Science and Nature
Driver kills rare duck
(CNS): Just a few months after Cayman Wildlife Rescue placed a sign along the Linford Pierson to caution drivers about a family of West Indian Whistling Ducks nesting along the busy stretch of road one of them was mowed down by a vehicle on Sunday and Alison Corbett, Project Manager of Cayman Wildlife Rescue is appealing to the public not to feed the birds nesting by roads as it encourages them to nest in dangerous spots.
“The ducks have nested here for many years and each year some of the young were reported to be killed by oncoming traffic,” said Corbett who explained that she had seen many people feeding the ducks along the highway and pleaded with them to stop. “Unfortunately feeding wildlife roadside has deadly consequences. I think one of the reasons why the ducks choose this unfavourable site is due to this factor.”
By the end of September the five young were fully fledged and would have been able to leave the wetland area but in October they were found still habituating the dangerous wetland and were still being fed by the public. “Sometimes when people think they are helping the situation they are in fact making it worse. It deeply upsets the volunteers of CWR and we hope that the public will learn from this mishap.”
Cayman Wildlife Rescue strongly advises the public never to feed wildlife along the roads. This act is dangerous not only the wildlife, but also very dangerous to people themselves. “I would like to thank everyone for their concern and for keeping wildlife in mind when driving. Being an active driver and keeping your eyes on the road and roadside is not just a safe driving practice for people, but will also benefit our wildlife,” Corbett added.”CWR would like to see more signs installed along deadly stretches of road, which are proving to be fatal to wildlife. Cars continue to be one of the major killers of wildlife and unfortunately most of the animals we have brought in due to cars are usually euthanasia cases. Wildlife and traffic don’t mix. We ask drivers to please keep an eye out for the feathered, furred and scaled friends we share the road with.”
Corbett said the sign was a joint project between Vision Marketing & Signs of Paradise. The support from the public was outstanding and CWR received many calls & emails from members of the community concerned about the duck family.
Most residents only became familiar with the West Indian Whistling Duck after Hurricane Ivan, when it ventured out of the wetlands and into urban areas in search of food. It is also a nocturnal bird, roosting in the mangroves during the day, flying out to feeding grounds in the evening, and returning to roost just before dawn. There are now several private individuals around the island who feed them on a regular basis. According to Patricia Bradley’s “Birds of the Cayman Islands” (Caerulea Press, 1995), the West Indian Whistling Duck is listed as an endangered species and is protected on the island.
If members of the public find injured wildlife, they can call the 24 hr Wildlife Emergency Hotline 917-BIRD (2473) where dedicated volunteers will provide emergency service & support. For your own safety and that of the animal, members of the public are requested to not attempt to rescue or care for the animal themselves – rather call the hotline and trained volunteers will attend to the animal. Cayman Wildlife Rescue is a programme of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands. This project is staffed entirely by volunteers with other full time jobs, and is financed 100% by donations from the public. If you would like to help by donating funds or volunteering time, please contact Alison Corbett at caymanwildliferescue@gmail.com www.caymanwildliferescue.org
Global warming greatest risk
(Reuters): The risks of inaction over climate change far outweigh the turmoil of the global financial crisis, a leading climate change expert has said. Calling for new fiscal spending tailored to low carbon growth Nicholas Stern, a former British Treasury economist said inaction on emissions blamed for global warming could cause economic pain equal to the Great Depression. Go to article.
Divers invited for reef research
(CNS): The Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) is inviting advanced open water divers with at least 50 logged dives to participate in their Dive With A Researcher (DWAR) programme on Little Cayman 10 through 17 January 2009. Participating divers will help scientists determine whether the loss of corals is resulting in detrimental effects on other components of the reef system. (Photos by Diana Schmitt)
The DWAR Biodiversity and Reef Resiliency project will also look at whether there are changes in how the reef functions, and if marine reserves are capable of protecting our coral reef biodiversity. This project will document the abundance of the major organisms that are competing with, and possibly out-competing, corals, such as tunicates, sponges, anemones, and fleshy algae using visual surveys and underwater photography techniques.
Participants will have the opportunity to assist with surveys of bottom dwelling organisms using transects to detect long term changes in community structure and the effects of no-take Marine Parks, and with surveys to document the diversity, abundance and habitat preferences of benthic species.
The Reseacher for the project is oceanographer, Dr Carrie Manfrino, who is also the president and founder of CCMI, and who headed a team of marine scientists that completed the first and largest regional expedition to understand the distribution and structure of the reef communities around all three Cayman Islands. This study continues to provide a reference for current and future research.
Any passionate certified diver who is looking for a better understanding of coral reefs and the research that is taking place to preserve this environment can apply. Successful applicants will stay at the Little Cayman Research Center (LCRC), which has dormitory style sleeping accommodations, a screened in dining area, an off-the grid sustainable development bathhouse, laboratories, library, boats and a multi-media classroom. During a morning 2-tank dive, participants will be asked to perform certain tasks to aid the researcher in data collection. The afternoon s are free for bird watching, snorkeling, iguana watching or just relaxing in the warming Caribbean sun.
Over the last 25 years, coral reefs in the Caribbean region have declined, and globally reefs arefacing an increasing number of severe threats; pollution, human population pressure, global warming and simple carelessness are putting our marine environments under great stress.
The DWAR program was developed to give passionate divers, a resource to learn more about what they love, while simultaneously helping support the research operative, a CCMI release explains. One of the research goals of this non-profit oranisation is to gain a better understanding of what is causing the decline in health of our reefs and what could contribute to a more resilient reef. One way to reach this goal is to get the word out to the public and get people involved.
