Crossings

May 27, 2025

My NY Times feed highlighted an article by Catrin Einhorn that told of an attempt to save both motorists and animals from deadly highway collisions. Aran Johnson, a wildlife biologist for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in Colorado, has been working for the last 15 years to provide a way for large animals to avoid being hit while maneuvering road crossings. Now entire herds of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and elk (Cervus canadensis) use the structures, as well as black bears (Ursus americanus), mountain lions (Puma concolor), bobcats (Lynx rufus), coyotes (Canis latrans), and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). They are expensive, but research has shown they can save money when installed on stretches of highway with at least an average of three collisions between motorists and deer per mile per year. For collisions with elk and moose (Alces alces), which are bigger and cause more damage to vehicles and people (let alone the animal), that threshold goes down to less than one collision per mile per year. Johnson started collaring mule deer to better understand how they moved around the reservation and superimposed his findings on state records of wildlife-vehicle collisions. “It couldn’t be more perfect,” he said. “These things line up so precisely.”

When I went online, I found wildlife crossings are structures that allow animals to cross human-made barriers safely. Wildlife crossings include underpasses or wildlife tunnels, viaducts, and overpasses or green bridges for large or herd-type animals. The crossings also provide for smaller animals with amphibian tunnels, fish ladders, canopy bridges (monkeys and squirrels), culverts for otters (Lutra lutra), hedgehogs (subfamily Erinaceinae), and badgers (Taxidea taxus), and green roofs for butterflies and birds. Wildlife crossings are a practice in habitat conservation, allowing connections or reconnections between habitats to combat habitat fragmentation. Crossings also assist in avoiding collisions between vehicles and animals, which in addition to killing or injuring wildlife may cause injury or death to humans and property damage. Similar structures can be used for domesticated animals, such as cattle creeps.

Wildlife crossings are growing in popularity across the country, and Colorado has emerged as a leader building 28 large game crossing structures since 2015, according to the state Transportation Department. Many of the species which use the structures travel from higher elevations in the summer to lower ones in the winter and are often forced to cross existing highways. The Colorado General Assembly passed a law in 2022 creating a cash fund for the department to use for animal crossings and the state has evaluated its highways to create a priority list for future projects. Wildlife crossings are combined with long stretches of fencing to funnel animals to the right location and have been found to reduce vehicle collisions with large animals by more than 80 percent. The Colorado Department of Transportation covered most of the cost for wildlife crossings. The tribe came up with US$1.3 million from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and an additional US $12 million for the project came from the state department of wildlife, nonprofit groups, and a private donor. A bonus of wildlife crossings is the photos from trail cameras which bring attention to the programs.

THOUGHTS: Wildlife crossings transcend political divisions and have bipartisan support. The crossings also fit in with the cultural importance of being stewards of the land for the Southern Ute. As the current administration cuts federal spending the grant program that helps states and tribes pay for wildlife crossings in collision hot spots is now in doubt. A chainsaw is effective if you want to remove the whole tree. Pruning is effective if you want to save the tree and remove unwanted parts. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Bluegill

April 30, 2025

I am not sure exactly why, but Melissa and I rarely fish since we got the kids. We did go a couple of times when Zena was a pup but even then, Melissa sat with her while I fished. I always felt bad about leaving Melissa with the two dogs while she was still working. Now that she is retired, I guess it comes down to being out of the habit. That changed on Monday. It has been raining and we were (mostly) confined to the house. By the afternoon the sun was out, and it was a beautiful Spring Day. I took the dogs for a walk and then we decided to go fishing. That meant stopping to get worms. I prefer red worms (Eisenia fetida) as they do not tend to die as easily in the heat as the nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris). We also went online to update Melissa’s fishing license. Now we were ready to fish at one of our favorite spots. This is a small pond where Melissa caught a 3 pound (1.4 kg) largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) several years ago. Mostly, the pond produces bluegill. When I went online, I found bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), also called “bream” or “brim”, is a species of North American freshwater fish commonly found in streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands east of the Rocky Mountains. It is the type species of the genus Lepomis (true sunfish).

