3/18 Tunicate, border closing, NW CO2, virus carbon effect, bird-death rule, safe hiking

Star tunicate [Slater Museum]

Star Tunicate Botryllus schlosseri
Tunicates, also called ascidians, are the “sea squirts” we find in marine environments. Anyone would call them invertebrates, and they are, though they are more closely related to us than are squids and crabs and many other fast-moving free-living marine animals. Tunicates are fixed in place, sessile filter-feeding animals that need water currents flowing around them to bring them food, carry away their wastes, and spread their reproductive efforts. Probably originally native to the European coast, the species was brought into the American side of the Atlantic, perhaps on material clinging to ships. By the 1970s, it was widely introduced all along the Pacific coast of North America, and it is considered an undesirable invasive species now, as it is able to cover native species during its rapid growth. (Slater <Museum)

Trump: US, Canada to close border to nonessential travel
The U.S. and Canada have agreed to temporarily close their shared border to nonessential travel, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday as the two nations work to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Both countries are eager to choke off the spread of the virus but also maintain their vital economic relationship. Canada relies on the U.S. for 75% of its exports. Rob Gillies and Zeke Miller report. (Associated Press)

Covering Your Climate: Emerald Corridor Tries Flipping the Switch on C02
Part Three of “Covering Your Climate: The Emerald Corridor,” examines how business, government and academia in the Pacific Northwest are doing so-called mitigation — actions designed to keep the source of the problem from worsening. This tipsheet is meant to offer fresh story ideas for veteran environment journalists and be a primer for reporters who are new to covering climate change and the larger economic and political forces in play when it comes to climate mitigation. This project focuses on the so-called Emerald Corridor that stretches from Portland and the Willamette Valley to Vancouver, B.C., but is generally applicable across the Pacific Northwest, also known as Cascadia. “Covering Your Climate: The Emerald Corridor” is a joint project by the Society of Environmental Journalists’ SEJournal and journalism nonprofit InvestigateWest. Christy George writes.

Watch the Footprint of Coronavirus Spread Across Countries
As the new coronavirus shuts down countries around the world, the impact can be seen from space. A satellite that detects traces of human activity — tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks, fossil fuel burned in power plants and other industrial activities — shows striking reductions in pollution across China and Italy since the outbreak first started. Nadja Popovich reports. (NY Times)

PEER: Ten Retired Press Officers Attack Validity Of Bird-Death Rule
Ten prominent retired Public Affairs, Communications, and Outreach officers have criticized their own former agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), in an unprecedented Inspector General complaint over violating basic press relations norms and fairness policies. The controversy stems from the FWS press release that announced a public comment period on the agency’s proposed rule to weaken the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) to benefit oil, gas, and mining interests. The proposed rule would allow industry to kill birds in their operations without legal consequences unless the government proves the killings were intentional. The official FWS release includes favorable statements from 28 industry organizations and others, ranging from the Governor of Alaska to the National Association of Home Builders. The complaint requests that the Interior Inspector General investigate whether advance copies of the proposal were inappropriately shared with some, but not all, of the parties potentially affected by it. (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility/YubaNet)

Is It Safe To Go Hiking? Yes! But Avoid Crowds
Getting outside is  just the ticket during these uncertain times, according to Ryan Reese, assistant professor of counseling at Oregon State University’s Cascades branch campus in Bend. “There’s a strong relationship between getting out in nature and emotional wellness,” Reese said. “Research suggests that connecting with nature has a calming effect on the central nervous system and helps us tap into the para-sympathetic system. Jule Gilfillan reports. (OPB)




Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  251 AM PDT Wed Mar 18 2020   
TODAY  Light wind becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.



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