this growing problem, numerous large-scale control programs were initiated, predominantly using lethal methods to cut down the wild pig populations.



Professor Beasley and his team collaborated with 19 mixed-forest agricultural properties in South Carolina to investigate the effectiveness of such control programs.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



For three years, the team surveyed the wild pig populations and the resulting agricultural and environmental damages, after the implementation of a professional control initiative.



“Before the trappers went in and began management efforts, we placed remote cameras around the properties to assess the initial population of wild pigs," said Professor Beasley.



"Every six months, we would go back out and reassess the populations to see how effective the management methods were."



“Most studies estimate that you need to remove 40% to 60% of a wild pig population each year to maintain or significantly reduce a population, and they exceeded that threshold."



“With sustained management the population should continue to shrink over the next several years. However, what is unknown is how quickly the population will recover if management efforts cease.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-explosive-population-growth">Explosive population growth</h2>



The damage these pigs wreak on the environment is extensive. They forage by overturning soil and roots, causing significant damage to natural habitats and other wildlife. 



As natural omnivores, their diet includes amphibians and other smaller creatures, posing a threat to their populations.



Professor Beasley identified multiple reasons behind the explosive growth in wild pig populations, ranging from illegal human interventions of moving pigs to areas with year-round hunting permissions, to the warmer climates observed in recent years.&nbsp;



"It’s really a combination of both human-driven factors and natural expansions of populations."



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ps.7671" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pest Management Science</a>.



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Explosive population growth of wild pigs slowed by conservation efforts

Conservation efforts aimed at curbing wild pig populations in the...

We eat <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nordic-diet-provides-health-benefits-beyond-weight-loss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a> for its rich protein, which drives several vital processes in the human body. Fish protein is also important for other fishes. That is why fish are fed with whole fishes and fish protein as part of their diet. But away from predation, researchers now suggest that feeding fish, particularly salmon to feed salmon, with other salmon can make them more environmentally friendly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eco-friendly-fish-farming">Eco-friendly fish farming</h2>



Researchers may have found a way to make fish farming more environmentally friendly by feeding fishes with other fishes.



According to a study conducted by researchers at the <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)</a>, Norway, salmon fed with other salmon exhibited eco-friendly characteristics.



These salmon recorded a lower carbon footprint and required less energy for reproduction when compared to the salmon fed with other types of fish.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-experimental-process">The experimental process</h2>



The researchers conducted a feeding trial using<a href="https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=926" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).</a> They fed fish with diets containing various amounts of dried salmon protein hydrolysate (FPH) and fish meal protein.



Salmon hydrolysate is a product of the enzymatic breakdown of the leftover raw materials from salmon processing. Hydrolysate is an excellent fish meal because it is easily digestible and tastes good. This encourages the fish to eat more.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-feeding-salmon-to-salmon-is-this-cannibalism">Feeding salmon to salmon - is this cannibalism?</h2>



Fish of the same species feeding on each other is cannibalism. However, this is not the case with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-has-unpredictable-effects-on-salmon-migration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">salmon</a> in this study. That is because the dead salmon have been processed into protein hydrolysate before feeding them to the living fish.



“You might think this is cannibalism. It’s not, however, because the proteins have been broken down so much that their origin is not recognizable without conducting DNA analyses," explained study lead author Ingrid Schafroth Sandbakken.



The predatory nature of salmon means they are comfortable feeding on their species. "They only distinguish between what fits into their mouth and what doesn't," she added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-there-any-risks">Are there any risks?</h2>



Interestingly, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seafree-new-technology-turns-waste-from-fish-farming-into-seaweed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish farmers</a> have expressed skepticism about the idea of feeding salmon with salmon. They argued that there might be a risk for prion disease and similar concerns.



Prion disease is a rare but fatal disease that has been established in mammals, including humans, but not in fish or birds.&nbsp;



However, the researchers checked for prions in the salmon hydrolysate using two different methods and found none.



