31 October 2009

Carl Safina on science and morality



Simply noticing and recording the disturbing trends of a degraded world is a virtue of science and all those practicing it. The process reveals a lot of information about the world around us. But information alone is not enough to mobilize action on the scale required to make that world a healthier and more desirable place for our children. A set of political relationships with this, that, or the other political party is not enough. Nor are relationships in the marketplace. Nor a broad appeal to beauty. In this video clip, the writer Carl Safina speaks about the kind of relationship he believes is required.

From:
http://www.beholdtheearth.com/blog/1104/carl-safina-matters-of-morality/

30 October 2009

Whale watching impact on humpback whales

Weinrich M., Corbelli C. 2009. Does whale watching in Southern New England impact humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf production or calf survival? Biological Conservation 142: 2931–2940.

ABSTRACT
There is growing concern about the effects of wildlife tourism on biologically important parameters in target species and/or populations. We tested whether whale watch vessel exposure affected either the calving rates or calf survival to age 2 in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on their feeding grounds off of southern New England, where individually identified whales have been studied intensively for decades and whale watch pressure is intense. Whale watch exposure did not correlate with either the calving rate (# of calves/# of years sighted) or calf production and survival of individual females, although a breakpoint analysis showed a slight negative trend up to 1649 min (or 20 boat interactions). In some comparisons, whales with more exposure were significantly more likely to produce calves and to have those calves survive. Logistic regressions including exposure and prey variables also failed to show negative effects of exposure in predicting calf productivity or survival. A limited comparison of calves seen only in an alternate habitat without whale watching showed similar return rates to those in the exposed area. Our data include limited suggestions that some animals (i.e., females alive when whale watching started) might be more susceptible to impacts than others. However, we found no direct evidence for negative effects of whale watch exposure, and suggest that short-term disturbance may not necessarily be indicative of more meaningful detrimental effects on either individuals or populations.

29 October 2009

Video of the Month: November 2009


The Last Ocean

The Ross Sea – A Personal Journey

Follow John into the last pristine marine ecosystem in the world, the Ross Sea, Antarctica. A stunning emotional presentation.

http://www.pewmarinefellows.org/fellows/JWeller/presentation/index.html

2009

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28 October 2009

Illegal driftnetting still a plague in the Mediterranean Sea


OCEANA recently presented a comprehensive and convincing proof on the continued use of illegal driftnets in the Mediterranean and demanded their complete elimination.

Oceana documented 92 Italian vessels in 2008 with driftnets on board, of which 80% had already been identified in previous years.

The European Court of Justice is expected to sentence Italy for the continued use of this illegal fishing gear.

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Download the Oceana report on swordfish and driftnets in the Mediterranean (13.1 Mb)

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Action brought on 10 June 2008 — Commission of the European Communities vs Italian Republic

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Photo credit: Oceana / Juan Cuetos

26 October 2009

Humpback whales fighting


For the first time, a BBC natural history crew has filmed male humpback whales fighting to get mating access to a female.

Watch the video at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk

25 October 2009

Giorgio


Cinque anni fa, il 25 ottobre 2004, ci ha lasciati Giorgio Barbaccia, Comandante di Gemini e amico di Tethys.

Lo ricordiamo sempre con grande affetto.

http://www.tethys.org/giorgio.htm

24 October 2009

Appello LAV contro la mattanza dei delfini a Taiji


La Lega Anti Vivisezione (LAV) ha rivolto un appello all’ambasciatore del Giappone in Italia - Hiroyasu Ando - per fermare le uccisioni di delfini che avvengono annualmente a Taiji, cittadina a sud-ovest di Tokyo. All’ambasciatore giapponese è stato inoltre chiesto di farsi portavoce presso il suo governo di quanto la popolazione italiana sia profondamente contraria a questa inutile strage.

"Riteniamo che la popolazione giapponese, se correttamente informata, disdegni assolutamente di nutrirsi di tali animali e, pertanto, non vi sia alcun motivo plausibile per continuare a permettere questo scempio" dichiara Nadia Masutti, responsabile LAV Animali Esotici, Circhi e Zoo.