Bluegills range in size from about 4 to 12 inches (100 to 300 mm) and reach a maximum size of 16 inches (41 cm) long and about 4-1⁄2 pounds (2.0 kg). Color varies from population to population depending on their food source, but they typically have deep blue and purple on the face and gill cover, dark olive-colored bands down the side, and a fiery orange to yellow belly. The bluegill is noted for the large black appendage (the “ear”) on each side of the posterior edge of the gill covers as well as the base of the dorsal fin. The sides of the head and chin are commonly dark shades of blue, hence the name “bluegill”. They are omnivorous and will consume anything they can fit in their mouth, but mostly small aquatic insects and baitfish. Blue gills are important prey for bass, other larger sunfish, northern pike and muskellunge, walleye, trout, herons, kingfishers, snapping turtles and otters, and play a key role within the food chain of its freshwater ecosystem. The largest bluegill ever caught was 4 pounds 12 ounces (2.2 kg) in 1950.

When I blogged about the large bass Melissa caught, I mentioned she is really known as “queen of the tiny fish”. Small bluegill have a voracious appetite and will devour the smallest amount of worm on a #10 hook. The trick is not getting them to bite, it is catching them as they tend to nibble rather than engulf the hook. That is another reason for red worms’ verse nightcrawlers. The reds are smaller (2 inches /5 cm) and skinnier (1/5 inch/2 mm), meaning the bluegill needs to get their mouth closer to the hook. Melissa has perfected the skill of fishing for tiny fish and consistently out fishes me. Monday was no exception as she reeled in 16 bluegill to my 7.

THOUGHTS: The problem I have fishing for bluegill is that after I catch several, I decide it is time to go after something larger (that bass?). That means switching from my casting rod to my fly pole. Invariably, Melissa will catch 2 to 3 fish while I am transitioning. I rarely have luck with my fly rod at the “tiny fish” pond, but it is fun to practice my cast and to retain the hope of hooking a largemouth. While Melissa enjoys catching fish, I enjoy the process of fishing. We both practice “catch and release”, although we occasionally keep a stocked rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at the end of the season. Both actions are a luxury many in the world do not have. I have watched videos of people who fish so they can eat and keep anything they catch (regardless of size). That is true even with many fisher people in the US. Over 3 billion people worldwide rely on fish for a significant portion of their animal protein intake. We need to keep our waterways pollution free and use conservation to keep this resource viable. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Coexistence

April 20, 2025

Earlier this week the NY Times carried an article by Jack Nicas about an invasion occurring in Argentina. Since the pandemic, “carpinchos,” as they are known, have proliferated in Nordelta, a ritzy gated community of 45,000 people north of Buenos Aires. Over the past two years, biologists estimate the capybara population has tripled to nearly 1,000 in this gated community, posing a test case for the urban coexistence of humans and wildlife. While most residents find them cute, they also cause traffic accidents, chomp their way through gardens, and have occasionally attacked some of the community’s smallest dogs. These actions have led to an effort to place controls on the animals. Veronica Esposito is one of a small group of neighbors leading a rebellion against the controls. They have protested in the streets, taken legal action against developers, and gathered 25,000 signatures for an online petition to protect the animals. “I believe their adorableness is a strategy of the species itself to survive.” said Silvia Soto, the most vocal neighbor. In February, the Nordelta organization told residents in an email that it was moving ahead with a “contraceptive vaccination program,” to sterilize 250 adult capybaras. It seems some do not want coexistence.

When I looked online, I found the future of wildlife depends on the willingness and capacity of human coexistence. To coexist means to live in a dynamic state where the needs and interests of both humans and wildlife living in proximity to each other are generally met. This coexistence may not be entirely free of negative interactions and may still contain some level of impact on both people and wildlife. Living together is especially dependent on a level of tolerance on the human side. Humans have lived alongside wildlife for thousands of years, but conflict arises when the presence or behavior of wildlife poses a direct or perceived threat to people’s needs, interests, and safety. As our planet becomes increasingly crowded, livable space is decreased by accelerated climate change, habitat loss, and competition for resources. What it means to share space with wildlife differs drastically from place to place and from species to species, which often makes moving toward coexistence a complex and ever-evolving target.

Thirty years ago, Nordelta was an untouched wetland where capybaras roamed free, hunted by pumas, jaguars, caiman, and sport hunters. Eduardo Constantini, the real estate developer who controls the Nordelta organization, began transforming the area in the late 1990’s, building housing, infrastructure, a shopping center, and a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Construction has been nearly nonstop. Ms. Soto argued that the capybara population is only increasing because developers destroyed the animals’ wild habitat, forcing them out of the forest and into the suburbs. As capybara grazed on a playground, a married couple walking by held different views of the plight of the animals. Felipo Contigiani said he used to hunt capybara as a child and had little sympathy, “It’s a wild animal that came to live in the city.” His wife Lidia Schmidt corrected him, “No, the city came to settle where the wild animal was.” Coexistence seems a long way off.

