Protecting Fish Reserves

In recent years much has been done to try to protect endangered species of fish and coral reefs using fish reserves, but the success of these reserves will depend on government ability to enforce their codes.  Many fishing reserves are under threat from illegal fishing which some countries cannot control.  Off shore making parks are difficult to control and survey and thus many are the target of fisherman.  recent researchers believe they can predict where illegal fishing will occur looking at recent events and trends. The may a very useful tool as we try to defend the many endangered fish species around the world.  Apparently most fishing is centralized to one a few "hotspots" especially during certain lunar cycles.  Hopefully the work of these researchers will help the conservation effort in our oceans and dissuade others from fishing illegally in these marine sanctuaries.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141113110304.htm
20111006PHT28469_width_600-600x336.jpg

Salty Farming

In the past few decades dew to rising sea levels and loss of fresh water preserves, a necessity for crops that can be grown in saline conditions has developed and researchers in the Netherlands seem to have come up with a solution.  A dutch researcher has been growing crops in varying saline conditions to test whether certain crops can survive in salt water.  His experiments have resulted in great success and he has identifies several species of potato and carrot that can not only survive but thrive in salty water.  These discoveries will have huge impacts in the future as the availability of freshwater decreases and oceans rise.  Many countries today suffer from a severe lack of fertile soil due to salinity, one such country, Pakistan, is receiving four different varieties of potato to grow there.  If this research continues to find success it may be an answer to many farmers prayers who live near the coasts or are running out of ready fresh water.

 http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/0b3bb38c09f333c7925eea57b543779c.htm
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ2sAo29tTIJ8DEitcb8ZYWTD8RuYxULvr8j4GqNMElHKwkqF7j

Differing Effects of Climate Change

Recent studies on the change in climate have shown that the effects on different ecosystems is not consistent at all.  Specifically changes that enrich oceans with nutrients and make better ecosystems have a negative effect on trees and result in less rain.  Bryan Black from the uNiversity of Texas has lead he research looking into tree rings from the last 600 years and looked at the results of different climates and climate changes.  What he has fond is that during times of healthy booming oceans full of life and nutrients, tree populations have shown slow growth, indicating drought or disease.  Upwelling is an essential and natural phenomenon that bring cold nutrient rich water, but this may have an adverse effect on trees.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141110083406.htm
tree_rings3032415Medium.jpg

Effects of Off Shore Wind Turbines on Ocean life

Recently, researchers at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science have looked in to the possible negative effects the increasing number of turbines off shore on the coasts of the world.  Wind turbines are a great source of renewable and clean energy, but do they have adverse consequences for the sea creatures that live around them?  Helen Bailey, the research assistant proffessor at the university believes that the migration patterns of whales and dolphins need to be taken into consideration when building new wind turbines in the ocean.  Some researchers are worried the noise created by the machines could disorient or hurt marine life near the turbines and affect them in a negative way.  On the other hand these turbines could provide areas for new ecosystems as they act like artificial reefs or fish preserves.  Thus far not enough research has been conducted on the long term effects of off shore wind turbines on marine life, but current researchers know that this will need to be in consideration when building new turbine sin the future.  It is believed that these turbine should be kept away from areas where marine mammals, who are sensitive to sound, are more likely to pass by.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141016123608.htm

http://www.siemens.co.uk/pool/news_press/news_archive/offshore-wind-turbines.jpg