John Ward

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a cluster of floating debris about twice the size of Texas. However, it is not only trash that can be found in it, but also the diversity of species that live within its boundaries. Ben LeComte confirmed this when he swam through the slick and collected samples while travelling from Hawaii to California.

It turned out that the biodiversity was so high that the slick was already, in principle, an ecosystem similar in richness to the Sargasso Sea.
Researchers call such systems “neopelagic communities.” So what creatures live quite successfully in such environments?

“Dragon slugs” are an unusual species of cephalopod mollusk. The bite of a blue dragon slug is very painful and even dangerous to humans.

Poisonous snails, such as the sea snail Olivella semistriata, can also be found in the slick. The creature extends two wing-like appendages in the mucus layer for passive feeding.

Pages: 1 2

Pizzlies are hybrids born from the interbreeding of grizzlies (Ursus arctos horribilis) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Although rare today, some scientists believe that these animals may become more common due to climate change affecting habitats in the northernmost parts of the planet.

Polar bears are significantly larger than grizzlies: adult males weigh about 800 kilograms and are 3 metres tall when standing on their hind legs. In comparison, a typical adult male grizzly weighs 200-300 kilograms. Another visible difference is the polar bear’s lighter coloured fur and longer skull and muzzle.

According to journalist Gloria Dickey, pizzle bears usually look like white or blond-haired grizzly bears. They have plate-shaped muzzles and long claws, and brownish spots are found on their white pelts.

The existence of the pizzly was not confirmed until 2006, when one of the individuals was shot by a hunter in Canada. DNA analysis confirmed the hybrid origin of the animal.

Over the past five years, scientists have documented cases of second-generation hybrids (e.g., offspring of the pizzly and grizzly). A stuffed bear that researchers have identified as 3/4 grizzly and 1/4 polar bear can be seen at Ulukhaktok Airport in northwestern Canada.

Although the two species are closely related on the family tree – they are separated by only 500,000 years of evolution – the evidence of interbreeding is quite surprising, as polar bears and grizzlies often have a hostile, competitive relationship.

Pages: 1 2

At Aarhus University (Denmark), zoologists wondered what role beavers played dwelling near humans in ancient times.

Excavations have revealed that these animals were important as a source of meat food and hides, and that the teeth and bones of these rodents were hardly substitutes for the tools used to work wood.

In addition, ancient man also benefited from the ecosystems created by beavers. The dams built by the animals increased the number of fish, waterfowl and vegetation. Wild boars and other fauna were drawn to these landscapes.

According to researcher Nathalie Brusgaard, beavers have made ecosystems more dynamic, increasing biodiversity, breeding wild pigs, otters, and the abundance of carp, perch and pike in water bodies.

Pages: 1 2

Frogs, toads, salamanders and other amphibians are extremely affected by climate change.

A recent study says that 41 per cent of them, or 2,900 species, are on the verge of extinction. Today, scientists believe that amphibians are the most vulnerable vertebrates on Earth.

According to zoologist Kelsey Neame, the creatures will either have to adapt by some miracle to new realities, or migrate on a large scale, but the latter option is no less difficult because of the destruction of the habitat they need.

Amphibians’ permeable skin allows them to breathe in two environments, but it also causes their bodies to absorb pollutants or suffer from dehydration.

In addition to climate change, human agricultural activities are also exacerbating the situation: this industry affects more than 75 per cent of affected species and intensively destroys their habitats.

Pages: 1 2

It happens that there is a new pet in the house, quite mature. How can you train a pet that is used to doing its natural needs outside to the litter tray?

First of all, it is necessary to block the cat’s access to places that it can perceive as a toilet. We are talking about the space under beds, sofas, behind wardrobes, refrigerators and other large objects.

And you also need to choose a suitable tray and buy a filler that imitates the composition of the soil.

Further algorithm of actions is as follows:

remove carpets until the animal adapts to the dwelling, otherwise it will cope with the need there;
place the litter tray in an accessible but fairly private place;

Pages: 1 2