Nature

Death By A Thousand Cuts: Semenyih River

Posted on by karenthecrazytree

Urbanisation is both essential and inevitable in developing countries, however, the consequent impacts on the natural environment is one that needs to be seriously addressed. Here we look at two river sites in Semenyih, Malaysia, to better understand the impacts of urbanisation on local rivers.

Urbanising Semenyih

Semenyih is a rapidly developing town on the outskirts of Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Under a decade ago, most parts of Semenyih were covered in lush green secondary forests and oil palm plantations. These areas are now being cleared to pave paths for residential developments and commercial complexes. This rapid urbanisation naturally takes a toll on the surrounding environment, particularly rivers.

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Site 1: Tekala River

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Site 2: Semenyih River

 

As part of an effort to assess microplastic presence in local water bodies, I tagged along on an expedition to collect water, sediment and invertebrate samples at two sites in Semenyih. The first site is an upstream tributary, called Sungai Tekala, 2-3 kilometers downstream from the Semenyih dam. Located in the midst of lush greenery and away from the hustle of town development, this tributery feeds into the main Semenyih River, which passes through Semenyih town. Site 2 is located further downstream where the main river passes through the town centre. The two sites are only a couple of kilometres apart but the differences are remarkable.

 

 

What Happened To Semenyih River?

Having spoken to river experts and locals, it turns out there isn’t just one reason for this deterioration further down the river. As the area develops, land use changes such as deforestation and building constructions are taking place at every corner. Soil erosion and sediment/ gravel runoff from these sites get washed into the river — attesting for the awful clay-like colour of Semenyih river. It’s not just one construction site in a specific area but the cumulative effect of runoff from multiple erosion points.

Then, there’s the reported factories that are irresponsibly releasing their waste effluent into the river. This doesn’t just physically degrade the river water quality but corrupts it chemically. Not forgetting runoff from agricultural and livestock waste which is common in suburban and rural areas. Finally and most visibly, waste matter from the town and its people. Garbage and litter (mostly comprised of plastics) were horrendously abundant in the river and along its banks. These causes are verified by a local study conducted on the water quality of Semenyih river (read here).

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Dragonfly larvae sampled at Site 1 (Tekala River). Dragonflies are highly sensitive to water quality and so can be used as an indicator for high quality habitats. We did not expect to sample dragonfly larvae at Site 2 (Semenyih River).

 

What Can Be Done?

There isn’t a straight-forward answer to mitigating such circumstances. River restoration or rehabilitation is a highly challenging endeavour, not to mention a costly one. The many variables that have caused this river to become so severely degraded, need to be addressed and mitigated if there is to be any hope of rectifying the damage.

The problems ultimately stem from poor management of projects that have little regard for their impacts on the environment. I mean, some of the news articles on this issue are just outrageous (read: The Star). Changes in the system need to take place at a high level, with government agencies in particular needing to monitor and enforce laws for better environmental management. For instance, enforcing strict regulations on responsible chemical waste disposal and imposing fines when regulations are breached. Better project management is essential particularly in the industrial sector, e.g.. precautionary measures for sites that are at high risk of sediment erosion.

As lay people, we can prevent further degradation of the river by any means within our capacity, from cleaning up the existing physical waste to creating awareness through environmental education. After all, it’s not just the invertebrates losing their habitats, we too are losing the bountiful ecosystem services these rivers provide for us (read: Relying On The Environment: Ecosystem Services).

 

Cover image from Pixabay (2019). All other images belong to the author.

References:
Fawaz Al-Badaii, Mohammad Shuhaimi-Othman, and Muhd Barzani Gasim. (2013). Water Quality Assessment of the Semenyih River, Selangor, Malaysia, Journal of Chemistry, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/871056.
The Star (2016). Sungai Semenyih constantly under threat. https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/11/22/river-constantly-under-threat-sungai-semenyih-is-still-in-peril-of-being-polluted-as-factories-are-r/

 

 

Relying On The Environment: Ecosystem Services

Posted on by karenthecrazytree

It’s easy to forget and take for granted how much we rely on the natural environment. In fact, we are one with the environment, part of a bigger ecosystem. Here we explore the concept of ecosystem services and delve into the infinite ways humans rely on the natural environment for survival and a life of quality.

What Are Ecosystem Services?

