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Sunday, 14 March 2010

The Biscutella rotgesii is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This species grows on rocky grassland and serpentine rock in Corsica, managing the high concentrations of heavy metals in the soil and surviving on a limited supply of water.

Only several hundred individuals exist and sadly, these numbers are diminishing rapidly. As the Biscutella rotgesii is not internationally protected by any conventions, it is vulnerable to urbanization in its various forms, particularly the construction of roads and dams. In addition to these direct human pressures, flooding and fires also threaten this species’ existence.

The botanical garden of Porquerolles in France is storing and cultivating seeds. This important work should ideally be implemented by other botanical gardens. In addition, a management plan for the Natura 2000 site "Défilé de l'Inzecca" is being drafted and implemented as a way of raising awareness and saving this species.

No 62 - North Atlantic Right Whale

The North Atlantic Right Whale, Eubalaena glacialis, is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Speciesä. Despite its bulky size, the North Atlantic Right Whale is able to perform acrobatic acts such as jumping out of the water. Unfortunately, this made them an easy target for whalers. Whilst they were once frequently seen, it is currently one of the rarest large whales in the world, having been drastically reduced to critically low numbers of less than 250 mature individuals. Historically, the North Atlantic Right Whale was common on both sides of the Atlantic. Today, this whale appears to be effectively extinct in the eastern North Atlantic.

Whilst the North Atlantic Right Whale is no longer hunted, decades of exploitation have left a tragic legacy. The main threats to the North Atlantic Right Whale are collision with ships and entanglement in commercial fishing gear. Other threats include loss of habitat due to human activity, oil spills, man-made noise (which may interfere with communication), intensive commercial fishing (which effects prey availability), and global climate change. As the North Atlantic Right Whale relies heavily on a very specific combination of water currents and temperature for feeding, changes in ocean temperatures and currents, caused by global climate change could be the ultimate threat that pushes this species over the brink into extinction.

The most immediate conservation need for the North Atlantic Right Whale is the elimination of deaths and injuries from ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear. Both the US and Canada are doing their utmost to meet these conservation needs. Sadly, there is no indication as to whether the measures are having a sufficient impact on the populations of North Atlantic Right Whales. The extinction of this great whale in the next century is a very real possibility.

No 61 - Grey Ox

The Grey Ox: Video

Saturday, 13 March 2010

No 60 - The Bamboo-zling Giant Panda

Today's profile comes from Adrian McLeod a writer, journalist and friend.

The Bamboo-zling Giant Panda

Pandas are officially* the cutest endangered species. They are a type of bear and like other bears, they have the digestive system of a carnivore. But at some point, pandas decided to become vegetarian. These days, their diet is 99% bamboo.

It takes a lot of bamboo to keep a 150kg carnivore alive. Each week pandas need to eat their own body-weight of the stuff. Try it. It’s not pleasant.

The panda’s bamboo has been disappearing - half of it went in the fifteen years between 1974 and 1989. Humans are tearing down bamboo forests for agriculture, for roads and construction, and for housing.

But the good news is that conservation efforts seem to be working. In 2006, there were 40 panda reserves in China compared with just 13 in 1986. They are still an endangered species but scientists estimate that there may now be as many as 3000 pandas in the wild.

*According to Ade’s index cuteness.