Seeing the Changes 1361

Fabulously, favourable fungi factors fuse in Loughor!

Pouring Cold Waters?

Researchers in Canada have established that the cold, relatively lifeless waters of glacial rivers actually remove more carbon from the atmosphere than a comparable area of rainforest (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/25/scientists-glacial-rivers-absorb-carbon-faster-rainforests). This suggests that there is yet another downside for the disappearing glaciers.

Chicken Lickin?

Retailers are reportedly rushing to 'reassure' UK shoppers at supermarkets that the seizure of a consignment of Chinese antibiotics en route to a large chicken farm in Northern Ireland does not indicate that there was any risk to their health by eating flesh containing drug residues (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/23/retailers-move-to-reassure-consumers-over-chicken-safety-after-drug-seizure-northern-ireland). That is hardly the point. The antibiotic, although approved for regulated veterinary use, seemed to be possibly destined for use as a growth (and, hence, profit) promoter. Such use by farmers, in other parts of the world (it's banned under EU regulations), is one reason for the rapid development of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, threatening human health by returning us to a pre-antibiotic era. It is not just the use of chlorine wash on American chicken that should put us off facilitating its importation to our shores. Nor do we need to adopt their rearing systems for chickens here.

Slow Hitch-hiking?

It has been reported (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/23/snail-fail-australia-turns-back-mercedes-benz-cars-after-escargot-cargo-found ) that the Australian authorities have sent 900 luxury Mercedes cars back to their country of origin as some were found to be carrying Heath snails (Xerolenta obvia). Given Australia's past problems with biosecurity, the Department of Agriculture was keen not to risk this previously never before detected alien entering the country. The snail eats cereal crops and fruit trees and carries a range of parasites and fungal spores.

Ratatouille

Scientists in the Palm oil plantations of Malaysia were reportedly surprised to find that local Pig-tailed macaques were feasting on rats in these cultured 'forests' (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/22/rat-eating-macaques-stun-scientists-malaysia). It was surprising that these monkeys captured and consumed so much animal flesh but it was also recognised that they were reducing the losses of palm oil (a somewhat problematic crop) to the rats. Primates are generally great opportunists!

Bullion on Mullion?

The appearance of copious numbers of elastic bands on Mullion island off the coast of Cornwall confused scientists for some time (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/23/depressing-mystery-of-elastic-bands-found-on-remote-mullion-island-solved). It now appears that nesting gulls were picking up these items (often dropped by postal workers on the mainland) and bringing back these 'worms' to feed to their chicks. The practice suggests that food items are very much in short supply for these birds. The bands might well cause many problems for animals in this location.

Seeing the Changes 1360

Caddis flies come to Loughor.