Alligators in Lake Wylie?

A couple days ago, a juvenile alligator was spotted on a log in Lake Wylie. This is thought to be the result of an irresponsible owner realizing that he or she could not take care of a wild animal such as this. You may wonder, " how is this an environmental problem?" Alligators are not native to this part of South/North Carolina, so this person has just introduced a non-native predator to the lake. Now this may be beneficial in some ways such as controlling the muskrat population, but in the long run it is here unnaturally which makes it an issue. I think the best solution in this case is no solution. Just leaving the alligator there is the best thing. There is only one so it doesn't pose a large threat. People may be scared about having an alligator in the lake but in all actuality it is only around 3 feet and won't do anything to humans. Also it probably won't make it through winter. In conclusion alligators are not going to invade lake Wylie so there is no reason to be worried.

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/look-viewer-sends-photos-alligator-lake-wylie/ngyBC/?__federated=1

Can water-polluting drugs have a positive effect on fish?

A recent study shows that the Eurasian perch population in a lake in Sweden where an anti-anxiety was leaked became bolder, less social, and more active than unexposed fish. These effects ultimately reduce their mortality rates compared to these unexposed fish as well. The study not only took these previously exposed fish, but they also exposed fish eggs to the same drug called Oxazepam; they also had a control group of unexposed perch. The results showed that mortality rates were high among the two year old perch and the hatched fry, but were significantly reduced in the groups exposed to Oxazepam. Also, the study showed that in the exposed hatched eggs, the mortality rates were lower in the eggs that had high concentration treatments as opposed to lower or no concentration.

Previously, standard ecotoxicological tests only searched for contaminants such as heavy metals and dioxins which threaten ecosystems like this. Conceptual views of pollutants being purely harmful has limited testing for possible positive pollutants such as Oxazepam and possible other pharmaceuticals. I personally believe that yes it is indeed possible for there to be positive polluants, but that doesn’t give companies, specifically pharmaceutical companies to dump their waste and byproducts wherever they please. This could cause catastrophic changes in our ecosystem that are either directly harmful to the creatures in that ecosystem or cause a change in the food chain/web.

http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/47683

All Oil Spills Are Different

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140808111923.htm

The summary of the issue found in this article is oil spills and how the oil reacts and changes in its new environment. No oils spills are the same and their effect on the environment depend on particular "external factors." These factors include the amount and speed of the wind and waves and also the temperature of the objects the oil is touching (the water and air.) The main issue is that oil spills effect humans and animals in a negative way. The article states that measures are being taken to clean the spills as quick as possible and make plans for the emergency response. A barrier to the problem is that drilling for oil is unavoidable in our society and spills are unfortunately inevitable. My opinion is that these spills should somehow be avoided because of their major impact on sea life and even people's lives. I feel like huge spills should never have happened in the first place and oil companies should make it their priority to elude them at all costs.

Penguin Species Being Threatened

Scientists have recently discovered that over the past twenty years, the populations of certain penguin species have significantly been reduced. Last year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature recognized eleven penguin species as ‘threatened’ , two as ‘near threatened’ , and five as ‘of least concerned’. During a study led by Dr Phil Trathan, it was concluded that the main reasons for the reduction in penguin populations are habitat loss, pollution, and fishing. Trathan explains, “Penguins and humans often compete for the same food, and some of our other actions also impinge upon penguins.” This team of scientists believes that in order to help these penguin species survive, it is vital that we protect their habitats from being destroyed. One way to do this would be to create “marine conservation reserves”, but as Dr. Trathan explained, it would not be convenient for political and practical reasons. I believe that it is important for us to understand and lessen the negative effects we have on these penguins. If we do not, they could eventually become endangered or even extinct. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140806102808.htm

Illicit Ivory Issues

The killing of elephants for their tusks has always been a problem, and now, with elephants verging on being endangered, action must be taken. The only concivable response is to close all ivory markets and destroy all stockpiles. See, once illegal ivory is laundered into the legal ivory market, its very very difficult for authorites to track and confiscate. One answer other than shutting everything down is to protect the elephants, but the cost as far as funding and human lives goes will continue to increase and become unsustainable. As long as there is a way for poachers to sell the ivory in a manner that appears to be legal, they will continue.

It would take a lot of time and effort, but I believe it to be important that the poaching of elephants be stopped, and if closing the ivory markets be the only way, so be it. Jobs would be lost, national income in some countries would be affected, and, of course, ivory would disappear. These are barriers that stand in the way of immediate action being taken. The people debating over this issue say that eventually the ivory markets could be reopened, but there would be a long time without them.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140807145458.htm

Logging Effects on Malaysian Rain forests

Researchers from the University of Tasmania, the University of Papua New Guinea, and the Carnegie Institution for Science has recently found that 80% of the rainforests in Malaysian Borneo have been affected by industrial logging and logging roads. The scientists used high definition photos taken by satellites to uncover 364,000 kilometers of logging roads in Sabah and Sarawak, two states in Borneo, which leaves only 45,400 square kilometers of forest still intact. This degradation causes not only the destruction of many endangered species’ (such as the Sumatran rhinos) homes, but also allows immense amounts of carbon to be released into the atmosphere.

One solution proposed in this article is for Malaysia to focus on different industries exclude logging altogether. The problem with this solution is that Malaysia would need to find an alternate income stream. Also, the nation could not just cut off all ties to logging; it would have to slowly phase the industry out over several years. I personally believe that this solution is too slow to respond and by the time it took full effect, almost all of Borneo’s rainforests would be gone along with all of their unique plants and animals.

http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0717-borneo-rainforest-logging.html

From Sun to Steam

 Undergraduates from MIT invented an efficient way to convert solar energy into steam. Their creation is simpler than you may think: a layer of graphite flakes and an underlying carbon foam. Because it is porous, the structure can float on top of water.  When sunlight hits, it will essentially generate a “hot spot” on the graphite which draws up water and finally evaporated it as steam. (Is anyone else having thermochemistry flashbacks?) Now, if your thinking, like I previously was “what’s so good about steam production anyway?” Dr. Hadi Ghasemi. Lead Developer, explains, “Steam is important for desalination, hygenie systems, and sterilization.”

All in all, the new structure is a significant improvement from other more complex methods with a conversion rate of approximately 85% sun energy to steam. In my opinion, this has the potential to be a revolutionary product for environmental engineering. Think about it, conventional methods require huge costly structures that convert way less steam as an outcome. MIT students made the structure out of relatively inexpensive materials, a huge bonus to the consumer.

(https://newsoffice.mit.edu/2014/new-spongelike-structure-converts-solar-energy-into-steam-0721)