Latest news with #CaliforniaAcademyofSciences
CBS News
5 days ago
- Science
- CBS News
Relative of extinct Xerces butterfly helps restore California habitat destroyed in its demise
A butterfly that went extinct decades ago after the destruction of its Bay Area habitat is now the driving force behind its restoration with the help of a close relative now fluttering in its terrain. At the Presidio in San Francisco, researchers, community scientists, and park officials gathered recently in hopes of filling a vacancy at a newly restored sand dune habitat with prospective new residents. It's taken 30 years to restore these dune habitats. Now, another historic effort is underway to restore another lost treasure. Scientists are hoping the silvery blue, a small butterfly native to North America, will take up residence and perform a critical function once done by the extinct Xerces blue. Professor Durrell Kapan, senior research fellow with the California Academy of Sciences, heads up the experimental project. He recently carried a cooler bag to the dunes near Lobos Creek in the Presidio National Park, withdrew a smaller cooler pouch, and removed small plastic containers, each holding a single silvery blue butterfly. All of them sipped on a cotton ball soaked in fruit punch-flavored Gatorade, which seems to be their favorite sustenance during these exercises. As the morning sun rose and the area warmed up, the silvery blues were released underneath a mesh fabric so they could acclimate. Later, the mesh was removed, and volunteers tracked their flight for about an hour. "By bringing back this butterfly, we are bringing back more of what used to be here," said Lewis Stringer, associate director of natural resources at the Presidio Trust. "We are expecting that the silvery blue will fill the gap that was left by the Xerces extinction," explained Dr. Phoebe Parker-Shames, wildlife ecologist for the Presidio. Before the Gold Rush, the Xerces blue thrived in sprawling coastal dunes around San Francisco that stretched from the Presidio through Ocean Beach, Fort Funston, and the Richmond and Sunset neighborhoods. The species kept the habitat healthy by pollinating plants and serving as food for other animals, such as birds and lizards. Rapid urban development destroyed the dunes, and that destroyed the Xerces. One report indicates that the last Xerces spotted in the area occurred in 1943. "This is an iconic species that literally was the first butterfly or invertebrate to go extinct in North America," said Kapan. "[The project is] an amazing opportunity to try to regenerate those missing connections using its closest relative. It's an opportunity to try to practice how we fix the environment." Genetic sequencing at Cal Academy confirmed the closest living relative to the Xerces blue is the silvery blue. Like the Xerces, silvery blues also like cold foggy weather, dune habitats, and deerweed on which they lay their eggs. Scientists were allowed to gather silvery blues living near the coast of Monterey and relocate them to San Francisco's Presidio. Parker-Shames said that adding the silvery blues to the dune habitat at the Presidio helps build resilience into a warming world. "If one year it's too hot for a particular species and their population sort of has a dip, there's another species there that can help fill the same role," she noted. The unprecedented effort is a four-year project that involves Cal Academy, the Presidio Trust, Creekside Science, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Revive and Restore. The McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity is also involved. This effort to make San Francisco more resilient and increase biodiversity is part of a larger effort exemplified in the urban nature alliance known as "Reimagining San Francisco." Last year, scientists released the first batch of silvery blues, and observations suggest success. Each released butterfly has a small mark added to their wings for identification. The scientists are now spotting unmarked butterflies. They say these unmarked silvery blues are the offspring of the first released butterflies flitting around the park. So far this year, about 50 silvery blues have been released. Driggs and Mills have already seen a newly released female laying eggs on the deerweed. "It's really cool, honestly," said Driggs.
