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San Francisco, 4:26 PM
Sat Nov 7
20 posts in the last 24 hours

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  • posts about #environment more →

    A Deadly Fungus Is Stalking This Creature

    During the Ice Ages, An Arctic Paradise Bloomed

    In France, Brown Bears Desperately Need Women

    Sydney Dust Storm Proves Geoengineering the Oceans Could Work

    A Major Breakthrough In Cloud Engineering

    Massive Offshore Wind Farm Will Power 200,000 Danish Homes

    Camera Trap Gives Us a Peek at the Rare Snow Leopard

    Nitrous Oxide Is Destroying the Earth

    Could Greenpunk be the New Steampunk?

    California Will No Longer Yield Fruit in 100 Years

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of gorehound gorehound
    11/04/09

    In reply to A Deadly Fungus Is Stalking This Creature
    that tree frog is so cute i want one as a pet #ecology
     Reply
    gorehound was starred gorehound was unstarred
    Image of Hamslicer Hamslicer
    11/04/09

    In reply to A Deadly Fungus Is Stalking This Creature
    I wonder how they taste...
     Reply
    Edited by Hamslicer at 11/04/09 9:52 AM Hamslicer was starred Hamslicer was unstarred
    Image of twophrasebark twophrasebark
    11/04/09

    In reply to A Deadly Fungus Is Stalking This Creature
    "But humans didn't put it there - an aggressive fungal invasion did."

    I disagree Charlie. It's highly likely that environmental damage from human created chemicals and toxins have caused susceptibility to this syndrome in frogs.

    Frogs are kind of the "canary in the coal mine" of nature. Their skin is very permeable and almost sponge-like. They very readily absorb just about anything in the ecosystem and are usually one of the first species to show signs of distress due to environmental insults.

    This is why it's very important to never pick up frogs you might find (however cute they are). They will absorb whatever is on your hands right through their skin.

    Just FYI...
     Reply
    Edited by twophrasebark at 11/04/09 9:51 AM twophrasebark was starred twophrasebark was unstarred
    Image of Hamslicer Hamslicer
    11/04/09

    @twophrasebark: invasive species from another continent perhaps? #ecology
     Reply
    Hamslicer was starred Hamslicer was unstarred
    Image of PendensProditor PendensProditor
    11/04/09

    @twophrasebark:

    Not only that, we're the reason chytrid is now everywhere.

    [www.edgeofexistence.org]

    "The recent surge in amphibian extinctions and the discovery of chytridiomycosis follows a recent and unprecedented increase in the human-derived movement of amphibians across the globe. Species are transported beyond their natural range to meet the needs of research laboratories, food supplies, captive collections and pest control. The three most commonly introduced species are the North American Bullfrog, Rana catesbiana, the African-clawed frog, Xenopus laevis and the Cane toad, Bufo marinus. All three species are known to be asymptomatic carriers of B. dendrobatidis-infection."

    We took amphibians that have a defense against the infection and put them in contact with amphibians all over the world that were utterly vulnerable to it. #ecology
     Reply
    twophrasebark promoted this comment PendensProditor was starred PendensProditor was unstarred
    Image of twophrasebark twophrasebark
    11/04/09

    @PendensProditor: Thanks for adding that great information. #ecology
     Reply
    twophrasebark was starred twophrasebark was unstarred
    Image of Charlie Jane Anders Charlie Jane Anders
    11/04/09

    @twophrasebark: @gunnalastair: Yeah sorry about that... actually my original opening paragraph got tweaked before it went up, and I didn't mean to suggest that the fungal infestation was not humans' fault. I had a strong suspicion it would turn out to be our doing, one way or another.... #ecology
     Reply
    Charlie Jane Anders was starred Charlie Jane Anders was unstarred
    Image of twophrasebark twophrasebark
    11/04/09

    @Charlie Jane Anders: No worries!
     Reply
    Edited by twophrasebark at 11/04/09 3:26 PM twophrasebark was starred twophrasebark was unstarred
    Image of Klebert L. Hall Klebert L. Hall
    11/05/09

    @PendensProditor:
    So what? It's still plain old natural selection whether the fungus was distributed by humans or birds.

