Can We Conserve Our Forests?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Moyer]Wendy Moyer
Forests are mostly celebrated for their timber, fodder, fuel wood and other non-timber forest products that they provide. What is not universally appreciated is just how much forests contribute to crucial ecosystem services.
Forests are indispensable as far as protecting watersheds that are upstream and separating carbon from the atmosphere is concerned. And they must continue intact in order to conserve gene pools and guarantee biodiversity so that future generations will be able to enjoy nature's bounty and beauty.
Forest environmental services include nutrient recycling, the regulation of the climate and the water cycle, soil formation, and plant pollination.
There is an ever growing demand for the goods that forests provide mankind. That's quite obvious. What's not as obvious or as widely recognized is that there is an increased need for the services that forests provide to our ecosystem.
One of the reasons is that society at large has not assigned any financial terms or financial measures to these values. As a result, forest environmental services are usually not included in our national GDP (Gross National Product) statistics. In addition, there are not many established, well developed markets for such services.
Luckily, things are beginning to change.
Our culture is becoming more aware of how we really need to pay more than lip service to these services. Many people are beginning to realize that we need to place a value on these services in order to make better decisions involving land use changes in our nation's forests.
As a result, decisions will be based on the true long term values that our forests offer instead of just the potential short term profits from the tangible goods that they provide.
In addition, there's an urgent need to cultivate the appropriate mechanisms, which may or may not be market based, that will facilitate the standardization of these approaches. What has to be done is to formulate a methodology that will offer direct incentives to institutions and communities that actively protect our forests and provide these services.
Amply demonstrating the entire range of the ecosystem and the potential economic benefits are only part of the equation.
Another part is discerning applicable methods to equitably capture the aforementioned values and benefits that our forests provide over the long term. Once this is accomplished various incentives for the private sector, local and national governments, and local communities that focus on promoting sustainable forest management can then be put into place.
It is of the utmost importance that responsible citizens who are truly interested in conserving what our forests have to offer are the people who are given the responsibility for formulating these criteria. That's because, as has been proven time and time again, economic instruments can be designed to either benefit or to undermine conservation efforts.
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Genetic Techniques Being Developed for Parrot Conservation in Tambopata

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Danielle_Krautmann]Danielle Krautmann
Parrot species tend to be as endangered as they are charismatic. Threats such as habitat destruction and the capture of wild birds for the pet trade have resulted in nearly 30% of neotropical parrot species being threatened with extinction.
Major challenges to reversing this unfortunate trend include:
Low reproductive rates of many macaws, parrots, and parakeets
Not knowing how many birds are needed to maintain viable populations
Information is also needed regarding the susceptibility of macaws and other parrot species to forest fragmentation.
This latter concern has become particularly relevant for the Tambopata region because of the Interoceanic Highway. This new road abuts the northern edge of Tambopata and could result in higher levels of deforestation as it becomes an increasingly important conduit between Brazil and the Pacific coast.
George Olah hopes to develop genetic techniques that can assess population size of Scarlet Macaws in Tambopata, their movements, and the extent to which they are affected by forest fragmentation.
He does this by:
Using capture - recapture sampling on DNA extracted from blood and feather samples.
Using genetic variability to estimate population size.
Using genetic tagging to estimate territorial needs.
Capture - recapture sampling works like this: imagine you are in a small town, and you start jotting down license plates. It will not be too long before you come across the same license plates. Based on how frequently you come across the same license plates, you can estimate the total size of the license plate "population", by way of statistics. The same is true of genes in DNA. Think of selected genes as license plates.
Genetic variability is another important aspect of this study. Large variability means a population is either very large, very diverse or both. The more diversity, the healthier it will be, and the least susceptible to inbreeding.
This doctoral student from the Australian National University is collecting Red-and-green Macaw and Scarlet Macaw feathers at clay licks and nests near our lodges for a genetic study that will hopefully provide the answers to.
Determine the minimum territory required for genetically sustainable macaw populations.
Monitor the health of macaw populations over time in Tambopata.
Use similar techniques to conserve parrots in other parts of the world.
We are happy to have George carry out this important project at the Tambopata Research Center and are pleased that guests staying at the Tambopata Research Center between the months of November and April in 2011 and 2012 will have the chance to speak with him in person about this ongoing study.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Genetic-Techniques-Being-Developed-for-Parrot-Conservation-in-Tambopata&id=6436448] Genetic Techniques Being Developed for Parrot Conservation in Tambopata

