Month: March 2017

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PSA: Plastic Bags Are Already Gone from California Stores

Hamblin, Abby. “PSA: Plastic Bags Are Already Gone from California Stores.” Sandiegouniontribune.com. N.p., 11 Nov. 2016. Web. 12 Mar. 2017. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/the-conversation/sd-plastic-bags-are-gone-in-california-20161111-htmlstory.html

California’s battle over proposition 67 was close- 52 percent of voters said yes to a single-use plastic bag ban, 48 percent said no- but it was decisive enough that the bags have already gone away from grocery and retail stores. Many environmental activists and scientists are satisfied with the turnout. However, Proposition 65 was connected to proposition 67, which sought the direct those funds to environmental causes, was not passed during the election.

This is connected to environmental science because it shows an effort Californians are taking to reduce the amount of trash they produce. As more and more states follow in California’s footsteps, our country will hopefully decrease our ecological footprint significantly. I think that banning plastic is an effective and direct approach to eliminating plastic waste.

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Why Seabirds Love To Gobble Plastic Floating In The Ocean

Joyce, Christopher. “Why Seabirds Love To Gobble Plastic Floating In The Ocean.” NPR. NPR, 10 Nov. 2016. Web. 13 Mar. 2017. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/10/501606955/why-seabirds-love-to-gobble-plastic-floating-in-the-ocean

The fact that sea animals and birds eat floating plastic has long puzzled biologists. Their best guess was that it looks like food. But the new evidence suggests that for a lot of birds, plastic actually smells like food. Birds and other animals like zooplankton or krill, normally eat the algae, and when the krill eats the algae it emits a chemical called dimethyl sulfide which then attracts to the birds. Scientists at UC Davis also found that when the algae clings to the plastic it also tricks the birds into eating the plastic and algae all together.

This article relates to environmental science because it talks about how plastic and other trash is threatening wildlife. This problem is very serious and needs to be addressed by coming up with ways to reduce the amount of trash in oceans. I think that this is very unfortunate that human activities has had such a negative impact on wildlife. I hope that other people can learn about this and change their ways to reduce the amount of garbage they produce.

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San Francisco Becomes The First City to Ban Sale of Plastic Bottles

Second Nexus Staff. “San Francisco Becomes The First City to Ban Sale of Plastic Bottles.” Second Nexus. N.p., 13 Apr. 2016. Web. 13 Mar. 2017.

http://secondnexus.com/ecology-and-sustainability/san-francisco-ban-sale-plastic-bottles/

San Francisco is the first city to ban the sale of plastic water bottles, a move that is building on a global movement to reduce the huge amount of waste from the billion-dollar bottle industry. Over the next four years, the ban will phase out the sales of plastic water bottles that hold 21 ounces or less in public places. However, waivers are available if an adequate alternative water source is not available.

This relates to environmental science because it is another step towards decreasing our ecological footprint. By banning the sales of plastic water bottles, it will help decrease the amount of garbage and waste produced, which will then help to decrease the negative impacts of human activity. I believe this is a great effort to encourage restrictions on plastic and to increase alternatives like eco-friendly products to benefit the environment.

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Keep Plastic Out of the Pacific

“Keep Plastic Out of the Pacific.” Environment California. Environment California, 15 Feb. 2017. Web. 12 Mar. 2017.

Californians throw away 123,000 tons of plastic bags each year, and too much of the plastic ends up in the Pacific ocean. Plastic trash in the oceans obviously lessens the aesthetic value the ocean brings, but it also has threatened the sea life. Turtles and seabirds frequently ingest floating plastic, mistaking it for food. Sea creatures can also get tangled up in the plastic, causing them to drown or die of suffocation. In addition, toxic pollutants leach from the plastic into the water causing fish to absorb these toxic pollutants and pass it down the food chain to humans.