La crudeltà di questa caccia è stata recentemente documentata dal film "The Cove", nel quale vengono mostrate immagini della cattura dei delfini e i metodi atroci utilizzati per ucciderli.

SB

Photo from: http://www.saltwatercollective.com/

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Per ulteriori informazioni:
http://www.ansa.it/

22 October 2009

Ionian Dolphin Project: updated report 1991-2009


The Ionian Dolphin Project, a long-term research and conservation programme conducted by Tethys in the eastern Ionian Sea, has recently completed a report of the activities done in its three study areas in Greece: Gulf of Amvrakikos, Gulf of Corinth and Inner Ionian Sea Archipelago.

The online version of the report can be viewed at the link below:

http://www.tethys.org/projects/IDP/

(also see links on the Menu)

Enjoy!

SB

18 October 2009

More than at risk


A new paper from the University of Adelaide and the Macquarie University, Australia, suggests that conservation biologists are making a big mistake.

They are setting too low the minimum number of individuals considered needed for a species to survive in the long term. This would underestimates the risk of extinction by not fully allowing for the dangers posed by the loss of genetic diversity.

The authors point out that, often, conservation biologists "aim to maintain tens or hundreds of individuals, when thousands are actually needed".

The article found that "populations smaller than about 5000 had unacceptably high extinction rates". According to the authors, this suggests that many targets for conservation recovery are simply too small to do much good in the long run.

SB

Image from: http://susty.com/iucn-red-list-threatened-endangered-species/

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Traill L.W., Brook B.W., Frankham R.R., Bradshaw C.J.A. 2009. Pragmatic population viability targets in a rapidly changing world. Biological Conservation. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.09.001

Abstract: To ensure both long-term persistence and evolutionary potential, the required number of individuals in a population often greatly exceeds the targets proposed by conservation management. We critically review minimum population size requirements for species based on empirical and theoretical estimates made over the past few decades. This literature collectively shows that thousands (not hundreds) of individuals are required for a population to have an acceptable probability of riding-out environmental fluctuation and catastrophic events, and ensuring the continuation of evolutionary processes. The evidence is clear, yet conservation policy does not appear to reflect these findings, with pragmatic concerns on feasibility over-riding biological risk assessment. As such, we argue that conservation biology faces a dilemma akin to those working on the physical basis of climate change, where scientific recommendations on carbon emission reductions are compromised by policy makers. There is no obvious resolution other than a more explicit acceptance of the trade-offs implied when population viability requirements are ignored. We recommend that conservation planners include demographic and genetic thresholds in their assessments, and recognise implicit triage where these are not met.

For more information:
http://www.newscientist.com
http://www.sciencedaily.com

17 October 2009

4° edizione del Premio di Laurea "Rossana Majorca"


Si è tenuta venerdì 16 a Milano, presso la sala Wittman dell'Acquario Civico, la cerimonia per la 4° edizione del Premio di Laurea "Rossana Majorca". L'iniziativa è rivolta a giovani neolaureate e prevede la premiazione della migliore tesi di laurea attinente a temi sull'ecosistema marino o di ricerca ecologica nell'ambiente marino.

Il Premio, stato istituito nel 2005 a seguito della scomparsa di Rossana Majorca, recordista mondiale nell'immersione sportiva in apnea, nonché figlia del grande Enzo, permette alla vincitrice di poter partecipare ad un campi di ricerca dell'Istituto Tethys.

La vincitrice della 4° edizione del Premio è la Dott.ssa Zelia Zaccaro, laureata in Biologia Marina presso l'Università di Pisa con una tesi dal titolo: "Struttura genetica e microevoluzione di popolazioni di razza chiodata (Raja clavata, Linneo 1758)".

Zelia ha scelto di partecipare a un campo Tethys nel Santuaro Pelagos. Durante la sua crociera, che si è svolta nell'agosto del 2009, sono stati effettuati 22 avvistamenti di stenella striata, quattro di capodoglio e uno di zifio.

Alla cerimonia per l'Istituto Tethys era presente Elisa Remonato che ha illustrato al pubblico le attività di ricerca sui cetacei del Santuario.

