Ecology - Blog Posts
ES || Para esta época del año, con tantas supuestas lluvias y cambios de temperatura, es genial despertarse y beber en ayunas un vaso de agua tibia con limón. Es un remedio natural que ayuda a las defensas, ya que aporta vitamina C, potasio y flavononas, favorece la digestión y además es depurativo y alcalinizante. La receta es fácil, exprimir el jugo de un limón, poner a calentar un vaso de agua hasta que este tibia y, finalmente, añadir el jugo del limón al agua caliente. Si quieres darle un toque más cítrico y potenciar los beneficios del limón, en cambio de solo calentar el agua puedes hervirla con unos trozos de piel del mismo limón, después la dejas enfriar hasta que este tibia y le añades el jugo del limón! Como con todos los remedios no a todo el mundo le van bien las mismas cosas, mi recomendación es escuchar a tu propio cuerpo. Además por su acidez no esta recomendado para las personas que tienen los dientes delicados.🍋 EN || For this time of year, with so many supposed rains and changes in temperature, it’s great to wake up and drink a glass of warm water with lemon juice on an empty stomach. It’s a natural remedy that helps defenses, as well as it provides vitamin C, potassium and flavanones, promotes digestion and is also purifying and alkalizing. The recipe is easy, squeeze the juice from one lemon, heat a glass of water until it’s warm and, finally, add the lemon juice to the warm water. If you want to give it a more citric touch and enhance the benefits of the lemon, instead of just warming the water you can boil it with the lemon peel, then let it cool until it’s just warm enough to drink it and add the lemon juice! As with all remedies, not everyone reacts the same so my recommendation is to listen to your own body. Also, due to its acidity, it’s not recommended for people who have delicate teeth.🍋
Summer☀️ has many good things, but there’s one that surely no one misses: the rise of mosquitoes 🦟 with their threatening noise at night and their sneaky bites. So far this summer I’ve been lucky and I haven’t had the kind of giant sting that swells, turns red and hot and stings a lot, but other years I have not had the same luck and researching the plants, their properties and different natural remedies, I discovered this natural poultice for these occasions.🌱
The recipe is very easy, you just need to crush and mix the following ingredients (better if they’re organically grown!):
🔹Oat flakes crushed or powder oat, since oat is very effective against skin inflammation. 🔹Chamomile infusion because chamomile has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. 🔹Fresh basil, which contains eugenol, a compound that helps fight itching and pain. 🔹Fresh rosemary, in addition to having similar properties to basil, is a natural antiseptic.
Once the mixture is made, we just have to put it to cool in the fridge so it can give us the cold effect that will also help with the swelling and it’ll be ready to apply to the affected area.
If you don’t see any improvement, or it looks bad or you’ve an allergic reaction go quickly to the doctor!
www.instagram.com/annaflorsdefum
El verano tiene muchísimas cosas buenas, pero hay una que seguro que nadie hecha de menos: el auge de mosquitos con su ruidito amenazador por la noche y sus picaduras a traición. De momento en lo que llevamos de verano he tenido suerte y aún no he tenido una picadura de esas gigantes que se hinchan, se ponen rojas y calientes y pican una barbaridad, pero otros años no he tenido la misma suerte y investigando las plantas, sus propiedades y diferentes remedios naturales, descubrí esta cataplasma natural para estas ocasiones. La receta es muy fácil, solo hace falta triturar y mezclar los siguientes ingredientes (mejor si son de cultivo ecológico i proximidad!): - Copos de avena en polvo o polvo de avena, ya que la avena es muy eficaz contra las inflamaciones de la piel. - Infusión de manzanilla porque la manzanilla posee propiedades antiinflamatorias y analgésicas. - Albahaca fresca, la cual contiene eugenol, un compuesto que ayuda a combatir el picor y el dolor. - Romero fresco, además de tener propiedades similares a la albahaca es un antiséptico natural. Una vez hecha la mezcla solo tenemos que ponerla a enfriar en la nevera para que nos aporte el efecto frío que también ayudará con la hinchazón y ya estará lista para aplicar en la zona afectada. Podéis dejarla aplicada en la zona afectada entre 20-30 minutos, y después retirar los restos con agua fría. Si veis que no mejora, que tiene mal aspecto o que algún producto os hace alergia id rápidamente al médico!
