Bush2Beach Rugby Gala
Frog ID Week: Citizen Scientists Needed
The 9th of November to 18th of November, is FrogID Week - Australia's biggest frog count. The count will provide Aussie scientists with valuable information on what's happening to our frogs.
To get involved, all you need is a smartphone and a keen ear. All around Australia, people are recording frog calls (with 37,245 calls already submitted, to be precise!) This information has been useful in helping researchers track the Cane Toad and identify where frogs are thriving, and where they aren't.
When it comes to #SavingSpecies, we all have a role to play in the fight against extinction, and this is a fantastic yet simple way in which we can all help out.
To find out more and to download the app, visit: https://www.frogid.net.au/
Did you know Australia has over 240 species of frog?
Pictured: Southern Corroboree Frog (Image Credit: Steve Wilson)
The 9th of November to 18th of November, is FrogID Week - Australia's biggest frog count. The count will provide Aussie scientists with valuable information on what's happening to our frogs.
To get involved, all you need is a smartphone and a keen ear. All around Australia, people are recording frog calls (with 37,245 calls already submitted, to be precise!) This information has been useful in helping researchers track the Cane Toad and identify where frogs are thriving, and where they aren't.
When it comes to #SavingSpecies, we all have a role to play in the fight against extinction, and this is a fantastic yet simple way in which we can all help out.
To find out more and to download the app, visit: https://www.frogid.net.au/
Did you know Australia has over 240 species of frog?
Pictured: Southern Corroboree Frog (Image Credit: Steve Wilson)
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Drug Pollution Concentrates In Stream Bugs Passes To Predators In Water And On Land
November 6, 2018: Cary Institute of Ecosystem StudiesSixty-nine pharmaceutical compounds have been detected in stream insects, some at concentrations that may threaten animals that feed on them, such as trout and platypus. When these insects emerge as flying adults, they can pass drugs to spiders, birds, bats, and other streamside foragers. These findings by an international team of researchers were published today in Nature Communications.
Pharmaceutical pollution is present in surface waters globally. Drugs enter the environment because most wastewater treatment facilities are not equipped to remove them from sewage. Septic tanks, ageing pipes, and sewer overflows contribute to the problem.
Emma Rosi, an aquatic ecologist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and a coauthor on the paper, explains, "Stream life is swimming in a mixture of pharmaceuticals. Our study is the first to show that this chronic drug pollution can concentrate in aquatic insects and move up food webs, in some cases exposing top predators to therapeutically-relevant doses."
Surveying pharmaceuticals in streamsThe team sampled six streams in Melbourne, Australia for 98 pharmaceutical compounds -- the most exhaustive screening to date. Pharmaceuticals measured included common drugs like antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, and NSAIDs. Study sites were selected along a gradient of wastewater contamination that included a site downstream of a wastewater treatment plant and a site in a national park.
Aquatic insects and riparian spiders were collected. Erinn Richmond, a freshwater ecologist at Monash University in Australia and lead author on the study, explains, "We focused on riparian spiders because they build their webs over streams and feed on adult aquatic insects as they emerge from the water."
Erinn Richmond collects aquatic invertebrates to test for pharmaceuticals in Brushy Creek in Churnside Park, Victoria, Australia. Credit: Keralee Browne.
Bugs on drugsTissue analyses detected up to 69 different pharmaceutical compounds in aquatic insects and up to 66 compounds in riparian spiders. Drug concentrations were the highest in invertebrates collected downstream of wastewater treatment facilities or in heavily populated areas with potential septic tank leakage. On average, pharmaceutical concentrations at these sites were 10 to 100 times higher than less contaminated sites.
Coauthor Jerker Fick, a chemist at Umeå University in Sweden, analysed the insect and spider samples. "Insect tissues had drug concentrations that were orders of magnitude higher than concentrations measured in surface waters. We also found a diverse suite of drugs in spiders, indicating that drugs are passed from the water to prey to predator, thereby exposing other animals in the food web to drugs."
"Pharmaceuticals were present in every insect and spider we tested -- including those collected in Dandenong Ranges National Park," Richmond notes. "Even this seemingly pristine site was contaminated, likely because people live in the park's drainage area and visit the park."
Top predators are at riskIn the streams studied, platypus and brown trout also feed on aquatic insects. By pairing concentrations of pharmaceuticals found in stream insects with known dietary needs of platypus and trout, the team was able to estimate their drug exposure.
Rosi explains, "A platypus living in a creek receiving treated wastewater effluent could receive the equivalent of half of a recommended human dose of antidepressants every day -- just by eating its normal diet of stream insects. This intake is likely to have biological effects."
Starting with filter-feeding insects, pharmaceutical compounds in stream water accumulate in aquatic organisms' tissues. This means that animals that eat aquatic insects, like platypus, get a dose of pharmaceuticals with their meals. Credit: Denise Illing.
Next stepsThe caddisfly, a globally common aquatic insect, was among those tested in this study. Richmond says, "Similar insects are found in freshwaters all over the world. This isn't a problem specific to Australia; it's representative of what's likely happening wherever people take drugs. And it's likely an underestimate. We only tested for 98 pharmaceutical compounds -- there are thousands in circulation."
Rosi concludes, "Pharmaceutical use is increasing worldwide. It's clear that the drugs we take are entering freshwaters and being passed up the food web. We don't know the ecological consequences of exposure to this pollution. What does it mean to be a platypus or trout with more than 60 drugs in your tissues? Are there synergistic effects? More research is needed on the extent of food web contamination and the effects of these compounds on fish and wildlife."