Let’s start by defining an ecosystem:

An ecosystem is complex system that is connected by the interactions between living organisms and their physical environment. Ecosystem come in various forms and sizes. A pond with insects, fish and aquatic plants can be referred to as an ecosystem. Planet Earth itself can be referred to as an ecosystem too.

Ecosystem services are the benefits humans derive from the environment. These services are categorised into four domains: provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural. The diagram below illustrates examples for each ecosystem service domain.

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Image from WWF Living Planet Report (2016).

Do We Really Need Ecosystem Services?

Without these services, this Earth would not be very habitable for humans. Imagine living on a planet, where the soil is unable to grow crops or climate so extreme (unbearable, scorching heat or endless waves of tornadoes) that humans could not survive. Ecosystem services don’t just provide us with the basic necessities for life on Earth but allow us to enjoy this amazing quality of life through pleasing cultural, intrinsic and aesthetic values.

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Rivers and forests provide key ecosystems services such as oxygen for breathing, fuel from wood, timber, drinking water, fish for consumption, hydropower, ecotourism as well as beautiful sites for camping, trekking and river rafting. Image from Pixabay (2018).

 

Specific ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs protect coastlines from being eroded by strong waves and storms. Coastal ecosystems are even able to minimize damages inflicted by tsunamis! These are valuable services provided by the environment at absolutely no cost at all. If such services were not provided by the ecosystem, imagine the cost and trouble it would incur humans to build walls or coastal protection strong enough to withstand such natural forces.

Losing Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem services are often taken for granted and are often lost through development and urbanisation. Many coastal cities around the world (China, Sri Lanka and the United States to name some) are facing such problems having lost their natural coastal protection to development. It is also costing them a fortune to replace these ecosystem services by building wave breakers and walls for storm protection.

It is important to protect and managed these ecosystem services or we would continue to lose these benefits that we rely so heavily on. In order to translate their value to stakeholders, ecosystem services are often referred to as ‘natural capital’, natural assets that provide quantifiable, monetary benefits to humans. This perspective although not ideal, allows ecosystem services to be seen as a valuable assets that need to be managed responsibly and conserved.

For more on the perspectives of ecosystem services versus natural capital and putting a price on nature, read: Natural Capital Coalition (2018).

Protecting Ecosystem Services

The key in my opinion, is striking a balance between development and conservation. This is can be achieved by incorporating natural spaces (green spaces – e.g. trees, urban forests, parks; and blue spaces – e.g. lakes, ponds, rivers) into development and planning.

One does not have to be an influential stakeholder to protect our natural environment. Voice out concerns or suggestions for the management local parks or forests. Alternatively, maintain some greenery in your garden or make some effort to keep your local river clean. This planet and the environment around us is a shared commodity. We all have a responsibility towards safe-guarding it and preserving its natural state.

 

Cover image from Pixabay (2018).

References:
Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (2005). Ecosystems and Human-Wellbeing. https://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.356.aspx.pdf
Natural Capital Coalition (2018). No One Wants To Put A Price On Nature, But We Do Need A Better Understanding Of Its Value. https://naturalcapitalcoalition.org/no-one-wants-to-put-a-price-on-nature-but-we-do-need-a-better-understanding-of-its-value/
WWF Living Planet Report (2016). https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?282370/Living-Planet-Report-2016

Differences In Conservation Between Developed And Developing Countries

Posted on by karenthecrazytree

“How does conservation vary between developed and developing countries?”

“Approach, mentality, response and priority. How conservation is perceived by these two groups, I think varies entirely.”

Generally speaking, developed countries have lost a large proportion of their biodiversity through industrialisation, and therefore place higher priority to preserving what is left. Of course, not everyone living in a developed country values conservation of the natural environment. This increases with education and awareness, although the general response towards conservation is almost always positive. Having ensured the basic needs and rights of its citizens are met, developed nations aim to improve the standard of living. Living in a clean, happy and diverse environment, achieves that goal. Hence, conservation makes sense as a priority.

Developing countries on the other hand, have other economic and sociological concerns that places conservation lower down on their list of ‘Things-To-Do’. Maintaining the diversity of a forest is not a realistic concern when people are struggling to make ends meet. Biodiversity becomes a tool for profit, usually exploited to its maximum potential. This allows the developing country to become developed and prosper, unfortunately at the expense of biodiversity loss. More often than naught, those living in developing countries are also not sufficiently exposed or aware of the importance of protecting our environment.

