Sept. 29/2021

Underwater views of Antarctic jellies are 'a magic portal to another world'

"The short film 'Life Beneath the Ice' features delicate, illuminated marine creatures.

The gelatinous, transparent bodies of bizarre jellylike sea creatures — illuminated by the twinkling of an internal light, & some with a recent meal still visible in their bellies — tumble & drift in hypnotic footage that was captured below the Antarctic ice.

Edited into a 'trippy video composition,' as filmmaker & scientist Emiliano Cimoli described the film in a statement, the footage presents close-up views of jellyfish, comb jellies, & other soft-bodied, see-through ocean life in the Ross Sea, a deep body of water in the Southern Ocean at McMurdo Sound. 

The exceptional detail in the video enabled researchers to spot a dozen species of gelatinous animals, of which 2 species of jellyfish & 3 comb jelly species are as yet unknown to science, according to a new study.

Cimoli, co-author of the study & a postgraduate researcher at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia, shot the footage when he visited Antarctica to conduct research in 2018 & 2019. But he wasn't there to study jellyfish or comb jellies; rather, he was testing sensing equipment to monitor algae that live under sea ice, Cimoli wrote in a video description on YouTube.

'Ice algae play a crucial role in polar marine food webs & ecosystems,' Cimoli said. 'The research theme of the expeditions was to investigate their abundance & physiology under changing light conditions,' such as those caused by climate change...

Inside the researchers' field tent, there was a sizable viewing hole cut into the sea ice. Cimoli, an amateur wildlife videographer & photographer, saw this as an opportunity to send cameras under the ice — some tethered to the surface, & some attached to diving robots — to seek out elusive marine life that's often difficult to observe in its natural habitat.

This opened a window into a rarely-glimpsed ocean ecosystem, 'kind of like a magic portal to another world,' Cimoli said in the statement.

In some of the footage, surface ice is visible overhead. Other clips show the sea bottom sprinkled liberally with pink starfish. But the most dramatic scenes are the ones in which jellies drift & undulate through inky water. In an astonishing shot, a Diplulmaris antarctica jellyfish's body gently pulses & ripples; a number of small orange globes — small parasitic crustaceans called hyperiid amphipods — cluster around its bell. And engulfed inside the jellyfish is a recent meal: a comb jelly in the Beroe genus.

Cimoli edited the video during COVID-19 lockdown, & he posted it on YouTube & Vimeo in March 2020. Gerlien Verhaegen, a postdoctoral researcher at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science & Technology (JAMSTEC) in Kanagawa, Japan, & lead author of the study, recognized that the footage was a gold mine for biologists studying jellies. Delicate structures in jellyfishes' & comb jellies' squishy bodies are very hard to preserve when the animal is removed from the water, so the study authors identified species in the video by comparing them to naturalists' illustrations & descriptions, many of which date to the early 20th century, Verhaegen said in the statement.

'Our study constitutes the first optics-based survey of gelatinous zooplankton in the Ross Sea,' the study authors reported. This is also the first study to use observations of living jellies in their Southern Ocean habitats to describe species & document some of the behaviors in jellyfish & comb jellies.

The scientists reported sightings of 12 species of these gelatinous animals — but not all of them matched descriptions in scientific literature, & 5 individuals could be undescribed species. Images from the footage will also be used to train computer algorithms to identify jellyfish species, a feat that is only possible when training databases contain high-quality photos or video that the computer can learn from, according to the study...

'When curiosity is triggered, it engages one to get deeply involved & become knowledgeable about something,' Cimoli said."

youtube.com/watch?v=fZy5QiG5haY&t=23s

Mindy Weisberger

livescience.com

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Sept. 22/2021

                          

Do Cats Only Love Us Because We Feed Them?

"Of course cats love us because we feed them. But they don't love us just because we feed them. Cats are very capable of obtaining their own meals. After all, as we cat lovers know, they even try to feed us sometimes. Who hasn't overcome disgust to praise the kitty when she drops a small dead creature at our feet?🐭

Cats show they care in different & far more subtle ways than dogs. Because of these differences & subtleties, some people say that cats do not show affection...

