Slithering to Extinction?

Some rather shocking predictions from a study by 200 'experts', reported by the Zoological Society of London (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/15/reptile-species-face-extinction?INTCMP=SRCH) where it appears that 20 percent of the world's existing reptiles are facing extinction.Some species are more critical than others with half of the freshwater turtles being at imminent risk and many lizards (especially anolids) are threatened by deforestation followed by agriculture.So habitat loss appears at the root of the disappearances. All this represents real losses as reptiles are an important group of organisms with the ability to thrive on a much lower calorie intake than a mammal or bird of similar body weight. You could argue that, when ambient temperatures are relatively high and stable, they are more efficient than the warm-blooded vertebrates.  

Foxes and Boxes?

Another frantically-hyped tale of an attack on a London baby by an 'urban fox' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21399709). The four-week old child reportedly had a finger bitten off (re-attached in hospital) by a fox that entered the home in Bromley. This event has led to calls for a 'cull' on the foxes (a very difficult thing to do humanely, even by trapping, with no guarantee that removing animals from one area would not cause others to move into the 'vacated' territories). Some experts have pointed out that a) fox attacks are incredibly rare, especially in comparison to dog attacks (that can also be much more dangerous). Yet people rarely call for a cull of dogs; b) the problem may be exacerbated by the pretty messy fashion we often 'dispose' of human food waste, attracting foxes to human habitations and c) there must have been access to the house, for the fox to gain entry. The urban fox lives, by using its intelligence and attributes, to largely scavenge for food. The animal probably can obtain more food in cities than in the countryside (hunting is much less efficient in a costs versus benefits sense), which will increase their numbers and change their behaviour. The reaction to this sad event seems to be a marked over-reaction by many of the concerned. We do tend to take things terribly personally and appear surprised when a wild animal 'dares' to do something to one of our kind (probably by accident?). 

Seeing the Changes 542

In Loughor, quite a few flowers have appeared. They include the Primrose (Primula vulgaris), , Crab apple (Malus sylvestris) and Lesser celendine (Ranunculus ficaria).

Seeing the Changes 541

In Penclacwydd, Hazel was coming into catkin.

Slick 'People'

It appears that the oiling and deaths of many sea birds, including Guillemots and Razorbills, on the Chesil Beach in Dorset (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/01/thousands-seabirds-harmed-oil-uk-coast?INTCMP=SRCH) is probably related to the illegal washing out of the tanks of some ship at sea. This is a relatively cheap thing for tanker owners to do but is, of course, completely illegal. The oiling (the material is not a typical crude or fuel oil) event could not occur at a worse time of the year so far as the effected species are concerned. Using modern forensic methods and the time frame, it may be possible to identify the culprits. Bringing them to book is another thing entirely.

Seeing the Changes 540

Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) is in flower in Bynea.

British Moths Going to the Dogs

There is a disturbing report about the 'calamitous' decline in UK moths (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/01/british-moths-calamitous-decline?INTCMP=SRCH) with at least 3 species becoming extinct and the popular Garden tiger (Arctia caja) showing a profound decrease. The changes are presumably related to modifications of the weather patterns as this alters the growth of plants on which the larvae feed, possible nectar sources that some adults used to 'refuel' and their abilities to fly. Some species e.g. the illustrated Jersey tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria) have actually increased their range.