THOUGHTS: To achieve some level of coexistence between people and wildlife, various stakeholders must partner together to address the challenges and devise solutions that focus on the benefits of living alongside wildlife. This is especially true for the local communities who are often directly negatively impacted by living with wildlife. The town of Churchill in northern Manitoba, Canada is most famous for the many polar bears that move toward the shore from inland in the autumn, leading to the nickname “Polar Bear Capital of the World”. Coexistence often means a willingness to think outside the box. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Barrier

April 19, 2025

My MSN browser reported on a recent discovery in Australia on the region’s marine life. The research was published in Science Advances and shows how marine dynamics could have far-reaching implications for understanding the resilience of oceanic ecosystems. Research found that the Marine reserves on the Great Barrier Reef outperformed expectations, with fish densities two to three times higher than in zones where fishing is allowed. This is especially true for the leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus), or coral trout, which is a key species for both biodiversity and commercial fisheries. The sanctuaries serve as critical breeding grounds where the fish grow larger and produce more offspring. The baby fish then migrate to fishing zones, maintaining catch levels without depleting stocks. Researchers found that even though the reserves make up less than a third of the Great Barrier Reef, about 55% of all coral trout reproduction and 47% of the total catch across the reef originates from these protected areas.

When I looked online, I found the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system. The system is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 1,400 miles (2,300 km) over an area of approximately 133,000 miles² (344,400 km²). The reef is in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, separated from the coast by a channel up to 100 miles (160 km) wide and over 200 feet (61 m) deep. The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world’s largest single structure made by living organisms. The reef is composed of and built by billions of tiny coral polyps (phylum Cnidaria, subphylum Anthozoa) and supports a wide diversity of life. The reef was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981, and CNN labelled it one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World in 1997. Australian World Heritage places included it in its list in 2007 and the Queensland National Trust named it a state icon of Queensland in 2006.

The study used an innovative mix of fish surveys, genetic testing, ocean current modeling, and reef mapping to pull together decades of data. Researchers found the benefits of marine reserves extend far beyond their boundaries. Nearly 95% of reefs receive at least 30% of their baby fish from reserves, and 93% of fished reefs get at least 30% of their catch from protected areas, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of conservation strategies. As fish from protected areas travel and repopulate nearby reefs, the entire ecosystem becomes more resilient. Michael Bode, of the QUT School of Mathematical Sciences, said, “By protecting fish populations within these no-take zones, we not only safeguard biodiversity but also guarantee that there will be a new generation of fish on the reefs that are open to fishing.” Environmental pressures on the Barrier Reef come from runoff of human made pollutants, climate change (mass coral bleaching), dumping of dredging sludge, and cyclic population outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish. The reef has lost more than half its coral cover since 1985.

THOUGHTS: This recent study of the protected areas in the Great Barrier Reef shows the synergy between conservation and economic security. By ensuring that fish populations remain healthy and abundant, marine reserves support sustainable fishing practices, helping local fishers and coastal communities maintain their livelihoods without compromising long-term ocean health. The Australian government is investing millions into reef protection and this study offers evidence that marine conservation is not at odds with economic growth. While some consider such government-funded studies to be frivolous, they can guide better practices to benefit the economy and natural ecosystems. Sticking your head in the sand or ignoring problems has never proven to be viable for long-term growth. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Colossal

April 18, 2025

My MSN browser reported that the world’s largest squid species was filmed and photographed in its natural habitat for the first time since scientists discovered it about a century ago. The video was recorded in the South Atlantic on March 9th by the crew of a vessel owned by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. The crew’s remotely operated vehicle sighted the animal 2,000 feet (609.6 m) below the surface around the South Sandwich Islands, a volcanic archipelago located between the tip of South America and Antarctica. The squid caught on video was a juvenile and much smaller than a full-grown adult. The research team estimated its size at around 11 inches (28 cm) long. According to the Schmidt Ocean Institute, the expedition occurred during a 35-day voyage where researchers sought to find new marine life. Although this was a juvenile, the squid can become enormous and have been named colossal squid.

