Dogs, Frogs, Whales, and Trees: Intriguing Global Discoveries, Research, and Reassurances - 48th Issue

When paleontologist Federico Agnolín and his colleagues were looking for dinosaur fossils in a quarry at Estancia La Matilde in the Santa Cruz province of Argentina, they stumbled upon frog fossils from the extinct species known as Notobatrachus degiustoi. Imagine their excitement when they found a tadpole fossil—its soft tissue perfectly intact, revealing its gills, eyes, and even some nerves. This incredible finding confirms that frogs have had a biphasic life cycle for at least 160 million years.

What’s more, researchers who have studied the fossil not only declared it’s the oldest tadpole fossil ever found (they estimate that it’s between 161 to 168 million years old). While it does resemble tadpoles as we know them today, this species grew to be approximately eight inches long before its metamorphosis! National Geographic’s article detailing the discovery quotes Agnolín as saying that:

“the discovery of this more than 160-million-year-old tadpole is a testament to the success of the frog’s way of life.”

The New York Times has published an interactive article titled, “Can 70 Moms Save a Species?” The article states that only about 370 North Atlantic right whales remain.

“For decades, North Atlantic right whales were slowly recovering after being devastated by centuries of whaling. But in 2011, their numbers suddenly started dropping. Now, they are one of the most endangered species in the United States,” author Catrin Einhorn writes.

Researchers suggest that females of reproductive age are not having calves as often as they used to (they used to reproduce every three years, but now it’s closer to double that timespan, if at all). The North Atlantic right well species is in decline due to entanglements and the lines that create drag in the water, “making it harder for whales to swim and driving up the number of calories they need to survive.” Einhorn suggests that if the species is to recover, it will be because of the 70 or so mothers that survive and bear more calves.

Yale Environment 360, a publication by Yale School of the Environment, recently interviewed Jake M. Robinson, a researcher in restoration genomics at Flinders University, in Adelaide, South Australia. The article notes that tree-planting campaigns have become increasingly popular. Some companies, for instance, plant a certain number of trees for every item sold.

The article notes that:

“in the face of threats from deforestation, ecosystem degradation, pests, and more, about 38 percent of the planet’s 166,000 tree species are now at risk of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).”

In his interview with the publication, Robinson states that while restoration “seems like a fairly straightforward idea,” it has the potential to go awry if trees are planted in ecosystems where they don’t belong. In that case, Robinson says, you can remove the biodiversity that evolved with those niches.

“Tree planting campaigns are important, but it’s more important that we do it right, planting the right trees in the right places,” he emphasizes.

Reuters reports that regardless of the outcome of the upcoming United States Presidential Election,

China “hopes the United States will be able to continue to cooperate with other countries on climate change.”

China and the United States are the top two emitters of greenhouse gases and are thereby responsible for accelerating the effects of climate change. Director General of China’s Department of Climate Change, Xia Yingxian, held a briefing on November 1st and said:

"We expect the U.S. can maintain the stability and consistency of its climate policy, and we hope it can continue to work with other countries globally.”

This was in response to the potential re-election of former President Donald Trump, who could pull out of the Paris Agreement a second time should he be voted into office.