This relates to environmental science because plastic is threatening the diverse aquatic wildlife in the ocean. In any communities of living things, if one species is in danger, it can affect the other species as well. This is what is happening in the ocean and is why it’s so important to eliminate the use of plastic. I think that it is very important to find ways to decrease the amount of plastic, like the plastic bag ban. Another idea is banning plastic bottles and cups as well. Nothing we use for a few minutes should pollute our oceans for hundreds of years.

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Where Are All Those Plastic Bags?

“Where Are All Those Plastic Bags? California Voters Decided to Get Rid of Them.” Los

Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2017.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-plastic-bags-20161111-story.html

California recently passed a law banning single-use plastic bags. Customers will now have to pay at least 10 cents for paper bags or will have to bring their own reusable bags. Most California residents are happy about this new ban. DeLa Torre is an example for a Californian who is in favor for the ban and says, “we will be helping the environment… like I tell my kids, we have to be aware of the impact these plastic bags have had in the oceans and other places”. However, other residents feel an annoyance, worrying it will cause an inconvenience.

Garbage is a significant problem that the environmental and us humans are facing today. As consumers keep buying more and more stuff, it keeps adding to the problem. Specifically, plastic waste is a huge contributor to the increase of trash around California. Plastic takes thousands of years to decompose which makes it even more vital to limit the use. I believe that starting with banning plastic bags is a great start to decrease plastic trash, however, other materials like plastic cups and plastic bottles have to be addressed as well.

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New species of terrestrial crab found climbing on trees in Hong Kong

New species of terrestrial crab found climbing on trees in Hong Kong. (2017). ScienceDaily.

Retrieved 24 March 2017, from

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170321122557.htm

 

Recently the California Department of Water Resources identified tiny larvae of mussels in the Santa Ana pipeline, but no adult mussels were found. The presence of mussels has been confirmed, but further testing must be done to determine whether the larvae are of quagga or zebra mussels. This short article marks the beginning of a new era of invasive species as another potentially aggressive mussel slowly leaks into the collective California ecosystem. The pipeline the larvae were found in, the Santa Ana pipeline, is connecting Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County to Lake Perris in Riverside County. Scientists recorded that some quagga mussels were found in 2008, but the invasion has been very slow to their surprise.

What this article has shown me is that invasive species have very creative and also ambiguous ways of entering an ecosystem. In this case, the mussels entered through the pipeline, but they might also enter via boat as they do in other parts of the world. There is too much debacle on whether someone must be to stop the invasion immediately, but how will legislatives handle the situation?  These are the questions scientists, researchers, and legislative bodies consider. Overall, I think that there must be a proper guideline for how to deal with invasive species that addresses the problem soon and effectively so that the invasive species doesn’t snowball and damage the local ecosystem permanently.

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Invasive Species of the Month – Emex spinosa

Invasive Species of the Month – Emex spinosa | CNPS-SLO. (2017). Cnpsslo.org. Retrieved 24

March 2017, from

http://cnpsslo.org/2017/03/invasive-species-of-the-month-emex-spinosa/

 

The spiny emex is an organism which is a part of the Buckwheat family and has shown itself as a silent but expensive invasive species, particularly in SoCal. Originating from the Mediterranean region of Africa, this plant closely resembles spinach  or dock and is characterized by its lime green or yellowish bronze leaves. This species must be dealt with carefully since its multitude of seeds have the ability to “shred plastic bags”, in fact. Upon closer inspection, I notice that I am unable to distinguish spiny emex from dock itself, lending to its capability as an invasive species which will remain undetected for the most part.

This short article informed me of the physical characteristics of the Spiny emex (emex spinosa), but it did not go very in depth as to how it might be specifically invasive and threatening to the original population of plants similar to it like Buckwheat. Most logically, the Spiny emex grows at a rapid rate and therefore deprives other organisms of proper growing space and resources like water or soil nutrients. Although this is speculation, I think it is fit to assume this since it is the understanding for many invasive plant species.

