American Eels and Their Ladders

Earth Rangers

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March 25, 2015

American eels (Anguilla rostrata) are a type of fish with a long body that looks like a snake. These amazing animals love to travel. They live in many different places throughout their lifecycle including both salt and freshwater habitats. In fact, these amazing eels have one of the most diverse uses of habitats of any fish species! American eels can even absorb oxygen through their skin as well as their gills, which allows them to travel briefly over wet grass or mud.

Their lifecycle begins in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean in a spot called the Sargasso Sea. From here, American eels move in through estuaries (habitats where fresh and saltwater meet) and into rivers and lakes. Their range is really big, extending as far north as Greenland and as far south as Brazil! When the eels are full grown, 5 years for males and up to 25 years for females, they return to the Sargasso Sea to spawn (leave their eggs). The eel’s lifecycle ends after spawning, similar to Pacific salmon. The next generation will then begin their long migratory journey.

Did you know…? American eels can cover their bodies with a mucous layer which makes them almost impossible to hold, that’s where we get the saying ‘slippery as an eel’!

In Ontario, American eels are considered endangered. They face many threats; one of the biggest is the construction of hydroelectric dams. These dams block American eels from swimming upstream as they try to migrate to their habitats. To help these slippery animals get over the dams, Ontario Power Generation uses a very creative solution.

Jumping the Dam

How do you get an eel over a dam? With a ladder of course! Thanks to a series of chutes that zigzag up the dam, eels can safely migrate over power plants. Eels that enter the Gulf of the St. Lawrence and migrate upstream through the St. Lawrence River have to cross two major hydroelectric dams. Since 1974, eels that make this journey get a little help thanks to a ladder operated by Ontario Power Generation. This ladder was really successful, so in 2002 three more ladders were added along the St. Lawrence River.

Eel Count

Ontario Power Generation monitors the ladders using electronic counting equipment, which sends an email to the operators at the power station when an eel uses the ladder. It’s like the eels are sending an email to say ‘hi’ to the Ontario Power Generation staff as they pass through! Thanks to this initiative, more eels can safely travel through their migratory path; in the last four years between 11,600 and 26,000 eels have used the eel ladder.

Eel ladder Ontario Power Generation — Eels coming out of the chute

If you were an eel, and could use any mode of transportation, how would you get over a dam? Paraglide, rocket skateboard, hot air balloon…. Leave your suggestion in the comments section below!

Squirrels Live in Leaf Balls

Earth Rangers

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December 1, 2014

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Around this time of year, when most trees are bare and winter is near, do you ever look up and see a ball of leaves high in the branches? If you have spotted one of these leaf balls you might be standing at the doorstep of a squirrel’s home!

Most ground squirrels hibernate in winter, but not the Eastern grey squirrel. Eastern grey squirrels stay active all year round. Throughout the winter, you can see them running around digging small holes in the snow looking for nuts that they hid in the summer and fall. Eastern grey squirrels stay warm at night in nests. They will use existing tree cavities, but if none are available they will build a leaf ball home called a ‘drey’. These balls of leaves actually have three parts: the base; the outer layer and the inner core. Squirrels build the base for their nest out of sticks so that the nest has lots of support. The outer layer of leaves looks messy and fluffy but it really helps to block the cold wind. Inside, the nest has an inner, warmer core of leaves tightly woven or packed together with grass and thin strips of tree bark. In the extreme cold, two squirrels may share the same nest to help stay warm.

Squirrel Leaf Ball — Flickr Credit benjamin sTone

More squirrel facts!

• Squirrels are in the rodent family
• Worldwide there are 262 species of squirrels
• Twenty-two species of squirrels live in Canada, six of which nest in trees, like the Eastern grey squirrel; the other 16 live in dens or burrows in the ground
• Eastern grey squirrels have two different colour types, grey and black. Scientists think the black colour is an adaptation to cold winters in Canada

Is It Too Cold Out Today?

