Why is the Northern Elephant #seal shedding #mercury into the #ocean? - http://clapway.com/2015/09/08/northern-elephant-seals-mercury123/

Mercury, the same toxin spewed out from power plants, has now been found in the hair of Northern elephant seals. The discovery finally offers researchers an explanation as to why mussels found in the waters of Año Nuevo State Reserve contained 35 times more mercury than mussels found in other sites.

WHY ARE NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEALS HARBORING MERCURY?

According to Science News, seals tend to congregate on remote and pristine coastal areas. Yet, for some time, these sites, located miles away from power plants or other obvious sources of pollution, were found to contain usually high and even toxic amounts of the neurotoxin.

A new study, conducted by scientists at UC Santa Cruz, recently compared water samples taken from other sites with ones taken from the Año Nuevo State Reserve. The resulting samples revealed that sea water levels of methylmercury – a bioaccumulative environmental toxicant – can increase by as much as 17 times during molting season, when hair is shed from northern elephant seals, and twice as high during breeding season, according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, published on September 17.

WHERE DID ALL THIS MERCURY COME FROM?

Mercury is released into the environment due to burning coal. When some of the particles fall into the ocean, marine organisms, such as plankton, ingest it. Overtime, the metal begins to pass up the food chain in a process known as “biomagnification,” which causes the toxin to build up in concentration. As seals consume huge quantities of fish, the toxin is found at increasingly high levels in their bodies. During molting season, seals shed their top layers of skin – and along with it, the mercury, into the surrounding waters.

“Mercury is an element, so it never breaks down and goes away—it just changes forms,” states Jennifer Cossaboon, the leader of the study.

The statement is troubling as an 880-pound elephant lion can lose about 30 pounds of hair and skin. Taking this into consideration, a colony of 4,000 seals can shed roughly 120,000 pounds of mercury laden skin into the surrounding water, as reported by Yahoo News.

At this time, researchers are uncertain to what extent the mercury levels affect the elephant seals. What they do know is that nearly 99 percent of North Pacific elephant seals examined in a study had blood mercury levels that surpassed what is considered “the threshold for clinical neurotoxicity in humans.”

Cossaboon warns of the implications of this, as mercury levels are expected to keep climbing.

The best thing we can do is cut emissions—and also get educated about the fish we’re eating,” she states.

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Save the Northern elephant seals and all the nature that surrounds us:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD63kwQuZ2I

Northern Elephant Seals Are Shedding Mercury

A recent #ocean study has found that about 90% of #seabirds have ingested #plastic of some kind⎯a number that is slated to rise to 99%, the study predicted. - http://clapway.com/2015/09/01/seabirds-plastic123/

A study conducted by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and the Imperial College London found that about 90% of the seabird population has ingested plastic of some kind⎯a number that is slated to rise to 99%, the study predicted.

Plastic has become increasingly common in the stomach of seabirds

Led by Dr. Chris Wilcox, the study analyzed published results from diet studies spanning back to the 1960s. Based on these results, they were able to build a predictive model for the current and future plastic consumption among 186 species of seabirds worldwide.

Studies found as little as 5% plastic ingestion in the 1960s; they revealed that more than half the species examined between 1962 and 2012 had plastic in their gut. The researchers normalized this data for time and species and estimated that the present consumption rate for plastics among seabirds is 90%. Based on historic data, and adjusting for bird size and their food foraging strategies, researchers of this study were able to attach a number to the global risk for plastic ingestion in many species of birds including shorebirds, seaducks and gulls.

What does this mean for the future?

The study predicted that the plastic ingestion rate would increase with the body size and an increased exposure to plastic, which is logical considering that birds that find more plastic when foraging for food are more likely to end up with plastic in their systems. The study also predicted that the Tasman Sea at the boundary between the southwestern Pacific and Southern Oceans and the southwestern margin of the Indian Ocean are the regions likely to have the most impact in terms of plastic consumption. Interestingly, these regions aren’t the ones with the highest plastic density, rather they have the most diversity among seabird species. This could have a staggering effect on penguins and albatrosses concentrated in these regions.