    Extinction and survival are what the environment are made of.
    -Kle. #ecology
     Reply
    Klebert L. Hall was starred Klebert L. Hall was unstarred
    Image of PendensProditor PendensProditor
    11/05/09

    @Klebert L. Hall:
    It all depends on what sort of future Earth you prefer. We have more say over it every day. As a consequence, one day we'll be living on exactly the Earth we deserve, whatever that may be. #ecology
     Reply
    PendensProditor was starred PendensProditor was unstarred
    Image of Klebert L. Hall Klebert L. Hall
    11/06/09

    @PendensProditor:
    "Deserve" is a rather silly term.

    Environmental preservation (while pleasant) is a hugely more "unnatural" process than extinction.

    The set of species existing on Earth at any one time is no more perfect than the set of species existing in some other era. Trying to "freeze frame" the global environment is it's state as of some given baseline year is probably impossible, and sort of perverse.
    -Kle. #ecology
     Reply
    Klebert L. Hall was starred Klebert L. Hall was unstarred
    Image of PendensProditor PendensProditor
    11/06/09

    @Klebert L. Hall:
    I don't personally know of anyone advocating the arbitrary "freeze frame" of the global environment. I suppose they're out there, but usually this is just one of those well-worn environmental strawmen.

    I merely advocate that given the vast array of services the natural world provides us with (billions if not trillions of dollars worth, for free), a gradual rate of global extinctions has perhaps more short-term utility to us than a rapid rate. Those who are "freeze framing" are only acting as a counterweight. It just makes good business sense not to imperil such a good deal so long as we still depend on it, and it's hard to determine exactly what will and won't imperil it so it's prudent to err on the side of caution.

    And I frequently hear the argument that it's "natural" for human beings to drive other animals into extinction, yet it's "unnatural" for human beings to protect species (or networks of species) that provide us with a benefit, either directly or indirectly. The asymmetry always struck me as strange, especially since one would have to include something as fundamental as agriculture in the latter category. Perhaps that is unnatural; it still seems to be a good idea, regardless. #ecology
     Reply
    PendensProditor was starred PendensProditor was unstarred
    Image of Klebert L. Hall Klebert L. Hall
    12:32 PM

    @PendensProditor:
    Sure.
    Still no real reason to get all worked up about a frog.
    -Kle. #ecology
     Reply
    Klebert L. Hall was starred Klebert L. Hall was unstarred
    Image of J_Frank_Parnell J_Frank_Parnell
    11/04/09

    In reply to A Deadly Fungus Is Stalking This Creature
    Isn't there a topical cream for this? #ecology
     Reply
    J_Frank_Parnell was starred J_Frank_Parnell was unstarred
    Image of evildead1971 evildead1971
    11/04/09

    In reply to A Deadly Fungus Is Stalking This Creature
    i got 3 words for them

    tough actin tinactin #ecology
     Reply
    evildead1971 was starred evildead1971 was unstarred
    Image of enderwiggin13 enderwiggin13
    11/04/09

    @evildead1971: Boom! #ecology
     Reply
    enderwiggin13 was starred enderwiggin13 was unstarred
    Image of Belabras ate my dingo! Belabras ate my dingo!
    11/04/09

    @enderwiggin13: Goes the dynamite? #ecology
     Reply
    Belabras ate my dingo! was starred Belabras ate my dingo! was unstarred
    Image of enderwiggin13 enderwiggin13
    11/04/09

    @Belabras ate my dingo!: No, Boom! Tough actin' Tinactin: [www.youtube.com] #ecology
     Reply
    enderwiggin13 was starred enderwiggin13 was unstarred
    Image of Alessar Alessar
    11/02/09

