Latest news with #CornwallWildlifeTrust
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Trail camera captures bizarre farting moment from unexpected nighttime visitor: 'There is actually a good reason for this activity'
Have you heard that taking a short walk after dinner can help with digestion? Apparently, this tradition is not exclusive to humans. Scientists caught a keystone species taking an evening walk to flatulate. "The beaver breaking wind gave the team a good giggle in the office and has continued to do so ever since," Lauren Jasper, beaver officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, told BBC's Discover Wildlife. The scientists' important work included setting up trail cameras to learn about the beaver population in the area. Beavers are a keystone species, which means that their contribution to the ecosystem is great enough to disrupt the food chain if removed. Trail cameras are powerful tools to help experts gauge population, behaviors, and overall health. Especially when it comes to endangered and keystone species, this research can make a massive difference in the health of a larger ecosystem. In England, beavers were hunted to extinction over 400 years ago. Many efforts across the country have been made to restore the biodiversity that beavers encourage. "When you bring beavers back, other wildlife follows," Cheryl Marriott, director of nature & people at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, told Discover Wildlife. Since reintroducing just two beavers to a wooded acreage with a stream in Cornwall in 2017, they have built eight new dams. Along with the dams came new ponds, which are now home to double the number of brown trout, 11 species of bats, 10 new species of birds recorded for the first time ever, 17 species of dragonflies, three species of mammals recorded for the first time ever, three new streams and 1,790 new square meters (1,927 square feet) of water surface, according to the Cornwall Beaver Project. Beavers are master architects of rich biodiversity, even if they are a little smelly. "There is actually a good reason for this activity," Jasper said of the farting. "The beaver might have been scent marking — they produce an oily substance from a gland near their tail to mark territory," reported Melissa Hobson for Discover Wildlife. Should the U.S. invest in building more wildlife overpasses? Absolutely Depends on how we do it Depends on where we do it Nope 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.
ITV News
23-05-2025
- Science
- ITV News
Maerl beds: the irreplaceable fish nurseries under threat from sewage and pollution in Cornwall
Marine experts have warned that Cornwall's ancient coral beds are being damaged by pollution. Divers have found that the previously "purple and beautiful" maerl beds off St Mawes are now covered in a brown algae caused by sewage and to Cornwall Wildlife Trust, this development is a "massive concern" for the essential ecosystems. What are maerl beds? Maerl is a purple-pink seaweed that forms a hard layer on the seabed over thousands of years. This spiky surface is an irreplaceable marine habitat which acts as a nursery for commercial fish and shellfish species, as well as being a vital carbon store. Maerl beds are fragile structures which can easily be damaged by human activities such as towed fishing gear, anchor damage and commercial extraction. Protections like the EU Special Area of Conservation apply within the Fal estuary, meaning mobile fishing gear and maerl extraction are both now banned. What has happened to the maerl beds in Falmouth Bay? However, water quality is also a key threat to the habitat, and an organised dive at the recent UK Maerl Forum found that the ancient maerl beds off St Mawes had suffered a serious deterioration. Sewage and agricultural run-off cause raised nutrient levels in the water, which can lead to this algae now covering the beds. Speaking to ITV News West Country, a Marine Conservation Officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Matt Slater, explained: 'We were all absolutely shocked to find that instead of seeing a beautiful purple carpet of living mearl, it was absolutely smothered in brown algae, and you could tell that there was virtually no light getting through that seaweed." He added: "We really hope that it's going to survive, but we know from experience that was shared at the Maerl Forum, that in other parts of Europe where this has been witnessed, it has been really bad news." What can be done? According to Mr Slater, this deterioration should be "a wake up call that something needs to be done about water quality in the Fal". He noted: "It's great that there is work going on but we would love to see more of it, and quicker." Cornwall Wildlife Trust is working with farmers to reduce agricultural run-off and is encouraging sustainable fishing practises. South West Water has said it is working with the Environment Agency and Natural England to understand the sources and distribution of nutrients and chemicals. In a statement, the utility company added: "We are also planning to reduce the nutrient load at a number of wastewater treatment plants across our region, including at North Fal (St Stephen) and St Dennis, both within the wider Fal/Helford catchments, which will improve the quality of the water in the rivers that flow into the estuary. "We are reducing levels of phosphate in the treated wastewater that we return to the environment. We are serious about reducing the use of storm overflows and our plan is working, but there is more to do. We will be carrying out improvements at 16 Storm Overflows closest to the Fal Estuary area by 2030."
