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Call for permanent ban of whale products sold on Amazon.com

March 7, 2012 by 1 Comment

If you have not, please sign this petition calling for a permanent end of the selling of whale products on Amazon.com. 

“Whales have an important lesson to teach us. Whales have a large and complex brain but show no signs of threatening their own destruction. They haven’t reproduced themselves into oblivion, they haven’t destroyed the resources upon which they depend, they haven’t generated giant holes in the ozone, or increased the earth’s temperature so that we might end up with the greenhouse effect. The lesson whales teach us is that you can have a brain of great complexity that doesn’t result in the death of the planet”. – Dr. Robert Payne, Founder and President of Ocean Alliance. He is best known for his discovery (with Scott McVay) that humpback whales sing songs.


Filed Under: Marine Mammals, Ocean, People

‘Inside the Arctic Circle’: What if James Lipton interviewed a polar bear?

February 27, 2012 by 1 Comment

In honor of International Polar Bear Day, I was wondering how a polar bear – if interviewed by the esteemed James Lipton and could speak – would answer to the following questions on an episode of “Inside the Arctic Circle”. Please feel free to disagree and add in your comments.

  1. What is your favorite word? Seal
  2. What is your least favorite word? Endangered
  3. What turns you on? Conservation efforts, small or large.
  4. What turns you off? Thinking others will take care of shared problems.
  5. What sound or noise do you love? Besides my young cubs learning to hunt, it would be a room full of scientists and policy makers agreeing to do something about climate change.
  6. What sound or noise do you hate? I’d like to quote Simon and Garfunkel and say the ‘sound of silence’. People doing nothing and ignoring the fact that my population has reduced more than 30% in three generations due to climate change is disheartening.
  7. What is your favorite curse word? Coke. That company used an unflattering picture of my sister on their packages, and, frankly, the word has become synonymous with unhappiness here in the Arctic. I think they can do a lot more.
  8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? A writer.
  9. What profession would you not like to do? Mining, I don’t want to look like all those other bears.
  10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Thanks for trying your best. That’s all that was needed. Balance will prevail.
Filed Under: Marine Mammals Tagged With: , , ,

Cirque Du Baille (or Circus of the Sea)

February 23, 2012 by 2 Comments

Now that my little one is getting to the age where she’s off on fun excursions with daycare (today she went to the National Zoo!), I started having nightmares she might ask her father and I to take her to the circus.  I haven’t been to the circus since I was 6 and am not even certain if they still have them or that I want to take her. I do love the idea of taking her to Cirque Du Soleil to enjoy the music and dancing, though.

Then I started to daydream …  “What if I could take her to a circus of the sea“? So, here is my representation of “Cirque Du Baille” featuring the spinner dolphin as the amazing acrobat, the clownfish as everyone’s favorite (or creepy) jokster, the dumbo octopus as the ideal replacement for the elephant, and once the lionfish figures out a way to get those tentacles through hoops he’ll take down the big top.

Filed Under: Animal Homes, Cephalopods, Coral Reef Ecosystems, Fish, Marine Mammals

Start a beachcomber bean bonanza

February 3, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Off to the sunny shores of Florida for a little getaway this winter? Try a little something different, and instead of seeking out seashells – look for some beans (Of course also try to remember the phrase “Take only pictures, leave only footprints“)!

Due to the various currents that collide near the south Atlantic coast many different types of seeds drift onto the shore. Washed up and often hidden in the wrack line, these sea beans are a marine jewel to many beachcombers. Sea beans are seeds that have traveled for many miles through currents from the Caribbean, South America, or even as far away as Africa. They come in many shapes and sizes, but since they have spent a considerable amount of time exfoliating in salty water they often appear smooth and polished. Here are some that are commonly found.

Hamburger Bean

Sea Pearl

Lucky Bean

Image (c) top – seabean.com, middle – backyardnature.net, bottom – iloveshelling.com

Please feel free to share other beautiful drift seed links here. Also, does anyone know where to attribute the phrase “Take only pictures, leave only footprints”?


Filed Under: Plants, Wrack Line Tagged With: , , ,

What is shark finning?

February 1, 2012 by 2 Comments

There has been a lot in the news recently about shark finning. It’s the inhumane practice of capturing a shark, slicing its fins off (shark fin soup is an expensive delicacy popular at Chinese weddings and Chinese New Year celebrations), and tossing the rest of the animal overboard to bleed out a die.

