Follow up on Pythons in Everglades

I thought this would be good to mention, after we talked in class about these snakes and learning how when they eat, their body's grow even more. This is where this story talks about. Snakes like the Pythons are growing larger that they are eating bigger mammals. Mammals such as Raccoons, opossums, bobcats and other mammals that live in the Everglades. Sightings of medium size mammals are down as much as 99%, in the areas that is known to where the pythons and other non-native large constrictor snakes. If this keeps goings, soon a lot of the mammals in the Everglades will be devoured by these snakes, and in their place will be the non-native large and human threatening snakes. This would be hurting the food-chain and disrupt the Everglades.

The python that was found is the Burmese python, known to be located in the Southeast of Asia. It is believed that they are living in the Everglades. Facts about the Burmese python is that it can grow to be 26 feet long and weight more than 200 pounds. They swallow animals as large as an alligator, how they kill their prey is by coiling around the it and suffocating it. With their large long body and strength, killing their prey is easy.

2003 to 2011, researcher drove 39,000 miles along the Everglades-area and counted the wildlife along the way. Gathering results and comparing it to the survey conducted on the same route back in 1996-1997. The declining in animal sightings: a drop of 99.3% among raccoons, 98.9% for opossums, 94.1% for white-tailed deer and 87.5% for bobcats. in 1996-1997, rabbits and foxes were commonly spotted, then they were not seen in the later counts. There was the slight increase in coyotes, Florida Panthers, rodents and other mammals. There is no real evidence yet as to if the pythons are the ones that causes the decrease with the mammals in the Everglades, but they are the number one suspect.




 In the video that we watched on these snakes, it was pointed out that if these snakes start eating larger animals, then who is to say that we might be next on their food chain. You never know when one of these snakes might slither in your backyard. Instead of some cases where (depending on where you live in Florida) some family's might see a crocodile or an alligator  in their backyard, it might end up being a snake knowing that you are its next meal. That is a scary thing to think about, but Florida residents must stay clear of these snakes, if they happen to come close to where you live.






http://www.mysuncoast.com/content/topstories/story/Pythons-apparently-wiping-out-Everglades-mammals/cqGc0Tu5b02hEt2QceXMcw.cspx 

Cuba Oil Drilling Scares Suncoast

The Suncoast Beaches will soon find themselves in fear of an oil disaster to fall upon them.
Cuba is thinking of drilling for oil and the thought of an oil spill tat will reach the Suncoast (Florida) beaches. If an oil spill were to occur from Cuba, the time for it to reach Florida would be about three days. Glenn Compton of the Manasota-88 environmental group stresses on how bad this situation would be. Compton says "while you may think only the southern tip of the state has to worry, it's anyone's guess as to how vulnerable the Suncoast would be, simply because the data just isn't there."Even though the best thing to do at this point is to try and study the currents, but it is hard because there is no study on those currents and which direction they go. Compton points out that "whats really lacking is an overview of the drilling impacts that could take place and that's why we remained unprepared."

This news is not meant to scare beach goers from going to the beach anytime soon. But their is a strong chance of an oil spill to happen. But of course there is no way to know when it is going to happen. This news is still new from the  11:00 pm on abc news, so there was not any more information they could release on the news. But to make beach goes cautious of the water when swimming in the beach.

Oil spills have happened many times before, no one likes it when it happens. And it is terrible on what the oils does to ocean and it's animals. How I feel about news like this is, why do they have to ruin the ocean and the animals. Why can't they find some other place to look for oil. Or better yet, if we are using oil for fuel, can we come up with something else for fuel. Pretty soon, there won't be any oil left to drill, or dig. What I hope to hear more of from this event, is an interview or something saying Cuba's reasons for drilling, why now? We know that on the Suncoast side, this kind of news brings worry and fear to the locals and environmental groups. But how does Cuba feel, are they concern about the effects of an oil spill? Or are they only thinking of making money and nothing else.

