science

Glacier Retreat in Antarctica Has Unexpected Benefit

Global Warming has caused many problems for many years. One of the most serious problems are the melting of glaciers in Antarctica. But recent research shows something new and helpful, caused by this problem. This research has been done by the British Antarctic Survey or known as BAS. The BAS finding are this, as glaciers melt, tiny marine plants called phytoplankton are colonizing places where the glacier melted. As a result the population increased. These animals are beneficial to the environment because they absorb the heat caused by Global Warming. They found that over the past 50 years, melting ice has opened up at least 24,000 km of new open water. This has been colonized by carbon-absorbing phytoplankton. According to the authors this new bloom is the second largest factor acting against climate change so far discovered on Earth. Because of more space and more heat the phytoplankton population has been growing. This article is important because if the population of the phytoplankton keep increasing the climate change will reduce. The most interesting thing I found in this article is that the smallest of creatures like phytoplankton could help the environment.

Science

Brown Pelicans Recover from DDT, No longer Endangered

In the 1970s, a pesticide called DDT was used within the southern United States, where a lot of brown pelicans were located. Because of using DDT, these brown pelicans were declared endangered. Another reason for the brown pelicans to become endangered was the over hunting of its feathers. The last reason was the constant loss of its habitat due to pollution. In 1972, congress banned the use of DDT. This was the beginning of the recovery of the brown pelicans. Louisiana, long known as the "pelican state," the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish commissions jointly implemented a restoration project. As a result, a total of 1,276 young pelicans were captured in Florida and released at three sites in south eastern Louisiana during the 13 years of this project. Today, there are 650000 brown pelicans around the world. This article is important because if we take the same steps which they took to save the brown pelicans then we will be able to save other endangered species such as the Polar bears. The most interesting fact I found in this article is that while trying to save the brown pelicans, the Wild Life Refuge system was born. This system has now grown to 550 national wildlife refuges, many of which have played key roles in the recovery of the brown pelicans.