"No prions have been found in the salmon hydrolysate. Even if we had found prions, there is nothing to suggest that prions from fish cause disease in humans since there is a species barrier for such diseases," the researchers noted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-this-mean-for-fish-farming">What does this mean for fish farming?</h2>



A large amount of the climate footprint of the aquaculture industry is linked to feed ingredients and production. Feeding salmon with salmon protein hydrolysate instead of regular fish feed can help reduce this.



Switching to residual raw fish feed materials ensures local and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/decline-in-atlantic-salmon-linked-to-humans-and-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sustainable production</a>. It also removes the pressure on plants, which currently serve as the primary source of salmon feed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-salmon">More about salmon</h2>



Salmon, famous fish that is the focal point of this article, is the shining star of both freshwater and oceanic habitats. It captivates many with its beauty, strength, and delectable taste. Hailing from the family Salmonidae, these fish play a significant role not only in our diets but also in their ecosystems.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-cycle-and-migration">Life cycle and migration</h3>



Salmon begin their life in freshwater. They hatch from eggs in rivers and streams, emerging as tiny fry. These fry grow into smolt, which is when they prepare to make their journey to the ocean. This transformation, called smoltification, readies the young salmon for life in saltwater.



Upon reaching maturity in the ocean, a deep-rooted instinct prompts them to embark on an impressive journey back to their birthplace to spawn. They navigate with pinpoint accuracy, using the Earth's magnetic field and their keen sense of smell. Once they reach their natal streams, females lay thousands of eggs in gravel nests called "redds," which males then fertilize. After spawning, many salmon species die, but their sacrifices ensure the continuation of the next generation.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-physical-attributes">Physical attributes</h3>



Salmon exhibit a wide range of colors, from silver-blue hues when living in the ocean to brilliant shades of reds, oranges, and purples during their spawning phase. They have a streamlined body built for efficient swimming, and their powerful tails help them leap over obstacles and against currents.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dietary-value">Dietary value</h3>



Salmon ranks high among health enthusiasts. It's a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which benefit heart health and brain function. Additionally, salmon offers a good amount of protein, B vitamins, and various minerals like potassium and selenium.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-threats-and-conservation">Threats and conservation</h3>



Overfishing and habitat destruction threaten salmon populations worldwide. Dams hinder their migration routes, and pollution degrades their spawning grounds. Conservationists work tirelessly to restore habitats, advocate for sustainable fishing practices, and introduce fish ladders at dams to aid salmon migration.



In summary, salmon are not just a culinary delight; they are marvels of nature with intriguing life cycles and vital roles in their ecosystems. As we enjoy their taste and benefit from their nutrients, it's essential to recognize our responsibility to protect these incredible fish and ensure their populations thrive for generations to come.



This study is published in the<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848623006373?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> journal Aquaculture</a>.



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Using salmon to feed other salmon would be great for the environment 

We eat fish for its rich protein, which drives several...

While many animals do not inherently display altruistic tendencies, a recent study led by <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pennsylvania State University</a> has found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bees-are-very-loyal-to-their-flower-patches/">honey bees</a> are an important exception.&nbsp;



Moreover, the experts revealed a fascinating evolutionary contest of genetics that determines from which parent they inherit this trait.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inherited-genes">Inherited genes</h2>



In their research, published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17145" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Molecular Ecology</a>, the team delved deep into the genetic origins of the “retinue” behavior seen in female worker honey bees.&nbsp;



“People often think about different phenotypes being the result of differences in gene sequences or the environment,” said study lead author Sean Bresnahan, a doctoral student in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences at Penn State.&nbsp;



“But what this study shows is it’s not just differences in the gene itself - it’s which parent the gene is inherited from. By the very nature of the insect getting the gene from its mom, regardless of what the gene sequence is, it’s possibly going to behave differently than the copy of the gene from the dad.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-altruistic-behavior-nbsp">Altruistic behavior&nbsp;</h2>



Upon encountering the pheromone of the queen bee, these worker bees switch off their own reproductive capabilities. They also propagate the pheromone amongst fellow workers and ardently care for the queen and her subsequent brood.&nbsp;



This behavior, altruistic in nature, ensures the queen’s optimal reproductive success, while the worker bee remains without offspring. Given the hive structure, the queen is usually the matriarch of most, if not all, bees.