That is one of big things I see wrong today (as well as anyone else can clearly see). We have become more corrupt with power, and making money. No one really cares anymore, it is all about business and making it through the day, not thinking twice on your actions.





http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/story/Cuba-oil-drilling-sparks-Suncoast-fears/OcjjgBkXyk-QvzAb8hMGYw.cspx

Follow up on Venice Beach, Bacteria Found in water

The results of the water sample are in, and Venice Beach is closed because of Bacteria found in the water. This will make it the tenth time this has happened, and they are still not sure where this bacteria is coming from. John Ryan, the President of the Venice Chamber of Commerce did mention of other location for beach lovers to go to. But knowing that this is now the tenth time the Venice Beach is closed down by bacteria, it means no business. Ryan says that "A swimming closure over the weekend is definitely not good."

Because Venice Beach is an isolated and a public beach, maybe the source of the problem is the public themselves. You never know what people might bring to the beach that might harm to the beach. And all those people in the water, who knows if they are carrying anything on them that would contaminate the water. Another guess as to how this could be happening again, is something leaking into the water, like pipes from the side of a building. This was my guess as to how bacteria could get into the water. But thanks to the results of the water sample, we have a name of what kind of bacteria is in the water. It is called 'Enteric Bacteria' this can come from storm water runoff, pet waste and wildlife and human sewage.  The health department is doing another follow-up of the water today, Friday 27, 2012 and should have the results back by Saturday afternoon.


The city spokesperson Pam Johnson says that "really want to tackle as soon as possible, I', sure we will be seeing additional expenditures of money and effort to go into finding out what the problem is." This could be just me, but from what Johnson just said, it sounded like the only way they would go in deeper on finding how to solve this problem is if they get more money before doing the job. I do under stand that it is all about money and we need to pay for the supplies and equipment to do a job like this. But if this kind of problem has been happening more than once, then  don't sound so greedy with money and try to help out your community and the earth. The after you can total the bill. Then again this is just my thoughts, but if I was them, I would care more about the water and how to help it than waiting for money to fall into my lap and then get to work.

Hopefully we will hear more updates on this problem and figure out where this bacteria is coming from and how we can make sure that this does not happen for the eleventh time.




http://www.mysuncoast.com/content/topstories/story/Bateria-in-the-water-is-bad-for-business/KL1VUjwFIkSXeMKh7qEGqA.cspx

No swimming at Venice Beach

The Sarasota County Health Department Officials did a water testing of the Venice Beach water on Wednesday January 25, 2012. The results of the water came back and it shows an elevated level of enterococci (enteric) bacteria. There are other beaches in Venice that are still open for the public to such as South Jetty, Brohard Beach, Venice Fishing Pier and the Service Club Park. Even though the Venice Beach is not open yet for people to swim in, the guest can still go on the beach, just make sure to stay away for the water. And it is also ok to fish and consume the fish in this water. This friday January 27, 2012 will be a follow up on the water testing to see if it is ok to return in the water. 


Even though this news article was not long enough with information, it is still important to know what is going on with the water. When beaches are closed down, it usually means bad for business and the thought of something terrible that has happen under the water that might effect us. But seeing how the fish in the ocean are not being harmed and that we are still able to fish and eat them. That to me see's like a good sign of nothing serious. But still I wish that this article has a video to a better clarification of what the Enteric Bacteria means, and what might be the cause. 


The only times that I remember thats would be closed down would be because of problems like red tide, oil spills or something else that is just as serious as that. Also if the close contact of sharks reaching the shallow end of the beach, where guest are usually are.


  




http://health.heraldtribune.com/2012/01/26/water-advisory-issued-for-venice-beach/ 

Southwest Florida is Dry

This winter has been the driest for Southwest Florida, and it is making not only rivers but lakes and groundwater sources throughout the 16-county Southwest Florida Water Management District to drop. 

Two months of no rain means less water in rivers like the Peace River. And when the river is getting low, it means no trips at the Canoe Outpost. When the river drops, limestone and fossils are exposed, but that does not help the Canoe Outpost with bringing in tourist. I have noticed that we have had less rain than usual. And when there is no rain, the trees and plants are not getting hydrated. Lots of plants and trees will go dry. The most rain that Florida has gotten was about a quarter-inch of rain in December 2011, making it the driest December since 1938. 