Earth Rangers

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November 21, 2014

111

Have you ever walked outside on an icy cold winter’s day and forgotten to put your coat on? It was probably only a matter of seconds before you realized your mistake and quickly dashed back inside for warmth and a nice hot cup of cocoa! Animals that survive in the Arctic very rarely have this problem. They are adapted to survive long winters (up to 10 months) of snowfall, ice, periods of little sunlight and freezing cold temperatures that are sometimes well below – 30° Celsius! Let’s take a look at some of the ways Arctic wildlife are able to live in this harsh climate.

Throw on your coat … and shorten your ears?!

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about adaptations to the cold is of course having a thick fur coat. Most Arctic animals have a fur coat surrounding their body that usually thickens as winter approaches.

The Arctic fox, for example, has the warmest fur coat of any mammal on earth! In the summer months, you will find the Arctic fox with a thinner brown/grey coat which is quickly replaced by a thick white one as winter approaches – used for both keeping warm and camouflaging in the snow. The Muskoxen, a large Arctic animal, has a two-layered coat with a soft wool inner layer covered by a much longer outer layer of thick hair. This double layer traps heated air near their body to better keep warm and block out the wind. It’s kind of like us wearing a sweater and a thick fleece. Arctic wolves also produce a thick winter coat and have hairs on the pads of their feet for walking on cold, icy surfaces. What other body features do animals have that help them survive the cold? Well, body heat is lost the fastest from our extremities, or body parts that stick out, like our ears, arms and legs. To adapt to the cold and reduce heat loss, Arctic foxes and wolves have smaller ears and noses as well as shorter legs, helping them to keep warm in the cold windy climate of the Canadian Arctic.

It’s a good time to fatten up!

Some animals in the Arctic can reach enormous sizes and survive the cold because of thick amounts of fat and blubber around their body. The fat acts like an insulator, trapping heat and keeping animals warm on land and in the North’s frigid and icy waters! Polar bears can weigh up to 600 kg and possess a thick layer of fat and blubber that they use for both warmth and energy, especially when sea ice has melted and they can no longer hunt for prey. Aquatic species also use a thick layer of fat to keep warm in the water, including hooded, ringed and bearded seals, as well as walrus that can have a layer of blubber over two inches thick! Female seals will also produce milk for their pups that is very high in fat to help their babies grow quickly and develop their own layers of blubber to survive the icy water.

walrus and bearded seals — Walrus and bearded seal

Getting around the snow and ice…

Snow and ice are characteristic features of life in the Arctic, which means to survive animals need specific physical characteristics to help them get around. Wolverines have large paws that act like snowshoes to keep them from sinking in deep snow. Arctic hare have long, thick claws to help them climb over piles of snow and dig dens for shelter from the cold and wind and protection from predators.

Living in the Arctic can be tricky, but these animals are adapted to these extreme conditions, allowing them to call this chilly place “home”! If you could use one of these animal adaptations to stay warm this winter which one would you choose? 1) Growing thicker hair, 2) Adding a layer of blubber, 3) Shortening your nose and ears or 4) Growing bigger paws to cross deep piles of snow?

wolverine and Arctic hare — Wolverine and Arctic Hare

Leave your answer in the comments section below!

researcher L Sciullo with polar bear — Luana Sciullo

This article was written by honorary Earth Ranger Luana. Luana Sciullo is a doctoral student in the Department of Biology at York University where she works with researchers at Environment Canada to investigate long-term shifts in Polar bear foraging ecology and body condition in relation to environmental change in Western Hudson Bay.

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Coral Reefs of Canada: Pacific Coast Rocky Reefs

Earth Rangers

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April 11, 2014

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Coral Reefs of Canada: Pacific Coast Rocky Reefs

The ocean covers about 70% of the Earth’s surface and in all that water there are tons of species. Did you know that up to 38,000 different types of microorganisms can be found in a single liter of ocean water! Tropical coral reefs are one of the most diverse habitats, with tons of different species calling it home. Reefs can also be found further north; off of Canada’s coast there are the Atlantic deep-water coral habitat and the Pacific rocky reef habitat. Last month we looked at some amazing deep-water coral off the coast of Atlantic Canada. Now we’re heading west to explore the Pacific reefs.

