This critically endangered spider species is one of the smallest known at only 0.43-0.57mm. It is found in only four caves in Portugal and is threatened by limestone quarrying which has already destroyed 20% of its habitat. Unless protective measures are implemented, such as enforcing minimum distances for quarries and regulating tourism, the species is at high risk of extinction due to habitat loss and changes to the caves' microclimates.
Trabalho realizado pela aluna nº 14, Marlene Almeida, da turma do 1º ano do curso profissional de Técnico de Turismo Ambiental e Rural do Agrupamento de Escolas de Oliveira de Frades, no âmbito da disciplina Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Rural, no módulo 8 "As Áreas Protegidas"
Trabalho realizado pela aluna nº 14, Marlene Almeida, da turma do 1º ano do curso profissional de Técnico de Turismo Ambiental e Rural do Agrupamento de Escolas de Oliveira de Frades, no âmbito da disciplina Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Rural, no módulo 8 "As Áreas Protegidas"
Species Diversity of Mangroves in Catarman, Northern Samarijtsrd
This study identified mangrove species in Catarman, Northern Samar which was categorized into families, genera and species. The researcher utilized transect line plot to determine the species composition of mangroves. A 10m x 10m plot was laid along calibrated rope were mangrove species were located. The mangroves were identified and classified taxonomically up to the species level using the Field Guide Manual to Philippine Mangroves. The researcher able to sampled nine true mangrove species and eight mangrove associates from the study area. Beberlie L. Medrano-Dangkeo "Species Diversity of Mangroves in Catarman, Northern Samar" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-5 | Issue-1 , December 2020, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd35857.pdf Paper URL : https://www.ijtsrd.com/other-scientific-research-area/other/35857/species-diversity-of-mangroves-in-catarman-northern-samar/beberlie-l-medranodangkeo
Neotropical Forest Monitoring Initiative - A Photo PerspectiveCassidy Rankine
Some of my favorite photos I took during the early years of my PhD field research activities in the Neotropics from 2009 - 2012 setting up Earth observation satellite validation and calibration study sites in endangered tropical ecosystems.
by Cassidy Rankine
Earth Observation Systems Laboratory
University of Alberta
Biodiversity and threats in the Desert Uplands: The case of Bimblebox Nature ...bimblebox
The 8000 hectare Bimblebox Nature Refuge is threatened by a massive new coal development proposed by Waratah Coal. In late September 2011 the company released its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for its ‘China First’ mine (otherwise known as the ‘Galilee Coal Project’). It outlines a proposal to extract 40 mega-tonnes of coal per year, which would be transported on a yet-to-be-built 468km rail line up to Abbot Point and shipped through the Great Barrier Reef on its way to China where it will be burnt for energy generation. Their ambitious and polluting plans have not yet received formal government approval.
Support the upcoming 'Bimblebox' documentary by film maker Michael O'Connell on Kickstarter: http://kck.st/rTFBO7
www.bimblebox.org
Divides up the history of the earth based on life- forms that have existed during specific times since the creation of planet.
Is an important tool used to portray the history of the Earth.
Also known as the Great Dying .
96 percent of species died out.
Life on earth descended from the four percent that survived.
CAUSES: Asteroid impact, flood basalt eruptions, catastrophic methane release ,a drop in oxygen levels ,sea level fluctuations.
Ice melts in polar regions which is home to many animals like penguins and polar bears. Melted ice also leads to the rise in sea levels as well as submerging low-dying islands
Global warming gives rise to the El Niño and La Niña phenomenon which brings major disasters such as floods ,drought heatwaves ,and forest fires; destroying habitats and killing its inhabitants.
Change in temperature forces many species to flee from their comfortable habitat. They migrate and invade other territories that are similar to their old ones.
Increases in carbon dioxide concentration also cause our oceans to become more acidic .Acidic water dissolves the shells of many sea creatures such as crabs, shrimps, oysters ,and soon even coral reefs which are home to numerous marine lives.