It’s the classic case of not realising the value of what you have, until it’s gone.

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If there’s one thing that both developed and developing countries need, it’s environmental education. People need to know why it’s important to care for our environment. Not just because it’s the morally “right” thing to do but how it directly affects our human well-being. Local conservation efforts need to be publicised, as every individual should be informed of what is happening in our natural environment.

Eliminating ignorance and creating awareness is the first and most basic step in conservation anywhere.   

 

Comment below if you agree or disagree! What you think should be done to promote conservation?

Climate Change and the Ocean: Melting Poles

Posted on by karenthecrazytree

The ice in the polar regions of the Earth is melting and a very well-known consequence of this is the rise of global sea level. Although this may seem like a distant concern for most of us, the melting poles have a very real and direct impact on everyone, wherever we are on this planet.

It Started With The Ice Age

Around 20 000 years ago, during the last Ice Age, most of the continents globally were covered in glaciers and ice sheets. When we entered the Interglacial period¹ (the “Warm Age” if you like), the ice sheets retreated and are now confined to the Arctic, Greenland and the Antarctic.

Human activities for centuries have been altering the natural composition of the Earth but things only really started picking up after the Industrial Revolution. Our planet is inarguably warming and will continue to warm for decades to come, even if drastic changes are made. This warming has resulted in the melting of polar ice, consequently raising the sea level (because melted ice water has to go somewhere).

Although ice is melting in all three regions (Arctic, Greenland and Antarctic), melting ice in the Arctic does not really contribute towards sea level rise. This is because most of the ice is already afloat, displacing its weight. The  ice in Greenland and Antarctic (which holds almost 99% of the world’s fresh water), would increase the sea level by 220 feet should they both melt (that’s the Statue of Liberty up to her chest in the sea – major yikes!).

 

What Do The Poles Do?

It might come as a surprise but the polar regions play a vital role in making Earth a habitable planet. The Arctic is the Earth’s air-conditioner, controlling global weather. The seasonal changes in the Arctic temperature creates a jet stream that moves weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere. A warmer Arctic lessens this seasonal difference, affecting the jet stream movement, creating erratic and unusual weather. For instance, the insanely warm summers and freezing winters in parts of Europe over the last few years are the result of changes to the jet stream movement.

We rely on stable and predictable weather patterns for food production. Shifts in weather patterns might lead to decreased food production, which is already a major concern given our growing human population. Unpredictable weather also affects major industries (e.g. agriculture and fisheries), which would have cascading effects on global economies.

So What If The Poles Melt?

Well, the ocean is a very complex system. It has very specific chemical compositions (i.e. salt, calcium carbonate), which affects the ocean’s salinity (how salty it is), which in turn controls the complex circulation of oceanic currents. It’s these combined factors that make the ocean unique in different parts of the world and creates habitats for a vast range of marine life. A change to one factor affects all others, resulting in cascading chain reactions that affect the whole system.

The main concern of rising sea levels is the drowning of seaboards (land by the coast). Coastal areas are often very highly populated by humans as the sea is a source of food and income throughout the world. Numerous cities are expected to be underwater in the years to come, whilst some are already suffering severe floods from the increased sea level. For more info: Top 15 Countries Vulnerable To Sea Level Rise. However, it’s not just melting ice, but the warming of the ocean itself (due to rise in Earth’s surface temperature from global warming) would cause sea level to rise (Science says warm things expand!).

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Image from Anthropocene Magazine (2017)

Remember how the ice is really old (like Ice Age old)? Old ice that has been frozen for centuries holds massive amounts of carbon dioxide and methane (greenhouse gases that contribute towards global warming). As the ice melts, these gases are released into the atmosphere further worsening our current global warming dilemma. This endless cycle of more greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere due to the existing greenhouse gas, is what we call a ‘positive feedback loop’. This loop is what makes global warming so difficult to tackle and solve because our action or lack of it, automatically worsens the situation.

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The positive feedback loop of melting poles and global warming

The soil beneath the frozen ice, known as permafrost², also contains very old and sometimes unwanted things, like diseases. In August 2016, an outbreak of the Anthrax virus in Siberia, infected 2000 reindeer and dozens of people after a 75-year old reindeer corpse emerged from the melted permafrost (sounds like an apocalyptic movie, I know). Scientists believe that other diseases like smallpox and the bubonic plague remain trapped in the Siberian permafrost.

