A New Cyanobacterium is Killing Bald Eagles

[Shrike]

Unfortunate:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...w-scary-red-bacteria-is-well-earned/?hpid=z10

 

[Ripa]

And who do you think is the underlying cause once again? xD

 

[cold blood]

And who do you think is the underlying cause once again? xD

Not who...what...its living on the undersides of the hydrilla leaves.

Just saw a Bald down by the lake near me...I figured it was there for the browns...lots of coots around, it easily could have been feasting on the coots...luckily not much hydrilla in this area of Lake Michigan.

 

[Ripa]

Not who...what...its living on the undersides of the hydrilla leaves.

Just saw a Bald down by the lake near me...I figured it was there for the browns...lots of coots around, it easily could have been feasting on the coots...luckily not much hydrilla in this area of Lake Michigan.

"Hydrilla, an exotic invasive aquatic plant."

 

[Hanska]

This is something most people don't just understand about natures complexity and invasive species.
Now look, an aquatic plant is introduced to an ecosystem and huge birds of prey start dying.

 

[Ripa]

This is something most people don't just understand about natures complexity and invasive species.
Now look, an aquatic plant is introduced to an ecosystem and huge birds of prey start dying.

Exactly right. Now I'm eager (sarcasm) to see what trophic cascades result from this plant with the reduction of bald eagles once again. There's still only about 20,000 globally, which still pales to historical numbers (400,000+ before 1800). I hope it doesn't affect them too drastically.

 

[cold blood]

This is something most people don't just understand about natures complexity and invasive species.
Now look, an aquatic plant is introduced to an ecosystem and huge birds of prey start dying.

Its not new, its been around in abundance for at least 40 years.

"Hydrilla, an exotic invasive aquatic plant."

Yes it is, what's your point?

 

[Ripa]

Yes it is, what's your point?

My point being, who's at fault for allowing yet another invasive species to disrupt ecosystem balance? Not a trick question. Not originally intended to further spur a thread, either. More so an expletive statement above all else.

 

[cold blood]

This is something most people don't just understand about natures complexity and invasive species.
Now look, an aquatic plant is introduced to an ecosystem and huge birds of prey start dying.

I see, because of your use of my quote, I thought you were directing that towards myself.

I believe it was the aquarium industry that was responsible for its introduction. It makes top notch fish habitat though. Most lakes contain it.

 

[The Snark]

So what exactly is the point here? The peregrine falcons still have overly thin eggshells from DDT. It used to be safe to drink from streams and rivers in the wilderness. Carrion birds continue to die from lead ingestion.
Given: Human's are a-holes and screwing up the planet. Now, what are we going to do about it? On your knees and start begging the Koch types running the palace to put environment and humanity first. I'm sure that will help.

The mindless ill educated poorly informed clowns eat the garbage wholesale from the prime time programming and baaaaa!, do as they are told. The solution was clearly established by Socrates and expounded upon by Plato. Now get out there and disseminate the truth. As the saying goes, if you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem.

 

[Ripa]

So what exactly is the point here? The peregrine falcons still have overly thin eggshells from DDT. It used to be safe to drink from streams and rivers in the wilderness. Carrion birds continue to die from lead ingestion.
Given: Human's are a-holes and screwing up the planet. Now, what are we going to do about it? On your knees and start begging the Koch types running the palace to put environment and humanity first. I'm sure that will help.

The mindless ill educated poorly informed clowns eat the garbage wholesale from the prime time programming and baaaaa!, do as they are told. The solution was clearly established by Socrates and expounded upon by Plato. Now get out there and disseminate the truth. As the saying goes, if you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem.

That's why I'm currently a wildlife science major.

 

[The Snark]

That's why I'm currently a wildlife science major.

Don't forget to shoot those professors who teach riparian area management and restoration during the day and write EIRs for timber harvest plans in the evenings.

 

[Ripa]

Don't forget to shoot those professors who teach riparian area management and restoration during the day and write EIRs for timber harvest plans in the evenings.

I am currently about to shoot my Applied Wildlife Science professor who is reteaching calculus and stats all over again. The amount of work on the computers is like reliving my GIS course from a year ago, but with less guidelines of how to perform the data analyses. I think I spend more time in the computer lab on Tuesdays than I do in my dorm room just because the 3 hour lab period alone isn't enough for me to effectively complete the entire exercise.
Oh well, such is the life for anyone in this field of study. Although, I can't say I've ever met a particular professor until now who was so stringent and fastidious when the students are put up to writing abstracts for each of their labs. His criticism really hurts

 

[The Snark]

I am currently about to shoot my Applied Wildlife Science professor who is reteaching calculus and stats all over again. The amount of work on the computers is like reliving my GIS course from a year ago, but with less guidelines of how to perform the data analyses. I think I spend more time in the computer lab on Tuesdays than I do in my dorm room just because the 3 hour lab period alone isn't enough for me to effectively complete the entire exercise.
Oh well, such is the life for anyone in this field of study. Although, I can't say I've ever met a particular professor until now who was so stringent and fastidious when the students are put up to writing abstracts for each of their labs. His criticism really hurts

Hang in there. the prof is just preparing you for certain types of employers that are much worse. But, accurate stats are super critical as all future operations depend so heavily on them. Just take situations similar to this thread. One slight miscalculation/deviation on a projected curve and the folks over at Faux News shred all past and ongoing research. And the fact distorters are paid many times that of the scientist researchers they are trashing.

Also, it should always be kept in mind, some of the most lucrative employers of wildlife conservationists are the environmental destroyers who just want stats to back up their modified select cuts logging plans or mine tailings dump proposals and don't give a rodents rectum about the wildlife or habitat destruction.

---------- Post added 02-25-2015 at 07:41 AM ----------

I'll give you a classic example of wildlife conservation in it's present state in America.
At a camp where I had been working they had a critical erosion problem. Various government wheels slowly did their grind thing and funding was made available to address the issue. As the only pseudo expert in the know on the mess I got roped in to do an environmental study and mitigation analysis and proposal. So, shifting over one slight field (my ed is engineering based) I wracked my brains, did the stats, ran the prediction analysis and came up with a proposal for a solution right down to an exacting cost analysis of all time and material.
And then... nothing. Nada. Not. Void. I was paid $7000 and the hillside went on it's merry way obeying the laws of gravity and three structures went over a cliff in the next rainy season. WTF?
Exactly. WTF. Government WTF to be precise. $170,000 was allocated and $163,000 vanished in various administrative expenditures. No money was left over to put the mitigation proposal into effect. However, the proper paperwork was generated to make the powers that be happy. End of story.