The Virginia Mercury reports
Throughout Virginia, scientists are documenting significant warming of water temperatures, from inland freshwater streams and rivers to the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, which experts say has “huge cascading effects on ecosystems.”
Read more at Warming water temperatures in Virginia are changing aquatic life as we know it • Virginia Mercury
Posted in Environment | Tags: Warming Water Temperature Impact on Aquatic Life
NPR reports
Popular slogans and ad campaigns have urged the public to save honeybees. But reports suggest those efforts were directed at saving the wrong bees.
— Read on www.npr.org/2024/05/11/1250784224/weve-been-trying-to-save-the-wrong-bees
Posted in Animals | Tags: Bee Conservation
Bay Nature reports
The Xerces blue butterfly, long gone from San Francisco, became a symbol of the fight against extinctions. Now scientists are sending in a replacement.
Scientists have schlepped up some silvery blue butterflies, Glaucopsyche lygdamus, from the Monterey area to the Presidio, to stand in for their extinct cousin. Will it take?
Read more at There’s a New Blue Flitting on Xerces’ Old Turf
Posted in Butterflies | Tags: Butterflies, Glaucopsyche lygdamus, silvery blue butterflies, xerces blue butterfly
To see job description and apply go to https://jobs.colostate.edu/postings/143604
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
Reuters reports
Giant blue-grey sei whales that vanished from Argentina’s Patagonian coast a century ago due to hunting are starting to flourish once again, demonstrating how species can recover when measures to protect them are put in place.
In the 1920s and 1930s regular whaling ships along the shores of Argentina, and beyond, saw populations dwindle. In the last 50 years, global bans on commercial whaling have helped populations of sei and others revive.
Read more at A whale makes a comeback off Argentina’s coast 100 years after vanishing
Posted in Animals | Tags: Sei Whales
SF Gate reports
Failures on the part of the Aramark subsidiary contracted to run visitor services in Yosemite National Park have led to the deterioration of historic structures, resulting in injuries to a visitor and a staff member, according to United States Department of the Interior records.
Posted in Park | Tags: Yosemite National Park Concessionaire
from the Revelato
Snap a photo, save the planet? The app iNaturalist does a lot more than identify the species you see. As iNaturalist codirector Scott Loarie tells us, it also helps inspire conservation efforts and drive important new science.
Posted in Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: iNaturalist
from eBird
Go birding on Global Big Day—11 May! Be a part of a new world record by submitting eBird checklists this Saturday. Global Big Day is an annual celebration of the birds around you. No matter where you are, join us virtually on 11 May, help celebrate World Migratory Bird Day, and share the birds you find with eBird.
Participating in Global Big Day helps you qualify for the May eBirder of the Month Challenge. Submit five or more eligible checklists on May 11 and you could win NEW Zeiss SFL binoculars. Share your experiences on social media with #GlobalBigDay and watch results live on the Global Big Day homepage.
| Learn how you can participate |
Posted in Birds | Tags: Global Big Day
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Posted in Photography | Tags: Calflora’s May Photo Contest
From California State Parks
California is in bloom! Share your wildflower walks in a California state park this spring for a chance to win a prize from our friends at Parks Project! Contest runs May 1 – May 31. Learn more: https://ow.ly/iRZh50RyJJq
Posted in Photography, Wildflowers | Tags: California State Parks Wildflower Photo Contest
ScienceDaily reports
A new study states that the combination of global warming and extreme heat events, alongside the continued expansion of deforestation in the world, may be devastating for many species of animals, especially those that know how to climb trees. As part of the study, the researchers focused on lizards and showed that following the effects of climate change, they will seek refuge from the hot ground by spending a lot of time on trees. However, due to human-related activities, such as deforestation, urbanization and the expansion of agricultural lands at the expense of natural lands, the availability of trees in the areas where the lizards live will decrease, and this may lead to the collapse of many populations.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Climate Crisis, Deforestation
From the National Parks Conservation Association
If there’s one thing that’s clear from our 2024 “Polluted Parks” report, it’s that our parks are suffering from air pollution. To be more specific:
• 98% of parks suffer from concerning levels of haze pollution.
• 96% of parks face ozone pollution that negatively affects human health.
• 96% of parks are experiencing serious harm to nature – plants and animals – from air pollution.
We’re advocating for swift action to curb air pollution and limit climate threats affecting people and parks. Read the report to learn more and understand what we can do to address these threats.
Posted in Environment, Park | Tags: Pollution in National Parks
The Debrief reports Scientists Keep Finding Giant Sinkholes in China that Hide Ancient Forests, Unknown Wildlife, and Long Lost DNA
In the heart of China’s karst landscapes, the recent discovery of massive sinkholes that contain ancient forests play a vital role in biodiversity conservation, and seem to be teeming with life. The karst tiankengs are refuges for genetic diversity, particularly for endangered species like Manglietia aromatica. A new study published the March 2024 issue of the journal Forests provides compelling evidence of these sinkholes’ significance in the conservation of long lost DNA.
