The Waggle
Issue 91 The World Wide Web of Watery Wanderings
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The whale shark is the largest known fish.
Sebastian Pena Lambarri / UnsplashThe World Wide Web of Watery Wanderings | Amy Boyer
A new interactive map shows the connections among habitats for over 100 marine animals and the waters of nearly all nations. The Migratory Connections in the Ocean (MiCO) map reveals how migrating species, from big-eye tuna to beluga whales, from roseate terns to green sea turtles, link the globe’s seas. One in five migratory marine species is threatened, and nearly one in three is near threatened or data deficient. Not only do they need suitable habitats, but they also need to be able to move safely among these areas, often located between nations or through waters where no national law obtains. It’s difficult to collect data on even one species and even harder to synthesize data across species. Nonetheless, researchers from the University of Queensland, Duke University, and the Smithsonian combed through nearly 1,300 studies to better identify areas that are critical to species survival and to show policymakers how animals of concern journey through multiple nations’ waters. For the U.S., this is especially important as President Trump allows more fishing near the Pacific Heritage Marine National Monument, whose atolls form important, well-studied habitat for highly threatened sea turtles, and California revises its management of the Channel Islands Marine Protected Areas, bountiful areas that are also part of an underwater highway. Dive deeper at our Marine Protected Areas Nexus.
As Countries Reverse Course, Cities Take the Lead
Claire Inciong Krummenacher
Claire Inciong Krummenacher
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Vienna, Austria. Credit: Jasek Dylag / Unsplash
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As Austria’s new coalition government scales back climate action, Vienna, home to 20% of the country’s population, has continued to make climate legislation a priority. The city is already heating thousands of homes with geothermal energy, installing heat pumps, planting trees, implementing district cooling (a climate-friendly alternative to air conditioning), requiring all new buildings to add solar panels, and improving flooding management by expanding green spaces and ponds. And most recently, the city passed a law to reduce climate pollution to zero by 2040, primarily by replacing natural gas usage with geothermal energy. Vienna’s commitment serves as an important example for other cities as governments across the world fail to fulfill emissions reduction commitments or have deprioritized climate action, given that 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions come from cities. In the United States, for example, climate action at the city and state level could reduce carbon emissions up to 62% below 2005 levels by 2035, even as the federal government plans to increase oil and gas usage. To learn more, see our Geothermal Nexus and Buildings Nexus.
The 3,000 Year Wait | George Biesmans
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The Eurasian Elk. Credit: Ondrej Prosicky / Alamy Stock Photo
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Imagine a gang (yes, a gang!) of elk roaming a dazzling mosaic of rewilded and “rewetted” fenland, nibbling on shrubs and submerged vegetation, while cranes and marsh harriers fly overhead, and water buffalo and red deer amble by. The seeds of just such a vision are being planted in Britain, as two local wildlife trusts look to reintroduce the Eurasian elk, hunted to extinction in the UK some two to three thousand years ago. These majestic, semi-aquatic beings, who still exist in parts of continental Europe despite considerable hunting in the 18th and 19th centuries, are major ecosystem engineers. Through their grazing and trampling, they encourage natural regeneration and help to maintain open clearings. The project is still in its early stages, with initial funding (provided by Rewilding Britain’s Innovation Fund) being used to conduct a feasibility study and consult local communities and landowners. The reintroductions would start in enclosed areas, partly because habitats suitable for Elk, particularly woodlands and wetlands, are in need of significant restoration across Britain. However, visionary projects like Nattergal’s stunning High Fen Wildland offer a vivid snapshot of what the future could look like, while previously successful reintroductions in Britain of other ecosystem engineers like the beaver offer a roadmap for the return of the elk. Check out our Rewilding Nexus, Keystone Species Nexus, and Wetlands Nexus for more.
The Guardians of the Shallow-Sea | Jonathan Hawken
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An otter wraps itself in a kelp anchor. Credit: robertharding / Alamy Stock Photo
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Sea otters are more than just adorable marine mammals— they are keystone species vital to the health of marine ecosystems. With their raging metabolisms, sea otters consume about 25% of their body weight daily, feasting on the buttery delight of sea urchins and scrumptious crabs. Unfortunately, their coats are highly desirable, with a density of up to one million hairs per square inch, and they were hunted to the edge of extinction, negatively impacting the marine ecosystems they help protect.
