Lord Howe Island. Image Credit: Australia Tourism

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Each Wednesday we  feature a UNESCO world heritage site and today we will take a look at Lord Howe Island.

Located in the South Pacific, 700 km north-east of Sydney, the property is included administratively in New South Wales. The preserve includes some 75% of the land area of Lord Howe Island and all of the offshore islands and rocks of significant size in the region. These are the Admiralty Group; Mutton Bird and Sail Rock; Blackburn (Rabbit) Island; Gower Island; and Ball’s Pyramid, together with a number of small islands and rocks. The seaward boundary follows the mean high water mark and consequently excludes all littoral and marine areas. The entire island group has remarkable volcanic exposures not known elsewhere.

The main island of Lord Howe measures 10 km from north and south and is little more than 2 km in width. It roughly describes a crescent, enclosing a coral reef lagoon on its south-western side. The island’s topography is dominated by the southerly Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird. Only a narrow isthmus of lowland country in the north-central part of the island is habitable. The northern tip consists of steep hillsides culminating in extensive sea cliffs against the northern coastline.

Lord Howe Island is the eroded remnant of a large shield volcano which erupted from the sea floor intermittently for about 500,000 years in the late Miocene (6.5-7 million years ago). The island group represents the exposed peaks of a large volcanic seamount which is about 65 km long and 24 km wide and which rises from ocean depths of over 1,800 m. Four separate series of volcanic rocks are recognized on the main island group: tuffs, breccia and basalts, with widespread intrusion of basaltic dykes. The dominant landforming process on Lord Howe since the last of the volcanic eruptions has been marine erosion, which has cut and maintained major cliffs. Slope failure and accumulation of talus at the foot of some cliffs, especially in the south, have modified their original shape.

The island supports the southern truest coral reef in the world, which is of Pleistocene to Recent Age and differs considerably from more northerly warm water reefs. It is unique in being a transition between the algal and coral reef, due to fluctuations of hot and cold water around the island. A wide variety of vegetation types has been described for the islands, with the diversity corresponding with the range of habitats. Variable exposure to wind and penetration of salt spray appear to be the main determinants of vegetation occurrence, structure and floristic.

A population of the large forest bat occurs on the Island. No other indigenous native mammals are known. Introduced species, however, include mice, rats and goats.

There are at least 129 native and introduced bird species. Lord Howe is now the only known breeding ground for providence petrel. Fleshy-footed shearwater breeds in large numbers, with possibly half the world’s population present seasonally. Other important species breeding within the preserve include kermadec petrel, black-winged petrel, wedge-tailed shearwater, little shearwater, white-bellied storm petrel, masked booby, and red-tailed tropic bird in greater concentrations than probably anywhere else in the world.

The earliest European discovery of Lord Howe appears to have been in 1788 by the British. A small permanent settlement was established in the 19th century, subsisting on trade with passing ships. There is no recognized evidence of prior Polynesian or Melanesian discovery or settlement.

Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC

Source: Unesco

Click here to learn more about UCD’s World Heritage Management course

The Tara – a unique ship for scientific discovery and adventure

Tara Expeditions, a non-profit association based in France,  has been organizing missions aboard the research schooner “Tara” for the past 9 years with the goal of learning more about the impact of climate change on ecosystems.

One of its main objectives is to increase environmental awareness among the general public, and particularly young people through the Tara Junior outreach program. Here in the School of Biology and Environmental Science, we have a close association with the group, through the involvement of Dr Emmanuel Reynaud.

If you would like to see the Tara vessel,  (36 m long, 10m large expedition sailing boat) up close, it will be moored at the East Pier, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, from the 10th -13th July, 2012.

More Details

The Tara will arrive on the 10^th of July 2012 at 4pm and will leave on the 13^th of July2012 in the evening.

Captain: Loic Valette

Welcoming Flotilla – 4pm the 10th of July

Welcoming Party – 6.30 pm 10th of July on invitation

Guided tours aboard the “Tara” vessel by a crew member – 11^th and 12^th of July

Berth: East Pier number 1

Organised Visit (VIP, Press, Partners): from 10 to11 am(up to 96 people in total)

General public visits then until 6 pm public visits on first come first served basis.

3 to 4 groups of 8 to 12 people/h (up to 336 people in total)

The accessibility is limited on the boat.

Lorient shipyard

Film Premiere “Planet Ocean”

A film by Yann Arthus-Bertand and Michael Pitiot produced by Hope, with the support of Omega, in association with Tara Expeditions.

Film screening + round table – 12th of July 2012

Venue: Assembly Room, County Hall,Marine Road,Dún Laoghaire

Up to 150 people on invitation

6.30 – 7.00 pm Reception

7.00 – 7.20 Welcoming opened by the Lord Mayor of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the Ambassador of France in Ireland, Vice-President for Research at University College Dublin and a Comhairle na nÓg representative.

