photo of Mycena lucentipes.
Credit: Cassius V. Stevani, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo
Glowing Mushrooms
In the last remaining, old growth Atlantic Forest habitat in southern Brazil there are mushrooms that glow with a ghoulish, yellowish-green luminescence! In a utterly dark forest, amidst creepy spiders and venomous snakes, intrepid scientists -- lead by San Francisco State University Mycologist Dennis Desjardin -- are studying several species of mushrooms that create their own light.
One species they discovered looked like a field of stars on the forest floor. In keeping with their appearance, they named the species, Mycena asterina or tiny stars mushroom. Further into the forest they encountered a moss-covered Eugenia tree aglow with mushrooms of Gerronema viridilucens, another new species. And next to the tree on a fallen log is a luminescent Mycena fera. On just one night, the researchers discovered eight different species of luminescent mushrooms, more than is known from any single site anywhere in the world.
The researchers' project, funded by the National Science Foundation, is to document the diversity of Agaricales (mushroom-forming fungi) in tropical forests and to study the evolutionary relationships amongst them. One component of the research is to understand more about bioluminescent fungi. Interestingly, only 65 species in the entire Fungi Kingdom of around 9,000 species are known to be luminescent. All of these known luminescent species are mushrooms that digest both the cellulose and lignin in plant debris. The greatest diversity occurs in the tropics, although a few species grow in temperate habitats. The luminescent fungi glow constantly, emitting a yellowish-green light at a wavelength of 520-530 nanometers. Not all parts of the mushroom glow -- in some species, it is only the cap or the gills that glow, in others only the stem. In some species the mushrooms do not glow at all, but the fine, thread-like filaments (called mycelium)--from which the mushrooms develop -- glow brightly.
Why do they glow?
According to Desjardin, the data suggests that some mushrooms glow to attract nocturnal animals to aid them with spore dispersal. Most mushrooms use the wind to disperse their spores. The technique glowing mushrooms seem to be using is somewhat like the way other species use birds or insects to disperse seeds. This is a special adaptation to closed-canopy forests where wind dispersal is hindered.
He reports that other species of mushrooms glow to attract the predators of insects that eat the mushrooms. In other words, they found a way to cooperate with the enemy of their enemies. Desjardin also admits that some species glow for reasons that are still unexplained.
When is a neotropical skipper butterfly not a neotropical skipper butterfly? When the "species" is actually 10 distinct different species!
Cryptic species – animals that appear identical but are genetically quite distinct – may be much more widespread than previously thought. The findings could have major implications in areas ranging from biodiversity estimates and wildlife management, to our understanding of infectious diseases and evolution.
According to an article by Phil McKenna posted on NewScientist.com, scientists had previously speculated that cryptic species were predominantly found in insects and reptiles, and were more likely to occur in tropical rather than temperate regions. Instead, thanks to relatively inexpensive DNA sequencing technology, cryptic animal species are found in equal proportions throughout all major branches of the animal kingdom and occur in equal numbers in all biogeographical regions.
Markus Pfenninger and Klaus Schwenk, of the Goethe-Universitat in Frankfurt, Germany, analysed the data and Pfenninger states, "Species that are seemingly widespread and abundant could in reality be many different cryptic species that have low populations and are highly endangered."
Examples of cryptic species include the African elephant. A 2001 study found the elephants were actually two genetically distinct, non-interbreeding species, the African bush elephant and the African elephant. The species are currently listed as vulnerable and threatened, respectively, by the World Conservation Union.
Source: The NewScientist
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Never Say, "Nevermore!"
Crows are found everywhere on the planet except Antarctica. They are familiar visitors to our homes, live in our cities and raid crops. Anyone that has looked into their beady little eyes can attest that there is something going on in that corvid brain that is quite amazing. In fact, crows are very smart and not only can learn very fast, but also teach what they've learned to each other in a semblance of cultural exchange.
Joshua Klein devised a way to observe crows as they learn by experimenting with a machine that vended peanut treats. In the experiment, the crows not only learned how the machine worked, but they solved a series of problems that gradually became more difficult. In fact, the crows efforts far exceeded the abilities of the equally common gray squirrels. They seemed to enjoy the challenge and worked to solve whatever problems which were presented.
