Entries For: June 2007
Gulf Specimen Marine Lab gives new meaning to "live" theater
Have you ever seen a shrimp dance, or a box crab shooting water from its head, or sea urchin eggs dividing, or a tiny skeleton shrimp wrestling for its life with a voracious hydroid? Some of these wonders can be seen online thanks to the new microscopy/video project at Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratories, Inc., in Panacea, Florida. Jack and Anne Rudloe, directors of the GSML have been tireless advocates fighting for the world they love; authoring many books, educating children and adults alike, and running the GSML. Now their educational efforts are reaching an even wider audience with the production of educational videos available through their website and through YouTube. Thousands of school children have marveled at the creatures in the Lab's touch tanks, but now the GSML team has produced videos that allow us to get an even closer look at the fascinating creatures found in Florida's waters. Additionally, GSML wishes to build a special theater in which to show these videos to visitors. I encourage you to visit their website, view the videos and support their mission.
Visit their website at:http://www.gulfspecimen.org/Index.html
Where have the bees gone? Congress has taken notice
You've likely heard about the collapse in bee colonies throughout the nation. (if not, visit this site: http://www.beedisorder.com/ ) Why should we care about honeybees? Simply, without them our food supply would collapse. Congress has taken note of this disturbing occurrence and is pushing through Senate Bill S.1496 known as the Pollinator Habitat Protection Act. As of today (06/27/07) this bill has only been introduced and sent to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Keep an eye on its progress here: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1496 This highlights the importance of unintended consequences and the need for planners and communities to consider giving even their smallest residents room to live.
Record Year for Panther Road Deaths
On this past Thursday, last year's record of 11 panthers struck by vehicles was tied. With 5 months and 16 days left in the year, this record will surely be broken.
At the same time, a new system of ecopassages in Leon County is being designed to prevent turtle deaths on Highway 27 at Lake Jackson. While the Department of Transportation is funding the design of the project there is currently no money lined up for contruction.
Decline in Common Birds in Florida
The National Audobon Society released "Common Birds in Decline" on Thursday. This study examines the decline of birds species throughout the U.S. based on the Annual Breeding Survey conducted by the U.S.G.S. and Audobon's "Christmas Bird Count."
This study lists five species of bird for each state that are common species seeing a significant decline. For Florida those species are:
- Northern bobwhite (population has decreased by 90%, on this list for 14 states) American kestrel (population decreased by 60%) Black skimmer (population decreased by 73%) Clapper rail (population decreased by 81%) American bittern (population decreased by 53%)
Most of the decline in common species is a result of habitat loss. For the Northern bobwhite and American kestrel that is loss of open areas, for the rail and bittern it is loss of wetlands and for the skimmer it is increase in beach use by people.
Information in this entry is taken from "Common birds in decline, Audubon reports" by Kevin Lollar of the Ft. Meyers News-Press. Please use the following link to access the article. http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070615/NEWS0105/70615001/1075
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