7.20 – 9 pm “PlanetOcean” Movie

9 – 9.30 Panel discussion open by Prof. Desmond Fitzgerald (UCD) with Dr Eric Karsenti, Scientific Project Director of the Tara Oceans Expedition and Dr Emmanuel G. Reynaud, UCD scientist who coordinate the imaging platform onboard Tara during the entire expedition.

World Longest Exhibition of Tara  Oceans  Expedition pictures

Tara Oceans Expedition is the very first attempt to make a global study of marine plankton.

Studying plankton is like taking the pulse of our planet. Recently, scientists have discovered the great importance of plankton for the climate. In a context of rapid physico-chemical changes, it is urgent to understand and predict the evolution of these particular ecosystems.

115 000kms, 27 000 samples, 100 scientists, 50 countries crossed in 2 ½ years.

Outside Exhibition – July

50 posters

Part 1: “TaraOceans, A Worldwide Portrait of Marine Plankton”

Part 2: “Tara, a scientific vessel”

Venues : East Pier, Battery, Dún LaoghaireHarbour

Inside exhibition in the lighthouse – 10^th to 16^th of July

Part 3: “20,000 leagues under the sea, a school project”. Exhibition of creative drawings and sculptures by pupils fromNewparkComprehensiveSchool

15 posters

This facility will be open to the public on a restricted basis.

Inside exhibition in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland – July and August 2012

Part 4: TaraOceans, a coral view

15 posters

Part 1, 2 and 4: Exhibitions of pictures selected by the Tara Ocean Imaging coordinator, Dr Emmanuel G. Reynaud, SFI /Stokes Lecturer at UCD.

Conference about the Tara Oceans Expedition

“TaraOceans : a worldwide journey portraying marine plankton”

By Emmanuel G. Reynaud, UCD,Dublin+ Q&A

Venue: National Maritime Museum of Ireland-Dún Laoghaire

13^th of July – 7 pm

Up to 140 people

Everyone is welcome.

 Exhibition “From Pole to Pole” by Vincent Hilaire

Venue: National MaritimeMuseumofIreland-Dún Laoghaire

Venue: Brent Pope exhibition space, Number 5 (Corner Unit) – Spencer Dock

Mayor Street Upper -Dublin1

http://www.spencerdock.ie/events/events_outsidein

Exhibition dates: 7^th July to 23^rd July 2012
Everyone is welcome

www.vincenthilaire.fr

 Projection at the Art Park of Tara Oceans Expedition Images

By Emmanuel G. Reynaud, UCD,Dublin

Venue: Art Park, Spencer Docks

http://www.spencerdock.ie/events/the_art_park

http://www.spencerdock.ie/events/maser_is_homemade

Dates: to be planned

Everyone is welcome.

_____________________________________________________________

CURIOUS 

One Image from Tara Oceans– Aine McKeon/Anika Mostaert/Emmanuel G. Reynaud

Health Research Board wall mural project running in conjunction with ESOF/Dublin City of Science.  The images will be located on TCD buildings in the City Centre – all around Pearse Street

http://www.hrb.ie/curious

Other linked events:

ISAF Youth World Sailing Championships 2012 (July 12-21, 2012) – 13^th of July 2012, French day

Dublin, City of Science 2012, Euroscience Open Forum 2012 (July 11 – 15) – 12^th of July, Eric Karsenti – Keynote Address

UCD Imagine Science Film Festival (July 5 – 17, 2012)

14th of July 2012, Bastille Day

For more information on the Tara Oceans Expedition

http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/

List of partners

Tara Oceans Expedition

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company

National Maritime Museum of Ireland-Dún Laoghaire

Science Foundation Ireland

Embassy of France in Ireland

University College Dublin

UCD Imagine Science Film Festival

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Aldabra Atoll © UNESCO

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Each Wednesday we  feature a UNESCO world heritage site and today we will take a look at the Aldabra Atoll located in the Indian Ocean.

The atoll is comprised of four large coral islands which enclose a shallow lagoon; the group of islands is itself surrounded by a coral reef. Due to difficulties of access and the atoll’s isolation, Aldabra has been protected from human influence and thus retains some 152,000 giant tortoises, the world’s largest population of this reptile.

Located in the Indian Ocean, the Aldabra Atoll is an outstanding example of a raised coral atoll. Due to its remoteness and inaccessibility, the atoll has remained largely untouched by humans for the majority of its existence.  Aldabra is one of the largest atolls in the world, and contains one of the most important natural habitats for studying evolutionary and ecological processes. It is home to the largest giant tortoise population in the world.

