What difference can one person really make in the fight against climate change? More than you might think! This week, leaders around the globe are meeting to address this very question at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Global leaders and politicians from 190 countries have met in Paris to create a global climate treaty that will hold leaders responsible for halting the exponential warming trend and keep global temperatures below 2 degrees celsius. This conference will have an impact over the next several years on the amount of carbon emitted, and ultimately will require basic lifestyle changes regarding the use of clean energy. The impact of these efforts is promising, and may impact conservation efforts. These treaties directly intersect with the science of our laboratory. Specifically, salamander physiology, as global warming is an impending stressor for plethodontid species. Amphibian skin is vascularized and permeable, acting as an osmoregulatory and respiratory organ. In fact, he skin of a plethodontid salamanders serves as lungs, dictating survival through the exchange of gases across its skin. When temperatures rise, the ability of plethodontid salamanders to maintain the moist skin they need to breathe may be impaired. As a result, precipitation, humidity, and soil moisture, all influence water availability and can influence behavior and survival. Changes in temperature and precipitation influence the physiology, behavior, and ecology of these salamanders. Given the exponential trend of global temperatures, this lungless species could be at risk of future endangerment and range contractions. While this global meeting may not influence salamanders at a microhabitat level, the treaties and policies formed by our global leaders could drastically increase the use of clean energy and put a stop to warming trends. For more information about the Climate Change Summit or to keep updated on treaty progress, visit http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en/ ~Molly Nielsen
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In the spring of 2014, I traveled to India to observe tigers at the Khana and Pench Tiger Reserves. Before this trip, tigers were just these large, striped cats that also happened to be the mascot of my school and favorite football team. But I soon gained an appreciation of just how incredible these animals truly are. Around the world, the tiger has been one of the most popular charismatic megafauna in ancient mythology and folklore and are often seen in modern media as well. Weighing around 850lbs, the tiger is the largest cat species on the planet. That’s bigger than 80 house cats combined! Not only are they large, they are also excellent nocturnal hunters. They feed mostly on deer or other ungulates that can weigh up to 200lbs and occasionally they eat other animals including wild buffalo, water buffalo, and wild boar. The tiger quickly became my favorite animal for all of these reasons, but I think the stripes are what make the tiger stand out. The TIGER is large, majestic, and an apex predator. Who wouldn’t fear the stripes? When I started this CI I became familiar with a different tiger! Way across the world, another striped animal has made a huge impact in science. The tiger salamander, also known as Ambystoma tigrinum, are useful organisms to study interactions between physiology and the environment. They are typically found in wetlands like marshes, lakes, and ponds and they can grow up to 14 inches in some cases. Just like the mammalian tiger, they are good nocturnal hunters. They eat insects, worms, and some adults may also consume small mice or frogs making tiger salamanders feistier than their close relatives A bit of a jump, I know, but what makes these two species similar? They seem completely different in almost every aspect. One is large and the other is small, one is a mammal the other is an amphibian, and they live in completely different areas of the world. However, both are very important organisms in their respective environments. They are both hardy, long-lived and in my opinion have earned their stripes!
~Michael Baker |
The Slime Times is written by the Stress After Dark Creative Inquiry TeamScience isn't all white lab coats and ivory pillars, sometimes you just need to get slimy. Archives
August 2016
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