View comments Chinese-manned vessel unsettles Bohol town PH among economies most vulnerable to virus Shanghai officials reveal novel coronavirus transmission modes Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Mainland China virus cases exceed 40,000; deaths rise to 908 Interviewed by a small group of foreign and Filipino reporters at his Wynn hotel suite, a day after wresting Jessie Vargas’ World Boxing Organization welterweight (147 pounds) crown, Pacquiao said he can still slide to 140 pounds (light welterweight), even 135 (lightweight).Pacquiao even made a foray at super welterweight (154) once and emerged victorious over Antonio Margarito, who dwarfed him by five inches and outweighed him by 17 pounds on fight night.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra teammates show love for SlaughterSPORTSWe are youngSPORTSCone plans to speak with Slaughter, agent“I can still do 135,” said Pacquiao. “All I need is to reduce for one week.”At 135, Pacquiao will be on a  collision course with Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008 Beijing, 2012 London). EDITORS’ PICK “My natural weight is 140,” said Pacquiao, who’ll be encroaching on the territory of Terence Crawford, the unified welterweight champion.Already a bloated welterweight, needing to eat five times daily to bulk up, Pacquiao isn’t thinking of returning to 154, where Canelo Alvarez holds court.  Not yet, anyway.According to his strength and conditioning coach, Justin Fortune, Pacquiao is a “physical freak.” With extraordinary speed, power and stamina.Pacquiao’s metabolism, is also very fast, enabling him to digest vast amount of food while in training.It’ll hardly be surprising, of course, if Pacquiao decides to repeat his juggling act and embellish his boxing legacy further.ADVERTISEMENT Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, knocks down Jessie Vargas during their WBO welterweight title boxing match, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)HOLLYWOOD—Juggling weight divisions comes easy for Manny Pacquiao. He’d done that in his prime, eight to nine years ago.Up to now, however, a month short of turning 38, Pacquiao swears he can still switch weights, upward or downward, without a hitch.ADVERTISEMENT We are young Taiwan minister boards cruise ship turned away by Japan PLAY LIST 01:31Taiwan minister boards cruise ship turned away by Japan01:33WHO: ‘Global stocks of masks and respirators are now insufficient’01:01WHO: now 31,211 virus cases in China 102:02Vitamin C prevents but doesn’t cure diseases like coronavirus—medic03:07’HINDI PANG-SPORTS LANG!’03:03SILIP SA INTEL FUND As fate of VFA hangs, PH and US forces take to the skies for exercise MOST READ Smart hosts first 5G-powered esports exhibition match in PH Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Where did they go? Millions left Wuhan before quarantine Smart’s Siklab Saya: A multi-city approach to esports 30 Filipinos from Wuhan quarantined in Capas Fencing coach earns IOC recognition read more

Article published by Glenn Scherer Popular in the CommunitySponsoredSponsoredOrangutan found tortured and decapitated prompts Indonesia probeEMGIES17 Jan, 2018We will never know the full extent of what this poor Orangutan went through before he died, the same must be done to this evil perpetrator(s) they don’t deserve the air that they breathe this has truly upset me and I wonder for the future for these wonderful creatures. So called ‘Mankind’ has a lot to answer for we are the only ones ruining this world I prefer animals to humans any day of the week.What makes community ecotourism succeed? In Madagascar, location, location, locationScissors1dOther countries should also learn and try to incorporateWhy you should care about the current wave of mass extinctions (commentary)Processor1 DecAfter all, there is no infinite anything in the whole galaxy!Infinite stupidity, right here on earth.The wildlife trade threatens people and animals alike (commentary)Anchor3dUnfortunately I feel The Chinese have no compassion for any living animal. They are a cruel country that as we knowneatbeverything that moves and do not humanily kill these poor animals and insects. They have no health and safety on their markets and they then contract these diseases. Maybe its karma maybe they should look at the way they live and stop using animals for all there so called remedies. DisgustingConservationists welcome China’s wildlife trade banThobolo27 JanChina has consistently been the worlds worst, “ Face of Evil “ in regards our planets flora and fauna survival. In some ways, this is nature trying to fight back. This ban is great, but the rest of the world just cannot allow it to be temporary, because history has demonstrated that once this coronavirus passes, they will in all likelihood, simply revert to been the planets worst Ecco Terrorists. Let’s simply not allow this to happen! How and why they have been able to degrade this planets iconic species, rape the planets rivers, oceans and forests, with apparent impunity, is just mind boggling! Please no more.Probing rural poachers in Africa: Why do they poach?Carrot3dOne day I feel like animals will be more scarce, and I agree with one of my friends, they said that poaching will take over the world, but I also hope notUpset about Amazon fires last year? Focus on deforestation this year (commentary)Bullhorn4dLies and more leisSponsoredSponsoredCoke is again the biggest culprit behind plastic waste in the PhilippinesGrapes7 NovOnce again the article blames companies for the actions of individuals. It is individuals that buy these products, it is individuals that dispose of them improperly. If we want to change it, we have to change, not just create bad guys to blame.Brazilian response to Bolsonaro policies and Amazon fires growsCar4 SepThank you for this excellent report. I feel overwhelmed by the ecocidal intent of the Bolsonaro government in the name of ‘developing’ their ‘God-given’ resources.U.S. allocates first of $30M in grants for forest conservation in SumatraPlanet4dcarrot hella thick ;)Melting Arctic sea ice may be altering winds, weather at equator: studyleftylarry30 JanThe Arctic sea ice seems to be recovering this winter as per the last 10-12 years, good news.Malaysia has the world’s highest deforestation rate, reveals Google forest mapBone27 Sep, 2018Who you’re trying to fool with selective data revelation?You can’t hide the truth if you show historical deforestation for all countries, especially in Europe from 1800s to this day. WorldBank has a good wholesome data on this.Mass tree planting along India’s Cauvery River has scientists worriedSurendra Nekkanti23 JanHi Mongabay. Good effort trying to be objective in this article. I would like to give a constructive feedback which could help in clearing things up.1. It is mentioned that