Is The Animal Brain Capable Of Thinking?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=D._Lips]D. Lips
In the scientific study of language and thinking, humans have always been the focus point of the attention, but where do animals fit in the scheme of things? Research on animals shows us that animals are often more intelligent than we realize; a baboon is able to recognize everyone's voice within its 70-member troop. Sheep are able to memorize and recognize specific faces. Brain research has even shown that great apes and monkeys are able to form mental concepts. An illustration of this is when monkeys categorize dogs and cats; specific areas in the frontal lobes of their brains fire differently in response to doglike images than to catlike images.
Humans are also not the only ones to display insights (that sudden 'aha' moment). In a cleverly designed experiment, researchers showed that a chimpanzee was capable of creative thinking. The researchers placed a piece of delicious watermelon and a long stick beyond the reach of the monkey, but a short stick was place in the cage with the chimpanzee. After trying to reach for the fruit with the short stick, the monkey, after carefully analyzing the situation, jumped up and used the short stick to reach for the long stick, which he then used to obtain the piece of juicy fruit.
Animals thus exhibit remarkable hidden capacities. They form concepts, and display insights and creative thinking. Greater primates, elephants and dolphins have even demonstrated self-awareness by cleverly recognizing themselves in a mirror. However, do they also exhibit one of our most precious concepts, language?
It can definitely not be doubted that animals communicate in several different ways. These ways can be rather complex; certain monkey species have different alarm sounds related to a specific type of predator; a barking sound for a tiger and a coughing sound for a snake. Honeybees on the other hand, perform a dance that instructs other bees on the distance and direction of a food source. Or think of a dog's amazing capacity to understand human instructions! Record-holder is a bolder collie that has learned to fetch 200 different items by name.
None of this can really be categorized as language though, but nonetheless chimpanzees have challenged humanities claim to be the only language using species by showing the capacity to learn sign language, as was shown by a team of researchers. The capacity of chimps for sign-language is limited though and equals the simple vocabulary of a 2 year-old. Many researchers are skeptical when it comes to the language capacities of monkeys. Some of the concerns exhibited by researchers include:
Monkeys only obtain their very limited vocabularies with great difficulty
Monkeys' signing might be nothing more than learning that certain arm movements result in a nice reward
Interpreting monkeys' signs as language might be nothing more than the trainer's wishful thinking.
Regardless, it has definitely been shown effectively that animals are more than living robots without any moral rights. Research has empirically shown that animals have the ability to express insight, altruism and complex communication concepts. Translating these findings into moral implications is work for the future.
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The author writes about various topics related to the brain and cognition. On his blog, the concept of brain science and cognitive optimization is discussed in many different ways.
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Four Wonderfully Weird Animal Adaptations

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ryan_J_Pilling]Ryan J Pilling
In the quest for survival, animals have developed some very unique tricks to give them the upper hand. These adaptations may help them find food, or keep them from becoming food.
Why The Zebra Is Black and White
To your eyes, it is pretty easy to spot a zebra on the African plain. The sharp contrast of the black and white stripes stands out against the otherwise yellow landscape. However, effective camouflage is in the eye of the hunter.
The zebra's biggest threat is the lion which, it just so happens, is color blind. Lions see the world in black and white. While this doesn't make a zebra invisible, the strong black lines seen throughout a herd of zebra can look very confusing. The lion has trouble seeing where one zebra ends and the next one begins. It is very hard to bite a moving target when you can't tell where it is.
The Seal Who Can Blow A Balloon Out Of His Nose
Throughout nature you will find some very interesting displays put on by males to either attract a mate, or look more menacing. None is quite so gross as the Hooded Seal.
Anytime he wants to show off he can blow a bubblegum-pink balloon out of his nostril. Not a little one, but at least the size of a football. To emphasize the matter he then waggles his head around, bouncing the balloon back and forth making a sound like a basketball on concrete.
The balloon is actually a rubbery membrane sac that spends most of its time inside the nose of the seal. Over time, this "stupid seal trick" of being able to inflate the sac has become both a threatening statement and attractive mating call.
Ladybugs Will Pee Blood When Frightened
If you've ever had a ladybug leave a little yellow spot on your finger you may be surprised to learn that is blood, not urine. The sticky yellow goo is actually excreted when the ladybug (or lady beetle) is feeling threatened. It has a rather displeasing odor that would fend off more bug-sized predators.
While it's not much of a bother to us, be careful where you wipe your finger. It will leave a strong yellow stain on your pants.
The Jellyfish Who Can Live Forever
Immortality may actually exist. Scientist have found a species of jellyfish, Turritopsis nutricul, who can regenerate its whole self. When the going gets tough it can degenerate from a jellyfish to a glob of goo on the ocean floor. That would be like a butterfly reversing the process and turning back into a caterpillar.
When it's good and ready, the Turritopsis can repeat the metamorphosis to become a jellyfish happily swimming through the Caribbean once again. There seems to be no sign of a limit on the number of times it can regenerate itself.
All these unique adaptations have developed through the generations to give the species a slight survival advantage. That is the wonder of evolution!
Ryan Pilling satisfies his curious mind as an amateur factologist researching and writing his blog; [http://lsned.com]Learn Something New Every Day.
If you enjoyed this article, have a look at more [http://lsned.com/topic/animals/]animal facts at LSNED.com.
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Whitetail Deer Annually Shed Antlers

