animal news blog

昆士蘭州袋鼬功能性滅絕

April 14, 2025

最近研究顯示，斑尾袋鼬及北方袋鼬已在昆士蘭州「功能性滅絕」，代表牠們的數量太少，已無法在野外維持種群生存，並會導致生態系統失衡。是次調查中，共於6736個晚上設置攝影機，但並未拍攝到任何袋鼬的蹤跡。袋鼬是澳洲最大的食肉動物及頂級捕食者，但牠們正面臨棲息地喪失、入侵海蟾蜍、狐狸及野貓的威脅。

A recently study on the spotted-tail and northern quoll showed they are functionally extinct in Queensland, meaning their population is too small to sustain in the wild and lead to ecosystem imbalance. Cameras were set up for 6736 nights during this survey, and no quoll was captured. Quolls are Australia’s largest carnivore and the top predators, but they are threatened by habitat loss, invasive cane toads, foxes and feral cats.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-03/quolls-functionally-extinct-in-large-parts-of-queensland/105122684

幼鳥被入侵老鼠活活咬食

April 13, 2025

於南非的馬里恩島，信天翁幼鳥被入侵的老鼠活活吃掉。老鼠會直接爬到雛鳥身上，開始啃咬幼鳥們，但由於幼鳥仍未能走路而無法逃跑，所以受傷的幼鳥通常會在幾天內捱痛並死去。科學家計劃透過在該偏遠島嶼的一小部分區域徒步投放有毒誘餌來消滅島上的老鼠，再於明年起使用直升機更大規模投放誘餌。馬里恩島上現時有29種繁殖鳥類，其中19種受到老鼠的威脅。

On South Africa’s Marion Island, albatross chicks are being eaten alive by invasive mice. Mice climb on the chicks and start ripping their flesh, but the chicks are too young to walk and escape, so injured chicks usually suffer and die within a few days. Scientists are planning to eradicate the mice from the island by spreading toxic baits on foot across a small section of this remote island, and using helicopters to drop bait across a larger section next year. There are 29 bird species breeding on Marion Island, and 19 of them are threatened by the mice.

https://blog.nature.org/2020/01/22/recovery-zombie-mouse-apocalypse/

崩落冰山下的神秘生態

April 10, 2025

今年年初，一座與芝加哥相當大小的冰山 (A-83) 從南極半島冰蓋上的一座巨大浮冰 (喬治六世冰架) 上崩落。冰山崩落後科研人員隨即於原被覆蓋區域的海底進行了調查，發現海拔1300公尺以下的生態系統十分繁榮。他們觀察到許多生物，如大型珊瑚、海綿、冰魚、魷魚、水母等等。研究人員對這片深海的生物多樣性感到驚訝，並相信他們發現了幾個新物種。

Earlier this year, an iceberg (A-83) the size of Chicago broke away from one of the massive floating glaciers (the George VI Ice Shelf) attached to the Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet. Researchers investigated the seafloor of the area that was covered by the iceberg soon after it departed, and discovered flourishing ecosystems 1,300 meters below sea level. Large corals, sponges, icefish, squid, jellyfish and many more were observed. Researchers were surprised by the biodiversity and believe they have discovered several new species.

https://schmidtocean.org/thriving-antarctic-ecosystems-found-in-wake-of-recently-detached-iceberg/

再添物種受鰻魚貿易影響

March 30, 2025

歐洲鰻魚（𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢）是極度瀕危物種。即使歐盟有出口限制，非法販運幼鰻魚仍然是一個嚴重的問題。大量幼鰻繼續被走私出歐洲，進入高需求的亞洲市場。最近新加坡的一個調查發現，超市、餐廳及批發市場等銷售的鰻魚，除了歐洲鰻魚外，瀕危的美洲鰻魚（𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢）亦被廣泛食用，佔當中的七成。估計貿易商可能轉運美洲鰻魚，令該物種面臨進一步的威脅。

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is a critically endangered species. Despite EU export restrictions, illegal trafficking remains a serious problem. Large quantities of juvenile eels continue to be smuggled out of Europe to meet high demand in Asian markets. A recent investigation in Singapore found that, in addition to European eels, 70% of sampled products from supermarkets, restaurants, and wholesalers contained the endangered American eel (Anguilla rostrata). This suggests that traders may be shifting to American eels, which could further threaten this species.

https://www.earth.com/news/eel-trade-is-pushing-another-species-to-the-brink/

鬚鯨為海洋散播營養物

March 25, 2025

遷徙的鬚鯨是為海洋散播營養物質的重要角色。牠們在從營養豐富的覓食地前往營養低的繁殖地的同時，會透過尿液、幼鯨的糞便甚至牠們的屍體運送並釋放營養物質；這有助於促進浮游植物的生長，為沿海地區及珊瑚礁等提供養分。

Migrating baleen whales play a crucial role in transporting nutrients in the ocean.When they travel from nutrient-rich feeding grounds to low-nutrient breeding grounds, they release nutrients in their urine, calf feces and even carcasses; this help enhancing phytoplankton growth, fertilizing coastal and coral reefs.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56123-2