Bat population decreases in Portugal

A report by the Monitoring program of underground shelters of national importance of Bats, which examined data between 1988 and 2012, there has been a 30% decline in population in the shelters of bats, noting that the small rat bat is increasingly threatened.

In a statement, Quercus, environmental NGOS who played data provided, draws attention to the need to invest more in research and conservation of these species of mammals, regretting that, after more than 20 years since the publication of the National Plan for the conservation of Bats Cavernícolas, there are no further details about the presence of different species in each shelter. On the other hand, there is also a detailed characterization of each shelter that identify threat factors â€" and the measures taken for its preservation.

According to the data provided, Quercus found that identified 76 shelters of national importance and, in accordance with the population trend of the colonies, there was a decrease in the populations of bats in 30% of shelters â€" and an increase of the population in 20%. In 14% of these, it turns out that the population is stable. The remaining 36%, a very significant part, does not present sufficient data.

Of the nine species monitored, only was presented a population trend for four, and, of these, the large-bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) Horseshoe, the big rat bat (Myotis myotis), the bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) Teddy-show a stable population, while the small rat bat (Myotis blythii) presents a population decrease.

Of the four species listed, the most representative is the bat-to-Teddy, having been identified in 23 shelters, followed by the Myotis myotis, present in 16 shelters and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, 13 shelters. The rest were classified as "Undetermined" or "non-hazardous".

The morecego-mouse-small is the species less representative and more threatened, since it is currently classified as critically endangered on the Red Book of vertebrates.

"This program demonstrates that, despite the efforts made, in particular between 2006 and 2012, there are knowledge gaps on most species which occupy underground shelters, and there is a very significant percentage of shelters that showed a worrying decrease of population (30%)," advances the ONGA.

"There is a species-the small rat bat â€" which should be the subject of particular attention and a specific plan of conservation and monitoring, under penalty, if nothing is done to counter the trend, to reach a situation of pré-extinção", concludes the Association.

Foto: Guilherme Jófili/Creative Commons

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Radio show joins Green Project Awards, Company green dot and TSF

Code Green is the name of the heading of TSF which premiered last week, in a radio station's partnership with the Green Project Awards and the company green dot. The program will be broadcast weekly on Wednesdays â€" after the 8:30 and the 5:30 pm.

The Green Code intends to speak of actions and activities that aim to satisfy the current needs of consumers, without compromising the future of next generations.

Remember the first program.

"Talking about companies, products, services aimed at economic development and material without damaging the environment, using natural resources intelligently, is fundamental for achieving sustainable development. We believe that the Code Green will contribute to this mission, explained José Manuel Costa, President and CEO of GCI, one of the Organizing Committee of the Green Project Awards.

"The Green Code will be an important supplement to the information conveyed about sustainability, reason which led the company green dot to be part of this project. We want to continue to contribute to the awareness of the population and spread of best practices, "said Luis Veiga Malik, director-general of the company green dot, said in a statement.

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USA: why are increasing public transport tickets?

In recent months, there were several companies which manage public transport Americans who have increased their rates, from Boston to San Francisco or Los Angeles. Almost every week there is a carrier to increase the prices of their tickets in the United States.

The real reason for these increases seems to reside in the inability of these companies making inadequate management between the cost of a trip and the cost of providing this same trip to the client.

The latest data from the US Administration may understand this discrepancy. Analyzing travel fares per kilometre, between 2000 and 2010, transport companies of the ten largest cities in the United States, one realizes, unlike what is reported, that there was no major change in prices of the trips. In 2000, the average price of a trip per kilometre was €2,63. In 2010, the same trip would cost an average of €2,90, which represents an increase of 10% over a decade, says the Atlantic Cities.

Comparing the average cost of travel with the average cost of operating services, also per kilometre and for the same period, notes that in 2000 this cost was €6,58 and in 2010 was $ €7,87. The difference represents an increase of 19% in annual terms, is almost twice the value of increased rates.

In this way, the difference between profits and operating costs are increasing. In 2000, the major transport companies recovered only 40% of operating costs through the tickets, a percentage that has declined over the years.

And why is this discrepancy is increasing? There is not a single answer to this question, but the difference is due mainly to the increase in operating costs since 2000. This increase is not based mainly on increasing salaries for employees â€" which increased only 4%. Are labour benefits, like health insurance, which increased about 45 percent throughout the Decade.