Erinn K. Richmond, Emma J. Rosi, David M. Walters, Jerker Fick, Stephen K. Hamilton, Tomas Brodin, Anna Sundelin, Michael R. Grace. A diverse suite of pharmaceuticals contaminates stream and riparian food webs. Nature Communications, 2018; 9 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06822-w
November 6, 2018: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Sixty-nine pharmaceutical compounds have been detected in stream insects, some at concentrations that may threaten animals that feed on them, such as trout and platypus. When these insects emerge as flying adults, they can pass drugs to spiders, birds, bats, and other streamside foragers. These findings by an international team of researchers were published today in Nature Communications.
Pharmaceutical pollution is present in surface waters globally. Drugs enter the environment because most wastewater treatment facilities are not equipped to remove them from sewage. Septic tanks, ageing pipes, and sewer overflows contribute to the problem.
Emma Rosi, an aquatic ecologist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and a coauthor on the paper, explains, "Stream life is swimming in a mixture of pharmaceuticals. Our study is the first to show that this chronic drug pollution can concentrate in aquatic insects and move up food webs, in some cases exposing top predators to therapeutically-relevant doses."
Surveying pharmaceuticals in streams
The team sampled six streams in Melbourne, Australia for 98 pharmaceutical compounds -- the most exhaustive screening to date. Pharmaceuticals measured included common drugs like antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, and NSAIDs. Study sites were selected along a gradient of wastewater contamination that included a site downstream of a wastewater treatment plant and a site in a national park.
Aquatic insects and riparian spiders were collected. Erinn Richmond, a freshwater ecologist at Monash University in Australia and lead author on the study, explains, "We focused on riparian spiders because they build their webs over streams and feed on adult aquatic insects as they emerge from the water."
Erinn Richmond collects aquatic invertebrates to test for pharmaceuticals in Brushy Creek in Churnside Park, Victoria, Australia. Credit: Keralee Browne.
Bugs on drugs
Tissue analyses detected up to 69 different pharmaceutical compounds in aquatic insects and up to 66 compounds in riparian spiders. Drug concentrations were the highest in invertebrates collected downstream of wastewater treatment facilities or in heavily populated areas with potential septic tank leakage. On average, pharmaceutical concentrations at these sites were 10 to 100 times higher than less contaminated sites.
Coauthor Jerker Fick, a chemist at Umeå University in Sweden, analysed the insect and spider samples. "Insect tissues had drug concentrations that were orders of magnitude higher than concentrations measured in surface waters. We also found a diverse suite of drugs in spiders, indicating that drugs are passed from the water to prey to predator, thereby exposing other animals in the food web to drugs."
"Pharmaceuticals were present in every insect and spider we tested -- including those collected in Dandenong Ranges National Park," Richmond notes. "Even this seemingly pristine site was contaminated, likely because people live in the park's drainage area and visit the park."
Top predators are at risk
In the streams studied, platypus and brown trout also feed on aquatic insects. By pairing concentrations of pharmaceuticals found in stream insects with known dietary needs of platypus and trout, the team was able to estimate their drug exposure.
Rosi explains, "A platypus living in a creek receiving treated wastewater effluent could receive the equivalent of half of a recommended human dose of antidepressants every day -- just by eating its normal diet of stream insects. This intake is likely to have biological effects."
Starting with filter-feeding insects, pharmaceutical compounds in stream water accumulate in aquatic organisms' tissues. This means that animals that eat aquatic insects, like platypus, get a dose of pharmaceuticals with their meals. Credit: Denise Illing.
Next steps
The caddisfly, a globally common aquatic insect, was among those tested in this study. Richmond says, "Similar insects are found in freshwaters all over the world. This isn't a problem specific to Australia; it's representative of what's likely happening wherever people take drugs. And it's likely an underestimate. We only tested for 98 pharmaceutical compounds -- there are thousands in circulation."
Rosi concludes, "Pharmaceutical use is increasing worldwide. It's clear that the drugs we take are entering freshwaters and being passed up the food web. We don't know the ecological consequences of exposure to this pollution. What does it mean to be a platypus or trout with more than 60 drugs in your tissues? Are there synergistic effects? More research is needed on the extent of food web contamination and the effects of these compounds on fish and wildlife."
Erinn K. Richmond, Emma J. Rosi, David M. Walters, Jerker Fick, Stephen K. Hamilton, Tomas Brodin, Anna Sundelin, Michael R. Grace. A diverse suite of pharmaceuticals contaminates stream and riparian food webs. Nature Communications, 2018; 9 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06822-w
NSW DPI Helps Save Endangered Turtles
November 6, 2018: NSW DPIScientists from NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) have identified a virus which threatened to wipe out the only existing population of a critically endangered native species of freshwater turtle – the Bellinger River snapping turtle.
NSW DPI virologist, Peter Kirkland, said positive identification of the novel nidovirus could help protect these turtles.
“What we now call the Bellinger River virus was discovered following the deaths of more than 400 turtles in 2015,” Dr Kirkland said.
“It’s a great concern as the viability of the severely reduced wild turtle population is under an extreme threat.”
Working with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the Taronga Conservation Society of Australia, who conducted a field survey, collected samples and confirmed an infectious agent was present, NSW DPI was able to identify the virus.
