9/23 Armillaria ostoyae, SRKW census, Iceland whales, hydrofluorocarbons, TMX protest, feral sheep, save threatened species

Armillaria ostoyae [W.J. Pilsak/WikiCommons]

 
Armillaria ostoyae
Armillaria ostoyae is common on both hardwood and conifer wood in forests west of the Cascade Range in Oregon, United States. In most areas of North America, Armillaria ostoyae can be separated from other species by its physical features: cream-brown colors, prominent cap scales, and a well-developed stem ring distinguish it from other Armillaria. Armillaria ostoyae grows and spreads primarily underground, such that the bulk of the organism is not visible from the surface. In the autumn, the subterranean parts of the organism bloom "honey mushrooms" as surface fruits. Low competition for land and nutrients often allow this fungus to grow to huge proportions, and it possibly covers more total geographical area than any other single living organism. A spatial genetic analysis estimated that an individual specimen of A. ostoyae growing over 91 acres (37 ha) in northern Michigan. (Wikipedia)

Orca census shows some improvement, but many whales still die before their time
The annual census of the endangered Southern Resident killer whales, submitted yesterday to the federal government, shows three births and one death from mid-2020 to mid-2021...[The] actual number of Southern Residents today stands at 73, because another orca — 35-year-old K21 (named Cappuccino) — is believed to have died in late July or early August — after the census cutoff date. The newest whales added to the population are J57, a male named Phoenix born last September to Tahlequah ( J35); J58, a female named Crescent born last September to Eclipse (J41); and L125, a calf (gender unknown) born in February of this year to Surprise! (L86)...The number of whales in L pod now totals 33, J pod has 24, and K pod has 16. This does not include Lolita/Tokitae, an orca from L pod that was captured in Puget Sound and is held at the Miami Seaquarium in Florida. Along with the new census report, Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research sadly confirmed the death of L47, a 47-year-old female named Marina, who has been apparently missing since early summer. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

Iceland’s Confusing Inter-cetacean Conflict
It’s pilot whales versus killer whales in the waters off southern Iceland—though researchers can’t really explain why. Marina Wang reports. (Hakai Magazine)

EPA Moves To Sharply Limit Potent Gases Used In Refrigerators And Air Conditioners
In what officials call a key step to combat climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency is sharply limiting domestic production and use of hydrofluorocarbons, highly potent greenhouse gases commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners. The new rule, which follows through on a law Congress passed last year, is intended to decrease U.S. production and use of HFCs by 85% over the next 15 years, part of a global phaseout designed to slow global warming. (Associated Press)

Police in cherry picker remove, arrest anti-pipeline tree-sitter in Burnaby
Police used a white cherry picker to extract and arrest a tree sitter Wednesday for breaching an existing court- ordered injunction at the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion worksite near North Road and Highway 1. The man was suspended 15 metres in a tree in protest of the pipeline. (CBC)

On Lasqueti Island, a Wild and Woolly Issue Has Divided Residents
Of all the fractious debates plaguing communities today, here it’s feral sheep. Can islanders reach a compromise? Andrea Bennett reports. (The Tyee)

Philanthropists pledge $5 billion to save threatened species
A group of philanthropists pledged $5 billion by 2030 to help conservation and protect biodiversity around the world. Steven Mufson reports. (Washington Post)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  233 AM PDT Thu Sep 23 2021   
TODAY  Light wind becoming N to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds. 
TONIGHT  Light wind becoming SE to 10 kt after midnight. Wind  waves less than 1 ft becoming 1 ft or less after midnight. W  swell 4 ft at 11 seconds.

--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to mikesato772 (@) gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter. 

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told