The Mysterious Disappearance of the Scottish Grouse

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17130777

Picture: This bird is a capercaillie, a large grouse in which fears and extinction on the Scottish land for the second time.

Summary: A large grouse named capercaillie is in fear of its second extinction from the land of Scotland. Recently the grouse’s population is declining for an uncertain reason and there are debates among different groups on the specific cause. The Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association (SGA) believes that the pine martin, a very rare Scottish native mammal, has to do with the decline and the control of them is needed in order to save the capercaillie. On the other side, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) criticized the SGA for not considering other views that might have affected the grouse other than the predation. Capercaillie had already been extinct and there is a need to solve the mystery whether it is the habitat problem, predation and such that is affecting this bird’s decline of population.

Opinion/Reflection: Though I am glad that some of the species were able to get back to their original habitat, but I am worried for the grouse as no one is sure what is causing this bird’s decline of population. Though I think it’s best to notice that the pine martin is a very rare animal and I don’t think rare animals can easily cause the decline of an another specie. I'm also considering maybe pollution itself may have to do with it, as according to the article, habitat is not really much of a problem.

Questions:

1)      What other problems can be affecting the capercaillie.

2)      If the rare pine martin was the real problem, how would we solve the issue?

3)      What other animals are endangered in Scotland?

4)      What is one way that we can help to save endangered species?

Climate Change Impacts on Biodiversity in the Arctic

http://www.globalissues.org/article/172/climate-change-affects-biodiversity

Picture: This picture shows a polar bear on sea ice in the Arctic. The polar bear depends on the sea ice to give it things like shelter and a place to hunt for food. Climate changes have been melting the ice and that affects the polar bears in a big way.

Summary: "In the Arctic, it is not just a reduction in the extent of sea ice but it's thickness and age." The fact that there is less ice and it is getting thinner means that it can melt faster. This is bad news for the life that depends on the ice to live. If there ever comes a time where there are ice-free summers in the Arctic Ocean, that could be the loss of an entire biome. Although, every year the arctic does thaw and refreeze, the patterns in the more recent years have changed. This climate change does not just affect the polar bears. It can affect even the algae that grows on the under side of the ice caps. This could obviously cause a reaction to all the other animals in the food chain that depend on each other for food. Also, the ice melting can affect more than just the Arctic. The bright white sea ice reflects the sun, keeping the water colder. When the ice melts, it is no longer there to keep the water cold, therefore the water heats up much faster. This can lead to changes in seawater temperature as well as salinity, which can change the primary productivity and species composition in plankton and some fish, but it can also cause changes in the ocean's circulation.

Opinion/Reflection: This actually really made me sad to read this. I didn't really believe or really understand the whole idea of global warming very well but I think reading this article kind of helped me get a hold of what it really does. I really wish I knew of something I could do to maybe help or stop this. We were learning about biodiversity in class and how there are only a couple biodiversity hotspots left and the fact that a very diverse place like this could just crumble over the melting sea ice is really, kind of scary to me. There aren't very many places like this left so we should do our best to preserve and protect them.

Questions:
1. Do you think this could potentially affect you and where you live?
2. What kind of things do you think we could do to help?
3. What are some things that maybe could of caused this?
4. Do you really think that an end to this specific biome could happen in the near future?

Savannas and Forrests in a Battle of the Biomes

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031220600.htm

Picture:

     This picture shows a wildfire that was happening in South Africa. These fires help maintain the balance between the forest biome and the savanna biome. Some say that these fires are caused by humans interfering with the patterns of the fires. If these fires continue like this there will only be savanna and will leave big patches of encroachment.

Summary:

   These fires are supposed to be a natural thing to help prevent an uneven balance of forest and savanna. The fires are supposed to make sure that no so much forest grows over the savanna. Lately, scientists have been studying these biomes and have saw a huge increase on the number of fires, and because of this increase more forests are turning into savannas. Some scientists say that this is because of road construction, climate change, and fire-prevention measures. Researchers say that if these fires continue to spread like this that these biomes will turn into nothing but total encroachment. Once this process starts it will be hard to change it. Plants and animals that are living in a forest or savanna cannot adapt well from one habitat to the other. The Science Paper say that the loss of a savanna to forest is just as tragic, though other known as deforestation. There is a big risk of losing valuable plants and animals which would effect the people who depend on them.

Opinion/Reflection:

It was very sad reading about the way that the littlest things that you wouldn't even really notice makes the biggest effects on this earth. And I have a great love for animals; to hear that they might die because they are any good at adapting to a new environment really breaks my heart. But seeing scientist so eager to change what is going on motivates me into trying to do my best to prevent disasters like this happening in the U.S.

Questions:

1.      What made scientist take a look at this issue now?

2.      Do you think that this could be an issue in the U.S?

3.      Why wouldn't the animals be able to adapt to a new environment?

4.      What are some ways I can prevent a disaster like this from happening in my area?