Latest news with #earth.com
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Over 100 marine megafauna struggle for survival, despite global protections
Source: The oceans are home to iconic marine megafauna , including majestic whales, ancient turtles, agile seals, and powerful sharks. These incredible water creatures sit at the very top of the ocean food webs, playing a crucial role in maintaining balanced and healthy marine ecosystems. But now, over 100 marine megafaunal species are facing mounting threats as increasing human pressure dramatically reshapes their home—the vast and fragile ocean environment. According to recent research conducted by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the Australian National University (ANU) has carefully tracked the movements of these megafaunal species throughout the oceans to pinpoint the most important areas that require urgent and focused conservation efforts. About marine megafaunal species Marine megafauna are the giants of the ocean—large animals like whales, dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, and giant rays. These creatures aren't just beautiful and captivating; they're essential. They play critical roles in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. Their presence supports biodiversity and helps oceans function as stable, resilient ecosystems. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fastest Selling Plots of Mysore from 40L | 40+ Amenities PurpleBrick Learn More Undo Sea creatures like whales help circulate nutrients by diving deep and then surfacing to breathe, effectively stirring the ocean layers. Sea turtles keep seagrass beds healthy by grazing. Despite their importance, these marine megafauna face mounting threats from human activity. Overfishing, ship strikes, entanglement in plastic waste, noise pollution, and habitat loss all harm marine animals. Many of these animals are long-lived and slow to reproduce, so their numbers can't quickly bounce back once harmed. Climate change compounds these challenges by warming waters and disrupting migration and breeding patterns. Efforts to protect endangered marine megafauna According to reports, Sequeira in 2020 launched the MegaMove project, which aims to unite the marine movement ecology community to confront the urgent challenges facing ocean life. Sequeira said, 'MegaMove brings together an international network of researchers to provide innovative research to advance the global conservation of marine megafauna.' She explained, 'Our research shows that, in addition to protected areas, implementing mitigation strategies like changing fishing gear, using different lights in nets, and creating traffic schemes for ships will be key to alleviating current human pressure on these species.' Hidden routes of the big ocean creatures Currently, marine protected areas (MPAs) cover just eight percent of the world's oceans. However, the UN High Seas Treaty aims to expand that coverage to 30 percent. This new study shows that while the 30 percent goal is important, it may not be enough. The research team tracked animal movements to find areas critical for feeding, breeding, and migration. 'The impacts of a changing ocean on marine megafauna are already evident,' said Camrin Braun, assistant scientist and ocean ecologist at WHOI. 'Our recent work tracking marine predators, including an earlier WHOI-led study, indicates that changes in the ocean are expected to fundamentally alter the status quo for where these species are and how they live.' Getting ready for a changing ocean The study connects closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 14, which focuses on life below water. By combining large-scale tracking data and coordinated international efforts, this research offers a clear path forward—a future where marine megafauna continue to thrive alongside a growing human presence on the seas Also read | Astronomers discover high-altitude clouds darkening skies in YSES-1 system
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Antarctica's remote wildlife sanctuaries disturbed by human noise, study says
Source: New evidence shows that the noise of tiny motors and humming generators is reaching some of the continent's most fragile refuges. This discovery raises concerns that steady human noise is already stressing Antarctic wildlife. According to recordings reveal that a single power unit over a mile away can pierce the natural hush of Ardley Island—an Antarctic sanctuary for seabirds and seals. An international team of researchers from the University of the Republic of Uruguay (Udelar) and Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) embarked on two summer field campaigns in 2022 and 2023. Their mission was to measure the acoustic footprint of an energy generator stationed on the busy Fildes Peninsula. One recorder was placed 900 feet (300 meters) from the machine; another was set up on Ardley Island itself, within Antarctic Specially Protected Area 150. Antarctic seabirds struggle to communicate over machine noise Spectral analysis