In Western Waters

In the waters off of British Columbia’s coast you’ll find one of the most diverse habitats in the entire country. These rocky reefs have 1,185 known species, including fish, like quillback and yelloweye rockfish, as well as marine animals like cloud sponges, glass sponges and tubeworms. Over 80 species of cold-water corals have been identified or are believed to exist in these coastal B.C. waters. These reefs cover areas that have a wide range of depth, some as shallow as 3-35m. As their name suggests, these reefs have rocky ridges, cliffs and boulders. Scientists have been surveying the rocky reefs for the past 44 years to learn about the animals that live here and what threats they face. Scientists working with the Vancouver Aquarium are helping to protect the rocky reefs and species like the rockfish from such threats as overfishing and ocean acidification.

Here are some of the incredible species of coral that live in Canada’s rocky reefs.

bubblegum coral — Bubblegum coral (Paragorgia arborea). Credit: NOAA/Monterey Bay Aquarium

red tree coral — Red tree coral. Photo Credit: Flickr User, Silvia Centomo

white stylaster and yellow octocoral — White stylaster coral in left background. Credit: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, INDEX-SATAL 2010

Red Tree Coral (Primnoa sp.) and Bubblegum Coral (Paragorgia sp.). Photo Credit: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Coral Reefs of Canada: Atlantic Deep-Ocean Coral

Earth Rangers

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March 21, 2014

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Coral Reefs of Canada: Atlantic Deep-Ocean Coral

Corals and sponges might look like plants but they are actually animals! Unlike many animals they don’t move on their own; in fact, they only move with the ocean current. When you think coral, you probably start dreaming of snorkeling off the coast of Australia and exploring the Great Barrier Reef, but there are corals in other places around the world. Off the coast of Canada are two reefs, the rocky reefs off the west coast of Canada in the Pacific Ocean and the cold, deep-water corals off the east coast of Canada in the Atlantic Ocean. Today we’re heading east into the Atlantic Ocean to learn some fascinating facts about deep-water coral.

Worldwide, over 700 species of cold, deep-water corals exist and right here in Canada we have some pretty amazing species. About 2-5 km deep in the Atlantic Ocean, off the east coast of Canada, live over 40 known species of cold, deep-water corals. These corals are adapted to growing without any sunlight and in very cold water (usually below 2°C). They can also withstand water pressure of 1,000 kg/cm2.

Deep-water corals are a bit different than tropical corals that live in warm water. Since deep-water corals live at such extreme water depths, they must be able to grow without any sunlight. Tropical corals, on the other hand, need light to grow. They have very tiny plant-like particles living INSIDE their cells that use energy from the sun to produce food for the coral. Cold, deep-water corals lack these tiny “plants” inside their cells so they do not need the sun to live and grow. It’s incredible how well adapted animals and plants are to their surroundings.

Lophelia pertusa: A deep-water stony coral

Sea pens: A soft coral formed from rows of polyps that look like an old-fashioned quill pen.

Gorgonian coral or sea fans: Some colonies can be over 100 years old and are sometimes so dense that scientists refer to them as coral “forests”. They are one of the largest coral species, found at depths of 200-1,000 meters underwater.

Bamboo corals: This type of deep-water coral has a skeleton inside made of hard calcium-based crystals. A long living coral species, some have been found to be 4,000 years old.

[accordion_set] [accordion title=”References” active=”no”] Kenchington E and D Fenton (2008). Oasis of the deep: cold water corals of Atlantic Canada. Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada. Bedford Institute of Oceanography. http://www.lophelia.org/corals/basics/key-species http://www.science.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=EE39B64D-1 http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~scf4101/Bambooweb/Research_FS.htm http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/publications/cs-ce-2009-eng.pdf [/accordion] [/accordion_set]

Water + Land = Wetland

Earth Rangers

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January 31, 2014

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Take a piece of land, add some water and keep it submerged for most of the year and what do you have? A wetland! Bogs, swamps, fens and marshes are the four main types of wetlands. Fens and marshes do not have trees while bogs and swamps usually have trees. Wetlands are filled with all kinds of amazing plants and animals, from frogs and fish to reeds, grasses, insects and birds such as common yellowthroats and red-winged blackbirds. Wetlands are among the most biodiverse habitats and even have carnivorous plants like pitcher plants! Besides giving a home to tons of species, wetlands also protect against floods and erosion in coastal areas, clean (“filter”) water, serve an important role in the water cycle and are beautiful spots to explore!