The researchers discovered that worker bees inherit genes that heighten their sensitivity to this pheromone from both parental lines. However, only when these genes come from the mother do they lead to altruistic behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-control">Genetic control</h2>



“Honey bees are one of the few animal species that display altruistic behavior, where some individuals give up their own reproduction to help others,” said senior author Christina Grozinger, a professor of Entomology at Penn State.&nbsp;



“This study reveals a very subtle and unexpected form of genetic control of those behaviors. With our system, we see that genes from the mother - the queen - are supporting altruistic behavior in her offspring, which leads to more copies of her genes in the population."&nbsp;



"Instead of producing their own eggs, the worker bees support the queen’s reproduction. This complements our previous studies, which showed that the fathers’ genes support selfish behavior in worker bees, where the bees will stop helping their queen mother and focus on their own reproduction.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reproductive-strategy-nbsp">Reproductive strategy&nbsp;</h2>



Interestingly, the queen mates with numerous males. This results in worker bees having the same mother but different fathers.&nbsp;



Breshnahan shed light on the implications of this unique reproductive strategy: “This is why the Kinship Theory of Intragenomic Conflict predicts that genes inherited from the mother will support altruistic behavior in honey bees."



"A worker bee benefits more from helping, rather than competing with, her mother and sisters - who carry more copies of the worker’s genes than she could ever reproduce on her own. In contrast, in species where the female mates only once, it is instead the father’s genes that are predicted to support altruistic behavior.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cross-breeding-nbsp">Cross-breeding&nbsp;</h2>



The study required cross-breeding of six distinct honey bee lineages. This, according to Bresnahan, is an easier endeavor with mammals or plants but is particularly challenging with insects.&nbsp;



After ensuring the crossbreeding was successful and monitoring the offspring’s maturity, the scientists evaluated how these worker bees responded to the queen’s pheromone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rna-sequencing-nbsp">RNA sequencing&nbsp;</h2>



“Finally, we used RNA sequencing to look at genome-wide gene expression in the workers, but importantly, we also sequenced the genomes of the parents of those crosses,” Bresnahan said.&nbsp;



“So, we could develop personalized genomes for the parents, and then map back the workers’ gene expression to each parent and find out which parent’s copy of that gene is being expressed.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



Their analysis, which combined traditional techniques and cutting-edge machine learning, provided a unique lens into the genomic battles underway, by helping them identify and map out genes affected by this intragenomic conflict.



“Observing intragenomic conflict is very difficult, and so there are very few studies examining the role it plays in creating variation in behavior and other traits,” Grozinger said, pointing to the experts’ prior research which revealed ovary activation and aggression in worker bees, both of which signify selfish behavior.&nbsp;



“The fact that this is the third behavior where we have found evidence that intragenomic conflict contributes to variation in honey bees suggests that intragenomic conflict might shape many types of traits in bees and other species. Hopefully, our research will provide a framework and inspiration for other scientists to examine intragenomic conflict in their plant and animal species,” she concluded.



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Honey bees inherit altruistic traits from their mother

While many animals do not inherently display altruistic tendencies, a...

A new study shows that gray whales in the eastern North Pacific, which once flourished before commercial whaling nearly drove them to extinction, have faced significant population drops due to the changing conditions in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/additional-heat-is-being-transferred-to-the-arctic-ocean-as-the-climate-warms/">Arctic Ocean</a>.&nbsp;



According to the study, there have been three major mortality events since the 1980s, one of which started in 2019 and is still ongoing. These events reduced the gray whale population by an astonishing 25% within a short span.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extreme-population-swings-nbsp">Extreme population swings&nbsp;</h2>



Joshua Stewart, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor at Oregon State University’s <a href="https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marine Mammal Institute</a>, expressed concern over these findings.&nbsp;



“These are extreme population swings that we did not expect to see in a large, long-lived species like gray whales,” Stewart said.&nbsp;



“When the availability of their prey in the Arctic is low, and the whales cannot reach their feeding areas because of sea ice, the gray whale population experiences rapid and major shocks.”



