#Environmental Science

[lichenaday]

Ramalina peruviana

Quipu lichen, Peruvian ribbon lichen

This fruticose lichen has many thin, flattened branches and tiny, isidiate branchlets growing out of lateral soredia and branch tips. The surface is pale gray-green interrupted by ellipsoidal or linear pseudocyphellae and punctiform soralia. It only rarely produces apothecia. R. peruviana grows on bark and occasionally rock in tropical and costal regions worldwide. So why is it named R. peruviana? Well, the type specimen used by Erik Acharius to describe the species was found in Peru. What's a type specimen, you may ask? Well when you describe a species, you need to have one specimen of that organism from which characteristics and features of the species description are drawn, and it needs to be stored in a collection where it can be accessed to compare characteristics and potentially DNA with future potential specimens. So even though this entire species grows all over the place and isn't only found in Peru, the name is a nod to the specimen which set the standard for the entire species name. It's pretty weird to think about using one individual as the standard when we know so much physical variation exists between members of the same species, right?

images: source | source

info: source | source | source

#lichen #lichens #lichenology #lichenologist #mycology #ecology #biology #fungi #fungus #symbiosis #symbiotic organism #algae #Ramalina peruviana #Ramalina #taxonomy #systematics #life science #natural science #environmental science #lichen a day #daily lichen post #lichen subscribe #i'm lichen it

[reasonsforhope]

"In one of Africa’s last great wildernesses, a remarkable thing has happened—the scimitar-horned oryx, once declared extinct in the wild, is now classified only as endangered.

It’s the first time the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest conservation organization, has ever moved a species on its Red List from ‘Extinct in the Wild’ to ‘Endangered.’

The recovery was down to the conservation work of zoos around the world, but also from game breeders in the Texas hill country, who kept the oryx alive while the governments of Abu Dhabi and Chad worked together on a reintroduction program.

Chad... ranks second-lowest on the UN Development Index. Nevertheless, it is within this North African country that can be found the Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve, a piece of protected desert and savannah the size of Scotland—around 30,000 square miles, or 10 times the size of Yellowstone.

At a workshop in Chad’s capital of N’Djamena, in 2012, Environment Abu Dhabi, the government of Chad, the Sahara Conservation Fund, and the Zoological Society of London, all secured the support of local landowners and nomadic herders for the reintroduction of the scimitar-horned oryx to the reserve.

Environment Abu Dhabi started the project, assembling captive animals from zoos and private collections the world over to ensure genetic diversity. In March 2016, the first 21 animals from this “world herd” were released over time into a fenced-off part of the reserve where they could acclimatize. Ranging over 30 miles, one female gave birth—the first oryx born into its once-native habitat in over three decades.

In late January 2017, 14 more animals were flown to the reserve in Chad from Abu Dhabi.

In 2022, the rewilded species was officially assessed by the IUCN’s Red List, and determined them to be just ‘Endangered,’ and not ‘Critically Endangered,’ with a population of between 140 and 160 individuals that was increasing, not decreasing.

It’s a tremendous achievement of international scientific and governmental collaboration and a sign that zoological efforts to breed endangered and even extinct animals in captivity can truly work if suitable habitat remains for them to return to."

-via Good News Network, December 13, 2023

#chad #abu dhabi #north africa #rewilding #endangered species #conservation #zoology #conservation biology #oryx #good news #hope #texas #big game #animals #endangered #environmentalism #environmental science #zoo #zoos #zoo animals

[platypu]

#green memes for ecological fiends #zoology #ecology #bird #hawks #environmental science #biodiversity #conservation biology #conservation #wildlife

[wheres-your-paddle]

things i've heard environmental science majors say:

"For the test we'll need to tell the different flavours of mayflies apart." / "Did you just say flavours?"

"It amazes me how many city kids are in this program." / "We're all desperate to get out of this city."

"I think everyone who attended all the surface water pollution lab sections should be allowed to lick one piece of glassware of their choosing. Y'know, as a treat."

"Professor, nobody goes into this major unless they like to eat dirt." / "Great, so you can talk the Students' Association into convincing the board to give me funding for my trees?"

"What're we toasting to?" / "Nitrogen pollution."

"You look frustrated. What's up?" / "I had twenty-one Leptophlebiidae in my dish. He's going to think I'm lying about how many Leptophlebiidae are in my dish."

"If you weren't raised by Wall-E, do you even belong in this class?" / "The Onceler." / "Fuck, good point."

"Dude, I spent the whole exam trying not to sink my teeth into a really, really juicy bug in my sample—" / "Cranefly?" / "...yeah."

"Well, just make sure you're not (person)'s lab partner. Last weekend's trip involved him leaving too many fish in the dirt for the professor's liking."

[exhausted chorus] "And the fish go belly-up."

