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Thursday, June 16, 2016
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Experts identify areas where coral reefs are flourishing against the odds despite overfishing and environmental pressure. For more information you can click here plant facts
Surprising “bright spots” where coral reefs are flourishing against the odds despite overfishing and environmental pressure have given new hope to conservationists.
Experts believe they could shine a light on better ways to protect embattled coral reefs affected by climate change, overfishing and pollution.
The same team found other “dark spots” that were not faring well - some of which included remote and relatively undisturbed locations.
In one of the largest studies of its kind, researchers conducted more than 6,000 reef surveys in 46 countries around the world.
They identified 15 locations where far more fish were colonising coral reefs than had been expected. Bright spots were typically found in the Pacific Ocean in places such as the Solomon Islands, parts of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the island republic of Kiribati.
The report said: “Bright spots are characterised by strong sociocultural institutions such as customary taboos and marine tenure, high levels of local engagement in management, high dependence on marine resources, and beneficial environmental conditions such as deep-water refuges.” See another topic at fun facts about dogs
Lead scientist Professor Josh Cinner, from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University in Australia, said: “Given the widespread depletion of coral reef fisheries globally, we were really excited to find these bright spots that were doing much better than we anticipated.
“These ‘bright spots’ are reefs with more fish than expected based on their exposure to pressures like human population, poverty, and unfavourable environmental conditions.
“To be clear, bright spots are not necessarily pristine reefs, but rather reefs that have more fish than they should, given the pressures they face.
“We wanted to know why these reefs could ‘punch above their weight’ so to speak, and whether there are lessons we can learn about how to avoid the degradation often associated with overfishing.”
The researchers, who included a British team from the University of Lancaster, pointed out that the bright spots were not immune to human activity but had certain features in common.
These included strong local involvement in their management, local ownership rights, and traditional management practices.
A total of 35 “dark spots” were identified where fish stocks were in worse shape than expected.
They were globally distributed and found in every major ocean basin, and also had some defining characteristics. Generally they were subject to intensive netting activity and allowed easy access to freezers where fish could be stockpiled.
Cinner added: “We believe that the bright spots offer hope and some solutions that can be applied more broadly across the world’s coral reefs.
“Specifically, investments that foster local involvement and provide people with ownership rights can allow people to develop creative solutions that help defy expectations of reef fisheries depletion.
“Conversely, dark spots may highlight development or management pathways to avoid.”
A total of 39 scientists from 34 universities and conservation groups took part in the research, published in the journal Nature. Click here video game reviews to read more
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Monday, June 6, 2016
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- Penguins are birds that do not fly.
- Over millions of years a penguin’s wings have evolved and instead of flying they work as flippers to help them swim.
- There are many different species of penguins. Adelie, African, Chinstrap, Emperor, Erect-crested, Fiordland, Galapagos, Gentoo, Humboldt, King, Little Blue, Macaroni, Magellanic, Rockhopper, Royal, Snares and Yellow-eyed Penguins.
- Penguins are carnivores meaning they eat meat. Penguins east fish, squid, krill, shrimp and other crustaceans.
- Penguins catch their food in the water. They catch the food using their beaks and swallow it whole.
- Penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere that is the southern half of the earth.
- They live mostly Antarctica, South America, South Africa, New Zealand and Galapagos Islands.
- Penguins spend half of their time on land and the other half in the water.
- Penguins can swim 20 miles per hour.
- Their tuxedo appearance is called countershading and works as camouflage.
- Seal leopards, sea lions, orcas, skuas, snakes, sharks, and fox are all predators of the penguins.
- Global warming and oil spills also hurt penguin’s habitat.
- The largest penguins are the Emperor Penguins. They can be 3ft 7 inches tall and weigh 75 pounds.
- Emperor Penguins live in Antarctica.
- The smallest penguins are the Little Blue Penguins also known as Fairy Penguins. They are only 16 inches tall and weigh 2 ½ pounds!
- Little Blue Penguins live in Southern Australia and New Zealand.
- Larger penguins live in colder climates and smaller penguins live in warmer climates.
- How do penguins stay warm in those cold climates? Penguins living in cold climates have a layer of fat called blubber under their skin to keep them warm. They also have a fluffy layer of feather covering their skin over those feathers are another layer of feathers. Penguins living in cold climates have also known to huddle together in large groups to keep themselves warm.
- Did you know that penguins drink salt water? Penguins have a gland in their body that acts like a filter to separate the salt from the water.
- When male penguins are ready to find a mate they let out loud calls to attract a female.
- When penguins find mates they sing to each other so they can recognize their voices.
