Welcome back from your Christmas break. I know you are busy with exams but why not take a break to have a read through the latest edition of SEEN. Please have a scroll down and click on any links that you find interesting. Don’t forget to send your links to me, I still haven’t heard from a lot of you.
Date for your diary
For the last 2 years recent SBS graduates have been involved in collaborative projects with Southampton City Council and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. The findings from this year’s projects will be presented onWednesday 9th February from 2pm in Building 32/1015. The projects being presented are:
– the effect of lighting on Southampton Common on bats
– monitoring the great-crested newts on Southampton Common
– comparison of methods to enhance bumblebee diversity in agricultural environments
– comparison of artificial reptile refugia
– the extent and management of invasive non-native plants in the New Forest.
Involvement in the scheme has greatly enhanced the career prospects of previous researchers. Third years, please attend as we will be looking for researchers to continue the monitoring projects from June.
First and second years, you should also attend to find out more about volunteering, work experience, work placements and third year project opportunities with local organisations. Although graduation may seem a long way off employers will be interested to see what experiences you have gained at university, apart from your degree. It may also help you to decide on a career path after graduation.
In the news
Effect of Queensland Floods on the Great Barrier reef
Removing rats from Rat island. Over-use of poisons led to complete elimination of rats but also the loss of 420 birds
Sharks are colour blind
http://www.springerlink.com/content/05427357r3uw8q35/ original article
Identity bands on penguins reduce their survival
Pandas prefer old forest –> conservation implications
Allow change or work to keep things the same? The big question facing the National Parks in the US
We all now know that current agricultural practices have an impact on the environment and pose many animal welfare problems but the current methods are required in order to produce enough food for a growing global population. One answer could be to produce ‘fake’ meat
Another solution is to eat insects rather than vertebrates
Polar bears could be saved
Hybridisation of arctic species à decline in biodiversity
Lex sent me a link about a study performed at Bangor University which suggests an alternative explanation to mimicry for similarity in morphology between two different species https://inside.bangor.ac.uk/news/node/3150
Interesting articles
Social learning in black and white ruffed lemurs
Hermit crabs with stronger muscles are better at winning fights over shells
Link between environmental change, body mass and population size in yellow-bellied marmots
Chimps play with sticks
Meerkat traditions
Stag beetles – a novel technique has been suggested to estimate stag beetle populations
You can also get involved by completing a monitoring form – http://www.stagbeetlehelpline.co.uk/
Finally…
You are in the midst of revision and exams. A new study suggests that writing down your feelings about the exam will help you achieve a higher mark
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/01/want-to-ace-your-test-share-your.html?ref=hp – review with link to original article
Good luck!
Judith
Posted By : Judith Lock