When I looked online, I found the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) is a species of large squid belonging to the family Cranchiidae, known as cockatoo squids or glass squids. Glass squid are a group of about 60 squid species that have transparent bodies. As the squid grow their bodies become opaque over time. The colossal is sometimes called the Antarctic cranch squid or giant squid (not to be confused with the genus Architeuthis) and is believed to be the largest squid species in terms of mass. Individuals have been confirmed to reach at least 1,091 pounds (495 kg). Beaks found in sperm whale stomachs suggest some may weigh as much as 1,300 to 1,500 pounds (600 to 700 kilograms). That would make it the largest extant invertebrate. The maximum total length has been estimated between 33 to 46 feet (10 to 14 m). The colossal squid has the largest eyes of any known creature to ever exist, with an estimated diameter of 11 to 12 inches (27 to 30 cm), with a whopping 15 inches (40 cm) for the largest collected specimen. The colossal is presumed to be an ambush predator, with a diet including various fish, and is likely a key prey item of the sperm whale.

Chief scientist Dr. Michelle Taylor said the team was initially unsure what the squid was but filmed the animal because it was “beautiful and unusual”. The footage was later verified by Dr. Kat Bolstad, who said previous squid encounters had mostly been as remains in whale and seabird stomachs. A distinguishing feature of the species is the presence of hooks on the middle of their eight arms. Dying adults have previously been filmed by people fishing but they have never been seen alive at depth. The Natural History Museum has suggested it is hard to estimate the global population of colossal squids. In 2022, the institution said the lack of observations meant that, “even to this day, the enormous invertebrates still straddle the line between legend and reality”. The Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research trips have led to the first sightings of four species of squid, including the colossal squid sighting. The institute’s executive director Jyotika Virmani described the encounters moments which “continue to remind us that the Ocean is brimming with mysteries yet to be solved.”

THOUGHTS: The recording of the colossal and other three species of squid is another reminder of the amazing diversity yet to be discovered in the oceans of the earth. Yet even as we seek and find new life, the actions of humans are threatening to destroy the species and ecosystems that are known. It is unclear whether the Ocean depths are so far immune from human intervention, or just so far out of our radar that we do not see the changes we are making. It is known that microplastics have been found in the bodies of deep-water fish. We need to take steps to preserve these fragile ecosystems while there is still time. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Atolls

March 31, 2025

© Laurent Ballesta

Today’s MSN browser carried an article about the mysterious circles found on the floor of the Mediterranean. The circles were discovered in 2011 by a team of scientists led by marine biologist Christine Pergent-Martini. More than 1,300 rings, about 65.5 feet (20 m) in diameter with a dark spot at their center, were detected through satellite images and confirmed through underwater explorations. Theories on the circle’s origin ranged from unusual geological formations to extraterrestrial intervention (when in doubt it must be UFO’s). A decade of research has found the key to their origin. When biologist Laurent Ballesta submerged himself to reach one of the rings he realized “it was alive”. The formations are composed of calcareous algae and various marine organisms which create rigid structures on the seafloor that, over time, form a circular arrangement. The study of these circles revealed that they are biological structures known as coral atolls.

When I looked online, I found atolls are ring-shaped islands with a coral rim that encircles a lagoon. Atolls occur in warm tropical or subtropical parts of the oceans and seas. Most of the approximately 440 atolls are in the Pacific Ocean. There are two models which explain how atolls form. Charles Darwin described the subsidence model, where the atoll is formed by the sinking of a volcanic island that had a coral fringe reef. The extinct volcanic island erodes and sinks under the surface of the ocean until the reef and small coral islets on top of it are all that is left, leaving a lagoon in place of the former volcano. The antecedent karst model has formation as the development of a flat top, mound-like coral reef during the sinking of an island (volcanic or nonvolcanic) below sea level. When the sea level drops, the coral reef is exposed to the atmosphere and is dissolved by rainfall to form limestone karst. The rate the exposed coral is dissolved is lowest along its rim and increases inward to its maximum at the center of the island resulting in a saucer shaped island with a raised rim. When the sea level rises the island is submerged and the rim provides a core where the coral grows to form the atolls, and the flooded bottom of the saucer forms the lagoon.