“Even highly mobile, long-lived species such as gray whales are sensitive to climate change impacts. When there are sudden declines in the quality of prey, the population of gray whales is significantly affected.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recovering-populations-nbsp">Recovering populations&nbsp;</h2>



Surprisingly, these die-offs weren't permanent. After the die-offs in the 1980s and 1990s, the gray whale population quickly rebounded as the Arctic conditions improved. However, this recovery brought with it its own set of challenges.&nbsp;



As the population has approached levels close to what their Arctic feeding areas can support, they have likely become more sensitive to environmental conditions due to competition for limited resources, explained Stewart.



“It turns out we didn’t really know what a healthy baleen whale population looks like when it isn’t heavily depleted by human impacts,” he said.&nbsp;



“Our assumption has generally been that these recovering populations would hit their environmental carrying capacities and remain more or less steady there. But what we’re seeing is much more of a bumpy ride in response to highly variable and rapidly changing ocean conditions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gray-whales-and-population-dynamics">Gray whales and population dynamics&nbsp;</h2>



The eastern North Pacific gray whale population, currently estimated at around 14,500 individuals, embarks on a massive migration each year. Traveling over 12,000 miles, they move from the warm waters of Baja California, Mexico, during the winter to the chilly, nutrient-rich waters of the Arctic in the summer.



The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southwest-fisheries-science-center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southwest Fisheries Science Center</a> in California has been closely monitoring this population since the 1960s. This extensive data provides a profound insight into the species' population dynamics.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-value-of-long-term-data-nbsp">Value of long-term data&nbsp;</h2>



Dave Weller, the director of the center's Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, highlighted the significance of these long-term studies.&nbsp;



“This research demonstrates the value of long-term data in understanding not only the species under study but also the environment it depends on,” said Weller.&nbsp;



“When we began collecting data on gray whales in 1967, little did we realize the important role they would play in understanding the effects of climate change on an iconic sentinel species in the Pacific. This research would not have been possible without our reliable long-term record.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mortality-events">Mortality events</h2>



Based on long-term data, Stewart, discovered a correlation between the two “Unusual Mortality Events” declared by NOAA in 1999 and 2019 and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/additional-heat-is-being-transferred-to-the-arctic-ocean-as-the-climate-warms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea ice levels in the Arctic</a>.&nbsp;



In addition, these events were closely tied to the biomass of crustaceans on the seafloor, which gray whales mainly feed on.&nbsp;



Interestingly, Stewart identified another die-off event in the 1980s, not associated with increased strandings, possibly due to lesser reporting of stranded whales back then.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decreased-sea-ice">Decreased sea ice</h2>



Lesser summer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-sea-ice-will-soon-vanish-during-the-summer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea ice</a> in the gray whales' Arctic feeding zones initially benefits the whale population by providing more foraging opportunities. However, in the grander scheme of things, decreased sea ice, a direct result of rapid climate change, might be detrimental.&nbsp;



Benthic amphipods, the primary prey of gray whales, rely on algae that grow beneath the sea ice. Fewer ice means less algae sinking to the seafloor, leading to warmer waters that favor smaller crustaceans and faster currents. These conditions reduce the habitat for the gray whales' preferred prey.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-for-gray-whales">Study implications&nbsp;for gray whales</h2>



“We are in uncharted territory now. The two previous events, despite being significant and dramatic, only lasted a couple of years,” said Stewart.&nbsp;



“The most recent mortality event has slowed and there are signs things are turning around, but the population has continued to decline. One reason it may be dragging on is the climate change component, which is contributing to a long-term trend of lower-quality prey.”



While gray whales have survived environmental changes over hundreds of thousands of years, the ongoing conditions have raised concerns.



“I wouldn’t say there is a risk of losing gray whales due to climate change,” he said. “But we need to think critically about what these changes might mean in the future. An Arctic Ocean that has warmed significantly may not be able to support 25,000 gray whales like it has in the recent past.”



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adi1847">Science</a>.



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Gray whales reveal alarming effects of Arctic warming 

A new study shows that gray whales in the eastern...