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
20 Great Wildlife Photos To Vote For Your Favorite In The Win BigPicture Contest
Look At Me!, People's Choice Award finalist, Ishigaki-Island, Japan; A young Clownfish peers out from the shelter of a sea anemone. Reiko Takahashi Japan - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition The BigPicture Nature World Photography Competition by the California Academy of Sciences is inviting wildlife and nature photography lovers from around the world to have their say and vote for their favorite wildlife photos to win this year's prestigious People's Choice Award. From a young clownfish peering out from the shelter of a sea anemone and an argonaut fish hitching a ride on an unsuspecting jellyfish to the artistic silhouettes of four wolves traversing a snowy landscape in Yellowstone, the 20 finalist images selected by the contest's judges offer powerful insight into the remarkable beauty of nature. The voting for the 2025 People's Choice Award is open until midnight July 31. The winner — the photographer whose image garners the most votes — will receive $300 and have their image and profile featured on the BigPicture website. Their photograph will also be featured in the interactive BigPicture Exhibition on view at the California Academy of Sciences starting in fall, 2025. The BigPicture Nature World Photography contest, now in its 12th year, strives to inspire viewers to value and protect the remarkable diversity of life on Earth. It welcomes high-quality nature, wildlife and conservation images and is open to photographers around the world. Forbes Funny Animal Photos: 10 Front Runners For Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2025 By Cecilia Rodriguez Scroll down to see all of the images, then vote for your favorite on the voting form here. Aspen Shadow, People's Choice finalist, Yellowstone National Park, U.S. Four wolves traverse Yellowstone's snowy landscape. Devon Pradhuman, U.S. - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Four wolves traverse the snowy landscape of Yellowstone Park in the U.S. in search of their next meal. Their presence echoes through the minimalist beauty of snow and Aspen trees. Wolves are a polarizing subject regarding the lands they roam. In Yellowstone, they're relatively safe from human harm. However, just outside the park boundaries anything goes. There's no way for these animals to see the invisible lines humans mark as a 'boundary' and because of that, there is much contention about the management of these beautiful animals. Blue Dream, People's Choice finalist, Qilian Mountain National Park, China. Haiyong Cai, China - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A group of common meadow blue butterflies rests on the grassland, appearing at first glance like a large field of blooming flowers. Relaxing in the Snow, People's Choice finalist, Wapusk National Park, Canada. Daniel Valverde Fernandez, Spain - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Despite the unfavorable conditions of the Canadian tundra, this polar bear looks surprisingly tranquil and relaxed as it shakes off a considerable sheet of snow that has fallen on it during a big storm. Hitchhiker, People's Choice finalist, Ningaloo, Australia. An argonaut hitches a ride upon an unsuspecting Bell jellyfish. Caitlin Winskil, Australia - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition An argonaut, a type of octopus also called 'paper nautili' — a distant relative of the true 'nautili' — hitches a ride upon an unsuspecting bell jellyfish. Argonauts are open-sea octopi, which is odd as bell jellyfish are often found in harbors closer to shore. It's anyone's guess how this argonaut ended up hitching a ride, but it makes for one spectacular photo. In Mother's Arms, People's Choice finalist, La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica Dvir Barkay, U.S. - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A baby brown-throated sloth sleeps in the protective embrace of its mother's arms, ensuring it doesn't get wet during a downpour. Circle of Life, People's Choice finalist, Murcia, Spain. Angel Fitor, Spain - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A poignant portrait of the duality of life and death: A dying barrel jellyfish rests on a weed bed as thousands of newly born Mediterranean jellyfish bloom all around it. Cicada Awakening, People's Choice finalist. Illinois, U.S. Gavin Koester, U.S. - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A rare and striking moment: A massive cluster of yellow mushrooms at the base of a tree is surrounded by an overwhelming number of pharaoh cicadas. Despite their numbers, the cicadas seamlessly integrate with their environment, almost blending with the landscape, a reminder of the complexity and interconnectedness of nature, where even the most familiar species can create something awe-inspiring when they appear in such abundance. Pathfinders, People's Choice finalist, Svalbard, Norway. Jonas Beyer, Denmark - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A pod of Beluga whales glides gracefully through the frigid waters of a broken fjord, their white forms contrasting against the deep, icy blue. As they move in unison, threading their way through the maze of shifting ice, they embody the resilience and adaptability needed to survive in the ever-changing Arctic. Trapped, People's Choice finalist. Lucerne, Swizterland. Roman