Articles from 2003
The Nature Notes archive is where you'll find my past writings and natural history notes. You are currently viewing a list of articles that were published in 2003.
- From Nature Hikes to Backyard Safaries // 24 Oct 2003
- Looking for ways to enjoy animals and wildlife? Here are ten suggestions for activities that range from afternoon projects to long-anticipated vacations. 1. Explore your Backyard You don't have to travel to a remote wilderness to enjoy...
- Medicine Loses If Snails Vanish // 16 Oct 2003
- Tropical cone snails are know for both their beauty and their biochemistry. Their exquisitely-patterned shells are collected and sold for handsome returns, while some of the toxins they produce have been studied and have proven to be...
- Eruption Scars Genes of Galapagos Tortoises // 05 Oct 2003
- One-hundred-thousand years ago, the Volcano Alcedo on the Galapagos island of Isabela erupted, leaving a lasting mark on the genetic make-up of the local tortoise population. The Alcedo tortoise population is thought to have been severely reduced...
- Lobsters' Unique Sounds Defy Predators // 14 Sep 2003
- Scientists now understand more about the unique way spiny lobsters create sound to ward off predators. Using a method of sound production resembling that of stringed instruments, spiny lobsters startle attackers by emitting loud, raspy noises. Lobsters...
- Snow Leopard Populations in Sharp Decline // 15 Aug 2003
- A recent study by TRAFFIC, the World Wildlife Fund, and the International Snow Leopard Trust revealed a sharp decline in the snow leopard population. Hunting was fingered as the main cause of the population decline. Snow leopards...
- How Many Whales Were There Before Whaling? // 26 Jul 2003
- In 1985, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) placed a controversial moratorium on whaling which banned the killing of whales until their populations recovered to pre-whaling numbers. Consequently, a subject of contention for scientists, conservationists, and the whaling...
- Bioluminescence Reveals How Dolphins Swim // 18 Jul 2003
- A clever technique that exploits 'glow-in-the-dark' marine microorganisms now enables scientists to visualize how water flows over the surfaces of dolphins as they swim. The luminous patterns observed by researchers might lend insights into some of the...
- Whale Watching at Stellwagen Bank // 21 Jun 2003
- Recently, I had the opportunity to go whale watching at the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The trip, sponsored by the New England Aquarium, left on a cool, bright Saturday morning. We departed Boston Harbor and made...
