New fish quota to protect plaice and sole

For years European Union fishermen have seen a reduction in their fishing quotas. This is meant to keep the maritime species from dying out. Recently the situation has seen a slight improvement and the numbers of some species in European waters are stabilising. On Wednesday, the EU’s Executive Committee announced its recommended quotas for next year. The quotas will again be lowered and fewer fish will be caught than in previous years. The European fishing quotas are determined on the basis of advice given by various experts, including Dutch biologists, and the IMARES research institute which specialises in marine ecology research.

Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Two biologists are on their hands and knees on the deck of a ship sailing the Wadden Sea. They are searching for fish such as plaice, sole, whiting, crabs and shrimp – sometimes they even find a jellyfish. The boats fish at different spots during the day. According to Marcel de Vries of IMARES:

“Each year we fish at 130 fixed locations. We return every year and we compare what we find and what we caught in previous years.”

At every spot an enormous fishing net splashes into the sea, where it remains for 15 minutes. Sometimes the net is full of junk; other times it is teeming with fish.

Plaice and sole
Plaice and sole are the most important species in the Dutch fishing trade, which is why the study placed special emphasis on the two flatfish. Biologist Loes Bolle says the fishing expeditions are only a minor part of the extensive research which determines European Union advisory policies.

“We count fish in all Dutch waters, but the same happens in Germany, Belgium, England and Denmark. We also estimate how many fish are caught by fishermen. We combine the statistics in an attempt to determine how many fish can be caught without threatening the species’ survival.”

After the fish are counted on the Wadden Sea, each one is measured to determine the proportion of smaller and younger fish, or young and old.

Thankless task
In the course of the day the scientists spend many hours on their knees, counting and measuring hundreds of plaice and sole. But the work seems thankless, since the politicians will probably ignore their advice. Biologist Loes Bolle says they are more concerned about protecting the economic interests of the fishing industry, which means they’ll often allow an increase in the quotas.

“We give biologically responsible advice, in other words, we do our best to recommend how fish can be caught in a sustainable manner. We are attempting to help fishermen keep the population at a viable level so that the species can survive. The best course of action would be to ban fishing for the time being, but that is not realistic. We do our best to ensure that enough fish will survive so that the species do not become extinct. This will also guarantee that fishing does not become extinct.”

Biologists are recommending a reduction in the quota for plaice and sole in 2008. It’s now the politicians’ turn, beginning with the European Commission.

Macedonia set to protect endangered vultures

Skopje. Macedonia will protect the critically endangered vultures through assistance of a Spanish organization, Macedonian Makfax writes on Monday.
Macedonian Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning in co-operation with the Macedonian Environmentalist Association and a Spanish Foundation today will promote the project “Strengthening the National Capacity for the Protection of Vultures in Macedonia”. The promotion ceremony will take place in Kavadarci.
The project is funded by the European Commission – Consortium of NGOs. The Kavadarci-based Wild Flora and Fauna Fund will take part in the realization of the project.
Of the four species of vultures that used to net in Macedonia, the bearded and the black vultures have already extinct and the remaining two species are the white-headed and the Egyptian, both species facing extinction.
The white-head eagle lives in Demir Kapija area, the Crna Reka canyon near Tikves Lake, the Osogovo Mountain, Matka Lake and in Mariovo.

Red squirrels face extinction… for the third time

Kilkenny Advertiser – Deirdre Russel

A new report suggests that the country’s native red squirrel could be wiped out if the rapid spread of the grey squirrel is not controlled.

The 2007 Irish Squirrel Survey launched this week also attributes a virus carried by the grey squirrel as one of the possible causes of the decline of the red squirrel. The problem has already affected Carlow and Kilkenny’s red squirrel population.

“The problem started in 1911 when a handful of grey squirrels were released in Ireland at Castle Forbes, County Longford. Since then they have colonised much of Ireland in less than 100 years,” said Lorcan Scott District Conservation Officer for the Parks and Wildlife Service in the south-east.

“There are an estimated nine hundred thousand grey squirrels in existence and this rapid growth is making it very difficult for our native squirrel to survive,” he stated.

He explained that essentially the grey squirrel is causing the decline of the red by out-competing it for food resources. “The grey squirrels come from North America and can adapt very well to life in deciduous woodland,” added Mr Scott.

Over the past decade the grey squirrel has spread to 26 counties throughout Ireland. It is now found west of the Shannon, in Leitrim and Roscommon, where it had not previously been found.

Although the red squirrel is extinct in Meath, Westmeath and Kilkenny, the conservation officer says that red squirrels were known to inhabit Huntington Castle Grounds in Carlow up to five years ago.

