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One of the oldest, most successful arthropods on Earth, horseshoe crabs have existed for over 350 million years. But in recent years their populations, have crashed by 75% from overfishing, resulting in moratoriums on catching them. Few of us know that most human lives depend on the valuable, shockingly blue blood of these "living fossils." Even more surprising, a tiny shore bird, the red knot, is so dependent on them that the crabs' population crash may make these long-distance flyers extinct. This mystery of mutual dependencies emerges from filmmakers and scientists revealing a disturbing ecology story ranging from the Arctic regions to the southern tip of the Americas.
(Source: DCMP)
Fruit bats carry the Nipah virus, which can be transmitted to humans and cause severe disease. In Bangladesh, the virus causes a disease outbreak almost every year. Dr. Jon Epstein of the EcoHealth Alliance explains the evidence that revealed bats are the natural reservoir of the virus. Their research also shows the route of transmission to humans. Dr. Epstein and collaborators in Bangladesh are now monitoring bat populations throughout the country for the presence of the virus to identify human populations that might be at risk of transmission.
With support from the National Science Foundation, Lake Ecologist Jasmine Saros and her team from the University of Maine are gathering diatoms from the lake waters of southwestern Greenland. They are using the diatoms in their studies of how climate change is affecting this Arctic ecosystem. Diatoms are a type of algae that responds rapidly to environmental change. Diatom species generally associated with warmer conditions are increasing at unprecedented rates in the sediment record.
The 1960s world population has nearly doubled and now tops 7 billion. Population growth, though little discussed, is putting an unprecedented burden on the planet's life systems. Brings to light the connection between overpopulation and our most pressing environmental and humanitarian problems, as well as the solutions. Also, follows Beth, an American mother and child rights advocate, who grew up in a large family of 12 as she travels to Africa to witness first-hand the impact of population growth in the developing world and its role in exacerbating poverty. While there, she meets a young Ethiopian woman, Zinet, who comes from a poor family of 12, but has found the courage to break free from long-held cultural barriers holding back women. Features a broader discussion of the solutions to overpopulation in both the developed and developing world.
After the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago, populations of marine stickleback fish became stranded in freshwater lakes dotted throughout the Northern Hemisphere in places of natural beauty like Alaska and British Columbia. These little fish have adapted and thrive, living permanently in a freshwater environment drastically different than the ocean. Stickleback bodies have undergone a dramatic transformation, some populations completely losing long projecting body spines that defend them from large predators. Various scientists, including David Kingsley and Michael Bell, have studied living populations of threespine sticklebacks, identified key genes and genetic switches in the evolution of body transformation, and even documented the evolutionary change over thousands of years by studying a remarkable fossil record from the site of an ancient lake ten million years ago.
The gray seal population in the Northeast has risen due to protection policies enacted by the federal government. Due to the population increase, conservation biologists are conducting experiments by placing tracking devices on the seals. They are analyzing their diving history, travel patterns, and foraging habits.
What's the difference between a venom and a poison? Host Emily Graslie highlights some cool reptiles and amphibians and discusses how they use their natural toxins to stay ahead in the evolutionary arms race. Part of "The Brain Scoop" series.
Scholar Johan Norberg travels to New Zealand to find out how the Quota Management System has helped save fish populations. Thirty years ago, New Zealand fisheries were on the brink of disaster due to overfishing. Today, commercial fishing off New Zealand provides fish for consumers worldwide, an excellent livelihood for fishers, and a stronger, healthier ocean and fish population.
A chart of exponential growth shows that some things change faster over time. Back in 1798, Thomas Malthus noticed that not everything grows this way. This caused people to worry, and they were sure it would lead to massive death, starvation, and famine. However, the Green Revolution kept this from happening, and scientists are currently working to produce enough food for the current exploding population. Part of the “It’s Okay to Be Smart” series.
Working in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, Dr. Joyce Poole and colleagues make a striking observation: many female elephants lack tusks. Elephant tusks are important for obtaining food and water, and essential to male elephants for competing for mates. There is a strong natural selection for having tusks; however, Dr. Poole has discovered the proportion of tuskless elephants has increased in some populations. She explains possible reasons for the increase in the number of elephants lacking tusks.
The honeybee is vital to the pollination process and to the food supply. Agriculture depends on increasing the number of honeybees on farms, and scientists are studying ways to save and increase the honeybee population.
The unique hard bottom reefs off the coast of the Carolinas are home to a dynamic and delicately balanced ecosystem. A population of invasive lionfish has moved into the area. Their presence is disrupting this ecosystem and threatening the commercial fish industry.
United States Geological Survey geologist, Angie Diefenbach, describes how she uses GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software to study volcanic erupts and their impacts on society.
Dr. Jeffrey Friedman shows how leptin rewires neural circuits, and how population studies may identify obesity genes. Part of the 2004 Howard Hughes Holiday Lecture Series
Scientist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) conduct health check-ups on a group of manatees. The scientists conduct their research at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge to help further their population research on marine life in the Three Sisters Spring.
Speciation is the evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species. Topics covered in this episode include sympatric and allopatric speciation, as well as several different types of isolation. Part of "The Amoeba Sisters" series.
Drawn by a dense population of the largest bears in the world, wildlife expert Casey Anderson flies to Kodiak Island, Alaska. He wants to see firsthand how these predators hunt and compete during the annual salmon run. Part of the "Expedition Wild" series.
Students learn the fundamental principles of ecology. They distinguish between the different types of living and non-living things found in an ecosystem. Other terminology includes ecology, ecosystem, community, population, habitat, niche, biotic factors, abiotic factors, producer, consumer, decomposer, predator, prey, energy, and food chain.
It’s a fight for survival in Hawaii as rescuers work tirelessly to help the endangered monk seal population to recover. Then, a great blue heron is in grave danger after a soda can becomes stuck around its beak. Part of the Sea Rescue series.
Hawaii is a state in motion, formed by magma-spewing volcanoes that turn into basalt. The native population of Hawaii considers hot lava an instrument of creation even if it destroys everything in its path. Viewers trace the ever-changing landscape of the Hawaiian Islands due to the active tectonic forces of the region.
