Zach Fitzner studied biology in college. His love for animals, the outdoors and adventure has taken him all over the world as a volunteer, traveler and biology technician. Originally from Colorado, Zach is often found outdoors travelling or working as a fossil preparator. He has written for numerous environmental sites and contributes original content for Earth.com. You can follow along with Zach's adventures on his <a href="https://zachofjungle.com/">blog</a>.

Zach Fitzner

Member of the <a href="http://optimotive.co" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Optimotive</a> writing team

Siri Undlin

Rory Arnold is the Editor of Earth.com and contributes a wide variety of content for the site. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Media, Culture, &amp; Communication. He loves dogs and giraffes.

Rory Arnold

Rodielon Putol

Member of the <a href="http://optimotive.co" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Optimotive</a> writing team.

Riley Fortier

Richard Pallardy is a freelance writer based out of Chicago. He was an editor for Encyclopedia Britannica for eight years. His work has been published in Areo Magazine and in National Geographic Learning books, among other outlets.

Richard Pallardy

Member of the <a href="http://optimotive.co" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Optimotive</a> writing team

Patrick O'Hare

Michael Dhar

Kayla Fratt

Evan Levy

Ellen Rigell

Member of the <a href="http://optimotive.co" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Optimotive</a> writing team
For more from Casey, visit <a href="http://www.caseyhofford.com">CaseyHofford.com</a>

Casey Hofford

Brianna Lynne

Bianca Vierra

Killer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humpback-whale-songs-are-used-to-locate-not-attract-other-whales/">whales</a> are opportunistic predators that hunt a variety of prey. They are intelligent and will often team up and work together to take down large prey successfully. In recent years, their hunting grounds in the Alaskan Arctic have changed due to the melting and receding ice, and this has given killer whales increased opportunities to utilize these areas, with the potential consequence of changing the ecological balance.



Brynn Kimber from the University of Washington, along with a team of scientists, used acoustic tools to monitor killer whale movements in areas of the Arctic Ocean over a period of eight years. They found that killer whales are spending more time in the Alaskan Arctic than previously recorded, despite risking being entrapped in the ice there. This change in behavior has been recorded directly following the decrease in sea ice in the area.



"It's not necessarily that killer whales haven't been reported in these areas before, but that they appear to be remaining in the area for longer periods of time," said Kimber. "This is likely in response to a longer open-water season."



Killer whale presence in the area may be related to the fact that, with less ice around, prey species that usually use ice to hide themselves, can no longer avoid detection or capture in this way.



"Although there is high spatial and interannual variability, the September Arctic sea ice minimum is declining at an average rate of 13% per decade, when compared to values from 1981 to 2010," said Kimber. "Killer whales are being observed in the Chukchi Sea (in the Arctic Ocean) in months that were historically ice covered and more consistently throughout the summer."



The earlier arrival and later departure of killer whales may have consequences for the ecology of this sensitive habitat. For example, populations of prey such as seals, bowhead whales and narwhals will be more exposed to predation and may experience increased mortality and decreased breeding success. This would have impacts at other levels of the food chain as well.



The findings of this research will be presented at the 181st Meeting of the <a href="https://acousticalsociety.org/">Acoustical Society of America</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Melting Arctic ice gives killer whales new opportunities

Killer whales are opportunistic predators that hunt a variety of...

According to a research team led by the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/">University of Southampton</a>, two intense periods of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-are-volcanoes-in-indonesia-so-dangerous/">volcanism</a> triggered a period of global cooling and decrease in oxygen levels in the oceans that led to one of the most severe mass extinctions in Earth history around 450 million years ago.



This period initiated intense planetary cooling, culminating in a glaciation causing the major “<a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/109/18/6829">Late Ordovician Mass Extinction</a>” that led to the loss of over 85 percent of the species dwelling in the oceans.



“It’s been suggested that global cooling was driven by an increase in phosphorus input to the oceans,” said study lead author Dr. Jack Longman, a researcher at the <a href="https://uol.de/en/">University of Oldenburg</a>. “Phosphorus is one of the key elements of life, determining the pace at which tiny aquatic organisms like algae can use photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into organic matter”.&nbsp;



However, according to study co-author Tom Gernon, an associate professor at the University of Southampton, the unresolved puzzle is why glaciation and extinction occurred in two distinct phases at this time, separated by about 10 million years. "That requires some mechanism to pulse the supply of phosphorus, which is hard to explain.”



