The underappreciated benefits of wild bees
By sandland on September 18, 2023
The underappreciated benefits of wild bees
Image of bee on purple flower. Photo credit: Ron Whitaker / Unsplash via Free Think
September 14, 2023
More than 80 percent of flowering plants depend on insect pollinators to reproduce. When pollinators visit flowers — which act as the plants’ reproductive organs — to eat their nutritious pollen and nectar, the insects inadvertently transport the pollen between plants, which fertilizes the blooms, leading to fruit and seed formation.
But all of the benefits provided by native bees may be at risk, says Claire Kremen, a conservation biologist at the University of British Columbia. In an assessment of nearly half of all bumblebee species, scientists estimated that a third of those studied were in decline.
Read the full article at Free Think
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By sandland on September 18, 2023
‘Needle in a haystack’: Experts say finding daycare E. coli outbreak source complex.
Image of E. coli bacteria.
September 13, 2023
As of Tuesday, there have been 264 lab-confirmed cases of the bacterial infection since the outbreak at 11 Calgary daycares was declared Sept. 4. Twenty-five patients were in hospital, with 22 having hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication affecting the blood and kidneys. Six patients were on dialysis at Alberta Children’s Hospital.
Siyun Wang, associate professor of food safety engineering at the University of British Columbia, said E. coli outbreak investigations are like criminal investigations— it involves interviewing people, gathering evidence and waiting for lab test results.
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By sandland on September 6, 2023
Canadians want urgent climate action, but cost of living stands in the way: poll
Image of people paddleboarding in a smoky area, with wildfire burning in the background. Image credit to video in Global News article.
September 1, 2023
Dr. Kai Chan (Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability; Institute for Oceans and Fisheries) commented on a poll about climate change action.
Dr. Chan said attitudes about climate change have only become more entrenched over time as people find “in-crowds” who support their beliefs. “Those dynamics can be really strong and they can really prevent even personal experience from connecting to facts, to connecting to arguments,” he said.
Read the full article at Global News
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By sandland on September 6, 2023
BC farmers are at the mercy of climate change, and things look grim
Dry farmland in BC. Credit: Julia Smith
August 25, 2023
Land and food systems professor Dr. Sean Smukler said no one grasps the fact that if we don’t deal with climate change now, the next generation can’t deal with it.
“We are facing a climate emergency and we’re pretending like it’s something that’s for the next generation to deal with,” said Smukler.
Read the full article at Rabble, and listen to the podcast version here
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By sandland on August 17, 2023
Trash pandas: Volunteer your backyard for a UBC raccoon study
Raccoon sticking its tongue out
August 14, 2023
Professor Dr. Sarah Benson-Amram (forestry; science) and graduate student Hannah Griebling (forestry) are looking to learn more about how raccoons’ brains work.
“We are very interested in trying to understand how raccoons are able to live in cities alongside people, and we think that cognition, or their intelligence, may be one of the main reasons why they’re so successful,” said Benson-Amram.
If you are interested in volunteering your yard, email urban.wildlife [at] ubc.ca
CTV News via iHeart Radio; Global News via CFOX, Rock 101, Magic 106.1
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By sandland on August 8, 2023
Successfully managing forests must include stewarding the hidden life belowground
Retention forestry in a Douglas-fir forest on Vancouver Island, in which 40 mature living trees were retained per hectare. (Government of British Columbia),
August 7, 2023
Forestry professors Drs. Cindy Prescott and Sue Grayston say forest-harvesting practices that retain living trees throughout the harvested area sustain belowground life.
“Half of the biodiversity in forests is unseen because it lives belowground.”
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By sandland on August 1, 2023
Children in food-insecure homes visit doctors, ER more than peers, study says
Emergency Room Sign
July 24, 2023
Jennifer Black commented on a study that found children without a reliable food source make more visits to doctors and emergency departments.
“The toll food insecurity takes on families is clear,” Dr. Black said.
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By sandland on August 1, 2023
How to keep the fun and ditch the food poisoning this summer
Image of some food on a grill. Photo credits: UBC News
July 21, 2023
Enjoying food outdoors with family and friends is a quintessential summer activity, but foodborne pathogens can thrive in the summer heat and humidity.
Dr. Siyun Wang, a food safety researcher and professor in the faculty of land and food systems, shares her top tips for safely consuming our favourite foods this summer.
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By sandland on July 21, 2023
For these researchers, an ideal summer night is spent chasing bats through Vancouver’s parks
A wild bat is pictured at Vanier Park in Vancouver on July 11.(Gian Paolo Mendoza/CBC)
July 24, 2023
Researchers Dr. Matthew Mitchell (CSFS Associate and Land and Food Systems) and Aaron Aguirre (Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability) are monitoring bats in B.C. to protect them from white-nose syndrome.
Read the full article at CBC
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By sandland on July 19, 2023
B.C. drought: ‘If you’re using water you don’t need right now, it’s cutting into your food security’
Image of two people working at the UBC Farm (Photo Credits: UBC Farm)
July 14, 2023
Director of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and Land and Food Systems professor Dr. Sean Smukler said we need to start investing in infrastructure for B.C.’s future climate.
“The challenge is that we need to start building the infrastructure for the climate of the next 30 to 100 years,” he said. “The public needs to understand the need to invest tax dollars in these projects so our kids can have local fruit and vegetables.”
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