The name dinosaur comes from the Greek words deinos (“terrible” or “fearfully great”) and sauros (“reptile” or “lizard”). The English anatomist Richard Owen proposed the formal term Dinosauria in 1842 to include three giant extinct animals (Megalosaurus, Iguanodon, and Hylaeosaurus) represented by large fossilized bones that had been unearthed at several locations in southern England during the early part of the 19th century. Owen recognized that these reptiles were far different from other known reptiles of the present and the past for three reasons: they were large yet obviously terrestrial, unlike the aquatic ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs that were already known; they had five vertebrae in their hips, whereas most known reptiles have only two; and, rather than holding their limbs sprawled out to the side in the manner of lizards, dinosaurs held their limbs under the body in columnar fashion, like elephants and other large mammals. The extensive fossil record of genera and species is testimony that dinosaurs were diverse animals, with widely varying lifestyles and adaptations. Their remains are found in sedimentary rock layers (strata) dating to the Late Triassic Epoch (approximately 237 million to 201.3 million years ago). The abundance of their fossilized bones is substantive proof that dinosaurs were the dominant form of terrestrial animal life during the Mesozoic Era (about 252.2 million to 66 million years ago). It is likely that the known remains represent a very small fraction (probably less than 0.0001 percent) of all the individual dinosaurs that once lived. Before Richard Owen introduced the term Dinosauria in 1842, there was no concept of anything even like a dinosaur. Large fossilized bones quite probably had been observed long period by
Wetlands-classification, Intertidal zone-study in flora and FaunaMegha Majoe
A comprehensive presentation to understand the common methods of classification of wetlands, their traits and threats. Also a small study of the flora and fauna of the ecosystem of Carter Road shore- Mumbai
Species Diversity of Mangroves in Catarman, Northern Samarijtsrd
This study identified mangrove species in Catarman, Northern Samar which was categorized into families, genera and species. The researcher utilized transect line plot to determine the species composition of mangroves. A 10m x 10m plot was laid along calibrated rope were mangrove species were located. The mangroves were identified and classified taxonomically up to the species level using the Field Guide Manual to Philippine Mangroves. The researcher able to sampled nine true mangrove species and eight mangrove associates from the study area. Beberlie L. Medrano-Dangkeo "Species Diversity of Mangroves in Catarman, Northern Samar" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-5 | Issue-1 , December 2020, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd35857.pdf Paper URL : https://www.ijtsrd.com/other-scientific-research-area/other/35857/species-diversity-of-mangroves-in-catarman-northern-samar/beberlie-l-medranodangkeo
Neotropical Forest Monitoring Initiative - A Photo PerspectiveCassidy Rankine
Some of my favorite photos I took during the early years of my PhD field research activities in the Neotropics from 2009 - 2012 setting up Earth observation satellite validation and calibration study sites in endangered tropical ecosystems.
by Cassidy Rankine
Earth Observation Systems Laboratory
University of Alberta
Biodiversity and threats in the Desert Uplands: The case of Bimblebox Nature ...bimblebox
The 8000 hectare Bimblebox Nature Refuge is threatened by a massive new coal development proposed by Waratah Coal. In late September 2011 the company released its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for its ‘China First’ mine (otherwise known as the ‘Galilee Coal Project’). It outlines a proposal to extract 40 mega-tonnes of coal per year, which would be transported on a yet-to-be-built 468km rail line up to Abbot Point and shipped through the Great Barrier Reef on its way to China where it will be burnt for energy generation. Their ambitious and polluting plans have not yet received formal government approval.
Support the upcoming 'Bimblebox' documentary by film maker Michael O'Connell on Kickstarter: http://kck.st/rTFBO7
www.bimblebox.org
Divides up the history of the earth based on life- forms that have existed during specific times since the creation of planet.
Is an important tool used to portray the history of the Earth.
Also known as the Great Dying .
96 percent of species died out.
Life on earth descended from the four percent that survived.
CAUSES: Asteroid impact, flood basalt eruptions, catastrophic methane release ,a drop in oxygen levels ,sea level fluctuations.
Ice melts in polar regions which is home to many animals like penguins and polar bears. Melted ice also leads to the rise in sea levels as well as submerging low-dying islands
Global warming gives rise to the El Niño and La Niña phenomenon which brings major disasters such as floods ,drought heatwaves ,and forest fires; destroying habitats and killing its inhabitants.
Change in temperature forces many species to flee from their comfortable habitat. They migrate and invade other territories that are similar to their old ones.
Increases in carbon dioxide concentration also cause our oceans to become more acidic .Acidic water dissolves the shells of many sea creatures such as crabs, shrimps, oysters ,and soon even coral reefs which are home to numerous marine lives.
