Nature Ramble

This week off to the USA and a fish that I’d never heard of before.

American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)

Currently found in 22 U.S. states that are part of the Mississippi River basin, including the Missouri River into Montana, the Ohio River, and their major tributaries .

Paddlefish – image & info: Animal Communication

Apparently, these guys are in trouble.

Beluga Caviar

Because the world needs caviar…

Appetite for caviar could see paddlefish suffer sturgeon’s fate

As beluga sturgeon become scarce, illicit traders are turning increasingly to the paddlefish as a substitute

American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) – the species’ long, signature snouts are lined with sensors that detect plankton. Photograph: Norbert Wu/Corbis

Caviar, the glistening black beads that slip down millions of throats globally, is at the centre of a crime saga in the United States. More than 100 people in Missouri have been implicated in an international black market trade in American paddlefish eggs, which can easily masquerade as upmarket caviar.

 

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Earth Hour Came and Went

Image from ECOCRED blog

There has been considerable debate over the effectiveness of Earth Hour. From my own perspective it merely raises awareness rather than actually doing something physical. Everybody who participates turns off their lights, then they light candles or use some fossil fuel lamp for illumination. Does the production of carbon not remain roughly the same?

Certainly as a publicity campaign it must be rated as a success.

A good post on the subject from ECOCRED about sums up Earth Hour.

Update:

I forgot to add the link to ECOCRED’s current post.