Hedgehogs Are At Risk of Extinction

 

Hedgehogs are at risk of extinction. The hedgehog  population in Europe has been reduced. The data on hedgehogs was collected by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The hedgehog is now classified as near threatened species. This decline in European hedgehog population is the result of habitat destruction. Hedgehogs migrate in response and find their way into gardens. The concern is that pesticides harm them. Efforts are being made for home owners to make their gardens safe for hedgehogs. Fears are mounting that the hedgehog will disappear by 2050. The expansion of roads makes life more precarious for hedgehogs. This forces them to cross roads for food and mates. Being hit by cars contributed to the reduction of hedgehog populations. Agricultural activity and industrial production destroyed hedgehog habitats over a number of years. This will negatively impact the ecosystem. Hedgehogs consume insects and without them the insect population would grow. It is possible that hedgehogs could be a natural insect deterrent for gardens. When any organism disappears the rest of the environment is effected. The new risk to hedgehogs reveals that any animal could fall into risk of endangerment, when previously secure. Ecological damage reduction should be taken into consideration with the building of new infrastructure.  

The Discovery of The Promachocrinus Fragarius

 

Marine biology discovered a new organism. Antarctica is home to a sea based species known as promachocrinus fragaris. The recent detection reveals there is more work to be done in the fields of zoology and marine biology. The common name for this creature is the Antarctic  strawberry feather star.  Promachocrinus fragaris has what appears to be 20 tentacle like structures. Zoologists sometimes call them arms.  The nubs on its body do resemble fruit in shape. Hence why it was given the name. The morphology of this organism has evolved for ocean floor travel. The body of this organism contains cirri. The cirri are circular like bumps on its body. The structures have small claws which enable promachocrinus fragaris to grip to the seafloor. The sea lifeform falls under the class Crinoidea. Starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sand dollars are a part of this class. The unusual aspect of the organisms morphology is the number of appendages. Most feather stars have 10, while  promachocrinus fragaris has 10 more. The reason it took so long to detect this animal was due to location. The promachocrinus fragaris was found 1.7 km (3, 840 ft)  below the surface. According to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography finding new species is common. The challenge is classifying them correctly and giving formal names. The ocean remains a mystery and the nature of the seafloor is more complex than previously thought. Various types of fish, starfish, and completely different organisms could reside on the seafloor. Barriers prevent humankind from fully reaching that area. The possibility does remain that new species are emerging, but have not been discovered. The promachocrinus fragaris is an invertebrate, but little is known about its physiology. Overtime, more information will be collected allowing for a deeper understanding of deep sea lifeforms. 

The Earth's Core Activity

 

The Earth's core activity has gotten the attention of scientists. The core might have stopped spinning or is going in reverse. The Earth's core contains a liquid outer section and a solid part in the middle. The recent detection was done by analyzing seismic wave data. The data was collection from over the past 60 years. According to researchers at Peking University, the core could have stopped around 2009. Only now has it resumed its rotation, but in an opposite direction. The core tends to rotate counter-clock wise. There might be a pattern for which scientists do not know the reason for. Knowledge of the Earth's core is difficult to acquire. Getting equipment to the core for examination would require advanced engineering. The immense pressure would destroy any camera that could go there.  The outer core contains nickel and liquid iron. What core activity  demonstrates is more must be  discovered about Earth. Just below the surface is a unique environment. The change in core activity is nothing to cause alarm. There are no disturbances on the surface related to ecological systems. Rotation change according to the study occurred in the 1970s. Based on the models it is predicted another will happen in the 2040s. The information is of use to geology and geophysics. The Earth has certain movement cycles related to its core. The mystery is what is the purpose of changes in rotation. Seismologists are attempting to provide an answer. The technological limitations and gaps in knowledge remain obstacles.   

Jonathan The Tortoise Is The Oldest Living Land Animal

 

According to zoologists Jonathan the tortoise is one of the oldest land animals. Born in 1832 this tortoise has seen three centuries . This would make him a total of 190 years old. Some have suspected that  Jonathan could be over 200 years old. The problem is that there is no record of his exact date of birth. His species has longevity, but it is not fully  understood how it was attained. There must have been some form of adaptation, which enabled tortoises to live so long. Genetics might also explain this phenomenon. It could be a trait of natural selection. Jonathan's diet consists of cabbage, carrots, apples, cucumber, and various fruits. His activities consist of eating, sleeping, and mating. The reason this animal generates interest is due to Jonathan's life span. It is possible he could live for another century  or more. This feat has gotten Jonathan recognition in the Guinness  Book of World Records. Not only is he the oldest land animal, but remains the oldest tortoise. Jonathan's scientific name is Aldabrachelys Gigantea Hololissa. The giant Seychelles tortoise resides in St Helena. 

The Rise of Carbon Capture Plants

 

Carbon emissions have become a growing concern for safety of the environment. The exacerbation of the green house effect can cause an increase of the Earth's temperature. The challenge of climate change requires innovative solutions. What is developing is the rise of carbon capture plants. Iceland activated one of the world's biggest carbon capture plants on September 8,  2021. The Orca carbon capture plant takes CO2 and seals it underground. This becomes counted as a negative emission. The problem is that more of these plants would have to be constructed to make a significant change. Every nation  would need one to collectively bring down CO2 emissions. Only 15 direct air capture plants are in operation . The technology is new, so there needs to be more examination of its effectiveness. The Orca plant uses a combination of fans and filters to capture carbon dioxide. The CO2 is mixed with water. When pushed underground it will become rock.  A question does remain of the long term effects of this. Consultations with petrologists and geologists should be done before embarking on larger projects. From a perspective of ecology, carbon capture plants could be beneficial. A combination of planting more trees, investment in renewable energy, and creation of new technology can reduce extreme climate change. Carbon capture plants will become a priority in the coming decades.