Staff at NSW DPI’s Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute employed complex scientific procedures to isolate the virus in cell culture from a range of turtle tissues.
DNA sequencing, known as nucleic acid sequencing, was then used to identify the complete genome of the virus.
Dr Kirkland said the DNA analysis showed the Bellinger River virus was different from all other recognised nidoviruses.
“The closest related nidoviruses were recently detected in the lungs of pythons and lizards, in contrast the turtles’ kidneys were most affected,” he said.
“Once we knew we were dealing with a novel virus, NSW DPI staff quickly developed a new test, polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR), to examine additional tissue and confirm the presence of the virus.
“Electron microscopy and other tests revealed high concentrations of virus in affected tissues which indicated the virus caused the turtle deaths.”
The PCR assay is helping monitor a quarantined colony of virus-free adult turtles and their offspring at Taronga Zoo as part of a reintroduction strategy and in regular river surveys to test other species of turtles, which may also be under threat from the Bellinger River virus.
A paper detailing identification of the virus was recently published and is available online, at:
Healthy Bellinger River snapping turtles at Taronga Zoo. Image courtesy of Amy Russell
November 6, 2018: NSW DPI
Scientists from NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) have identified a virus which threatened to wipe out the only existing population of a critically endangered native species of freshwater turtle – the Bellinger River snapping turtle.
NSW DPI virologist, Peter Kirkland, said positive identification of the novel nidovirus could help protect these turtles.
“What we now call the Bellinger River virus was discovered following the deaths of more than 400 turtles in 2015,” Dr Kirkland said.
“It’s a great concern as the viability of the severely reduced wild turtle population is under an extreme threat.”
Working with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the Taronga Conservation Society of Australia, who conducted a field survey, collected samples and confirmed an infectious agent was present, NSW DPI was able to identify the virus.
Staff at NSW DPI’s Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute employed complex scientific procedures to isolate the virus in cell culture from a range of turtle tissues.
DNA sequencing, known as nucleic acid sequencing, was then used to identify the complete genome of the virus.
Dr Kirkland said the DNA analysis showed the Bellinger River virus was different from all other recognised nidoviruses.
“The closest related nidoviruses were recently detected in the lungs of pythons and lizards, in contrast the turtles’ kidneys were most affected,” he said.
“Once we knew we were dealing with a novel virus, NSW DPI staff quickly developed a new test, polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR), to examine additional tissue and confirm the presence of the virus.
“Electron microscopy and other tests revealed high concentrations of virus in affected tissues which indicated the virus caused the turtle deaths.”
The PCR assay is helping monitor a quarantined colony of virus-free adult turtles and their offspring at Taronga Zoo as part of a reintroduction strategy and in regular river surveys to test other species of turtles, which may also be under threat from the Bellinger River virus.
A paper detailing identification of the virus was recently published and is available online, at:
Healthy Bellinger River snapping turtles at Taronga Zoo. Image courtesy of Amy Russell
Baw Baw Frog Breeding Breakthrough
More Affordable And Effective Conservation Of Species
November 5, 2018: Stanford UniversityNo one had reported seeing the strange creature -- a cross between a bear and a monkey -- since before the Great Depression. Then, this past summer, an amateur biologist stumbled upon the presumed-extinct Wondiwoi tree kangaroo while trekking through Papua New Guinea. The revelation underscored how little we still know about the natural world -- a major obstacle to conservation.
A Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo, Australia. Until this past summer, no one had reported seeing its relative, the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo, since 1928. (Image credit: Erik Veland / Flickr)
A new Stanford-led study supports one approach to protecting all species in an area -- the ones we know about and the ones, like the tree kangaroo, scientists don't even know need protection. That conservation scheme focuses broadly on what are known as ecoregions. These are geographically unique regions, such as deserts and rainforests, that contain distinct communities of plants and animals.
Scientists have long debated how well ecoregion borders separate species communities. If the borders are strong, protecting an ecoregion, like a rainforest, would effectively protect all of the species within. If not, each species would need to be managed separately -- a much more uncertain undertaking, especially when we don't even know some species are there.
The new study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, provides compelling evidence that ecoregions do meaningfully divide plant and animal communities. This opens a path to new conservation approaches that more affordably and effectively protect little-known species, such as the tree kangaroo, and valuable natural services such as disease control and water filtration.
"Environmental conservation is limited by a lack of funding and other resources," said study lead author Jeffrey Smith, a Stanford graduate student in biology. "Ecoregions give us a way to effectively allocate that limited funding."
Bridging the knowledge gapRobust, scientifically based conservation depends on in-depth information about species, their habitats and their population numbers -- a level of detail absent for the overwhelming majority of species and places around the world. Looking for a way to bridge the gap, Smith, Daily and their coauthors did a deep dive into plant and animal biodiversity data from sources such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, a clearinghouse for data from citizen scientists, museums and researchers.
From that, they unearthed support for thinking about all species -- even highly mobile animals -- as being clustered together in ecoregions around the globe. These results go far beyond previous work, which primarily characterized ecoregions by plant communities alone.
"These are crucially important findings," said study coauthor Gretchen Daily, a Stanford biologist. "They illuminate where and how to invest in conservation and restoration for people and nature."
The future of Earth's life-support systems hinges on vast yet little studied regions of the planet. Establishing that ecoregions meaningfully divide different types of communities allows scientists and decision-makers to think more critically about conservation plans for these realms. This holistic approach to protecting biodiversity ensures we can better safeguard natural services, such as crop pollination and pest control, that are made possible by diverse ecosystems of plants, insects, fungi and small vertebrates.