Climate change is real (2019) - anna florsdefum
ES|| Los tiburones están gravemente amenazados (incluso hay muchas especies en peligro de extinción) esto es debido sobretodo a su pesca indiscriminada para vender sus aletas. Y, aunque parezca mentira Europa contribuye enormemente y es una zona caliente de comercio de aleta de tiburón. Desde 2003 el finning está prohibido en Europa, y desde 2013 se permite pescar algunas especies de tiburones pero sin descartar el cuerpo. Sin embargo, la legislación europea sigue permitiendo el comercio de aletas a granel de especies no protegidas. Cuando se transportan solo las aletas la identificación de la especie es muy difícil, especialmente porque los envíos suelen mezclar diferentes tipos de ellas, lo que da lugar a que se comercie fácilmente con aletas de especies protegidas y de ejemplares capturados de forma ilegal. Los tiburones están en la cúspide de la cadena trófica y juegan un papel fundamental en el equilibrio marino, regulando y equilibrando la vida que hay en ellos y ayudando a preservar sus ecosistemas. Evitar la catástrofe medioambiental que supondría la desaparición de los tiburones pasa por poner freno a este lucrativo negocio. Para ello es necesario que Europa deje de exportar aletas de tiburón y no facilite el comercio a través de su territorio. Solo quedan 4 días para que finalice el termino para firmar la iniciativa ciudadana europea para proponer un cambio legislativo que prohíba el comercio de la aleta de tiburón. 🦈 Corred, animaros a firmar! Podéis encontrar el enlace y toda la información en @stopfinningeu_spain @stopfinningeu Os dejo la ilustración de un tiburón toro (especie en peligro de extinción) que quería hacer para evidenciar la belleza de los tiburones y el mundo marino, además de dar a conocer esta lucha. Más adelante os la enseño acabada! Información extraída de @stopfinningeu_spain
EN|| Sharks are seriously threatened (there are even many species in danger of extinction) this is mainly due to their indiscriminate fishing to sell their fins. And, oddly enough, Europe contributes enormously and is a hot spot for the shark fin trade. Since 2003 finning has been prohibited in Europe, and since 2013 it has been allowed to fish some species of sharks but without discarding the rest of the body. However, the European legislation continues to allow the trade of fins of non-protected species. When only the fins are transported, the identification of the species is very difficult, especially as shipments often mix different types of fins, leading to easy trade in fins from protected species and illegally caught fins. Sharks are at the top of the food chain and play a fundamental role in the marine balance, regulating and balancing the life in them and helping to preserve their ecosystems. Avoiding the environmental catastrophe that would mean the disappearance of sharks involves putting a stop to this lucrative business. This requires Europe to stop exporting shark fins and not facilitate trade through its territory. There are only 4 days left before the end of the term to sign the European citizens initiative to propose a legislative change that prohibits the shark fin trade. 🦈 Run, I encourage you to sign! You can find the link and all the information at @stopfinningeu I leave you with the illustration of a sand tiger shark (endangered species) that I wanted to do to highlight the beauty of sharks and the marine world, as well as shine a light on this fight. Later on I will show you this illustration finished!
ES || Hojas con dibujos a acuarela de objetos de plástico de todo tipo para el proyecto animales de plástico.
EN || Watercolor drawings of plastic objects of all kinds for the project “plastic animals”
Calendario Montessori 2021 (2020) || Calendari Montessori 2021 (2020) || Montessori calendar 2021 (2020)
Estoy muy feliz de anunciaros que ya está a la venta el calendario Montessori que ilustré durante el confinamiento para @editorialplaneta @estrellapolareditorial @kidsplanetlibros !