"What's the major difference between east coast and west coast soils?" / "Alcoholism."

"Got any plans for the holidays?" / "Gonna go home and listen to my entire extended family call me a tree-hugging hippie." / "Aren't we all?"

#admittedly some of these were said by me #things ive heard college students say #uni life #college life #student life #university #undergrad #stem #stemblr #stem academia #science side of tumblr #sciblr #environmental science #ecology #environment #entomology #mycology #chemistry #wheres your enviro sci shenanigans #1k #the paddle speaks

[thedisablednaturalist]

God I hope that environmentalists, conservationists, zookeepers, etc. can figure out a way to unionize. I have no clue how a strike would work bc that would lead to our life's work being destroyed. If we stopped protecting these animals, ecosystems, etc. they would die. But it's horrible that getting a paid job is so freaking difficult bc you have to volunteer first, many positions require at least a college degree, and then when you finally get the job you're paid squat. Zookeepers usually have at the very least a bachelor's, most have doctorates. And get paid bupkis. But if we try to fight for higher wages we are called selfish and we are taking already limited resources away from those who need it most. Accredited zoos have to make difficult decisions to protect endangered species all the time, such as the Copenhagen Zoo deciding to put down a genetically invaluable Giraffe in order to make space for others.

I was able to ask one of the previous directors of the national zoo, "what is being done to insure fair wages for zookeepers, and expand opportunities to those who do not have the resources to volunteer?" I think I surprised her, but she said they were having workgroups and meetings on that issue. I believe that the national zoo has recently opened internships specifically for those with little experience, especially people of color, so that they can get training that will help them break into the field. I think they are paid but I'm not sure.

I don't think it's selfish for us to want to be able to afford rent, food, maybe a vacation once in a while too. We need to take care of ourselves so we can take care of our earth the best we can.

#conservation #environmentalism #environmental science #zookeeping #conservationists #aquarists #aquariums #zoos #this is mostly a rant if anyone needs specific info lmk #unions

[eccentricorganisms]

Thai Spiky Isopod

Family: Armadillidae Scientific Name: Isopoda sp. Adults : 0.5-1.2 cm

Just look at their little spikes!!! 😍 I didn't know the family name of these little potato bugs/rolly pollies (New York names) until a few days ago and I can't stop saying it.

Armadillidae. (arm-uh-dilly-day) It's really just the -dillidae that gets me. 😆

A lot of the information out there has more to do with keeping them in terrariums so I'm still on the lookout for more "scientific" information. 🤔

#entomology #invertebrates #bugs #thai spiky #thailand #roly poly #potato bug #science #terrarium #curiosity #pill bug #woodlice #isopods #environmental science

[itzayahuatlmermaid]

I just woke up at 7 am exactly w a weird feeling, then a few minutes later my whole room is rumbling and I can hear the glass in my window rattling. It lasted about a minute or two. I actually thought there was an earthquake for a few minutes there. But no, just Space-X launching their "Super Heavy" rocket, the "most powerful launch vehicle ever built', about 25 minutes away from my home. I cannot even describe how much I hate Space-X for all that they've done to my community and the environment in which we live. Musk has inflicted SEVERE and unforgivable harm upon land extremely diverse in plant and animal species (we have the 2nd highest concentration of wildlife next to Everglades!!), has made sea turtle nesting sites unsafe and unusable for the turtles, and is encouraging the gentrification of our culturally unique border community. Not to mention, the land which he disrespects so blatantly is occupied by the Carrizo Comecrudo tribe and is extremely significant to the indigenous peoples of this region. My own ancestors relied on this coastal environment for nourishment and safety, and it has always been a source of peace and love for my family and myself.

#space x #ocean witch #sea witchcraft #spirituality #ecletic witch #environmentalism #environmental science #sea witch #bruja #witchblr #south texas #ecology #anti space x #tamaulipeco #marshland #ocean #conservation #mangrove #black mangrove

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Environmental scientists in Canada continue to be stifled in their ability to conduct and communicate their research. Interference in science, also referred to as "muzzling," was a well-documented concern during the Conservative government of the early 2010's, when it gripped the collective consciousness of Canadian federal public sector scientists. Our research sheds light on a broader understanding of the recent interference in environmental sciences in Canada. Interference is used to describe intentional and unfair constraints on scientists that restrict their ability to conduct and communicate their work. Examples of interference include restrictions on ability to communicate work to the public or colleagues (muzzling), workplace harassment, and undue modifications made to findings that alter the data or its interpretation.