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) — Common Kingfisher (a Eurasian species)

Wetlands take up around 6% of the planet and Canada has a whopping 14% of the world’s wetlands. Sadly, many wetlands have been drained or filled in for agriculture and development, which has put this habitat at risk. That’s why we’re going wild for wetland saving!

The Earth Rangers Wetland

Earth Rangers is protecting wetlands right in our own backyard in Vaughan, Ontario, as part of Project iRestore. Building a wetland is a pretty big job with many more steps than just leaving the hose on in your backyard; that strategy will just get you a flood. What we’re talking about is building an entire wetland ecosystem! How do you build a wetland? Here’s our seven step ‘Wetlandification’ Plan:

building wetland — Earth Rangers before the Wetland

1) Inspect the area to see if it’s suitable for a wetland, looking for low lying areas that water drains into naturally (eg a low area in a field) and soil with clay.
2) Remove the invasive species.

3) Dig out the topsoil and put it off to the side. Keep on digging until you find some clay.
4) Dig up the clay and spread it around the bottom of the low lying area where you want the wetland to be. This step helps the basin hold water.
5) Make narrow ridges (“berms”) around the perimeter of the basin using some of the clay, then cover these ridges with the topsoil we dug out in step #3. Our wetland fills naturally with rainwater and surface run-off so now would be a good time for a rain dance.
6) Put some special rocks, called Gabion stones, at one end of the wetland in the middle of the berm to help keep the water level in the wetland constant. For our wetland at Earth Rangers, if the water level starts to rise too much the excess water filters through these Gabion stones into the nearby Humber River.
7) Plant tons of native grass seed on the top of the berm to help reduce soil erosion. Along the edge of the wetland plant aquatic plants, set up nest boxes for songbirds and ducks, and place logs and woody debris to make microhabitats and basking areas for turtles. Trees should also be planted around the edge to help reduce erosion and filter the water coming into the wetland.

Kids in the Wetland

Earth Rangers is helping to protect wetlands in British Columbia. As part of last year’s Bring Back the Wild project we worked with the Vancouver Aquarium to save the Oregon spotted frog. Thousands of Earth Rangers kids campaigned for this endangered amphibian, raising money to support a breeding and tadpole release program and to build a wetland for these frogs in Aldergrove Regional Park, British Columbia. Not only did Earth Ranger kids help fundraise for the frogs some students also headed out into the mud to help build it. How awesome is that?!!

Two grade 7 classes from Berkshire Park Elementary School in Surrey British Columbia were invited to visit the Oregon spotted frog’s new wetland home. The students did some planting to help make this spot even nicer for the over 8,000 Oregon spotted frogs that have been released here. What’s it like making a wetland? We asked the students of Berkshire Elementary School and here’s what they said.

[testimonial client=”Dilshaad”]“I had an amazing time on the trip to Aldergrove Regional Park. I had fun helping save the Oregon spotted frog by planting lots of plugs to help build a wetland.” [/testimonial]

[testimonial client=”Sophia”]“We spent our time planting tallgrasses so we could re-create a wetland. Our class learned that the Oregon spotted frog is endangered.”[/testimonial]

[testimonial client=”Sara”]When we were there we were ready to get our hands dirty and plant plugs to build a wetland for Oregon spotted frogs and other species. In about 20 years there will be a fully developed habitat.” [/testimonial]

Aldergrove kids helping with wetland conservation_frogs — Students of Berkshire Park Elementary School

Find out more about wetlands or the Oregon spotted frog but most importantly, explore the wetlands in your area with your parents to see what YOU can discover!

[accordion_set] [accordion title=”References” active=”no”] http://www.aquatic.uoguelph.ca/wetlands/chintro.htm

http://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=27147C37-1 [/accordion][/accordion_set]

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

What in the World is Moulting?

