Category Archives: Biological Sciences

Can seahorse protection lead to a better approach to marine conservation?

Posted on November 28, 2018 by | Leave a comment

In the past few decades, ecological protection has gradually become a greater concern for more and more people; however, how can we effectively protect the earth’s ecology if the vast majority of it is still alien to us, especially the ocean? Recently, we were given the chance to interview Dr.Xiong Zhang, an expert on seahorse conservation, he explained why protecting small species such as seahorses can be helpful in protecting many marine ecosystems.

Image of a seahorse
Picture retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/12/15/world/science-health-world/undersea-mystery-genetic-secrets-seahorse-unveiled/

 

Dr.Xiong Zhang during the interview

Dr.Zhang, who is a zoology Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia, recently conducted his case study on predicting locations where seahorses are commonly found along the coastal areas in China. The main role of his study is to help protect seahorses which can improve the maintenance of many shallow sea environments. A point of interest is the reason Dr. Zhang chose seahorses, and how he believes their protection can lead to maintaining shallow sea ecosystems. 

China coastal area
picture retrieved from https://medium.com/civic-analytics/signal-2-environmental-impacts-of-land-reclamation-in-china-under-climate-change-background-981edb2d7bf9

 

First, Dr.Zhang explained why he focuses on seahorses; there are three main reasons:

Seahorses are distributed in a variety of geological locations

Seahorses have many subspecies, and each of them requires different living conditions for habitat; for example, some prefer warm water temperatures and some prefer higher concentrations of salt. These factors make seahorses as a whole widely distributed globally, however,  suitable living environments are scarce for them at the same time. 

Seahorses are extremely sensitive to changes in an environment

Different types of seahorse subspecies
Picture retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/

The limitations for the seahorses are not only due to habitat requirements but also partly because of its own living habits. Seahorses need to hook on structures on the seafloor to survive; without these structures, they will drift away with the current. As a result, seahorses are confined to areas with special structures on the seafloor. The destruction on an area with such structures will lead to complete elimination of a local seahorse population. 

Seahorses can be used as indicators to measure the wellness of local ecosystems

Since seahorses are “picky” in choosing their habitats, there are few places that are ideal for them, they can be used to determine whether an ecosystem is healthy. These areas often have unique characteristics, making them extremely sensitive to ecological changes. Therefore, in this particular environment, if there is a significant decrease in the number of seahorses, experts can reasonably infer that this is caused by habitat destruction.

Image of coral reef mangroves.
Picture retrieved from:
https://www.leonardodicaprio.org/protecting-coral-reefs-and-mangroves-indonesia

With all that in mind, how do we go from protecting seahorses to maintaining shallow sea environments? From previous answers, we can see that seahorses are marine animals that very dependent on their habitat; as a result, protecting their habitat is the best way to protect their population. While protecting seahorse’s habitats, we can also protect many creatures in the same environment. Using the seahorse as a starting point, we can protect organisms in a small area; when many small areas are protected, the experts will be able to maintain the ecology of the nearby shallow water on a larger scale. Therefore, protecting the seahorse is a point-to-point approach to secure the shallow sea ecosystems. Dr. Zhang’s findings effectively predict the habitat of seahorses on a large-scale from limited data, and the short video below briefly describes the process.

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If the above video doesn’t work click: Video link

The result mapped by Dr.Zhang for 4 different subspecies of seahorses.

After drawing such a relatively precise map for the locations of seahorses, experts and authorities can make decisions of conservation more effectively. When we asked Dr. Zhang if his research had been put to practical use, he gave us a positive answer: “there is one province in the south, Guangxi province, considered my research very important and they added the seahorse habitat in the conservation planning, in its local area.”

When Dr. Zhang indicated research plans for the future, he told us: “In the future, the degree of seahorse protection will definitely increase for sure, and there are lots of local people that really care about the sustainability of the livelihood for seahorse “

In the end, Dr. Zhang told us, although we can’t say that at the current stage seahorses are well protected, but based on his research, more experts will see the importance of seahorses. Though this, more research will be focusing on seahorses in the future. Furthermore, as technology and information advance, the protection of seahorses will be more perfected. This point-to-point approach on the protection of one animal will also be more effective in protecting our shallow sea ecosystems in the future.


 

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Science Communication, Statistics

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From sea to table: a series of unfortunate events

Posted on November 28, 2018 by | Leave a comment

With an abundance of local marine life within arm’s reach, Vancouver has endless seafood options varying from Pajos fish and chips to fresh oysters at the Blue Water Cafe! While enjoying this variety of seafood, have you ever wondered how these fish end up on your dinner plate?