Continue Reading

Tagging @politicsofcanada

#cdnpoli #canada #canadian politics #canadian news #science #environmental science #science interference #scientific muzzling #interference of science #climate emergency

[mindblowingscience]

Researchers in the United States and China have discovered a curious link between air pollution and suicide rates that prompts us to reconsider how to approach this issue. China's efforts to reduce air pollution have prevented 46,000 suicide deaths in the country over just five years, the researchers estimate. The team used weather conditions to tease apart confounding factors affecting pollution and suicide rates, arriving at what they consider to be a truly causal connection. The results, published in Nature Sustainability, unearth air quality as a key factor influencing mental health.

Continue Reading.

#Science #Environment #Environmental Science #Mental health #Suicide #Pollution #Air Quality #China

[chocolattefeverdreams]

In my opinion, in a solarpunk future, education about the environment should be mandatory in a good school system. This is why we do this , this is why we started doing this, etc. Today I heard my Theory of Knowledge teacher say that he doesn't believe that human beings directly affect climate change. Because I study environmental science I know that's simply not true.

Studying environmental science would teach so many people that all the systems of the earth are so interconnected. For me, that made me more aware that my choices had so many widespread impacts on many areas. I wasn't so passionate about the environment before I took this subject and it has made me think differently.

Other than this, I think indigenous or cultural knowledge should also be taught along with this. I think a lot of people in the solarpunk community know that if we do want to make an impact working with indigenous people is a good method. I was reading Braiding Sweetgrass and it's so noticeable that the way we see everything is influenced by a cultural perspective.

Either way, greater education about the environment is so, so important.

#solarpunk #solarpunk education #education #ess #ib ess #international baccalaureate #ibdp #environmental science #environmental systems and societies

[i-think-2-much]

rip to all the geologists out there who didn’t get coal this Christmas :(

#geology #Christmas #environmental science #joke

[lichenaday]

Xanthoria calcicola

This foliose lichen grows on calcareous rock and stone work (and occasionally dusty trees) in eutrophic, well-lit, mild-temperate and costal regions of Europe and the Mediterranean. It has a yellow-orange to dark orange foliose thallus forming pleated lobes growing in large rosettes up to 20 cm in diameter. The center of the rosettes are covered in knobbly warts and granular isidia, and it only rarely produces apothecia. The presence of these isidia and the lack of apothecia is the best way to distinguish this lichen from the very similar looking X. parietina which is a lot more common and often grows on bark.

images: source | source

info: source | source | source

#lichen #lichens #lichenology #lichenologist #mycology #ecology #biology #fungi #fungus #symbiosis #symbiotic organisms #algae #Xanthoria calcicola #Xanthoria #trypo #trypophobia #life science #environmental science #natural science #nature #the natural world #beautiful nature #weird nature #naturalist #I'm lichen it #lichen a day #daily lichen post #lichen subscribe #orange #orange lichen

[destielmemenews]

"The findings are in disagreement with widely accepted assessments of the ozone layer’s status, including a recent UN-backed study that showed it would return to 1980s levels as soon as 2040."

source 1

source 2

#destiel meme #destiel meme news #world news #news #ozone hole #ozonelayer #ozone layer #science #environmental science #well this is fucking horrifying #climate change #climate change is real #climate crisis #tw climate change

[lilybug-02]

Sound pollution?

Yes! Sound pollution does exist and it's very likely you live in an area that has it. Human machinery and industry are the major causes of it. Think of the sounds of traffic, airplanes, and engines!

[via]

#ask stuff #bread #environmental science #environmental impact #environmental geoscience #lilybug

[thedisablednaturalist]

"Our filter, unlike plastic filters, does not contribute to further pollution as it uses renewable and biodegradable materials: tannic acids from plants, bark, wood and leaves, and wood sawdust—a forestry byproduct that is both widely available and renewable."

"In their research, the team analyzed microparticles shed from widely-used tea bags made of polypropylene. They observed that their technique, termed “bioCap,” captured between 95.2 percent and a staggering 99.9 percent of plastic particles in water, depending on the plastic type. When tested in mouse models, the process was proven to prevent the accumulation of microplastics in the organs"

They said this solution can be scaled up in places like water treatment plants and scaled down for use in the home as well. This is amazing news considering microplastics are one of the biggest problems impacting health these days.

#plastic pollution #microplastics #environmental science #sustainability #good news #water quality #hopefully it doesn't get heavily commercialized and will be easily accessible to all #wrenfea.hope

[lvvnystudies]

09.04

Back this week from spending the mid-trimester break in Queensland, visiting my family with my fiancé.

I so hoped that this lethargy and distinct lack of motivation towards my studies would disappear when I returned. Maybe it's second-year blues, or maybe it's a lack of a vision for the future of where this degree could take me. Whatever the reason though, I can only keep pushing forward and taking one day at a time.

#studyblr #studyblr community #study blog #study #student #university #university studyblr #uniblr #university student #uni student #university life #uni life #stemblr #stem academia #stem student #environmental science #environmental science student #personal #digital diary