planting trees in village common lands will have negative affects socially and ecologically. There is no need to even have to agree or disagree with it, because, you also mentioned the fact that Cauvery Calling aims to plant trees only in the private lands of the farmers. So, plantation in the common lands doesn’t come into the picture.2.I don’t see that the ecologists are totally against this project, but just they they have some concerns, mainly in terms of what species of trees will be planted. And because there was no direct communication between the ecologists and Isha Foundation, it was not possible for them to address the concerns. As you seem to have spoken with an Isha spokesperson, if you could connect the concerned parties, it would be great, because I see that the ecologists are genuinely interested in making sure things are done the right way.May we all come together and make things happen.Rare Amazon bush dogs caught on camera in BoliviaCarrot1 Feba very good iniciative to be fallowed by the ranchers all overSponsored Emissions accounting helps determine whether or not nations are on target to achieve their voluntary Paris Agreement reduction goals. Ideally, the global community’s CO2 pledges, adjusted downward over time, would, taken together, help keep the world from heating up by 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100 from a 1900 baseline.But scientists are raising the alarm that this goal may already be beyond reach. One reason: a carbon accounting loophole within UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines accepting the burning of wood pellets (biomass) as a carbon neutral replacement for coal — with wood now used in many European Union and United Kingdom power plants.Scientists warn, however, that their research shows that replacing coal with wood pellets in power plants is not carbon neutral. That’s partly because burning wood, which is celebrated by governments as a renewable and sustainable energy resource, is less efficient than coal burning, so it actually produces more CO2 emissions than coal.Also, while wood burning and tree replanting over hundreds of years will end up carbon neutral, that doesn’t help right now. Over a short timeframe, at a historical moment when we require aggressive greenhouse gas reductions, wood burning is adding to global emissions. Analysts say that this loophole needs to be closed, and soon, to avoid further climate chaos. Pine forests throughout the southeastern US, especially in North Carolina, are farmed, pulped and turned into wood pellets that are shipped overseas. Photo on Visualhunt.comFor the past ten years, Mary Booth, an ecologist with the Partnership for Policy Integrity in Pelham, Massachusetts, has immersed herself in the complex, nuanced, politically charged world of international carbon emissions accounting models as if the planet’s fate depends on it.In many ways, it does.Booth studies how countries count and report their emissions. In particular, she evaluates whether generating energy via the burning of wood pellets, or biomass, puts less carbon into the atmosphere than burning coal. In a rising trend, countries, especially in the European Union and United Kingdom, are converting existing coal-fired power plants to burn wood — a renewable, albeit controversial, fuel source.Emissions accounting helps determine whether or not nations are on target to achieve their voluntary Paris Agreement reduction goals. That agreement also represents the global community’s pledge to keep the world from heating up by just 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100 from a 1900 baseline (we’ve already warmed 1 degree Celsius).Emissions tallies are reported regularly to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC. But those figures aren’t just numbers on paper or political aspirations. The data, if accurately calculated, tell us how much greenhouse gas nations are actually putting into the air, and those combined totals help us know whether we are on target to avert climate change catastrophe.Booth is darkly pessimistic — a price she pays for knowing too much, she told me.“This is a message that no one has said yet. It’s what I believe to be true: there may not be a pathway to 1.5 [degrees] anymore — at all. Carbon capture and storage is a fantasy,” Booth told me in a series of interviews for Mongabay. “Growing forests may not work fast enough. We’re not reducing emissions fast enough. The sooner that story gets told, the sooner people understand what’s really required to keep the earth from burning up.”Is this the hyperbole of a passionate but potentially cynical climate researcher? Perhaps. But as the saying goes, nature is indifferent to our opinions; it only responds to our actions.Some of those actions to curb climate change have been positive: wind and solar continue to grow, and those technologies have never been cheaper per kilowatt hour. Coal use continues to fall. Electric cars are growing in popularity, especially in China.But tellingly, global temperatures continue rising year after year. And in 2017, planetary carbon emissions hit a record high, even as major industrialized nations, like the United States, reported reduced carbon emissions, according to IPCC statistics.Nature’s response? More extreme weather. More frequent and ferocious storms. More drought. More wildfires. More Arctic ice melting, along with Antarctic ice melt, too. More sea level rise. More coral reefs dying. More ecosystems imperiled.One of the largest users of woody biomass for energy production are the Drax power stations in the United Kingdom. Shown here is the so-called Drax biomass dome, which once burned coal. The UK has nearly eliminated burning coal for energy, cutting its official United Nations IPCC emissions, but is ramping up its burning of woody biomass. Photo credit: DECCgovuk on VisualHunt / CC BY-NDA blind eye to carbon cheating?Booth’s research — Not carbon neutral: Assessing the net emissions impact of residues burned for bioenergy, published this February in the journal Environmental Research Letters — helps answer some thorny questions critical to our energy and carbon future.Her study examines the net CO2 emissions of biomass burned to replace coal at the UK’s massive Drax power stations and other EU power plants. Combined, those energy facilities consume tons of wood each year.One major finding, right out of the gate: Booth reports that — contrary to a largely accepted view — wood pellets aren’t sourced mainly from fallen limbs and lumber waste called residue, but rather from whole trees. However, she based her study on residue-derived wood pellets anyway because the biomass industry “so often claims residues are a main pellet source.”Even based on the false assumption that only wood waste, not whole trees, are being burnt, Booth