Elephants Cry “Bee-ware!”, Oil Spill & US Climate Policy, Asian Carp
This week: We have more raptor news in today’s show – Elsa discusses new findings about what bald eagles eat, and what that means for their conservation on California’s Channel Islands. Then a fascinating finding about what elephants think of bees. You’ll also hear how the oil spill on the Gulf coast might affect U.S climate policy. Also some perspective on a non-native fish headed toward the Great Lakes. And we hear how a meteorology professor uses music in his classroom.
Elephants Fear Bees: We’ve all heard the urban myth about how elephants are afraid of mice. But it’s quite a different creature that can make these giant beasts run for cover – the African bee! Not only do elephants flee from bees, but they also make low rumbling alarm calls to warn each other. This news is being welcomed by farmers in Kenya (where the research was done) who are eager to protect their crops from elephants.
Credit for image above: http://www.flickr.com/photos/exfordy/ / CC BY 2.0
Watch elephants flee after hearing a “bee” alarm call.
The study.
A post about this study was named Blog Pick of the Month by the journal PLoS ONE.
Rename that Fish! American catfish farmers imported Asian carp in the 1970s to control algae on their fish farms. Some fish escaped and are now headed toward the Great Lakes, posing such a threat that the White House even convened an “Asian Carp Summit” earlier in the year. One possible solution to the expanding Asian carp population is to encourage Americans to eat the fish, but the current name doesn’t tempt the palate. Should the fish be renamed to make it more marketable? What should that name be?
Report by: The World’s Alex Gallafent.
Learn more about Asian carp in the Great Lakes.
Ready to try it? Find some Asian carp recipes here.
You can suggest appetizing names on The World’s discussion page.
Stopping Non-native Species: Can getting more Americans to eat the Asian carp stop the fish from taking over the Great Lakes? For an answer to that question, I went to an expert on invasive species. He also told me about some new tools built by scientists to stop the import of potentially invasive non-native species.
Guest: Reuben Keller
More about North America’s invasive species from the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Impact of Oil Spill on US Climate Policy: Up to 5,000 barrels of oil a day are thought to be spilling into the water after last month’s rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. The slick has begun to reach the Louisiana shore, and the US Navy has been sent to help avert an economic and environmental disaster. Last month, President Barack Obama eased a moratorium on new offshore drilling, but he has now banned oil drilling in new areas off the US coast while the cause of the spill is investigated. Listen to this story about how the oil slick could affect US energy and climate policy.
Report by: The World’s Katy Clark.
A great graphic for understanding the spill from the Times Picayune.
Satellite images and maps of the oil spill.
Oil spill coverage from Science magazine’s policy blog, ScienceInsider.
Elsa’s Favorite Stories:
- Inbreeding in Darwin’s Family: Three of Charles Darwin’s ten offspring died in childhood, and he fretted that the others weren’t very “robust.” Their health problems may have been due, at least in part, to the fact that Darwin married his first cousin Emma Wedgewood.
The study.
More about Darwin’s life on Podcast no. 51.
Our Science Forum on Darwin’s life and works. - Genetics of Worm Regeneration: You can chop a planarian flat worm all to bits, and each one regenerates a whole worm–including a new brain. Now researchers have found a gene that is essential to rebuilding the worm’s eyes and brain.
The study.
BBC interview with one of the study authors. - Bald Eagle Diet: Bald eagles lived on California’s Channel Islands from the Pleistocene until DDT wiped them out in the 1960s. Now a small population is getting re-established. But what will they eat? A new study of prehistoric and historic eagle bones suggests that today’s birds may go after food that endangers their own health or other threatened species.
The study.
Channel Islands bald eagle webcam.
More about the Channel Islands Bald Eagle Restoration Program.
Music in Science: Meteorologist John Knox wants his students to know they’re not in for a typical boring science class, and he proves it by playing music before each lecture. Knox teaches meteorology and geography at the University of Georgia in Athens. He told us about the haunting song that started his whole musical curriculum. You’ll also hear a clip from his class band playing the same song!
Song: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, by Gordon Lightfoot
Opening Music: Shotgun Wedding, by When Cousins Marry
Album: Shotgun Wedding (You can download some of the songs for free.)
ITunes does not exist for linux users, which I am – so – keep up the good work – through a good old comment box
Thanks for taking the time to give us feedback, Wendy! The good old comment box’s good enough for us.
Rhitu,
Thanks for the great article! It’s funny how as a child we’re taught that elephants are afraid of mice, but bees? Who would have thought? Also, the Asian Carp taking over the Great Lakes? I haven’t heard of that either. I suppose its true about learning something new everyday!
Funny, you don’t hear much about the oil spill any more. Somehow we’ve managed to convince most of the nation that the problem is gone now and everything is fine. Nothing could be further from the truth.
I have a lot of relatives who live in the gulf, some right on the water. Try telling them that things are back to normal.
On a more pleasant note; elephants fear bees? Who knew? Very interesting reading Rhitu. Thanks.
- J
I would say no way to this. If we encourage people to eat them that will encourage private industry to farm them (not to mention any unregulated fish farming) probably resulting in a greater spread. I say we use the Homer Simpson fishing technique. Zap the water with 10m volts and resuscitate everything but the carp.
“Can getting more Americans to eat the Asian carp stop the fish from taking over the Great Lakes?”
Following up on Jamison’s comment – I agree wholeheartedly. There’s a lot of sea life such as whales that migrates north from the tropics during the summer months. I’m wondering how the residual effects of the oil spill couldaffect this.
I think it is very interesting how science is turning more and more toward finding things in nature to control natural problems rather than invent a solution through mechanical or chemical means – Which usually has harmful affects. I think it is fascinating how researchers are finding that bees may someday help Kenyan farmers protect their crops. Seems like it will be a simple yet effective solution without causing real harm to the elephants.
Ray
I think the most interesting part isn’t that elephants are afraid of bees, but rather the fact that they actually warn each other with a special sound. I’m always fascinated by the customs that animals develop within their own communities.