Posted in Environment, Uncategorized | Tags: Giant Sinkholes in China
NPR reports
In late May 2020, 11-year-old Ruby Reynolds and her father, Justin Reynolds, drove to Blue Anchor, a seaside village in Somerset in southwest England, to hunt for fossils along the beach.
Upon arriving, they found that somebody had left a piece of fossilized bone at the top of the beach. It was about four inches long, which was “bigger than any piece of bone I’d ever found before,” says Justin. “So I was very excited and sat down to have a good look at it.”
Read more at That’s a big ichthyosaur: Father-daughter team helps find largest marine reptile : NPR
Posted in Animals | Tags: Largest-ever marine reptile
ScienceDaily reports
A new sunflower family tree used skimmed genomes to increase the number of species sampled, revealing that flower symmetry evolved multiple times independently, a process called convergent evolution, among the members of this large plant family.
Read article at New sunflower family tree reveals multiple origins of flower symmetry | ScienceDaily
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: New sunflower family tree
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Posted in Walks & Hikes | Tags: Los Padres Forest Watch Events
from Alt National Park Service
Posted in Environment | Tags: Intelligent Species
The Revelator reports
When humans bring new plants to an ecosystem, it can slowly push out the original inhabitants. Research shows us how to identify this threat before plant species become “the living dead.”
Read article at Six Degrees of Plant Extinction • The Revelator
Posted in Environment, Wildflowers | Tags: Six Degrees of Plant Extinction
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Flowers
NOAA Fisheries reports
On April 11, 2024, NOAA Fisheries scientists observed two endangered Rice’s whales in the western Gulf of Mexico. There are likely fewer than 100 Rice’s whales in the Gulf of Mexico, the only area where the species is known to occur.
Read more at Rice’s Whales Spotted in the Western Gulf of Mexico | NOAA Fisheries
Posted in Animals | Tags: Rice's Whales
SF Gate reports
An intoxicated visitor at Yellowstone National Park allegedly kicked a bison, resulting in the visitor being injured and later arrested, the National Park Service announced.
Read more Drunken tourist kicked bison in Yellowstone, officials say
Posted in Animals, Park | Tags: Bad Tourist Behavior, Bison, Yellowstone National Park
Patabook News reports
Scores of emaciated brown pelicans, too weak to fly, have been found on Southern California beaches in the last month and taken to an Orange County rescue center, according to its director.
“We’re getting dozens of calls,” Debbie McGuire, executive director of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach, said on Saturday. “People are finding them in parking lots and their backyards.”
Read on patabook.com/news/2024/05/05/scores-of-starving-brown-pelicans-found-on-southern-california-beaches/
Posted in Birds | Tags: Starving Brown Pelicans
EarthSky reports
When to watch: New moon will fall a few days after the peak of the 2024 Eta Aquariid shower. So, mornings around the peak will be dark and moonless. The best mornings to watch are May 5 and 6, 2024, in the hours before dawn.
Read more at Eta Aquariid meteor shower this weekend! Q&A here
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: Eta Aquariids
Plant Conservation Intern – California Botanic Garden, Claremont CA
Yesterday, 07:10 AM
California Botanic Garden
1500 North College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711-3157 Phone 909-625-8767 calbg.orgTITLE: Plant Conservation Intern
DEPARTMENT: Biodiversity Research and Conservation
STATUS: Full-Time (10 weeks), starting mid-June
REPORTS TO: Director of Conservation Programs
APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 20th 2024— Read on for information and how to apply forum.cnps.org/
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: CALIFORNIA BOTANIC GARDEN, Plant Conservation Intern
See the events calendar for the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden at Garden Events
Posted in Class/Workshop, Garden | Tags: UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Events
SF Gate reports
The recent purchase of two properties in the Santa Cruz mountains, combined with other land, is expected to add nearly 200 acres of land to Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Read more A popular Northern California state park is getting even bigger
Posted in Park | Tags: Big Basin Redwoods State Park
from Golden Gate Bird Alliance
Native plant gardens are a fantastic way to attract birds and pollinators to your yard — but they’re quite different from other forms of gardening you may have done in the past. Here are six common mistakes that I’ve seen beginner native gardeners make. With a little forethought and planning, you can avoid these pitfalls and create a healthy, vibrant backyard for both you and wildlife.
Read more Six Common Mistakes in Native Gardening – Golden Gate Bird Alliance
Posted in Garden | Tags: Native Plant Garden Tips
Sf Gate reports
Although not as well known as Yosemite Falls or Bridalveil Fall, Ribbon Fall is the tallest single-drop waterfall in the contiguous United States.
Read on www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/yosemite-waterfalls-raging-19431483.php
Posted in Park, Waterfalls | Tags: Ribbon Falls, Yosemite
Miami Herald reported
In the mountains of central China, a “large” pregnant creature perched at the edge of a forest. Down the scaly predator’s back ran a line of “heart-shaped” spots.
Visiting scientists spotted the colorful animal — and discovered a new species
— Read on news.yahoo.com/large-pregnant-creature-heart-shaped-193250342.html
Posted in Animals | Tags: New Species
Natural History Wanderings 