found that “up to 95 percent of cumulative CO2 emitted [by the biomass burning power plants] represent a net addition to the atmosphere over decades.” In other words, biomass is not carbon neutral.More disturbing: Booth’s research opens up the IPCC to charges that its policymaking decisions regarding emissions accounting have been politicized — crafted by negotiators to include built-in loopholes that allow nations to underreport certain emissions while appearing to achieve their carbon-reduction targets.The optimism following the signing in December 2015 of the landmark Paris Agreement has waned as the world’s largest carbon emitters have moved slowly to meet their Paris carbon reduction pledges. But even if those pledges were met, IPCC carbon counting loopholes could prevent the Paris Agreement from effectively curbing emissions and the worst impact of climate chaos. Image by Justin CatanosoIn particular, both the UK and EU appear to have slipped through a large loophole in order to “disappear” real emissions from their carbon accounting, as one source told me, thus undermining the Paris Agreement’s critically important carbon-mitigation strategies.“Why does the IPCC appear to accept inaccurate emissions accounting?” Professor Doreen Stabinsky asked me, then answered: Because “IPCC scientists are technocrats. It is not a neutral body. There is a lot of politics behind the positions of individuals on the IPCC. Their meetings are often loudly political.” Stabinsky speaks from firsthand knowledge: she studies the nexus between environmental policy and politics at College of the Atlantic, Maine.Bioenergy representatives, Stabinsky points out, are IPCC members and help write UN emissions guidelines. Likewise, countries with large areas of forest, such as the United States and Brazil, lobby to avoid counting or undercounting forest-related carbon emissions, including that from biomass burning.Doreen Stabinsky is a professor of global environmental politics at the College of the Atlantic in Maine. She has closely observed the IPCC and its members responsible for approving international carbon-accounting models. “The IPCC isn’t a neutral body… Their meetings are loudly political,” she told Mongabay. Image courtesy of Niclas HallströmRepeated calls and emails seeking comment from US-based wood pellet-producing companies such as Maryland-based Enviva and its trade group, the American Forest and Paper Association, went unreturned.As for the IPCC, its reports have tens if not hundreds of authors, thus an official spokesperson for the panel does not exist. But contributing IPCC panelists have spoken out on this issue. William Moomaw, a Tufts University professor of international environmental policy and a former lead IPCC author, wrote a scathing report to the panel in 2011 called “The Myth of Carbon Neutrality of Biomass.” He also spoke forcefully on the topic directly to the European Union Parliament in 2015.“The EU, including the UK, counts biomass used for electric power as carbon neutral by definition,” Moomaw wrote in 2011. “This means that biomass is counted on the same basis as solar or wind, which clearly are low-carbon sources of energy. This is not only incorrect, but ironic, given that developing countries that use wood for fuel that leads to deforestation is counted as contributing to climate change, while Europe and most states in the US count emissions from ‘modern biofuels’ as carbon neutral.”Pine forests cut to provide wood pellets for power plants are replanted, so this energy resource could technically be called carbon neutral, but only over the long term. It might take hundreds of years for those new trees to become mature and for the carbon equation to balance out. Photo credit: ChattOconeeNF on Visualhunt.com / CC BYWoody biomass: a carbon-neutral energy source?Another irony: The IPCC states on its website that its “guidelines do not automatically consider biomass used for energy as ‘carbon neutral,’ even if the biomass is thought to be produced sustainably.” Yet, IPCC carbon accounting models appear to ignore the panel’s own guidelines, a contradiction which brings us to the essence of Booth’s research, and to a better understanding of what she calls “the controversy in climate modeling.”North Carolina, where I live, is nicknamed the Tar Heel State because of its abundance of longleaf, white and loblolly pine. It is a leading US producer of wood pellets from fallen limbs, tree tops, lumber mill waste, but mostly, farmed pine trees. Cargo vessels filled with 45,000 metric tons of wood pellets per shipment are sent to the UK and EU regularly and burned for energy.All those trees and residue in North Carolina are counted as carbon emissions produced by the United States, with the assumption — built into IPCC accounting models — that the organic matter would eventually die, rot and decompose there anyway, thus releasing its stored carbon.To avoid so-called “double counting,” when those wood pellets are burned overseas, the CO2 sent into the atmosphere over Europe is not counted because of another assumption: new trees are quickly replanted in North Carolina, thus theoretically and immediately soaking up the CO2 emitted across the Atlantic.And there you have it — carbon neutrality. Except, as Booth fairly screams: “That’s a lie!”“If in year one, you burn 10 tons of wood pellets, you put 10 tons of carbon into the atmosphere,” Booth explained. “If it were rotting, only a fraction would decompose [over that same period]. You are comparing two pots of carbon” without taking the timeline into consideration.Put bluntly, the IPCC is allowing some creative accounting around biomass burning. This potentially makes us all victims of magical thinking, as we collectively agree that the CO2 from all those North Carolina trees is not flooding into the atmosphere over a short timeframe, thus contributing to climate change right now — at the moment when we most need to reduce carbon emissions.Clouds of water vapor rising from the cooling towers of the Drax power station in the United Kingdom. Wood burned there in large amounts is considered carbon neutral for the country’s purposes of carbon emissions accounting, and reporting to the United Nations IPCC. Photo credit: DECCgovuk on VisualHunt / CC BY-NDBurn now, achieve carbon neutrality laterRich Birdsey retired from the US Forest Service after 40 years in 2016. Today, he is a senior scientist at Woods Hole Research Center in Massachusetts, where he studies biomass-for-energy. He explained the problem with the IPCC’s biomass creative accounting method further: newly planted trees take decades to absorb the emissions from the atmosphere created by just a few days of burning woody biomass.