The Evolution of Evolution

It is entirely appropriate that David Attenborough commences a BBC series devoted to Darwin's 'Tree of Life' today (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7863517.stm) and has reiterated his views on the undesirability of offering creationism as an alternative to evolution in science lessons. It is now 200 years since Darwin was born on the 12th of February 1809 and the concept of evolution has had an immense impact on our understanding of biology (although reportedly without convincing a majority of the general population). It is now generally appreciated with the development of modern genetic techniques that the 'Tree of Life' is a bit more complex than was appreciated by Darwin. Although admitting the central importance of Darwin, it is a little sad that our 'local' co-discoverer, Alfred Russel Wallace (http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/collections-at-the-museum/wallace-collection/index.jsp), who was much younger but had none of the financial and social connection advantages of his co-discoverer seems to have been largely ignored (he did, in the programme, get his usual 'honorable mention' for 'stimulating Darwin into publication but that doesn't seem to do justice to his contributions that were over a very extended period) in the bicentenary celebrations. I doubt that we will have another bicentenary in 2023!

Beavers and Water Quality?

I didn't realise it until today but it was reported on BBC's Countryfile programme that South-West Water is one of the main enthusiasts for the reintroduction of the beaver into Devon and Cornwall. Their logic is that beavers, via their dam creation activities, would slow the flow of rivers, resulting in nitrates and phosphates in run-off from agricultural activities having the opportunity to fall to river bottoms with silt. They feel that this would discourage the problematic blooming of toxic blue-green algae that has negative consequences for recreational water use etc. Other people, concerned with creating environments for spawning salmon and trout (fast rivers with clean gravel substrates) do not appear so keen on beavers. One thing was very evident, in following the one male beaver that has escaped quarantine in that area, is that it is very difficult to predict where the animals will go and the precise nature of their activities (they can certainly take down substantial trees!). I feel that we need some seriously controlled studies in a variety of locations before any question of systematic release.

Seeing the Changes 165

In spite of the cold snaps, in Loughor, Ivy-leaved toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis) was having an attempt to flower. Heather (Calluna vulgaris) was flowering vigorously in that location. Around Bynea, masses of yellow, male catkins of Hazel (Corylus arvellana) were prominent.

Organic 'Holiday'?

I have always had a slight problem with 'organic foods' because my chemical background simply regards the term as referring to any molecule with carbon in it. Having said that, I do understand the concept (again, taking mild umbrage with expressions such as "chemical free") and a Swansea project student, Carly Smith, has found, in a questionnaire survey of around 200 people in the Llanelli area, that the term is much better recognised than other food applied epithets such as 'Freedom Foods' and 'Fairtrade'. The recent suggestion, however, that some 'organic farmers' should be allowed a temporary 'holiday' from strict adherence to the rules, without eventually having to go back through the expensive business of re-qualifying for the label (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7858813.stm) does raise a number of issues. The basic driver for this suggestion is the 'credit crunch' resulting in fewer people buying organic food from some vendors, combined with a higher costs of animal feed not being reflected in any premium the farmer can charge for his more expensive product. The idea is that such farmers should be allowed to feed their stock cheaper food so long as they do not sell the meat etc as 'organic'. I can see how this might work for a single meat animal (although the housing locations would have to be very vigorously 'cleaned' when reverting back to the 'organic' label) but I do not see how it could be applied to the milk from dairy cattle and wonder about the manure use in the case of vegetables. One also wonders whether, in some cases, the 'holiday' will ever end. Is 'organic' only a rich person's affectation?

Freshwater Frenzy?

An enthusiasm seems to be developing in the UK for creating new ponds as 'hot spots' of biodiversity (http://www.pondconservation.org.uk/millionponds/). The plan aims to double the number of ponds by digging half a million (restoring the number lost over the last 150 years). The activity can work very well, as an artificially created pond at Pinkhill by the Thames, has become one of the richest for freshwater animal and plant life in the country in a remarkably short space of time. There are occasional problems (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/7853070.stm) as burgeoning fish have had to be 're-located' from the Caen Hill set of locks near Devizes in Wiltshire as they have been endangering rare dragonfly nymphs and aquatic plants. Ponds can, of course, be invaded by problem-causing alien species of plants such as Parrot's feather (shown) and Water hyacinth. Management will be needed at least to some degree. I have had personal experience of the enthusiasm for the natural world that can be encouraged in young children by activities such as pond dipping at both the National Wetlands Centre Wales at Llanelli (http://www.wwt.org.uk/centre/120/national_wetland_centre_wales.html) and the National Botanic Garden Wales (http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/). I regard this as being an excellent way of developing an early understanding of the environment and the need for taxonomic (identification) skills.

Even More Expensive Deer?

The UK deer 'overpopulation' story is back again (http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/conservation/wildlife-management-licensing/species/deer.htm). Recent media attention has focused on the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents 'caused' by these animals (in some cases, the humans have some responsibility) as well as the damage their burgeoning numbers cause to trees and other woodland plants. Culling of these animals is difficult (they are not easy to shoot humanely), especially when other groups of folk are apparently merrily placing 'rescued' deer into 'spare' woodland habitat. Of course, not all the deer species that we have are indigenous to this country (some are clearly 'alien' species like Japanese knotweed). Now that hunting with dogs has been curtailed, there is also strictly limited enthusiasm for introducing wolf packs or European lynx to control their numbers (they might well eat other animals including people and their domesticated animals). It will be interesting to see how Bambi gets on.

Seeing the Changes 164

On the cycle path between Swansea and Mumbles, in addition to Groundsel and Lesser celendine , there were multitudinous Daisy (Bellis perennis), occasional Dandelion (Taraxacum spp), along with a smattering of escaped Garden crocus (Crocus albiflorus) and Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis). The strangely ubiquitous pink Winter heliotrope (Petasites fragrans) was also much in evidence and Alder (Alnus glutinosa) catkins were advanced.