California battles to save sea mammal victims of red tide

STORY: California battles to save sea mammal victims of red tide DATELINE: July 4, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: SAN PEDRO, U.S. CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of sea lions STORYLINE: Vacationers visiting beaches of U.S. state of California this July Fourth weekend are likely to encounter an alarming sight: sick sea lions recovering on the sand. Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) called it a large-scale stranding event. Scientists suspected that it was caused by red tide, another name for an excessive bloom of certain phytoplankton -- tiny sea veggies that most fish and sea mammals feed on. They noted that with global warming heating up California's waters, red tide has become a reoccurring problem off the coast, posing health concerns for much marine life, including sea lions, seals, otters, dolphins, and even whales. The sick and dead wildlife started showing up in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties several weeks ago, and the numbers have since incr

Scientists investigate micro ecosystem in Yangtze headwaters

STORY: Scientists investigate micro ecosystem in Yangtze headwaters DATELINE: Aug. 3, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:13 LOCATION: XINING, China CATEGORY: SCIENCE SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chinese scientists investigating micro ecosystem in Yangtze headwaters STORYLINE: Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment. The headwaters of the Yangtze River, located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, are rich in microscopic organisms such as phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthic animals. 　　 These biological communities which need to be observed under a microscope contain various species of different shapes. They provide energy for the aquatic ecosystem including food for fish. 　　 They are an indicator for the ecological health status of the Yangtze headwaters, and can reflect water quality. 　　 Data from the expedition shows that now there are more than 40 sp