“The carbon neutrality assumption at some point will be correct,” Birdsey said. “But it might be hundreds of years in the future when acres full of new trees mature. Yet, that idea of neutrality became fairly well ingrained, before people realized that emissions accounting was more complicated than that. The idea took hold 20 years ago, and countries and industries don’t want to give it up — especially those with a vested interest in wood and energy production.”The news gets worse: both Booth and Birdsey explained that wood burning is not nearly as efficient in generating energy as coal burning. As a result, more wood is burned to produce the same amount of kilowatt hours. Burning wood, which is celebrated by governments as a sustainable energy resource, actually produces more CO2 emissions than coal.“It’s true that the UK and EU are decreasing their emissions of fossil fuels in shifting to wood,” Birdsey said. “But they are not decreasing their greenhouse gas emissions. Yet with a claim of carbon neutrality, they are counting their emissions as if they are.”The real danger, Booth warned: while wood burning now represents a small part of the UK, EU and US energy mix, “bioenergy is projected to increase 1,000 percent in the coming years. We’re talking about a massive upscaling of wood burning, as much as 9 gigatons a year. And IPCC models allow bioenergy as having the same emissions as wind and solar — zero. And that’s not true.”To reemphasize the key point: nature is not being fooled.Burning biomass for energy is a small part of the US energy production mix. But EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has reminded state governors that President Trump signed an executive order in April 2017 declaring the burning of biomass “carbon neutral.” That’s a policy originally crafted by the Obama administration. Photo credit: Gage Skidmore on Visual hunt / CC BY-SAEPA conundrum and dodgeInterviews with former US Environmental Protection Agency officials revealed that the issue of biomass and carbon neutrality was a conundrum for the Obama Administration. The science was clear; the politics was murky.Obama’s EPA in creating the now stalled Clean Power Plan, bowed to political pressure from biomass industry lobbyists and members of Congress. In a dubious compromise, the administration called for a five-year study of biomass and its supposed carbon neutrality, and in the meantime allowed continued biomass burning, with all emissions counted as zero.“Sen. Angus King of Maine [a major timber-producing state] threatened to withdraw his support of the Clean Power Plan if biomass wasn’t deemed carbon neutral,” Booth told me. “And he claims to be a climate champion.”In February, President Trump’s EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, wrote a two-page letter to Republican Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire hailing the state’s burning of biomass for energy. He reminded Sununu that Trump’s executive order 13777 makes clear that, for emission-accounting purposes, burning biomass should be considered carbon neutral.“As you and I both recognize,” Pruitt wrote, “continuing to be responsible stewards of our nation’s forests and lands while utilizing all domestic forms of biomass to meet our energy needs are mutually compatible goals.”On April 23, 2018, Pruitt’s EPA went a step further, issuing “a statement of policy making it clear that future regulatory actions on biomass from managed forests will be treated as carbon neutral when used for energy production.”Mary Booth is director of the Partnership for Policy Integrity in Pelham, Massachusetts. She has studied IPCC carbon-emissions accounting models related to burning woody biomass for a decade. Her recent study found that, far from being carbon neutral, burning woody biomass emits more CO2 per kilowatt generated than burning coal. Image courtesy of Eleanor BirdIs there hope?Here’s where Mary Booth’s pessimism concerning the fate of the planet hits home: if the world’s largest carbon emitters — the US, UK, EU, and quite possibly China and India — “disappear emissions” through creative accounting loopholes tolerated by the IPCC, what hope is there for the Paris Agreement of slowing climate change with all its horrific consequences?“It is depressing. But it’s reality,” said Stabinsky. “Life is political. The IPCC space is highly political. Climate change is a really difficult challenge we’re facing. It takes a long time to fix things. And governments don’t want to fix things they don’t think are broken. There is a reason to try to hide biomass emissions.”Echoing Booth, I asked: Is the Paris pathway to 1.5 degrees Celsius hopeless?“Actually, I still think we have a good chance,” Stabinksy responded. “I am a pessimist of the intellect and an optimist of the will. If we just look at the numbers, I think, ‘Wow, the human race is doomed.’ But as an optimist of the will, I think, ‘We can do it.’ We’ve ended slavery. We’ve ended apartheid in South Africa. We have made massive systems changes that have had huge economic impacts.“Climate change at its essence is a political challenge. We have to completely retool our energy system, which will be massively disruptive. But we know what to do. The technology in wind and solar is available and dropping in price. We can do it. But no one is leading. It’s too easy to hide your head in the sand. Which is what’s happening with biomass accounting.”Ok, I agreed. Optimism is critical in the face of such a monumental global challenge, and there is historical precedent for a sea change in political will — with the Paris Agreement itself as evidence of that kind of shift. Also, developed nations have said they will strive to make major policy decisions at COP 24, the next UN climate summit, in Katowice, Poland, this December.But, one last question: do we have enough time?“I don’t know,” Stabinsky told me.I don’t either, I responded.“Right, nobody does,” she said.Citation:Booth, M.S. Not carbon neutral: Assessing the net emissions impact of residues burned for bioenergy. (2018). Environ. Res. Lett. 13 035001 (Vol. 13, Number 3), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aaac88Justin Catanoso, a regular Mongabay contributor, is a professor of journalism at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, USA. Follow him on Twitter @jcatanosoFEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post. If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page.The handfuls of wood pellets and the green sleeves seen here illustrate the widespread, industry supported, belief that burning wood is a carbon neutral bioenergy source. But studies over the last decade found that wood pellets produce more CO2 per kilowatt hour than coal. However, because of United Nations IPCC emission counting loopholes, these wood pellets will be counted as carbon neutral when burned. Photo credit: #ODF on Visual hunt / CC BY Adaptation To Climate Change, Alternative Energy, carbon, Carbon Conservation, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Emissions, Carbon Negative Bioenergy, Carbon Sequestration, Clean Energy, Climate, Climate Change, Climate Change Politics, climate policy, Climate Politics, Climate Science, Controversial, Emission Reduction, Energy, Energy Efficiency, Energy Politics, Environment, Environmental Ethics, Environmental Law, Environmental Policy, Environmental Politics, Featured, Forest Carbon, Forests, Global Environmental Crisis, Global Warming, Global Warming Mitigation, Globalization, Green, Green Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Impact Of Climate Change, International Trade, Law, Monitoring, Pollution, Remote Sensing, Renewable Energy, Research, satellite data, Solar Power, Sustainability, Sustainable Development, Trade read more