The authors argue that ecoregions are one of many factors that should be considered when developing a cohesive conservation strategy. It's an approach already in play at some major global conservation organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy and WWF, as well as federal agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"As long as environmental conservation is limited by a lack of funding and other resources a key scientific and practical question is how to most effectively allocate limited funding to maximize conservation gains," Smith said.
Jeffrey R. Smith, Andrew D. Letten, Po-Ju Ke, Christopher B. Anderson, J. Nicholas Hendershot, Manpreet K. Dhami, Glade A. Dlott, Tess N. Grainger, Meghan E. Howard, Beth M. L. Morrison, Devin Routh, Priscilla A. San Juan, Harold A. Mooney, Erin A. Mordecai, Thomas W. Crowther, Gretchen C. Daily. A global test of ecoregions. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2018; DOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0709-x
A 1936 illustration of a Wondiwoi Tree Kangaroo. Until this past summer, no one had reported seeing the creature since 1928. Credit: Zoological Society of London
November 5, 2018: Stanford University
No one had reported seeing the strange creature -- a cross between a bear and a monkey -- since before the Great Depression. Then, this past summer, an amateur biologist stumbled upon the presumed-extinct Wondiwoi tree kangaroo while trekking through Papua New Guinea. The revelation underscored how little we still know about the natural world -- a major obstacle to conservation.
A Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo, Australia. Until this past summer, no one had reported seeing its relative, the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo, since 1928. (Image credit: Erik Veland / Flickr)
A new Stanford-led study supports one approach to protecting all species in an area -- the ones we know about and the ones, like the tree kangaroo, scientists don't even know need protection. That conservation scheme focuses broadly on what are known as ecoregions. These are geographically unique regions, such as deserts and rainforests, that contain distinct communities of plants and animals.
Scientists have long debated how well ecoregion borders separate species communities. If the borders are strong, protecting an ecoregion, like a rainforest, would effectively protect all of the species within. If not, each species would need to be managed separately -- a much more uncertain undertaking, especially when we don't even know some species are there.
The new study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, provides compelling evidence that ecoregions do meaningfully divide plant and animal communities. This opens a path to new conservation approaches that more affordably and effectively protect little-known species, such as the tree kangaroo, and valuable natural services such as disease control and water filtration.
"Environmental conservation is limited by a lack of funding and other resources," said study lead author Jeffrey Smith, a Stanford graduate student in biology. "Ecoregions give us a way to effectively allocate that limited funding."
Bridging the knowledge gap
Robust, scientifically based conservation depends on in-depth information about species, their habitats and their population numbers -- a level of detail absent for the overwhelming majority of species and places around the world. Looking for a way to bridge the gap, Smith, Daily and their coauthors did a deep dive into plant and animal biodiversity data from sources such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, a clearinghouse for data from citizen scientists, museums and researchers.
From that, they unearthed support for thinking about all species -- even highly mobile animals -- as being clustered together in ecoregions around the globe. These results go far beyond previous work, which primarily characterized ecoregions by plant communities alone.
"These are crucially important findings," said study coauthor Gretchen Daily, a Stanford biologist. "They illuminate where and how to invest in conservation and restoration for people and nature."
The future of Earth's life-support systems hinges on vast yet little studied regions of the planet. Establishing that ecoregions meaningfully divide different types of communities allows scientists and decision-makers to think more critically about conservation plans for these realms. This holistic approach to protecting biodiversity ensures we can better safeguard natural services, such as crop pollination and pest control, that are made possible by diverse ecosystems of plants, insects, fungi and small vertebrates.
The authors argue that ecoregions are one of many factors that should be considered when developing a cohesive conservation strategy. It's an approach already in play at some major global conservation organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy and WWF, as well as federal agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"As long as environmental conservation is limited by a lack of funding and other resources a key scientific and practical question is how to most effectively allocate limited funding to maximize conservation gains," Smith said.
Jeffrey R. Smith, Andrew D. Letten, Po-Ju Ke, Christopher B. Anderson, J. Nicholas Hendershot, Manpreet K. Dhami, Glade A. Dlott, Tess N. Grainger, Meghan E. Howard, Beth M. L. Morrison, Devin Routh, Priscilla A. San Juan, Harold A. Mooney, Erin A. Mordecai, Thomas W. Crowther, Gretchen C. Daily. A global test of ecoregions. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2018; DOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0709-x
A 1936 illustration of a Wondiwoi Tree Kangaroo. Until this past summer, no one had reported seeing the creature since 1928. Credit: Zoological Society of London
Winter Ticks Killing Moose At Alarming Rate
October 2018: University of New HampshireAs winter in New England seems to get warmer, fall lingers longer and spring comes into bloom earlier, areas like northern New Hampshire and western Maine are seeing an unusual continued increase in winter ticks which are endangering the moose population. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have found that the swell of infestations of this parasite, which attaches itself to moose during the fall and feeds throughout the winter, is the primary cause of an unprecedented 70 percent death rate of calves over a three-year period.
"The iconic moose is rapidly becoming the new poster child for climate change in parts of the Northeast," said Pete Pekins, professor of wildlife ecology. "Normally anything over a 50 percent death rate would concern us, but at 70 percent, we are looking at a real problem in the moose population."
