Shark Spotters’ Post

How eDNA led us to discover an ancient species never before recorded in South African kelp forests Our collaboration with the Kelp Forest Foundation sets a new standard for understanding what a pristine, healthy kelp forest should look like. Working closely with their team, our eDNA technology produced a comprehensive baseline including 880 species. One of which was a Placozoa species previously undiscovered in South African kelp forests. Our water sampling kits are easy to use and completely non-invasive, making sampling in the remote Falkland Islands' kelp forests possible while the animals within the ecosystem remain undisturbed. Want to see how eDNA can help you manage your coastline and protect these vital ecosystems? Download our free Coastal Ecosystem Management Guide to learn actionable strategies: ➡ How eDNA establishes comprehensive biodiversity baselines to inform planning ➡ Real-world case studies demonstrating eDNA impact across vital habitats ➡ Actionable frameworks for tracking restoration outcomes over time for adaptive management ➡ Models for participatory monitoring to engage local communities ➡ https://lnkd.in/egnkuUyh

🌿 New study discovers never-before-seen species in the Great African Seaforest! Here's why we're excited about it: 🧬 Using the novel approach of eDNA Metabarcoding, a recent team of scientists explored South Africa’s kelp forests, detecting 880 species, including a few never before discovered. 🧬 At the Kelp Forest Foundation, we recently funded a study led by Dr. Narissa Bax. Dr. Bax collected eDNA water samples from the kelp forests in the Falkland Islands, one of the world’s most pristine and untouched kelp forests, without disturbing animals within the ecosystem. 🧬 Dive deeper into the study, and our work at the Falkland Islands with Narissa Bax and NatureMetrics below. Study: Detecting kelp-forest-associated metazoan biodiversity with eDNA metabarcoding. February, 2024. Emma I. Rossouw, Jannes Landschoff, Andrew Ndhlovu, Götz Neef, Masaki Miya, Kira-Lee Courtaillac, Rouane Brokensha & Sophie von der Heyden Help us in our mission to support kelp forests, the home to thousands of species in our marine ecosystems worldwide, through funding groundbreaking research: https://lnkd.in/ez5nRaNW #MarineBiodiversity #eDNA #BlueCarbon #UnlockingThePowerOfKelp #Kelp #Restoration

In the hidden wetlands of the Southeast, finding Spotted Turtles can feel like chasing ghosts. In this month's Science of Scales, Houston discusses our recent publication that dives into the mystery surrounding these elusive turtles. Across multiple years and numerous survey sites, we ventured into vast swamps where sightings were scarce and the search was often daunting. Despite the challenges, our research sheds light on Spotted Turtle habitats and offers essential insights for their conservation in these fragmented southeastern ecosystems. Read more about the Ghosts of the Swamp: https://lnkd.in/eF9Zfx4V Science of Scales is a monthly blog written by our Director of Science, Houston Chandler. The blog is written for a general audience and features articles on a variety of topics, including the latest in herpetofaunal conservation research, highlights of The Orianne Society’s ongoing projects, and discussions of important ecosystems and species. #OrianneSociety #science #turtle #spottedturtle #clemmysguttata #turtleconservation #wildlifeconservation

Been having a lot of fun making these explainers! Research communications is becoming a bigger part of my skill set as I dive deeper into marine ecosystems and the role kelp forests play in our oceans. Spoiler: a pretty big one! If you're interested in learning more about our oceans and the many ecosystem benefits giant kelp forests provide - from fun facts to bio-based product development - give Kelp Forest Foundation a follow! #Research #MarineScience #Kelp

It's always amazing to see the outcome of the samples we ran in the lab, especially when you can find new and unexpected results! Such a great project. For a video version, see the link below. #eDNA #Kelp #MarineBiodiversity #Science

Join the Animal Turn Research Cluster for an upcoming talk by English Professor Gillen Wood entitled, 'Brooch Clams & Hairy Mussels: Victorian Origins of the Ocean Crisis' on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 4 PM in the Gregory Hall 307 Abstract: This lecture recreates the visit of HMS Challenger, the pioneering oceanographic expedition, to Sydney Harbour in 1874. In colonial Australia, the Challenger naturalists encountered the molluscan legacies of recently displaced First Nation peoples, and an estuarine ecology already seriously damaged by oyster harvesting. Victorian-era Sydney offers a case study in early industrial marine exploitation and also “shifting baseline syndrome,” where lost species and their habitats are rapidly erased from cultural memory. Only recovered consciousness of these losses can open the possibility for real-world, biophysical restoration.

“How, in our age, do we overcome this competition between ecology and economy, which is leading us to so many destructive and ultimately, increasingly catastrophic realities around the world?”   In this episode of #AwakeAtNight, Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), reflects on the challenges facing humanity.   Listen: https://lnkd.in/gDN9diCz

🎙 New paper in People and Nature 🐺 Thrilled to share this new publication on the diversity of #emotions towards #wolves in French rural landscapes, in collaboration with Laura Taysse, Olivier Gimenez, Lisa Lehnen and Thomas Müller, supported by the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung and the CNRS Link to the paper: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eSnYE7NE We conducted face-to-face social surveys using excerpts of #YouTube videos to understand how people react to specific contexts of encounters with wild wolves. Our results show that even in rural landscapes and in a process of dynamic recolonization in #France, people would not expect to encounter wolves in the wild. The diversity of emotions expressed did not depict a particularly hostile atmosphere towards the wolf in French rural landscapes. These results call for better understanding of the mismatch between people's emotions, which were diverse, and the generally negative news narratives about large #carnivores, to pave the way for evidence-based carnivore conservation.

Dive into the intersection of art, ecology, and societal narratives with Associate Director Chris Kennedy 🌿 Explore linkages between invasive species, xenophobia, & human exceptionalism in the article “Plant-human Relations: How Can Art Foster Positive Perceptions of Weeds in Cities.” Chris delves into the Planthroposcene concept by Anthropologist Natasha Meyers, suggesting we live in an era shaped by plants. Discover how art solidifies human-plant relationships here: https://buff.ly/46z7Ype

It's a beautiful Earth Day! Check out some recommended books to read in honor of this day: LIFE ON THE ROCKS by Juli Berwald: Explore the fascinating world of jellyfish, diving into their biology, ecology, and the role they play in our changing oceans. WHERE THE WATER GOES by David Owen: Examine the challenges of water scarcity and the impact of human activities on our water resources. THE WORLD IN A GRAIN by Vince Beiser: Delve into the importance of sand, a seemingly abundant resource that is essential for everything. HOW INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS by Deb Chachra: Understand the intricate systems that make up our built environment and that keep our world running smoothly. #EarthDay #BooksToRead #Environment #Nature #EarthSciences #Ecosystems #ClimateChange #RiverheadBooks