- When penguins find mates they stay with that mate for a very long time.
- How are baby penguins born? Female penguins lay their eggs on the shore. 1-2 eggs are laid, but usually 1 hatches.
- Penguins take very good care of their eggs. After the female penguin lays her egg she goes out to look for food. The male penguin will sit on the egg to protect it until she returns. When she comes back he leaves to look for food.
- It takes about 35 days for a penguin egg to hatch.
- A baby penguin is called a chick.
- The chick will eat regurgitated food from their mother. Regurgitated food is food that comes out of the mother’s stomach.
- A chick will leave the nest when they are around one month old.
- Penguins are social animals. Penguins often nest with other penguins.
- Penguins can be playful. They like to go tobogganing. They will lay on their tummy and slide through the ice and snow. Penguins will also dive off cliffs into the water, get out and dive again for fun.
- No penguins live in the North Pole!
Are you wrapped up warm? We sure hope so - because NG Kids is off to the icy Antarctic to catch up with our penguin pals! Check out our ten top facts about these brilliant birds...
1. Emperor penguins animals for kids are truly beautiful birds. Adults have a white stomach and a black head, back, tail and wings. They also have yellowy-gold markings on the side of their head and neck.
2. Emperor penguins are the largest of all the different kinds of penguin. On average they measure115cm tall - about the height of the average six year old.
3. Emperor penguins spend their entire lives in Antarctica - the Earth's southernmost continent - where temperatures can drop to as low as -60°C. Brrrr.
4. To survive in such low temperatures, these brilliant birds have special adaptations - they have large stores of insulating body fat and several layers of scale-like feathers that protect them from icy winds. They also huddle close together in large groups to keep themselves, and each other, warm.
4. To survive in such low temperatures, these brilliant birds have special adaptations - they have large stores of insulating body fat and several layers of scale-like feathers that protect them from icy winds. They also huddle close together in large groups to keep themselves, and each other, warm.
5. Around April every year (the start of the Antarctic winter) emperor penguins meet to breed on the thick Antarctic ice. By the time the female lays her egg (usually around June), she's worked up a big appetite! She passes the egg to the male before journeying up to 80km to the open ocean where she can feed her hungry tummy on fish, squid and krill.
6. During this time, the males are in charge of keeping the egg safe and warm in the breeding ground. They do this by balancing the egg on their feet and covering it with feathered skin, called a 'brood pouch'. It takes about two months for the eggs to hatch.
7. The females return in July, bringing with them food in their bellies which they regurgitate (or throw up) for the chicks to eat. The females now take over babysitting duty, leaving the males to head to the ocean for their own fishing session.
8. As the youngsters grow, the parents leave them in groups, called 'crèches', whilst they head to the ocean to fish. Come December, the warmer temperatures break up the ice that the penguins occupy, bringing open waters closer to the nesting site. By this time, the chicks are old enough to swim and fish, and take to the ocean themselves!
7. The females return in July, bringing with them food in their bellies which they regurgitate (or throw up) for the chicks to eat. The females now take over babysitting duty, leaving the males to head to the ocean for their own fishing session.
8. As the youngsters grow, the parents leave them in groups, called 'crèches', whilst they head to the ocean to fish. Come December, the warmer temperatures break up the ice that the penguins occupy, bringing open waters closer to the nesting site. By this time, the chicks are old enough to swim and fish, and take to the ocean themselves!
9. These birds are super swimmers and impressive divers. They can reach depths of over 500mand stay underwater for up to 22 minutes!
10. Sadly, today emperor penguin facts for kids are considered near threatened and their populations are expected to decline rapidly in years to come. It's feared that rising temperatures due to global warming will reduce their breeding ground, and overfishing will mean less food for them to eat. The good news is that by looking after our planet, YOU can help protect these amazing animals. Check out our Five Top Conservation Tips for some environment-saving ideas
10. Sadly, today emperor penguin facts for kids are considered near threatened and their populations are expected to decline rapidly in years to come. It's feared that rising temperatures due to global warming will reduce their breeding ground, and overfishing will mean less food for them to eat. The good news is that by looking after our planet, YOU can help protect these amazing animals. Check out our Five Top Conservation Tips for some environment-saving ideas
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Enjoy these fun facts about dogs that deliver a variety of information about interesting breeds, puppies, guide dogs such as Labradors and much more. As the famous saying goes, dogs are man’s best friend. Whether it’s as reliable workers, family pets or loyal companions, dogs are wonderful domestic animals that offer a number of qualities that are put to good use by humans.
- In total there is said to be around 400 million dogs in the world.