As noted on the Save Our Seas Foundation website, “Compared to other commercial fisheries, the shark-fin industry is opaque, secretive, and often operates in a legal grey area, exploiting loopholes in anti-finning laws and keeping few records. In addition to this, reporting can be unreliable and misleading, as member countries of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report shark catches with varying degrees of detail and accuracy”. There is some forward momentum. A ban has been put in place in California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington to end the practice. California will also implement a ban on the importation of fins starting January 1, 2013. Although, as the LA Times writes, it is still an uphill battle in China.

Wildaid, in conjunction with artist Kiki Karpus, created this powerful “What is shark finning?” infographic as a way to understand more on the harmful effects the practice has on the entire ocean ecosystem.

Filed Under: Sharks Tagged With: , ,

How is it I can find some species of fish in fresh and saltwater?

January 30, 2012 by 3 Comments
The striped bass is the main piscivore of the LSZ

Striped bass

Some species of fish can regulate their salt tolerance easier than others. For instance, many of the species that call the estuary a nursery or breeding ground can adapt to a wide range of salinity (less than 30 ppt). These animals (or plants) are known as euryhaline. Other animals that cannot tolerate a wide range of salinity are known as stenohaline. Some euryhaline species include striped bass, mummuichug, puffer, shad, herring, and sturgeon.

Filed Under: Fish Tagged With: , ,

Diet Tips for a Longer, Healthier Life

January 29, 2012 by 2 Comments

Changing what you eat now could have big benefits later

person wearing hat while shopping for leafy greens at outdoor farmer's marketPhoto: Getty Images

We know that cutting back on red meat is good for heart health, fish is brain food, and calcium-rich foods can help keep our bones strong. But can shaking up what we eat help us live longer? Check these Cortexi reviews.

Yes, research shows. In a study published in 2022 in the journal PLOS Medicine, Norwegian researchers analyzed data from a number of studies on diet and health, and used them to come up with estimates of how many more years people could expect to gain if they made some changes.

They found that shifting from a typical Western diet (heavy on red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, and refined grains) at age 20 to one rich in produce, legumes, fish, whole grains, and nuts could lead to a 13-year increase in life expectancy for men, and 10.7 years for women. But the study also posited that diet improvements adopted at 60 could increase life expectancy by eight years for women and 8.8 years for men. At age 80 you could still benefit, gaining about 3.4 years. (The researchers have a calculator that lets you see the effect of diet changes for someone your age.) Learn more about sightcare.

Other research suggests that several dietary patterns from around the world—Okinawan, Mediterranean, and Nordic, to name a few—can have life-extending benefits. Overall, these diets have more similarities than differences and a lot in common with the parameters the Norwegian researchers used in their study. We reviewed the evidence and talked with experts to develop these tips that may help you add (healthier) years to your life, while if you want to fight stress you could also use products like CBD flower to feel better and more relaxed.

Trim Some Calories

Scientists have found that eating fewer calories can translate into a longer life, but early evidence came from studies on yeast and other organisms or animals, like mice and monkeys. The Calerie clinical trial at Duke University in Durham, N.C., is the first controlled study of calorie restriction in healthy people. Drawing from that data, a study published in 2022 showed that eating 14 percent fewer calories for two years had a significant effect on the thymus, an immune-supporting gland that produces T cells that fight infections. Visit https://www.timesunion.com/.

MORE ON HEALTHY EATING
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This supports the idea that a relatively small reduction (280 calories less if you typically consume 2,000 per day)—even if you don’t change the foods you eat—may protect your health, says the author, Vishwa Deep Dixit, PhD, a professor of pathology, immunobiology, and comparative medicine at Yale University in New Haven, Conn.

But if you’re an older adult, you should approach calorie restriction with caution because when you eat less, you also could be limiting important nutrients. At the USC Longevity Institute in Los Angeles, “we are focusing on dietary interventions that are much less invasive and don’t cause side effects,” says the center’s director, Valter Longo, PhD. Rather than eating less every day, he suggests eating a very low-calorie diet made up of nutritious foods for five days two to four times a year. This essentially has similar metabolic effects to fasting but isn’t as difficult, and you still get some nutrients. Before making any drastic changes in your diet, discuss it with your doctor.