In General, the carriers maintain low fares on purpose to provide public transport accessible, depending on Government funds and grants to finance. In other words, these companies do not expect to eliminate the difference. But until they can do a better job at the management level of these cost differences, it is likely that the ticket prices continue to increase.

Foto: Dhanan Sekhar Edathara/Creative Commons

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The foods that nobody would eat if they were called by real names

Many of the dishes we eat have fancy names that actually have nothing to do with the actual content of the meal. If they were called by real names, chances are you didn't want to eat some of them. Because many of them, starting with foie gras, represent an incredible abuse of animals.

Foie Gras

This specialty extravagant â€" usually extracted from ducks or geese fattened â€" is literally translated into "fatty liver", but in French the name sounds much better. However, not all "foie gras" from birds fed with rations. There are farms that raise animals in freedom and those who choose their food.

Caviar

Another guy extravaganza â€" normally used as input or for garnishing dishes â€" which are actually salt-cured fish roe.

Roquefort cheese

Also known as blue cheese, this specialty French cheese owes its name to the place where it was originally produced: Roquefort-sur-Soulzon. The nickname blue cheese comes from the bluish or greenish aspect cheese features. This aspect is actually mold, caused by fungi. During its manufacture, are injected fungi on massa, who goes through a maturation period of three months. These are fungi that develop in the roquefort the characteristic appearance with bluish-green veins, which impart a special flavor.

Bacon

The bacon, typically American product but popularized worldwide, is nothing more than pork bellies, which are sliced smoked, salted or cured.

Snail

Known in Portugal as snails, are a delicacy enjoyed by some and hated by others. Before they were killed and cooked, the digestive tractos these animals are removed. After being killed, cooked and seasoned, the animals will be placed inside the shell and are served.

Folded

This typical dish of Northern Portugal, usually accompanied by rice and beans, is actually stomach of animals, usually cows.

Gelatin

Exists in several flavors but is made from the same ingredients: proteins taken from skin and bones of animal carcasses. Later these proteins are mixed with other elements, namely the flavors and colorings.

Sausages

Appreciated worldwide, the sausages consist of casings, natural or synthetic, which are filled with ground beef. This meat comes mainly from scraps and fat.

Yogurt

This basic product is nothing more than fermented milk, across cultures of bacteria are added to them. These bacteria produce lactic acid, which coagulates the milk and making it more consistent.

Fresh cheese

The cheese manufacturing process produces leftovers, including blood clots and whey. The fresh cheese consists of these two leftover cheese that will be cured.

Foto: fofie57/Creative Commons

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Rama Llama: the first sustainable sleeping bag (With PICTURES)

The design Atelier Deneb Billboards has created a high-performance sleeping bag, made of wool of mud, in what will be, according to the company, the first sustainable sleeping bag in the world â€" and hypoallergenic.

Due to the construction of hollow fibres of the mud, these act as a straw that pulls the water out of the body and let the skin dry and warm, according to inhabitat.

This technology also regulates body temperature within a range of comfort of 50 degrees, so it doesn't matter if it's cold or hot outside, who uses this sleeping bag will always be comfortable.

According to the designers, the lamas are sustainably fleeced, in the Andes, there are 4,000 years old, so this product will not destabilize these animals.

Funding for the project is being financed by Kickstarter â€" their inventors have raised a third of the necessary. See here.

Foto: kteague/Creative Commons

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Couple of frogs in love escapes crocodile attack voyeuristic

It was close to a couple of frogs that mate atop a stone escaped a voyeuristic crocodile that wanted to eat. The frogs were not aware of the danger that ran, while the predator approached them, preparing to attack.

However, at the last minute, the crocodile, still youthful, changed his mind and settled the rest along the rock where they were frogs. This is because, in fact, the predator just wanted to freshen up.

Fahmi Bhs, photographer, has documented this time in Jakarta, Indonesia, after having spent four hours photographing animals, explains the British press.

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Pollution turns London Chinese city

Last Wednesday, 2 April, London, lived a similar scenario to what we often see in Chinese cities: people with their faces covered by masks to protect themselves from the polluted air, while children and the elderly with health problems were advised to stay indoors.

A thick cloud of sand, named Sahara Rain-rain of the Sahara â€" settled in London City, at a time when the air pollution, by itself, was at an all-time high.

See some of the photos of London.

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