- The domestic dog has been one of the most popular working and companion animals throughout human history.
- Dogs perform many useful tasks for humans including hunting, farm work and security as well as assisting those with disabilities such as the blind.
- Although experts often disagree, there is scientific evidence which shows that the domestication of dogs could have occurred more than 15,000 years ago.
- There are hundreds of different breeds of dogs.
- Examples of these breeds include: Bulldog, German Shepherd, Collie, Golden Retriever, St Bernard, Greyhound, Bloodhound, Chihuahua, Labrador, Great Dane, Rottweiler, Boxer and Cocker Spaniel.
- The most popular breed of dog in the world by registered ownership is the Labrador. With their gentle nature, obedience, intelligence and near limitless energy, Labradors make for excellent family pets and reliable workers. They often assist police and are a common choice as guide dogs.
- Dogs animals for kids have formed such a strong bond as pets, workers and companions to humans that they have earned the nickname "man's best friend".
- Humans help train various dog breeds to enter in competitions such as breed shows, agility and obedience contests, racing and sled pulling.
- Dog have superior hearing than humans, capable of hearing sounds at four times the distance.
- Dogs have a remarkable sense of smell, they are capable of differentiating odors in concentrations nearly 100 million times lower than humans can.
- The average life span for a dog is around 10 to 14 years.
- Those involved in dog breeding refer to males as ‘dogs’, females as ‘bitches’, dogs younger than a year old as ‘puppies’ and a group of offspring as a ‘litter’.
- Domestic dogs are omnivores, they feed on a variety of foods including grains, vegetables and meats
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Saturday, June 4, 2016
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Here are some fun facts about dogs you might not know about Fido.
1) Dogs don’t feel guilt
Your pet pooch may get jealous, but researchers found those puppy dog eyes are not a sign of guilt. In fact they are just the way we interpret a dog’s reaction to being scolded.
Alexandra Horowitz, from Barnard College in New York found all dogs looked ‘guilty’ after being told off for eating a forbidden treat like a biscuit - and those who were wrongly accused often looked more ‘guilty’ than those who really deserved to be in the dog house.
Maybe Denver didn't eat the kitty treats after all...
2) Dog urine can corrode metal
Apparently allowing your dog to wee on a lamp-post could be more dangerous than you think - because the acids in the urine can corrode the metal.
In April 2003 Derbyshire County Council spent £75,000 carrying out a six month survey of one million lamp-posts amid fears that dog wee was causing the bases to crumple. In the same year, urinating dogs were blamed for a spate of lamp-posts collapsing in Croatia.
We dread to think what damage this mutt did to this Banksy mural in New York then.
3) Dogs can see in colour
It is a common myth that dogs can only see in black and white but they can actually see colours - just not as vividly as humans.
They only have two cones in their eyes to detect colours, whereas humans have three. That means dogs see colours on a blue and yellow scale but cannot distinguish between red and green. On the other hand, they have better night vision than humans.
4) Dogs can smell disease
If your canine chum is acting strange there might be nothing wrong with them - the problem could be with you. Animals for kids
Research at the Schillerhohe Hospital in Germany found dogs have an incredible ability to recognise the smell of a range of organic compounds that show the human body isn’t working as it should.
That means your dog can actually diagnose your cancer, something scientists are eager to explore further, as well as diabetes and the early signs of an epileptic seizure.
5) Dogs can be pretty smart
You might sometimes think your dog is as daft as a brush, but the truth is that they can actually be as smart as a two year-old child, according to research presented to the American Psychological Association.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, border collies are the cleverest canines, with some able to understand up to 200 words. The other breeds in the top five are poodles, German shepherds, golden retrievers and dobermans.
Don't believe us? Just look at what Nana can do...
6) A wagging tail doesn’t always mean they are happy
Tail wagging has its own language. Apparently dogs wag their tail to the right when they’re happy and to the left when they are frightened. Wagging low means they are insecure and rapid movements accompanied by tense muscles or dilated pupils can signal agression.
So every wagging tail tells its own story, if you know how to read the signs.
7) They really are hot dogs
Next time you see your pet pooch panting on a sunny day take pity on them. Not only are they wearing a huge fur coat, they also have to contend with a higher body temperature than you.
The normal body temperature of a human is 37C, but a dog’s is a whole degree higher at 38C. That’s one reason fleas are more likely to be attracted to your dog than to you. And unlike humans, dogs don’t have sweat glands all over their body, just on the pads of their paws.
8) Dogs have their own ‘fingerprint’
A dog’s paw print may look pretty generic but their nose print is actually as unique as a human fingerprint. Their combination of ridges and creases is so distinct it can actually be used to identify them.