While the Mediterranean coral atolls do not breach the surface, they form in a similar fashion. The perfect symmetry of the rings is due to the radial growth of the algae and corals that make up the ecosystem. The interaction between the ocean currents and the development of the living organisms generates this unusual arrangement on the ocean floor. The discovery of coral atolls has important implications for the study and conservation of marine ecosystems as these formations play a crucial role in the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, providing shelter for numerous species and acting as indicators of the health of the oceans. Experts warn these structures are extremely fragile and climate change, pollution, and human activity could affect their development. Ocean acidification and rising temperatures may alter the growth of the organisms that form these atolls, threatening their existence.

THOUGHTS: We still know very little about the submerged coral atolls found in the Mediterranean. Pergent-Martini said, “What is clear is that their preservation is key to maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems in the region.” The ocean covers approximately 70% of Earth’s surface and represents the largest livable space on our planet. Its surface area is about 139 million miles² (360 million k²) and an average depth of 12,080 feet (3,682 m). Life exists throughout these depths, but much of the ocean is unexplored. As of June 2024, 26.1% of the global seafloor had been mapped with modern high-resolution technology (multibeam sonar systems). While 54% of the seafloor beneath US waters had been mapped to these modern standards, the US seafloor is larger than the land area of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five territories combined. The future of exploration is both out there and under here. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Python

March 21, 2025

This morning’s local newspaper carried a USA Today article on the adaptability of the Burmese python in Florida. The snakes have been established in the Everglades since the 1990’s but recent studies and sightings indicate the cold-blooded reptiles have adapted to cooler temperatures and different habitats. One reason for the adaptation is crossbreeding with the Indian rock python (Python molurus) which has also been introduced into the habitat. Genetic evidence by the USGS shows at least 13 out of 400 pythons studied were crossbred. Climate change could expand their range by 2100 to include New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Colorado, and parts of Washington State. Southern states with climates like the native range of the Burmese python include all of Florida, most of California, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma.

When I looked online, I found the Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is one of the largest species of snakes in the world. The species is a dark-colored non-venomous snake with many brown blotches bordered by black down the back. Burmese pythons typically grow to 16 feet (5 m) but unconfirmed specimens of over 23 feet (7 m) have been reported. The species is sexually dimorphic with females slightly longer but considerably heavier and bulkier than males. Length-weight comparisons in captive Burmese pythons for females have shown at 11 feet 5 inches (3.47 m) length, a specimen weighed 64 pounds (29 kg) and a specimen of 16 feet (5 m) weighed 165 pounds (75 kg). Length-weight comparisons for males found a specimen of 9 feet 2 inches (2.8 m) weighed 26 pounds (12 kg) and a specimen of 10 feet (3.05 m) weighed 41 pounds (18.5 kg). Individuals over 16 feet (5 m) are rare for either sex. The Burmese is native to a large area of Southeast Asia where it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It is an invasive species in Florida because of the pet trade.

Importing Burmese pythons was banned in the US in January 2012 by the US Department of the Interior. A 2012 report stated, “in areas where the snakes are well established, foxes and rabbits have disappeared. Sightings of raccoons are down by 99.3%, opossums by 98.9%, and white-tailed deer by 94.1%.” Road surveys between 2003 and 2011 indicated an 87.3% decrease in bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations, and in some areas, rabbits (Sylvilagus palustris) have disappeared. Bird and coyote (Canis latrans) populations may be threatened, as well as the rare Florida panther (Puma concolor couguar). Burmese pythons compete with the native American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), and numerous instances of alligators and pythons attacking, and even preying on, each other. By 2011, researchers identified up to 25 species of birds from nine avian orders in the digestive tract remains of 85 Burmese pythons found in Everglades National Park. Native bird populations are suffering a negative impact from the introduction of the Burmese python in Florida and the wood stork (Mycteria americana) is now listed as federally endangered.

