SCIENCE IN THE NEWS WEEKLY
Mammal Species in Widespread Decline, Survey Finds
One in four of the world's mammal species face extinction and half are in decline, according to a five-year survey released last week to coincide with a conference on biodiversity held in Barcelona by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
But Conservation International is hoping that a new database that shows where threatened species live will help identify biodiversity hotspots and thereby help oil pipeline companies and others to avoid them. The database was unveiled at the Barcelona conference.
Meanwhile, it was reported last week that nearly 300 new marine species in deep waters off the coast of Australia have been identified by scientists. They include previously unknown species of corals, starfish, sponges, shrimps and crabs.
And a fungus has been found that grows naturally in crude oil and removes the sulphur and nitrogen compounds that lead to acid rain and air pollution. Researchers are exploring its potential to neutralize the pollutants on a large scale.
The Midwestern city of Cincinnati hopes to lead the green roof movement, according to news reports. But a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory scientist says that painting roofs white may be the way to go. His research suggests that millions of white rooftops could have a major climate effect by reflecting sunlight back into space.
And, finally, a British and Japanese research team is believed to have found the deepest-ever living fish nearly five miles down in the Japan Trench in the Pacific. They used remote-controlled vehicles to film the fish feeding on shrimp.
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