Click on Image for Full Article Yellow fever's prevalence in given regions are dependent on the factors which affect mosquito life cycle and viral replication: climate, particularly rainfall and temperature. Yellow fever if transmitted to people from mosquitos , primarily in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and Africa. Although symptoms do not appear in half of those infected, it is a severe disease. A group from Imperial College London, did research on the effect of seasonal dynamics on yellow fever transmission, monthly variation in temperature, rainfall, and vegetation. This research could help to predict and prepare for the potential outbreak of this disease allowing them to proactively contain it.
I am fascinated by the people who do large scale research like this. There work allows people to thrive, although I wonder if these people are also doing research in how to most effectively treat such illnesses. Also, I wonder if climate is a variable in the contraction and spreading of this disease, does that mean that climate change will lead to the exposure of this disease in other regions.
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Click on Image for Full Article A group of volunteers has been working to clear the rivers are waste in order to clear the undergrowth. Thus, they allow species there to thrive, including kingfishers, grey wagtails, and egret. Misconnected waste pipes have lead to sewage being found in the rivers and waterways were biologically dead. Since 2001, there was been a drop of 2/3 in pollutions incidents, but the Environmental Agency is still concerned enough to call for bigger fines for companies and farmers who pollute the river. Microplastics have been found in the River Tame in Denton ate unprecedented levels. which range from microbeads used in exfoliants and banned by the government in January to fragments so small they could cross the blood-brain barrier. These types of pollutants are not monitored like other plastics but have arisen as a major issue.
These levels of contaminants is frightening and it left me wondering what sort of biological effects they could have on humans and other species. If these microplastics could travel to the brain what sort of infections and diseases could be caused. However, it gives me hope that there are individuals taking these issues into their own hands, and maybe others will follow suit. Any improvement is a win. I am also curious what the wildlife was like in these rivers and surrounding environments prior to the increasing pollutions and lessening in biodiversity. Click on Image for Full Article After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico was left devastated. Several relief groups went ti help rebuild what was destroyed, and one international conservationists group is working on rebuilding the natural wonders. They are gathering and replanting native seeds across the U.S. territory and grafting broken coral back onto shattered reefs to help repair damage. These issues were initially ignored while other seemingly more pressing issues were dealt with. This recovery has environmental and economic importance as the natural beauty attracts tourism. These actions are labor intensive and will take time.
This sort of restoration never crossed my mind because you see in the news the destruction of homes and businesses which overshadows the nature destroyed. I would have never thought of the intense labor that it would take to disperse all the native seeds and rebuild the environments and homes of ecosystems in the area. It is however saddening the money that should have been dedicated to such work was held for so long, this seems to me to be something that should be of more concern than it has been. Click on Image for Full Article Salmon is the largest food export in Scotland and provides nearly 2,500 jobs. However the sector has been tackling parasitic sea lice being transferred to passing wild salmon from other fish, and environmental groups fear the use of chemicals to treat the lice. There is also fear that the expansion of the sector will prove unsustainable due to obstacles such as the lice. Should the industry be expanded measures would need to be taken to limit its impact on the environment. The Scottish salmon industry is very proud of its accomplishments and has invest a lot of money into their research and innovations. The Scottish Parliament rural economy committee will be conducting an inquiry into the sector.
I am impressed to see that not only the people, but the government in Scotland is taking their impact on the environment so seriously. This sector is evidently profitable in the moment, but the people involved have the foresight to investigate in the sustainable success of the industry over the long haul. I am interested to see how changes in the their methods of production and dealing with the parasitic sea lice will affect the nations, and others that conduct trade with Scotland. Click on Image for full article The article written by Mark Schleifstein explains how environmental groups are attempting to stop the Army Corps of Engineers to build the Bayou Bridge oil pipeline. This would eventually meets with the Dakota Access pipeline and would pose a threat to wetlands, rivers and lakes in between. The Atchafalaya Basin, one area threatened by the pipeline, is the most important ecosystem for neotropical migratory birds in the western hemisphere and is important to protect much of Louisiana and Mississippi valley from river floods. Thus this would be a danger for humans and other species. However, the corps would require developers to harm and impact the wetlands as much as practically possible.