How do cats show affection?

The most common mistake people make is comparing cat behavior to dog behavior. Apples 🍎& oranges. No, apples & semi trucks. They could not be more different.

Dogs show affection by wagging their tails & dancing around ecstatically when you return from a 5 minute absence. Cats show affection with eye contact, slow blinks, purring, & rubbing up against you.

Cat lovers know that calm, studied look of love & … wait for it … the soft, slow blinks that some call cat kisses. Think about it. If you didn't like someone would you maintain steady, gentle eye contact with them? Of course not. Sustained eye contact invites interaction. Not something you want with someone you don't care for.

Cats have excellent communication skills. You just have to learn their language. Understated & at times complex combinations of behaviors are their way of showing us that they love & trust us.

Scientific evidence that cats love us

In a research study conducted at Oregon State University, over half of the cats involved in the project chose human company above toys, food or intriguing smells (gerbils & catnip). 11% of the cats studied went for the toy. 37% were just interested in chowing down. A whopping 52% wanted to hang out with a human above all else.

Ainsworth Strange Situation Tests done on cats showed that they clearly preferred their owners over someone they did not know. These tests were based on a procedure that was designed in the 1970s by Mary Ainsworth, a developmental psychologist. She wanted to observe attachments between children & their caretakers.

In the cat test, cats were placed in a room first alone, then with their owners, then with a stranger. The cats were more at ease, to the point that they explored the room, when their owners were present. They played with their owners & followed them around. But they did not do this with the stranger.

What the cynics say

A more cynical viewpoint of cat behavior comes from a study done by Lincoln University in the U.K. Researchers there concluded that cats do not look to their owners for safety or security like dogs do. They're more independent...

Some say that a cat rubbing on you is more a display of ownership than affection. One instinctive cat behavior is territory marking. When a cat rubs on you the scent glands in his cheeks release pheromones that tell other cats, 'Off limits. This human is mine.'

When our cat brings us a dead or the dreaded half-dead mouse🐭 or bird 🐦, we like to think of it as our kitty bringing us a present. Others think this behavior implies that our cat thinks we're too weak or too dumb to do our own hunting. Whatever. Even if the latter explanation is correct, it still shows our cat loves us, doesn't it?

The bottom line on cat love

The way cats behave is closer to their wild ancestors than dogs. Dogs were first domesticated between 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. Cats have only cohabited with humans for about 9,000 years. While many a dog would not be able to survive without us, most cats could.

Given the relatively short period of time cats & humans have shared living space, it's easy to see why cat behaviors are more aligned with their instincts than their desire to please us. But this doesn't mean they're entirely self-serving. While cats may prefer to interact with us, they don't rely on us the way dogs do. Cats choose to be with us. What better an expression of love is there than that?"

LD Withaar 

Jan. 23/ 2019

cuteness.com

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Sept. 15/2021

 

The Gray Treefrog is a Master of Disguise

   "Though their colour palette isn’t nearly as diverse or as fast-acting as a chameleon’s, this little frog is known for its green, gray, & brown colouring. They have white patches under each of their eyes & have a bright yellow-orange colour under their thighs. Like most treefrogs, they too have large suction-cup-like toe pads.

The grey treefrog is often mistaken for cope’s gray treefrogs, spring peepers, & chorus frogs. In fact, they are practically identical to the cope’s gray treefrog & can only be told apart by their call. The gray treefrog has a short, flute-like trill, while the cope’s gray treefrog has a faster, higher-pitched trill. 

WOULD YOU CHALLENGE THIS TREEFROG TO A GAME OF HIDE & SEEK?

The gray treefrog is rarely seen outside of its breeding season. Their hiding spots of choice are holes in trees, underneath bark, in rotten logs, & under leaves & tree roots. In the winter, they’re known to hunker down beneath leaves & snow.  

These tiny creatures have been spotted on walls of buildings, basking in the insect-inviting light. But even though they are out of their element, their ability to mask themselves against brown & grey brick & cement tones makes spotting them tricky. 

