ecologygirl

Alberta Adopt-a-Plant great way to learn about rare plants

tetwell — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:50:39 +0000

I spent the afternoon today, at the University of Calgary herbarium with a study group of the Alberta Adopt-a-plant association. This group has been in action for a few years, and has a mission to empower people to learn about and monitor species at risk in Alberta. This is a volunteer driven organization, and people volunteer to learn and monitor their respective plant. I had the pleasure of looking for Carex nebracensis last summer, although i didn ‘t find the species, I enjoyed learning and searching for it.

Today we studied the cruciferacea (mustards) group of plants, and specifically slender mouse-eared cress (Halimolobus virgata).

Events like this are a great way to learn about plants, both native and those at risk. Seeing real pressed samples gives one a great opportunity to compare species. I say hooray for the U of C herbarium, Adopt a plant, and the great volunteer organizers Leslie Monteleone, and Dana Bush. This group is for amateur botanists and professionals. If you want to learn botany, check it out.

Tracey Etwell

Ecologist

www.ecova.ca

Ever been up close and sniffed by a Sumatran tiger? (video)

tetwell — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:10:59 +0000

I couldn’t resist posting this ultra cute and inspiring video of a mother Sumatran tiger and her babies. Gives some hope that the species is reproducing in the wild.

enjoy!
http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2010/WWFPresitem14779.html

Announcement on new protected area in Alberta for Caribou?

tetwell — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:41:42 +0000

Somehow I missed this announcement in August. Sounds like some good news for the endangered Caribou.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8aLnDqx3EA

Also check out this new website with good info from CPAWS. Some cute videos and information on Caribou.

http://caribouandyou.ca/

cool weblink for invasive species webinars

tetwell — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:39:18 +0000

http://www.weedcenter.org/outreach/project-webseminar.html

cool site sent by a friend with free ecology and invasive plant webinars.

Who would have guessed it.. blowing up mountains can have an environmental impact

tetwell — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:12:07 +0000

Check out this story from the authors at Grist magazine.

http://www.grist.org/article/2010-01-07-science-confirms-that-blowing-up-mountains-harms-mountains

You can find the original article in the journal Science: “Mountaintop Mining Consequences.”

A bunch of scientists have actually proved that the effects of mining a mountaintop are harmful, and that reclamation efforts aren’t helping. A variety of effects are noted including contaminated waterways, reduced aquatic biodiversity, human health impacts and erosion impacts. Not really surprising, but cool that these scientists came together without funding, on their own time. Not to mention the huge value of the peer-reviewed efforts that went into this paper.

Often when environmental impact studies are done, there just aren’t any paper which address the specific impacts of the activity, and this one could be well become the new standard reference.

Tracey Etwell

www.ecova.ca

New green resolutions for 2010

tetwell — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:03:13 +0000

Following up on my last post, I came across this cool slide show of best green resolutions of 2010. http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/new-year-resolutions-difference.html.

Of the 13 things listed, I am happy to say that I am already on top of most of these..

we grow our own vegetables, as much as Calgary, Alberta will support
we compost
we buy organic and sometimes local produce (as an aside, cool interview with food advocate, Micheal Pollan, http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/#clip251958)
we have only one car between 2 of us, and use it sparingly. my husband regularly bikes to work even through the worst of Calgary weather!
I am involved with a couple of green organizations, including our women’s sustainable book club, where we read books that inspire us, and we do take some actions like letter writing campaigns
eat pretty much vegetarian.. no red meat, mostly fish and chicken, eggs.. could do better her if hubby could be convinced..
we have 2 rescue dogs and one shelter cat.

So that leaves the other things I could do..

quantify energy consumption goals. hmmm. not sure how one would even tackle that. the post talks about a home energy monitor,, i don’t know if that is even available in Canada. anybody know?
finally get around to signing up for green power… bullfrog power can expect a call from me.
haven’t planted anything in a while.. have to plan to do that this spring..

Have you made any green resolutions for this year?

The top green stories of last decade

tetwell — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:58:53 +0000

Love this review of top green stories of the last decade by grist. http://www.grist.org/article/2009-12-21-the-top-green-stories-of-the-00s/PALL/

As always lots of disheartening stories, mixed with a bunch of good news stories. I love the focus on green businesses, local and organic movements, and the use of the internet to motivate and inform people. My challenge to you, if you are into making resolutions or even just goals for the new year, make a green goal or resolution.. Even if it is just to try to educate yourself more on a new issue. I would like to tackle how do I figure out how to turn off my ghost power load, when I am not at home, or not using these things. ie. VCR/computer, clock radio without running around for minutes at a time. Any ideas?

To buy a real christmas tree or get an artificial one

tetwell — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:35:24 +0000

In the seasonal mode today,

I came across this info today. Ever wondered what is more environementally friendly, a real tree or an artificial one?

http://www.grist.org/article/umbra-tree/

Turns out that no tree is best, followed by a real tree, preferably an organic or sustainably raised one, followed by the artificial tree being least desirable. The PVC is thought to be quite harmful in these trees. My favorite has always been the smell of a real tree, not that I even bothered to put up a tree this year.

Did you get a real tree or an artificial tree this year?View This Poll

Native Predators and Exotic Prey

tetwell — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:21:47 +0000

I came across this cool podcast site called ESA podcasts from the Ecological Society of America. This week is an audio podcast from Dr. Nils Carlsson talking about how native predators and exotic prey interact, specifically how a predator learns to avoid a toxic prey item, and also to learn what they can eat. In particular the discussion touches on how climate change will affect exotic species.

: exotic cane toad

http://www.frontiersinecology.org/beyond/

you can subscribe to three series of podcasts, a great way for ecologist to stay up to date. you can even listen to them while you work with earphones! how cool is that.

Copenhagen summit and action

tetwell — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:55:23 +0000

Show your vote for the Copenhagen climate change talks. If you are hoping to see some positive results from the Copenhagen summit, but feel like you have no way of being involved. Check out www.earthhour.org, and make your vote to support WWF and the summit. I know I did.

I am also part of a women’s sustainable book club, and from time to time we write letters about environment issues we are concerned about. I know it feels like a letter falls on deaf ears, but the stats say that politicians keep track of how many letters they receive. These stats are used to determine how the majority feels, since the person who takes the time to express their thoughts represents a large number of people who feel the same way but don’t bother to write..

Have you ever written a letter to express your thoughts to a politician?