THOUGHTS: A Burmese python named “Baby” was the heaviest snake recorded in the world in 1999 at 403 pounds (182.8 kg), much heavier than any wild snake ever measured. Her length was measured at 18 feet (5.74 m). Efforts in Florida have removed over 23,000 pythons since 2000, but trappers have caught less than 1% of the estimated population of tens of thousands. Lisa Thompson of the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission said, “Every python removed from the Florida landscape is one less invasive snake impacting our native wildlife and ecosystems.” While importing exotic wildlife may be chic, bringing them (and allowing them to escape) into compatible ecosystems is never a good idea. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

African Penguin

March 17, 2025

Photograph by Cody O’Loughlin

This morning’s NY Times Morning feed carried an article about a group of penguins who are receiving special treatment at the New England Aquarium in Boston. Six seabirds were moved to the island for “retired” penguins that opened in February. The birds were relocated to address the large number of penguins at the aquarium who are living well beyond the age they would be expected to reach in the wild. The residents of this “country club for older animals” are sectioned off from three other islands inhabited by penguins via a mesh gate in the water. “They all get a good opportunity to eat and take their time and not feel rushed, not get pushed off the island by another animal that’s anxious to eat,” said Kristen McMahon, the aquarium’s curator of pinnipeds and penguins. About half of the aquarium’s 40 African penguins are older than the bird’s life expectancy of 10 to 15 years, and some have doubled it.

When I looked online, I found the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the Cape penguin or South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters and is the only penguin found in the Old World. All penguins are flightless and have a streamlined body and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat. Adults weigh an average of 4.9 to 7.7 pounds (2.2 to 3.5 kg) and are 24 to 28 inches (60 to 70 cm) tall. The upper parts of the body are black and are sharply delineated from the white underparts (counter shading), which are spotted and marked with a black band. The African has distinctive pink patches of skin above the eyes and a black facial mask. The birds are pursuit divers that feed primarily on fish and squid. Wild penguins are found in the coastal waters of South Africa and Namibia, where they face threats that include the depletion of food from overfishing, climate change, and pollution. Once extremely numerous, they are now the rarest species of penguin.

The geriatric penguins at the aquarium are mostly in their 30’s and receive close monitoring for ailments like cataracts and arthritis. They are fed fish injected with extra water to promote kidney health, and they get treatments such as eye drops and physical therapy. Some even get acupuncture. McMahan said, “We wanted a space that was a little bit lower paced and more easily observed by the veterinarian team and our training team on a daily basis.” The life expectancy for a wild African penguin likely does not reflect the reality for the species today, said Christina Hagen, the Pamela Isdell Fellow of Penguin Conservation at the organization BirdLife South Africa, a group who are attempting to establish an African penguin colony in the wild. The aquarium’s penguins can live longer because they do not face the same threats as wild birds and receive specialized care. The African penguin is classified as a critically endangered species, and conservationists say that they could become extinct in the wild by 2035.

THOUGHTS: The aquarium’s oldest African penguin, Good Hope (35), and his mate St. Croix (23), are set to move to the retirement island soon. McMahan said the aquarium does not have plans to move in other birds and will instead let this group “live in harmony”. Human retirement homes in the US range from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing care, and the costs vary greatly depending on location and level of care needed. While independent living costs vary widely based on location and specific community, the national median monthly cost for assisted living is around $5,676, a semi-private room in a skilled nursing facility is around $8,669, and a private room is $9,733. As of Mar 7, 2025, the average annual pay for a Retirement Community in the United States is $62,680 a year. Being able to live in harmony is not cheap. As our population ages new innovations are needed to provide housing. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Parthenogenesis

February 21, 2025

Inside the front section of Monday’s newspaper was a USA Today article on the birth of a baby swell shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum). The swell shark pup hatched on January 3rd after an egg was spotted by the Shreveport aquarium’s animal husbandry team eight months ago. The birth could be from rare form of asexual reproduction (parthenogenesis), or from delayed fertilization. The two female sharks present in the tank had not been in contact with a male for more than three years. A DNA analysis once the pup is big enough for a blood sample to be taken will determine how the birth occurred, but it will take months before the test can be performed. “This situation is incredible and shows the resilience of this species,” said Greg Barrick, the curator of live animals at Shreveport aquarium. “We are very excited in the coming months to confirm whether this was indeed a case of parthenogenesis or if it was delayed fertilization.”

When I looked online, I found parthenogenesis (Greek parthénos, “virgin” and “génesis, “creation”) is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which the embryo develops directly from an egg without need for fertilization. In animals, parthenogenesis means the development of an embryo from an unfertilized egg cell. Parthenogenesis occurs naturally in some plants, algae, invertebrate animal species, and a few vertebrates (some fish, amphibians, and reptiles) and has been induced artificially in animal species that naturally reproduce through sex (fish, amphibians, and mice). Normal egg cells form in the process of meiosis (division) and have half as many chromosomes as their mother’s body cells (haploid). Such individuals are usually non-viable, and parthenogenetic offspring usually have a complete number of chromosomes (diploid). In parthenogenesis, the offspring having all of the mother’s genetic material are called full clones and those having only half are called half clones.

