Amphibians and Reptiles are disappearing

The European Adder (from Wikipedia)

The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) Trust have released a worrying report naming the species that are becoming rarer in the UK. The population of adders which are native to this country is declining rapidly and the populations of slow worms, common lizards, grass snakes,common toads, common frogs and great crested newts are also becoming more rare. Some of the endangered species already have high levels of protection but this does not apply to some of the species that are considered more common. The plight of the adder is one which must be looked at. While this species was once very common in the UK, it is now one of the rarest widespread reptiles and is in need of serious conservation attention.

The only good news given by the report is of the palmate newt which is actually increasing its range and becoming more common.This is thought to indicate changes in the quality of Britain's ponds as palmate newts prefer acidic pools which are now common from acid rain fall and agricultural run off which are major problems associated with pollution. However the main problem which is thought to be effecting the populations of amphibians and reptiles is habitat fragmentation.

Elephants Know About Cooperation

A new study has suggested that elephants know when they need help from another. The study, led by Dr Joshua Plotnik from the University of Cambridge, tested Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) using a table with food on which was attached to two pieces of rope. The elephants quickly learned that pulling on the piece of rope without a helper caused the rope to fall on the floor and therefore the table was not pulled closer. This advanced grasp of the need to work together indicates that elephants belong to an "elite group of intelligent animals". Studies such as this one can be really helpful in developing conservation programs for endangered animals such as these. Read more on this story here.

Zombie Ants

Picture from The Guardian website

Fungi have been discovered in Brazilian jungles which infect ants, take over their bodies and ensure that they die in a place that is a perfect position for the fungus to grow and breed. This leaves "zombie" ant corpses, like the one above, with their mandibles attached to leaf veins which are the perfect place for spores to be released. Victims of this fungus (named Ophiocordyceps) have been found from up to 150 years ago but the mechanism involved has only just been discovered. Ants either find the spores on the floor of the forest or they fall on the ants from above. In seven days the fungus grows and releases chemicals which make the ant wander off and bite onto a leaf vein, usually in a place which is perfect for fungal growth. The ant dies moments after, leaving behind a vessel from which the fungus shoots is spores during the night.

Just another example of the marvellous ways in which fungi spread their spores (remember the glow in the dark fungi?).