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alan_Stables]Alan Stables
One characteristic that whitetails, moose, elk and caribou (reindeer), all species of North American deer, have in common is that the males shed their antlers in early winter when the weather first gets cold. At the proper time the antlers simply fall off the animal's head and anyone who searches for shed antlers will find them just lying on the ground. Anyone who knows American deer species can identify the species of deer simply by looking at a shed antler.
Whitetail deer, numbering some 18 million, are found throughout the continental United States except in five states where the weather or terrain is not suitable. In fact, many regions of the country are home to their own unique subspecies of deer that has adapted to local conditions. Whitetails vary greatly in size not only by subspecies but also by gender, Bucks (male whitetails) range in size from 130 pounds (60 kg) to 300 pounds (130 kg) while does (females) weigh only 90 to 200 pounds (40 to 90 kg). Even though there isn't very much meat (venison) in a small deer, hunters hunt for deer in the legal hunting season because the meat is tasty. There are many delicious regional recipes for venison.
Antlers vary in size among the subspecies of whitetail deer but each year a buck's rack (pair) of antlers will increase in size and complexity. In whitetails, the antlers are similar to branching in a tree. Each branch of the antlers ends in a pointed tip or simply point. Trophy hunters want the most elaborate rack of antlers they can find which typically occur on the most mature bucks. Hunting associations use a uniform scoring system for evaluating whitetail deer antlers that is based on the number and configuration of the points on the antlers. The best sets of antlers make the local, national and international record books.
Of course, trophy bucks are elusive. Mature bucks with trophy antlers have been crafty enough throughout their lives to elude predators, including hunters. Whitetail bucks lead solitary lives and only join the herd of does and fawns during the mating season and occasionally during the winter. The rest of the year, bucks live in relatively inaccessible locations. This means that shed whitetail antlers are difficult to find in the wild.
There are plenty of treasure hunters who spend their time in remote locations searching for shed antlers from whitetail deer. These shed antlers are used for a variety of decorative purposes.
Alan B. Stables is a freelance writer on alternative agriculture, has organized alternative agriculture events and has also been a guest speaker in Brazil, China, Egypt, Italy, Latvia and Spain, on how to market agricultural produce for maximum returns.
In addition to writing on [http://www.deerfarming.org]deer farming, Alan also writes articles on [http://www.ealpacafarming.com]alpaca farming and other alternative farming projects.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Whitetail-Deer-Annually-Shed-Antlers&id=6464356] Whitetail Deer Annually Shed Antlers

