Researchers raise alarm after extreme heat triggers bizarre animal behaviors: 'Can have negative consequences'
Across the United Kingdom, animals are displaying strange behaviors as another heat wave rolls in. Birds have been fluttering their throats and squirrels are "splooting" on the ground, but unfortunately, these cooling tactics are signs of distress and desperation.
As the country weathers its third heat wave of the summer, researchers are warning that the effects on animals could carry long-term consequences for ecosystems, farms, and people.
What's happening?
According to the Guardian, unusual behaviors are being observed across the animal kingdom as temperatures rise. Birds like pigeons and herons are vibrating their throat muscles in a behavior known as gular fluttering to help them release body heat. Blackbirds are panting as squirrels are flattening themselves against shaded ground to reduce heat. Earthworms and snails are entering dormant states called aestivation to ride out the extreme heat.
Farm animals are also showing distress. Cows have been bunching together, which actually worsens the heat for them and creates risks of mastitis, an udder infection, and hoof issues. Horses are struggling to stay cool despite sweating and are showing signs of heat exhaustion and electrolyte imbalances.
"Because they don't use the barn area fully, the areas that they lie in can become wetter and dirtier, which increases their chance of getting mastitis. They also spend more time standing, which has consequences for their feet, legs, and lameness scores," said Dr. Zoe Barker, an agricultural scientist, per the Guardian.
These responses may help animals survive short-term heat, but the cost is impaired cognition, delayed development, reduced feeding, and lower fertility rates.
"Lots of animals will go and hide in the shade, which might save them from some of the bad effects of the heat, but it also means they're not out finding food or mates, which can have negative consequences if that heat is prolonged," said University of Exeter professor Alex Thornton, per the Guardian.
Why is extreme heat concerning?
Extreme heat is disrupting how animals live, reproduce, and interact with their environments. That leads to population declines, fewer pollinators, and less food security for people.
A separate Guardian report said most young bees don't survive when nest temperatures climb above 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit), with the ideal range being closer to 28-32 degrees Celsius (82.4 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Worker bees try to cool things down by fanning their wings, but that doesn't always work when it's extremely hot. Fewer baby bees and pollinators mean a disruption in the growth of our food.
What's being done to help animals stay cool?
To help wildlife thrive, consider planting native species and leaving shady areas in your garden. Another good idea is making sure to leave shallow water dishes for birds, insects, and other animals. Letting some grass grow long can also offer shelter from the sun. For pet owners, make sure you're using pet-safe sunscreen, giving your pet lots of water, and keeping them indoors during the hottest hours of the day.
According to the Guardian, agricultural scientists are focusing on more resilient infrastructure and revisiting building designs that are conducive to animal welfare. A cleaner and safer future is dependent on individual action, protecting green spaces, and cutting planet-warming gases so we can all better withstand the heat.
Do you worry about air pollution in your town?
All the time
Often
Only sometimes
Never
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Parents who advised daughter against chemotherapy warned over inquest behaviour
The parents of a Cambridge graduate who refused chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer have both been warned about their behaviour in court during an inquest into her death. Paloma Shemirani, 23, collapsed on July 19 last year and was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital where she died five days later. She had earlier declined treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Her mother, Kay 'Kate' Shemirani, a prominent online conspiracy theorist and her father, Dr Faramarz Shemirani, who is 'sympathetic' to his ex-wife's views, believe medical professionals are to blame for their daughter's death. Coroner Catherine Wood, presiding over the inquest at Kent and Medway Coroner's Court in Maidstone, left the court due to the behaviour of Miss Shemirani's parents on Tuesday afternoon. The inquest, which was originally scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, had been extended as the evidence and questioning of witnesses had taken longer than anticipated. On Tuesday, Mrs Shemirani, who was struck off as a nurse in 2021 after spreading harmful misinformation about Covid-19, was cross-examined by Dr Shemirani. Questioning broke down when Dr Shemirani, who is understood to have a PhD in computational fluid dynamics, tried to ask his ex-wife's opinion of medical evidence which she would then try to answer, despite warnings from the coroner. 