Earth Rangers

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October 17, 2013

20

Have you ever been to a friend’s house and noticed that their dog’s or cat’s fur seems to be on everything? That’s because their pet is shedding. Like dogs and cats, birds go through a similar process known as moulting. When their feathers are damaged or get too old, the feathers are pushed out and replaced with brand new ones. Unlike dogs and cats, which shed their hair continuously (like all mammals), birds moult their feathers only once or twice each year depending on the species.

The timing and process of moulting often differs depending on the bird species; in fact, when moulting occurs it can even be different for individuals of the same bird species. Factors like time of year, location, mating, weather conditions and feather damage all play a role in when and how often a bird will moult.

One Complete Moult a Year

Hawks, owls and jays are examples of birds that will moult once a year

Many birds will go through one complete moult, where all their feathers are replaced once a year. These are birds like owls, swallows, jays, hawks and thrushes, just to name a few.

One Complete and Partial Moult a Year

Western tanagers and yellow warblers are examples of birds that will undergo one complete moult and partial moults during the year.

Some birds, like warblers and tanagers, go through one complete moult but will also lose some of their feathers before getting ready to breed (call a partial moult). After this partial moult, the males will have bright and colourful feathers to attract females.

More Than One Complete Moult a Year

A few birds, like marsh wrens and bobolinks live in areas where their feathers get damaged more often than other birds so they will go through more than one complete moult in a year.

Moulting is a very intense process and can be very taxing on birds. It takes a lot to of energy (and food) to grow new feathers! During this time, the birds will add more protein, calcium and iron to their diet. They also move around less because it is difficult for a bird to fly very much when it is growing new feathers. Even though moulting is tough for birds, growing a new set of feathers is really important. After all, feathers are vital for regulating body temperature, protection and camouflage, attracting a mate and, of course, flying!

You can help protect songbirds when you sign up for a Bring Back the Wild project to protect barn swallows.

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References:
http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/molting-in-birds/966
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/allaboutbirds/studying/feathers/molting/document_view

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Scientists Saving Songbirds

Earth Rangers

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June 26, 2013

36

When you are off exploring the great outdoors you may be lucky enough to hear a beautiful tune coming from a songbird. Earth Rangers has been working to protect one of these songbirds, the Wood thrush, but there are other musical birds that also need protection, like the Eastern loggerhead shrike (aka the ‘butcher bird’).

These migratory grassland songbirds have such a scary nickname, thanks to their aggressive hunting technique. Eastern loggerhead shrikes impale their dead prey on branches, thorns, or barbed wire before eating them!

All about the Eastern loggerhead shrike

Eastern loggerhead shrike captive fledglings — Photo credit: Amy Chabot

Size: 45 g with a big head for their body, hence the name ‘loggerhead’
Colour: Grey head, black facial mask, and black and white throat and underside. Black wings and tail with a few white patches
Diet: Mice, small birds, snakes, frogs and insects
Habitat: North American grasslands and other open habitats
Status: Critically Endangered in Canada (COSEWIC 2000)
Behaviour: Since songbirds do not have talons to kill and eat their prey, shrikes use their strong, raptor-like, hooked beak to kill their prey and then impale the dead prey on branches, thorns, or barbed wire to make it easier to eat the meat.
Nickname: ‘butcher bird’ because males sometimes store their impaled prey in cool places called “larders” to attract females and also to make sure they have enough food to feed their nestlings.

By 1997 Eastern loggerhead shrike populations had dropped to just 18 known breeding pairs in Canada. The decline could be caused by fragmentation and loss of their grassland habitat, pesticide use, severe weather, West Nile Virus, and being hit by cars. We were at risk of losing the Eastern loggerhead shrike forever so scientists at Wildlife Preservation Canada, working with the Shrike Recovery Team, stepped in and started a captive breeding and reintroduction program to save this incredible songbird.

Shrike chick — Photo credit: Larry Kirtley

Breeding butcher birds

In 1997 and 1998 scientists collected 43 nestlings from the nests of wild breeding pairs in Ontario to start a captive breeding population as a safety net against their extinction in the wild. Since these captive-bred birds were so important for saving their species they received the best care possible. They were provided with daily food, regular checkups and a home similar to their habitat in the wild. By 2001 the captive population had grown to 100 breeding adults, and scientists decided it was time to release captive-raised juveniles back into the wild. This first generation of captive-bred nestlings received care from their parents and specially trained biologists in large outdoor field aviaries.

