Over-educated and Underfunded
Weird, wacky and wonderful stories and sketches from biologists in the field.
By Vincent DiringerPrior to working in the field of conservation in South-East Asia, I had not been physically confronted with the amount of plastic waste and pollution that was floating around the world’s oceans. I had read the reports, seen the pictures and videos, but never seen it in person - so my first coastal cleanup really struck a chord. There was just so much trash. Shoes, nets, plastic bags, straws, bottles, barrels. These cleanups became somewhat cathartic, they were also often a wake-up call for those who came to help out, as one group of students found out by finding food packaging inscribed with a use-by date that revealed it was older than they were. For them, the thought that this one specific plastic item had spent more time floating in the ocean and degrading than it had spent being used was a sobering moment. The message was clear - plastics do not biodegrade. Unfortunately these types of experiences weren’t few and far between. We could spend over an hour collecting hundreds of kilos of plastic waste from a single beach, only to return several days later and have the same amount washed back onto shore, this time coated in oil. However, coasts weren’t the only ecosystems affected. While on diving or snorkelling trips, we would find large swathes of reef covered by ghost nets, or discover a jumbled mess of commercial fishing apparatus encrusted in barnacles floating just below the surface. The environmental damage that this plastic was causing was evident, and the need to address plastic pollution on a large scale never seemed more pressing. Plastics can break down into smaller microplastics which are then ingested by all living organisms in the ocean – that is if they aren’t swallowed whole by sea birds, turtles, whales and other large sea creatures. However, these microplastics don’t just affect the oceans. Food webs ensure that within any environment there is constant predation, this means that through a process called biomagnification, the amount of microplastics found in organisms increases the further you travel up the food chain – eventually reaching us. There are many new environmentally friendly options available to reduce your reliance on single-use appliances that generate more waste and harm than they do convenience. Make the smart choice when it comes to plastics and remember the Six Rs:
While I’m far away from the shores of South-East Asia nowadays, the experiences of those coastal cleanups have stuck with me - both physically and mentally. As a reminder of my first cleanup, I have kept one of the hundred commercial fishing weights that littered the beach that day. It now sits on my desk as a constant reminder as to why I’ve decided to dedicate my career to sustainability and the environment.
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By Kenny PeavyWe know that right now many families are missing out on vacations and school trips and are anxious to get back out there and explore the world. So, while you're cooped up at home, try taking a virtual field trip! With these virtual field trips you can explore new environments and learn about interesting wildlife all from your couch. Take a trip to one of your favorite U.S. national parks! National Park Service Want to see more virtual field trips? Check out this calendar to see virtual trips that you and your kids can join everyday! If you know about any other great virtual field trips leave us a comment below! By Vincent DiringerSedili Besar, Malaysia - 2018 What do you do when you are leading an intertidal exploration and come across a bloated, decomposing sea animal on the seashore? In the case of one biologist, the answer was to immediately begin handling it manually, while the others contented themselves with taking pictures and looking for any identifying markers that could help determine the species and its cause of death. The students looked on with a mixture of awe and disgust as four grown adults became increasingly excited at analyzing a dead and very smelly mystery specimen. Deciding to share their discovery with the other biologists on the trip, they shared the pictures and all grouped up to discuss the possibilities (while one was sent to go wash their hands incredibly thoroughly). A consensus was soon formed: the animal was indeed dead, it was a cetacean, possibly a juvenile, and handling a dead animal is gross (dang Sylvia what the hell). Dolphins weren’t a rare sight in the area, but this species’ physical traits were entirely at odds with what we were used to. Some of the marine biologists on staff went back and forth eliminating the obvious candidates: it wasn’t a dugong or a common dolphin, and its physiology wasn’t compatible with that of larger cetaceans. Soon, we were left with two distinct options, the Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) or the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides). Both species are present - yet rare - in the waters off Peninsular Malaysia’s eastern coast. An endangered species, O. brevirostris’ (Irrawaddy dolphin) numbers are low with some ~7,000 individuals worldwide. At the time of writing this post (2020), there is still no accurate estimate of the population in peninsular Malaysia. Listed as vulnerable despite no clear population estimates, N. phocaeniodes (Indo-pacific finless porpoise) has been the subject of taxonomic uncertainty. Being able to correctly identify the remains as either of these species would make it a potentially one-of-a-kind find, but also a slightly depressing one. While opinion was split on the ID, cause of death was a lot simpler to identify, with several deep gouges on the animal’s back indicating a boat strike was most likely to have cut its life short. After several days of deliberation, we were still split on the identity of this mystery creature (#TeamPorpoise) and to settle the debate one of our biologists reached out to a contact at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum in Singapore. Based off of the pictures we provided, the carcass was identified as that of an Irrawaddy dolphin, giving #TeamIrrawaddy a win, although #TeamPorpoise is still not convinced to this day. Fancy throwing your identifying hat in the ring? Have a look at some of our pictures and comment whether you are #TeamPorpoise, #TeamIrrawaddy or start your own if you think we completely botched the ID. References