 

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Invasive species week

Invasive species week. (2017). ANR Blogs. Retrieved 24 March 2017, from

http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=23421

 

This article discusses the problems which may arise as a result of invasive species, specifically focusing in on the spotted-wing drosophila. This organism caused conventional raspberry growers in California to lose a little over $35 million in revenue between 2009 and 2014, therefore reducing California raspberry yields by 50%. The article then talks about how there have been many success stories with the dealing of invasive species, but the solution is ultimately at the hands of witty growers and land managers. Recently the Department of Food and Agriculture declared the European Grapevine Moth as “eradicated” from California. This was based on the fast that were no findings of the moth, but there may be some that we know not of. This is one of the few problems which occurs when dealing with invasive species.

 

After reading this article I understand the wide range of problems presented by invasive species and how they disturb the lives of many more than just the growers and land managers. There must be full cooperation between the state officials and private owners if a community wishes to eliminate an invasive species. New legislature has been passed as well which requires this cooperation, but it is in the best interest of both groups if there is cooperation to begin with. Overall, the problems with invasive species are very complicated and must be dealt with immediately if a solution should be achieved.

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California Wine Country Says Goodbye to Crop-Threatening Moth

Mohan, G. (2016, August 16). California Wine Country Says Goodbye to Crop-Threatening

Moth: Los Angeles Times. Business | Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 16,

2016,from

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wine-moth-20160818-snap-story.html.

 

In 2009 researchers discovered a European grapevine moth species known by the scientific name lobesia botrana. This moth started to infest over 2,000 square miles of straight vineyards land in Napa valley, effectively putting almost six million dollars of fruit at risk of destruction. The invasive species, native to southern Europe near Italy has already spread to three other continents, including North America. A temporary quarantine was placed on the region and growers used chemical insecticides and bacteria sprays to eventually eliminate the invasive moth population. This however cost private farmers and business over $90 million bucks, an amount that even the wealthiest of the wealth would miss dearly. After little to no active sightings of the moth since 2007, it is fair to assert the elimination of these grapevine moths.

This deceivingly small event of moth migrating to the Napa valley most likely began with a few hundred moths which were blown off and tossed by random chance. This small amount of happenstance resulted in huge financial losses for Napa valley farmers, all because of some moths. People often overlook immediate concerns like the grapevine moth until it directly harms them, a foolish way of dealing with problems, especially with invasive species which might disrupt an entire ecosystem forever After reading this article, I know feel the importance of environmental awareness, especially since the lack of it will result in huge financial losses. It is a fact that society is too lazy to act ahead of time, especially if it brings no economic or social success immediately or in the form of cold hard cash.

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County to Spray Spring Valley Neighborhood for Zika Virus

County to Spray Spring Valley Neighborhood for Zika Virus. (2016). Lemon Grove, CA Patch.

Retrieved 17 March 2017, from

http://patch.com/california/lemongrove/county-spray-spring-valley-neighborhoo

-zika-virus

 

Located in San Diego there exists a community which has been sprayed with insecticide in an attempt to eliminate the invasive species known as the Aedes mosquitoes. These mosquitoes were recognized to have some relationship to the spread of the Zika virus. The Aedas mosquitoes has actually done some harm to the community due to their remarkable ability to breed water. The water doesn’t even need to be large, it can be as small as a single drop of water. There are now many concerns that the mosquitoes could potentially transmit foreign diseases if biting an infected person and then biting someone else, thus transferring the disease. In fact, health and safety official established a thirteen block area in San Diego is being hand-sprayed with insecticide to try and eliminate or contain the Aedes mosquitoes in the area. The San Diego people are worried for the unknown effects it will have on the San Diego air quality, and law enforcement is now telling all those affected to take precautions against the mosquitos, like mosquito nets and repellents.

 

After reading this article, it is easy to understand how it relates to environmental science because, as a result of invasive species, the air in East San Diego will be filled with insecticide, which most likely has an negative effect on the environment. Another side effect is that animals are now more susceptible to contracting rare diseases which may potentially kill. If these Aedes mosquitos had not existed then there would be no issue of airborne disease spread and insecticide pollution. This article shows the effect on the environment invasive species can have other than physically hurting an environment or its native species, in this case they are causing humans to have to take action and potentially hurt the environment as a result of their presence.