To prepare these birds to be released into the wild they are given live food, such as mice, and perches and branches inside their enclosures to practice impaling their prey. For the next 11 years, each summer as many as 100 or more juvenile shrikes have been released into their native habitats at 54-77 days old. All this care and attention has paid off; by 2012, 663 juvenile Eastern loggerhead shrikes had been released into the wild!

nest ful of shrikes — Photo credit: Jessica Steiner

What happens to the young birds after release?

Tagged Eastern loggerhead shrike — Photo credit: Jessica Steiner

Once released, scientists wanted to make sure these Eastern loggerhead shrikes went on to live happy songbird lives so they decided to follow them. It’s tough trying to keep up with a flying songbird, so, in 2007 and 2008, scientists used radio telemetry to follow them. They discovered that after being released these songbirds traveled an average of 4.2 km from their outdoor enclosures to local grasslands and fields. Around 75% of the released birds survived through the summer and went on to migrate south for the winter. And, many of released shrikes come home! Scientists found that 34 of the released shrikes have returned to Ontario, paired with wild shrikes, and laid their own eggs! These birds and the amazing scientists that work with them have helped make this conservation success story possible as the wild population of Eastern loggerhead shrikes has been saved from extinction, so far.

Conservation power!

About 10,000 species of birds have been described, with 12% facing the threat of extinction. Of the 699 re-introduction programs for birds, migratory songbird re-introductions are the most rare, which is something we may have to change as increasingly these amazing birds are in need of our help. Conservationists who work in this field know how important these projects are; just ask Earth Rangers Science Advisor, Dr. Scott: “I have been doing research on birds for nearly 20 years and have seen how critically important hands-on conservation action programs like species re-introductions are for us to bring back the wild.”

Take part in important conservation projects across Canada by starting your own
Bring Back the Wild campaign!

References:

Caro T and PW Sherman (2011). Endangered species and a threatened discipline: behavioural ecology. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 26:111-118.
Imlay TI, JF Crowley, AM Argue, JC Steiner, DR Norris, and BJM Stutchbury (2010). Survival, dispersal and early migration movements of captive-bred juvenile eastern loggerhead shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus migrans). Biological Conservation 143:2578-2582.
Lindgren CJ, R Postey, K DeSmet, C Higgs, and AB Thompson (2009). West nile virus as a cause of death among endangered eastern loggerhead shrikes, Lanius ludovicianus migrans, in West St. Paul, Manitoba. Canadian Field Naturalist 123:7-11.
Nichols RK, J Steiner, LG Woolaver, E Williams, AA Chabot, and K Tuininga (2010). Conservation initiatives for an endangered migratory passerine: field propagation and release. Oryx 44:171-177.
Stutchbury B (2012). Saving the butcher bird. CBC Canada Writes. November 22, 2012.

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

A Big Role for Tiny Organisms

Earth Rangers

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June 6, 2013

26

In nature, the very small can have a very big ecological role to play. In this article, we look at the effect that climate change has on lichen and plankton. Lichen and plankton may seem insignificant but they are vital components of the food web, and serve as examples of how climate change can be devastating to species in the Arctic ecosystem.

Lichen on the Land

Lichens are a unique and fascinating combination of fungus and another organism that goes through photosynthesis (called photobionts), usually algae or cyanobacteria. These organisms work together to form what is known as a symbiotic relationship, which is where both parties benefit from working together. In this case, the photobiont produces sugars through photosynthesis (just like leaves on trees!), which provides the fungus with a food source, and the fungus produces nutrients that benefit the photobiont. Thanks to this relationship, lichen can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including on the trunks of trees or leaves in moist forests, on fallen logs, bare rocks, or on soil. Lichen also thrives in some of the most extreme conditions, including hot, dry deserts and the frigid cold Arctic tundra.