© UNESCO

Aldabra is a classic coral atoll which has been built up from the seabed. It consists of four main islands of coral limestone separated by narrow passes and enclosing a large shallow lagoon. Most of the land surface consists of ancient coral reef (about 125,000 years old) now raised above sea level, the rest being even older reef limestones. The lagoon contains many smaller islands and the entire atoll is surrounded by an outer reef. Geomorphological processes have produced a varied topography, generally rugged, which supports a variety of habitats with a relatively rich biota for an oceanic island, and a high degree of endemism. Over much of the surface of the islands, weathering has led to dissection of the limestones into holes and pits, although at the eastern end the surface is more continuous on upraised lagoonal sediments. Along the coast are undercut limestone cliffs, with a perched beach and sand dunes on the southern (windward) coast. Marine habitats range from coral reefs to mangrove mudflats with minimal human impact. Tidal range is more than 3 m, which can lead to strong channel currents.The least-disturbed large island in the Indian Ocean, Aldabra is of outstanding scientific interest. It is the only place in the world where a reptile is the dominant herbivore; some 150,000 giant tortoises (more than on the Galápagos Islands) feed on tie grasses and shrubbery, including plants that have evolved to take advantage of tortoise grazing patterns. The tortoises are the last survivors of a life form once found on many Indian Ocean islands; slow-moving and vulnerable, the giant land tortoises on all other Indian Ocean islands have been driven to extinction by human exploitation, leaving Aldabra as their only remaining stronghold. The island’s isolation has allowed the evolution of a distinct fauna, with two endemic birds (Aldabra arush warbler and Aldabra drongo) and another 11 birds that have distinct subspecies (showing evolution in action); among the most interesting is the Aldabran white-throated rail, the last representative of the western Indian Ocean flightless birds – all others have gone the way of the dodo.

© UNESCO

The terrestrial flora is exceptionally rich for a small coral island, with 273 species of flowering plant and fern. Much of the land is covered with dense Pemohis acidulathicket and other shrubs. There are 19 endemic species, a further 22 species are shared only with neighbouring islands. Many of these plants are considered to be threatened. Mangroves surround the lagoon, and inshore waters also support seagrass meadows.

This island group is one of the few areas of the world where reptiles dominate the terrestrial fauna, with the largest world population of giant tortoise, which appears to be self-sustaining. Green turtle breed here, with approximately 1,000 females laying annually. There are 13 species of terrestrial bird including the last representative of the western Indian Ocean flightless birds – Aldabran rail with two endemic Aldabran forms. The Aldabra warbler has not been seen for several years and might be naturally extinct. Previously restricted to 10 ha of coastal tall scrub, this was considered possibly the most endangered bird in the world, as only five birds have been seen since its discovery in 1968. Aldabran drongo and some endemic subspecies are also found. There is a population of about 8,000 birds of this flightless race, which does not seem seriously threatened by the feral cats. The islands are important breeding grounds for thousands of seabirds, including several thousand each of red-tailed tropic bird and white-tailed tropic bird, hundreds of masked booby, several thousand red-footed booby, some Abbott’s booby, and thousands each of greater frigate bird and lesser frigate bird. There are also thousands of nesting terns. The only endemic mammal is a flying fox. So far about 1,000 species of insect have been recorded, many’ of them new and endemic forms.

There is no permanent settlement. The resident population is composed of Foundation employees and visiting scientists.

Source: UNESCO

Click here to learn more about UCD’s World Heritage Management course

Leptobrachium bompu. The blue-eyed frog of Arunachal Pradesh. Photograph: Sanjay Sondhi/Titli Trust

Sanjay Sondhi of the nature conservation Titli Trust and Annemarie Ohler of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris recently described L. bompu, a new species from India that has a striking greyish-blue iris with a vertically oriented black pupil.

L. bompu, which measures about 47mm, was discovered during heavy rains in the Eaglenest wildlife sanctuary near the Bampu campsite, after which it is named. The little frogs were located under leaf litter along a stream at an altitude of about 2,000m. They were heard calling near the stream for a distance of only 150m up- and downstream. The frogs were docile, found sitting in a crouched position and easily picked up. When disturbed their crawling behaviour was laborious. The males are eager singers, with a loud croaking “kek-kek-kek-kek” call, which continued even after they had been captured and placed in a bag.

Source: Guardian Online

whale illustration by Carl Buell

It’s possible that whales can sense things that no other living creatures can. Scientists have discovered a grapefruit-sized mass of vessels and nervous tissues located in whales’ chins, and they believe it’s an entirely new kind of sensory organ. It’s possible the organ is what allows these massive creatures to eat using a lightning-fast mouth movement called “lunge feeding.”

To find out more, read this interview with paleobiologist Nick Pyenson.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Each Wednesday we  feature a UNESCO world heritage site and today we will take a look at the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls.

As a holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Jerusalem has always been of great symbolic importance. Among its 220 historic monuments, the Dome of the Rock stands out: built in the 7th century, it is decorated with beautiful geometric and floral motifs. It is recognized by all three religions as the site of Abraham’s sacrifice. The Wailing Wall delimits the quarters of the different religious communities, while the Resurrection rotunda in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre houses Christ’s tomb.

Source: unesco.org

Click here to learn more about UCD’s World Heritage Management course

Kingdom of Plants 3D with David Attenborough

A charging juvenile African Leopard at Rhino and Lion Park in Gauteng, South Africa.

Photo by Rute Martins of Leoa’s Photography