'Mrs Shemirani, I've told you not to speak, I'll find you in contempt if you keep on speaking now,' the coroner said. 'Confine (yourself) to asking questions of this witness as a witness of fact,' she told Dr Shemirani. As Dr Shemirani argued back through his video-link, the coroner said: 'Dr Shemirani, challenge me by judicial review later' before trying to move on. 'Of course I will, of course I will,' he replied. Later, Dr Shemirani once again tried to ask questions which had already been ruled irrelevant by the coroner. 'I'm going to rise for a few minutes because I'm finding it incredibly difficult to keep you on track,' said Ms Wood. Dr Shemirani continued to speak until the coroner shouted 'Dr Shemirani, listen'. 'Your behaviour has been bordering on contemptuous to the court – when I make a ruling on something you cannot come back,' she added. Mrs Shemirani also accused osteopath Nick Gosset of lying under oath earlier in the inquest. Mr Gosset treated Miss Shemirani the day she collapsed and said she had appeared to be in the 'last stages of a very difficult disease'. He told the court that when he inspected her, he could feel lumps in her right shoulder going all the way up into her neck, which he identified as lymphoid mass and that he 'had never seen anything like it' in 43 years of practice. Mr Gosset told the court: 'It was obvious to me that I was not the right person to be helping her, normally you see a patient like that, you would refer her (to a GP). 'Any referral was refused – when I suggested that the proper avenue of approach was through a normal, medical channel she dismissed it. On Tuesday, Paloma's mother said 'his statement under oath is completely opposed with the truth' and has argued her daughter was healthy the day she collapsed. The inquest continues on Wednesday.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
BBC Radio Scotland's Bryan Burnett to return to airwaves after cancer treatment
BBC Radio Scotland presenter Bryan Burnett will return to the airwaves on Thursday after undergoing cancer treatment. The broadcaster announced in June he would step back from his programme Get It On to receive care for appendix cancer. Fellow presenter Grant Stott, who stepped in during his absence, announced his return to listeners on Tuesday night. He said: 'In what must have been a terrible time for Bryan and his family and close friends, I'm just delighted I was able to help by looking after something that is very precious to Bryan; Get It On and his listeners. 'Getting to do the show over this time has shown me just how close the audience is to Bryan and vice versa. 'I know they will be delighted to get their radio teatime pal back.' Burnett said his treatment had been successful and thanked those who had wished him well throughout his recovery. Commenting on his return, he said: 'I am delighted to be returning to work following successful treatment for appendix cancer. 'Over the past few months I have been focused on my recovery and have been supported by an incredible medical team, my family and friends, and the overwhelming kindness of so many BBC Radio Scotland listeners who have reached out with encouragement and well-wishes. 'Their messages, cards and kindness have meant so much. 'My team at the BBC have also been a huge support and I want to thank Grant Stott, who has been sitting in for me and done such a great job looking after the show. 'My return to work will be gradual to ensure I maintain my health and energy. Cancer has given me a renewed perspective on what matters most and I am excited about the road ahead and grateful for the opportunity to return to doing what I'm passionate about.' Hayley Valentine, director BBC Scotland, said: 'Like the Get it On listeners, everyone at BBC Scotland is delighted to be welcoming Bryan back to the studio following what has been a tough couple of months for him. We look forward to seeing and hearing him back where he belongs.' Stott will share Get it On presenting duties with Bryan during his phased return. Burnett's first Get it On show will be Thursday 14 August 14 6pm to 8pm.