Better waste management initiatives are the only way out

Plastics have polluted the oceans and threaten to decimate the lives of sea animals. The concentration of plastics in the ocean is as high as 580,000 pieces per square kilometer. Plastic ingestion has serious consequences on marine life, by causing physical impaction of the gut and transmitting toxic chemicals that leach out from plastic materials. Meanwhile, global plastic production is rising exponentially and slated to double within the next 11 years. This calls for an immediate and effective waste management program. Even minor changes such as reduced use of plastic for daily activities and curbing single-use plastic items could have major benefits.

Did you know hummingbird tongues worked?

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Seabirds are in danger. Protect the environment and preserve the nature around us before it is too late:

90 Percent of Seabirds Have Consumed Plastic

There is something healing about looking at the ocean, listening to the soothing sound of the waves pounding on the shore and breathing the invigorating fresh air. - http://clapway.com/2015/06/07/the-call-of-the-ocean/

There is a place on the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island that was built for dreamers: a place where the salty air is curing, the cold ocean is rejuvenating, and the lush rainforests are reinvigorating. A place where people go to gaze at the ocean in peace, and experience nature at its humblest best.

Tofino is indeed an oasis of nature’s wonders. With its beautiful old-growth coastal forests, abundant wildlife and miles of sandy beaches, this little surfing town attracts many surfers, outdoor adventurers, soul searchers, and nature lovers every year.

During the past few weeks, I felt an overpowering urge to be by the ocean. So when Corianne showed interest for a weekend getaway, there were no doubts we had to make a trip to Tofino. We departed Whistler at dusk on Saturday and headed south to catch the early morning BC Ferry leaving Horseshoe Bay, Vancouver towards Departure Bay, Nanaimo. The scenic 2 hour-ride through the Gulf Islands was pleasant, as we sat in the rear deck, sheltered from the wind, exposed to the rising sun.

Once in Nanaimo, we drove north on Highway BC19, a car loaded with camping gear and a sun blasting into the sky. We crossed the island on the Pacific Rim Highway heading west, meandering through a coastal forest of old-growth oaks. The beams of the afternoon sun poured through trees and fog. We travelled the picturesque road, winding around Sproat and Kennedy Lake, until we arrived in the coastal town of Tofino.

We had booked camping on the beach at Bella Pacifica, located on Mackenzie Beach. We set up camp and retired on the beach for the evening as the sun was setting. Along with wine, cheeses, and charcuterie, we admired the hues of the sky as the sun fell back behind the evening haze.

We woke up early the next morning to another beautiful and sunny day. We brewed fresh coffee and took a stroll on the beach. As we shuffled our bare feet in the sand, we found ourselves spectators of a rare scene: the beach was blanketed by thousands of blue tiny creatures called “sail jellyfish”, scientifically known as Velella velella, that washed ashore during the night. At the rocky shores of the bay, we explored the tidal pools at low tide and spotted many starfishes and sea anemones. Amongst curious children, we were fascinated by the stunning diversity of marine life.


There was a short hike I’ve heard of and really wanted to do. It wasn’t on any map, so after asking a few locals, I had enough clues to hunt for the hidden trail. I couldn’t be happier when I found the entrance, and I couldn’t be more excited when we reached the top, overlooking the panoramic view of Cox Bay.

After a lunch of fresh tuna tacos at Tacofino, we headed back to Cox Bay with our surfing gear. Time to slip in the wetsuit, put on the booties, strap the leash and head to the water. I am no surfer. But I can play in the waves. And here in Tofino, there is no better place to learn and play than on its beautiful beach breaks and high waist waves.

I took a moment to embrace my surroundings: the water slipping off my forehead, the air cleansing my lungs, the retreating sun warming up my skin, and a setting to dream for. I glanced at my friends, who glanced back, nodding for this inspiring moment we shared.

We spent the night by the campfire on the beach, along with friends we met. The moon rose and settled in the sky, full and ripe, stretching its light far in the distance. We watched fireworks exploding in the clear sky while the sounds of drums resonated through the night.

Coastal living offers wonderful benefits. Not only does spending time by the ocean balances the body and creates physical harmony, but it also allows us to take a moment to pause, reflect, meditate and embrace solitude. It brings us to a tranquil state of mindfulness and awareness, and gives a sense of freedom. It clarifies the mind and opens up to new perspectives. There is something healing about looking at the ocean, listening to the soothing sound of the waves pounding on the shore and breathing the invigorating fresh air. So if you ever need to calm your mind, improve your physical health or find inspiration and purpose to your life, perhaps all you need is a dose of Vitamin Sea.

The Call of the Ocean