Different fishing gear types are used depending on the size, weight, and location of the fish that is being caught.  Although all gear types impact the ocean to some extent, the degree of impact varies!

Image of Pajos fish and chips at the Steveston wharf. Image: are you gonna eat that

Uncovering the impacts

To learn about the global use of fishing gear types and its associated consequences, we reached out to Tim Cashion – a research assistant at The Sea Around Us research initiative at the University of British Columbia.

The Sea Around Us research initiative previously reconstructed global annual catches; however, it did not account for small-scale fishing (fishing for survival) and discarding (unwanted catches thrown back into the ocean). Cashion and his team utilized this prior work as well as analysis of more recent fisheries annual reports to reconstruct a database that accounts for all global marine catches, including: industrial fishing (fishing for profit), small-scale fishing, landings (catches of fish brought back to ports), and discards.

The most common gear types

Bottom trawling – the most destructive but widely used industrial gear type -involves dragging a large net across the ocean floor. The nets are held open by steel poles which detach coral from the ocean floor. This is detrimental to fish because corals serve as essential habitats for spawning and protection from predators.

Conversely, purse seining involves setting a purse-like net into the ocean and pulling it closed to trap schools of fish! This method is less destructive and more effective as it catches up to 99% of the species that the gear is intended to catch.

A video of common fishing gear types used in small-scale and industrial fisheries:

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Video: wonderfulblossoms

Unintentional catch

Although fishing gears are skillfully constructed, they are not perfectly selective! For instance, bottom trawl nets catch every life form that it encounters. Consequently, fish of the wrong species are often caught and thrown back into the ocean in their dying state. If these perfectly good fish entered the market then the price of fish would be cheaper! Who doesn’t like to save money?

Image result for fishing damage

Image of a sea turtle entangled in a net. Image: Doug Helton

Importance of the reconstructed database

The reconstructed database allows fisheries scientists to evaluate the risk of overexploitation of some species. Furthermore, this information will help improve fisheries management and ensure that fish populations do not decline overtime due to fishing practices.

A podcast discussing the major impacts of fishing gear types is linked below.

By: Jack Bae, Sami Ko, Alex Ponomarev, and Jodie Xie

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Eggs on Legs: How a Species was Divided by Song

Posted on November 28, 2018 by | Leave a comment

More Than Just a Tune

Take a walk outside and listen for a moment – odds are you’ll hear a variety of birdsongs functioning as nature’s own soundtrack. While birdsongs are known and enjoyed by many, a lesser known fact is that these songs actually define separate species, or populations of animals that don’t mate with one another. Recently, scientist Benjamin Freeman made a fascinating discovery. With the help of birdsong, he determined that a population of Rusty-breasted Antpittas, previously thought to be one species, should actually be classified as two separate species.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Ochre-breasted_Antpitta_2.jpg

The Rusty-breasted Antpitta. Image source: Tony Castro

 

How it Happened

Rusty-breasted Antpittas, which are small birds native to Central and South America, are affectionately referred to as “eggs on legs” due to their small size and round shape. The Antpittas which Freeman investigated in his 2018 study live in the Andes, and travel by hopping and running. Because the birds are unable to fly, the mountains and valleys within the Andes form geographical barriers between groups of Antpittas.

File:Andes peruanos.jpg

The Andes Mountains. Image source: Lucia Barreiros da Silva

 

Over the past few million years, the northern and southern groups of Antpittas evolved differences in their songs and genetics due to this separation. These differences, in fact, are so great that Freeman believes the two groups to be separate species – that is, they would not mate if they were to encounter one another. For an insider view of how Freeman believes the two populations have become separate species, check out the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQU3cPAofeE&feature=youtu.be

 

What is Speciation?

The process of a population separating into multiple species, as seen in the Rusty-breasted Antpitta, is referred to by scientists as speciation. A common cause of speciation is when populations are separated by geography – in the Antpitta’s case, the barriers were formed by the mountains and valleys of the Andes. And as climate change causes temperatures to rise, this effect can become even more extreme: species move to higher elevations in order to reach their preferred temperature ranges, causing populations to separate even further and develop more differences. The podcast below paints a more detailed picture of speciation, and how the presence of different species can make the world we live in a more exciting and colorful place.

 

A Final Note

The story of the Rusty-breasted Antpitta is just one example of the processes that are occurring around us all the time. From birds, to bugs, to beluga whales, each species on Earth has unique traits that were formed by years of speciation. So the next time you step outside and find yourself listening to birdsong, take a minute to appreciate it – chances are, it’s more meaningful than you might have thought!