In the study, published in the Canadian Journal of Zoology, researchers outline the screening of 179 radio-marked moose calves (age nine to 10 months) for physical condition and parasites in the month of January over three consecutive years from 2014 to 2016. They tracked new calves for four months each winter and found that a total of 125 calves died over the three-year period. A high infestation of winter ticks was found on each calf (an average of 47,371 per moose) causing emaciation and severe metabolic imbalance from blood loss, which was the primary cause of death.
Most adult moose survived but were still severely compromised. They were thin and anemic from losing so much blood. The ticks appear to be harming reproductive health so there is also less breeding.
The researchers say winter tick epidemics typically last one to two years. But, five of the last 10 years has shown a rare frequency of tick infestations which reflects the influence of climate change. They point out that right now these issues are mostly appearing in southern moose populations, but as climate change progresses they anticipate this issue to reach farther north.
"We're sitting on a powder keg," said Pekins. "The changing environmental conditions associated with climate change are increasing and are favourable for winter ticks, specifically later-starting winters that lengthen the autumnal questing period for ticks."
Fall is considered "questing" season for winter ticks. They climb up vegetation and look to attach to a host. Once they attach, they go through three active life stages (larvae, nymph, and adult) by taking a blood meal and feeding on the same animal. The ticks will feed and remain on one host during their subsequent moults until spring when adult females detach and drop to the ground. Their preferred hosts are moose and other mammals, including deer, elk, caribou, and occasionally horses and cattle. Winter ticks rarely bite and feed on humans.
Henry Jones, Peter J Pekins, Lee Kantar, Inga Sidor, Daniel Ellingwood, Anne Lichtenwalner, Matthew O'Neal. Mortality assessment of calf moose (Alces alces) during successive years of winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) epizootics in New Hampshire and Maine. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2018; DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2018-0140
Known as “ghost moose,” this adult moose illustrates typical hair loss associated with high loads of winter ticks. Photo credit: Dan Bergeron, N.H. Fish and Game Dept.
October 2018: University of New Hampshire
As winter in New England seems to get warmer, fall lingers longer and spring comes into bloom earlier, areas like northern New Hampshire and western Maine are seeing an unusual continued increase in winter ticks which are endangering the moose population. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have found that the swell of infestations of this parasite, which attaches itself to moose during the fall and feeds throughout the winter, is the primary cause of an unprecedented 70 percent death rate of calves over a three-year period.
"The iconic moose is rapidly becoming the new poster child for climate change in parts of the Northeast," said Pete Pekins, professor of wildlife ecology. "Normally anything over a 50 percent death rate would concern us, but at 70 percent, we are looking at a real problem in the moose population."
In the study, published in the Canadian Journal of Zoology, researchers outline the screening of 179 radio-marked moose calves (age nine to 10 months) for physical condition and parasites in the month of January over three consecutive years from 2014 to 2016. They tracked new calves for four months each winter and found that a total of 125 calves died over the three-year period. A high infestation of winter ticks was found on each calf (an average of 47,371 per moose) causing emaciation and severe metabolic imbalance from blood loss, which was the primary cause of death.
Most adult moose survived but were still severely compromised. They were thin and anemic from losing so much blood. The ticks appear to be harming reproductive health so there is also less breeding.
The researchers say winter tick epidemics typically last one to two years. But, five of the last 10 years has shown a rare frequency of tick infestations which reflects the influence of climate change. They point out that right now these issues are mostly appearing in southern moose populations, but as climate change progresses they anticipate this issue to reach farther north.
"We're sitting on a powder keg," said Pekins. "The changing environmental conditions associated with climate change are increasing and are favourable for winter ticks, specifically later-starting winters that lengthen the autumnal questing period for ticks."
Fall is considered "questing" season for winter ticks. They climb up vegetation and look to attach to a host. Once they attach, they go through three active life stages (larvae, nymph, and adult) by taking a blood meal and feeding on the same animal. The ticks will feed and remain on one host during their subsequent moults until spring when adult females detach and drop to the ground. Their preferred hosts are moose and other mammals, including deer, elk, caribou, and occasionally horses and cattle. Winter ticks rarely bite and feed on humans.
Henry Jones, Peter J Pekins, Lee Kantar, Inga Sidor, Daniel Ellingwood, Anne Lichtenwalner, Matthew O'Neal. Mortality assessment of calf moose (Alces alces) during successive years of winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) epizootics in New Hampshire and Maine. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2018; DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2018-0140
Known as “ghost moose,” this adult moose illustrates typical hair loss associated with high loads of winter ticks. Photo credit: Dan Bergeron, N.H. Fish and Game Dept.
Supervising Scientist Annual Technical Report 2017-18
November 7th, 2018: Department of the Environment and Energy, 2018.
Supervising Scientist’s Overview
2017-18 –was a busy and productive year for the Supervising Scientist Branch (SSB) with significant progress in a number of areas, and ongoing focus on the rehabilitation of the Ranger uranium mine.
Our environmental monitoring programs were successfully completed to the usual high standard and continue to show that people and the environment in the Alligator Rivers Region remain protected from the effects of uranium mining. Water quality in both Magela and Gulungul Creeks continues to improve compared to previous years, with no exceedances of the statutory water quality guidelines recorded in either creek during the reporting period. Our field monitoring team overcame some significant safety challenges associated with the increasing risk of crocodile attacks. However, in some cases this has driven advances in our monitoring techniques, such as the move from visual observation to videography methods for fish monitoring.