Does size matter when it comes to aging in dogs? While it is known that smaller breeds tend to live longer than larger ones, researchers at <a href="https://www.elte.hu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eötvös Loránd University</a> have investigated how size differences may impact the age of dogs in terms of cognitive abilities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-variations-in-life-expectancy-nbsp">Variations in life expectancy&nbsp;</h2>



The life expectancy of dogs varies significantly among <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mischievous-dogs-experts-reveal-the-top-ten-naughtiest-breeds/">breeds</a>. Giant breeds generally live up to seven years, while small breeds live up to fourteen years.&nbsp;



Additionally, mixed breeds typically outlive purebreds, partly because they are less likely to suffer from inherited genetic diseases.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-onset-nbsp">Aging onset&nbsp;</h2>



Based on data from over 15,000 dogs, the researchers discovered that aging in behavioral and cognitive aspects typically begins at around ten and a half years. However, there is variation in the onset and rate of aging based on the dog's size.&nbsp;



Dogs weighing over 30 kilograms (approximately 66 lbs) might start showing signs of aging two to three years earlier than their lighter counterparts. But their decline rate is slower.&nbsp;



“Larger dogs experience a physical breakdown at an earlier age, and the accumulating illnesses, and degradation in sensory functions leads to ‘old age behaviors’ long before their mental decline would begin,” explained Borbála Turcsán, first author of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cognitive-health">Cognitive health</h2>



Interestingly, dogs weighing under seven kilograms (14 lbs) showcased a four-fold higher prevalence of cognitive decline in their golden years compared to the bigger breeds.&nbsp;



This aligns with the concept that while larger breeds might have a shorter overall lifespan, they generally undergo a more restrained cognitive decline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breed-impact">Breed impact</h2>



The researchers also found that long-nosed (dolichocephalic) breeds like greyhounds and purebreds had a higher susceptibility to cognitive decline in their later years compared to meso- and brachycephalic breeds and mixed breeds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-perception-of-aging">Perception of aging</h2>



An intriguing observation was that dog owners start perceiving their pets as "old" from the age of six, regardless of their size or breed.&nbsp;



"Owners consider their dogs 'old’ four to five years earlier than would be expected from behavioral data. This may be due to graying and barely noticeable changes," explained Enikő Kubinyi, head of the Senior Family Dog Project.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



The study shows that a dog's body size not only determines its life expectancy but also its healthspan. Nevertheless, it's essential to note that these effects are not uniform across all size ranges.&nbsp;



It is predominantly the extreme size categories - the very small (toy) and the very large (giant) - that exhibit noticeably different aging trajectories.&nbsp;



Turcsán advises potential dog owners aiming for longevity and health balance to consider breeds in the 10-30 kg weight range, as they tend to have a more extended healthspan in proportion to their predicted lifespan compared to both their smaller and larger counterparts.



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Body size influences cognitive aging in dogs

Does size matter when it comes to aging in dogs?...

Researchers have unearthed what appears to be the earliest evidence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-provides-insights-into-the-lives-of-neanderthals/">Neanderthals</a> hunting cave lions, dating back to 48,000 years ago in Germany.&nbsp;



The findings, published by Springer Nature in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42764-0">Scientific Reports</a>, offer new clues about the relationship between ancient humans and these once-majestic creatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-primary-evidence-nbsp">Primary evidence&nbsp;</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/neanderthals_cave-lions-skeleton_2medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Puncture wounds</a> on a cave lion's ribcage hint at the possibility that Neanderthals might have killed it with a wooden spear.&nbsp;



This revelation could place Neanderthals as the earliest hunters of these big cats, a discovery which was previously unknown.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cave-lion-pelts-nbsp">Cave lion pelts&nbsp;</h2>



The study also presents what could be the earliest evidence of Neanderthals using a cave lion pelt.&nbsp;



This particular interaction has been a subject of speculation for a long time, especially given the prominence of cave lions in ancient human cultures.&nbsp;



For instance, Homo sapiens prominently featured cave lions in their cave paintings, but direct interactions with Neanderthals remained elusive until now.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



The (almost complete) cave lion skeleton from Siegsdorf, Germany was originally excavated in 1985. Gabriele Russo and colleagues took on the task of analyzing the skeleton.&nbsp;



Through their analysis, the experts concluded that the remains likely belonged to an old, medium-sized lion.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intriguing-discovery-nbsp">Intriguing discovery&nbsp;</h2>



Although previous assessments suggested that the animal might have been butchered post-mortem, a closer examination unveiled something more intriguing.