Have Fiber at Breakfast

Adults 40 and older who ate breakfast and took in at least 25 grams of fiber per day had a 21 percent lower risk of dying over a 12-year period. That’s according to an analysis of national data from the West Virginia University School of Medicine published in 2021 in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

While getting fiber from a variety of plant foods is important, there may be an extra benefit from including fiber from grain foods (such as whole grains and whole-grain bread and cereals) in your day, says Rupak Shivakoti, PhD, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York City. One study he and his colleagues did, published in JAMA Network Open, found that men and women 65 and older who ate more foods rich in grain fiber had lower levels of various markers of inflammation. Reducing inflammation may play a role in decreasing the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S., and other conditions.

And you might enjoy your morning cup of java even more when you hear that it may help you live longer. Coffee is rich in compounds called polyphenols, which can protect cells against damage. In a 2017 study published in Annals of Internal Medicine, almost 200,000 people—Black, Latino, white, native Hawaiian, and Japanese American ages 45 to 75 at the start of the study—were followed for an average of 16 years. Those who drank a cup of regular or decaf coffee per day had a 12 percent lower risk of dying from any cause during the study period. Just go easy on the cream and sugar.

Fill Up on Fruits and Veggies

The more produce a person eats, the lower the risk of death from any cause—up to five servings per day (three servings of veggies and two of fruit), according to a 2021 study published in the journal Circulation that tracked more than 100,000 men and women over 30 years. Eating more than five daily servings didn’t seem to offer substantially more benefits. And note that potatoes and fruit juices weren’t linked to the same benefits as other forms of produce. It’s best to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables instead of relying on the same types because doing so means you get an array of nutrients.

Swap Out Saturated Fat

Too much saturated fat (found in red meat and butter) can lead to clogged arteries and raise the risk for heart disease. Even cutting small amounts can have a benefit. A study in the journal Circulation Research reviewed data from more than 500,000 people collected by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for more than 16 years. It found that replacing just 5 percent of calories from saturated fat with foods rich in monounsaturated fat, like avocados, or linoleic acid, a type of polyunsaturated fat found in nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils, was linked with a 15 and 8 percent lower risk of death, respectively.

Eat More Plant Protein

Replacing animal sources of protein with plant protein may also give you extra years. The Norwegian study found that increasing the consumption of beans and lentils—which are among the best plant-protein sources—to ½ to 1 cup per day contributed the greatest gain in life expectancy. And replacing 3 percent of calories from animal proteins with plant proteins was linked with a 10 percent lower risk of early death in a 2020 study from the NIH that tracked more than 400,000 adults for 16 years. The benefit was even greater when the protein replaced was eggs or red meat, specifically.

Filed Under: Birds, Ocean Tagged With: , , ,

Design on a dime … Underwater edition

January 28, 2012 by 2 Comments

Diet Tips for a Longer, Healthier Life

Changing what you eat now could have big benefits later

person wearing hat while shopping for leafy greens at outdoor farmer's marketPhoto: Getty Images

We know that cutting back on red meat is good for heart health, fish is brain food, and calcium-rich foods can help keep our bones strong. But can shaking up what we eat help us live longer? Learn more about liv pure.

Yes, research shows. In a study published in 2022 in the journal PLOS Medicine, Norwegian researchers analyzed data from a number of studies on diet and health, and used them to come up with estimates of how many more years people could expect to gain if they made some changes.

They found that shifting from a typical Western diet (heavy on red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, and refined grains) at age 20 to one rich in produce, legumes, fish, whole grains, and nuts could lead to a 13-year increase in life expectancy for men, and 10.7 years for women. But the study also posited that diet improvements adopted at 60 could increase life expectancy by eight years for women and 8.8 years for men. At age 80 you could still benefit, gaining about 3.4 years. (The researchers have a calculator that lets you see the effect of diet changes for someone your age.)

Other research suggests that several dietary patterns from around the world—Okinawan, Mediterranean, and Nordic, to name a few—can have life-extending benefits. Overall, these diets have more similarities than differences and a lot in common with the parameters the Norwegian researchers used in their study. We reviewed the evidence and talked with experts to develop these tips that may help you add (healthier) years to your life. Check these livpure reviews.

Trim Some Calories

Scientists have found that eating fewer calories can translate into a longer life, but early evidence came from studies on yeast and other organisms or animals, like mice and monkeys. The Calerie clinical trial at Duke University in Durham, N.C., is the first controlled study of calorie restriction in healthy people. Drawing from that data, a study published in 2022 showed that eating 14 percent fewer calories for two years had a significant effect on the thymus, an immune-supporting gland that produces T cells that fight infections.

This supports the idea that a relatively small reduction (280 calories less if you typically consume 2,000 per day)—even if you don’t change the foods you eat—may protect your health, says the author, Vishwa Deep Dixit, PhD, a professor of pathology, immunobiology, and comparative medicine at Yale University in New Haven, Conn.