The baby shark has been named Yoko, after the Native American Chumash people’s word for shark (onyoko) and is said to be thriving, although sharks born by such reproduction face significant challenges. The aquarium staff said she will leave an “unforgettable legacy” to the study of shark reproduction and conservation. If Yoko was born via parthenogenesis, she would join a small number of invertebrate animals capable of “virgin births”. Laying eggs without mating is much rarer in vertebrates, but it has been seen in zebra sharks (Stegostoma tigrinum), sawfish (Pristis zijsron) and a handful of reptiles. This type of birth was first documented in Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) in 2006 in two separate British zoos. Charlotte, a stingray (Hypanus americanus) in an aquarium in North Carolina, was found to be pregnant in 2024 despite not having been in contact with a male for eight years. While scientists assume vertebrates turn to parthenogenesis when no mates are present, it is unknown why they occur and what triggers birth.

THOUGHTS: Whether Yoko was born from delayed reproduction or parthenogenesis, she is an extraordinary birth. The aquarium staff said she will leave an “unforgettable legacy” to the study of shark reproduction and conservation. While the behavior of domesticated animals has long been studied (ethology) attention has only focused on animals in the wild during the last century. What we have found is they are far more complex and diversified than we previously believed. The study has even forced us to reconsider what “makes us human”. It seems we are not so different after all. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Acropolis

February 13, 2025

One of the reasons we decided to take our Greek Cruise was because it marked off so many of my bucket list items. That included the Mycenean Palace of Knossos and the isle of Santorini. Regrettably we were not able to see the island because of the current earthquakes. Our follow up tour includes two more of my bucket lists, the Oracle of Delphi (tomorrow) and the Acropolis of Athens (today). Melissa knew that our visit to the Acropolis meant a good hike uphill, and she was tentative at the least. On arrival by bus, we began the slow assent that wound from the parking lot to the entrance gate. By the time we reached the entrance we could see the Parthenon towering 490 feet (150 m) above us. Melissa looked at the steps up to the Acropolis and then looked at me and said, “Well that ain’t going to happen is it”.

When I looked online, I found the Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens, Greece. During ancient times this acropolis was more properly known as Cecropia, after the legendary serpent-man Cecrops, the supposed first Athenian king. The word Acropolis is from Greek ἄκρον (akron – “highest point” and πόλις (polis – “city”). The term is generic and there are many other acropolises in Greece. The site contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, including the Parthenon. The entrance to the Acropolis was a monumental gateway (the Propylaea) and to the south of the entrance is the tiny Temple of Athena Nike. The Parthenon or Temple of Athena Parthenos (Athena the Virgin) stands at the center of the Acropolis. East of the entrance and north of the Parthenon is the temple known as the Erechtheum. South of the platform that forms the top of the Acropolis there are the remains of the ancient (remodeled) Theatre of Dionysus. A few hundred meters (320+ yards) away, there is the partially reconstructed Odeon of Herodes Atticus. All the valuable ancient artifacts are situated in the Acropolis Museum, which resides on the southern slope of the same rock.

Despite her trepidation, Melissa decided to attempt the climb up the steps to the Acropolis. Our tour guide took off for the top, dragging the climbers along with her. The program guide stayed behind with the rest of us stragglers. She told us not to worry, the others would have to wait for us because she was the one who had all the tickets. We were able to wind our way up to the top, past the huge gateway (Propylaea), and then up the final steps to the top of the Acropolis. The Acropolis towered over the city of Athens down below and the Parthenon stood dwarfing everything else on the site. As we marveled at both the size and magnificence of the building, Melissa told me the effort to reach the top had been worth it.

THOUGHTS: The trip to the Acropolis of Athens checked off another of my bucket list items and became an instant favorite for Melissa. I know when looking back on this day, the struggle will become an integral part of the story for why the trip was worthwhile. Like most worthwhile things, it required determination and effort to achieve the goal. Our world faces a monumental struggle to overcome the effects of both climate change and indifference. The result of our (continued) indifference results in the wild swings in weather patterns (wildfires and record snowstorms, hurricanes and floods along with draughts). Hopefully we will be able to look back and say the struggle was worth it. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.