TOP STORIES
An international team of mycologists and ecologists studying Atlantic sea turtles at Cape Verde have discovered that the species is under threat from a fungal infection which targets eggs.
The research, published in FEMS Microbiology Letters, reveals how the fungus Fusarium solani may have played a key role in the 30-year decline in turtle numbers.
. . . "While many of the reasons for this are related to the human impact of the costal environment it has been suspected that the decline is also due to pathogenic microorganisms."
Science Daily - www.sciencedaily.com
29 Oct 2010
Photo credit: J White/iStockphoto
Spike in dolphin deaths officially an ‘Unusual Mortality Event’
. . . According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 19 dolphin strandings have occurred from early June to mid September — a striking leap from the average.
Erin Fougeres, a marine mammal biologist with NOAA, says that it’s likely not mere coincidence that the dolphin strandings occurred in unison with a massive fish kill in the same area:
”There are a couple of things that could be happening. The strandings occurred around the same time as a fish kill, so they could be related, or it could be another factor."
Florida Independent - floridaindependent.com
V Chamlee
28 Oct 2010
Location: St. Johns River, Florida, USA - Map It 
Kearl site workers discover dead ducks
More dead ducks were found in an oilsands site, this time at Imperial Oil's Kearl project, the company said this morning.
Workers found about 10 ducks at its construction site Tuesday afternoon, said spokesman Pius Rolheiser.
. . . Between 10 and 20 birds were also found alive but in distress, he added. Of the dead birds, none were covered in oil as the site in construction has no tailings pond.
Fort McMurray Today - www.fortmcmurraytoday.com
S Lin
29 Oct 2010
Location: Kearl Lake, Alberta, Canada - Map It
. . . Hundreds of the dead and dying conchs have littered the shores of the beach during low tide over the past few days, grabbing the attention of tourists and researches alike.
. . . Scientists are testing water off the beach, trying to determine what is causing the conchs to get stranded.
. . . Segelson said her agency will test the water for a possible algae bloom but declined to speculate further.
Naples Daily News - www.naplesnews.com
S Bhasin
27 Oct 2010
Photo credit: S Bhasin
Location: Bonita Beach, Florida, USA - Map It
New research has provided the first evidence that 'gender-bending' chemicals which find their way from human products into rivers and oceans can have a significant impact on the ability of fish to breed in UK Rivers.
. . . EDCs have been seeping into rivers through the sewage system for decades and have an observed effect on fish, altering male biology to make them more female -- hence the 'gender bending' reputation of these chemicals.
Until now, there has been no solid evidence to show the long-term impact of this effect on fish in the wild -- but the new research focusing on wild roach in two UK rivers (Bourne and Arun) has provided new evidence.
University of Exeter - www.exeter.ac.uk/news
26 Oct 2010
Photo courtesy of University of Exeter
Journal Article Cited
More Gender-change News
OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Photo credit: P Conheim/WWF- The week in wildlife [image gallery]
- Deer to be tested for bovine TB in NW Minn. again [Minnesota, USA]
- Warming 'destabilises aquatic ecosystems'
- Rhino horn GPS used to deter poachers [North West province, South Africa]
- Nuclear clues to lungfish age [age identification assisting in conservation efforts]
- Animal-Borne Diseases? EcoHealth Alliance President Peter Daszak Cautions TEDMED Conference Attendees to 'Be Afraid...Be Very Afraid'
- Color Bind: A New Study Finds Wind Turbine Color May Play a Role in Bat Fatality Rate
- European bats soar past biodiversity targets
Career News