Animal Behavior, Animals, Biodiversity, Conservation, Environment, Fish, Fishing, Green, Happy-upbeat Environmental, Marine, Marine Animals, Marine Conservation, Oceans, Rays, Research, Sharks And Rays, Wildlife The smalleye stingray, thought to be widely distributed across the Indo-West Pacific, is rarely seen and is listed as “data deficient” on the IUCN Red List.By compiling photographs and videos of the stingrays taken opportunistically by both research teams and recreational divers over the last 15 years off the coast of Mozambique, the only place the giant rays are regularly spotted, researchers have created a photographic database of the animals.This database is now helping researchers gain some of the first insights into this elusive species. For example, researchers found that a female stingray had made a 400-kilometer (250-mile) round trip to birth her pups. The smalleye stingray may be the largest of marine stingrays, but the species remains a mystery. It’s believed to be widely distributed across the Indo-West Pacific and has been recorded at sizes up to 2.2 meters (7 feet) across. Yet the giant ray is rarely seen and is listed as “data deficient” on the IUCN Red List.The only place where people do regularly encounter the smalleye stingray (Megatrygon microps) is off the coast of Mozambique. There, researchers first recorded the species’ presence off Tofo Beach in 2004. Since then, they’ve been compiling photographs and videos of the stingrays taken opportunistically by both research teams and recreational divers over the last 15 years, creating an image database of the animal. This database is now helping researchers gain some of the first insights into this elusive species, according to a new study published in PeerJ.“We reported the first sightings of smalleye stingray in 2004 and have since been racing against the clock to learn more about their ecology before it is too late,” Andrea Marshall, a co-author of the study and co-founder and principal scientist of the Marine Megafauna Foundation, said in a statement. “This species of ray is likely in trouble too but we can’t protect what we don’t know much about.”A scuba diver with a smalleye stingray. Image by Andrea Marshall/Marine Megafauna Foundation.The researchers focused on images from three main regions — Zavora, Tofo Beach/Barra, and the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park (BANP) — and found that all smalleye stingrays seem to have uniquely identifiable patterns of white spots on their backs, ones that have remained unchanged over the years. Using these patterns, the research team could identify 70 unique individuals during their study period, mostly from the Tofo Beach/Barra area where recreational divers tend to go.The team also identified 15 smalleye stingrays that had been seen off the Mozambique coast multiple times. One visibly pregnant female stingray, for example, was first spotted off Tofo Beach in January 2017, then seen again about 200 kilometers (124 miles) away, just south of BANP, some 100 days later. The same female was seen again off Tofo Beach in June 2018, suggesting she’d completed a round trip of at least 400 kilometers (250 miles). This time she was no longer pregnant, indicating she had given birth somewhere along the way.As more data on these rays trickle in, scientists will eventually be able to assess the smalleye stingray’s conservation status for the IUCN Red List. For now, though, researchers say the species is already likely threatened by fishing activity.“There are so many questions that remain unanswered about this rare species,” Marshall said. “Where do they live, how fast do they mature and how do they reproduce? Filling these knowledge gaps is crucial to figuring out how to protect them properly in Mozambique and other parts of the Indian Ocean.”The team says it hopes that more recreational divers and citizen scientists will help fill these information gaps. “Smalleye stingrays may look intimidating at first glance with their large, razor-sharp tail spines, but they’re actually really charismatic and easy to approach,” Atlantine Boggio-Pasqua, a co-author of the study who volunteered with the Marine Megafauna Foundation, said in the statement. “We hope to receive many photo and video contributions from citizen scientists in future. They could tell us more about the species’ habitat preference as well as feeding and cleaning behavior.”Fishermen with a smalleye stingray. Image by Andrea Marshall/Marine Megafauna Foundation.Banner image of a diver and a smalleye stingray by Andrea Marshall/Marine Megafauna Foundation.Citation:Boggio-Pasqua, A., Flam, A. L., & Marshall, A. D. (2019). Spotting the “small eyes”: Using photo-ID methodology to study a wild population of smalleye stingrays (Megatrygon microps) in southern Mozambique. PeerJ, 7. doi:10.7717/peerj.7110 Article published by Shreya Dasgupta Popular in the CommunitySponsoredSponsoredOrangutan found tortured and decapitated prompts Indonesia probeEMGIES17 Jan, 2018We will never know the full extent of what this poor Orangutan went through before he died, the same must be done to this evil perpetrator(s) they don’t deserve the air that they breathe this has truly upset me and I wonder for the future for these wonderful creatures. So called ‘Mankind’ has a lot to answer for we are the only ones ruining this world I prefer animals to humans any day of the week.What makes community ecotourism succeed? In Madagascar, location, location, locationScissors1dOther countries should also learn and try to incorporateWhy you should care about the current wave of mass extinctions (commentary)Processor1 DecAfter all, there is no infinite anything in the whole galaxy!Infinite stupidity, right here on earth.The wildlife trade threatens people and animals alike (commentary)Anchor3dUnfortunately I feel The Chinese have no compassion for any living animal. They are a cruel country that as we knowneatbeverything that moves and do not humanily kill