The researchers discovered that two extremely large pulses of volcanic activity, occurring in parts of today’s North America and South China, coincided very closely with the peaks in glaciation and mass extinction. However, intense bursts of volcanism are typically linked to massive CO2&nbsp;releases, which would cause global warming rather than cooling.



This prompted the scientists to assess whether a secondary process might have provided the surge in phosphorous that caused the glaciation and subsequent extinction.&nbsp;



“When volcanic material is deposited in the oceans it undergoes rapid and profound chemical alteration, including release of phosphorus, effectively fertilizing the oceans,” explained study co-author Martin Palmer, a professor of Geochemistry from the University of Southampton.



The findings suggest that widespread deposits of volcanic material laid down on the ocean floor would have released sufficient phosphorus to drive climatic cooling, glaciation, severe reduction in ocean oxygen levels, and mass extinction. Thus, while on short timescales, large volcanic eruptions can cause global warming via CO2&nbsp;emissions, they can also drive global cooling on multimillion-year timescales.



It may seem like a good idea to consider seeding our oceans with phosphorus today to help solve the current climate crisis, but scientists warn that this could have even more dangerous consequences.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00855">Nature Geoscience</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Volcanic fertilization of the ocean led to severe mass extinction event

According to a research team led by the University of...

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.uc.edu/">University of Cincinnati</a> has found that during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/latest-coronavirus-variant-may-be-500-more-infectious-than-delta/">COVID-19</a> pandemic, media use increased among tweens (children between 9 and 13 years of age). Although most parents agree that children’s use of technological devices should be controlled, these concerns appeared to take a backseat in 2020, when the pandemic forced parents to make accommodations for children spending more time at home than in physical social settings.



“Family life was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as members adjusted to living, working, and learning at home. Media and technology became a central tool to manage these activities simultaneously for different family members,” wrote the study authors.



In order to examine screen time among tweens, the researchers used a survey in which parents were asked to provide details about their children’s daily routine.&nbsp;



The majority of the parents (87 percent) reported that their tweens were using media more during the pandemic than before, 19.5 percent said that they created a social media account for the child (such as TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram), and one in five parents (21.2 percent) indicated that they have purchased a household tech device, such as a laptop or a Chromebook.



According to the results of the survey, parents who were more worried about the pandemic reported that their tweens used media more. The study also showed that established gender patterns were maintained, with boys generally playing video games, and girls watching videos.



“With more tweens using media during the pandemic than before, it is more important than ever to reconsider our notions of ‘how much’ is ‘too much’ and really focus on what they are getting out of this use,” said study lead author Nancy Jennings, an expert in children media use at the University of Cincinnati.



“For years, many media scholars have begged adults to look beyond just the amount of time children use media and look at what they are doing with it and how it was impacting their lives,” she explained.



For instance, media often helped tweens connect with their peers during the times when they were isolated in their homes, and offered distraction from the fear and uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Thus, according to Jennings, researchers “need to take a deeper look at our kids’ media use and move beyond the sheer quantity of time spent with media.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2022-03797-001">Psychology of Popular Media</a>.&nbsp;



---



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Tweens used media more during the pandemic

A new study led by the University of Cincinnati has...

Tasmanian,Devil,Sitting,On,Branch,At,Cradle,Mountain,Breeding,And

Tasmanian devils are the largest carnivorous marsupial left in the world. While they are already living isolated in low population numbers, these unique animals are further threatened by a contagious cancer.&nbsp;



In an effort to monitor the rare marsupial without disrupting its behavior, scientists have developed a novel technique. The experts report that the whiskers of Tasmanian devils provide a glimpse into their individual life histories.&nbsp;



“We're using the devils’ whiskers to trace back through time," said study senior author Tracey Rogers. "Once dissected, the whiskers can act like the rings of a tree trunk, painting a picture of what the animals ate and how they lived up to a year ago.”