Willi, Switzerland - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A wasp spider feeds on its prey in a meadow. As the name suggests, these spiders are known for their distinctive yellow, white, and black markers and are remarkable orb-web weavers. The Frigatebird, People's Choice finalist, Vancouver, Canada. Liron Gertsman, Canada - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A magnificent frigatebird glides in front of a total solar eclipse. Over a year in the making, this image is all the more impressive once you learn that the eclipse is in a brief phase called the "Diamond Ring," where the slightest bit of sun is visible at the edge of the moon — meaning this photographer had only seconds to snap this spectacular shot. Vulture Restaurant 9, People's Choice finalist, Kawasoti, Nepal. Alain Schroeder, France - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Team members of the Jatayu Vulture Restaurant weigh a wounded Himalayan vulture . The first community-managed vulture restaurant, Jatayu Vulture Restaurant is a space specifically designed for vultures to be fed and nurtured in safety. It was established after the numbers of vultures were reduced from more than a million to just 20,000. Once this vulture has fully healed, it will be released back into the wild. Big Hair Day, People's Choice finalist, Tatamá National Park, Colombia. Nick Kanakis, U.S. - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A flannel moth caterpillar munches on moss while cocooned in the soft tangle of hair-like setae. While it may look fluffy and harmless, these setae in fact conceal venom-filled spines that produce a nasty sting. Urchin Spines, People's Choice finalist, Hokkaido, Japan. Sayaka Ichinoseki, Japan - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition What looks like a futuristic landscape is actually an extreme close-up of a purple sea urchin. These spike-like structures are actually moveable spines, alternating long and short, which the urchin uses not only for defense but as a means of transport as well. Dance of the Elements, People's Choice finalist. Mount Edna, Sicily, Italy. Philipp Egger, Italy - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Mount Etna is one of the tallest and most active volcanoes in Europe, making it a difficult subject for photographers, between battling toxic smoke and unpredictable winds at nearly 12,000 feet altitude. A primeval titan, its lava flow typically rests under a blanket of snow during the winter, but on this day the fiery soul of the volcano broke through. Sniff, People's Choice finalist, Victoria, Australia. Doug Gimesy, Australia -nBigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Border collie conservation detector dog Raasay undertakes kayak training with her handler Tracy to sniff out invasive aquatic weeds such as common cordgrass. Whenever Raasay finds a patch of spartina, she'll sit, lie down, or — if atop a kayak — point with her nose to alert her handler. Tracy will then log their location with GPS coordinates and that data point will be added to a detailed map of common cordgrass sightings slated for removal. Maternal Huddle, People's Choice finalist. California, U.S. Anton Sorokin, U.S. - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A glimpse into the unseen lives of amphibians: female California newts gather together in a ball as they lay their eggs at the bottom of a pond. This pond is more than likely the one in which these newts originated from, as newts tend to return to their own hatchplace to lay their eggs. Nuptial Gift, People's Choice finalist. Goronogosa National Park, Mozambique. Piotr Naskrecki, U.S. - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition During mating, a male Armored katydid presents the female with a spermatophylax, a nuptial gift in the form of a large, nutritious package produced by the male. The female will consume this gift, the purpose for which has been hotly debated as there's no explicit benefit beyond securing paternal investment. Fortress, People's Choice finalist. Emilia Romagna, Italy. Iacopo Nerozzi, Italy - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A masterpiece of animal engineering: This pile of woodland debris is actually an enormous nest curated by Red wood ants. These big nests are made up of respective sections above and below the ground, which red wood ants create by burrowing into the earth, as well as accumulating needles, leaves, bark, and twigs. Powerless, People's Choice finalist, Diepenbeek, Belgium. Niki Colemont, Belgium - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition While photographing another subject in a garden, Niki Colemont spotted a robber fly near a spider web. Curious if the fly might land in the web, he decided to stay and observe, eventually watching a quiet drama unfold as the spider made its move. Colemont was able to capture the moment. To vote for your favorite image from these 20 wildlife photos for the 2025 People's Choice Award of the BigPicture Photo Competition, go to the voting form here. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes World Naked Bike Ride: A Protest Against 'Indecent Exposure' To Car Culture By Cecilia Rodriguez Forbes Nature From Above: 20 Amazing Winners Of International Aerial Photography Contest By Cecilia Rodriguez Forbes Spiritual Tourism: 8 Iconic European Pilgrimage Routes And Ancient Trails By Cecilia Rodriguez