Moose Annually Shed Antlers

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alan_Stables]Alan Stables
One unique feature of moose is the fact the males grow and shed palmate antlers annually. Palmate antlers are a characteristic of North American moose which are different from their European counterpart, the Eurasian elk. Moose are huge animals and the male moose, also known as a bull moose, has a proportionally huge rack of antlers. Moose antlers differ in shape from other North American deer species which include whitetails, elk and reindeer (caribou). Other deer species sport slender branching antlers while the wide palmate antlers of moose look like the palm of the human hand.
Moose are the largest members of the deer family. Males and females stand tall on long legs, reaching 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 meters) at the shoulder. Add a long neck and large head with antlers on the males and the moose is an impressive animal. Mature males can easily weigh 1600 pounds (360 kilograms) and the average female can weigh half that amount. It's amazing that such an enormous creature can travel silently through the brush and blend into the environment without being seen. A person could be just ten feet from a moose in the wild and never know it was there.
Antlers are a unique feature of deer species including moose. Lots of other mammals grow permanent horns but male moose shed their antlers in early winter when the temperature is cold enough and regrow a completely new set in the spring. It takes well into summer before the new rack of antlers matures. During this period of antler growth, the emerging antlers are covered with velvet. Velvet is a fuzzy coating of thick skin filled with blood vessels that bring nutrients to the developing antlers. When the antlers are fully developed and ready to calcify, the bull moose, as males are called, naturally sheds the velvet. When that happens, the magnificent bull moose walks around with strands of velvet hanging from his antlers.
Even in areas where moose are plentiful, it's hard to find shed antlers because moose are solitary creatures. Other deer species form herds of females and their young which males join in the winter. Even female moose with calves maintain a solitary existence. Shed moose antlers are prized by craftsmen who use the antlers in a variety of innovative ways. The most popular uses for shed moose antlers are for rustic chandeliers and as props for cabin furniture.
Alan B. Stables is a freelance writer on alternative agriculture, has organized alternative agriculture events and has also been a guest speaker in Brazil, China, Egypt, Italy, Latvia and Spain, on how to market agricultural produce for maximum returns.
In addition to writing on [http://www.deerfarming.org]deer farming, Alan also writes articles on [http://www.ealpacafarming.com]alpaca farming and other alternative farming projects.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Moose-Annually-Shed-Antlers&id=6464359] Moose Annually Shed Antlers

Caribou Shed Antlers Every Year

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alan_Stables]Alan Stables
Caribou is one of the species of North American deer that grow and shed antlers every year. Caribou is another name for the undomesticated wild reindeer that migrate across the northernmost regions of North America. Caribou or reindeer are members of the deer family which in North America includes moose, elk and whitetail deer. The males of all of these species have antlers, which are not the same as horns. Deer are unique mammals because the males shed their antlers at the beginning of winter and regrow them in the spring. Caribou are even more unusual because both males and females grow antlers but female caribou shed their antlers in the spring.
Caribou antlers are something of hybrid between elk antlers and moose antlers. Caribou antlers are long, slender and branching like elk antlers but also have wide features similar to the palmate antlers of the moose. Caribou have an additional forward piece of antler called a shovel that protrudes over the face. It is called a shovel because of its shape and the shovel looks somewhat like the wide ends of the moose antler. While moose are the largest North American deer and also have the largest antlers, the magnificent length and breadth of caribou antlers make them the largest antlers relative to body size of any deer. A single caribou antler can reach 53 inches (135 cm) in overall length and 39 inches (100 cm) at its wide top.
Caribou in North America are constantly migrating except when they spend the brief arctic summer at their northern calving grounds. As soon as the calves are sturdy enough to travel, the caribou herds begin their journey south before the severe winter weather sets in. Caribou travel more extensively than any other mammal, some 3,100 miles (5,000 km) per year. Fortunately there is a ready supply of lichens on the open tundra that caribou use as their primary source of food.
Domesticated caribou are usually called reindeer and native people in North America, Europe and Asia have been managing their reindeer herds for centuries. Domesticated reindeer provide food, shelter, clothing and transportation for native people even today. Even though modern native people may have a snowmobile for transportation, they continue to rely on the reindeer as part of their lifestyle. They even use the shed reindeer antlers as a cash crop sold to craftsmen who use them for artistic purposes.
Alan B. Stables is a freelance writer on alternative agriculture, has organized alternative agriculture events and has also been a guest speaker in Brazil, China, Egypt, Italy, Latvia and Spain, on how to market agricultural produce for maximum returns.
In addition to writing on [http://www.deerfarming.org]deer farming, Alan also writes articles on [http://www.ealpacafarming.com]alpaca farming and other alternative farming projects.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Caribou-Shed-Antlers-Every-Year&id=6464365] Caribou Shed Antlers Every Year