I am unsure of the implications of not allowing the pipeline to be built or how necessary it is for the benefit of Americans, however it seems like its construction could be harmful to many species, humans included. Based on the information in this article and other news I have heard about pipelines, this might not be such a good idea. The article describes the land put at risk extremely important making this idea pretty frightening. If anything, the people protesting have a reason to be concerned. I am unsure of the final decision that should be made, and perhaps their is a way to compromise. Click on Image for Full Article This article discusses how higher income countries would reduce their environmental impact if they followed the recommendations of the their respective governments, while poorer countries would increase their's. Greenhouse gas emissions related to the production of food would decrease between 13 and 25 percent in high income countries like the United States, Germany, and Japan. The environmental costs include these emissions, land use, and eutrofication. The reason higher income countries mostly would decrease their footprint is because they would reduce the amount of meat they consume. Meanwhile, people in low income countries generally eat less calories than are recommended and therefore would increase their footprint by consuming what is recommended by their country's government.
The few vegetarian and vegan friends I have chose to change their lifestyle because they knew that livestock and production involved in producing and distributing meat were damaging for the environment. This study gave me a better understanding of just how much the effect was. I think it would be difficult for me to entirely cut out meat from my diet, but I understand better moderation would be better for both my health and the environment. This is something I am currently trying to practice and manage better. Click on Image for Full Article Glitter is know for being found everywhere for weeks if not months after it is used. This poses a greater issue than inconvenience because glitter is a microplastic like those found in some face washes. These microplastics can pollute marine environments and leech chemicals into the water. Researchers, especially in the United Kingdom, have become interested in the subject and are looking into the extent of possible consequences. This could lead to more laws in regards to the production of such products. Some are already made biodegradable.
I use glitter to show my school spirit regularly, and never once did the idea that it could harm the environment once cross my mind. Not when I washed my brushes in the sink after applying the glitter, and certainly not when I washed my face after the football game. I hope that this issue will get more attention and hopefully more manufactures of the craft product will make biodegradable options. Click on Image for Link In total, at least 54 horses were killed as of Friday due to the fires in Southern California. 25 alone of those houses were killed when eight barns at the San Luis Rey training center in Bonsall. 29 were killed by the Creek Fire at a ranch in Sylmar. The difficulty of the situation is that the horse cannot simply be let out to run for safety. The stalls are what the horses know best and where they would believe that they should return to for safety but those are what in fact put them in harms way once they were on fire. The horse thus must be taken to safety else where and secured in another corral to protect them from returning. Owners have been trying to save their horses, however many of them were unable to do some. One horse was so afraid to exit the stall that it's owner was forced to leave her there where she quickly burned to death.
These horrific stories of the horses deaths are saddening. It makes me consider the wildlife that could not escape and wonder if anyone is doing much to help them. Is there anything that can be done? When these fires happen, we immediate feel sympathy towards the other human beings that have lost their homes. However, we forget the other life that exists around us and how they are losing their homes as well. Click on Image for Full Article President Trump has announced the reduction of Bears ears National Monument, an area containing Native American sites which was set aside by the Obama Administration. The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was set aside by President Bill Clinton and will also be reduced by 45 percent. Since the announcement the Trump Administration has been sued by five Native American tribes and several other historical and outdoor groups. Some of these groups claim that the Antiquities Act gave the president the right to create national monuments, but not to reduce them. Others want s yo protect important artifacts and sacred lands.
I understand the perspective of the Native Americans. There land was taken from them repeatedly so this must feel like yet another blow. Their lands and history is limited, but it is now being taken for another person's profit. I believe people are mostly upset because they feel the Trump administrations is not considering everyone involved. There must be some sort of compromise. |