Wildlife Conservation Society study uncovers a predictable sequence toward coral reef collapse

Coral reefs that have lots of corals and appear healthy may, in fact, be heading toward collapse, according to a study published by the Wildlife Conservation Society. Using data from coral reef systems across the western Indian Ocean, an international team of researchers identified how overfishing creates a series of at least eight big changes on reefs that precipitate a final collapse. The study shows that in well-protected areas, there are typically 1000-1500 kilograms of reef fish of various species. As the volume is fished down below 1000 kilograms, the early warning signslike increased seaweed growth and urchin activitybegin to appear. The authors recommend measuring the biomass of fish instead of coral cover to identify the early warning rather than the final sign of reef collapse. To me this was pretty wierd because i thought that animal populations when down when enviornments were destroyed but her we have an example that shows that if animal pupulation goes down than the enviornment suffers too.

Interior's Wild Horse Chief Strongly Denies Claims of 'Extinction' Management

The Interior Department's wild horse and burro chief assured critics that her agency is not selling horses for slaughter and that the agency is not contributing to the extinction of this two animals. Joan Guilfoyle, division chief for the Bureau of Land Management's wild horse and burro program, said a mix of fertility control and herd gathers is critical to maintaining a healthy balance on the range, but that extinction is not the agency foult. The owner of the agency also said that that BLM sells horses only to those who have pledged to treat them humanely and not sell them for slaughter. "As a matter of fact, BLM prosecutes people who do that," said Guilfoyle. As she talked, the crowed shouted "Lies" and "We don't believe you." A pair of Utah men were indicted by a federal grand jury for an alleged scheme that investigators said involved the planned sale of wild horses to Mexico for slaughter. I think that if this is realy happening the government should take action against this unlawful things because they are literaly killing all the wild horses and burros in America.

Fish cought using a tool

The first video of tool use by a fish has been published in the journal Coral Reefs by Giacomo Bernardi, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. An orange-dotted tuskfish digs a clam out of the sand, carries it over to a rock, and repeatedly throws the clam against the rock to crush it. Bernardi shot the video in Palau in 2009.  Bernardi said. “It requires a lot of forward thinking, because there are a number of steps involved. For a fish, it’s a pretty big deal.” The actions recorded in the video are remarkably similar to previous reports of tool use by fish. Every case has involved a species of wrasse using a rock  to crush shellfish. A report published in June in Coral Reefs included photos of this behavior in a blackspot tuskfish on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Bernardi said he first heard of the phenomenon in 1994, when a colleague observed a yellowhead wrasse in Florida doing the same thing. Similar behavior was also reported in a sixbar wrasse in an aquarium. Does  this mean that fish are getting smarter, to me it does. For an animal to have that type of skills they have to be smart.

Online gamers succeed were scientists fail

Online gamers have solved the structure of a retrovirus enzyme whose configuration had made scientists cry because they could not figure it out. The players were addicted  to a computer game, Foldit, that allows players to collaborate and compete in predicting the structure of protein molecules. After scientists repeatedly failed to piece together the structure of a protein-cutting enzyme from an AIDS-like virus, they called in the Foldit players. The scientists challenged the gamers to produce an accurate model of the enzyme, and guess what they did find it. Something that is incredible because scientists could not do it and people that play video games did. With this knew findings scientists will have a better chance to fight against AIDS which will have a dramatic impact on all of the world. Especially Africa were a good cure is much needed. Who would of thought that video gamers could have such a big impact on a scientific dilemma.

Hydrogen fuel from just bacteria and water

Hydrogen, a potential clean energy source, can be sustainably generated using just seawater, river water and bacteria, according to new research. Hydrogen is a potentially valuable energy source, however environmental concerns about using fossil fuels to produce the gas, and about production costs, have limited its application so far.Previous studies have shown that hydrogen gas can be produced by harnessing the by-products of microbial organic matter metabolism in a device called a microbial electrolysis cell. But the process requires an additional input of electricity to make it work effectively. According to reaserch hydrogen can be produced in a single device by integrating a water-based power supply into the system. With this knew findings we can change the way the world is affected by the use of gasoline. I think that if this study shows more good things than in the future we might as well use water and bacteria to move around.

Ancient impact killed birds too

 According to recent studies scientists concluded  that prehistoric birds went extinct the same way dinosaurs did, U.S. researchers say, that birds were also victims of the same meteorite impact 65 million years ago. Their has been many debates between scientists about the controversy whether archaic birds, died out slowly over time or were killed off by the giant impact in the Gulf of Mexico. Researchers from Yale University say fossil evidence shows the birds were going strong right up until the time of the impact, and then mostly disappeared. Researchers examined a large collection of bird fossils discovered in North America representing a wide range of the species that existed during the Cretaceous period. The fossils of those birds are not found in later times. To me i think that the scientists should keep on looking for more data because they might find a fossil of the archaic birds in a longer time than the ones they found.

Judge Backs Deal on Imperiled Species

A federal judge on Friday approved a pair of sweeping settlements that require the government to consider endangered protections for more than 800 animal and plant species. The order by U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan means the government must act on imperiled species ranging from the northern wolverine and Pacific walrus to dozens of snails, mollusks, butterflies and plants. Some decisions could come by the end of the year and others by 2018.  The agreement between the Obama administration and environmental groups resolves more than a dozen lawsuits that challenged the government's handling of roughly 250 candidate species. Those are animals and plants that scientists say are in dire need of protection but that the government has lacked resources to address. The agreements also cover more than 600 species for which groups had filed legal petitions seeking protections. The government agreed to address those petitions, although there is no guarantee of new protections. These new settlements will be key to help all the endangered species that are in great need of help. The population of the animals in the lists will surely be increasing after this settlements.