 

By Olivia Campbell, Morgan Kaye, Kevin Keum, & Sarah Speckmaier

 

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Cannabis in the Spotlight

What is Cannabis?

The Cannabis Act has been issued for quite a while now, but not many of us are fully aware of what Cannabis is and why it is so important to enforce a law for it. The cannabis we speak of today often includes but are not limited to pot, weed, marijuana, Ganja, dope, or 420.  After more than 90-years of cannabis prohibition in Canada, these “underground” names are now brought together by a common word now known as cannabis. Cannabis is derived from dried plant phenotype species — Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, or Cannabis Ruderalis, where all contains mind altering chemical compounds.

Photo by Cannapedia

It grows wild in many of the tropical and temperate areas of the world. However, it can now be grown in almost any climate, and is increasingly cultivated by means of indoor hydroponic technology.

Photo by National Institute on Drug Abuse

Chemical Substances in Cannabis

Cannabis contains hundreds of chemical substances and over 100 of these are known as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are made and stored in the plant’s trichomes, a tiny, clear hairs that stick out from the surfaces of flowers and leaves of the Cannabis plant. Cannabinoids can change how cell receptors in the brain and body behave and communicate with each other.

The main active Cannabinoid is called delta-9 tetrahydro-cannabinol or referred to as THC. This is the part of the plant that is responsible for giving people the “high” and often times intoxication. THC has some therapeutic effects but also has harmful effects. These harmful effects may be greater when the concentration or THC potency is higher.

Cannabidiol or CBD is another cannabinoid, but does not produce intoxication in the body or make people “high”. There is some evidence that CBD may hinder effects of THC on the mind. This occurs when the amount of CBD in the cannabis is the same or higher than the amount of THC. CBD is being further studied for its possible therapeutic applications.

Effects of Cannabis Usage

Although there are several types of Cannabis and many are consumed or used very differently, the extent of its effect is determined by the potency of THC content inside each dosage.

Photo by Health Canada

In the short run, smoking cannabis will allow THC to travel quickly from the lungs into the bloodstream, where the blood carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. Hence, the THC chemical compound will over-activate the receptors in you brain, which gives people the “high” due to heightened senses. The body absorbs THC more slowly when a person eats or drink it, where the effect usually comes in after 30 minutes.

Short term effects include:

  • Altered senses (taste, sights, smell, sound, and even time)
  • Impaired brain functions (memory, attention, and learning)
  • Change in mood
  • Hallucination, delusion, and psychosis (when consumed at high doses)

The long term effects of cannabis consumption are still being studied across the world, but through several longitudinal studies, it is shown that there is a significant decline in general knowledge and verbal abilities between preteen ages and early adulthood. However, in studies where people started cannabis consumption as adults, the results did not show a notable decrease in mental abilities but increased risks of addiction after long term consumptions.

Long term effects include:

  • Lose of memory, concentration, intelligence (effects are greater when started at adolescence)
  • Lung diseases (chronic cough, respiratory diseases like bronchitis or even cancer, lung infection)
  • Addiction

I hope after reading this blog all of you will be more aware and considerate about Cannabis and its consumption effects.

By: Robin Yuyang Wei

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Posted on November 18, 2018 by in Biological Sciences

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Can We Program Our Brains?

Posted on November 16, 2018 by | 1 comment

Imagine a world where altering memory, never being blind and downloading skills into our brains exist. Well, science isn’t as far off as you think! As farfetched as the idea of programming our brains seems an area of research in neurosciences called optogenetics works with neurons (brain cells) and light in order to mimic our natural brain wave patterns and send “fake” signals to the cells. Research done with optogenetics uses altered cell proteins to make them respond to light. This allows us to control specific reactions that take place in targeted parts of the brains quickly that things like drugs just cannot do since they lack the precision and take time.

Image result for optogenetics

Light hitting the neuron By: Julie Pryor

 

Research Being Done

Researchers in a 2007 study used mice and placed a wire into their brain then flashed a super fast blue light into a relatively large area of the brain where control over motor skills are known to be. They were able to get the mice to walk in circles meaning this stimulus allowed the researchers to change the rodents’ motor behaviour!

