Monthly Archives: April 2023

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22^nd each year to help raise awareness and advocate for change surrounding issues regarding the planet. The creation of Earth Day was brought about in 1970 as a celebration of the modern environmental movement. Leading up to the creation of Earth Day, Americans had been slowly adding to a growing pollution crisis (both air and water) across the nation. The release of Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962 brought about change and awareness around the world. Her book raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment, and the unseen, unbreakable bond between pollution and the ongoing public health crisis. Until this point, individuals worldwide remained largely oblivious to these environmental concerns and how the polluted environment threatens the health of all organisms on the planet.  

The first Earth Day was spurred on by protests started by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin after witnessing a massive oil spill in Santa Barbra, CA. He utilized the energy of students through the anti-war protests and fused it with their growing knowledge and concerns regarding air and water pollution. This growing event created a positive response nationwide bringing together 20 million Americans with demonstrations to help solve these global issues. The impact was seen throughout the nation and led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passing of various environmental laws in the following years. These laws have protected millions of individuals from disease and death and have protected hundreds of species from extinction by working to protect the species themselves and the habitats in which they live. 

Today, Earth Day is widely recognized as “the largest secular observance in the world”, marked as a day to create change through global, national, and local movements by millions of individuals worldwide. The social and cultural movements that were seen in 1970 are rising again today with a new generation of young people wanting to help make change. Digital spaces and social media, in addition to in-person events and movements, are being used and are allowing these conversations to reach a global audience. The use of social media unites concerned citizens and is allowing different generations to take on these larger global issues together. This goes to show that these are not issues concerning only our local communities or nations but are instead global problems that need to be addressed to ensure the survival of our planet.   

Sources Used:  

Earth Day: The Official Site | EARTHDAY.ORG 

Bat appreciation day commemorates these wonderful animals that provide such fundamental roles in the ecosystems in which they live. There are more than 1,300 species of bats around the world which makes them the second most common mammal species after rodents. These animals play vital ecological roles in the ecosystem. From acting as pollinators to pest control, and many other roles in between, bats are valuable organisms with a large diversity amongst the species and need to be protected. Insect-eating bats are reported to eat millions of insects a night and act as a natural insect control for both humans and plants. Nectar-drinking and fruit-eating bats help pollinate various types of plants and fruit species. Here in the US, bat populations are on the decline due to human activities. Bat species in general are threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation that is happening around the world. Many bat species live in and around forests and rely upon trees as shelter and protection.  

Another threat includes white-nose syndrome which is a fungal disease that has been killing off many bats here in North America. White-nose syndrome causes high death rates which in turn leads to a rapid population decline among bat species that are affected. White-nose syndrome is a fungal infection that spreads during hibernation months in different ways (physical contact with an affected bat, infected surfaces on caves or mines, or human exposure through cross-contamination on gear or clothing). Hibernating bats affected by this wake up to warm temperatures more frequently, which results in the overuse of fat reserves which can cause starvation before spring arrives. Conservation work to help protect and increase bat populations includes the installation of bat houses which help provide shelter for bat populations. The continuation of bat research which includes population studies hopes to ensure bat populations around the country continue to grow.  

Another way we can help bat populations is by spreading bat awareness. As spring approaches, bat roosting (nesting) occurs which is a very vulnerable time for female bats. April 15^th starts the beginning of roosting season here in Florida, so be aware of roosting bats in your area. Bats tend to roost in more natural areas but can favor man-made structures during this maternity season. This is important to note because during this season it is illegal to exclude bats from structures during this vulnerable time. Due to this, protections for bats in structures are also included in the rule for Taking Nuisance Wildlife. This rule does not allow the use of pesticides or poisons for the purpose of harming, killing, or deterring bats. It is also illegal to touch or interact with bats that are injured, sick, or dead. If you are having issues with roosting bats, please reach out to the FWC (listed below) here in Florida or your local wildlife center for help and other resources.  

Resources Used:  

Bats, facts and photos (nationalgeographic.com) 

Living With Bats | FWC (myfwc.com) 

What Is White-nose Syndrome? (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) 

World Aquatic Animal Day on April 3^rd is dedicated to raising global awareness about aquatic animals. These fascinating animals play a crucial role in ecosystems around the globe. However, they are also used by the human population for various reasons and are harmed in different ways by human activities such as commercial fishing and entertainment. These types of activities disrupt the natural ecosystem by removing these vital organisms and destroying natural habitats. This has especially become a big issue with commercial fisheries. The practices used in some of these fisheries have caused major damage to the marine ecosystem by damaging marine habitat and removing fish and other organisms at an unsustainable rate leading to population decline. Other things that cause harm within the marine ecosystem include human waste (trash and fecal matter) by affecting the chemistry of the water making it unsafe for these organisms. Below I have highlighted some marine organisms that are used for human research or are at risk because of human practices.  

• Horseshoe Crabs 

• Horseshoe crabs are ancient organisms (around 300 million years old) that play a vital role in the ecosystem where they live. The eggs females lay are a major food source for many shorebirds living and migrating along the coast. You can find these “living fossils” in brackish water along the east coast of the United States. Horseshoe crabs are threatened by habitat loss and overharvesting. They are harvested for their blood which is utilized in medical research and for bait among fisheries. There have been successful efforts made to replace the use of their blood within the medical field by using synthetic blood instead of the blood of a wild animal (which is also more sustainable).  

• Live Fish 

• Fish species all over the world have been exposed to population decline due to commercial fishery practices. These practices include overfishing, meaning these fisheries take more fish out of the ecosystem than can be naturally replaced which leads to a severe population decline. Some fishing practices can also lead to bycatch or the catching of other organisms other than the intended catch. Unfortunately, these organisms are not always able to be put back into the ecosystem. Organizations such as NOAA have been working to help regulate and improve fishing practices nationwide.  

• Sea Turtles 

• Sea turtles have been a large topic of issue with conservation groups since they play such a vital role in the marine environment. Sea turtles help maintain the health of ecosystems including coral reefs and seagrass beds. Many sea turtle species worldwide are at risk of becoming extinct due to many different things. From the hunting of sea turtles for their shells to the harvesting of sea turtle eggs and meat, to the entanglement of many sea turtles within trash, sea turtle populations have been declining. Many efforts worldwide have been made to help save sea turtle populations by working directly with communities to help find other income sources and helping to educate the public about sea turtle conservation.