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Mass Extinctions And 'Rise Of Slime' Predicted For Oceans
ScienceDaily - www.sciencedaily.com (Source: University of California - San Diego)
13 Aug 2008
Image courtesy of Jennifer E. Smith
Human activities are cumulatively driving the health of the world's oceans down a rapid spiral, and only prompt and wholesale changes will slow or perhaps ultimately reverse the catastrophic problems they are facing. Such is the prognosis of Jeremy Jackson, a professor of oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, in a bold new assessment of the oceans and their ecological health. Jackson believes that human impacts are laying the groundwork for mass extinctions in the oceans on par with vast ecological upheavals of the past. He cites the synergistic effects of habitat destruction, overfishing, ocean warming, increased acidification and massive nutrient runoff as culprits in a grand transformation of once complex ocean ecosystems. Areas that had featured intricate marine food webs with large animals are being converted into simplistic ecosystems dominated by microbes, toxic algal blooms, jellyfish and disease.
Cited Journal Article
>>>Colloquium Paper: Ecological extinction and evolution in the brave new ocean. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2008; ePub ahead of print.
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Scientists Dispute Role of Wildlife Migration in Advancing Nigeria's Latest Bird Flu Outbreak
Voice of America - www.voanews.com
14 Aug 2008
H Lesser
Scientists are doubtful that the latest disease-producing strain of avian flu detected in Nigeria originated with wild migratory birds that annually migrate there from Europe or Central Asia. They say the newly discovered strain most likely stems from the illicit or unreported trade of domestic poultry across borders, a process that can be monitored and regulated if governments and health authorities work to implement stronger, protective safeguards. Dr. Kristine Smith is Assistant Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Global Health Programs. She says that the current Class Three wave of bird influenza means a loss of trade and the precautionary destruction of thousands of domestic poultry.
Second Monterey County bird tests positive for West Nile Virus
TheCalifornian.com
13 Aug 2008
Area: Monterey County, California, USA - Map It
A dead starling found near the Rico-Rossi area off Davis Road in Salinas has been tested and confirmed as a carrier of West Nile Virus. This is the second confirmed case in Monterey County this year, according to the Northern Salinas Valley Mosquito Abatement District. The first was a red-shouldered hawk found July 1 off Pesante Road in Prunedale. These are the first cases of West Nile confirmed in the county since 2006.
Dead, sick ducks at Forks blamed on avian botulism
Winnipeg Sun - winnipegsun.com
14 Aug 2008
S Fuller
Area: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - Map It
Winnipeggers are concerned about a spate of dead and disoriented ducks that have started appearing at The Forks recently. "I can count possibly over 100 dead ones so far," said Jeanella Budge, who works at the Tutti Frutti refreshment stand at The Forks and has been keeping tabs on the situation. Budge noticed the alarming trend several weeks ago when the bodies of ducks were seen floating at the popular downtown spot where the Assinboine and Red Rivers meet. Manitoba Conservation officials have reportedly linked the deaths to an outbreak of avian botulism, which they said may be responsible after performing tests.
OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Image courtesy of Joel Sartore/NGS
- Sylvatic plague is beginning to dwindle in S.D. - South Dakota, USA - Map It
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