The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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Human-caused ‘dead zones’ threaten health of Puget Sound
Washington state’s Department of Ecology is taking action to reduce the increasing occurrence of “dead zones” — areas of the sea so depleted of oxygen that marine life dies (or leaves if it can). Dead zones are almost always anthropogenic, and in this case they are the consequence of our booming population growth in western Washington. People poop, and poop is full of nutrients which cause algae to proliferate. Oxygen is used up when algae dies and decomposes. 70% of the excess nutrients (mainly nitrates) running off into the sea come from wastewater treatment plants (the remainder being agricultural fertilizers, livestock waste, and individual septic systems). Most treatment plants don’t treat for nitrates, but Washington Dept of Ecology is currently revising permits to require filtration to remove them.
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In related news, biologists have identified what may be the proximate cause of Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD): there’s a certain kind of naturally-occurring bacterial species that thrives in nutrient-rich water. When these bacteria are abundant, they cover the surface of seastars, depleting oxygen in that zone and suffocating the animals (seastars get their oxygen by diffusing it across their surface tissues). So while microorganisms are involved, it’s not an infection as previously thought. However warm water is a contributing factor, as biologists determined early on.
The problem may get worse with climate change, Hewson says. “Warmer waters can’t have as much oxygen [compared with colder water] just by physics alone.” Bacteria, including copiotrophs, also flourish in warm water.
Science News: Some bacteria are suffocating sea stars, turning the animals to goo
The disease is not transferable per se but as seastars die their decomposition generates more nutrients, which increases the proliferation of copiotrophic bacteria.
Human-generated waste in the form of water pollution and greenhouse gases is pushing seastars to their limit in the Salish Sea as elsewhere.
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B.C. photographer captures top prize in Canadian Geographic competition
Sara Kempner of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, won first place in Canadian Geographic magazine’s 2020 contest for best photo. The theme was to show what “home” means. Kempner used a selftimer, balancing on a driftwood log at Seal Beach near Courtenay, BC, where she grew up and calls home.
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And lastly, because we can always use some good news, Sage is rescued! Yes, there’s a connection to the Salish Sea 💚
For the past week, my island community has been gripped by worry over the disappearance of Sage, the canine companion of a local resident, Jane A. Sage is a deaf 14-year-old Golden Retriever who went missing one night. Jane, who runs our local animal protection society, put out an alert on local social media asking for help in finding Sage. Many locals scoured the surrounding fields and woods for days on foot and by drone with no luck. On Thursday, after 6 days, my garden helper Stephanie (who also works as caretaker for elderly folks and for companion animals, and is a passionate dog lover) got word Sage had been seen on the rocks of a bay two miles from Jane’s house. The tide was coming in and time was critical. Jane’s neighbor Jim, who’s the one who saw Sage there on the rocks from way across the bay, rounded up another neighbor who, with Stephanie, paddled a canoe to the site and got to Sage just as the water was beginning to cover him. Sage couldn’t move by then — exposure, hunger, cold water — so Stephanie dragged him further up onto the rocks before setting him up for transport. It’s unlikely Sage had been down at the edge of the rocks all that time: hypothermia acts fast and Salish Sea water is a frigid 48°F. He must have fallen down the steep 10-15 foot bluff above not long before.
Thursday night Sage was home getting dry, with lots of cuddles and food and water. As of Friday afternoon, Sage was at a vet off-island to get checked out.
I suspect that if Sage hadn’t fallen to the edge of the sea, he might never have been found. There’s much better visibility at sea than on land. It’s just a good thing neighbor Jim happened to be going by that bay on Thursday. I’d love to hear the story from Sage’s perspective.
Here’s the latest, from Jane, Friday night:
Our boy Sage is at Chuckanut Vet and will be there overnight. He clearly suffered a fall and is very sore, but has no broken bones. They are doing tests and giving him supportive care, but he is not out of the woods (or deep water, so to speak) yet. Thank you to Stephanie V. for taking my Sage to the mainland Vet today!! Well, and rescuing him in the rising tide yesterday!!
Thank you to Jim "Eagle Eye" P., who spotted Sage across Davis Bay, tried to get to him but couldn't, and came to find me. Jim orchestrated the rescue with his local knowledge, canoe (with oars! bonus!) and kayak. I am grateful for his kindness, generous help and unending support for me and my critters.
Thank you to Aaryn K. for his good will (even with an injury!), help on the ground searches, and his expert piloting skills on the canoe towing a kayak with a 110 pound dog on a rising tide in Davis Bay. You are awesome!!
Thank you to my wonderful community for love and support.
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The Salish Sea is central to the lives of everyone who lives in this part of the continent: animals, plants, microorganisms (and humans, the newcomers).
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Overcast and windy in the PNW islands today. Temps in the low 40s.
WHAT’S UP IN NATURE IN YOUR AREA TODAY?
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