"The Humboldt Squid (Dosidicus gigas), also known as Jumbo Squid, Jumbo Flying Squid, or Diablo Rojo (Spanish for Red Devil), is a large, predatory squid found in the waters of the Humboldt Current in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. They are most commonly found at depths of 200–700 metres (660–2,300 ft), from Tierra del Fuego to California. Recent findings suggest the range of this species is spreading north into the waters of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. Though they usually prefer deep water, between 1,000 and 1,500 squid washed up on the Long Beach Peninsula in southwest Washington in the fall of 2004. They have also ventured into Puget Sound." Source:
Wikipedia
Today is
Blog Action Day with the focus being on climate change. I received photos today from my biologist friend L, who found about 70 Humboldt squids dead on Long Beach in Tofino, British Columbia last week. He and other biologists believe that the warming waters of the ocean resulted in these deaths.
Adult Humboldt squid can grow as large as 10 to 13 metres long (33 to 43 feet) and weigh up to 49.9 kilograms (110 pounds). "Their range have expanded as far north as Alaska when prior to 1990s they were never seen further north than Oregon. When ocean temperature goes up, oxygen content goes down and salinity increases; there is a direct cause and effect relationship among the three. In fact, ocean oxygen content has been steadily declining for the last 20 years as temperatures have been steadily rising." Source:
Canada.com
Imagine how many other species are being affected by the rising temperature of the oceans. Will we find more squid and other species washed up on our beaches in the future? Is there anything that can be done to reverse this process, or has the damage already been done? Only time will tell. But we each have a responsilibity to do all we can to protect and preserve the Earth, not only for ourselves, but for those following in our footsteps.
Here are some
simple steps we can all take to prevent further destruction of our oceans, rivers and streams:
1. Never dump anything into city street drains.
2. Check your vehicle for any leaks that could pollute waterways when flushed down city drains.
3. Recycle your motor oil.
4. Pick up after your pets.
5. Wash your vehicle at a car wash, not in your driveway.
6. Be sure to use cleaning products that are certified biodegradable. Read the labels and don't use anything that has chlorine or ammonia in it.
Together we can influence change and save our planet before it's too late.
7 thoughts:
This is an amazing post. Would it be okay with you if I use it on my blog and link to this post? Like you, I hope desperately that it is not too late to at least stop a continuation of destruction of this planet, it is almost certainly too late to reverse it.
Hi Cici, thanks for your comment and yes you may link to my post. The more the word gets out maybe we will have a chance of at least delaying the complete destruction of our planet.
I was directed here by the esteemed TechnoBabe... I love your blog man!
Speaking of the greenhouse effect, I live in Malaysia, which is very near to the Equator, and of course, nearer to the Sun too. I used to always walk in the sun when I was younger (now 31) and it IS indeed hotter now than years before.
And to think that the Artic will fully melt in not so distant future is so.... sad.
I wanted to participate in blog action day (I have in the past), but this year, never got it together. Glad you did!
Nice shots and interesting story. :-D
great post...there is so much at stake with each careless action we take. you pulled our heart strings and then made it practical...very nice.
Just stopped by from Techo Babe.
"...we each have a responsibility to do all we can to protect and preserve the Earth..." Amen to that!
xo
Thoughtful post. We all need to do our part.
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