identified the generator by its distinctive low-frequency "fingerprints" and helped rule out other sound sources such as helicopters and quad bikes. Each recorder captured five-minute clips every hour, day and night. The team found that strong winds blowing from the land could reduce the noise, but during calm periods, the sound traveled clearly across sea ice and snow. Over time, the generator's pulse became a steady background hum beneath the natural sounds of waves, wind, and bird calls. Although Ardley Island hosts many animal species, the study focused on seabirds. The island is home to about five percent of all chinstrap penguins in the South Shetlands and large numbers of southern giant petrels. Both birds rely on short, clear calls. The background noise may not completely block their calls, but it forces the birds to call louder or more often. This extra effort drains their energy and can make nests easier for predators to find—or more exposed to cold. The forms of human noise Most studies on Antarctic noise have focused on ships disturbing whales at sea. However, terrestrial soundscapes have received far less attention—even though colonies of gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguins rely on familiar sounds during the intense summer breeding season. In penguin rookeries and seal haul-outs, vocal calls carry important messages about mating, feeding, and danger. When mechanical noise overlaps those pitches, a parent may miss a chick's cry, or a nervous adult may leave the nest more often. 'Animals typically respond to noise exposure by altering their usual behavior, including changes in the type and frequency of vocalizations and reduced efficiency in foraging or responding to predators,' said co-author Martín Rocamora, a scientist at UPF. 'They may also develop hearing loss or increased levels of stress hormones.' Field stations around the Fildes Peninsula use many engines—generators, trucks, boats, aircraft—to support science and logistics operations, all contributing to the growing acoustic disturbance. Reducing human disruptions in Antarctic Antarctica is never completely silent—storms, cracking ice, and animal colonies naturally create sound. But unnecessary human noise is avoidable. Installing mufflers on machines, moving noisy equipment farther from bird nesting areas, and scheduling heavy-lift flights outside peak breeding times are all practical steps we can take now. These small adjustments can help protect Antarctica's unique soundscape and support animals whose survival depends on being able to hear—and be heard. While more research is needed to understand exactly how machine noise affects chick survival, early findings are clear: even one engine can be louder than an entire penguin colony. Protecting the soundscape of Antarctica may be just as important as protecting its ice and krill Also read | 47-million-year-old snake found may be the biggest ever, surpassing Titanoboa
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Fish endure intense pain up to 24 minutes when killed, study reveals
Source: Every year, wild and farmed fish are killed in great numbers to feed humanity. A new study discovers that some of the fish suffer between two to twenty minutes of intense pain, once they are killed for food. Even stuffing fish in ice slurry after catching them could cause severe pain. According to the researchers found that rainbow trout- a species of fish consumed across the globe- experience around 10 minutes of moderate to intense pain when killed through 'air asphyxiation', a common method used in fish farming and commercial farming. A new study led by researchers sheds light on this pain and suggests ways to reduce it, as animal welfare groups state that it is an inhumane process, given the amount of time it takes for them to lose consciousness. Fish suffer for long minutes of pain after being caught When fish are pulled out of water, they experience a prolonged and stressful decline, lasting up to 24 minutes. The process of air asphyxiation involves removing the fish from water, leading to oxygen deprivation, panic, and a slow decline into unconsciousness. Their gills collapse, they gasp in panic, their blood chemistry spirals, and oxygen disappears as carbon dioxide builds. To quantify this suffering, scientists developed the Welfare Footprint Framework, which measures pain in minutes. Applying this framework to trout slaughter, researchers found that fish endure about 10 minutes of severe pain, including hurtful and disabling suffering,with some cases extending beyond 20 minutes. When adjusted by weight, that translates to 24 minutes of such pain per kilogram of fish killed. The researchers analyzed behavioral, neurological, and physiological responses to understand the fish's experience, highlighting the need for more human slaughter methods. Why fish suffer even before they're killed The suffering of fish often begins before the actual slaughter, with stressors like crowding, transport, and handling causing physical injury and hours of distress. Methods like air