Image result for optogenetics mice

Optogenetics on mice  https://www.google.ca/search?biw=1280&bih=579&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=54jvW8S_Ef-60PEPqOK50AU&q=optogenetics+mice&oq=opto&gs_l=img.3.0.0i67l2j0l8.13955.14510..15840…0.0..0.43.165.4……1….1..gws-wiz-img…….35i39.8xqXwVvFP-8#imgrc=dcCvQgMIcXmp8M: 

But research hasn’t stopped there, with further understanding of brain wave patterns a recent study (still done on mice) was able to control the light better and use holograms. They used a specialized technique called 3D-SHOT that mimicked the natural brain wave patterns which, when measured by the amount of calcium consumed by the brain, found that this light probably caused the mice to believe what they were seeing, hearing or feeling was real. Calcium was used because it was a good indicator of how much the neurons were firing, the more calcium used means there were more neurons firing and vice versa.

Future Implications

While this research for humans is still ongoing, one day it might be possible to program our brains and treat diseases that do not currently have cures such as Parkinson’s disease or blindness. For example, if we could mimic how eyes send signals to the brain we could use prosthetic eyes with these copied signals and cure blindness!

Inspiration 

By: Fatima Syed

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Could this be the reason why your hands are always cold?

Posted on November 11, 2018 by | 3 comments

I’m sure you’ve noticed that winter is fast approaching, the air is getting colder and the temperatures are dropping! Does the cold weather ever cause your fingers or toes to become blue and numb? If so, Raynaud’s phenomenon may be the reason why!

What is Raynaud’s phenomenon?

Raynaud’s phenomenon, also known as Raynaud’s disease occurs when blood cells in your finger tips or toes overreact to the cold, causing your fingers to turn white, blue, and finally red.  This disease is typically diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 30; however it is quite rare, affecting less than 10% of individuals in the United States. Furthermore, females and individuals who live in colder regions are more likely to be afflicted by this disease.

Fil:Raynaud phenomenon.jpg

Image: Tcal at English Wikipedia

Types of Raynaud’s Disease

Raynaud’s disease can be classified as either primary or secondary. Anyone can develop primary Raynaud’s; however, chances are heightened for those with a family history. On the contrary, secondary Raynaud’s is uncommon. In fact, only individuals with an underlying medical condition that makes them more prone to the disease (e.g. nerve damage) are at risk for developing secondary Raynaud’s.

0:30-2:30 A more detailed explanation of the major differences between primary and secondary Raynaud’s disease

Video: Johns Hopkins Rheumatology

Symptoms and Causes

The most common symptoms include: numbness, tingling, and sometimes even pain in the fingers and toes. In most cases, symptoms will subside after about 15 minutes when your body warms up and blood flow returns to its normal rate. Additionally, Raynaud’s is triggered primarily by the cold, but other potential triggers include: emotional stress, smoking, caffeine, and certain medications.

How does this happen?

When temperatures drop, your body conserves heat by reducing the rate of blood flow to your hands and feet (i.e. the network of arteries that carry blood to these parts of your body narrow). If you have Raynaud’s disease, however, these arteries narrow more than necessary, causing your fingers and toes to feel numb and turn blue.

Image result for raynaud's phenomenon

An image showing regular blood flow to the fingers (A) versus constricted blood flow to the fingers (B & C)

Image: National Heart,Lung, and Blood Institute: Heart & Vascular Diseases: Raynaud’s: What Is Raynaud’s?

How dangerous is this disease?

Raynaud’s is not dangerous; however, individuals with this condition are more prone to frost bites and spasms in the fingers and toes. Furthermore, in extreme cases, blood flow to the fingers and toes may be completely blocked resulting in potential deformities and tissue damage.

Is there a cure?

There are no known cures for Raynaud’s; however, symptoms typically improve over time. Simple measures, such as covering exposed skin can be taken to prevent any symptoms. However, if you do happen to experience any symptoms, soaking the area in warm water can help relieve them.

Sami Ko

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Intermittent Fasting

Posted on November 5, 2018 by | 2 comments

Intermittent Fasting – A Simpler Way to Eat

Most of us grew-up hearing ” breakfast is the most important meal of the day” but what if that isn’t the case?

Intermittent fasting has gained a great deal of attention in the past years for the benefits in weight loss, overall healthier-eating, and a way to simplify our lifestyles. Popularized by Martin Berkhan, a nutritional consultant from Leangains, the success of intermittent fasting lies in the fact that it is not a diet but a lifestyle change. Intermittent fasting is divided into two stages, fasting and feeding. The most common type of fasting is the 16:8 known as the Leangains method, consisting of a 16 hour fast followed by an eight hour feeding period with no dietary restrictions.