“On top of this the grey squirrels strip bark from trees so they can feed on the soft inner layers which can cause considerable damage to trees, whereas red squirrels prefer to feed on pinecones, mushrooms and even beetles.”

Mr Scott added; ” the red squirrel is more adaptable to coniferous vegetation such as that found in Glendalough, whereas broadleaf woodlands are the favoured habitat for grey squirrels.”

So what is being done to combat the decline of our native squirrel?

“National parks and wildlife services in Ireland and the UK are involved in trial services,” he explained. “A trial population of red squirrels have been moved to coniferous woodlands in Connemara in the hope that the grey squirrel won’t be inclined to inhabit there aswell,” he added.

“We really don’t know if the red squirrels will go extinct. If we could find an antidote for the virus and control the spread of the grey squirrel it would make a difference,” he concluded.

The red squirrel has been extinct twice before, with the current population having being re-introduced from Britain in the 19th century.

Climate change sucks life from rare leech

Reuters.. 

OSLO (Reuters) – A rare European leech seems to be headed towards extinction as global warming dries out the Austrian forest home of the tiny blood-sucker, scientists said on Wednesday.

Researchers at German and Austrian universities found only one juvenile leech in birch forests near Graz, Austria, in searches from 2001-2005. Scientists had found 20 specimens, up to 4 cms (1.6 inches) long, in the same forests in the 1960s.

“Recent human-induced warming may have led over past decades to the almost complete extinction of a local population of this rare animal species,” they wrote in a study to be published in the journal Naturwissenschaften.

A rise in average summer temperatures in the region of 3 Celsius (5 Fahrenheit) since the 1960s, widely blamed on greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, had apparently dried out the forests where leeches lived on moist bark and leaves.

The leeches, formally known as Xerobdella lecomtei, were first found only in 1868 and feed on earthworms. More studies would be needed to see if the leeches were managing to survive in a cooler, higher region.

U.N. studies say that the world may be facing the worst wave of extinctions since the dinosaurs vanished 65 million years ago because of threats such as climate change and a loss of habitats to cities, roads and farms.

The scientists said that it was a rare example of a species in trouble even though its habitat was broadly intact. The one leech found died after about 10 months in a laboratory

UK’s Biodiversity in Crisis

 Plentymag

1,149 British plant and animal species need special protection, according to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, which this week released its updated list of priority species and habitats.

The revised list — now containing twice as many species as it did ten years ago — contains such iconic British creatures as the hedgehog, house sparrow and harvest mouse, as well as more than 20% of all British bird species.

The Plan “will be used to decide which species and habitats should be targeted for conservation work in an effort to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010,” according to a report in The Times.

The Action Plan actually has a good track record. Since it was first initiated 12 years ago, 123 species have rebounded well enough to be removed from the priority conservation list.

Signs indicate life on earth is facing a new mass extinction

 From Weird News.

 Carboniferous-Permian geological history is the most critical period

Carboniferous and Permian is the final two Paleozoic century, representatives from 354 million years ago to 252 million years ago the historical stage. Carboniferous-Permian the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere evolution are in a very crucial stage of evolution. Geological history of north-south pole of the pan-continent during this period due to large-scale activities to form plate; Carboniferous-Permian also occurred early largest glacier; Carboniferous history of the Earth is also the largest-scale carbon burial period, the rest of the world at present a large number of coal mining resources in that period formed.

Carboniferous-Permian was a world full of vigor, biological species very busy, biodiversity than any time before, in a fairly long period of time to maintain stability and prosperity in the forests there were even two-meter-long wings of dragonflies. Marine life during this period is very busy. However, in the late Permian geological period, the largest of biological extinction events.

CAS Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology researcher Shen Shuzhong in an interview with reporters, said that attending the “16th International Carboniferous-Permian geological conference,” Chinese and foreign scientists, in the Carboniferous-Permian biological evolution and the environment with the theme around the Carboniferous-Permian JI biota and climate change, isotope geochemistry and geology biology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, high-resolution integrated biological stratigraphy, the end of the Permian mass extinction and environmental background, “gold nail” with the global comparison, the Earth time system of extensive discussions and exchange views.

In recent years, China end of the Permian mass extinction in the sea and continental strata record, as reflected in the model, the Carboniferous-Permian flora and ancient climate evolution of the Carboniferous-Permian the “gold nail” and high-resolution stratigraphic correlation, Quantitative paleontology and stratigraphy research by foreign experts to the concerns . By the late 0800-gan led by the International Working Group to establish a China Lopingian represented by international standards, the Upper Permian most two “golden nails” were nailed on Changxing Meishan in Zhejiang and Guangxi in Penglai profile guests around Meishan section Zhejiang end of the Permian mass extinction research has made the world attention achievements.