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Conservationists 'shocked' by coral bed deterioration in Cornwall
Marine scientists and conservationists have expressed shock after finding ancient coral beds in Cornwall smothered in algae caused by sewage and organised dive to explore maerl beds as part of the UK Maerl Forum took place off St Mawes in April and revealed a "worrying deterioration" in the ecosystems, Cornwall Wildlife Trust beds consist of fragile, rare and slow-growing red calcified seaweed which acts as a nursery for commercial fish and shellfish species, it Slater, a marine conservation officer at the trust, said it was "a massive concern" and improvement to the water quality in the Fal Estuary was needed urgently. 'Very sombre atmosphere' Organised by Cornwall Council and Natural England, the forum aimed to increase collaboration and create an action plan for the protection of Cornwall's maerl Slater said: "It was a shocking sight. "The area, which was previously purple and beautiful, is now covered with a thick layer of brown, fluffy algae. "We've surveyed here regularly for the past eight years and I have never seen the maerl beds looking like this."It was a very sombre atmosphere."Cornwall Wildlife Trust said mobile fishing gear was damaging maerl beds, as well as a deterioration in water added scallop dredges and beam trawls, which could destroy up to 70% of the live maerl nodules, were of "particular concern". Mr Slater said: "Maerl grows so slowly. If you lose it, there's very little chance you'll be able to grow it back; certainly not within our lifetime."Maerl beds, which also act as a vital carbon store, were recently classified as irreplaceable marine habitats by Natural England, Cornwall Wildlife Trust trust said it was working with farmers to reduce agricultural run-off and with fishers on sustainable management practises.
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Rare lichen spider spotted in Cornwall
A rare spider described as a "master of disguise" has been sighted in Cornwall, an expert says. Tylan Berry, county spider recorder for the British Arachnological Society, said the "nationally rare" lichen running spider was sighted at West Muchlarnick, a temperate rainforest site near Looe. The "amazing looking" creature with its "incredible colour and camouflage" is "incredibly difficult to spot", he said."The spiders love to sit on branches covered in lichen in wait for prey, perfectly camouflaged," he added. The spider has been spotted just a "handful" of times, he said, with other sightings at Lanhydrock, Cabilla and Redrice Cornwall Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve."It was very exciting when I was passed details of a possible sighting at Lanhydrock four or five years ago and it took me a further two years to find another."Mr Berry said the spider, scientific name Philodromus Margaritatus, required mature trees, often oaks, hawthorn and pines, that are covered in are often in open areas such as heaths, parkland and woodland edges, he reside in "scattered pockets" between Cornwall and Surrey in the south of Britain, and in the Caledonian pine forests in said: "There is no evidence of the spider living anywhere between these two hugely separated areas."He said this meant conservation of mature trees and lichen was "important". Alison Smith, temperate rainforest project manager for Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: "As a master of disguise, this near-threatened species is rarely seen, with only a few records in the county. "Its presence highlights the importance of the habitat here."She said of the spider, which was spotted during a lichen survey: "It's a near-threatened species, further demonstrating how important the habitat at West Muchlarnick is."
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Non-native 'tree duck' spotted on Cornish beach
A non-native duck believed to have escaped from captivity has been spotted on a Cornish beach. Artist Amal Barwell said he feeds the ducks every morning on Par beach after his dog walks and spotted the odd one out on 17 February. Cornwall Wildlife Trust confirmed it was a fulvous whistling duck that could have escaped from captivity. According to online resource All About Birds, whistling ducks or "tree ducks" are normally found in warm freshwater marshes across the Americas, Africa and Asia. The ducks, which are caramel-brown and black in colour, were once called tree ducks because of their habit of roosting in trees, said All About Birds. Mr Barwell said: "I go and feed the ducks every morning after my dog walks, they spot the car on my way in and gather waiting for when I come back. "About one week ago, I noticed him hanging out with the [others] - first I thought they had a baby but then I noticed he looked nothing like the other and was really cute." He said the duck had a "high pitch whistle" and "stands up for himself". "[He] seems well-accepted, he stays way away from me when I approach him," he said. "He was was here today completely in his element - Par beach inspires me as an artist." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Cornwall Wildlife Trust