these poor animals and insects. They have no health and safety on their markets and they then contract these diseases. Maybe its karma maybe they should look at the way they live and stop using animals for all there so called remedies. DisgustingConservationists welcome China’s wildlife trade banThobolo27 JanChina has consistently been the worlds worst, “ Face of Evil “ in regards our planets flora and fauna survival. In some ways, this is nature trying to fight back. This ban is great, but the rest of the world just cannot allow it to be temporary, because history has demonstrated that once this coronavirus passes, they will in all likelihood, simply revert to been the planets worst Ecco Terrorists. Let’s simply not allow this to happen! How and why they have been able to degrade this planets iconic species, rape the planets rivers, oceans and forests, with apparent impunity, is just mind boggling! Please no more.Probing rural poachers in Africa: Why do they poach?Carrot3dOne day I feel like animals will be more scarce, and I agree with one of my friends, they said that poaching will take over the world, but I also hope notUpset about Amazon fires last year? Focus on deforestation this year (commentary)Bullhorn4dLies and more leisSponsoredSponsoredCoke is again the biggest culprit behind plastic waste in the PhilippinesGrapes7 NovOnce again the article blames companies for the actions of individuals. It is individuals that buy these products, it is individuals that dispose of them improperly. If we want to change it, we have to change, not just create bad guys to blame.Brazilian response to Bolsonaro policies and Amazon fires growsCar4 SepThank you for this excellent report. I feel overwhelmed by the ecocidal intent of the Bolsonaro government in the name of ‘developing’ their ‘God-given’ resources.U.S. allocates first of $30M in grants for forest conservation in SumatraPlanet4dcarrot hella thick ;)Melting Arctic sea ice may be altering winds, weather at equator: studyleftylarry30 JanThe Arctic sea ice seems to be recovering this winter as per the last 10-12 years, good news.Malaysia has the world’s highest deforestation rate, reveals Google forest mapBone27 Sep, 2018Who you’re trying to fool with selective data revelation?You can’t hide the truth if you show historical deforestation for all countries, especially in Europe from 1800s to this day. WorldBank has a good wholesome data on this.Mass tree planting along India’s Cauvery River has scientists worriedSurendra Nekkanti23 JanHi Mongabay. Good effort trying to be objective in this article. I would like to give a constructive feedback which could help in clearing things up.1. It is mentioned that planting trees in village common lands will have negative affects socially and ecologically. There is no need to even have to agree or disagree with it, because, you also mentioned the fact that Cauvery Calling aims to plant trees only in the private lands of the farmers. So, plantation in the common lands doesn’t come into the picture.2.I don’t see that the ecologists are totally against this project, but just they they have some concerns, mainly in terms of what species of trees will be planted. And because there was no direct communication between the ecologists and Isha Foundation, it was not possible for them to address the concerns. As you seem to have spoken with an Isha spokesperson, if you could connect the concerned parties, it would be great, because I see that the ecologists are genuinely interested in making sure things are done the right way.May we all come together and make things happen.Rare Amazon bush dogs caught on camera in BoliviaCarrot1 Feba very good iniciative to be fallowed by the ranchers all overSponsored read more

Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Palace: Crisis over ABS-CBN franchise unlikely Sure shot: Cavs acquire Korver, complete deal with Hawks View comments Motorcycle taxis ‘illegal’ starting next week — LTFRB board member Senators think TWG’s move to axe motorcycle taxi pilot run an act of ‘revenge’ An opening ceremony is scheduled at 2 p.m.Ten teams will participate this conference, with Cafe France, Tanduay, and Racal emerging as title favorites.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSBreak new groundSPORTSMcGregor blasts Cerrone in 40 seconds in UFC returnThe tournament will be played on a single round robin format. The top two teams at the end of the elimination round earn outright semifinal berths, while squads ranked three to six play in the quarterfinals, with the third and fourth seed owning twice-to-beat advantages. The bottom four teams will be eliminated.Both the semifinals and finals will be a best-of-three series. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netOut to make a big splash in the developmental league, AMA Online Education parades its newest catch as Jeron Teng makes his debut when the 2017 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup opens on Jan. 19 at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.Fresh from leading La Salle to the UAAP Season 79 title, the 22-year-old swingman will try to weave the same magic with the Titans when it meets newcomer Province of Batangas in the lone game at 3 p.m.ADVERTISEMENT MOST READ 15-year-old Gauff stuns Venus anew in first round Senators think TWG’s move to axe motorcycle taxi pilot run an act of ‘revenge’ LATEST STORIES Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite Games will be played on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays with tip-offs set at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Marcos monument beside Aquino’s stirs Tarlac town Super Bowl a tossup at legal sports books Rodgers again falls short of another Super Bowl stint ‘Old school work ethic’ pays off for immaculate Federer read more

Marcos monument beside Aquino’s stirs Tarlac town So rules Tata chess Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Motorcycle taxis ‘illegal’ starting next week — LTFRB board member Palace: Crisis over ABS-CBN franchise unlikely Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Anne Curtis talks about renewing faith in God amid the world’s ‘noise and clutter’ DILG to lock shops in Tagaytay City, other areas near Taal It will be the biggest match involving a Filipino club and Global is bracing for a test like no other against the Aussie side coached by former World Cup campaigner John Aloisi. “Brisbane Roar is a strong team but anything is possible,”  said Global CEO Dan Palami. —Cedelf P. TupasFEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSBreak new groundSPORTSMcGregor blasts Cerrone in 40 seconds in UFC return Dan Palami. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netIts confidence boosted by a stunning win last week, Global FC takes a crack at another historic feat as it goes for an upset against Australian side Brisbane Roar Tuesday night in the second preliminary phase of the AFC Champions League at Brisbane Park.The reigning Filipino champions blanked Singapore side Tampines Rovers, 2-0, last Tuesday to set up the do-or-die duel with the Roar. ADVERTISEMENT Ben&Ben, IV of Spades, SB19 win big at 5th Wish Music Awards MOST READ Panelo: Duterte only wants to emulate strong political will of Marcos Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite LATEST STORIES Luis Manzano jokes about Mikee Morada’s proposal to Alex Gonzaga: ‘Baka nagtali lang ng sintas’ Bulacan inmates, jail guards raise donations for Taal victims View comments read more

