Examining Bats, Studying Dragonflies, and Reducing Waste: Inspiring Efforts, and Movements - 37th Issue

NPR reports that for the past 16 years, researchers passionate about studying bats have descended upon the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve in Belize. Students, scientists, and bat enthusiasts find this area in the village of Indian Church an unparalleled place to study bats, their habitats, and how they are responding to climate change.

Astoundingly, at least 75 bat species have been found here, including the rare northern ghost bat. Year after year, people return to this tropical location to conduct studies; this year, one study involved determining how different species cope with infections and how altering their habitat impacts their immunity. As “Bat-a-thon” continues to grow, one researcher notes: “The more we learn about [bats], the more open questions there [seem] to be.”

A new study suggests that dragonflies can detect mercury, a toxic pollutant found worldwide. Rather than use fish or birds to verify mercury contamination within the environment, scientists are now inclined to turn to dragonflies. National Geographic’s insightful article explains that dragonfly larvae “develop in almost any type of water body, including tiny desert potholes or muddy marshes that can’t support larger animals. Plus, it’s cheaper, easier, and more accurate to analyze mercury in insect larvae than it is in fish or birds.”

As part of the Dragonfly Mercury Project—ongoing since 2009—more than 7,000 citizens and researchers have collected dragonfly larvae from 150 U.S. national parks. Results from this study have revealed “surprising patterns in how mercury moves through the landscape, including where concentrations of this harmful metal are the highest.” This research is helpful as it reveals that dragonflies can help identify areas where mercury levels could threaten the health of humans and wildlife.

Plastic pollution remains an issue, with Grist.org reporting that “each year some 20 million metric tons of plastic, roughly the mass of 200 aircraft carriers, enter the environment. Microscopic shreds of the stuff are increasingly found in nature’s remotest reaches, including Mount Everest and the Mariana Trench, and throughout the human body, with unknown consequences.”

A plastic treaty, which could be finalized by the end of this calendar year, involves 170 countries worldwide working together to curtail plastic pollution. One solution included in the treaty would expand waste management (think trash systems and recycling), which could benefit the Global South by providing resources and support to help these regions establish and improve their waste management infrastructures. 

This will be an exciting month for Petaluma, a city in California’s San Francisco Bay area. The city will launch The Reusable Cup Project, a waste reduction initiative led by the NextGen Consortium in partnership with Muuse. This project takes a proactive approach to encouraging consumers to reduce landfill waste. Customers who visit a participating location will be served their beverage in a distinct purple cup. After they finish their drink, all they have to do is locate a purple return bin in Petaluma; these bins have been strategically placed all over the city.

Alternatively, participants could request a local pick-up. The reusable cup will be professionally washed, sanitized, and then put back into circulation. This crucial trial run will continue through November 2024. Residents and visitors of Petaluma are encouraged to give The Reusable Cup Project a try