As the Carboniferous-Permian, and the importance of research achievements in recent years, the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Late Paleozoic group formed by the State Natural Science Fund Committee, the outstanding innovation groups, groups several members of the international Carboniferous and Permian stratigraphy branch of the Election Committee members, international Carboniferous-Permian related research played a substantial role.

Super extinction

Extinction of biological taxa is unable to adapt to environmental changes and to survive, life is the history of endless natural events, competition among species, and natural selection led to the extinction of the conventional rate of extinction. But some large numbers of biological groups in a short time away, but the whole world, and lead to a sudden cluster of extinction, paleontologists have been called mass extinction. Since Precambrian biological outbreak since there were five major extinctions, which occurred in ancient at the turn of the Mesozoic, that is the end of the Permian mass extinction, the largest of biological development of the most profound impact.

CAS Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology 0800-gan academicians wrote : “This is a super extinction, the diversity of marine life down to below one-tenth of the original ecosystem has been completely updated, as the Paleozoic and Mesozoic pillar, and all other extinctions are far from it and Great extinction, nor biological evolution process in such a major turning point. “

Long time, the mystery of the extinction of dinosaurs has been featured, in fact, since the late 18th century, scientists around the world have not only studied the extinction of dinosaurs true, the first study to or after the extinction of dinosaurs to extinction of other events. Although the extinction of dinosaurs to the theory of evolution had a tremendous impact, but compared to those living in the Carboniferous-Permian biological, the dinosaur extinction event is not the most “tragic”.

“Geological period, the largest-scale extinction events occurred in the late Permian, the statistics show that on the Earth, and more than 90% of marine species and 75% of land species in all this period of extinction.” Shen Shuzhong said.

The end of the Permian, corals, dragonflies calcareous sponges, brachiopods, trilobites, such as fixing the sea, feeding the passive category of extinction or have a large number of abatement, reef ecosystem collapse, burying carbon stop. The terrestrial species, the Carboniferous-Permian flora ferns mainly to the coastal swamp forest zone formation, but to the rapid demise of the late Permian, miniature plants to replace. Four-footed vertebrate animals in there Late Carboniferous, Permian quickly become the most representative of terrestrial animals, in the Late Permian who had up to 5 ~ 6 meters, like mammals reptiles — beast Hole. But by the end of the Permian, 63% of the four-footed rapid extinction of the Branch.

Mystery extinction

Scientists from the current available information, the end of the Permian mass extinction in a very short period of time of rapid, then what is destroying the Permian prosperous populations?

The current mass extinction due to a combination of different explanations, no one recognized the unanimous view. A more generally accepted view that the late Permian and may frequent eruption of the volcano. Geological evidence shows that the late Permian mass volcanic eruptions, the Earth’s surface at that time there were several volcanic eruptions, including Siberia and the south China region. Volcanic eruptions have large amounts of toxic gas, the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas, a result of plant and animal extinction.

Research has also found that the mass extinction strata containing sulfur rich minerals, suggesting volcanic eruptions releasing large amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas, followed by acid rain, pollution of the ancient oceans, causing massive extinction of marine life. In addition, some people think the end of the Permian there was similar to the end of the Cretaceous celestial impact, the impact sites may be located in Western Australia, causing instantaneous death of a large number of biological, but such reasoning was lack of sufficient evidence.

Currently, scientists on this important historical events are the causes, mechanisms, and the environment at the time, the whole process of renewal time is not very clear, all these comments have been no sufficient evidence to prove that the end of the Permian mass extinction reason is a mystery. The well-known American scientist Douglas Irvine put the end of the Permian mass extinction described as “Oriental Express on the murder case,” that there are many different factors working together caused the end of the Permian mass extinction events.

Mankind is witnessing a new mass extinction?

Studies have shown : mass extinction, without exception, by the Global Environment arising from the severe deterioration. In recent years, due to increased human activities on the ecological environment has continued to worsen, endangered and extinct species growing to the global biodiversity poses a serious consequences, as well as a threat to the survival of mankind itself. This has caused people to doubt the planet is facing a “sixth mass extinction events?”

The recently published in “Nature” magazine says the article, 50 years later, more than 100 million land-based biological disappear from the planet. The International Federation of natural resources to protect the “2004 Global Species investigation” revealed : a global Earth more than 15,000 species of endangered species, the rate of extinction than any time in the past. Scientists have discovered that human activities causing the extinction of species extinction than natural high-speed 1,000 times per hour, have a species to extinction.