But if you’re an older adult, you should approach calorie restriction with caution because when you eat less, you also could be limiting important nutrients. At the USC Longevity Institute in Los Angeles, “we are focusing on dietary interventions that are much less invasive and don’t cause side effects,” says the center’s director, Valter Longo, PhD. Rather than eating less every day, he suggests eating a very low-calorie diet made up of nutritious foods for five days two to four times a year. This essentially has similar metabolic effects to fasting but isn’t as difficult, and you still get some nutrients. Before making any drastic changes in your diet, discuss it with your doctor. These are the latest cortex reviews.

Have Fiber at Breakfast

Adults 40 and older who ate breakfast and took in at least 25 grams of fiber per day had a 21 percent lower risk of dying over a 12-year period. That’s according to an analysis of national data from the West Virginia University School of Medicine published in 2021 in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

While getting fiber from a variety of plant foods is important, there may be an extra benefit from including fiber from grain foods (such as whole grains and whole-grain bread and cereals) in your day, says Rupak Shivakoti, PhD, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York City. One study he and his colleagues did, published in JAMA Network Open, found that men and women 65 and older who ate more foods rich in grain fiber had lower levels of various markers of inflammation. Reducing inflammation may play a role in decreasing the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S., and other conditions.

And you might enjoy your morning cup of java even more when you hear that it may help you live longer. Coffee is rich in compounds called polyphenols, which can protect cells against damage. In a 2017 study published in Annals of Internal Medicine, almost 200,000 people—Black, Latino, white, native Hawaiian, and Japanese American ages 45 to 75 at the start of the study—were followed for an average of 16 years. Those who drank a cup of regular or decaf coffee per day had a 12 percent lower risk of dying from any cause during the study period. Just go easy on the cream and sugar.

Fill Up on Fruits and Veggies

The more produce a person eats, the lower the risk of death from any cause—up to five servings per day (three servings of veggies and two of fruit), according to a 2021 study published in the journal Circulation that tracked more than 100,000 men and women over 30 years. Eating more than five daily servings didn’t seem to offer substantially more benefits. And note that potatoes and fruit juices weren’t linked to the same benefits as other forms of produce. It’s best to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables instead of relying on the same types because doing so means you get an array of nutrients.

Swap Out Saturated Fat

Too much saturated fat (found in red meat and butter) can lead to clogged arteries and raise the risk for heart disease. Even cutting small amounts can have a benefit. A study in the journal Circulation Research reviewed data from more than 500,000 people collected by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for more than 16 years. It found that replacing just 5 percent of calories from saturated fat with foods rich in monounsaturated fat, like avocados, or linoleic acid, a type of polyunsaturated fat found in nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils, was linked with a 15 and 8 percent lower risk of death, respectively.

Eat More Plant Protein

Replacing animal sources of protein with plant protein may also give you extra years. The Norwegian study found that increasing the consumption of beans and lentils—which are among the best plant-protein sources—to ½ to 1 cup per day contributed the greatest gain in life expectancy. And replacing 3 percent of calories from animal proteins with plant proteins was linked with a 10 percent lower risk of early death in a 2020 study from the NIH that tracked more than 400,000 adults for 16 years. The benefit was even greater when the protein replaced was eggs or red meat, specifically.

Filed Under: Algae (Seaweeds), Animal Homes, Crustaceans Tagged With:

Happy Chinese New Year … Year of the (Sea) Dragon!

January 22, 2012 by 1 Comment

Happy Chinese New Year … Year of the (Sea) Dragon!

January 23 will bring a very significant celebration for those that live by the sea … it is the year of the water dragon which only occurs every six decades! To commemorate such an occasion, BCS will highlight two very remarkable and elaborate dragons found off the coast of south and east Australia. The leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques) and the weedy seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) are related to the more familiar seahorse and pipefish.

Leafy Seadragon

Although they may share the similar feature of a long snout with the seahorse and pipefish, the seadragon’s appendages coming from their solid, armor-like skin are what really set them apart. The leafy seadragon, often yellowish-green, is much more ornate than the reddish colored weedy seadragon. Although, the weedy seadragon does have some striking bright blue bands along its upper body. Unlike seahorses,  seadragons do not use their tails to grasp onto the seaweeds or algae that they call home. In fact, the seadragons prefer to drift although they can use their transparent dorsal and pectoral fins to help navigate.