During the winter, food is often scarce on the Arctic tundra. The presence of hardy organisms like lichen can mean the difference between surviving and starving for large mammals like caribou. Being the primary food source for large migratory caribou herds in North America, lichen can become depleted quickly. As long as the conditions are correct, the lichen can grow back and provide caribou with food for another winter. Unfortunately, when climate change is added to the mix, it’s a different story.

Climate change is causing the Arctic to warm up and dry out, making it more difficult for Tundra lichen to grow back for the winter. This critical winter food source for large migratory caribou is disappearing, which could lead to population declines in the future. Who would have thought that climate change could impact large animals like caribou by hurting the tiny lichen that caribou eat?

Plankton in the Water

In 1989, sea level pressure in the Arctic dropped sharply. When sea level pressure changes like this, it can cause a change in the flow of air and water. Warmer, more salty water from the North Atlantic Ocean started flowing into the Arctic Ocean. This wouldn’t have been too bad, except that at the same time there were also significant changes to the climate. Permafrost, snow and ice were all melting at a faster rate than before and there was an increase in precipitation. Eventually all this water made its way to the Arctic Ocean, causing an even more dramatic change in the water flow. The warm salty water was coming up from the south, and the cold, less salty water was pushed down from the north.

These major changes to the environment meant that species living in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans have had to adapt or move if they want to survive. Take plankton for example. Studies have shown that plankton found in the Boreal regions have travelled south, while subtropical and temperate plankton have moved north. Not wanting to miss a meal, Boreal fish species have followed the northern plankton species south, and subtropical and temperate fish species caught up with their plankton in northern waters.

This movement of plankton and fish might not seem important, but it can really impact the ecological marine food web. For species living in the Arctic that can’t easily move south, and/or need specific animal prey to satisfy their diets, the southern migration of these fish can leave them without food.

Final Thoughts

Understanding how climate change is impacting environments has taken many years of scientific study, and many more are still needed. The Arctic, like most ecological environments, is a highly resilient yet sensitive ecosystem. What seems like small changes to the food web can have major impacts for many Arctic species. As key species disappear, predators need to switch to other prey or starve.

As we continue making positive changes in our lives that reduce how we impact habitats around us and the habitats far away from us (like the Arctic), we can help offset the effects of climate change. Living in the Arctic is hard enough already, let’s give these species something less to worry about. Earth Rangers, kids just like you, and our various conservation partners keep working to help save animals. Together we ARE bringing back the wild!

Sources:
http://www.unis.no/sios/app%203%20sea%20observatories.pdf
http://www.thebls.org.uk/about-lichens/what-is-a-lichen
http://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/viewFile/345/336
http://www.esajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1890/07-0550.1

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A Conservation Partnership With

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

The Great Barrier Reef is in Trouble!

Earth Rangers

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November 16, 2012

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If you are taking a swim off of the Eastern coast of Australia you’re likely to find the Great Barrier Reef. This 344,400km2 aquatic habitat is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, it is so big that astronauts can see it from space! The Great Barrier Reef is made up of nearly 3,000 individual coral reefs that, together, form a beautiful underwater ecosystem where a diverse suite of over 9,000 species of fish and other aquatic animals, corals, and sponges live. It is one of the planet’s most biologically rich aquatic habitats that not only provides homes for tons of animals but also protects shorelines.

Scientists at the Australian Institute of Marine Science recently looked at 2,258 surveys of the Great Barrier Reef over the past 27 years to see how this amazing ecosystem is doing and the news isn’t good. Between 1985-2012 coral cover has dropped by more than half, and two-thirds of that decline has happened since 1998 – that’s a loss of 30% of Great Barrier Reef coral habitat in just 12 years. What’s causing us to lose the Great Barrier Reef so quickly? The researchers that conducted this study found three major causes:

Tropical Cyclones

These storms form over bodies of water, creating really powerful winds, torrential rain, and high waves, which damage the reefs. When the winds reach speeds of over 120km/h (74mph), these storms are known as hurricanes or typhoons. Although tropical cyclones are normal, over the past few years there has been an increase in both the number of storms and the damage that they cause to the reefs. Some scientists have found that the rise in tropical cyclones is due to climate change. As human actions cause the planet and our oceans to become warmer we are creating ideal conditions for tropical cyclones to form.