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists work to understand why dozens of whales have recently died in the San Francisco Bay Area
Scientists are investigating a sharp rise in the number of whales killed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2025 even as local whale pods struggle to recover from a massive die-off in 2019. The California Academy of Sciences said on Monday that researchers had logged the deaths of 21 gray whales, two unidentified baleen whales, and one minke whale in waters near San Francisco this year so far, compared to 14 in 2019 and 15 in 2021. Researchers also reported an "unusually high" number of gray whale sightings in the region, with more than 30 individuals confirmed versus only six in 2024. "This latest gray whale caught everyone a bit by surprise, given how late in the season it is and the fact that we had not sighted the species in the Bay in nearly two weeks," Kathi George, director of cetacean conservation biology at the Marine Mammal Center in nearby Sausalito, told ABC News. "It shows signs of concern for this population as it moves forward into the future... we know that climate change is changing ocean conditions and changing prey available availability for these whales in the Arctic." Researchers have reported an "unusually high" number of gray whale sightings in the region recently (Alfredo Estrella / AFP via Getty Images) A young male gray whale beached at Kirby Cove, on the Marin Headlands near San Francisco (Marjorie Cox / The Marine Mammal Center) Eight of the gray whales were probably killed by vessel strikes, the Academy said, but the cause of death for the others was uncertain. Nor was it clear why so many whales were visible in the Bay Area this year. Gray whale populations in the North Pacific are still reeling from an estimated 45 per cent drop between 2019 and 2023, during which nearly 700 whales died along the west coast of North America. A gray whale breaching (NOAA Fisheries) That episode, known by scientists as an "unusual mortality event", is thought to have slashed whale numbers from around 20,500 in 2019 to just over 14,500 in 2023. A study in 2023 found evidence that melting Arctic sea ice had prolonged the die-off, in comparison to previous such events, by disrupting the food chain of algae and plankton on which gray whales ultimately depend. Gray whales are highly social animals (AFP via Getty Images) Gray whales are large, highly social filter feeders that migrate up and down the west coast of North America, traveling thousands of miles from their summer feeding grounds near Alaska to their winter breeding areas off western Mexico. Once common in the Atlantic Ocean too, they were hunted in huge numbers by humans for their blubber throughout the 19th century. Now they exist in two populations in the northwest and northeast Pacific, with the former group being officially endangered. Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Scientists work to understand why dozens of whales have recently died in the San Francisco Bay Area
Scientists are investigating a sharp rise in the number of whales killed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2025 even as local whale pods struggle to recover from a massive die-off in 2019. The California Academy of Sciences said on Monday that researchers had logged the deaths of 21 gray whales, two unidentified baleen whales, and one minke whale in waters near San Francisco this year so far, compared to 14 in 2019 and 15 in 2021. Researchers also reported an "unusually high" number of gray whale sightings in the region, with more than 30 individuals confirmed versus only six in 2024. "This latest gray whale caught everyone a bit by surprise, given how late in the season it is and the fact that we had not sighted the species in the Bay in nearly two weeks," Kathi George, director of cetacean conservation biology at the Marine Mammal Center in nearby Sausalito, told ABC News. "It shows signs of concern for this population as it moves forward into the future... we know that climate change is changing ocean conditions and changing prey available availability for these whales in the Arctic." Eight of the gray whales were probably killed by vessel strikes, the Academy said, but the cause of death for the others was uncertain. Nor was it clear why so many whales were visible in the Bay Area this year. Gray whale populations in the North Pacific are still reeling from an estimated 45 per cent drop between 2019 and 2023, during which nearly 700 whales died along the west coast of North America. That episode, known by scientists as an "unusual mortality event", is thought to have slashed whale numbers from around 20,500 in 2019 to just over 14,500 in 2023. A study in 2023 found evidence that melting Arctic sea ice had prolonged the die-off, in comparison to previous such events, by disrupting the food chain of algae and plankton on which gray whales ultimately depend. Gray whales are large, highly social filter feeders that migrate up and down the west coast of North America, traveling thousands of miles from their summer feeding grounds near Alaska to their winter breeding areas off western Mexico. Once common in the Atlantic Ocean too, they were hunted in huge numbers by humans for their blubber throughout the 19th century. Now they exist in two populations in the northwest and northeast Pacific, with the former group being officially endangered.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Why whales are dying off the San Francisco coast, according to researchers
