Ecology & Zoology

So, it's a bit tricky to figure out exactly what this means, but it could be big news for Humboldt squid in Chile--and therefore Humboldt squid everywhere, since the ocean doesn't exactly control immigration. Jumbo squid fishery requested to be a ...

Blog Post - Danna Staaf - Aug 26 2011 - 7:25pm

Asian Longhorned Beetle Puts New England Maple Trees At Risk

Results from the first study of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) in forests show that the invasive insect can easily spread from tree-lined city streets to neighboring forests. Successful ALB eradication efforts in Chicago, and ongoing eradication effor ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 29 2011 - 10:27am

Even Dead Squid Can Get Sick

Newfoundland and Labrador (which is a single Canadian state province, in case any of my readers are as clueless as I was am) claims to have the highest concentration of preserved dead giant squid anywhere in the world. I'm pretty sure that's not ...

Blog Post - Danna Staaf - Sep 1 2011 - 12:40am

Squid Boat Sunk in Southern California

Yikes! It's always interesting to have a reminder that the wild ocean remains wild, and taking a boat to sea is an entirely different matter from taking a car to the store: A Coast Guard statement says they were aboard the 61-foot squid boat Midnight ...

Blog Post - Danna Staaf - Sep 1 2011 - 11:30pm

Circus of the Spineless #65!

I know, I know! This is totally a cop-out blog post. But I've been super busy compiling the latest Circus of the Spineless, which I'm hosting over at my homepage, the Cephalopodiatrist. There's some squiddy goodness there, along with plenty ...

Blog Post - Danna Staaf - Sep 5 2011 - 6:40pm

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a proven, cost-effective strategy to combat pest problems without unnecessary pesticides. By correcting conditions that lead to pest problems and using least-toxic pesticides only when necessary, IPM provides more effect ...

Blog Post - Anonymous - Sep 8 2011 - 10:52am

Squid Keep 'Em Guessing Around The World

I know I keep talking about the incredible unpredictability of squids, but it's an endlessly fascinating topic! Every time you think you've got them figured out, they surprise you--and I'd say that goes for pretty much all squid species. Of ...

Article - Danna Staaf - Sep 7 2011 - 6:28pm

Will Shark Decline Cause Squid Swarms?

An interesting fellow is doing an interesting thing. Scott Cassell aims to "raise awareness around the detrimental state of the ocean along the Southern California coastline" with a specific focus on the decline of sharks. Says Cassell, If we l ...

Article - Danna Staaf - Sep 9 2011 - 7:03pm

Laccognathus Embryi- New Species Of Ancient Predatory Fish Discovered

A new species of large predatory fish named Laccognathus embryi that prowled ancient North American waterways during the Devonian Period, before backboned animals existed on land, has been announced. The Devonian Period (415 to 360 million years ago) is o ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 12 2011 - 10:20am

Science 2.0 Win: Citizen Scientist In Brazil Discovers A Plant That 'Bows'

A new plant species is appropriately named Spigelia genuflexa because after fruits are formed, the fruiting branches 'bend down' and deposit the capsules with seeds on the ground and sometimes burying them in the soft cover of moss, a phenomeno ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 20 2011 - 5:21pm