New Research on Biodiversity and Nature
A round-up of recent work published in scientific journals
Bionic jellyfish. Climate change and African apes. Dodgy meat science. Fishing in marine protected areas. And much more…
A biohybrid robotic jellyfish for research in the deep ocean: The ocean is a major player in the global climate but scientists still know little about what is going on beneath its surface, especially in its deeper reaches. Unlike us, jellyfish can move efficiently through the ocean and withstand the extreme pressure of the deep water. In this paper, scientists describe how they fixed onto jellyfish a 3D-printed structure called a forebody that could one day contain sensors. They combined this with a previously developed microelectronic pacemaker that stimulates muscle tissue. The animals are unharmed as they feel no pain and the devices are removable. The researchers built a tall aquarium to observe the jellyfish swimming against a current — in effect, a vertical water treadmill. With both pacemaker and forebody fitted, the jellyfish can move 4.5 times faster than an unencumbered jellyfish. The cost per unit is just US$20 — nothing compared to the US$50,000 daily cost of renting and running a research vessel. The next step is the design of a sensor system that can withstand high pressure and fit in the forebody. Read the press release with video or the full paper in Bioinspiration & Biomimetics.
Climate change forecast for African apes: Chimpanzees, gorillas and bonobos face rising threats from climate change, according to this study. It assessed how more than 360 ape-inhabited sites in 21 African countries would fare under two scenarios of global heating. The researchers say that, under either scenario, wildfires and crop failures would be frequent at nearly all sites. If global heating can be limited to 2°C above pre-industrial levels, 84 percent of sites would still be exposed to frequent heatwaves and 78 percent would face flooding in the next 30 years. If global temperatures rise by 3°C, the number of affected sites and the frequency of events would be greater. The authors also looked at how climate change could affect apes through heat stress, dehydration and loss of fruit trees. They provide detailed results for each site. Read the press release or the full paper in PLOS Climate.
How the meat and dairy industry co-opts science to avoid accountability for its climate impacts: A wealth of scientific research has shown how meat and dairy production contributes to global heating and climate change — for instance, because forests are felled to grow animal feed and cows emit methane when they burp. But governments have done little to address the livestock sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. This study sheds light on this omission. It shows how the livestock industry has co-opted university experts and research centres to downplay the contributions of meat and dairy production to climate change. Using the same tactics that have benefitted the tobacco and fossil fuel industries, the industry is spending millions of dollars funding research and advocacy aimed at preventing policy changes that would affect it. Read the full paper in Climatic Change.
People and fish can both gain from marine protected areas (MPAs): MPAs are a key tool for ocean conservation. They are set to grow in number, as nearly 200 countries have agreed to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030. But there are concerns about the impacts of MPAs on fishing communities if fishing in them is banned, and about their conservation effectiveness if fishing is allowed. This study used data from more than 14,000 surveys in and around 216 MPAs to assess the impacts of ‘no-take’ (un-fished) and ‘multiple-use’ (fished) MPAs on fish biomass. In remote areas of the ocean, the two management regimes had similar effects. In areas of high fishing pressure, the no-take MPAs performed better. This is to be expected. But the study also found that MPAs where some fishing is allowed can still be effective at conservation if they are well staffed and regulated. The findings are relevant to places where fishing restrictions are impossible or unethical, for example because of cultural reasons or high dependency on fishing for livelihoods. Read the press release or find the full paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
See also, new papers on:
How cattle management practices affect bird diversity in Argentina’s humid Chaco forests
Hornbill abundance in a tiger reserve in India’s Eastern Himalaya
Human mental health and wildlife conservation in urban parks in São Paulo, Brazil
Climate change is driving a decline in Himalayan bumblebee habitat
Cooling effects of urban wetlands, parks and botanical gardens
In case you missed it…
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I look forward to more updates on that jellyfish initiative. I hope you keep us posted.
I fear that the great apes, from Africa to Sumatra will be extinct in the next fifty years outside those sheltered in zoos and preserves. Many culprits causing the population collapse but likely zoonoses will take the most toll.