📰 EwA News Digest: Right Whales in Cape Cod Bay, Another Drought, and Fireflies' Warning Sounds
Caitlin Ball
Hi Everyone!
Caitlin here with my last monthly installment of EwA’s news digest, before a summer intern takes over! In this digest, you will find the latest environmental news stories from the oceans to the forests, and from Massachusetts and beyond.
Expanding vaccine availability in Massachusetts is not the only good news this spring. In the past month, dozens of endangered right whales have returned to the coast of Massachusetts. Eighty-nine of these rare whales were spotted on March 21st in the Cape Cod Bay, which is particularly impressive as there are thought to be only 360 individuals left on the planet. Due to their vulnerability to ship strikes, boat speed restrictions have been implemented in the Bay until May. Read more about the whales in Cape Cod here, and about their increasing birth rate worldwide here.
Whales are returning to Cape Cod, and as the weather continues to warm, humans will be traveling there as well. Along with summer beach-goers undoubtedly comes sunscreen. Though sunscreen is hailed for its UV protection, studies have shown that it can have detrimental effects on aquatic life. Prior research suggests that the chemicals in sunscreen may be harming coral reefs, though new literature reviews suggest more investigation is necessary to determine its full effects. Read more about the impact of sunscreen at ABCnews, and the new call for further research here. To learn about how you can help, check out EwA’s Reef Etiquette.
Thinking about sunscreen and the ocean has got us dreaming about summer... but we might not be the only creatures dreaming. A new study suggests that octopuses also cycle through different stages of sleep, and one of these stages resembles our REM sleep (during which we dream). While in this sleep stage, the octopus is twitchy, active, and rapidly changing colors. Watch the incredible footage of this octopus and read about the importance of animal sleep at Science News.
All this talk about the ocean and its water inhabitants might make you forget about the extreme drought occurring right now in much of the Western United States. This year, California observed its driest February in 150 years and is unlikely to see much rainfall until late 2021. This drought is prompting concerns regarding another devastating wildfire season. Daily Mail documents pictures showing the alarmingly low water levels in major California rivers. See these dramatic images and read about forest management projects to reduce wildfires here.
Climate change has been increasing the instances of droughts out West, and California in particular has lost 90 percent of its wetlands since the 1700s. Conservationists are finding new ways to restore small streams and wetlands through building natural structures of stones and attracting beavers by constructing beaver-like dams. Read more about these long term efforts and see pictures of natural restoration work here.
In other parts of the country, fireflies are one of the many types of insects that rely on standing water and wet areas created by beavers. A new study reveals a possible defense mechanism that fireflies use for protection against bats. Fireflies have been shown to produce ultrasonic sounds that humans and fireflies can’t hear - but bats can! The researchers hypothesize that these sounds are meant as a warning to keep bats away from the poisonous fireflies. Read the synopsis of this new study, or the original publication for more information regarding these charismatic insects.
I also wanted to share a bonus article this week that I could not fit into the digest- this medicinal plant may have evolved camouflage to evade humans!
That is all for April! I hope that you all are having a wonderful spring.
Best,
Caitlin Ball