Environment – Page 2 – TINA CHIARELLI, PHD, FRGS

Let’s Hear it for Arthropods!

September 11th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

Like a lot of you, I used to be quite fearful of a number of arthropod species. That was until one chance encounter with an Argiope aurantia named Matilda and a visit to the Cockrell Butterfly Center in Houston. The biggest problem with fear is that it clouds our understanding. Although a lot of arthropods have the potential to act as disease vectors, the vast majority actually helps rather than harms humans. A big misconception is that arthropods are just insects. The word insect simply implies six legs. Regardless of leg number, there are over 1,000,000 species of arthropods. This …

The Future of Our Oceans and Beaches

August 15th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

Recently, my husband and I had the opportunity to travel across the southern gulf coast of the United States. The anticipation of visiting new shorelines and wildlife inhabiting these areas was almost too much. However, what we actually found was dismal and sad. It appears that humans have left their mark on the beaches in the form of refuse. Plastic containers and bags, glass bottles, abandoned tents and sun shades, and general debris littered hundreds of miles, if not more, of beach. Although it was obvious that a bit of the garbage had washed up during high tide, it was …

Making Everyday Earth Day

April 22nd, 2012tinalc0 Comments

Happy Earth Day! Initiated in 1970, Earth Day is an annual event encouraging people around the world to make their lives a little more greener. By doing so, people conserve resources and help ensure that what we have today will be here tomorrow. With hundreds, if not thousands, of ideas that can help to reduce our footprint, what will you do to celebrate Earth Day? Recycling initiatives are common place today. The well known Reduce, Reuse, Recycle or the 3Rs program helps to reduce either by reusing or recycling items. Rubbish cleanup events follow suit along highways or in natural …

The Importance of Citizen Scientists

April 14th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

As science itself evolves, a new way of conducting research is emerging. Although a newly coined phrase, Citizen Scientists have been around for a very long time, lending a helping hand to researchers around the globe. Although these individuals may lack a formal education, what they do not lack is passion and enthusiasm. Participation of Citizen Scientists essential allows scientists to be in millions of places at one time; observing wildlife, recording behaviors, and biological sample collection is but a few things they do. One of the original programs initiated by Citizen Scientists was bird watching. Although a hobby for …

The Changing Face of Poaching

March 11th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

In the past, poaching of wildlife for bushmeat or sale of animal products was typically carried out by people living locally to wildlife habitats. Particularly in severely impoverished areas, poaching was done to feed and support families. In the last few years the face of poaching has changed. Poaching has become very sophisticated utilizing GPS, helicopters, and tranquilizers instead of tracking animals on foot and using snares or automatic weapons. Rangers, veterinarians, and researchers who have sworn to protect and conserve vulnerable and endangered species are the very ones who are now participating in their demise. Carcasses are left to …

Wildlife Management: To Cull or Not to Cull?

February 26th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

I have always thought that “Wildlife Management” was a loose term. Regardless of geographical location, wildlife lives in fragmented habitats, held inside imaginary borders meant to protect and conserve. It is a daily struggle for humans and wild animals to co-exist. As the human population continues to increase, wildlife is pushed to the edge of extinction. Animals are culled to keep numbers in check according to management plans, as well as illegally poached for their parts or killed out of ignorance and fear. So what does it mean to manage wildlife? In the early 1900s, the United States government initiated …

Invasion of the Habitat Snatchers

January 21st, 2012tinalc0 Comments

Non-native or invasive species are finding their way into ecosystems all around the world. Regardless if they are being purposefully introduced by biologists to predate on a more destructive non-native or to enhance a biological area, or if they are being released by irresponsible pet owners, non-natives threaten native species. More importantly, invasive species not only pose a risk to native plants and animals through displacement, competition, or predation, but also by the possible introduction of disease. One of the most well-known stories of a non-native invasion is the cane toad of Australia. Brought to Australia in 1935, the cane …

Sharing Space With Wildlife

January 13th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

One of the first things we are taught as children is to be mindful of traffic. We know all too well the consequences of running across a busy street; doing so with blatant disregard would be considered suicide. Therefore, it is well established that roadways are the automobiles area, and we respect that. So why don’t we give the same caution in regards to wildlife? Why would we dare swim in crocodile territory in North Queensland, Australia? Why would we hike through Grizzly bear habitat without taking extreme precaution? Or why would we walk within meters of a wild elephant …

A New Year For Conservation

December 30th, 2011tinalc0 Comments

Like years past, 2011 has been full of both triumph and loss. Precious habitat was saved. Conservationists continued to educate and inspire others to help preserve our natural world. In addition, new plant and animal species were discovered; however, a few were also considered to now be extinct. With all of our great accomplishments over the last 365 days, I believe we can do better. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all interconnected to each and every living thing on this planet. All of our actions, good or bad, have an effect on others. I meet …

Peace and Place For All

December 23rd, 2011tinalc0 Comments

When I first began working in the field of wildlife conservation I was very naïve. It was so easy to come up with solutions to habitat loss and species survival when humans were not factored into the equation. It was so very simple to point an accusatory finger. Part of the learning curve in this line of work is to understand that for every person who carries out atrocities against wildlife and their habitat, there are at least five that want to save them. In addition, identifying the driving force behind such horrific events is just as much of the …