    In reply to During the Ice Ages, An Arctic Paradise Bloomed
    I read a couple fantasy novels set in the previous ice age a while back. It was interesting because the author had done his research and explained in his notes that ice age did not equate to global perma winter. There were lots of variances like Beringa. Alas, don't remember the name of the books, I never did get the third book in the trilogy either. #evolution
     Reply
    Alessar was starred Alessar was unstarred
    Image of brentbent: C.O.C.K.R.O.A.C.H. )for all the queer super villians out there( brentbent: C.O.C.K.R.O.A.C.H. )for all the queer super villians out there(
    10/30/09

    In reply to During the Ice Ages, An Arctic Paradise Bloomed
    I heard Cthulhu had his summer home there until the area filled up with pretentious arty types. #evolution
     Reply
    brentbent: C.O.C.K.R.O.A.C.H. )for all the queer super villians out there( was starred brentbent: C.O.C.K.R.O.A.C.H. )for all the queer super villians out there( was unstarred
    Image of EugeniaBSG EugeniaBSG
    10/30/09

    @brentbent: C.O.C.K.R.O.A.C.H. )for all the queer super villians out there(: Okay, I laughed. Cthulhu didn't leave though; he's hiding in the forests lying in wait for unsuspecting tourists. #evolution
     Reply
    Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H. promoted this comment EugeniaBSG was starred EugeniaBSG was unstarred
    Image of Cash907Censored Cash907Censored
    10/30/09

    In reply to During the Ice Ages, An Arctic Paradise Bloomed
    Wait, so you're saying that during the ice age, Alaska and Russia were a couple, but post-melt they are taking time off from one another?

    Alaska never told me. I mean, I'd ask about her previous relationships, but she'd quickly change the subject by dumping a snow storm on me, or a 2 week long -20 F cold snap. Should have known there was something she wasn't telling me, but I guess I didn't really want to know, ya know?
     Reply
    Edited by Cash907Censored at 10/30/09 12:04 PM Cash907Censored was starred Cash907Censored was unstarred
    Image of crashedpc - Haifisch crashedpc - Haifisch
    10/30/09

    @Cash907Censored: Did you try to fuck a landmass? #evolution
     Reply
    crashedpc - Haifisch was starred crashedpc - Haifisch was unstarred
    Image of allium allium
    10/30/09

    @Cash907Censored: I hear the Pacific Plate is starting to make a move on her. #evolution
     Reply
    allium was starred allium was unstarred
    Image of Vulcan Has No Moon Vulcan Has No Moon
    10/31/09

    @Cash907Censored: I've heard she's also hooked up a few times with Greenland and Scandinavia. #evolution
     Reply
    Vulcan Has No Moon was starred Vulcan Has No Moon was unstarred
    Image of ManchuCandidate ManchuCandidate
    10/30/09

    In reply to During the Ice Ages, An Arctic Paradise Bloomed
    So this is how we invade Kamchatka from Alaska. Triple Sixes, baby! #evolution
     Reply
    ManchuCandidate was starred ManchuCandidate was unstarred
    Image of RavenNemain RavenNemain
    10/30/09

    In reply to During the Ice Ages, An Arctic Paradise Bloomed
    I suspect it was an experiment in alien terraforming... or xenoforming? They probably made the pyramids and dropped off dinosaur bones at the same time, just to mess with us.
     Reply
    crashedpc - unrein promoted this comment Edited by RavenNemain at 10/30/09 11:44 AM RavenNemain was starred RavenNemain was unstarred
    Image of crashedpc - Haifisch crashedpc - Haifisch
    10/30/09

    In reply to During the Ice Ages, An Arctic Paradise Bloomed
    TEKELI-LI! TEKELI-LI! TEKELI-LI! TEKELI-LI! TEKELI-LI! TEKELI-LI!

    *ahem*

    I love how one of the photo captions in the original article states:

    Ice-rich loessal deposits, or "muck," in the Klondike goldfields.