Melting ice also means massive influx of freshwater into the sea (–freshwater because salt gets pushed down back into the sea when sea water freezes). Adding non-salted freshwater into salty sea water obviously would change the composition of salt in the ocean. This would have consequences of its own to the ocean’s circulation, the organisms living in the sea and overall climate.

The poles are unique habitats to wildlife and people (yes, people live in the freezing Arctic and Antarctic). Indigenous tribes like the Inuit rely heavily on sea ice for food and transportation.  It’s not just polar bears and walruses that will be stranded, but the 9 million people that live in the Arctic struggle to survive as their home melts away.

The Solution?

The only way around this convoluted problem is for all governments around the world to strictly follow climate change and environmental regulations set in place. It’s a big ask, a challenging feat that requires global team effort. As global citizens and occupants of this planet, it’s within our control to ensure decision- and policy-makers adhere to regulations that protect our home.

 

¹ The Earth undergoes alternating cycles of Glacial (Ice Age) and Interglacial periods. We are currently experiencing an extended Interglacial period (known as the Holocene), which is predicted to only get warmer due to the effects of global warming. For more information, visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/water_and_ice/ice_age

² Permafrost is defined as rock, soil or sediment that is permanently frozen (maintained at 0°C or under) for more than 2 consecutive years. Usually, permafrost is found under thick glaciers and ice sheets, although it can be found beneath a layer of rock, soil or sediment.

References

Anthropocene (2017). http://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2017/05/sea-level-rise-is-on-the-rise/

BBC (2018). Ice Ages. Available at URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/water_and_ice/ice_age

Cho, R. (2012). How the Warming Arctic Affects Us All. State of the Planet. Available at URL: http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/12/06/how-the-warming-arctic-affects-us-all/

NOAA (2018). Glacial-Interglacial Cycles. Available at URL: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/abrupt-climate-change/Glacial-Interglacial%20Cycles

Sciencing (2017). How Does Polar Ice Melting Affect The Environment? Available at URL:  https://sciencing.com/how-does-polar-ice-melting-affect-the-environment-13400295.html

Science Daily (2014). Arctic Sea Ice Helps Remove CO2 from Atmosphere. Available at URL:  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140922110424.htm

World Atlas (2017). Who Will Be Most Affected By Rising Sea Levels? Available at URL: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/15-countries-most-prone-to-rising-sea-levels.html

Youtube (2018). CNN, Sept 1, 2015. See glaciers melt before your eyes. Available at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzRvmjBGqp8

Animals Do What?!

Posted on by karenthecrazytree

If you thought humans do weird things, you haven’t seen anything. From covering themselves in their own blood to eating their own mothers, all sorts of crazy things happen in the wild.

Cannibalism – Eating your own kind.

The Hunger Games

Some shark species give birth to live young (like most mammals with a placenta), while others have live babies but don’t have a placenta to nourish the fetus. So guess how the little shark babies get fed? That’s right – nature holds the Hunger Games in mom’s womb where her babies have to eat their unborn siblings to survive or die of starvation! Sharks have two uteri with up to 10 fetuses in each uterus. Only one from each womb survives. This takes sibling rivalry to the next level.

Sex Before Dinner

Females in some species of spiders, invertebrates¹ and scorpions get so hungry after mating (animal term for sex), that they eat their mate! This is known as ‘sexual cannibalism’. Female black widow spiders devour their male partners simply because the males are much smaller and make easy meals. Similarly, female praying mantises bite off the male’s head after “the act” as a nutritious snack! Although sexual cannibalism is highly intriguing, it doesn’t happen that often, with only 5 – 30% of mating sessions ending with a body in the bag.

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Praying mantis female devouring her mate. Image from Mantis Blogspot (2018).

Parental Care – We have both great and horrible parents in the wild too.

Mom For Dinner

In some spider and caecilian² species, mothers literally sacrifice themselves for their kids by becoming their first meal. This is known as ‘matraphagy’ (eating your own mum). One such spider species (Stegodyphus lineatus), stops eating once her 80 odd eggs hatch and spends all her time caring for them. She pukes out her last few meals to feed her babies, then pukes out her guts and insides when she has no more food left to give. When she’s all spent, her babies pierce through her abdomen and eat her alive. Brilliant, innit?