LET’S STAND UP FOR THE LITTLE GUY

Living up to its name, they can be found at the top of even the tallest trees. Their excellent camouflage skills & love of hanging out in trees mean that their populations are at risk when it comes to deforestation. Treefrogs depend on forests. Habitat loss & degradation due to clearcutting, roads, agriculture & urbanization are serious threats to these frogs."

naturecanada.ca

July 6/2021

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Sept. 8/2021

 

Amorous Architecture

"Scientists know that the amorous architects of the bird world build 3 basic kinds of bowers: 'maypoles', 'mats', & 'avenues'. But only now are they beginning to discover the reasons behind the existence of these different forms. Mat, or platform, bowers are among the simplest: thick pads of plant material ringed with ornaments. One mat-builder, Australia’s Tooth-billed catbird, builds what is known as a 'circus ring' by arranging silvery leaves around the mat, like the petals of a disheveled flower. The bird constantly removes withered leaves in favor of fresh, shiny replacements. The more ambitious maypole bowers are twig towers built around one or a few saplings in a carefully groomed courtyard. The Golden bower bird even perches on a roofed bridge suspended between towers. And 4 other kinds of maypole builders surround their creations with lawns of moss. Avenue bowers, such as the Satin bower bird’s, featured on NATURE, have 2 close-set parallel walls of sticks that sometimes arch over to create a tunnel. In a rare example of a bird using a tool, Satin & Regent bower birds may use a leaf or twig to paint the inner walls of their bowers with a stain made from chewed plants, charcoal, & saliva.

Gerald Borgia, a University of Maryland bower bird expert, believes the different kinds of bowers all serve essentially the same function: to make visiting female bower birds feel comfortable by protecting them from overeager males. Courtship rituals, he notes, almost always involve males & females standing with the bower between them, like a fence. In the case of the maypole-building Macgregor’s bower bird, for instance, the courting pair warily circles the central tower. Only when the female chooses to stop & allow the male to approach can mating occur. 'The bower probably started as a protective device,' Borgia concludes. 'It allows females to get close enough to get a good look without feeling threatened. The male that builds something that makes the females feel most comfortable is likely to see more females.' Borgia has also detected a relationship between bower type & intensity of the male’s display. The male Spotted bower bird, for instance, builds a wide straw wall & performs a relatively energetic display full of dance steps & dramatic poses. In contrast, species building smaller barriers have toned-down displays that are probably less threatening to females.

...Other researchers have noticed a link between the showiness of a bower bird’s plumage & the intricacy of its bower: in general, the drabber the bird, the fancier the bower will be. Some believe this reflects an evolutionary choice: drab birds compensate for their dull appearances by building flashier nests.

Borgia has also noticed that bower complexity sometimes varies with topography. For instance, species living on hilltops build more modest bowers than those living in valleys. The explanation, he says, may be the amount of light that penetrates the forest in the 2 kinds of habitat. Ridge tops are often shrouded in clouds, allowing only dim light. Hence, to best show off their decorations, bower birds living here may build more open bowers to make best use of available light. In contrast, light is less of an issue in the valleys, so bower birds can afford to have more elaborate roofed structures.

Surprisingly, Borgia has found that bower birds that build similar-shaped bowers aren’t necessarily closely related to each other. Using a DNA fingerprinting technique, he & his colleagues drew a family tree for bower birds that showed their evolutionary relationships. It suggested that species that evolved at different times have independently learned to build similar kinds of bowers, possibly because they faced similar kinds of environmental conditions.

But close observation can reveal important differences in the seemingly-similar structures, Borgia says. Where one species may build its bower from the bottom up, for instance, the other may start a similar structure at the top & build down. Similarly, some species put the entrance to their bowers on the uphill side, while similar structures built by other species face downhill. Nobody knows whether young bower birds learn such practices from their elders, or whether they are encoded in their genes at birth. It is a much-debated question that Borgia hopes to answer in future studies by rearing native males in captivity with & without mature tutors."

