Rapid recovery of damaged ecosystems

Now there's a title of a scientific paper that makes me sit up and take notice. In this era of doom and gloom, it's nice to hear some good news.

What's behind the title? Let's listen to the authors:

Recent reports on the state of the global environment provide evidence that humankind is inflicting great damage to the very ecosystems that support human livelihoods. The reports further predict that ecosystems will take centuries to recover from damages if they recover at all. Accordingly, there is despair that we are passing on a legacy of irreparable damage to future generations which is entirely inconsistent with principles of sustainability.

We tested the prediction of irreparable harm using a synthesis of recovery times compiled from 240 independent studies reported in the scientific literature. We provide startling evidence that most ecosystems globally can, given human will, recover from very major perturbations on timescales of decades to half-centuries.

Accordingly, we find much hope that humankind can transition to more sustainable use of ecosystems.

Hooray, some validation that optimism is more than just wishful thinking.

hat tip: The Natural Patriot

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Released eels, frogs and turtles create environmental risks

The road to environmental harm can be paved with good intentions.

A buddhist group practicing a sacred ceremony may have unwittingly created harm. The group bought and released hundreds of eels, frogs, and turtles that were for sale in fish markets. Their goal was a spiritual one, freeing the souls of people reincarnated as animals.

The animals were released into the Passaic River in New Jersy, the freshwater body nearest to New York where the animals were purchased.

The problems begin with possible introductions of non-native species, and the likelihood that the animals were infected with bacterial or fungal pathogens during captivity and storage under very dense conditions. If non-natives or diseases become established, native ecosystems can suffer catastrophic harm.

A sad story of good intentions gone awry.

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Seabirds decline in Pacific Northwest

More bad news for ocean birds. Recent counts show major declines for some important species compared to 30 years ago.

It was perfectly normal to go out to the bay and see several thousand Western grebes on the shores," scientist John Bower said. But the recent study found a one-day average of 10 Western grebes on Padilla Bay and 436 on Bellingham Bay, Bower said. Now "they just aren't around," he said.

The study seems to confirm earlier results from bird counts by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, but this time the birds were counted from the ground, not in the air.

David Nysewander, a Fish and Wildlife project leader who assesses marine birds on Puget Sound, said he wasn't surprised by the study results, but he says a lack of money prevents his department from doing much about it.

Birds dying here, birds dying there, ocean troubles everywhere?!

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Overfishing leads to jellyfish boom in Black Sea

Now that jellyfish can be up to 90% of the animal life in the Black Sea, it's worth asking why? Did the bad jellyfish kill off all the nice fish?

A new study says overfishing is to blame, by removing the fish and letting jellyfish take over the ecosystem.

"Initially, the jellyfish was blamed for the fish stock collapse," said Georgi Daskalov, from the UK's Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas). Now they believe that overfishing was the reason for the jellyfish boom.

This is not the first example of overfishing leading to jellyfish booms. Looks like Jeremy Jackson was right when he predicted the rise of slime.

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