Our Revegetation and Landform team made significant progress in the development of leading-edge vegetation monitoring techniques using unmanned aerial vehicles. These techniques use hyperspectral cameras and laser scanners to measure a range of vegetation characteristics at a landscape-scale, capturing significantly more information than is possible with ground-based techniques. This technology will assist with the development of revegetation closure criteria, and provide the platform for monitoring to assess their achievement.
Progressive rehabilitation activities at Ranger mine continued through-out the year, including the backfill of Pit 1 and the transfer of mine tailings from the tailings storage facility to Pit 3. We worked closely with Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) and the regulatory agencies throughout the year, with a focus on tailings deposition in Pit 3. We commissioned an independent expert review of the process and are now contributing to the development of a new tailings deposition method that is expected to be implemented some time in 2018-19.
A key milestone in the rehabilitation process was the development and submission of ERA’s Ranger Mine Closure Plan. We completed an assessment of the draft Plan in July 2017 and provided feedback to ERA and other members of the Ranger Minesite Technical Committee. ERA subsequently published a revised version of the Plan on 5 June 2018, which was still under assessment at the end of the 2017-18 reporting period.
To support our assessment of the Ranger Mine Closure Plan, we are developing a series of Rehabilitation Standards that quantify the rehabilitation objectives for Ranger mine. These Standards are non-binding, but will form the basis of the Supervising Scientist’s advice on the closure criteria proposed by ERA and in time, on the success of rehabilitation. It is planned that the standards will be published at the same time as the Supervising Scientist’s Ranger Mine Closure Plan Assessment Report in the second half of 2018.
Reflecting our continued focus on mine rehabilitation, the membership of the Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee (ARRTC) was reviewed to better align the Committee with rehabilitation-related requirements. We were fortunate to appoint a number of new members renowned for their expertise in each of their relative disciplines.
The SSB and ERA research programs are guided by a set of Key Knowledge Needs (KKNs) that are based upon a comprehensive risk assessment process. The KKNs were reviewed and consolidated during 2017-18, and projects aiming to address each of them have been scoped and scheduled. As the required research is completed and endorsed by ARRTC, the KKNs will be progressively closed-out.
To enhance the research and technical assessment capability within our Branch, we have established a network external collaborators. Long-term agreements have been put in place to help ensure that key research and assessment outcomes are delivered within required timeframes. This includes the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation at the University of Queensland, the CSIRO and Charles Darwin University who is undertaking three Ranger-related projects through the National Environmental Science Program.
The peer review and external communication of our work remains a priority for the Branch. A number of staff presented at national and international forums and conferences throughout the year, with some staff contributing to the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by attending expert missions. Additionally, we participated in a number events hosted by the IAEA and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, met with officials from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the International Council on Monuments and Sites and conducted technical exchange meetings in Germany with Wismut GmbH which is undertaking the world’s largest uranium rehabilitation project. Locally, we once again hosted a stall at the Mahbilil Festival in Jabiru and continue to connect with local Aboriginal people through the staff at our Jabiru Field Station and ongoing engagement with the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation and the Northern Land Council.
Finally, I would like to thank all of the staff of SSB for their professionalism, dedication and hard work during 2017-18. Our achievements over the last year are a credit to all of them.
Keith TaylerSupervising Scientist
Available to download at Supervising Scientist Annual Technical Report 2017-18
November 7th, 2018: Department of the Environment and Energy, 2018.
Supervising Scientist’s Overview
2017-18 –was a busy and productive year for the Supervising Scientist Branch (SSB) with significant progress in a number of areas, and ongoing focus on the rehabilitation of the Ranger uranium mine.Our environmental monitoring programs were successfully completed to the usual high standard and continue to show that people and the environment in the Alligator Rivers Region remain protected from the effects of uranium mining. Water quality in both Magela and Gulungul Creeks continues to improve compared to previous years, with no exceedances of the statutory water quality guidelines recorded in either creek during the reporting period. Our field monitoring team overcame some significant safety challenges associated with the increasing risk of crocodile attacks. However, in some cases this has driven advances in our monitoring techniques, such as the move from visual observation to videography methods for fish monitoring.
Our Revegetation and Landform team made significant progress in the development of leading-edge vegetation monitoring techniques using unmanned aerial vehicles. These techniques use hyperspectral cameras and laser scanners to measure a range of vegetation characteristics at a landscape-scale, capturing significantly more information than is possible with ground-based techniques. This technology will assist with the development of revegetation closure criteria, and provide the platform for monitoring to assess their achievement.
Progressive rehabilitation activities at Ranger mine continued through-out the year, including the backfill of Pit 1 and the transfer of mine tailings from the tailings storage facility to Pit 3. We worked closely with Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) and the regulatory agencies throughout the year, with a focus on tailings deposition in Pit 3. We commissioned an independent expert review of the process and are now contributing to the development of a new tailings deposition method that is expected to be implemented some time in 2018-19.
A key milestone in the rehabilitation process was the development and submission of ERA’s Ranger Mine Closure Plan. We completed an assessment of the draft Plan in July 2017 and provided feedback to ERA and other members of the Ranger Minesite Technical Committee. ERA subsequently published a revised version of the Plan on 5 June 2018, which was still under assessment at the end of the 2017-18 reporting period.
