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Do Marine Reserves Provide a Buffer Against the Ravages of Climate Change? Yes, say experts!

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by Larry Powell An international team of scientists  is calling for more marine reserves  as a way to lessen the impact of manmade climate change.  The researchers believe, even if greenhouse gases are reduced in order to meet targets set out in the Paris Climate Accord, life on Earth will still face “serious stress and damage.” So more still needs to be done.  A blue rockfish in the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary.  NOAA Photo Library Marine reserves are areas of ocean where fishing and development are declared illegal.  They’ve been shown to result in greater biodiversity, density, mass and size among fish and other marine life living there.  Yet only a very small percentage of the world’s oceans have been set aside for this purpose. The team suggests, well-managed marine reserves would help people adapt to “five prominent impacts” of climate change. These are; ocean  acidification, sea-level rise, worsening storms, the distribution of marine life and decreas

Song diversity hints at thrushes' evolutionary past

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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY Photo by Matt MacGillivray The Hermit Thrush is famous for its melodiously undulating song, but we know very little about whether its songs vary across the large swath of North America that it calls home in the summer. A new study from "The Auk" provides the first thorough overview of geographic variation in Hermit Thrush song structure and hints at how isolation and adaptation shape differences in the tunes of a learned song within a species. Details here.

Climate change and the world’s oceans

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UN News Centre NOAA photo centre. The vital link between oceans and climate change is among the issues at the forefront of discussions at the United Nations Ocean Conference taking place in New York from 5 to 9 June.  Story here.

It's World Oceans Day. Tell Canada to Protect Them.

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Canada should keep its 10 per cent marine protection promise Dear Larry,  I’ve loved oceans my whole life. So I’m watching as world leaders gather in New York this week to discuss how to conserve and sustainably use them. Canada’s government is starting to take action on its 10 per cent marine protection commitment. But with less than one per cent protected, there’s still a long way to go. Please encourage the federal government to meet its targets while creating high-quality protection for orcas, belugas, salmon, puffins and more.  Send your letter to government now . Protect oceans now

Italy rebuked for failure to prevent olive-tree tragedy

nature European Commission reveals widespread delays by the country’s authorities to halt spread of deadly plant disease. Story here.

Coming Soon. Planet in Peril Will Soon Provide You With a Valuable Insight Into the Impact Rising Sea Levels are Already Having on Canada. (Video Preview)