A partial puncture wound, specifically located on the inside of the lion’s third rib, presented the researchers with a unique clue. The wound seemed to be consistent with the impact mark of a wooden-tipped spear.&nbsp;



The angle of the puncture suggests that the spear might have entered from the left side of the lion's abdomen, hitting vital organs before lodging into the third rib on the right side.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-skilled-hunters-nbsp">Skilled hunters&nbsp;</h2>



Moreover, the nature of this wound bore similarities to those found on deer vertebrae, which were confirmed to be caused by Neanderthal spears.&nbsp;



Drawing parallels, the authors propose that the Siegsdorf specimen stands as a testament to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neanderthal-tools-hunt-distance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neanderthals' hunting expertise</a>, specifically targeting cave lions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-analysis-of-cave-lion-specimens">Further analysis of cave lion specimens</h2>



The researchers also analyzed phalange and sesamoid bones from three cave lion specimens, excavated in 2019 from Einhornhöhle, Germany.&nbsp;



These specimens, dating back to approximately 55 – 45,000 years ago, bore cutmarks that are typically found when an animal is skinned.&nbsp;



The way these marks were positioned indicated a deliberate effort to ensure the lion's claws remained intact within the fur. This could very well be the earliest instance of Neanderthals using lion pelts, possibly for cultural or ritualistic purposes.



These findings not only shed light on Neanderthal hunting strategies but also their cultural practices. The research presents a new understanding of the interactions between Neanderthals and cave lions during the Pleistocene epoch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-cave-lions">More about cave lions</h2>



As mentioned previously, cave lions, whose scientific name is Panthera spelaea, once prowled the vast landscapes of Europe and northern Asia during the Pleistocene era. Although they bear the name "cave lion," this moniker arises not from their living habits but from the fact that we often find their remains in caves.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-physical-appearance">Physical appearance</h3>



These majestic creatures closely resembled the modern-day lion, but with some distinct differences. For starters, cave lions were slightly larger, with males weighing up to 830 pounds (about 375 kilograms) or more. Unlike the African lions, they didn't possess a mane, making both males and females appear quite similar.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet">Diet</h3>



Their diet primarily consisted of large herbivores like bison, horses, and deer. Evidence from various cave paintings suggests that they might have hunted in groups, a behavior seen in today's lions. These ancient artworks, especially those found in the Chauvet Cave in France, depict the cave lion with remarkable detail and respect, indicating the significance they held in the eyes of ancient human communities.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extinction">Extinction</h3>



The circumstances surround their extinction, which occurred approximately 14,000 years ago, remains a mystery. While climate change and the resulting habitat alterations surely played a role, overhunting by humans could also have been a contributing factor.



Today, the legacy of the cave lion lives on through paleontological studies, ancient artworks, and the imaginations of those intrigued by the prehistoric world. As we continue to unearth more about these fascinating creatures, they serve as a powerful reminder of nature's ever-evolving tapestry.



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Neanderthals hunting cave lions: Earliest evidence uncovered

Researchers have unearthed what appears to be the earliest evidence...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;



Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?



One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;



While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



The mountain range is 430 kilometers in length. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Atlantic Ocean on the west.



At an elevation of 3404 meters, Pico de Aneto is the highest mountain peak in the Pyrenees, and the third-highest peak in Spain. Pico de Aneto is located in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, which spans more than 82,000 acres.&nbsp;



"Geological studies have revealed that the Pyrenees Mountains have been around for longer than the Alps, with their sediments first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras," reports ESA.



"The entire mountain range formed due to the upwelling of large sedimentary rocks by the collision of the Iberian and the Eurasian plate around 100 to 150 million years ago, followed by intense erosion from ice and water."



The western Pyrenees receive more precipitation due to moisture blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain range contains many lakes, several small glaciers, and some of the highest waterfalls in Europe.



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Satellites have become essential to our survival

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...