Even in the coming March and April don't look like much rain. As Anthony Artusa, meteorologist with the Climate Prediction Center (under the National Weather Service) says that "March and April it looks like it may even be exacerbated." Artusa thinks that the cause of this less rain is because of the La Niña. La Niña is a weather pattern that is caused by the cooler-than normal seas across the tropical Pacific.  When the sea becomes cooler, it makes the the jet stream shift north, this then directs the storm systems away from Florida. 


With the low rate of the rivers (and other water parts of Florida) is causes problems for the animals that live in the rivers and lakes. It does not bring in tourist, but does bring in fisherman and fossil hunters. But if the rivers don't get some rain soon, then the river canoe business will loose money. At this point there is nothing much that we can do to help the river or those businesses out. All we can hope for is a good shower of rain to come and refill the rivers, feed the plants and trees and bring back some businesses that need the river flowing. 







http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120125/ARTICLE/120129678/2416/NEWS?p=1&tc=pg

Space Hurricane

I thought that this was interesting to find another article about what is going on in space, and how this storm from the sun affects us/ our planet. From what I gather from this article, the solar storm is not a threat to us (nothing harmful).

The wave of particles that came from the intense solar storm did effect the airline flight and satellite. The storm began on Monday when a powerful solar flare erupted from the sun. And from that eruption a stream of charged particles came toward Earth. This electromagnetic burst — called a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). The CME is like a space hurricane that will interact with the Earth's magnetic field.Then there was talk about it being the highest radiation level since to the Halloween storm on 2003. This storm forced the airlines to  change routes. "Most of the major airlines flying polar [routes], or even some non-polar, high-altitude routes, have taken action to mitigate the effect of this storm," says Bill Murtagh, the center's program coordinator.  


The reason why I found this article to be important to share is because not only does it have to do with the environment of space and what may effect our planet. But these solar storm that release charged particles have effect on anything electronic, which everything today is run by some electricity. Yihua Zheng, the lead researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center says that "Probably in the next 10 hours or so, people at high latitudes can see auroras." What this might do is cause communication errors at polar caps, but the magnetic activities will probably not be that strong. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46118390/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.Tx8RT3NuHrU
More on this article and a video

Solar Weather

On Sunday January 22, 2012 forcasters say that a blast from the sun should strike a glancing blow at the Earth's magnetic field. This will create a mild geomagnetic storm. I found this article to be very interesting and important to know about our Earth. Especially how there have been predictions about 2012, not that I am a believer in those predictions. But it is good to know about what is going on up in space, and what that environment is like. 


The blast is known as a coronal mass ejection, seen from space by the sun-watcing spacecraft on Thursday. NASA said that the impact on Earth would be felt on sunday (today) at about 10:00pm Eastern Time, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's  Space Weather Prediction Center in Colorado say that it won't come till later.  This electric storm is non-threatening to our planet. Joe Kunches, a space scientist says that it might be going to the North of the Earth, than right at us. 


With news like this, it is understandable why people would want to know if anything from space that is heading to Earth is threatening or if our planet is in Danger. That was my first thought of when looking at the image and reading the title of the article. I don't know much about science and what goes on in space, but I do care about our Earth and like to think that all this talk of what is to come in 2012 is just talk, and something for people to make money off of with their books.  


The Center has made a prediction that on Monday "bulk of the disturbance" will happen. The storm will be a G1, which is the lowest ranking on the geomagnetic activity scale. storms that are in this ranking produce weak fluctuations in electrical grids and minor effects on satellite operations. Because this is in the lowest ranking on the scale, these effects are nothing to worry about. What will also happen with this storm is the bright northern lights that will be seen farther south. 




http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/21/10207087-solar-weather-sparks-super-sights

Costa Concordia threatens Marine Paradise

I knew as soon as I heard about this news, I had to talk about it (as well as everyone else on the news that can't get enough of this topic). Every time I watch the news and see that cruise ship just staying there on its side, the thought that comes to mind is what is the damage like on the seas floor. As a ship this size probably did destroy some sea animals homes and killing some in the process. 

I know that everyone is more concentrated on how stupid the Captain is for leaving the ship first and acting like he did nothing wrong. Also looking for the still missing people that were aboard the ship. But from looking at this from the environmental point of view, I would like to see and get information on what has happened underground.

