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Invasive minks thrive on Scottish coast
Exeter, England (UPI) Dec 24, 2009 The invasive American mink has become increasingly dependent on seafood from the coastline of Scotland's Outer Hebrides, scientists in Britain said. Scientists from the University of Exeter performed an isotope analysis on carcasses found on the islands to determine the diet of the mink -- offspring of American mink that have escaped from fur farms since 1929, when they were first introduced to Britain. "We were astonished at how much we could find out by analyzing the claws and whiskers of the mink," university researcher Thomas Bodey said in a release Wednesday. The American mink is one of Britain's most damaging invasive species and knowing more about where they feed and how they live will help with efforts to eradicate them, Bodey said. The mink have had a devastating effect on British water voles and other native mammals, fish and seabirds, Bodey said. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Shallow Origins Moffett Field CA (SPX) Dec 23, 2009 In finding answers to the mystery of the origin of life, scientists may not have to dig too deep. New research is shedding light on shallower waters as a possible location for where life on Earth began. Hydrothermal vents have been a focus of origin of life studies ever since the first one was discovered in 1977. These were mainly deep vents that averaged 2,100 meters down on the ocean floor. The hot gasses emanating from the center of the Earth through these vents could reach temperatures greater than 300 degrees Celsius. ... read more |
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