16:8 Intermittent Fasting Pattern Credit: StayWow

Fasting and Our Ancestors

Our ancestors did not have the luxuries we have today, they had to hunt their food and this could lead to not finding anything to eat for hours or days at a time. This is the basis of intermittent fasting, going back to our old roots. By allowing our bodies to function as they are intended to do. Studies have shown, intermittent fasting protects against diabetes, obesity, cancers, heart disease, hypertension, neurodegeneration, and many more benefits.

Benefits of Intermittent Fasting Credit: Fitness Junction

OUR BRAIN AND FASTING

One of the biggest misconceptions is that our brain can only use glucose for energy, but this could not be further away from the truth. In reality, while in the fasting state, our brains can utilize ketone bodies as a source of energy.

While fasting, brain proteins increase as the stress of fasting causes the body to preserve this very important organ. One of the most important brain proteins is a brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF. This protein works by growing neurons and as a natural antidepressant. In addition, it has been shown to help neurons stay healthier and resist brain diseases like dementia.

A study conducted by Dr. Bredesen consisted of ten patients with early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The patients started to fast for 12 hours a day and were tested for cognitive improvement or decline. Within 3-6 months, nine out of the ten patients had shown a reversal in cognitive decline. Studies on the cognitive benefits of fasting are booming and more research is being invested to show the benefits of fasting on the brain.

Video of What Intermittent Fasting Does to Your Brain Credit: Gravity Transformation – Fat Loss Experts

OVERALL BENEFITS OF FASTING

As we’ve seen, fasting is great for brain health, but the benefits do not end there. Fasting has been proven to increase levels of human-growth hormone, HGH, which is essential for cellular regeneration and decrease in body fat. It has also been shown to reduce insulin resistance and in this way decreases the chances of type-2 diabetes.

With all of the benefits of fasting, it is no wonder why this new lifestyle is gaining popularity so fast.

https://soundcloud.com/atpproject/episode-116-intermittent-fasting

Podcast on Intermittent Fasting Credit: The ATP Project on SOUNDCLOUD

Maria-Fernanda Arcila

 

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Fecal Transplants- A Possible Autism Treatment?

Posted on November 5, 2018 by | 1 comment

We’ve all heard of heart transplants, or kidney or liver transplants, but feces transplants? While it may sound gross, recent research has found promising results in the benefits of fecal transplants on children with autism.

The Reasoning

Autism is a brain disorder typically characterized by certain behaviours, such as hyperactivity, repetitive actions, and irritability. Children with autism also suffer from multiple stomach problems as they tend to have fewer types of microbes, which are microorganisms like bacteria, living in their intestines. In fecal transplants, the children with autism receive new microbes from other peoples’ feces, and recent studies have seen improvements in their stomach distress as well as in behaviours linked with autism.

Millions of microbes are present in the intestines, creating the gut’s microbiome. Source: https://medium.com/

The Evidence

Rose Krajmalnik-Brown, an environmental engineer at Arizona State University, and her research team found a large difference in the microbes of children with autism, in fact they completely lack one bacteria called Prevotella. These results prompted the team to do further research into microbes and their potential affects on autism.

The research team conducted a clinical trial with 18 children with autism to investigate if having more diverse microbes might improve any stomach or behavioural symptoms. The first step was to give the patients antibiotics to kill all of the bacteria currently in their intestines. Then, the researchers isolated the microbes from healthy peoples’ feces and each patient was treated with these fecal bacteria for 8 weeks. It was delivered either as a liquid injected in the patient’s rear or orally mixed in with chocolate milk.

After two months of the treatment ending, they found that most children reported less stomach problems. Even after two years, their gut symptoms were 60 percent better than before treatment started and their microbes were even more diverse. Furthermore, the feces transplant didn’t just affect the gut; they also found significant improvements on behaviours associated with autism. The childrens’ levels of hyperactivity and repetitive actions tended to be lower two years later than before the treatment started.

The following video provides more information on how the gut microbes affects autism.

Source: Nutrition Facts

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What Does This Mean?

While these results are promising and exciting, researchers don’t want to get too hopeful yet. This study was quite small and might not work for everyone, so future research is definitely on the horizon. As of now, scientists only know confidently that a correlation between receiving new fecal microbes and improving autistic behaviours exists; they do not know that fecal transplants themselves cause the changes in behaviour. Neuroscientist Michael Hylin states that these findings “are a long way from saying there’s a cure for autism. I think it’s a promising approach. It’s one that’s worthwhile.” Although this is just one small study, the results are exciting and have sparked a lot of optimism and interest in the field of autism research. Stay tuned- fecal transplants may very well be the next big thing!

By: Olivia Campbell

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