Nearly two dozen whales have died in the San Francisco Bay Area in recent months, according to animal rescue groups. A total of 19 gray whales, two unidentified baleen whales and one minke whale have died in the Bay Area region so far this year, according to the California Academy of Sciences. At least seven of the gray whale deaths have been determined to be suspect or probable vessel strikes, according to the organization. MORE: 6 gray whales have died in San Francisco in the past week as authorities scramble for answers In addition, there has been an "unusually high" number of whale sightings in the Bay Area this year, with more than 30 individual gray whales confirmed in the region via photo identification, the Academy said, noting that the whales' physical conditions have ranged from normal to emaciated. About a third of the whales have stayed in the region for at least 20 days and researchers expect more sightings for another couple of weeks before the whales migrate north to Arctic feeding grounds. The whales breed off the coast of Mexico but should be farther north at this time of year, Kathi George, director of cetacean conservation biology at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, Calif., told ABC News. In 2024, just six gray whales were sighted in the region. Researchers are investigating the potential reasons behind the "massive" spike in sightings this year. Animal rescue groups in the region have not responded to this many dead gray whale deaths since the unusual mortality event in 2019 that saw more than 70 gray whale deaths on the West Coast, and another event in 2021 in which 15 whales died in the Bay Area, according to the California Academy of Sciences. An estimated 45% of the North Pacific gray whale population was lost between 2019 and 2023, the California Academy of Sciences said. MORE: What to know about the toxic algae bloom killing marine life in Southern California In previous unusual mortality events, the gray whale population has typically rebounded but after 2019, the populations have experienced continued declines, George said. The population was estimated to be at nearly 27,000 in 2016 but fell to as low as 13,230 animals in the winter of 2022-2023 as a result of the mass mortality event, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Marine researchers in the U.S., Mexico and Canada are monitoring the health of the gray whale population in hopes of gaining further insights into the unusual mortality event, the organization said. Earlier this year, scientists in Southern California have reported a record-low gray whale calf count, "which is a cause for concern," according to the Academy. Only about 85 gray whale calves migrated past Central California on their way to feeding grounds in the Arctic earlier this year, according to NOAA. "It shows signs of concern for this population as it moves forward into the future," George said. "What we're trying to learn is we know that climate change is changing ocean conditions and changing prey available availability for these whales in the Arctic." MORE: NOAA declares deaths of 70 gray whales on US west coast 'unusual mortality event' The Bay Area serves as a "puzzle piece" to the gray whales' lengthy annual migration, George said. Dead whales have been reported in the San Francisco Bay Area since March 30, when a female gray whale was found dead at Black Sands Beach, located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The animal died from a probable vessel strike, according to The Marine Mammal Center. In May, six gray whales died in the region within a week. The latest death occurred on July 7 at the Richmond Long Wharf, located about 20 miles north of San Francisco, according to The Marine Mammal Center. A dead female adult gray whale washed up adjacent to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge after suffering from blunt force trauma by a suspected vessel strike, the organization said. A necropsy revealed hemorrhaging on the animal's left side, between the head and pectoral fin, likely as a result of the strike, according to the Center. "This latest gray whale caught everyone a bit by surprise given how late in the season it is and the fact that we had not sighted the species in the bay in nearly two weeks," George said in a statement. An estimated 80 whales die annually from vessel strikes, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. Gray whales typically have a "very low profile" in the water that can make them difficult to see, unlike other coastal whales, such as humpback whales, according to the Academy. "It's vital that all boaters – from large commercial vessels to sailboats – be 'whale aware' and continue to slow down," the California Academy of Sciences said. Further south, thousands of marine animals have been sickened by an unprecedented toxic algae bloom that has overrun the Southern California coasts. Species such as seabirds, sea lions and dolphins have been impacted by elevated levels of the neurotoxic domoic acid produced by the algae blooms in the region. However, the harmful algae blooms aren't related to the recent whale deaths in the Bay Area because gray whales transiting north don't stop in Southern California to feed, George said. "That is something we test for, though, when we are doing he necropsies – to see what they may have been exposed to recently," she said. Solve the daily Crossword