There are other problems also with this story. Problems like the fuel that is on the ship, what will happen if the fuel leaks and is in the water. Is anyone thinking of stopping this problem before it becomes a reality. We have seen stories like this were fuel (and oil) have spilled into the ocean, and damaging the water and the sea life and its habitat. The chemicals could get to the fish that we catch for food and that will bring more problems. Also that the ship is moving on rocks, by the moving current, and the might flip all the way over. Because the ship is moving, The people that are trying to help this problem can't do anything. If they do, they might cause more problems that we already have.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/20/costa-concordia-marine-paradise-threatened_n_1219215.html?ref=green

500 million year old 'Tulip'

Just from the title of this article caught my attention right away, and what I found was very interesting and exciting to read about.

This is not a real tulip, but a creature that has a similar shape of one. It's body structure is very different from other known animal. This creature was called filter feeder (Named Siphusauctum gregarium), it had a tulip shape body and a tail that looked like a stem and went into the grounds of the seafloor. These creatures aren't large, they come to the size of a dinner knife (8 inches, or 20 centimeters). It's body contained its feeding system and gut. These creatures that appear to look like tulips, were good at hiding from predators. Just like some animals and bugs that easily blend into their surrounds. That is my hypothesis on these ancient tulip looking creatures. 


This ancient tulip was found fossilized in a 500 million year old rock layers called the Burgess Shale in the Canadian Rockies. My guess as to what scientist and researcher's are discussing is what more was this creature. Did it do anything for the sea environment (on the seafloor)? Study researcher Lorna O'Brien, a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto, says that they can't figure out where this creature belongs in the animal group. " The Siphusauctum defies this trend. We do not know where it fits in relation to other organisms" says O'Brien.  


So as of right now, not much information can be said about this tulip, but i found it to be very interesting and brought my curiosity of wanting to know more. I do hope that more information about this discovery unfolds. I want to know what it did on the seafloor 500 million years ago. 


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46048230/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.TxkHt3NuHrV

Everglades Snake Problem

It seems that there are a lot of animals that are coming to Florida that are not native to it. But this certain animal is very dangerous for both the land and animals. 
January 18, 2012 in The Christian Science Monitor website, talks about the problem that the Everglades are dealing with, and that is the four types of giant snakes. The Burmese python, a yellow anaconda that is located in the northern and southern African is in the swamplands  (four types of massive constrictor snakes have become increasingly present in the swampland). The problems that are seen here is not only that these snakes are in a place that is not were they belong. But that these snakes can eat anything as large as a deer and an alligator. These snakes are also threatening the work that is being done to help restore the Everglades to its natural ecosystem. 


The Python is becoming more of a problem for Florida, not only by the growing rate of these snakes, but how some of them have manage to show up in people's back yards. There is also the fear that if the snakes have laid any eggs and that would increase more snakes. Having this ban will not only help protect Florida's native wildlife but will also protect the people as well. It is dangerous to be around these snakes, and it is better for people that are trained in dealing with wild animals be the ones to get close to them.


How do these snakes make it to the United States? Mostly it is by people that have them imported to the United States or transported across state lines. For whatever the reason is for taking these giant snakes away from their natural habitat, the federal officials have now banned this act. Hopefully the Everglades can be restored back to how it was, and find a way to recapture these snakes and either place them in a zoo or some place else that knows how to take care of animals like these.  


Another possibility of how these snakes are appearing in Florida, is similar to how the Lionfish appear in Gulf of Mexico. Locals that might have owned these snakes as pets don't want them anymore and just toss them in the woods or someplace else in the wild. With that, there is also the problem of tossing an house pet into the wild. Making these animals not familiar to their surroundings and have to figure out what to eat, instead of their owner suppling the food for them.



http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0118/Everglades-snakes-problematic-so-non-native-species-banned

Orange Juice Scare may help local farmer

This weeks news was focused on Orange Juice. The scare with the oranges is because the oranges from Brazil may contain a fungicide known as Carbendazim. Brands that use these oranges like Minute Maid and Tropicana (from Bradenton) are worried and this will drop their sales. But on a positive side, local farmer and their sales will increase. The local farmers don't have to worry this problem and the people will get to taste that fresh Orange Juice without fear of the fungicide.