The name dinosaur comes from the Greek words deinos (“terrible” or “fearfully great”) and sauros (“reptile” or “lizard”). The English anatomist Richard Owen proposed the formal term Dinosauria in 1842 to include three giant extinct animals (Megalosaurus, Iguanodon, and Hylaeosaurus) represented by large fossilized bones that had been unearthed at several locations in southern England during the early part of the 19th century. Owen recognized that these reptiles were far different from other known reptiles of the present and the past for three reasons: they were large yet obviously terrestrial, unlike the aquatic ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs that were already known; they had five vertebrae in their hips, whereas most known reptiles have only two; and, rather than holding their limbs sprawled out to the side in the manner of lizards, dinosaurs held their limbs under the body in columnar fashion, like elephants and other large mammals. The extensive fossil record of genera and species is testimony that dinosaurs were diverse animals, with widely varying lifestyles and adaptations. Their remains are found in sedimentary rock layers (strata) dating to the Late Triassic Epoch (approximately 237 million to 201.3 million years ago). The abundance of their fossilized bones is substantive proof that dinosaurs were the dominant form of terrestrial animal life during the Mesozoic Era (about 252.2 million to 66 million years ago). It is likely that the known remains represent a very small fraction (probably less than 0.0001 percent) of all the individual dinosaurs that once lived. Before Richard Owen introduced the term Dinosauria in 1842, there was no concept of anything even like a dinosaur. Large fossilized bones quite probably had been observed long period by
Wetlands-classification, Intertidal zone-study in flora and FaunaMegha Majoe
A comprehensive presentation to understand the common methods of classification of wetlands, their traits and threats. Also a small study of the flora and fauna of the ecosystem of Carter Road shore- Mumbai
1. Description category description
Latin name: Anapistula ataecina
Common Name: Aranha cavernícola do Frade (PT)
Photo:
Red List Category & Criteria: Critically Endangered
CITES status: NO
This is one of the smallest spiders described to date (female
size of 0.43 to 0.57 mm). It is a troglobiont (cave-dwelling)
species, only found in calcareous formations in areas with
very restricted microhabitat characteristics. Although it is a
Short species description:
very small species, this spider can easily be seen in its web
as it appears as a white spot dangling in mid-air; the web
itself is invisible. Its tridimensional web, with a sheet-like
structure, seems atypical for the family and for the genus.
This spider is known from only four caves in the Frade cave
Geographic Range: system, Sesimbra, Portugal.
Range Map: ----
The species occurs inside a Nature Park, but despite that it is
not adequately protected. Limestone quarries prevail in the
Major Threat(s): area and these expand mostly without reliable environmental
impact assessment studies prior to exploitation inside the
protected area. Approximately 20% of the cave system
2. where the species is found has already been destroyed by
nearby limestone quarries.
Within this cave system and the limestone quarries lies the
Gruta do Zambujal, a cave protected by national laws since
1979 (Decreto-Lei no. 140/79). A single visit to this cave did
not reveal any individuals of Anapistula ataecina, even
though the geological structure of this cave seems suitable
for the species. Unfortunately, the cave is now much
degraded. Changes in the internal microclimate caused by
the exposure of the cave during mining activities may have
caused the species to go locally extinct.
In addition to quarrying activities, tourism may also have an
impact on the species. The Portuguese Institute for Nature
Conservation has recently authorized tourist activities inside
Gruta do Fumo, where most specimens of this spider were
found. This authorization was granted in the absence of any
previous environmental impact assessment studies.
Despite the cave system being located inside a Nature Park
the stone quarries are expanding. Numerous conservation
initiatives were proposed by a local speleology association,
but these have not been implemented or authorized by the
national authorities:
1. To force the limestone quarries to obey the existing
laws imposing the minimum distance that any quarry
Conservation Actions: should be from protected areas or the ocean (500 m).
2. To close Gruta do Zambujal in order to restore the
natural air flow and microclimate.
3. To protect the cliffs opened by the limestone quarries
surrounding Gruta do Zambujal from erosion and to
guarantee their geological stability.
4. To establish and enforce strict guidelines for the
future touristic visits to the Frade cave system.
IUCN base link: http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/176265/0
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/176265/0
http://naturdata.com/Anapistula-ataecina-38071.htm
Sources: