Sorting out the Dakota Pipeline

The protest:

Native Americans from tribes all over the country are protesting the construction of a crude-oil pipeline slated to snake through sacred sites and under the water supply for the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Over the past month, thousands of protesters, including Native Americans from more than 100 tribes across the country, have traveled to the North Dakota Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to block the Dakota Access Pipeline from being built.

You can get more info here:

Green Media info: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/special-report-standing-rock-environmental-and-social-justice-consequences-dakota

Stand with Standing Rock: http://www.ienearth.org/stand-with-standing-rock-no-dapl/

Al Gore on standing Rock: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/10/26/dapl-former-vice-president-al-gore-supports-standing-rock-sioux-tribe-166212

StandingRock.org: http://standingrock.org/news/standing-rock-sioux-tribe--dakota-access-pipeline-donation-fund/

READ THIS 

to better understand what exactly fracking does to the environment and why we should care…Earthworks is providing a good basis on  fracking….

https://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing_101#.WDMMfdUrLcs

Then WATCH THIS…http://www.gaslandthemovie.com

Here is the energy company’s website

Dakota Access, LLC, a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Crude Oil Company, LLC, is developing a new pipeline to transport crude oil from the Bakken/Three Forks play in North Dakota to a terminus in Illinois with additional potential points of destination along the pipeline route

http://www.daplpipelinefacts.com/

Stand up for climate: list of web resources

Now more than ever we need to stand up and support organizations that are battling climate disruption. Here is a list of organizations that can help you learn more and take action.

http://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/

https://www.climaterealityproject.org/

http://350.org/

http://www.sierraclub.org/

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/

http://www.idlenomore.ca/

http://www.ucsusa.org/

Don’t bug me! Looking at entomophagy.

                                               Photo Credit: American Chemical Society

Maintaining a sustainable food source is an increasing problem around the world. Food diversification that does not contribute to further damage to ecosystems is a priority. Consumption of insects (entomophagy), has been the focus of a recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Insects can provide protein comparable to meat and fish in human diets, as well as provide fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Examination shows that iron levels from eating insects, can be higher than those found in beef.

Researchers studied grasshopper, cricket, mealworms and buffalo worms to analyze the potential benefits to human consumption. 

You can read the full study at:

Gladys O. Latunde-Dada, Wenge Yang, Mayra Vera Aviles. In Vitro Iron Availability from Insects and Sirloin Beef. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2016; DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b03286

There is a short overview also available at Science Daily here (photo taken from this blog)

Robot meets Nature by Feel good student Animated Film

THE STAND UP! ACTION ART POSTCARD CAMPAIGN 2016

The library will participate in a Collaboration with the 

Climate Action Coalition of South Florida and Artists for Climate Action
 

This action art campaign will inform South Florida elected representatives at County, State and Federal levels about the strong constituent support for their action on these key issues that are part of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Action Plan. Member organizations are reaching out for signatures, home and email addresses on the cards. After the November general election, CAC representatives will hand deliver the cards to the new representatives. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!

This message encourages action on the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Action Plan by County and Municipal elected officials, as the 110 SEFLRCAP recommendations are intended to be acted upon locally. Most of these should be inserted in county and municipality comprehensive plans. See: http://tinyurl.com/SEFLRCAP.

Very specific to Palm Beach County. The “Ag Reserve” is the fertile region between Florida’s Turnpike and the Everglades west of Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. The area is second to California as the prime supplier of winter vegetables. It was set aside years ago to protect wetlands and encourage small farming. This message encourages Palm Beach County Commissioners to reconsider their recent vote to allow more development in this area. Keeping development out will address food security and clean water needs. See: http://tinyurl.com/SAVEAGRESERVE

Protecting our health as climate related diseases increase with more flooding and heat requires improving the level and diversity of our health infrastructure. The Governor and Legislature must acknowledge that climate change is real by taking ACTION in preparation for mounting health problems. Federal representatives’ active support in seeking funding for this purpose is also crucial. This message will go to State and Federal elected representatives. See CAC member group Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boca Raton’s pilot project Rising Together encouraging communities at most risk to organize and identify resources: http://tinyurl.com/FLRISINGTOGETHER

Studies and experience clearly demonstrate the danger of fracking chemicals to groundwater. Despite this evidence, the Governor and majority in the legislature continue to ignore these risks, and recently have threatened to remove the ability of county and municipality elected officials to ban fracking in their local areas. This message goes to State Senators and Representatives

These are the dates we will be out on campus with a table asking people to sign the postcards. Stop by our table.

Make a Difference (MAD) Monday

Event sponsored by SAVI (Students Advocating Volunteer Involvement)

                 Monday, Aug. 29^th 11 am – 1 pm
                  Location: Dining Hall (Check-In) and various locations on-campus (Service)

Clubfest
Event sponsored by COSO (Council of Student Organizations)

                 Thursday, Sept. 8^th 4-6 pm

                 Location: Rec Field or Burrow Student Union (rain location)

Dispatches from the gulf

The following website is a good resource for the consortia of scientists that are researching the Deepwater Horizon spill in the gulf [Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) research theme and consortia]. 

(excerpted from dispatchesfromthegulf.com)
“Dispatches from the Gulf” is a multi-media initiative that investigates the environmental health of the Gulf of Mexico six years after the Deepwater Horizon blowout on April 20, 2010. That’s when the world’s ninth largest body of water became a place where thousands of communities and millions of citizens were put in jeopardy by a single incident – the biggest oil spill in U.S. history. Today, a global team of scientists from a consortia of academic institutions is working together to protect and restore one of our planet’s most valuable natural resources. Their ultimate goal is to learn how to cope with the challenges of future oil spills.

The initiative consists of a one-hour documentary (narrated by Matt Damon), a series of short videos, podcasts, and additional educational resources related to oceanographic scientists, researchers, and institutions.

• ** The 50 short videos are available on the Dispatches from the Gulf YouTube Channel.
• ** An accompanying PRIMER provides detailed descriptions, links, and cross-references to the corresponding GoMRI research theme and consortia. http://screenscope.com/Short-Videos-Primer-Dispatches-Gulf-2016.pdf 

More info on the film can be found here.

Manatee photo ID survey

Survey field notes: 7/8/2016 

Another manatee photo id survey was conducted at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute @ FAU at 1:45 pm – 2:20pm on July 8, 2016 with clear, sunny skies. One cow/calf pair was spotted in the channel. The pair were traveling along the seawall while nursing. They slowly crossed the channel into the shaded areas over by the submersible garage ramp.

No other animals were observed today. None were needed because there is nothing better than seeing a baby marine mammal. Here are the pictures to prove it! There is also a detail shot of the mother's tale fluke for identification purposes.

Manatee Photo ID survey

The Manatee Research team at FAU’s Harbor Branch campus regularly conducts photo id/surveys on Florida manatee that frequent campus. The Harbor Branch channel plays a vital role as a thermal refuge, with >100 manatees congregated in the basin during recent winter cold fronts. The goal of this research is to develop an integrated system using existing (photo-identification) and new (remote sensing) techniques to continuously monitor manatee behavior and habitat.

For the next two weeks, the library’s staff science guy (or gal) will be conducting these surveys and posting about it here. You can also find the HBOI research team on facebook here. Find them and follow, so you can keep updated on all things manatee!

Survey field notes: 7/6/2016

The survey was conducted on July 6, 2016 from 2:00 pm – 2:30pm. One adult manatee was present in the HBOI channel [located close to the small boat marina at a day dock area]. The manatee was observed surface resting, with very little activity. Breaths were taken every few minutes; with little movement, most of the body of the manatee was submerged. No manatee were spotted in the second survey location.

Here are the photos.

What’s the deal with the algae all over the manatee? Here are some peer reviewed articles on the topic.

Interactions between non-native armored suckermouth catfish (Loricariidae: Pterygoplichthys) and native Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in artesian springs Leo G. Nico1*, William F. Loftus2 and James P. Reid1 1 U.S. Geological Survey, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, Florida 32653 USA 2 Aquatic Research & Communication, LLC, 1759 NW 20th St., Homestead, FL 33030 USA E-mail: LNico@usgs.gov (LGN), arc_wfl@bellsouth.net (WFL) * Corresponding author

The tanaid Hexapleomera robusta (Crustacea: Peracarida) from the Caribbean manatee, with comments on other crustacean epibionts. Benjamín Morales-Velaa1, Eduardo Suárez-Moralesa1 c1, Janneth Padilla-Saldívara1 and Richard W. Hearda. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK / Volume 88 / Issue 03 / May 2008, pp 591-596

A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO THE BIOFOULING PROBLEM FOR THE ENDANGERED FLORIDA MANATEE AND OTHER SPECIES BY KATHLEEN D. OPPENHEIMER* AND TODD K. BENDOR. TOJCI.OPPENHEIMER.DOC

Here is some internet stuff on the topic:

The Benefits Of Having Stuff Grow All Over You. Cameron McCormick, 2009.

Vice on HBO. Watch the episode on Climate Change

The Manatee Project at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

@hboimanatees

Did you know that scientists at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute @FAU have a program that keeps track of manatees that frequent campus?

Since the 1970's, manatees have been noted in the channel at Harbor Branch Oceanographic, with large number seen in the winter time. Because this is not a warm water spring nor a power plant outflow, it has not been considered a traditional warm water refuge. The nearest warm water refuges where manatee observations continue are at the power plants in Coco Beach and Riviera Beach (Coco is about 60 miles north and Riviera is about 60 mile south). So, Harbor Branch is in the middle of a 120 mile gap in observations. Since 2009, we have conducted a formal photo-identification program to document which manatees are using the Harbor Branch waters, note the behaviors, and share our photos with the Manatee Individual Photo-identification System (MIPS) operated by the USGS in Gainesville, FL.

You can find them on Facebook here  and at their website here.

Gulf of Mexico Interactive coral map

We found this to be very interesting and useful.

Here is a link to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's interactive coral map

First click on the link to access the map:
htmlhttp://portal.gulfcouncil.org/coral.html

Then, Click on any of the dots on the map for information on that area’s corals. 
It can be downloaded on most mobile devices.

Here is a static view of the map.

The Climate Reality Project and Solar Energy Myths

The Climate Reality Project put together the e-book, Top Solar Energy Myths, where they debunk some of the most common misconceptions around solar power.

You can learn more about the Climate Reality Project by going to their website here.

Here is a brief overview from the website:

In 2006, Nobel Laureate and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore got the world talking about climate change with the Academy Award-winning film An Inconvenient Truth. It was just the beginning of a climate revolution, and later that year, he founded The Climate Reality Project to take the conversation forward and turn awareness into action.

The Climate Reality Project is a diverse group of passionate individuals who have come together to help solve the greatest challenge of our time. We are cultural leaders, marketers, organizers, scientists, storytellers and more, and we are committed to building a better future together.

The Climate Reality Projecct

750 9th Street, NW

Suite 520

Washington, DC 20001

The science guy

Climate change and urban planning

Grist posted an article By Katie Herzog on May 31, 2016 that discusses the recent rash of flooding in Houston. 

Here is a an excerpt. Please click on the following LINK to read the whole article.

U.S. Army National Guard/1st Lt. Zachary West/Handout via Reuters

“One likely cause,” Texas’ state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon tells Grist, “is the increase in ocean temperatures from the Gulf of Mexico and tropical Atlantic. That determines how much moisture is in the atmosphere.” As temperatures increase, so does rainfall.

But it’s not just the rainfall that is endangering Houston’s citizens — it’s also ecologically irresponsible development.

With many of the same problems as Houston, South Florida is no stranger to flooding woes. Here is an article about Miami written by World Resources Institute. Click on this LINK to download the article.

Getty images: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/hotel-guest-steps-out-of-a-hotel-into-a-flooded-street-that-news-photo/490535700 

Florida's water woes

The New Times [Miami] published a good article on the Lake Okeechobee water woes.

Angry About Florida's Ruined Waters, Fishermen Unite Against Big Sugar

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2016 AT 8:05 A.M.

BY BILL KEARNEY

Click on the title above to read the story.

Live Twitter Q&A Endangered Species Day

Join in on the live twitter event for Endangered Species Day

Field Note #15-16: two for one

Photo By © Frank Schulenburg /, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30717494

Date of Survey: 040816/041516

Official Low Tide: 3:43pm/10:14 am am

Tide heights: -.09ft/-2.7cm—  .02ft/6cm

Mudflats exposed? y/n

Temperature: 81°F/ 27°C            Cloud cover: 20%/10%

Sunny light breeze. NICE!

Common Name	Counts of birds foraging on mud flats	Behavior Forage-F Rest/roost-R Fly over -FO	Disturbance (Flushing-F, displaced-D, agitated-A)	Feeding location *Primary flat (P)   Mangrove flat (M)
Snowy egret	2	F		M
Great blue heron	1	F,FO		M
Little blue heron	1	F. FO	D-H	M
white ibis	10	F, FO	D-H-1	M
Total	14

Notes: We combined the past two week’s surveys due to very low bird counts.

Humans = 6 kayakers; 3 fisherman; 5 paddle boarders Total 14

Birds are not present when low tide is mid-day. Not even humans were out much. Very hot. These species that are present in this park are winter migrators, so any stragglers are most likely gone. The resident birds that are breeding most likely are staying close to the nesting sites and this is too far for them to forage. Breeding among south Florida's wading birds peaks around April and May (We will continue to monitor through the summer, but spend shorter time at the survey site. There are neglible numbers to warrant staying for the full two hours.

Breeding times for wading birds (taken from: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw309 )

Breeding periods for Florida's wading birds (adapted from Kale and Maehr 2005)

Great Egret	January – June
Snowy Egret	December – August
Reddish Egret	December – June
Great Blue Heron	November – July
Tricolored Heron	February – July
Little Blue Heron	February – September
Black-crowned Night-Heron	December – July
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	March – June
Green Heron	March – June
American Bittern	April – June
Least Bittern	March – July
Wood Stork	November – May
Roseate Spoonbill	March – May, November – December
White Ibis	March – May
Glossy Ibis	May – July