MOST READ Hamilton was fastest in 1 minute, 19.149 seconds, with Vettel only 0.051 behind.It was Hamilton’s 64th career pole and his third in five races this year, putting the three-time world champion in position to challenge Vettel for the series lead on Sunday. With two wins in four races, Vettel has a 13-point advantage over Hamilton in the standings.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSMcGregor blasts Cerrone in 40 seconds in UFC returnSPORTSBreak new ground“I think it is going to be a tough race for us, when you see how close it is between us — it is milliseconds,” Hamilton said. “It is a long run down the first turn, so it is important to get a good start.”Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, who won the race in Russia, was third, followed by Raikkonen, setting the stage for another duel between the front-running teams. For Ina, portraying a zombie is like an ‘out-of-body experience’ View comments Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, Spain, Saturday, May 13, 2017. The Spanish Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (Photo by MANU FERNANDEZ / AP)MONTMELO, Spain — Lewis Hamilton took pole position ahead of Sebastian Vettel at the Spanish Grand Prix, restoring Mercedes’ dominance in Formula One qualifying on Saturday.Hamilton gave Mercedes its 19th pole in 20 races, two weeks after F1 leader Vettel had broken its run at the Russian GP in a one-two with Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen.ADVERTISEMENT Gerald: Just because I’ve been bashed doesn’t mean I’d stop working Swing Out Sister back to PH this April With the new engine in place, Vettel’s car gave him a scare when he slowed down just two laps into qualifying, and his team ordered him to return to the garage. But the problem solved itself and Vettel continued on the track.“It wasn’t the ideal end, but considering the morning we had, I think it was a really good recovery,” Vettel said about his second-best time. “Yesterday, I wasn’t feeling the rhythm. Today it was better. In terms of performance, it will be really close.”Hamilton won at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in 2014, one of 10 different winners in as many years at the race often used by teams to bring major upgrades to their cars.So far, it looks like tweaks made by the title contenders have canceled one other out.Hamilton and Vettel both pointed to the unpredictable gusts of wind — in otherwise ideal sunny conditions — that have troubled drivers all weekend.Hamilton described how the same turn can be completely different to handle, depending on the wind.“It’s very gusty here. From corner to corner, sometimes you break in the same spot, but you tail off because of a tailwind. It was tricky for us,” Hamilton said.Vettel is also aware of the problem, saying “with the wind, you never know what to expect.” Max Verstappen, the 2016 winner at a record age of 18, and fellow Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo will start the race from fifth and sixth on the grid.McLaren’s Fernando Alonso bounced back from Friday’s breakdown during practice, making the third session of qualifying for the first time this year and finishing a season-best seventh, ahead of Sergio Perez of Force India and Felipe Massa in his Williams.It was a busy morning in the garages of both Mercedes and Ferrari, which had to replace engines.Bottas missed all but eight minutes of the third and final practice session earlier when two separate mechanical problems led to his team needing to replace his engine with the one used through the first four races.Ferrari also had to change the power unit of Vettel’s car following his precautionary stop in pit lane near the end of the third practice because of a “telemetry issue.”ADVERTISEMENT Ai-Ai delas Alas on Jiro Manio: ‘Sana pinahalagahan niya ang naitulong ko’ Trump’s impeachment defense, prosecutors dig in Despite 47-point win, Wright says Gilas ‘very sluggish’ in 2nd half Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite Presidency bid needs ‘deep reflection’ – Sara Duterte LATEST STORIES China reports 17 new cases in viral pneumonia outbreak End of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legend Ex-Bulacan town vice mayor, village chief shot dead Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next read more

Missile-capable frigate BRP Jose Rizal inches closer to entering PH Navy’s fleet Omorogbe also doesn’t want his team to look too far ahead, instead the Altas would look to win one game at a time.“For me, I’m not talking about championships with my guys, I’m not the kind of guy to say that,” said Omorogbe. “We just take it one day at a time and see how it goes. Last season everyone thought we we’re not going to make it to the Final Four.”“I just told them that we’re a team that can compete, and if we approach every game one at a time before we know it we might be in the Final Four.”ADVERTISEMENT LATEST STORIES Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite Ai-Ai delas Alas on Jiro Manio: ‘Sana pinahalagahan niya ang naitulong ko’ For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and stories, visit Inquirer Varsity. Clippers, Lakers among most-watched NBA teams by Filipinos Head coach: Nosa OmorogbeLast season: 11-7 (4th)Holdovers: Prince Eze, GJ Ylagan, Gab Dagangon, Daryl Singontiko, Keith PidoKey losses: Bright AkhuetieUniversity of Perpetual Help has proven that it can roll with the big boys in the NCAA after finishing Season 92 with a more than respectable 11-7 record to enter the Final Four as the fourth seed.ADVERTISEMENT Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Teng pumps 30 as Flying V goes 6-0 View comments End of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legend MOST READ Thousands join Kalibo Ati-atihan despite typhoon devastation Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Tobias Harris’ late 3 seals Sixers’ win over Knicks Trump invites Duterte again to visit US – this time for March summit LaVine scores 42, Chicago rallies late to beat Cavs Last season, though, the Altas had Bright Akhuetie who was the most potent offensive big man in the league.Akhuetie’s loss, though, is not the biggest concern for Nosa Omorogbe, who has embraced a multi-faceted approach on his offensive schemes.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’“I’m not specific about players,” said Omorogbe. “Any guy could be our main offensive player. If you’re the guy with the ball and you’re open take the shot. If you see an open lane drive, and if the defense collapses on you kick the ball out.”“We don’t want the team to look like last season when we just relied on Bright.” LSU title parade draws massive crowds read more