April 10/1997

pbs.org/wnet/nature/bower-bird-blues-amorous-architecture

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Sept. 1/2021

How to Rename Your Dog After Adoption

"Sometimes when you adopt a new dog, that dog may come with a name you don’t particularly like. You may get your dog home & realize he doesn’t fit the name he had or their name isn’t something you like... And, although it may seem difficult to rename a dog, it’s actually quite easy.

Can you change a dog’s name?

It’s true, you can change a dog’s name, no matter how old they may be. Even if you adopt an older dog, they will eventually learn their new name. Dogs are adaptable & after a few days of being told their new name they will catch on. Most dogs may not even notice the change, particularly since humans have several nicknames for their dogs, & oftentimes dogs respond to all their names.

With the adoption of a new puppy from a breeder, the same is true. They were probably given a shelter name at birth but, unless you are buying a working dog, show dog, or service dog, they probably haven’t had a lot of experience responding to their name. Changing it to something new on day one shouldn’t cause any real issues. Dogs don’t have the concept of identity like we do. In some cases, a name change can be good for pets, particularly if they came from an abusive home.

Do you need to pick a similar name?

New pet owners may think they need to change their dog’s name to something similar, or something with the same sound but in fact, you can select any name you’d like. Consistent use of a new name during training sessions helps them adjust to a new & different life. Consistently using their new name & saying their new name in a happy tone will help your dog learn & adapt quickly. Acknowledge when your dog responds to their new name & reward them for doing so.

At what age is it too late to rename a dog?

There is no age that’s too late to rename a dog. Even though it may seem easier to change a dog’s name early in its life, you can change its name at any time. Honestly, dogs don’t really care what you call them, as long as they are treated well & know they belong to you. Give her a nickname or completely change her name, your new pup will adapt just fine.

How to teach your new dog their new name

Your dog’s new name should only mean good things to him. There are many ways to teach your pup his new name but the easiest is just to say your dog’s new name repetitively & in happy tones & they’ll eventually adapt.

Introducing Their New Name

Let’s say you pick up a shelter dog or select your dog from pet adoption, & you get him home & want to change his name; once you decide on a new name for him, it’s time to start introducing their name. For the first few days you’re using your dog’s new name, carry treats in your pocket. When you want her attention, call out her new name. Praise her for understanding her new name by giving positive reinforcement. Usually, within a few weeks, your pup will completely understand their new name & forget their old name even existed.

The Name Game

If your new companion still doesn’t adapt or reply to its new name you can try the 'name-change method'.

1. Say your dog’s original name & when they reply say 'yes!' & reward them. Try this at least 5 times.

2. Then begin introducing their new name by saying the new name & follow it with their old name, pausing briefly in between names. Reward your dog when they look at you. Repeat this step a few times.

3. And then, say only your dog’s new name & reward them when they look at you. Repeat this over & over until they catch on.

Avoid Punishing With Their Name

Your pup should understand that their new name is linked to positivity, which is why it’s important to focus on praise with their new name before ever using punishment. Avoid yelling at them with their new name. Some suggest giving your dog a nickname that’s linked to negativity. If your good boy starts to develop bad behaviors that you need to correct, use an alternative nickname or give them a middle name. So they know which name is linked to their negative actions.

Reward with Treats

Just like potty training, use treats to help your pup learn their new name... When your pup responds, use treats over & over. After the first few days your new friend will catch on & you can stop using treats & move on to just praising them.

Tips to help your rescue dog learn their new name

If you don’t like your dog’s previous name & you’re working to change it, here are some tips that should help:

1. Decide on a new name right away & stick with that name.

2. Carry treats with you at all times.

3. Immediately smile & praise him with treats when he replies to his new name.

4 Don’t scold your pup while using their new name.

5. Be consistent. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

How long does it take for a dog to learn their new name?

Every doggy is different but to successfully teach your dog his name make the learning process pleasant & rewarding. With consistent training over a 2 week period, your pup can start responding to his name within as little as 2 days. Regardless of the name you give your new pup, he will learn to respond to it & eventually will forget he ever had another name."

Amanda Guagliardo

blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com

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