Weedy Seadragon

Similar to seahorses, male seadragons do the child bearing. The males have a brood patch under their tails (unlike the seahorse that have a pouch on their belly). The female will lay approximately 250 eggs on the patch at the time of fertilization and the eggs will hatch approximately 6 weeks later. The tiny juvenile seadragons look exactly like their parents but are immediately independent from them. This is their most vulnerable time of life when they may be eaten by various anemones, crabs, or hydroids. But if they avoid these predators and eat plenty of zooplankton the seadragon will grow to be either 14 inches (leafy) or 18 inches (weedy). The adults usually feast on sea lice or mysid shrimp. Of course, that is also if they manage to evade people collecting them for black market aquariums and staying away from areas where there is pollution and habitat loss.

Other interesting facts about seadragons are that their eyes move independently and they have no teeth or stomach!

Resources:

  • http://australian-animals.net/dragon.htm
  • http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/sea-dragon/
  • http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/efc_splash/splash_animals_seadragon.aspx
Filed Under: Algae (Seaweeds), Egg Cases, Fish Tagged With: , , , , ,

Project AWARE

January 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been scientifically proven to provide multiple health benefits, including lowering your risk of various chronic diseases and keeping your body healthy. Making major dietary shifts, on the other hand, can be overwhelming. For starters, changing your diet drastically can be difficult; but people can start with a few tiny changes. It is because things become easy to manage when you start with one thing at a time rather than all of them at once. A regular diet can be made a little bit healthier by including some basic, everyday foods to your meal. Read on these exipure real reviews.

Here’re 5 Healthy Foods To Add To Your Healthy Diet:

1. Berries: 

Berries such as strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, black currants, and blackberries have been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Natural antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E, as well as micronutrients like folic acid, selenium, alpha and beta-carotene, and lutein, are all found in them. Berries are abundant in moisture and fibre, while being low in calories. Antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperglycemia, and anti-inflammatory activities are all found in berries. A daily bowl of berries helps to prevent ageing, boost immune health, battle stress and anxiety, regulate body weight, and promote urinary tract health.

2. Yogurt: 

It is one nutritious food that is easily available across the world. Yogurt is high in protein, calcium, vitamin B12, and phosphorus – all of which are important components in the diet. Benefits of yogurt consumption include bone health, weight maintenance and cardio-metabolic disease prevention.  Check these exipure reviews.

Yogurt is the best source of probiotics, in addition to calcium and protein (good live bacteria). Having a proper balance of bacteria in your gut improves digestion, blocks dangerous organisms that can cause infections, and boosts the immune system. Protein in yogurt promotes weight loss and has satiating properties.

3. Drumstick: 

Drumstick or moringa is a trending vegetable in developing countries. It has been used for centuries due to its medicinal properties and health benefits. Moringa leaves are an abundant source of minerals, vitamins, and other essential phytochemicals. Leaf extract has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and anti-microbial properties. Moringa leaves are rich in iron and zinc, which help treat anemia and the development of sperm cells, respectively.Research states that regular use of drumsticks improves mental alertness, bone strength and improves eyesight. The anti-bacterial properties of moringa prevent cancer, common cough and cold. The laxative properties of moringa help relieve constipation. Learn more about keto x3 healthy benefits.

4. Mangosteen: 

Mangosteen has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antidepressant, antihistamine, analgesic and anti-viral properties. Mangosteen can cure acne, skin blemishes, oily and dry skin. Mangosteen controls levels of triglycerides, regulate heart rate and helps maintain normal blood pressure. The xanthones in mangosteen are naturally occurring plant compounds with anti-inflammatory molecules. This vital trait in mangosteen makes it a remarkable remedy for relieving unbearable body pain due to arthritis, sciatica, and menstrual cramps. Fiber helps regulate appetite, control untimely cravings, promote digestion, and augment energy metabolism. This is how exipure works.

5. Almonds: 

Adding almonds to your diet can help lower blood cholesterol levels. They protect artery walls from damage. It was found that the flavonoids in almond skins work in synergy with vitamin E, thus reducing the risk of heart disease (Research at Tufts University). Almonds contain phosphorus that helps build strong bones and teeth. Almonds contain riboflavin and L-carnitine – nutrients that boost brain activity and may also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Research shows that eating almonds along with a high glycemic index food significantly lowers the glycemic index of the meal and lessens the rise in blood sugar after eating.

Filed Under: Beach, Biodiversity, People, Places Tagged With: , ,