Author Archives: Jacob Thomas

Australian scientists rescue wildlife by hand from changing climates

by Jacob Thomas Posted on October 17, 2013

Australian scientists rescue wildlife by hand from changing climates

By

Australian Alps collection – Parks Australia

Australian scientists may lend a hand to mountain pygmy possums, which are threatened by climate change.

Australia is among the countries that are being hit the hardest by global warming — and that’s taking a toll on wildlife. So Australian scientists are preparing to evacuate animals from their natural habitats in an effort to stave off extinctions.

Under a new decision-making framework developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, species such as the endangered mountain pygmy possum could be trapped and released into more hospitable environments to help assure their survival.

It’s a controversial idea in a country ravaged by toads and other invasive species that were transplanted from their natural environments in ill-advised efforts to help control pests.

“There’s lots of debate in science whether it is a good idea at all,” framework coauthor Tracy Rout of the University of Queensland told The Guardian:

The key values fed into the formula are the status of the animals to be moved, the prospects of the animals at a new site and their impact on existing species in the new area.

“We’ve ended up with an equation that basically looks at the benefits versus the cost, ecologically speaking,” said Rout. “This should be very helpful in making the judgment whether to move a species, but there also needs to be value judgments taken by the decision-maker.”

Rout said that such relocation efforts would be a measure used only as a “last resort,” but she points out that such an effort is already underway. Scientists are working to rescue western swamp tortoises, which are Australia’s most endangered reptiles, from swamps that are drying out in Perth’s suburbs.


Source
Australian scientists plan to relocate wildlife threatened by climate change, The Guardian

John Upton is a science fan and green news boffin who tweets, posts articles to Facebook, and blogs about ecology. He welcomes reader questions, tips, and incoherent rants: johnupton@gmail.com.

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Australian scientists rescue wildlife by hand from changing climates

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The Stress-Free Way To Find An Awesome Solar Panel Contractor

by Jacob Thomas Posted on August 23, 2013

As much as we might like to do it ourselves, some projects are just too grand, and too challenging. But hiring a solar panel installation contractor is an intimidating idea as well. Finding one who will work according to your schedule and your vision might present some challenges. Here are some ideas to guide your search and help you make a wise choice.

Contact the solar panel installation contractor’s references and ask them about their experiences with the contractor and whether they would use the contractor again. Visit the site often to make sure the work is satisfactory and the site is well-maintained. Make sure their vision for the final design matches yours.

The solar panel installation contractor you hire for your project needs to be an expert in all local zoning ordinances and laws, or you could be in for a lot of problems. You can bring your plans and drawings to your local government and ask them to evaluate them for compliance if you’re concerned about your contractor’s level of expertise (or lack thereof. )

Ask the solar panel installation contractor who will be performing your work. Often main contractors will employ solar panel experts to complete jobs or parts of jobs. Inquire as to how long or how often this solar panel expert is used and if the solar panel experts work is guaranteed by the main solar panel company. It may also be a good idea to ask for references from the solar panel expert to check out.

When a solar panel installation contractor explains his reputation make sure you double check yourself by asking for references or testimonies. Don’t be fooled by a clever contractor talking his way out of explaining his past. You need to do your research to discover on your own if a contractor will be a good fit for your project.

Ask if your potential solar panel installation contractor has sample books of materials used in past jobs or photos of past completed projects. These examples can give you insight into their quality of work and may assist you in making a decision about an aspect of the job you are unsure of.

A good solar panel installation contractor always listens to your needs and concerns and gives helpful suggestions at all times. If the contractor has been active during interview and estimation and is easy to talk to than he is probably a good choice to do further business with.

Make sure that you ask the solar panel installation contractor if they’re familiar with the certain codes required to tackle your project. All of the areas like improvement, plumbing, and electrical work have specific codes that they have to follow. If your contractor isn’t aware of these codes, you could be in hot water.

Before you start working with a solar panel installation contractor get them to sign a written contract so they will be held responsible for the length of time the project takes as well as the cost of it including labor and materials. Ask how they will improve and expand on your expectations and use a first interview to establish professionalism.

Looking for ways to enhance your knowledge about the helpful tips presented above? Just type in solar energy installation when searching online. You can find some fantastic helpful ideas about green energy options.

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