Following initiatives such as the International Fur Seal Treaty of 1911 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, sea otters have shown a slow recovery. However, their absence in parts of their former range highlights their critical role in both kelp forests and seagrass ecosystems. When otters are present, sea urchins are unable to overconsume underwater forests, which have excellent carbon sequestration potential. Similarly, crabs will be unable to overconsume the grazing organisms (such as snails or slugs) that help prevent algae from overtaking seagrass (which can block sunlight), allowing it to continue growing as a carbon sink. Get the full story from Alexander Nicolas @ WFF, check out our Seagrass Nexus and Seaforestation Nexus, and if you're up for it, this 10-minute video from PBS on otters and kelp forests.
Following initiatives such as the International Fur Seal Treaty of 1911 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, sea otters have shown a slow recovery. However, their absence in parts of their former range highlights their critical role in both kelp forests and seagrass ecosystems. When otters are present, sea urchins are unable to overconsume underwater forests, which have excellent carbon sequestration potential. Similarly, crabs will be unable to overconsume the grazing organisms (such as snails or slugs) that help prevent algae from overtaking seagrass (which can block sunlight), allowing it to continue growing as a carbon sink. Get the full story from Alexander Nicolas @ WFF, check out our Seagrass Nexus and Seaforestation Nexus, and if you're up for it, this 10-minute video from PBS on otters and kelp forests.
Charting a Greener Course | Juliana Birnbaum
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Credit: Bent Van Aeken / Unsplash
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Significant steps were taken this past month on the path to cutting ocean freight emissions, including the planned establishment of a green shipping corridor across the Pacific linking the US and South Korea, announced at the end of April. A few weeks earlier, countries reached a draft agreement under the UN’s International Maritime Organization to impose a fee on ships based on their greenhouse gas emissions—a first for the industry. The measure, expected to take effect in 2028, aims to push shipping companies toward cleaner fuels such as green hydrogen, e-ethanol, and e-ammonia while generating up to $13 billion annually to support the transition and aid vulnerable developing nations. The plan’s dual-tiered fee system and moderate targets drew criticism for not going far enough, particularly from Pacific Island nations, who called it “too little, too late.” Still, this treaty marks a breakthrough in international climate cooperation, especially notable given the U.S. withdrawal from the talks. Ports worldwide have also been collaborating to develop green shipping corridors. Learn more about what individuals, companies, and governments can do to reduce the environmental impacts of the ocean freight industry at our Maritime Shipping Nexus.
South African Preserve to Enhance Wildlife Corridor | Scott Hannan
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African Bush Elephants. Credit: High Tea With Elephants / Unsplash
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Biodiversity corridors, also known as wildlife or ecological corridors, are stretches of natural habitat that connect isolated patches of ecosystems, allowing animals and plants to move freely between them. These corridors support essential ecological processes, such as migration, dispersal, and access to vital resources like food, water, and breeding grounds, helping maintain healthy and resilient environments. The Brad and Alice Andrews Preserve, recently inaugurated by the Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa (GH-CFA), marks a significant milestone in the use of biodiversity corridors to support wildlife conservation in South Africa's Eastern Cape. This 682-acre preserve, situated within the Bushmen’s River Biodiversity Corridor at the Tanglewood Conservation Area, aims to restore vital habitats for black rhinos and elephants. Adjacent to the 2,100-acre Tanglewood Conservation Area, the preserve is part of a broader initiative to create a connected and protected environment, enhancing biodiversity resilience and facilitating wildlife movement across these fragmented landscapes. GH-CFA's efforts, in collaboration with partner organizations and neighboring landowners, include establishing formal agreements to declare the area as a single Protected Environment, officially recognized by South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment. This initiative underscores a commitment to rewilding and preserving Africa’s iconic wildlife for future generations. For more information, see our Wildlife Corridors Nexus.
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