Previously, scientists were able to use whiskers to look at chemical signatures - but without a clear timeline. To construct a timeline for whisker chemical signatures, the researchers fed captive devils food with added heavy stable isotopes at different times over three months.&nbsp;



Using the isotopes as markers, the scientists were able to correlate them with whisker chemical signatures.&nbsp;



The experiment revealed that the whiskers grow quickly at first, but growth slowed over time before stopping. The researchers discovered that the whiskers can hold at least nine months of data in them. Using this information, the scientists can monitor the health of wild Tasmanian devils to help make sure that their populations are healthy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



It’s not just about devils, but also the health of entire ecosystems in Tasmania. “As Tasmania’s apex predator, devils play an essential role in maintaining ecosystem health,” explained Dr. Attard.



Furthermore, the devils play a unique role in the health of the island itself, which has many endemic plant and animal species.



Fortunately, Tasmanian devils are slowly recovering from devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a contagious cancer, and the scientists hope to keep it that way.&nbsp;



“Tasmanian devil numbers are currently in recovery after the devastating effects of a highly transmissible cancer called the devil facial tumour disease, or DFTD," said study lead author Dr. Marie Attard, who worked on the research as part of her PhD.



"Since the discovery of this disease in 1990s, many healthy individuals have been translocated to disease-free areas or are part of captive breeding programs to help boost their numbers. This whisker analysis tool will significantly enhance their management in pre-existing and translocated wild populations.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/21508925">Ecosphere</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Whiskers reveal what Tasmanian devils ate months ago

Tasmanian devils are the largest carnivorous marsupial left in the...

According to a new <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/globalassets/downloads/bocc5/bocc5-report.pdf">report</a> from the bird charity organization <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/">RSPB</a>, over a quarter of UK bird species are currently under threat of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-clues-emerge-in-mass-extinction-mystery/">extinction</a> and thus in need of urgent conservation measures. Seventy species (29 percent of the total number of UK bird species) are now placed on the assessment’s Red List, containing bird species of “highest conservation concerns.”



These birds, including species such as the Swift, the House Martin, or the Greenfinch, are witnessing alarming declines in populations, raising concerns among scientists and conservationists that they may soon become extinct.



The Birds of Conservation Concern 5 report has been compiled by a coalition of UK’s leading bird conservation and monitoring organizations that are regularly reviewing the status of bird species in the UK, the Isle of Man, and Channel Islands. Each species is assessed against a set of objective criteria and placed on either the Green, Amber, or Red List, indicating increasing levels of conservation concerns.



“This is more evidence that the UK's wildlife is in freefall and not enough is being done to reverse declines,” warned the RSPB's CEO, Beccy Speight. “With almost double the number of birds on the Red List since the first review in 1996, we are seeing once common species such as Swift and Greenfinch now becoming rare.”



Bird species such as the Greenfinch and the Ptamirgan were moved from the 2015’s report Green List straight to this year’s Red List, while species that were previously on the intermediary Amber List, including the Swift, the House Martin, the Dunlin, the Goldeneye, the Smew, or the Purple Sandpiper, have also recently entered the Red List.



“As with our climate this really is the last chance saloon to halt and reverse the destruction of nature.&nbsp;We often know what action we need to take to change the situation, but we need to do much more, rapidly and at scale. The coming decade is crucial to turning things around,” concluded Speight.



The full details of the report can he found <a href="https://britishbirds.co.uk/content/status-our-bird-populations">here</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

More than a quarter of UK bird species are endangered

According to a new report from the bird charity organization...

Olivia Harvey

Kyla is based out of California and serves as the Earth.com weekend editor. Kyla has written for numerous news outlets and has been a key contributor to the growth and development of Earth.com.

Kyla Cathey

Kay Vandette is a freelance writer and has written everything from film and food reviews to travel and lifestyle articles.
She has been featured in national publications and blogs and runs a website dedicated to providing tips for beginner freelance writers.
Kay is passionate about living a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle and loves writing for Earth.com.

Kay Vandette

Connor Ertz lives in Boston and works as the Marketing Writer for Boston Children's Hospital's Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center. He holds degrees in Biology and Chemistry from Gettysburg College, and has been writing for science and news outlets for the last three years. 
&nbsp;

Connor Ertz

Ever since I was very young exploring the woods behind my house I have been fascinated with nature. I love writing for Earth.com because I stay informed on the biggest environmental issues and I get to play a small role in keeping others informed. I am currently studying human services at East Tennessee State University, and previously studied media communications and cyber security.