Bay, K., Braulik, G., & Tuen, A. (2013). Population estimates and distribution patterns of Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) and indo-pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) in the Kuching Bay, Sarawak. In Raffles Bulletin of Zoology (Vol. 61). Mazlan, A. G., Zaidi, C. C., Wan-Lotfi, W. M., & Othman, H. R. (2005). On the current status of coastal marine biodiversity in Malaysia. In Indian Journal of Marine Sciences (Vol. 34). 2018 carcass pictures from Charles Downing Backyard Biology: 10 Global Citizen Science Projects to Keep You Occupied During Stay Home Notice3/29/2020 Nothing is worse for a field biologist than being told you’re not allowed to go outside. But this doesn’t mean science has to stop completely! In order to prevent future pandemics, we need to continue learning even more about our wildlife and its interactions with humans. So, while you’re isolating yourself or kids in the backyard or on a walk through the park, try your hand at becoming a scientist! Here’s a list of some projects that don't require in-person training, or prior experience to help get you started: USA Auburn Squirrel Project This project looks at squirrel feeding behavior in the fall and spring. Studies can be done in your own backyard and only take 10 minutes- making this a perfect activity for children! Be sure to familiarize yourself with the feeding behaviors listed on the website before you start collecting your data. Also check out: Assessing Vegetation Impacts from Deer (MN) Frogwatch USA Journey North Australia FrogID FrogID is a groundbreaking long term study of frog species diversity in Australia using an app on your phone. All you need to do is record what you see or hear with your phone and you’ll be in the running for top frogger. This project also hosts materials to help teach students about frogs and get them involved. Also check out: Bushfire Recovery Project The WingTags Projects Austria Red Admiral Migration Open to participants in most countries around Western Europe, the Insect Migration Project gathers data from citizen scientists on Red Admiral Butterfly migration. Familiarize yourself with these butterflies and start noting down when and where they appear-its as simple as that! Canada PlantWatch The organization NatureWatch hosts several backyard biology projects for the whole family to enjoy. With PlantWatch, track the dates that the flowering plants in your yard begin to bloom and submit it online. Just make sure that you know the names of your plants before getting started! Also check out: Project Nestwatch UK British Trust for Ornithology- Garden BirdWatch Here’s a project that you can do from the comfort of your own home! This project collects data from birds (as well as mammals and reptiles) that are using your property for any purpose. Make sure to check out the online instructions on how to submit data before getting started. Also check out: Xpolli:nation Project (Italy too) The Big Butterfly Count France Domestic Cats and Biodiversity Have an curious cat at home? Observe its behavior for science (not just your instagram stories)! Submit any interactions between your domestic cats and wildlife to help researchers understand their behavior. Also check out: Mayenne Nature Environnement Vivarmor Nature Germany Mueckenatlas Help to wipe out the pesky mosquitoes in your neighborhood while contributing to science! This project aims to identify mosquito species and understand more about their impacts on disease transmission in Germany. For this project you’ll need to be quick on your feet to catch each insect! Then you’ll submit your specimen to entomologists to learn more. India Hornbill Watch Help to collect valuable information about one of India’s move valuable seed dispersers. All you need to do is keep an eye out for these large and beautiful birds in your yard or neighborhood. When you see one, note it down and upload the info to the website- easy peasy. Also check out: Roadkills India New Zealand Kea Database If you ever see a kea, make sure to note it down and record it on the Kea Database! This easy to use database holds information on the whereabouts of these interesting birds to better understand their behavior and movements. You can also virtually name a kea to help support the conservation of this species. Also check out: Skink Spotter NZ Garden Bird Survey Singapore Shorebird Sighting Records Nparks and Nature Society Singapore host many different citizen science initiatives, but most require in-person training ahead of time. However, the shorebird sighting records project does not require any training. If you know your shorebirds, and spot them in the parks around your home, send off your data and assist in building the records. For more citizen science projects from around the world, check out your nearest university, museum or national park website! Or take a look at Zooniverse for more global projects that you can help from home. If you have a citizen science project that you’d like us to write about on our blog, send us an email! |
About the AuthorsThese stories come from several biologists working in the field around the globe. Archives
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