Latest news with #CosmosMagazine
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists take bold new approach to curb growing underwater threat: 'It starts with a scientist being ignored'
Scientists have found a delicious solution to an invasive species problem: eating long-spined sea urchins could save Tasmania's kelp forests, Cosmos Magazine reported. Rising ocean temperatures are pushing these spiny creatures southward from New South Wales to Tasmania's rocky coast. Their population has exploded from just a few individuals to around 18 million in recent years, creating what researchers call an ecological crisis. You might wonder why this matters to you. When sea urchins devour kelp forests, they create barren areas that destroy habitat for hundreds of other species, including commercially important fish. This affects food supplies, local economies, and recreational fishing that many families enjoy. "It's like most disaster movies. It starts with a scientist being ignored," said the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies' Scott Ling, who first warned about the threat to Tasmania's kelp beds, per Cosmos Magazine. The solution? Eating more sea urchin roe, a delicacy that drives a billion-dollar global market. By encouraging commercial fishing of these invasive creatures, you can help protect coastal ecosystems while enjoying what many consider a gourmet treat that tastes salty and fishy and looks like orange-yellow mandarin slices. University of Tasmania marine biologist Katie Cresswell's study recommends targeted "overfishing" of the urchins, particularly in areas valuable to the abalone industry. "This study sets our Tasmanian story of this 'edible pest' in an international context," she said, per Cosmos Magazine. Her research shows this approach is working — commercial fisheries have removed about 1.2 million urchins yearly from Tasmanian reefs for the past six years. "We used modelling to estimate how much worse the urchin problem would be without commercial fishing — and the answer is at least twice as bad," Cresswell said of the study, published in Nature Sustainability. "This will impact ecosystems and communities alike, so it's increasingly important to use modelling to guide flexible management decisions that balance sustainability with economic needs," Cresswell said about the broader effects of climate-driven species migration. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts concerned after discovering behavioral shift in ancient predators: 'Activity necessary … is reduced'
Saltwater crocodiles in northern Australia are changing how they behave to cope with rising temperatures, spending more time cooling off and less time hunting as their bodies get dangerously hot, reported Cosmos Magazine. Research published in Current Biology shows that since 2008, the highest body temperatures in these reptiles have increased by 0.55 degrees Celsius. This matches local air temperature trends, which are rising 0.05-0.2 degrees per decade in northern Australia. "As ectotherms crocodiles can't regulate their own temperature like birds and mammals," says Kaitlin Barham, a Ph.D. candidate at The University of Queensland and the study's lead author. "So, as their environment is becoming warmer, the animals in our study are also getting hotter and needing to spend more time on cooling behaviours. "But if their time and energy is dominated by the need to stay cool, activity necessary for hunting, keeping safe from predators or reproducing, is reduced." Researchers tracked 203 crocodiles in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula using satellite trackers and internal temperature sensors. They found 65% of the animals exceeded their critical thermal limit of 32 degrees (90 degrees Fahrenheit) at least once, with 22% reaching dangerous temperatures above 34 degrees (93 Fahrenheit). When crocs overheat, they can't perform normal behaviors needed for survival. Their hunting ability suffers dramatically. "Hotter crocodiles don't dive for as long, which is concerning because as ambush hunters, they need to wait underwater holding their breath for a wallaby or feral pig to come past," explains study co-author Professor Craig Franklin from the University of Queensland. This heating forces them to surface more often to breathe and spend longer recovering, making them less effective hunters. They're also using more energy on cooling behaviors rather than finding food, staying safe, or reproducing. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. If these reptiles keep overheating, it could create broader problems for river ecosystems where they play a key role as top predators. Their struggle is a warning sign of how warmer temperatures affect wildlife. The crocodiles are already helping themselves by adapting their routines. "We saw that crocs were putting a bit more effort into cooling behaviours," Barham explains. "That might be as simple as they're spending more time on the bank at night, rather than on the bank during the day." Researchers suggest that if warming continues, these reptiles may need to move further south to cooler waters. The study team wants to examine how crocodiles in southern Queensland handle heat waves compared to their northern counterparts. Scientists will continue monitoring these prehistoric survivors to better understand their adaptations. 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.