    Muck is, like, "goop" and "spew" and like, stuff.
     Reply
    Edited by crashedpc - Haifisch at 10/30/09 11:26 AM crashedpc - Haifisch was starred crashedpc - Haifisch was unstarred
    Image of Dr Emilio Lizardo Dr Emilio Lizardo
    10/30/09

    @crashedpc - unrein: Personally, I prefer schmutz. #evolution
     Reply
    Dr Emilio Lizardo was starred Dr Emilio Lizardo was unstarred
    Image of Tomb: R.O.A.C.H. Tomb: R.O.A.C.H.
    10/29/09

    In reply to In France, Brown Bears Desperately Need Women
    Show them some panda porn. #science
     Reply
    Tomb: R.O.A.C.H. was starred Tomb: R.O.A.C.H. was unstarred
    Image of Roklimber Roklimber
    10/29/09

    @Tomb: R.O.A.C.H.: Awesome! #science
     Reply
    Roklimber was starred Roklimber was unstarred
    Image of MonkeyT MonkeyT
    10/29/09

    In reply to In France, Brown Bears Desperately Need Women
    Some folks say that bears go around eating babies raw.
    Some folks got a bear across the hall. #science
     Reply
    MonkeyT was starred MonkeyT was unstarred
    Image of AshThePirate AshThePirate
    10/29/09

    In reply to In France, Brown Bears Desperately Need Women
    That's actually pretty interesting. Everything I've read about bears suggests that the males have no part in raising the young (mate, parts ways, mom gives birth in winter and raises the cubs). I guess French bears are a little more sensitive and proactive?
     Reply
    Edited by AshThePirate at 10/29/09 6:22 PM AshThePirate was starred AshThePirate was unstarred
    Image of Greg Lynch Greg Lynch
    10/29/09

    In reply to In France, Brown Bears Desperately Need Women
    Who knew there were bears in France and they were having population problems #science
     Reply
    The Curse of Millhaven promoted this comment Greg Lynch was starred Greg Lynch was unstarred
    Image of The Curse of Millhaven The Curse of Millhaven
    10/29/09

    @Greg Lynch: Yeah. I haven't thought of France as having any bear country. Are there more stretches of wilderness than I am imagining? Do they just scavenge for half-eaten baguettes behind adorable cafes? #science
     Reply
    The Curse of Millhaven was starred The Curse of Millhaven was unstarred
    Image of gorehound gorehound
    10/29/09

    @The Curse of Millhaven: while singing "Anarchy In the Paris" #science
     Reply
    gorehound was starred gorehound was unstarred
    Image of Heriloke Heriloke
    10/29/09

    @The Curse of Millhaven: Indeed. France is not exclusively made up of effeminate men wearing ridiculous hats and sophisticated women wearing expensive and fashionable clothes made in Paris.
    You ever allude to beret-wearing bears, I'd better warn you, I might pout.

    Anyway, most of us do *not* actually eat baguettes.
    (And if you want adorable cafés, I advise you to rather go to England. There, they have lovely pubs, albeit less deliciously smoky than they used to be. The pubs, not the English.)

    Although I do not recall seeing a bear personally, which I find myself quite grateful for, I would like to speak for our ursine population, an ill-spoken minority whose cultural development I fear might be compromised.

    Although not as much as the wolves', which have been crossed off the list of endangered species since this Spring. You might be interested in learning that some consider lupine wilderness as a real danger to the sheep, and each and every year there are mentions of wolves (or bears, for that matter) shot down by a shepherd. Or shepperson. Or whatever they are called these days.
    (Of course, this doesn't happen in Paris. In Paris, there are no sheep; because they'd look silly even in Dior)

    Have frogs.
    Will travel.

    Yours truly,
    Heriloke
    (beret-less batrachian) #science
     Reply
    Annalee Newitz promoted this comment Heriloke was starred Heriloke was unstarred
    Image of Heriloke Heriloke
    10/29/09

    @gorehound: And stop thinking that we put definite articles everywhere, grrr. We don't even say "Le Big-Mac".

    We say UN big-mac.

    Ha! #science
     Reply
    The Curse of Millhaven promoted this comment Heriloke was starred Heriloke was unstarred
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