While teaching a crow to use a vending machine may seem a small feat, it actually could pave the way for teaching crows to do tasks that could make a difference in our environment. Klein believes that crows could be taught to clean up litter, assist in search and rescue, and perform a number of other tasks that could benefit humankind and the planet as a whole -- all while enjoying a mental challenge.
According to a report in The New Scientist, up to a quarter of fish in stores and restaurants in New York City was mislabelled as a more expensive variety. The samples were collected by two teenage students and tested with genetic "barcoding" methods. It was the first known student use of DNA barcoding technology in a public market.
According to the tests which were revealed in August, two of the worst cases included endangered Acadian redfish from the North Atlantic being passed off as red snapper from the southeast United States and Caribbean. In other samples, fish from a sushi restaurant called "white tuna" turned out to be Mozambique tilapia, a cheaper variety often raised on fish farms. One restaurant offered "Mediterranean red mullet" but the DNA matched spotted goatfish from the Caribbean. The project did not give the names of the restaurants and shops since it was unclear if they were knowingly to blame or had been deceived by suppliers.
"We never expected these results. People should get what they pay for," said Kate Stoeckle, 18, of the project with Louisa Strauss, 17.
The two classmates from New York's Trinity school collected and sent off 60 fish samples to the University of Guelph in Canada. Of 56 samples that could be identified by the DNA barcoding identification technique, 14 were mislabelled and in all of these cases, the fish was labelled as a more costly variety. These results would certainly suggest a deliberate intent to defraud consumers.
DNA detectives
"We really like sushi and we'd take home fish samples and put them in alcohol," Stoeckle said of fish bought in shops and restaurants in Upper Manhattan.
Stoeckle's father Mark is an expert in genetic barcoding – a system that produces a unique readout of a species' genes similar to the black and white barcode stripes often used to identify items sold in shops.
"Americans spend an estimated $70 billion per year on seafood and we think authorities should do routine DNA barcoding of fish," Louisa Strauss said in a statement. Costs of barcoding only cost tens of dollars per sample.
More at stake than just fraud
The findings raise questions about the management of fish stocks, under pressure from overfishing and facing new threats such as climate change. "It bears on a number of issues – food safety, fraud and protection of endangered species," said Bob Hanner of the University of Guelph, who oversaw the analysis of samples.
Scientists have catalogued barcodes for about 46,000 animal species so far. The barcoders are looking to raise $150 million to create 5 million records from 500,000 animal species by 2014 - at a cost of $30 each.
Source: The New Scientist
Cooperating Our Way to Planetary Health
Cooperation is an intentional way to express the living connections that exist in the natural world. When we choose to cooperate with the living systems within our body we can find or regain our health.
The Amazon Conservation Team or ACT, is supporting an innovative program for the integration of traditional medicine in Suriname in which tribal healers operate and direct traditional medicine clinics built alongside primary care health facilities. Since the program's inception in 2000, traditional healers of two Trio villages practice on equal footing with western-trained health workers. Operating at the interface of western medicine, shamanistic healing, public health, and conservation, ACT's Northeast Amazon Ethnomedicine Program has been recognized by UNESCO/Nuffic as a Best Practice for Indigenous Knowledge. ACT is also a 2003 World Bank Development Marketplace Global Competition winner.
This organization recognizes the vital importance of shamanic systems. As such, these kinds of programs have other benefits. When native peoples are acculturated, they can lose centuries of knowledge within a generation. This includes the remarkable plant medicine wisdom that was accumulated over millennia. ACT helps support shamans so they can continue practicing their traditional medicine and are able to transmit their knowledge to the next generation.
There are secondary benefits to this support. Outside financial support "legitimizes" traditional practices for the native people who are already acculturating into Western lifestyles. Since the intact forest plays a vital role in the practices of the shaman -- it's where medicines "grow" -- the rain forest itself is seen as important and worth preserving. When you conserve the forest the people, animals and birds that depend upon it will thrive, too.
This is just one example of how when we cooperate with other people and other species, we can preserve the diversity of our planet and enrich our own existence in the process.
Sources:
The Amazon Conservation Team
National Wildlife Federation
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