EcoLocalizer

Aspergillus fumigatus - a common but sometimes lethal soil fungus

Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungus found commonly in ordinary garden soil. When the spores of the fungus are inhaled, It can also cause disease–sometimes fatally in those with already compromised immune systems and respiratory disease such as COPD. Doctors who treat the illness have long-recognized that in some patients, the fungus is resistant to standard treatment with chemicals called azoles. The problem becomes potentially worse as azoles are also heavily used as farm fungicides. A team of Dutch researchers (Verweij and Kema), reporting in last December’s edition of the medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases suggest that over-use of the farm fungicide may be contributing to the growing resistance of this fungus to the disease-fighting chemicals.

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Male Tasmanian Devil

A relatively rare form of transmissible cancer–known as Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD)–has been decimating Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harisii) populations in Northeast Tasmania over the past thirteen or more years. First identified in 1996, the cancer has become so pervasive that the animal–the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial–has now become one of the world’s most endangered species.

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The Blue whale–the largest animal ever to inhabit our planet–has been tracked by researchers since its numbers were perilously close to extinction in the 1960’s. Much of this tracking has been accomplished through underwater monitoring of whale “songs”, which are sung exclusively by male whales. These long, and fairly complex, sonic compositions are believed to be the means by which these whales attract mates. Over the past several years, the world’s blue whales have begun singing a different tune, of sorts; the frequency range of their songs has gotten significantly lower. And, this is happening, “in concert” all over the world–where ever these massive Cetacea migrate, feed, congregate and mate.

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Naturally, the Sumatran tiger was named for the Sumatra Island, which historically has been the species primary breeding location. However, in recent years, scientists have had more challenges in tracking the breeding patterns of these animals due to an inability to spot tiger cubs. This week, new footage was captured that provides more information.

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Alaska’s erosion is not a new discovery - natural ice barriers along Alaska’s coastline have been eroding at a rate of 45 feet a year along the North Slope. While concerns have always surrounded the impact upon Alaska’s oil fields and energy industry dominated by Exxon Mobil Corp and BP Plc, some are shifting their focus to the devastation this could cause to migratory shorebirds along the coast.

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A flock of approximately 80 peacocks and peahens are wreaking havoc in the Florida community of Longboat Key.   Residents of the island community are fed up with peafowl that roam freely in yards, streets and neighborhoods.  Read the rest of this entry »

On April 5, 2009, 47-year-old Chee Thye Chaw flew home to the United States after visiting family members in Malaysia. While Chaw arrived at JFK Airport, his luggage apparently did not. Read the rest of this entry »

White alligators are among the rarest of the species. While they do come in two forms - albino or leucistic - it’s the leucistic alligators that are especially unique. It is estimated that among the 5 million alligators that are in the United States, only about 12 of them have these unusual genetic traits. This species of alligator is not endangered, but does require some special care.

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The Przewalski’s horse of Mongolia’s Gobi desert–considered the world’s only remaining, “true” wild horse–has had its share of existential challenges over the centuries. Once considered “extinct in the wild”, due primarily to habitat loss, the horse’s status has been upgraded recently to “critically endangered”, based upon criteria set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (UICN) in Switzerland.

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The ozone-oxygen cycle in the Earth’s stratosphere

The destruction of the Earth’s protective ozone layer (and the growth of the “hole” in this layer over the South Pole) due to the action of human-made chemicals was the leading environmental issue of the last century (entering the public lexicon sometime in the mid 1980’s), and no doubt prompted wider concerns about “greenhouse” effects and global warming that occupy so much climate science reporting today. The main (or most publicized) culprit of this ozone loss was a chemical called chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)*. But now, there’s a new leader in ozone destruction: nitrous oxide (N2O, also known as “laughing gas”), and its increasing concentration in the atmosphere is no laughing matter.

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