According to a conservative estimate that the current annual extinction on Earth about 30,000 species, such prehistoric extinction rate than normal (annual extinction of about three species), nearly 10,000 times faster, far more than any large prehistoric extinctions. Five major extinction by prehistoric strength and size, there are scholars who believe the current biosphere has entered a “sixth extinction” period and that the only real modern human face mass extinction process. Biological and environmental development not only aroused extensive public concern, has become a hot research scientists.

Carboniferous to Permian from both biological evolution and climate conditions at that time and so on are all at a relatively stable stage, but a time of the late Permian, the environment has been deteriorating. Such sudden changes What is the mechanism? Now the scientific community is unclear. Some scientists have proposed that the Earth’s ecological environment and the climate system, such as the rapid reduction of biodiversity, acid rain frequency, the overall deterioration of the environment, the greenhouse effect, etc., in the late Permian and environmental conditions comparable to a certain extent, it is necessary for us to attach great importance to mankind.

With the lives of the Earth, and biological environment has become a mutual restraint, mutual promotion of the Community. The Earth’s environment to create a life, to promote the development of life-changing social environment. The geological period some major life changes directly with the major global changes linked, but significant period of global change biology and the environment appear most clearly period. All the signs indicate that the earth is facing today a new twist to the Earth, environmental degradation, biodiversity dramatic reduction is a serious threat to human survival and sustainable development of natural resources. The mass extinction of the study is to explore not only the extinction model, but more importantly out of our own care. Mankind is witnessing.

Red kite found shot dead in Wicklow

The Irish Times

Efforts to revive Ireland’s once extinct red kite population have been dealt a blow after a bird released in the Wicklow mountains was found shot dead, it was revealed today.

The bird, set free six weeks ago with 29 other kites, had been hit with shotgun pellets and was found on farmland north of Arklow yesterday.

Gardaí are investigating the killing which is believed to have happened between Sunday and yesterday.

Kites are protected under the Wildlife Act and have also been awarded the highest level of protection under European law.

The Golden Eagle Trust (GET), which is managing the project with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Welsh Kite Trust, said the loss was a major blow.

“Obviously, after all the hard work and support for the project in Wicklow, nationally and in Wales, it is very worrying to recover a shot kite so soon after they have been released,” GET project manager Damian Clarke said. “But I must stress that the level of support from all the local farmers, landowners and local gun clubs and shooting syndicates has been excellent.”

Red kites were driven to extinction in Ireland from shooting, trapping and poisoning even though they pose no threat to either game birds or livestock. Kites have a wingspan of up to 1.8m but with weak beaks and claws they are not powerful predators and feed mostly on carrion in the winter and small mammals, crows, insects and worms.

“We hope that all landowners can advise people shooting on their property that red kites must be left unmolested. These species are fully protected by the law and it is illegal to shoot red kites, by mistake or otherwise,” Mr Clarke said. “It is very unfortunate that we should recover a shot kite during National Heritage week - it once again highlights the importance that everyone needs to play a role in protecting Ireland’s natural and cultural Heritage.”

The red kite programme is one of three schemes to return previously extinct birds of prey to the Irish skies. Pairs of golden eagles have been released in Donegal and one set have bred successfully while in Co Kerry sea eagles have been returned to parkland around Killarney.

Brown bears almost extinct in Alps: wildlife group

Reuters (older story)

VIENNA (Reuters) – Brown bears face extinction in Europe’s Alps with only 38 known to remain in the mountain region, environmentalists said on Wednesday, a year after the shooting of a wayward bear shocked animal lovers.

“The population is too small to ensure its survival,” the World Wildlife Fund’s Austria branch said in a statement.

“We don’t know of a single bear in Germany any more,” WWF spokeswoman Claudia Mohl said.

Brown bears are an officially protected species in the European Union but their survival has been jeopardized by habitat destruction from economic development throughout the Alpine mountain region.

In June 2006, the first bear that was seen in Bavaria for 170 years was shot dead by a German hunter after it neared populated areas and killed dozens of sheep and chickens.

Bruno’s shooting caused an outcry especially in Italy, from which he wandered into Germany via Austria, because brown bears have become so rare in Europe’s main mountain region.

Animal lovers said Bruno could have just been sedated and removed to a remote location.

Last August, Italian authorities fitted Bruno’s mother with a satellite tracking device so she could be monitored and chased away from humans if necessary without being harmed. Mohl said that method would help protect remaining bears.

“Almost all of them pose no problem, keeping their distance from people,” she said.