Enzo Majorca ha consegnato alla prima e alla seconda classificata la targa ricordo e alcuni articoli sportivi offerti dagli sponsor dell'iniziativa. Majorca ha infine dato appuntamento a tutti per l'anno prossimo con la 5° edizione del Premio in ricordo della figlia Rossana.

Mauro Colla

13 October 2009

Become Cheat Neutral :-)


A smart, brilliant, fun criticsm of carbon offsetting. Worth viewing!

http://www.cheatneutral.com/

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For more information read Jennifer Jacquet's The Guilty Language of Offsets

12 October 2009

How many planets do I need?


A simple game to calculate our ecological footprint and carbon emissions. In other words, a way of finding out out how heavy is our lifestyle impact on the planet.

http://calculator.bioregional.com/

http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/

Personally, I thought that I was doing quite well, but it turns out that my living standards would require about 2.2 planets... obviously there is much more that I can and should do!

Try this game, and see if you can further reduce your impact on the environment.

SB

11 October 2009

18th century log books help scientists chart climate change


Weather logs kept by Captain James Cook and other 18th and 19th century explorers are being used by scientists to predict the change in climate.

Read more at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

10 October 2009

Dolphins of Greece, 1-9 October


I loved this experience! Joan and Zsuzsanna were awesome. They were patient and increased my understanding of dolphins and the impact of overfishing. At the end of the project I had a much better understanding of how field research in marine biology is done. I now feel I can make better consumer choices on which fish to buy that are not a burden on the environment. I can also educate my friends and family on what I learned at the Dolphins of Greece expedition about overfishing, so they too can make wiser consumer choices. Overall this trip was very informative but most of all a lot of fun. I had a great time with the other volunteers on the boat, cooking, cropping and matching dolphin photos. I leave with great memories!

Maribeth, USA

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Images of Vonitsa

Bright sun,
calm, glassy seas,

a juvenile leaps!
Then, rides the bow... Wow!


Learn to shout out
“dolphin out at 2 o’clock at 50 meters”
when all you can blurt,

“my god, that’s a dolphin...right there”


The castle lit at night,

laughter at the table,

constant teasing,

a lucky dog named Poseidon.

Mary Beth, my friend
,
Irina, a new friend.
Susanna, so pretty,
so sweet,
but, what a taskmaster!
Joan, a flirt with his wink,
passionate, stern and authoritative
(well, he tries).

Suzanne, USA

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This is my third attempt to write in this diary... now I know why I never owned one! A Greek saying comes to mind “Ta polla logia ine ftohia...” meaning that saying to much defeats the purpose... or something like that! So... from the bottom of my heart I want to thank all of you, Joan, Susie, Suzanne, Maribeth and of course Posi and the dolphins for making this week one that i will cherish for the rest of my life! Learned a lot, laughed a lot, looked a lot, bounced a lot, guessed a lot (+/-100 meters!) and of course ate A LOT! Loved it all! Thank you guys.

Irina, Greece

09 October 2009

Bird cam films interaction between albatrosses and killer whales


Tiny cameras attached to the backs of four Antarctic albatrosses have revealed a clever feeding strategy: instead of randomly scanning the open ocean for prey, some birds appear to fly alongside killer whales and scavenge for scraps left by the mammalian predators.

Read more at:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/10/albatrosswhale/

08 October 2009

Whale mating



Isabella Rossellini explores the mating habits of whales :-)

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Source:
http://www.sundancechannel.com/thegreen/

07 October 2009

New hope for monk seals at Cabo Blanco


CBD-Habitat documented a monk seal birth in the Mediterranean colony located in the Cabo Blanco peninsula (Morocco/Mauritania), as reported yesterday to the MARMAM list.

On September 22nd, a newborn pup was observed in an open beach. There are no records of such an event in decades, in which seals were persecuted leading them to abandon open beaches and use exclusively marine caves to haul out and breed.

Acording to CBD-Habitat, one of the main set of actions of the Action Plan for the recovery of Mediterranean monk seal in the Eastern Atlantic developed by the governments of Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Mauritania was to “promote the occupation of beaches as breeding and resting habitat”.

During the last 9 years, and under these guidelines established by the Action Plan, the protection of breeding caves and vicinities by CBD-Habitat project has been intense reducing to a minimum disturbances caused by goose barnacle pickers, fishermen as well as the threat of illegal setting of artisan fishing gears in the area.