With super markets like Whole Foods, that sells fresh healthy food, will benefit to have more customers buying fresh Orange juice. Not only will this help local shops but help the local farmers in their business. What good is it that America bans these dangerous chemicals because they are harmful to people and other countries who do not ban it put it back into our food?

The FDA is still being cautious with testing all the orange juice and Orange juice concentrates for this fungicide. So far they have not sent a recall, and it is important to share that this amount fungicide has not proven to be a danger to human health. But until more news about this orange juice problem is found, I suggest going out to a local food market and buying only local orange juice and staying away from the company products like Minute Maid and Tropicana.

Link to the article and video
http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/story/Local-growers-say-orange-juice-fungicide-scare/dD8s5IDjqUq8IfOHCvIvUQ.cspx

Living Green: Green Mobile Dog Wash

What I like to look for in articles that involve the environment, I like to try and find the articles that both help the environment and people at the same time. This article and video I found on www.suncoast.com caught my attention when I saw the title 'Living Green' I wish more places would have a 'Living Green' in their news. I think if more places show something of people going Green, then maybe it will encourage others to follow and be a big help in the environment.

This article was from Aug. 2, 2011, I know it is not that recent in the news, but to me this is great news. To find someone doing something that may start out small, but will soon grow, just like the environment. Larry Kelly has his own small business in Sarasota County, and his business is something that relates to dogs, and dog owners will love. The business is a Mobile Solar Powered Dog Wash, called Bubbles Mobile Dog Wash. 

This business of his is out in the open (Like going to a field where there is plenty of sunlight), the shampoos and conditioners that he uses are all organic. "The products that we use are all botanical extracts. There are no dyes, detergents or anything else so it's kind of a complete system" says Larry.  This business works, with the sun, creating his own electricity for the pumps. The solar panels are on the roof of the dog wash trailer, there is a unit that heats the water. The charge for a wash is $12.00, a pretty good price for a dog wash.

My concern is where does the used water go? Is it used to water the grass in the parks. I think it should be recycled and used for the next client. He may be doing this, but the article did not mention this information. He needs how to figure out how this business would work in Northern states.

What Larry has started could be the start of something new for any business. By using the sun for source and power. Larry hopes to expand his Green Dog Wash business and I can see it happening. Maybe when he has made enough money, he can get more of these dog wash trailers made and have more people working for him and going to more places where dogs and their owners would be. The more he advertises this Green Dog Wash business, the more people will talk about it and will come with their four-legged friend.

Here is the article
http://www.mysuncoast.com/content/living-green/story/Living-Green-Green-mobile-dog-wash/iCbbzuZ0rEyNlZFywp9hKA.cspx 

Green Zone Caution

This article I found was very interesting.  I am discovering that more and more of Florida is trying hard to go Green and make jobs and work places go Green. It has many ideas for going Green, the only problem it seems to be is where to start and which location to use. That is what seems to be the problem in this week's My Suncoast Florida News on Friday January 13, 2012.

Suncoast and Sarasota County are choosing to be an economic energy zone. The benefits would be creating tax incentives for businesses going Green.

Their plan was to bring more than one million square feet of industrial space, and finding businesses to manufacture Green products or running the facilities in a Green Manor. This would diverse our economic base and be helpful in jobs. The benefits of this project would be that businesses would get tax credits from the state, and the state would get cleaner air and less use of natural resources.

State Road 681 in Nokomis was found be one of two economic energy zones in Florida, the City of Miami Beach is the second. The problem with this project is that the state is only giving in around $300,000 a year. However Sarasota County still needs more information on the specific job descriptions, building materials to use, energy usage analysis, and number of jobs that will be created. But most important how is it going to affect the state park and the animals that inhabit it. Because the building will be very close to this sensitive protected land.




The news article of 1/13/12
http://www.mysuncoast.com/content/topstories/story/Caution-Green-zone/OPBSJkEF1E6aMAOhpdm-1g.cspx