Category Archives: Environment

Oceans as Barren Deserts

Posted on November 19, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

Many moons ago, I noted this about Boston’s annual display of a fish weir, which is a glorified fence used to catch fish–yes, a fence: Every year, a fishweir is reconstructed on the Boston Common (more information is available here). … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Environment, Fish | Comments Off on Oceans as Barren Deserts

Our Biomass Crisis: The Avian Edition

Posted on September 26, 2019 by mikethemadbiologist

Long before the Cool Kidz were saying it, I’ve been warning that we have a biomass crisis: When is the last time, in those habitats, you have seen enough fish (and minnow-sized fish don’t count) to justify this strategy? What … Continue reading →

Posted in Aves, Ecology, Environment | 2 Comments

The Light Bulb Defenders Ride Again!

Posted on May 8, 2019 by mikethemadbiologist

Many moons ago, during the era of Republican Representative and bugshitcrazytarian Michele Bachmann, conservatives believed that the Obama administration’s effort to increase energy efficiency of light bulbs was an assault on our Basic Freedoms. Faced with the threat of light … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Environment, Global Warming | 1 Comment

The Importance of the Green New Deal Is the Coalition Building

Posted on May 7, 2019 by mikethemadbiologist

While most of the discussion of the Green New Deal (GND) focuses on the environmental aspects, one thing that has gone unmentioned is how it serves as a way to build a left-ish coalition. That’s why a lot of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Democrats, Environment | Comments Off on The Importance of the Green New Deal Is the Coalition Building

Extortion, Justice, And The Green New Deal

Posted on February 12, 2019 by mikethemadbiologist

After last week’s unveiling of the Green New Deal (GND), I was really tempted to ignore it, as never has so much emo been vented in reaction to a non-binding resolution with support of twenty percent of the House and … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Global Warming | Comments Off on Extortion, Justice, And The Green New Deal

Biodiversity, Biomass, And Defaunation

Posted on December 4, 2018 by mikethemadbiologist

Oh shit. For years, I’ve been trying to hammer the point that we have depopulated our oceans: When is the last time, in those habitats, you have seen enough fish (and minnow-sized fish don’t count) to justify this strategy? What … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Environment | Comments Off on Biodiversity, Biomass, And Defaunation

Climate Change And Disasters

Posted on November 21, 2018 by mikethemadbiologist

Over the last few years, every time there is a large scale climate-related catastrophe, there are renewed calls to do something (e.g., the Malibu inferno). But all of the proposals miss something important. Here’s a Vox summary of the Green … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Global Warming, Housing, Transportation | Comments Off on Climate Change And Disasters

We Have Turned Oceans Into Deserts

Posted on August 30, 2018 by mikethemadbiologist

At least when it comes to the macrofauna. Every year, Boston builds a fish weir: A fishweir is basically a large fence that is used to trap fish, which are then caught (usually scooped out of the water)… During the … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Fish, Food, We're Really Fucked | 3 Comments

Noise Is Pollution, Not Just An Annoyance

Posted on May 14, 2018 by mikethemadbiologist

But I’m sure Scott Pruitt’s EPA will get on this (boldface mine): Noise is “the new secondhand-smoke issue,” said Bradley Vite, who pushed for regulations in Elkhart, Ind., that come with some of the nation’s steepest fines. “It took decades … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Public Health | 6 Comments

The Oceans Might Not Be Suffering A Mass Extinction But The Carnage Is Awful

Posted on June 29, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

Before I get to the oceans, I’ll describe something that Boston builds every year on the Boston Common: a fishweir. A fishweir is a fence used to catch fish. Believe it or not, it used to work: During the excavation … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Environment, Fish, Food | Comments Off on The Oceans Might Not Be Suffering A Mass Extinction But The Carnage Is Awful