HELPING THE MUSEUM SPREAD ITS MESSAGE

Teachers or others interested in making their own branch of the Museums of Endangered Ocean Life, get in touch. We can help you find ways of helping kids create their own works of art and science that get posted in the museum, worldwide!

More importantly, we can help kids find ways to truly make a difference, no matter where they live. There is always something to do to make the world a better place, a healthier place, and more fun too. Fred can help put smiles on faces - faces of happier kids with new purpose in a new year!

Become a FRIEND OF FRED and help spread the word about those who help endangered species. Invite Fred to your school. He will bring lots of good information and connect you with others.

More information at whalemail@waypoint.com

Facing Future Explained

EXTINCT means gone, pau, from all places. Example, the O'o is extinct from its former forests in Hawaii. They no longer exist.

EXTIRPATEDmeans gone from a given area. Example, Grizzly Bears were extirpated from California about 1925. They still exist.

ENDANGERED means that a species is nearing extinction unless actions are taken immediately to save them. It is usually a legal term associated with the Endangered Species Act, but because this is a political tool, it does not always reflect accurate science. Example: the Hawaiian Monk Seal is endangered and will likely become extinct.

THREATENED means that a species is likely to near extinction and become endangered unless actions are taken to protect it and its habitat. Example: Bald Eagles were threatened but have been removed from this list due to habitat protection and reductions in use of chemicals such as DDT.

SPECIES OF CONCERN: Many states have lists that include species not covered under federal protection as endangered or threatened. These may be species extirpated from the state, but present in greater numbers in neighboring areas.

Unfortunately, no reasonable approach has been worked out to list endangered habitats, the primary living space for all life forms. To many scientists, the entire Arctic is now endangered. Imagine, as Richard Ellis says, "If Australia were suddenly to disappear, don't you think we would wake up and do something?" Well, we are losing an area about the size and importance of Australia as the Arctic disappears, transforming due to climate change and taking with it the Polar Bears, Bowhead Whales, and Peoples dependent on that vast ecosystem.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

ALIENS KEEP US FROM LANDING



What do you see when you look at this photo?

Black-footed Albatrosses.
Marine Debris, definite threat to much ocean life.

Look closer.
The birds rest within native beach morning glories
here on Pihemanu (aka Midway).

Behind them are other natives, naupaka lining the backshore for one.

And, those yellow flowers????

The yellow flowers belong to one of the greatest threats to Albatrosses.
Verbesina.
This introduced plant covers wide swaths of the small islands
where Albatrosses nest, or try to nest.

Some of you have wondered why upland plants and animals
are part of the museum...........it's about all the needs of the ocean
and ocean life.

Verbesina was likely brought to Midway, accidentally
on the tracks of construction equipment during WWII.
It grows rapidly and forms dense "forests" up to ten feet tall.
It only needs a day of rain to keep it climbing higher for an entire month.

It has adapted well to the sandy soil on these islands and it covers once
ideal albatross nesting habitat. The birds are simply unable to penetrate the
thickets and where they do nest in Verbesina areas, nesting success is
reduced, partly because adults returning with food have a more
difficult time finding their young.

Greg Schubert lives and works tirelessly
to rid Pihemanu of Verbesina. He and occasional volunteers
pull up Verbesina, outplanting natives that are outcompeting the alien invader.
Stay tuned for progress he is making and for the many attempts to
restore native plants in the main Hawaiian Islands where
more endangered plants occur per unit area
than any other place on earth.


You can help by joining Friends of Midway

You can also help by planting and encouraging protection of
NATIVE PLANTS
in your own watershed no matter where you live.      


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