In the newspapers

Suspect there will be many similar stories from that part of the world as there are major problems with the water supply e.g. relying on mining (pumping water out of) very poorly understood aquifers to supply human population centres and agriculture.

Well, I never, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/21/giant-tortoise-believed-extinct-for-100-years-found-in-galapagos

On similar lines

If this report is true, it is sad reading indeed.

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Underwater photographer of the year, 2019. Nudibranchs are photogenic, and there’s one called, unaccountably, Shaun the sheep, from Malaysia.
In another shot, from a pier on the West Coast of Scotland, the feeding polyps of the soft coral Alcyonium digitatum surround a velvet swimming crab.

Saving statues from leprosy? What about conserving lichens instead?

Did you know lichens can strangle a tree? I heard it on Gardeners Question Time. It might have been the same woman who said raised beds dry out quicker because of the increased gravity.

Well, that’s an interesting view of the world. Reverse gravity could cause strangulation, in the parallel universe where some people live.m

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Something we knew was happening, and here’s more sad proof.

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Only just found this topic - so the story is a bit out of date - Buffel has returned to the sea - but was the star of Fish Hoek Facebook and mentioned in many emails to me at the time.
https://www.animalocean.co.za/2019/01/southern-elephant-seal-moulting-on-fish-hoek-beach/
Here is a link to the video from Facebook taken when Buffel had finished his moult https://www.facebook.com/FishHoekBeach/videos/312369766296831/

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In the video you can hear concerned people wondering if he’s ok and then sense their relief as he slithers off the rocks into deeper water. It’s good news when people can watch in wonder and not be tempted to interfere. Thanks for the post, M.

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Jo - it’s a tidal pool and I was wondering why he chose to go there. I frequently swam there at high tide (shark-proof); lovely in the early mornings, like swimming in champagne as the bubbles from the foam catch the light of the rising sun. A great spot for teaching children to swim.

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Well, it sounds a lovely location, so perhaps it’s not surprising an elephant seal think so too.

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Loss of insects… maybe this will help.

NOT IN THE NEWSPAPERS - but how iSpot can take one on an amazing journey of discovery.
A Google search lead me to this study: http://bolandenviro.co.za/Zevenbergen/Zevenbergen_DraftBAR_Appendix_G1_Botanical_Study.pdf
Which I found interesting because Rooiberg Wines are rather splendid - I frequently stopped for lunch and bought wine to take home.
READING the study took me to finding out more about “Brianhuntleya intrusa” - “A range-restricted (EOO 556 km²), but locally abundant species occurring at between 20 and 30 locations, and declining in some areas due to habitat loss to expanding vineyards.” http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=14099-1
HOPING to find out more (worth seeing the pics): https://enjoysucculents.com/2016/12/07/brianhuntleya-intrusa/
THEN back to iSpot and a really great observation by Richard Adcock:
worthy of comment and never before “Agreed” - see how much work was put into the Ecological Interactions. https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/southern-africa/view/observation/646716/brians-vygie

Interesting, and a dilemma for botanists who drink wine as the main threat seems to be expanding vineyards. Several other well posted and informative ids on iSpot in addition to Richard Adcock’s post you mention.

And for those of us who didn’t know already, “ Emeritus Professor Brian J. Huntley is a conservation scientist with over 45 years of field research and management experience in many African countries, has initiated and led to successful conclusion several major inter-disciplinary cooperative research and institutional development projects, and has visited over 50 countries as an invited speaker/reviewer of conservation activities. Following retirement as CEO of the South African National Biodiversity Institute, he is currently engaged as an independent consultant on conservation projects in several African countries, and in reviews of conservation projects around the world.”

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The value of collecting data… https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/16/six-decade-plankton-study-charts-rise-of-ocean-plastic-waste

Good and essential reading, thanks

Today’s googledoodle features this small amphibian. (after the albatross and Sequoia).

https://www.google.fr/webhp?fpdoodle=1&ictx=3&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiCvLO26-PhAhWZDGMBHTcqBm8QPQgN
Wikipedia confirms its smallness.

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