Other DWAR weeks are planned for later in the year. For more information, go to www.reefresearch.org or email coppage@reefresearch.org
Dinosaur dance floor found
(AP): Geologists say they have discovered prehistoric animal tracks so densely packed on a 3/4-acre site that they’re calling it a "dinosaur dance floor." The site along the Arizona-Utah state line offers a rich new set of clues about the lives of dinosaurs 190 million years ago. Back then, large stretches of the West were a Sahara-like desert. Go to article.
Fat people don’t enjoy eating
(The Independent): The mystery of why some people stay slim while others get fat may be partly explained by differences betweenthe way individuals’ brains measure the pleasure of eating. Overweight people may actually find fatty or sugary food less satisfying than thin people, which leads them to overeating as a way of compensating for the relative lack of enjoyment. Go to article
5-day fundraiser for CCMI
(CNS): A popular annual fundraiser for the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) is now an activity-packed, five-day festival for the entire family to enjoy. All proceeds of ticket sales and various auctions during the Festival of Trees will benefit the CCMI and their efforts to sustain the biodiversity of our incredible coral reefs through research, education, public awareness and conservation.
The Festival of Trees will start at Camana Bay on Monday, 17 November and continue everyday until the dinner and live auction at Ristorante Pappagallo on Friday, 21 November. According to a release from CCMI, a detailed schedule of events will be announced in the coming weeks.
We have so many new partners on board to make sure this festival is entertaining for the public as well as raising funds for the various initiatives that CCMI is spearheading for the 2009 season,” said Chair of the Fundraising Committee, Leslie Bergstrom.
Joining long time major sponsor, Ristorante Pappagallo will be new sponsors Camana Bay, Uncle Bill’s, Celebrations and Abacus restaurant. Camana Bay will be hosting many of the community events prior to the dinner and live auction; Uncle Bill’s will be donating the majority of the trees that will be decorated by volunteers; Celebrations will be hosting ‘The Art of Stylish Christmas Décor’ – a decorating showcase, and Abacus restaurant will be hosting the VIP PreVue party to kick of the 2008 Festival of Trees.
“We are very pleased to help CCMI bring their concept to the general public and share this wonderful event with the entire community,” said Communications Manager from Camana Bay, Susanna de Saram. “Christmas is a very special time of year and we are keen to help showcase the beautifully decorated trees to all interested in stopping by.”
The planning committee, now consisting in excess of twenty volunteers, are enthusiastically collecting donations, gift certificates, prizes and other contributions that will help make the 2008 Festival of Trees an annual event that the entire community will look forward to from year to year.
Companies and individuals are encouraged to show their spirit of giving by contacting members@reefresearch.org and donating a gift or service to help raise money at the 2008 Festival of Trees.
“One way anyone can participate is to donate any number of items to Dicken’s General Store. The store will be selling mini Christmas stockings with your lucky number inside, which can be traded in for a gift at the Dicken’s General Store,” added Leslie Bergstrom
The 21 November dinner at Ristorante Pappagallo will continue to be the grand finale of the five-day event and all trees and wreaths will be sold in an exciting live auction to those in attendance. As with previous years, the auction items include a varied display of beautifully decorated Christmas Trees and Holiday Wreaths adorned with exciting gift packages.
Annually, the dinner and auction for Festival of Trees is a sell-out event that receives rave reviews by attendees. Individuals or companies interested in purchasing tickets for the auction at Ristorante Pappagallo can contact members@reefresearch.org
The Central Caribbean Marine Institute was incorporated in 1998 as a non-profit 501c3 organization. CCMI was established as an international charitable organization after becoming incorporated in the Cayman Islands (2002) and in the UK in 2004.
Since its first years, CCMI has proven a valuable asset to the effort of understanding changing coral reef and tropical marine environments, and its research and education programs have established a solid foundation for future reef education and awareness in the Caribbean and for students and researchers from around the world.
Case against God dismissed
(BBC): A US judge has thrown out a case against God, ruling that because the defendant has no address, legal papers cannot be served. The suit was launched by Nebraska state senator Ernie Chambers, who said he might appeal against the ruling. He sought a permanent injunction to prevent the "death, destruction and terrorisation" caused by God. Judge Marlon Polk said in his ruling that a plaintiff must have access to the defendant for a case to proceed. Go to article
Evolutionary transition from fish to land animals
(ScienceDaily): New research has provided the first detailed look at the internal head skeleton of Tiktaalik roseae, the 375-million-year-old fossil animal thatrepresents an important intermediate step in the evolutionary transition from fish to animals that walked on land. A predator, up to nine feet long, with sharp teeth, a crocodile-like head and a flattened body, Tiktaalik’s anatomy and way of life straddle the divide between fish and land-living animals. Go to article
A rival to the Bible
(BBC): What is probably the oldest known Bible is being digitised, reuniting its scattered parts for the first time since its discovery 160 years ago. Markedly different from its modern equivalent for 1,500 years, the Codex Sinaiticus lay undisturbed in a Sinai monastery, until it was found – or stolen, as the monks say – in 1844 and split between Egypt, Russia, Germany and Britain. Now these different parts are to be united online and, from next July, anyone, anywhere in the world with internet access will be able to view the complete text andread a translation. Go to article
Beyond Climate Change
(IPS): While the financial mayhem continues to draw the headlines, the cost of persistent biodiversity loss has yet to be established. But it is believed to be bigger than that of the meltdown, and in many cases also irreparable. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) now plans to gather incontrovertible evidence on the value of preserving biodiversity and the cost of losing it. Go to article.