Seeing the Changes 1037

Caswell bay in bloom, with Sweet violet (Viola odorata) and Alexanders (Smyrnium olustarum), with flies, both in flower.

Birder's Bonus 161

Lots of Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) activity around Caswell bay.

Seeing the Changes 1036

In Pontneddfechan, the Opposite-leaved golden saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium) and Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris) were much in evidence.

Controlling Themselves?

News that the UK Government is planning to repeal animal welfare codes because they are more demanding than the systems used by some other countries (http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/mar/25/government-planning-to-repeal-animal-welfare-codes) and might make things a tad more expensive for UK exporters. The idea is that people could still be charged with animal cruelty but the industries would become referees on their own activities. Just how forceful they would prove when faced with problems seen in a major player in their field (who is probably paying for the inspection) is somewhat unclear.

Poles Apart?

Disturbing news that Poland's Government has reportedly approved large scale logging in Europe's last primeval forest (www.theguardian.com/environmental/2016/mar/26/poland-approves-large-scale-logging-in-europes-last-primeval-forest). This short-sighted development, will not only decimate a unique environment (surely with economic attractions for natural history enthusiasts) but is a big negative in terms of trying to deal with carbon emissions and climate change. This is likely to be another reflection of the short-termism that blights politics.

The Lowest Common Multiplier?

News from Craig Ventner's laboratory that they have created, what appears to be, the simplest living cell (www.theguardian.com/science/2016/mar/24/landmark-lab-creates-synthetic-cell-with-minimum-genes-needed-for-life-craig-ventner). The synthetic 'bacterial' cell can do all the living processes (such as respiration, growth and cell division) in spite of having only 473 genes rather than the 20k found in ourselves and the ubiquitous fruit fly. It is striking that, although they know what 67% of the genes do in their stripped down creation, the roles of the remainder are still a mystery. This certainly suggests that the origins of living systems are a good deal less complex than those now found on the planet ( in that evolution of life might be a relatively simple process) but I am less enthusiastic (but resigned) about the prospect of developing synthetic micro-organisms to generate new fuels et cetera.

Seeing the Changes 1035

The avian egg hunters have been at it in Loughor before Easter!