WEB
CAT || Aquesta setmana ha sigut el Dia Mundial del Medi Ambient i crec que és un bon moment per a recordar aquesta il·lustració sobre el fosc futur dels óssos polars. Tot i que vivim en uns temps problemàtics i durs, és important recordar que hem de tenir cura del nostre planeta de totes les maneres que ens siguin possibles. La contaminació, a causa de les nostres emissions de gas o dels nostres residus plàstics genera repercussions catastròfiques com l’augment de la temperatura global de la Terra i dels oceans, la reducció de les plaques de gel a les glaceres de tot el món, la reducció de la neu primaveral a l’hemisferi nord, l’augment del nivell del mar, la disminució del gel marí àrtic que es forma més tard a la tardor i es fon més aviat a la primavera, la mort de molts animals aquàtics a causa dels bloqueigs gastrointestinals i alternacions en els patrons de reproducció i alimentació, l’augment del risc d’incendis forestals, així com moltes altres víctimes mortals. Esta a les nostres mans mantindre la rica diversitat del nostre planeta terra.☀️🌍
ESP || Esta semana ha sido el día mundial del medio ambiente, recupero esta ilustración sobre el futuro de los osos polares. Aunque vivimos en tiempos convulsos es importante recordar que tenemos que cuidar nuestro planeta y acabar con la contaminación. El incremento del efecto invernadero, debido a nuestras emisiones de gases, genera repercusiones catastróficas como el aumento de la temperatura global de la Tierra y de los océanos, la reducción de las capas de hielo en los glaciares de todo el mundo, incluyendo los Alpes, Alaska, el Himalaya, etc., la reducción de la nieve de primavera en todo el hemisferio norte, el aumento del nivel del mar y la disminución de hielo marino del Ártico el cual se forma cada vez más tarde en otoño y se deshace más pronto en primavera. Sólo en los últimos 30 años se han perdido tres cuartas partes de la capa flotante de hielo del Ártico, la casa de los osos polares entre otros animales.☀️🌍
ENG || These week was World Environment Day and I think is a good time to bring back this illustration about the dark future of polar bears. Although we live in troubled times, it’s important to remember that we have to take care of our planet every way we can. Pollution, due to our gas emissions or our plastic waste, generates catastrophic repercussions such as the increase in global temperature of the Earth and the oceans, the reduction of ice sheets on glaciers around the world, the reduction of spring snow across the Northern Hemisphere, rising sea levels, decreasing Arctic sea ice which forms later in the fall and melts sooner in spring, death of many aquatic animals due to gastrointestinal blockages and alternations in reproduction and feeding patterns, increased risk of forest fires, and many other fatalities. It’s in our hands to maintain the rich diversity of our planet earth.☀️🌍
Plastic whales || ballenas de pástico || balenes de plàstic (2019)
ESP || Si no cuidamos nuestro planeta quien lo hará? Siempre he sido una enamorada de la naturaleza por este motivo ha sido un placer aportar mi granito de arena para intentar concienciar sobre el importante problema que generan los plásticos sobretodo cuando acaban en el mar destrozando todo el ecosistema marino. Evitemos los plásticos de un solo uso para tener un océano limpio y lleno de vida, un pequeño gesto puede hacer mucho! 🐋💙
ENG || If we don't take care of our planet who will do it? I have always loved nature for this reason it has been a pleasure to try to raise awareness about the important problem that plastics generate, especially when they end up at sea destroying the entire marine ecosystem. Let's avoid single-use plastics to have a clean and full of life ocean. A small gesture can do a lot! 🐋💙
web
La primera persona en dibujar una cadena alimenticia fue Pieter Bruegel, el viejo… su sorprendente dibujo [“The big fisch eat the small ones”] fue hecho en 1556. Incluye lo que bien podría ser un temprano mensaje ecologista mostrando un análisis de la comida (aparentemente con un largo cuchillo de pan) y lo que puede ser un temprano biólogo aplicado…parcialmente transformado en un pez por absorber a un pez que también ha comido a un pez… Elton, Charles, The Ecology of Invasions by Animals and Plants, v. p. 126.
Why We Need to Care About Insects
Originally posted on my website at https://rebeccalexa.com/why-we-need-to-care-about-insects/
Some months back a study was released that demonstrates just how damaging climate change is to insects, particularly those in tropical areas. Warming temperatures cause insects to die from overheating and dehydration, kills off their food sources, and lowers their fertility rates to dangerous levels. Moreover, changes in climate affect insect phenology, the timing of when they hatch, migrate, breed, and so forth.
And because insects are so small, they’re often disproportionately affected by many of these problems. As ectotherms, they rely on the air around them to regulate their body temperatures; their small mass means they lose heat faster than larger animals, and can be overloaded with heat much more quickly. Tropical insects are especially at risk from major fluctuations in temperature because they are adapted to a relatively narrow temperature range.
Gray spruce looper moth (Caripeta divisata)
But the problem goes far beyond the tropics, and we are in the middle of an insect apocalypse. This problem often flies under the radar of those who are not already aware of invertebrate conservation. While a few insects, such as monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) and domestic honey bees (Apis mellifera), find themselves in the press on a regular basis, most species don’t have large fan clubs. Some of my favorite insects include the white-tipped ctenucha moth (Ctenucha rubroscapus), the velvet snail-eating beetle (Scaphinotus velutinus), and the black-tailed bumblebee (Bombus melanopygus), none of which are insects you’re likely to find making the headlines.
To be fair, there are a lot of insect species out there, so it would be hard to feature every single one individually. But we already face the problem that many people simply just don’t see why we need to worry about fewer bugs around. Last year I wrote an article about how search engines tend to produce exterminator sites at the top of results for various insects, and while some of that is no doubt due to advertising-oriented algorithms, they do reflect a widespread demand for extermination services that isn’t matched by more positive attention to these little animals.
