Some good #climate news! "Herd of 170 #bison could help store #CO2 equivalent of almost 2m cars, researchers say - Free-roaming animals reintroduced in Romania’s Țarcu mountains are stimulating plant growth and securing #carbon stored in the soil while grazing"
...
"The latest research, which has not been peer-reviewed, used a new model developed by scientists at the #Yale School of the #Environment and funded by the Global #Rewilding Alliance. It calculates the additional amount of atmospheric CO2 that #wildlife species help to capture and store in #soils through their interactions within #ecosystems. The European bison herd grazing in an area of nearly 50 sq km of grasslands within the wider Țarcu mountains, was found to potentially capture an additional 2m tonnes of carbon a year. That is nearly 9.8 times more than without the bison – although the report authors noted the 9.8 figure could be up to 55% higher or lower, given the uncertainty around the median estimate. This corresponds to the yearly CO2 emissions of 1.88m average US petrol cars."
...
"The report on Romania’s European bison is “the first of its kind”, said Sylvén, adding that the model provided “a very powerful tool at hand to give directions to wildlife reintroductions”.
Schmitz said the team had looked at nine species in detail, including #tropical#forest#elephants, musk oxen and sea #otters, and had begun to investigate others. He added: “Many of them show similar promise to these bison, often doubling an ecosystem’s capacity to draw down and store #carbon, and sometimes much more. This really is a policy option with massive potential.”
for different reasons, wild #boar are also beneficial to the #forest#ecosystem, contrary to popular misconceptions. Here's an excerpt from an article by Chantal Lyons, "Rooting for the truth: on wild boar" - Lyons writes, "I suppose there are two layers to this. In terms of their #ecological role, they’re unique. The niche they occupy, and the ecological functions they perform, there are no other animals among British #fauna that do the things they do. For example, their #rooting; #badgers engage in some rooting behaviour, resembling mini boars at times. However, they don’t penetrate the soil as deeply, and their rooting is not as extensive.
There’s a term for it called #bioturbation: the act of going into the soil, breaking it open, and mixing the different layers, which impacts the nutrients and the microbial activity in the #soil. This also involves exposing the #seed bank and creating space for #wildflowers to germinate. There’s evidence that bioturbation enhances the soil in a way that makes it easier for #trees, such as #oaks, to germinate and grow.
Related to the rooting behaviour, wild boar are particularly effective at dispersing seeds and spores. They go all over the place, carrying these organisms in their fur and hooves, and even in their digestive systems, subsequently depositing them through excretion. Additionally, their wallowing activities create mini wetlands, providing valuable ephemeral pools that benefit other wildlife."
Two Cuban Anoles, left, the Cuban Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) and right, the Western Giant Anole (Anolis luteogularis). Both are considered giant anoles (~19 cm in snout-vent length, with a tail longer than that). Males slightly larger than females. Both are Cuban endemics, although A. equestris has been introduced into Florida, while A. luteogularis is only found on the western end of the island. The Anolis radiation provides a classic case of adaptive radiation with convergent evolution on the many Caribbean islands. Unrelated species (not sharing common ancestors possessing their traits) have evolved with very similar body forms to fill similar ecological niches on each island. These are categorized as "ecomorphs." Both A. equestris and A. luteogularis are "Crown-giant ecomorphs," since they prefer the higher limbs of tall trees.The A. luteogularis, which is noticeably moulting, was basking on a ladder at a tourist bar near a mojote , and allowed me to approach quite closely before extending its gular pouch (last photo), whereupon I backed up a bit to give it some space. #Cuba#Naturephotography#wildlifephotography#birds#reptiles#reptilephotography#ecology#evolution#Anolis#Cubanwildlife#fauna