To support our assessment of the Ranger Mine Closure Plan, we are developing a series of Rehabilitation Standards that quantify the rehabilitation objectives for Ranger mine. These Standards are non-binding, but will form the basis of the Supervising Scientist’s advice on the closure criteria proposed by ERA and in time, on the success of rehabilitation. It is planned that the standards will be published at the same time as the Supervising Scientist’s Ranger Mine Closure Plan Assessment Report in the second half of 2018.
Reflecting our continued focus on mine rehabilitation, the membership of the Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee (ARRTC) was reviewed to better align the Committee with rehabilitation-related requirements. We were fortunate to appoint a number of new members renowned for their expertise in each of their relative disciplines.
The SSB and ERA research programs are guided by a set of Key Knowledge Needs (KKNs) that are based upon a comprehensive risk assessment process. The KKNs were reviewed and consolidated during 2017-18, and projects aiming to address each of them have been scoped and scheduled. As the required research is completed and endorsed by ARRTC, the KKNs will be progressively closed-out.
To enhance the research and technical assessment capability within our Branch, we have established a network external collaborators. Long-term agreements have been put in place to help ensure that key research and assessment outcomes are delivered within required timeframes. This includes the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation at the University of Queensland, the CSIRO and Charles Darwin University who is undertaking three Ranger-related projects through the National Environmental Science Program.
The peer review and external communication of our work remains a priority for the Branch. A number of staff presented at national and international forums and conferences throughout the year, with some staff contributing to the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by attending expert missions. Additionally, we participated in a number events hosted by the IAEA and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, met with officials from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the International Council on Monuments and Sites and conducted technical exchange meetings in Germany with Wismut GmbH which is undertaking the world’s largest uranium rehabilitation project. Locally, we once again hosted a stall at the Mahbilil Festival in Jabiru and continue to connect with local Aboriginal people through the staff at our Jabiru Field Station and ongoing engagement with the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation and the Northern Land Council.
Finally, I would like to thank all of the staff of SSB for their professionalism, dedication and hard work during 2017-18. Our achievements over the last year are a credit to all of them.
Keith Tayler
Supervising Scientist
Available to download at Supervising Scientist Annual Technical Report 2017-18
First Study Of Humpback Whale Survivors Of Killer Whale Attacks In The Southeastern Pacific
November 6, 2018: Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteHumpback whales bear stark battle scars from violent encounters with orcas, also known as killer whales. Analysis of rake marks on more than 3000 humpback whale tails or flukes suggest that attacks on these undersea giants may be on the rise, according to a new study in Endangered Species Research.
“We set out to discover where, when and at what age humpback whales in the Southeastern Pacific are attacked by orcas,” said Hector M. Guzman, marine ecologist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Orcas, Orcinus orca, like humans, are apex predators. Although they can feed on more than 20 different species of cetaceans, they usually prefer sea lions, fur seals, fish and sea birds.
“Because the chances of observing rake marks on young, vulnerable whales increased in the last 20 years, we think that killer whale attacks on humpback whales may be more common now than they were in the past, perhaps due to the recovery of whale breeding stocks in the Southeast Pacific after hunting was prohibited,” said Juan Capella, lead author and marine biologist from Whalesound Ltd. in Chile.
This extraordinary international team studied photos of whales at shallow, warm-water breeding grounds in Panama’s Las Perlas Archipelago, Gorgona Island and Malaga Bay in Colombia and Salinas and Machalilla in Ecuador and at cold water feeding grounds in Chile’s Magellan Strait and the Gerlache Strait off the western Antarctic Peninsula. They found that 11.5 percent of adult whales and 19.5 percent of calves carried battle scars, numbers similar to those reported from the North Pacific, the North Atlantic, eastern Australia, Tonga and New Caledonia.
“The number of scars borne by an individual whale didn’t seem to change from year to year, suggesting that orcas primarily attack calves during their first migration,” said Fernando Felix, marine biologist from the Pontifica Universidad Catolica and the Whale Museum (Museo de Ballenas) in Ecuador. They carry their scars for the rest of their lives.”
Because young whales at feeding grounds had more scars than young whales at breeding grounds, researchers suspect that orcas prefer to attack young whales. Scarred female whales who were attacked by orcas as calves arrived at Magellan feeding areas with a higher number of calves than non-scarred females, suggesting that maybe they were better at evading orcas and defending their young from attack because they had survived an attack in the past.
“We want to underscore the importance of transnational studies to better our understanding of marine environments and their inhabitants as we recommend policies that work both for the health of the ocean and for the beneficiaries of its wealth,” Guzmán said.
Author affiliations also include: Fundación Yubarta, Colombia, and Instituto de la Patagonia, Chile.
JJ Capella, F Félix, L Flórez-González, J Gibbons, B Haase, HM Guzman. Geographic and temporal patterns of non-lethal attacks on humpback whales by killer whales in the eastern South Pacific and the Antarctic Peninsula. Endangered Species Research, 2018; 37: 207 DOI: 10.3354/esr00924
Humpback whales travel to shallow tropical waters to give birth and then return to their feeding grounds in cooler ocean waters. Researchers think that most orca attacks on humpback whales involve calves in their first year of life. Credit: Eduardo Estrada
November 6, 2018: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Humpback whales bear stark battle scars from violent encounters with orcas, also known as killer whales. Analysis of rake marks on more than 3000 humpback whale tails or flukes suggest that attacks on these undersea giants may be on the rise, according to a new study in Endangered Species Research.
