By Andrew J. Wight Feb. 25, 2019 , 4:45 PM MEDELLÍN, COLOMBIA—In 2011, when biologist Jean Paul Delgado set up his laboratory at the University of Antioquia (UdeA) here, he was eager to help his home nation learn more about its extraordinary biological wealth, including some 800 species of salamanders, frogs, and other amphibians. Delgado’s enthusiasm soon turned to frustration, however, and he’s largely abandoned his efforts to study Colombia’s biodiversity. Sitting in his office recently, he displayed the reason: a huge folder stuffed with the paperwork needed to get government permission to collect native species or just sample their DNA. It can take a year or more to obtain approval from Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Delgado says. And, “If you deviate from the contract, there will be consequences” that could include fines and research restrictions. Many Colombian researchers say the cumbersome, … [Read more...] about In Colombia, biodiversity researchers seek relief from regulatory red tape
Marine biodiversity
Party’s Resolution on strategy for sustainable development of marine economy
The Resolution was adopted at the 8th plenum of the 12th Party Central Committee. The following are key parts of the Resolution for reference: I - SITUATION AND CAUSES 1. Background and situation It is forecasted that in the coming time, the international situation will continue to witness many complicated developments, especially the strategic competition between big countries and maritime boundary sovereignty disputes and disagreements among countries in the East Sea. Trans-boundary environmental pollution, climate change and sea level rise have become urgent global problems. Sustainable development and harmony between development and marine conservation have become the mainstream. Globalization and revolution of science and technology have created many opportunities and challenges. Still, in the country, macroeconomic stabilization, sustainable development; adaptation to climate change and sea level rise; security, social order and safety are big difficulties and challenges. 2. … [Read more...] about Party’s Resolution on strategy for sustainable development of marine economy
Number of “marine heat waves” roughly doubled between 1982 and 2016, study finds
WASHINGTON -- Even the oceans are breaking temperature records in this summer of heat waves. Off the San Diego coast, scientists earlier this month recorded all-time high seawater temperatures since daily measurements began in 1916. "Just like we have heat waves on land, we also have heat waves in the ocean," said Art Miller of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Between 1982 and 2016, the number of "marine heat waves" roughly doubled, and likely will become more common and intense as the planet warms, a study released Wednesday found. Prolonged periods of extreme heat in the oceans can damage kelp forests and coral reefs, and harm fish and other marine life. "This trend will only further accelerate with global warming," said Thomas Frolicher, a climate scientist at the University of Bern in Switzerland, who led the research. His team defined marine heat waves as extreme events in which sea-surface temperatures exceeded the 99th percentile of measurements … [Read more...] about Number of “marine heat waves” roughly doubled between 1982 and 2016, study finds
Study Shows Ocean Acidification is Having Major Impact on Marine Life
Carbon dioxide emissions are killing off coral reefs and kelp forests as heat waves and ocean acidification damage marine ecosystems, scientists have warned. Writing in Scientific Reports, researchers say that three centuries of industrial development have already had a marked effect on our seas. But if CO2 levels continue to rise as predicted, the coming decades and lowering seawater pH levels will have an even greater and potentially catastrophic impact. Their predictions follow a comprehensive study of the effects of recently discovered volcanic CO2 seeps off Shikine Island, Japan, which is on the border of temperate and tropical climates. Ocean currents in the area mean there are naturally low levels of surface water CO2, similar to those that would have been present before the global Industrial Revolution. However, the volcanic seeps indicate how rising CO2 levels will affect future ecology, both in the northwest Pacific Ocean and across the world. Lead author … [Read more...] about Study Shows Ocean Acidification is Having Major Impact on Marine Life
More Than 12,000 Marine Creatures Uncovered During West Java Deep-Sea Exploration
Despite a stormy start thanks to Cyclone Marcus, scientists who participated in the South Java Deep Sea Biodiversity Expedition 2018 (SJADES 2018) had collected more than 12,000 creatures during their 14-day voyage to survey the unexplored deep seas off the southern coast of West Java, Indonesia. The expedition team, consisting 31 researchers and support staff, were led by Professor Peter Ng, Head of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum of the National University of Singapore (NUS), and Professor Dwi Listyo Rahayu, Senior Research Scientist at the Research Center for Oceanography (RCO) of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). The NUS research team comprises scientists from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum and the Tropical Marine Science Institute. Some 800 species from over 200 families of sponges, jellyfish, molluscs, starfish, urchins, worms, crabs, prawns and fish were uncovered during the expedition. Over a dozen new species of hermit crabs, prawns, lobsters … [Read more...] about More Than 12,000 Marine Creatures Uncovered During West Java Deep-Sea Exploration