asphyxiation and ice exposure can prolong suffering, with the latter risking tissue damage and thermal shock. Regulations often overlook these pre-slaughter stressors, despite the significant impact on fish welfare. Fish slaughter pain is not limited to Trout, experts warn Although the study mainly focused on Rainbow trout, other species may suffer in similar ways during air exposure. Some species tolerate low oxygen better, while others may react more strongly to ice. Salmon, Catfish, Seabass, and Tilapia are a few of the species. Dr. Wladimir Alonso from Welfare Footprint Institute noted, 'The Welfare Footprint Framework provides a rigorous and transparent evidence-based approach to measuring animal welfare, and enables informed decisions about where to allocate resources for the greatest impact.' Making fish farming more humane The study suggests that improved stunning methods and worker training can significantly reduce fish suffering . This research provides a scientific basis for policymakers to reform laws, ensuring more humane slaughter practices. For consumers, it highlights the importance of considering the welfare of fish when making food choices. Improving slaughter methods can have a substantial impact, given the large number of fish affected Also read | Scientists spot 'superorganism' in the wild for the first time — and it's made of worms
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
How stress impacts sleep and memory; here's what researchers say
Source: Researchers have spent years studying why stress often disrupts people's sleeping schedules, causing tossing and turning at night. They have also examined how stress might reduce our ability to recall important information the next day. Our mind tends to be stuck around things about which we're stressing over day and night. It affects the overall routine of our day and makes us feel as if we're trapped in a cage. According to Shinjae Chung, from the University of Pennsylvania, led a study to explore a neural pathway in male mice that stress may influence to cause sleep and memory disturbances. When stress hits the brain Stress affects more than just emotional reactions- it also triggers physical changes in the brain. One major key area that is affected in our brain is the hypothalamus' paraventricular nucleus (PVN), which helps the body respond to threats by sending signals and releasing hormones. When the affected area, PVN, detects stress, it can disrupt sleeping patterns and block healthy memory formation, setting off a chain that impacts overall well-being. Link between stress, sleep and memory Neuroscientists studied the effects of stimulating the PVN, discovering its connection to the lateral hypothalamus (LH), which regulates hunger and wakefulness. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pinga-Pinga e HBP? Tome isso 1x ao dia se tem mais de 40 anos Portal Saúde do Homem Clique aqui Undo 'Activating CRHPVN neurons impairs memory performance and increases wakefulness, whereas inhibiting CRHPVN neurons during stress improves memory and sleep,' said Chung. By artificially stimulating neurons in mice, they observed reduced sleep and impaired spatial memory. On the other hand, blocking these neurons during stress improved memory and sleep, suggesting a key link between PVN activity, sleep patterns, and cognitive function. Stress affects sleep cycle and weakens memory Stress not only reduces sleep but also impairs memory. When PVN neurons are active, memory deficits occur. This suggests that any disruption around the hypothalamus affects how the brain stores information. Even mild stress can overactive molecular pathways, shifting towards survival and leaving normal processes like memory compromised. The brain depends on a tight rhythm of sleep-wake cycles and memory consolidation routines, which CRH neurons in the PVN seem to interrupt, re-routing energy towards immediate survival priorities. This shift disrupts normal rest patterns and blocks efficient memory processing, potentially leading to long-term effects on mental clarity and emotional balance. Handling stress carefully improves sleeping patterns By blocking stress-linked neurons, researchers observed calm behavior and slightly improved sleep in mice, as well as enhanced object recognition. One potential approach involves modulating Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) signals, which triggers the stress response. They speculated that adjusting CRH activity in the PVN circuit might help restore sleep patterns and preserve memory function. Breaking the cycle of chronic stress Further research is still required to determine how often the hypothalamic circuit becomes overworked and to investigate the timing, dodge, and potential side effects of therapies. This discovery could lead to new therapies that promote healthy sleep and protect memory, particularly for individuals with anxiety disorders. Also read | What is Mouth Larvae: Know its causes, symptoms, prevention strategies and treatment One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