Sharing is Not Caring

Tasmanian devils give birth to almost 50 pups at a time, however mommy only has 4 teats from which her babies can receive milk. So straight after birth, the entire lot scramble for mommy’s milk. Whoever gets there first AND can hold on, survives. The remaining 46 die of starvation within hours. Sounds crazy, I know, but nature always dictates – the survival of the fittest!

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Tasmanian devil pups in a nest. Image from Taronga Conservation Society (2018).

Defensive Mechanisms – Do what you must to survive.

Play Dead

We’ve heard of beetles and cockroaches playing dead when feeling threatened, but did you know snakes play dead too? In fact, they have a series of mechanisms that are honestly mind-boggling. Common grass snakes first excrete foul-smelling poop which they smear over themselves, in hopes of repelling their predator. Then, if picked up, they start flailing and wriggling uncontrollably, flinging their nasty poo all over. If that doesn’t work, their last resort is to go limp, playing dead with their mouths open and tongues hanging out (I find this absolutely adorable!). Other species, such as the long-nosed snake, have less elaborate but scarier tactics of smearing themselves in blood excreted from a special gland (cray cray!).

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Grass snake playing dead to deceive predators. Image from Pinterest by Jules Howard.

Mimicry – When you pretend to be something you’re not.

Born A Con Artist

Cuckoos are notorious for being the conmen of nature and are considered parasitic birds. Some species of cuckoos mimic the sound of hawks to frighten smaller breeding birds (the victims) away from their nest. The cuckoos then immediately swoop down to the nest, push out one of the victim bird’s eggs and at lightning speed, replace the egg by laying one of its own. The cuckoo then leaves the nest and the victim bird returns, oblivious to the con job. Cuckoos have evolved this brilliant technique so well that the cuckoo egg looks exactly like the victim bird’s eggs! As the eggs hatch, the victim bird unknowingly raises the cuckoo chick as one of it’s own, although it looks nothing like the rest of its real chicks! Hats off to the cuckoos for successfully having babies with none of the parenting effort!

 

Cuckoo 07 (chick being fed by Robin) (Artur Tabor)

Robin (left) feeding a parasitic cuckoo chick (right) that it thinks is its own chick. Image by Artur Tabor from Birdwatch Ireland (2018).

 

These are just some of the whacky things that happen in nature. Look out for more crazy facts on animals in the next blog post!

Cover image from Pixabay.

¹ Invertebrates are animals that do not have a backbone. 95% of animals are invertebrates, especially the smaller ones. Examples of invertebrates include snails, insects, worms, squid and starfish.

² Caecilians are burrowing tropical amphibians that have worm-like features. They are characterised by their poor eyesight (near blindness) and lack of limbs (no arms/ legs).

 

References:
Birdwatch Ireland (2018). Cuckoo by Artur Tabor. Available at: https://www.birdwatchireland.ie/IrelandsBirds/Cuckoos/Cuckoo/tabid/1096/Default.aspx
Britt, R. (2008). Live Science. Creepy Cannibalism: Why Female Spiders Eat Mates. Available at: https://www.livescience.com/7555-creepy-cannibalism-female-spiders-eat-mates.html
California Herps (2018). Snake Behaviour and Life History: Defense Mechanisms. Available at: http://www.californiaherps.com/behavior/snakelifehistorydefense.html
Pinterest (2018). Jules Howard: Grass snake playing dead. Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/522839837963947313/?autologin=true
Mantis Blogspot (2018). Praying matis, more fact. Available at: http://1praying-mantis.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/
Richard, M. (2012). Cracked: The 5 Most Horrifyingly Bad Mothers in the Animal Kingdom. Available at: http://www.cracked.com/article_19746_the-5-most-horrifyingly-bad-mothers-in-animal-kingdom.html
Soniak, M. (2015). Mental Floss: For Some Animals, Baby’s First Meal Is Its Mother. Available at: http://mentalfloss.com/article/63552/some-animals-babys-first-meal-its-mother
Taronga Conservation Society (2018). Tasmanian Devil Joeys in Nest. Available at: https://taronga.org.au/image/tasmanian-devil-joeys-nest