Marine Biology @ UKZN

The genome sequence of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus has been said to open the doorway to a “nexus of pathways” to knowledge in molecular, evolutionary, and cell biology (Science 314, pp. 938 – 962) . Not only is it the first genome of a non-chordate deuterostome to be sequenced but also the first genome of any non-chordate marine animal sequenced. Deuterostomes are the group of animals to which both urchins and humans belong. The sea urchin genome casts in concrete the fact that evolutionary, sea urchins are more closely related to humans than are flies or worms.

Talking about harmony and balance in nature often connotes esotoric, airy-fairy ideologies. One can envision Gaia enthusiasts singly subtly the songs of nature while tied to the barks of trees... But, with the continual decline in biological diversity, this "balance" is in a very precarious position and scientists now strive to show empirically how biodiversity influences ecosystem function. In what was perhaps the most elaborate microcosm experiment of its kind, Wittebolle et al., (2009) demonstrate that a decline in species eveness (a sort of balance between species richness and abundance) results in the stability of net ecosystem function being strongly, and negatively influenced. This is of particular importance with the growing trend toward ecosystems being dominated by one or a few more tolerant species - which more than often happen to be alien invasives - as the human population exponentially expands.    

2140 cities in 82 countries, 5481 organisations, 7843 schools and 18783 businesses worldwide have committed to switching of their lights and other electrical appliances for one hour on 28th March 2009. Intiated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million people switched off their lights in a bid to spread the message of global  sustainability. This year, the aim is to reach more than one billion people in the first international VOTE EARTH campaign. This is a global call to action for every individual on the planet to turn off your lights and VOTE EARTH.

This is not an excercise in oxymoronic passive activism. People all over the world support this WWF initative not because they believe that turning of their lights and other electrical appliances for one hour is going to make a huge difference to the many looming crises that the planet faces. Instead, intiatives such as this get people talking, and more importantly, get important people thinking about important issues - like conserving our planet's dwindling resources. In doing so, programmes such as those to promote the use of solar energy are given the requisite attention, and ultimately, the funding needed to get things out of the minds of people and into the world.

Pledge your support to Earth Hour by spreading the word and VOTE EARTH by switching of all your lights and other appliances on the 28th of March 2009 from 8h30 - 9h30pm. This simple action will deliver a powerful global message that we care enough about climate change to take action to reduce our greenhouse gases. For more information, visit www.earthhour.org 

"Only after the last tree has been cut; only after the last river has been poisoned; only after the last fish has been caught, will you realise that you cannot eat your money." - Cree Indian proverb

Most people are familiar with the controversy surrounding the culling of elephants because of their damaging effects to vegetation and indirectly, to the communities (both vertebrate and invertebrate) associated with this vegetation. If nothing else, this debate brought to the fore how little we know about these megaherbivores and more so, our insubstantial grasp of ecosystem-based management. Now, all sights turn to the oceans, as more and more coastal  countries call for the culling of whales, convinced that these mammals are responsible for declining fishery yields. But, is this really so? Gerber et al., (2009) report on the negligible effects of whale diets on fishery stocks and this brings into question the true intent of the "whales-eat-fish" advocates.