Coral Bleaching

Climate change also affects weather patterns by making it more common for there to be extended periods of drought followed by heavy rains. During periods of drought the land tends to become hard with less porous soil, when this is followed by heavy rain more water runs off instead of soaking into the ground. These changes in rainfall patterns cause more pollutants, such as agricultural fertilizers, to runoff the land into the water. Nitrates from the fertilizers get into the water and create an ocean that is more acidic and warmer than usual, which damages the reefs through a process called coral bleaching.

So what is coral bleaching? Coral bleaching involves coral losing its colour. Corals are a special group of gorgeous, simple, marine animals (individually called coral “polyps”) that live in colonies on reefs in different parts of the world, including the Great Barrier Reef. These animals feed by filtering tiny particles out of the water. Healthy corals have a wide array of colour patterns such as blues, oranges, and reds. Some are soft-bodied while others have hard outer surfaces (“exoskeletons”) due to the accumulation of calcium carbonate. Coral is sensitive to changes in water temperature and acidity. In a warmer and more acidic ocean, coral spits out plant-like cells (algae called ZOO-XAN-THAL-LEA) that usually live in the coral polyps. These algae are essential for the coral to survive; without them, the coral turns white and starves to death.

Crown-of-thorns Starﬁsh

As our oceans change due to climate change and pollution we are creating the perfect environment for big populations of Crown-of-thorns starfish. Crown-of-thorns are one of the world’s biggest starfish species, they can have up to 21 arms and are covered in long venomous spines. This starfish feeds on coral starting at about six months of age, and will spend about half their time feeding. Usually the Crown-of-thorns starfish will only eat portions of a coral reef, which allows the reef to quickly recover. But in a warming ocean with huge populations of Crown-of-thorns starfish, they are eating way too much coral, which doesn’t give the reefs a chance to recover.

Save the Reefs!

Researchers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science found that if the Great Barrier Reef continues to decline at this rate, there will only be 10% coral cover left by 2022. But there is hope! Their analysis also showed that without the impact of cyclones, Crown-of-thorns starfish, and coral bleaching, the coral reef can recover! It’s time for us to take action:

Learn about climate change and take steps in your life to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases you create by doing things like conserving energy and choosing to walk, carpool or take public transit instead of using the car.
Help keep our oceans clean by keeping trash and other pollutants out of our waterways
Raise awareness about the loss of coral with friends and family to build support for the protection and conservation of our precious reefs.

Click here to read the full report from the Australian Institute of Marine Science

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Earth Rangers

Earth Rangers

Jumping the Dam

Eel Count

If you were an eel, and could use any mode of transportation, how would you get over a dam? Paraglide, rocket skateboard, hot air balloon…. Leave your suggestion in the comments section below!

More squirrel facts!

Throw on your coat … and shorten your ears?!

It’s a good time to fatten up!

Getting around the snow and ice…

Leave your answer in the comments section below!

In Western Waters

Here are some of the incredible species of coral that live in Canada’s rocky reefs.

The Earth Rangers Wetland

Kids in the Wetland

Find out more about wetlands or the Oregon spotted frog but most importantly, explore the wetlands in your area with your parents to see what YOU can discover!

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

One Complete Moult a Year

One Complete and Partial Moult a Year

More Than One Complete Moult a Year

You can help protect songbirds when you sign up for a Bring Back the Wild project to protect barn swallows.

Generously Supported By

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

All about the Eastern loggerhead shrike

Breeding butcher birds

What happens to the young birds after release?

Conservation power!

Take part in important conservation projects across Canada by starting your own Bring Back the Wild campaign!

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Lichen on the Land

Plankton in the Water

Final Thoughts

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A Conservation Partnership With

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Tropical Cyclones

Coral Bleaching

Crown-of-thorns Starﬁsh

Save the Reefs!

Click here to read the full report from the Australian Institute of Marine Science

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

Take part in important conservation projects across Canada by starting your own
Bring Back the Wild campaign!