“We set out to discover where, when and at what age humpback whales in the Southeastern Pacific are attacked by orcas,” said Hector M. Guzman, marine ecologist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Orcas, Orcinus orca, like humans, are apex predators. Although they can feed on more than 20 different species of cetaceans, they usually prefer sea lions, fur seals, fish and sea birds.
“Because the chances of observing rake marks on young, vulnerable whales increased in the last 20 years, we think that killer whale attacks on humpback whales may be more common now than they were in the past, perhaps due to the recovery of whale breeding stocks in the Southeast Pacific after hunting was prohibited,” said Juan Capella, lead author and marine biologist from Whalesound Ltd. in Chile.
This extraordinary international team studied photos of whales at shallow, warm-water breeding grounds in Panama’s Las Perlas Archipelago, Gorgona Island and Malaga Bay in Colombia and Salinas and Machalilla in Ecuador and at cold water feeding grounds in Chile’s Magellan Strait and the Gerlache Strait off the western Antarctic Peninsula. They found that 11.5 percent of adult whales and 19.5 percent of calves carried battle scars, numbers similar to those reported from the North Pacific, the North Atlantic, eastern Australia, Tonga and New Caledonia.
“The number of scars borne by an individual whale didn’t seem to change from year to year, suggesting that orcas primarily attack calves during their first migration,” said Fernando Felix, marine biologist from the Pontifica Universidad Catolica and the Whale Museum (Museo de Ballenas) in Ecuador. They carry their scars for the rest of their lives.”
Because young whales at feeding grounds had more scars than young whales at breeding grounds, researchers suspect that orcas prefer to attack young whales. Scarred female whales who were attacked by orcas as calves arrived at Magellan feeding areas with a higher number of calves than non-scarred females, suggesting that maybe they were better at evading orcas and defending their young from attack because they had survived an attack in the past.
“We want to underscore the importance of transnational studies to better our understanding of marine environments and their inhabitants as we recommend policies that work both for the health of the ocean and for the beneficiaries of its wealth,” Guzmán said.
Author affiliations also include: Fundación Yubarta, Colombia, and Instituto de la Patagonia, Chile.
JJ Capella, F Félix, L Flórez-González, J Gibbons, B Haase, HM Guzman. Geographic and temporal patterns of non-lethal attacks on humpback whales by killer whales in the eastern South Pacific and the Antarctic Peninsula. Endangered Species Research, 2018; 37: 207 DOI: 10.3354/esr00924
Humpback whales travel to shallow tropical waters to give birth and then return to their feeding grounds in cooler ocean waters. Researchers think that most orca attacks on humpback whales involve calves in their first year of life. Credit: Eduardo Estrada
Air Pollution Linked To Autism
November 5, 2018: Monash University
The study of children in Shanghai, from birth to three years, found that exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) from vehicle exhausts, industrial emissions and other sources of outdoor pollution increased the risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by up to 78%. The study included 124 ASD children and 1240 healthy children (as control) in stages over a nine-year period, examining the association between air pollution and ASD.
The study, published today in Environment International, is first to examine the effects of long-term exposure of air pollution on ASD during the early life of children in a developing country, adding to previous studies that have already linked prenatal air pollution exposure to ASD in children.
"The causes of autism are complex and not fully understood, but environmental factors are increasingly recognised in addition to genetic and other factors," Associate Professor Guo said.
"The developing brains of young children are more vulnerable to toxic exposures in the environment and several studies have suggested this could impact brain function and the immune system. These effects could explain the strong link we found between exposure to air pollutants and ASD, but further research is needed to explore the associations between air pollution and mental health more broadly."
Air pollution is a major public concern and is estimated to cause up to 4.2 million deaths (WHO) every year globally. Outdoor pollutants contribute to a high burden of disease and pre-mature deaths in countries including China and India, especially in densely populated areas.
Even in Australia where concentrations are typically lower, air pollution from burning fossil fuels and industrial processes causes about 3,000 premature deaths a year -- almost three times the national road toll and costing the economy up to $24 billion.
Associate Professor Yuming Guo, from Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, says global air pollution is rapidly becoming worse and there is no safe level of exposure.
"The serious health effects of air pollution are well-documented, suggesting there is no safe level of exposure. Even exposure to very small amounts of fine particulate matter have been linked to preterm births, delayed learning, and a range of serious health conditions, including heart disease."
The study examined the health effects of three types of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) -- fine airborne particles that are the byproducts of emissions from factories, vehicular pollution, construction activities and road dust. The smaller the airborne particles, the more capable they are of penetrating the lungs and entering the bloodstream causing a range of serious health conditions.
PM1 is the smallest in particle size but few studies have been done on PM1 globally and agencies are yet to set safety standards for it.
"Despite the fact that smaller particles are more harmful, there is no global standard or policy for PM1 air pollution."
"Given that PM1 accounts for about 80% of PM2.5 pollution in China alone, further studies on its health effects and toxicology are needed to inform policy makers to develop standards for the control of PM1 air pollution in the future."
Zhiling Guo, Heidi Qunhui Xie, Peng Zhang, Yali Luo, Tuan Xu, Yiyun Liu, Hualing Fu, Li Xu, Eugenia Valsami-Jones, Patricia Boksa, Bin Zhao. Dioxins as potential risk factors for autism spectrum disorder. Environment International, 2018; 121: 906 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.10.028