After years of continuous efforts, monk seals have began to progressively re-colonize open beaches of the protected area for hauling out. The final step, the use of open beaches as breeding habitat is the event that took place in September, perhaps the beginning of a new conservation path for this colony.

The pup is a female and is in good shape condition. The birth took place in a beach located a few hundreds of meters south of one of the main breeding caves.

This fact joins the progressive recovery of the population, which in 1998 was estimated to have a size of around 100 individuals and that today is almost reaching 200. Although the situation is still critical, these last events bring hope for the future of this population and the species.

Source:
Message sent to the MARMAM list by Pablo Fernandez de Larrinoa
Programa de conservación de la foca monje en Cabo Blanco
Fundación CBD-Habitat, Madrid, Spain

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Photo by CBD-Habitat

06 October 2009

05 October 2009

Book of the Month: October 2009


Guns, Germs and Steel: the fates of human societies

by Jared M. Diamond

1999

W.W. Norton & Co.

Jared Diamond convincingly argues that geographical and environmental factors shaped the modern world. Societies that had had a head start in food production advanced beyond the hunter-gatherer stage, and then developed religion --as well as nasty germs and potent weapons of war --and adventured on sea and land to conquer and decimate preliterate cultures. A major advance in our understanding of human societies, Guns, Germs, and Steel chronicles the way that the modern world came to be and stunningly dismantles racially based theories of human history. (Adapted from Google Books)

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View complete list of Tethys Books of the Month

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04 October 2009

Whale and dolphin field courses 2009: 318 participants from 27 countries


Since 1990 Tethys has been organising whale and dolphin field courses dedicated to those who are willing to contribute to research and conservation campaigns. These courses represent a unique opportunity of observing marine mammals in their natural environment and discover the fascinating world of cetacean research. Participants of all nationalities are involved in activities conducted in the field including whale and dolphin sightings, data collection at sea with advanced methodologies and informal lectures by the Tethys staff.

In 2009, a total of 318 volunteers participated in field work and research activities by Tethys in Italy and Greece.

Volunteers came from 27 different countries:

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canada
China
Denmark
Estonia
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Lithuania
Monaco
New Zealand
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
The Netherlands
Russia
UK
USA.

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For more information:
http://www.tethys.org/tri_courses/courses_index_e.htm

03 October 2009

Innovation


Innovation comes from saying no to 1000 things to make sure we don't get on the wrong track or try to do too much.

-- Steve Jobs

02 October 2009

Gulf of Corinth: the 2009 research season ends


The Ionian Dolphin Project in the Gulf of Corinth has recently concluded its first research season, with a total of 58 dolphin sightings.

We are happy about the work done in 2009, and we would like to thank all the 66 volunteers who participated in the Delphi’s Dolphins field courses and helped us with the research.

Participants in our dolphin research programme came from 18 different countries: Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Russia, UK, and USA.

A big THANK YOU to our volunteers:
Gunda, William, Ramona, Dagmar, Hermann, Clara, Tony, Peter, Jacqueline, Luke, Aimee, Dipti, Agnes, Julia, Eddie, Hilary, Juliette, Zuzana, Emilie, Rebecca, Emilie, Neysa, Emma, Susan, Elektra, Cate, Katherine, Sara, Heather, Catherine, Delphine, Ana, Julja, Jenny, Rebecca, Russell, Hannah, Amie, Kelly, Petra, Felicity, Christian, Roberta, Nadine, Jacqueline, Julia, Grace, Odile, Alice, Gaelle, Catherine, Yvette, Anthony, Elisabetta, Paul, Helen, Jade, Dora, Orsolya, Victoria, Levanna, Ellie, Alyssa, Tracy, Joanne, and Esther (*).

The IDP staff 2009:
Silvia, Stefano,
Joan, Susie, Aina, Tilen, Giovanni

(*): in order of participation

01 October 2009

Video of the Month: October 2009

The Age of Stupid

The Age of Stupid is the new movie from Director Franny Armstrong and producer John Battsek. Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated future world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

http://www.ageofstupid.net/


2009

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