Young at heart CARDIFF, Wales (AP): Completing a season when age has slowly caught up with him, Cristiano Ronaldo will be trying to break new ground on familiar territory. When the Real Madrid forward takes to the Millennium Stadium pitch to face Juventus today, it will be the fifth Champions League final in nine years for the three-time winner. This time, there’s a chance to achieve something yet to be achieved in 25 seasons of the competition. If Madrid lifts the trophy for the record-extending 12th time, a team will finally have defended a Champions League title. “Obviously what I want the most is to play more freely up front,” Ronaldo said, “and that is the opportunity Zinedine Zidane has been giving me as a No. 9. I play freely. I play on the wing, down the middle. I play whenever I think I should.” Ronaldo, however, is unlikely to find much freedom against Juventus, a team with one of the best defences in football. In 12 European games this season, Juventus have only conceded three goals and is looking to become the first undefeated champion since Manchester United in 2008. At the heart of that Juventus defence is a guy looking to become the oldest Champions League winner: 39-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. A European title is one of the few major prizes to elude the Italian in an illustrious career that has seen him lose two Champions League finals. “I’m a young boy even though I’m 39 years old,” Buffon said through a translator in Cardiff. “Many people think about my very long career … I got more than I gave, but that would be the perfect finale and people like fairy tales.” There haven’t been many in Europe for some time at Juventus. The last of their two titles was won in 1996, while Madrid have won five since then. Madrid will be facing a sturdy defence supported by a formidable attacking unit led by Paulo Dybala. The Argentine, who has drawn inevitable comparisons with Lionel Messi, has scored four goals in 10 European appearances this season. “In training one day, I saw something in Dybala that I had seen before in Messi,” Juventus right back Dani Alves, a former Barcelona player, wrote in a column yesterday on The Players’ Tribune website . “It was not just the gift of pure talent. I have seen that many times in my life. It was the gift of pure talent combined with the will to conquer the world.” Dybala has thrived since Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri changed the team’s formation to accommodate their attacking talents. Dybala joined Juan Cuadrado and Mario Mandzukic in a trio sitting just behind Gonzalo Higuain, while Miralem Pjanic has been behind them alongside Sami Khedira. A sixth consecutive Serie A title has already been won. Now it’s about preventing a repeat of the 2015 final loss to Barcelona with a much-changed squad. “Perhaps we were not strongly motivated,” Allegri said. “We didn’t feel confident enough because we had a number of years when we struggled in the Champions League and we didn’t expect to win … but now it’s completely different. Juventus have improved a lot.” On the other sideline will be a man who has achieved more in 18 months than some coaches do in an entire career. Zidane has quickly establish himself as a diligent and intelligent coach. The France great inherited a disgruntled team from Rafa Benitez, but he united the dressing room and led the team to last year’s Champions League title. read more

The island’s top junior athletes will fly out today for the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, July 10-15.Forty-one athletes will make the trip. De’Jour Russell of Calabar High who was named in the squad has since withdrawn.The team will be hoping to better the performance of two years ago in Bydgoscyz, Poland where they captured eight medals – two gold, three silver and three bronze.Star-studdedSeveral of the athletes, especially among the males are ranked on top of the IAAF world list in their respective events. Calabar High’s Christopher Taylor, with his 20.35 seconds, is number one in his selected event, the 200m. He could also play significant roles in both the 4x100m and 4x400m.Dashawn Morris of Kingston College who has the second fastest time of 45.09 seconds and overseas-based, Chantz Sawyers who is ranked at number six with 45.40 are both expected to do well.Damion Thomas and Orlando Bennett are expected to shine in the men’s 110m hurdles where they are ranked one and two respectively in the event. Thomas who is based overseas won the event at the National Junior Championships in a world junior record equalling time 12.99. Bennett of Calabar, with 13.00, also went under the National Junior record of 13.05.Overseas-based Briana Williams will be the best ranked female going into the championships. With a season’s and personal best of 11.13 seconds for 100m, her time is fifth overall but she will be the third ranked going into the championships. The American pair of Twashana Terry (10.99) and Tamara Clarke (11.02) are ahead of her. Terry also has the third and fourth fastest times in the event this year. read more

ANSA McAL under its Stag brand is set to host “Stage 7 – The Ultimate J’Ouvert Experience” on February 22 at the National Park Tarmac; the night before Guyana’s 49th Republic anniversary.For the past three years, the National Park has been packed to capacity for this fun-filled event. It’s all paint, water and powder and can get “dutty” in a fun way. But what is a J’Ouvert party without entertainment.This year, Barbados soca sensation Lil Rick will be the headlining act, accompanied by some of Guyana’s best artistes. These include reigning Carib Soca Monarch, Brandon Harding; former Soca Monarch, Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson; Michelle “Big Red” King; and the versatile Heatwave Band, comprising Carvin Burnette.However, before the live performances, Deejays Father Moey and Rayvon, Shizzle, Energy, Anisah and Ryan will set the tone for a fantastic evening. Tickets for the event will not be on sale but rather persons can participate in the Stag promotion and win tickets.“Stage 7 – The Ultimate J’Ouvert Experience” will be hosted by radio personality Curtis “Casual” Armstrong.Sound, stage and lighting will be provided by Crown Vibes. read more