Much has been said among entomologists, ecologists, and other professionals about why we need to be concerned about the drastic drop in the numbers of many insect species, and I’ve written about it as well. I could reiterate what would happen if we lost our pollinators (and also how to save them!) or the crucial role insect detritivores play in reducing diseases and keeping the food web cycling along. And I am still a champion for mosquitoes and other unpopular insects.
Green stink bug (Chinavia hilaris)
But these things always bear repeating. It may be that nine out of every ten organisms on this planet is an insect. Insects play an incredible number of ecological roles, from ecosystem engineers to pollinators to food sources and much more. Without them, ecosystems around the planet would collapse entirely.
I could certainly take the self-interested route and emphasize that fully one-third of our food relies on insects and other pollinators. I might also point out that insect detritivores help nourish the soil needed for everything from food crops to timber. While terrestrial insects and other arthropods only make up about a fifth of the amount of global biomass as their marine counterparts, they still represent a natural sink that holds about 200 million tons of carbon at any given time.
But our anthropocentric worldview rarely considers the intrinsic value of insects simply for existing. We’re constantly weighing and measuring their worth based on our biases and values. We divide them into “good” or “bad” insects: good insects are those that do things we like, like pollination or looking pretty, while bad insects are the ones that chew on our homes and plants or which bite or sting us when threatened or seeking food. For a lot of people, any insect beyond maybe a butterfly is a reason to say “Ewww, gross!” I’ve even seen this widespread among self-professed nature lovers, whether they have a true entemophobia or not, though there may be an evolutionary reason for this seemingly disproportionate reaction.
So consider this yet another attempt to change opinions about insects. I can’t cure entemophobia, but I can at least get people thinking more critically about personal and societal attitudes toward insects. I hope to get people to realize that widespread use of pesticides and other garden/agricultural chemicals–which has increased fifty-fold in twenty-five years–is driving the loss of so many insects. I’ve mentioned before that habitat loss is the single biggest cause of species endangerment and extinction, and that goes for insects, too. And, of course, the study mentioned at the start of this article is just one highlighting the increasing impact climate change has on insects worldwide.
Metric Paper Wasp (Polistes metricus)
Let me wrap this up on a bright note: word is getting out. There is a lot more awareness than there was twenty years ago, and there’s more nuance than we had in the early “save the (domesticated European honey) bees” campaigns. More people are ditching pesticides and other garden chemicals unless absolutely needed, and regenerative agricultural practices that use fewer chemicals overall are gaining ground. And while numerous organizations are increasing awareness of insect conservation, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation–the oldest organization dedicated solely to invertebrates–is still going strong.
And you can help spread the word, too. Share this article with others, and some of the resources and organizations linked throughout. Consider your own relationship to the native insects in the world around you, and whether you might make their lives a little easier. And remember that sometimes it is the smallest of things that have the greatest importance in such a massive system as an entire living planet.
Did you enjoy this post? Consider taking one of my online foraging and natural history classes or hiring me for a guided nature tour, checking out my other articles, or picking up a paperback or ebook I’ve written! You can even buy me a coffee here!
Meet the architect who wants to return Mexico City to its ancient lakes
“The pre-Hispanic civilizations built a system of dams, in order to control the salt water and to bring clean water. But then the Spaniards, in order to conquer the city, broke the dams … They started to follow a European scheme, which didn’t match the geography. And we have followed that inherited inertia for the last 500 years.” || Read more in The Guardian
*releases pack of dads into home depot* go……be free
it's important to remember that most 'invasive species' did not change the region and habitat to which they have adapted by their own accord; stowaways on cargo vessels, changed migration patterns due to human settlements or a changing climate; animals formerly used for furs or other animal products being released after those goods were no longer in demand... these animals are displaced. it's very sad because often the best solution is population control.
we made the problem and the best solution feels pretty ugly, but the alternative is often ecologically much worse.
Not only do we have the rich elite releasing millions of non-native birds for sport shooting, and shooters and farmers campaigning against efforts to re-wild parts of the UK, we also have animal rights groups sabotaging conservation efforts.
Grey squirrels are highly invasive in the UK. They spread disease, outcompete the native red squirrel, and also predate native bird nests and damage trees. Culling them is vital to helping to restore ecosystems and threatened native wildlife. Yet there are groups of ARAs dedicated to saving these invasive squirrels. UK wildlife just can't win.
This is how bad the situation is btw:
