Latest news with #ecosystems
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Research team develops game-changing device to fight dangerous toxins in water supply: 'Demonstrated exceptional robustness'
Scientists have developed an affordable, real-time algal bloom monitoring system, as relayed by Its optical sensors achieve high accuracy, outperforming complex AI models. The device could revolutionize how we protect our water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, are a serious environmental issue. Rapid growth of algae can produce toxins dangerous to humans and animals. They can contaminate drinking water and deplete the oxygen in water. Water without oxygen is known as a "dead zone," which kills fish and other aquatic life. Traditional detection of HABs is expensive and not suitable for continual, on-the-ground monitoring. Satellite imaging or drone remote sensing, for example, makes it difficult to get early warnings and quick responses. The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology tackled this challenge. A research team led by Dr. Jai-Yeop Lee created a compact, sensor-based probe. The device integrates readily available ambient light and sunlight sensors into a microcontroller. It analyzes lux (brightness), ultraviolet, infrared, and visible light. These readings help categorize water surface conditions as "algae," "sunny," "shade," or "aqua." Lee and his team produced a system with an impressive 100% prediction accuracy. This is possible due to an enhanced Support Vector Machine classifier with a sequential logic-based algorithm. The system surpassed standard AI models like Random Forest and Gradient Boosting. Intelligent design like this is effective for real-world deployment in low-power, field-based systems. The device can also quantify Chlorophyll-a concentrations, a key indicator of algal blooms. The promising monitoring system is a means to protect reliable, clean water. Low-cost, real-time detection alerts authorities to potential HABs much earlier. Issuing public health warnings and treating affected bodies of water can be done more efficiently. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Preventing the spread of algal blooms is the device's main purpose. It reduces exposure to toxins, safeguards potable water, and preserves aquatic ecosystems. As a result, the system protects public health and supports fishing and recreation. "The logic-based framework demonstrated exceptional robustness and interpretability, especially for real-time deployment in embedded systems," said Dr. Lee. Making this technology accessible empowers communities to better manage their water resources. Improved detection marks a significant step forward in affordable water quality monitoring. Simple, responsive algal bloom detection — without the need for expensive hardware or extensive data — will keep our waters safe and our environment healthy. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
RNZ News
10 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Why ‘cute' pets are now included in pest management plan
The red-eared slider turtle is capable of growing to the size of a dinner plate. Photo: Supplied/ NZME- Doug Sherring Bay of Plenty turtle owners must now securely house their pets, as the regional council changes its pest plan to prevent escapees. While unlikely to form a sewer-dwelling gang of martial arts fighters, escaped or released pets can harm ecosystems and native species. The Regional Pest Management Plan sets the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's priorities and goals for managing animal and pest plants, and includes rules to comply with the Biosecurity Act. A recent council review has seen new species added as pests and changes to how others are categorised. As of this week, all wallaby species known to be in the country and all introduced turtles will be included. Biosecurity team leader Shane Grayling said the pest management landscape was "ever changing". "The pests included in the [plan] and the ways to manage them have recently been reconsidered to reflect emerging pest issues." The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has adopted new rules for turtles, wallabies, and invasive exotic species of seaweed and freshwater clams. Photo: Collage/ NZME and supplied Turtles were included in the plan for the first time, covering all introduced freshwater types. Consultation on the topic showed split views on the need to manage turtles. Some submitters asked for introduced turtles to be included in the eradication programme, rather than sustained control. Some wanted a ban on the sale and breeding of them, while others did not believe turtles caused adverse environmental effects that needed managing. Grayling said climate change and the Rotorua area's warm geothermal soils increased the likelihood turtles could successfully breed in the wild. This included red-eared slider turtles, which have been found abandoned and breeding in Bay of Plenty waterways. Katikati reptile breeders Donna and Graeme Hannah, who have worked to raise awareness of the issue, told SunLive last year they were often called by people who found abandoned turtles. "They start off cute around the size of a 50c piece," Graeme Hannah said, but they could live 50 years and grow to the size of a dinner plate, needing more maintenance, and a bigger tank or pond, leading owners to abandon them. Sightings reported to the regional council included a female found nesting in Tauranga's Gordon Carmichael Reserve with 16 eggs. The turtles feed on small fish, plants, kōura (freshwater crayfish) and small birds such as ducklings, degrade water quality by disrupting the ecosystem, and displace wetland birds by taking over nesting sites. Under the new regional rules, turtle sales could continue, but pet owners needed to house them securely to prevent escape. "There have been instances previously where there has been no barrier around a pond to prevent the turtle from relocating elsewhere," Grayling said. He said, anecdotally, there had been increased reports of turtle sightings throughout the Bay of Plenty during the past couple of years. Most were red-eared sliders. Turtles were "inherently difficult to catch" and therefore controlling them was challenging. The council would respond to reported sightings in the wild and consider options for control on a case-by-case basis. "The focus for council, particularly in the short term, will be on education and advocacy for responsible turtle ownership." All wallaby species found in New Zealand are now included in the plan. Photo: Supplied via Local Democracy Reporting: The Rotorua Daily Post/ Andrew Warner The pre-amended plan only listed the dama wallaby as a pest, but Grayling said the need to include all known species found in New Zealand was identified, after the parma wallaby was discovered around the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes in 2023. Dama and parma were now listed under the progressive containment and eradication programme. Other species not known to be in the Bay of Plenty were under the exclusion programme. "The amendment is a technical one, and there is no change in how wallaby control is managed or funded," Grayling said. Efforts to control wallaby spread were funded with $1 million this year under the International Visitor Levy, including work in the Te Arawa area. Exotic caulerpa - a pest seaweed - was also included in the plan to minimise the risk of it entering the region. It has been described as the country's most serious marine biosecurity invasion in a lifetime. Corbicula - invasive exotic freshwater clams - were also listed as exclusionary pests. Other changes in the plan included treating certain species of conifers as pests, regardless of whether they were deliberately planted. The amendments prohibited new plantings of these species to ensure that the region's biodiversity was protected from the potential impact of pines growing in the wild. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WCS Gala Honors Samper, Raises $2.5 Million
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) held its annual gala on Thursday night at the bucolic Central Park Zoo. The evening honored Dr. Cristián Samper for his lifelong commitment to conservation. Samper, who is currently the Managing Director at the Bezos Earth Fund, was the former President and CEO of WCS where he was revered for his leadership and his global conservation work. The gala raised $2.5 million; proceeds will support WCS's ongoing efforts to protect critical ecosystems and foster a deeper connection between people and nature. Samper has been instrumental in shaping global conservation efforts, including the Protecting Our Planet Challenge, a $5 billion initiative aimed at protecting 30% of the planet by 2030. Robert G. Menzi, Cristian Samper, Alejandro Santo Domingo Jason Crowley/ 'Conservation is so important because it's the future of our planet,' said WCS Board Chairman Alejandro Santo Domingo. 'We need to make sure that we leave our children a healthy planet. WCS does amazing things, with boots-on-the-ground scientists who do whatever it takes to conserve complicated environments. We work hand-in-hand with indigenous populations, and make sure they are part of the solution. There is no better champion for nature than Cristián, and at WCS, we will always be thankful for his years of leadership with us.' Cocktails were held around the seal tank, currently under renovation, and guests were happy to finally bring out their summer wardrobes thanks to the unusually balmy weather. Lots of drinks cool drinks were being ordered at the bar, as Muffie Potter Aston, Chuck and Ellen Scarborough, and Allison and Leonard Stern chatted off to the side. Ellen Scarborough, Chuck Scarborough Jason Crowley/ 'I have been a trustee for 14 years, and I think this is the most wonderful wildlife conservation organization on earth,' said Gala Co-Chair Allison Stern. 'A lot of people don't know that we not only run the Bronx Zoo, the Central Park Zoo, the Queens Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo, and the New York Aquarium, but we also have projects in over 55 countries, where we study snow leopards, lowland gorillas, pancake tortoises, and many more. We work with some of the best conservation scientists on the planet.' Leonard N. Stern, Allison Stern Jason Crowley/ WCS trustees were excited at the prospect of greeting their new President and CEO, Adam Falk, who will take the reins on July 1. Thrilled about his upcoming responsibilities, Falk hopes to continue WCS's important work in years to come, and has a deep understanding of the urgency with which global environmental change is needed. 'There is no organization in the world with the scope and impact of mission that compares to WCS,' said Falk. 'Both locally, in the Bronx and in New York City, all the way up through the global network to save the planet, there is no other organization that spans the local to the global in the way WCS does. The most important issue global wildlife conservation faces is the rapid changes happening to our planet, right now, including climate change, pollution, and deforestation. All of these issues impact our ability to conserve wild spaces for animals. We have to figure out ways to respond that are faster and more nimble than ever before.' Gillian Hearst, Ryan Jansen Jason Crowley/ Guests, including co-chairs Elizabeth and Lee Ainslie, Judy and Jamie Dimon, Howdy Phipps, Kitty and Stephen Sherrill, Janet and John Irwin, Priscilla and Ward Woods, and Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang then strolled into dinner, held in an open tent under the stars. There was much to learn about conservation, the importance of zoos for preserving endangered species, and the responsibility we each share in preserving our beautiful planet. As a parting gift, the goody bag was a pouch of M&Ms with a bat stamped on each, a celebration of The Bronx Zoo's new World of Darkness exhibit featuring 25 nocturnal species. The exhibit will open to the public on Saturday, July 12.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Science
- Zawya
UAE curbs desertification with innovation, foresight
The United Arab Emirates has made remarkable progress in addressing and combating desertification and its associated challenges by implementing a series of proactive measures and innovative initiatives that have helped mitigate the phenomenon's impact and steadily expand agricultural land. Observed tomorrow, 17th June, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought provides an opportunity to highlight the UAE's forward-looking approach to managing this pressing issue, despite severe climatic conditions such as high temperatures and low rainfall. The UAE continues to pursue the goals outlined in the National Strategy to Combat Desertification 2022–2030, which aims to preserve ecosystems and improve arid and semi-arid lands, adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change on desertification-prone ecosystems, raise awareness and build national capacity regarding desertification, adopt and implement modern technologies, enhance integration of scientific research in desertification control, and strengthen partnerships and cooperation at national, regional and international levels. During a Cabinet meeting on 3rd February, key results achieved under the strategy were reviewed, including the rehabilitation of 1,800 hectares of degraded land, the improvement of 378.2 square kilometres of land, the reduction of degraded land to just 1.2 percent, and the stabilisation of 98.8 percent of land areas. Soil carbon stability was recorded at 98.2 percent. Additionally, the UAE developed a smart soil monitoring system using artificial intelligence, conducted 96 scientific studies under the rain enhancement science programme, and implemented 25 projects in saline and desert agriculture. It also studied the drought, heat, and salinity tolerance of 325 plant species. Several initiatives were launched to enhance land ecosystems, including sustainable grazing projects, a land degradation neutrality programme, the development of gene banks for native desertification-resistant plants, an early warning and forecasting programme for sand and dust storms, and initiatives on green belts and urban forest management. The UAE has devoted considerable attention to combating desertification, reclaiming vast areas of desert land, and establishing artificial forests, green belts and open spaces using native and salt-tolerant plants. These efforts also include reducing overgrazing, deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices, as well as focusing on rain enhancement research, building dams, promoting the use of treated water, and launching numerous awareness campaigns to engage the public in combatting desertification. The UAE has reinforced its commitment to global desertification efforts by joining several international environmental conventions, including the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in 1998. In line with its obligations under the convention, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in cooperation with strategic partners, developed the first national desertification strategy in 2003, which was subsequently updated in 2014. The current National Strategy to Combat Desertification 2022–2030 represents the third iteration. The UAE has successfully transformed vast desert areas into green landscapes, parks and farms. Its broad efforts to combat desertification also include the establishment of around 49 terrestrial and marine nature reserves, in line with national efforts to reduce land degradation and promote environmental sustainability. Notably, the UAE is one of the first countries in the region to adopt artificial rain enhancement as an innovative method to combat desertification and drought, increase green cover, boost water reserves, and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Forbes
10-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Leading With Global Thinking In A Local-First World
Global engagement isn't about choosing between here or there—it's about doing both better. Growth depends on strong local ecosystems and strong international partnerships.