Good luck getting them to stick their nose in a pad of ink without sneezing though
9) Dogs dream just like you
This won’t come as a huge surprise to anyone who has watched their own dog twitching or whimpering in their sleep. Fact of life, dogs have the same brain wave patterns while they are asleep as humans, so they dream just like we do.
But what is more surprising is the fact that not all dogs dream the same amount. Small dogs actually have more dreams than big dogs. For example, a small dog such as a toy poodle may dream once every 10 minutes, whereas a great dane may have around an hour between each dream.
10) Dogs can fall in love
They don't call it puppy love for nothing. The concept that dogs can fall in love was suggested by anthropologist Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Social Lives of Dogs, who believed two dogs named Sundog and Bean were agonized star-crossed lovers kept apart because neither of their owners wanted to give them up.
It may sound far fetched but Paul Zak, a professor at Claremont Graduate University in California, found that a dog’s brain releases oxytocin - the love hormone - when it interacts with humans and dogs, just the same as a human brain does when we hug or kiss.
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Friday, June 3, 2016
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One of the best things about visiting the United States has to be exploring the absolutely incredible national parks, plant facts. I had always heard that Utah was an ideal place to see a variety of beautiful parks in close vicinity. With that in mind, I flew into Salt Lake City International Airport and made my way to the town of Springdale in the southwest part of Utah, right next to Zion National Park.
A Warm Welcome at Zion National Park
Springdale is a charming town full of art galleries and delicious restaurants. We enjoyed the sunset in the heart of Zion while sipping on a raspberry rosemary vodka drink at Cliffrose Lodge & Gardens, anticipating our adventure that was to begin the next day. After a delicious dinner, we drove under the full moon towards the clean and cozy lodges in Zion National Park.
Not wanting to waste a minute, we woke up early for a sunrise hike on the Canyon Overlook trail. The air was crisp, and the sounds of the river and surrounding wildlife immediately brought me a sense of peace. We made excellent use of the waterproof shoes and walking sticks we rented in Springdale as we traversed the river. It’s hard to express how beautiful this park is. Even the pictures don’t do it justice; it really must be seen in person.
Sunset to Sunrise at Bryce Canyon
The next stop on the itinerary was Bryce Canyon National Park. While it was only a bit more than an hour’s drive away, the landscape and climate were quite different and just as exciting. Following the advice of some travelers we met, we headed out to watch a stunning sunset at Inspiration Point. Sometimes your eyes see something so beautiful that it hits your heart at the same time, and it’s like falling in love.
The following day we had to leave, but made sure to wake up before sunrise and take a hiking trail of rare beauty to Sunrise Point for one last look. Bryce Canyon is as hard to leave as Zion National Park, but there are still three more parks in Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks!
The American West, Majestic Arches and So Much More
Located in the southeastern part of Utah, Monument Valley, while not technically a national park, is the iconic Utah landscape that was made famous by the films of the American Western. Near the eastern border with Colorado at Arches National Park, it’s almost impossible to believe that the vast stone arches and delicately balanced rocks are natural formations. Near the center of Utah, Capitol Reef National Park provides a seemingly endless landscape of earth and sky to explore. And near the eastern border, Canyonlands National Park features deep red clay earth and is famous around the world for mountain biking.
The national parks of Utah are amazing to see. I don’t know of another place that has such a variety of gorgeous landscapes that you can fit all in one trip. A visit to these parks is truly awe-inspiring, and a must-do for a lover of the outdoors.
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Thursday, June 2, 2016
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An adorable one-eyed cat is making waves with his love of surfing. Kuli, whose name means to look blind, was adopted weighing only one pound, but neither that or his limited sight keeps him from riding the waves with his owners. amazing facts
Hawaii residents Alexandra Gomez and Krista Littleton, adopted Kuli about a year ago and have been taking him surfing since. Cats aren't normally fans of the water, but they think Kuli is tolerant because of the regular baths he received after having surgery to remove his eye at four months old. Kuli first learned to surf, his owners said, when he was about six months old.
At first, Gomez and Littleton took Kuli out on a longboard, but then switched him to a boogie board that he could latch onto easily with his claws.
"His first time in the water, we just let him float on the board by himself near the shoreline and I would paddle around with him," said Gomez. "Before we knew it we were looking for waves to surf."
"Before he could swim confidently on his own, Kuli always wore a life jacket," Gomez said. "He still wears it from time to time depending on the conditions but we are careful not to take him out if it is too windy or the water is too rough."
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