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
How Collaborations Are Helping London Biotechs Find A Route To Market
Partnerships and collaborations provide an important means for life sciences and healthtech startups to validate their technologies, secure financial backing and navigate a route to market. London, with its concentration of teaching hospitals, universities and research institutions, all sitting in close proximity to local and global VC firm headquarters, may be well placed to nurture the next generation of health innovators. The challenge is to make the most of the existing ecosystem. When it comes down to raising VC finance, Britain's healthtech and life sciences startups are doing rather well. Witness the last set of quarterly figures published by HSBC Innovation Banking and Dealroom. According to the data, healthtech businesses raised $1.8 billion in the first three months of this year, the largest sum since the second quarter of 2021. More than half the money raised went to businesses developing AI solutions. And the government is playing its part in boosting the sector. For instance, earlier this year, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves announced a £29 billion boost for Britain's National Health Service, with £10 billion of that earmarked for investment in new technologies. To underline that point, an initiative dubbed the Innovator Passport will allow digital solutions tested in one health organisation to be rolled out across others without further checks. This could be hugely important in the U.K., where the national health system is administered locally through trusts that tend to work independently of each other. It's all part of a 'Modern Industrial Strategy' plan aimed at helping the U.K. to become a 'world leader' in health-related technologies. All well and good, but small life sciences and healthtech companies still face the challenge of proving the efficacy of their solutions and also demonstrating how they can be integrated into existing clinical systems. The Partnership Solution One way forward for technology-led startups is to partner with bigger players that can provide resources and access to markets that might otherwise be out of reach. David Roblin is CEO and co-founder of Relation Therapeutics, a company that is collaborating with pharmaceutical giant GSK on developing treatments for osteoarthritis and fibrosis. As he explains, the company was established to bring together people from disparate scientific disciplines and working backgrounds, with the aim of developing an interdisciplinary approach to drug discovery. In practical terms this means that biologists working in the field of genomics, cells and tissues are working alongside experts in machine learning and R&D. As Roblin sees it, the collaboration is helping partner GSK to develop treatments for the targeted illnesses more quickly than would otherwise be the case. "Trying to innovate in a big company with established processes is quite a challenge,' says Roblin. "GSK had all the elements but they didn't have the blank sheet of paper to bring the technologies to bear at the right time and at the right pace.' In return, he says, the relationship with GSK has enhanced Relation Therapeutics' profile and credibility. Indeed, Roblin says the deal played an important part in helping his business secure a $65 million Seed round. "The collaboration was quite important in closing the seed round. GSK brought cash, validation and they also brought ideas and a deep understanding of the diseases,' he says, Every partnership is different in terms of the benefits it delivers. Pangaea Data is a U.K.-based company that has developed a platform that can help clinicians identify hard-to-diagnose diseases. This is achieved by using AI to analyse patient symptoms mapped against models created using existing clinical guidelines. The company says the platform has been used to accelerate diagnoses across 42 conditions. Last month, Pangaea Data announced a partnership with AstraZeneca-owned Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Under the arrangement, Pangaea will configure its platform to detect Hypophosphatisia (HPP), a bone-softening genetic disorder. So what does the collaboration deliver? Well as co-founder Vibhor Gupta acknowledges, once a technology solution has been developed, the challenge is to find a pathway through which the product can be introduced to health systems. "There is the question of who will pay for it,' he says. 'That's why the partnership with Alexion is important. They have a treatment for HPP. We can use the partnership to allow health systems to identify patients who are hiding in plain sight. In other words, there is a symbiosis. Alexion has a treatment for the condition. Pangaea provides a means to find patients who are currently undiagnosed and thus slipping through the treatment net. As Gupta explains, pharmaceutical companies are solutions-driven. 'They don't necessarily have all the data they need - health systems have that - but what they do possess is the motivation to close care gaps and get patients to the right treatment or trials,' he says.' A Collaborative Ecosystem The benefits of collaboration extend far beyond commercial relationships between two companies. For instance, there may also be opportunities for life sciences and health-tech startups to work with universities and research institutes, sharing labs, resources and expertise. This kind of collaboration can be arranged and orchestrated across countries and continents if need be, but it can be - to say the least - helpful if potential partners are situated within walking distance of each other and perhaps meeting regularly at the same events. That's the view of Mike Wiseman, Head of Campuses, at business space provider British Land. Included in his company's portfolio is Regents Place, a mix of labs and office spaces situated on London's Euston Road, an area increasingly referred to as the Knowledge Quarter. As Wiseman points out, the district is home to Meta, Google and Deepmind, along with the Francis Crick medical research institute, The Alan Turing Institute (data and AI) , the University of London and a host of science and technology companies. British Land is positioning Regents Place as a campus for AI and health technology. 'We have a community of likeminded people. Some of the most exciting advances in science are at the intersection of different disciplines and we can facilitate that through spaces and events," says Wiseman. To that end, the company has signed a memo of understanding to work with the University of London on events and there is also an arrangement with the Crick Institute that allows startups from Regents to share lab facilities. Wiseman says this bodes well for the future. London still lags Boston as a health tech and life sciences hub but the building blocks are in place. As he points out, in addition to possible collaborators, regulators and investors are also close at hand. 'You also have access to patients through the NHS and the private clinics of Harley Street. There are very few places like this," he adds. Another complex, Triton Square. is due to open shortly. There is a bigger picture. London is part of the so-called Golden Triangle that also includes Oxford and Cambridge and there is collaboration not just within but between cities. However, startups are likely to benefit from being in proximity to sources of support.
