The platypus is a unique animal that lives in Australia. Although it lays eggs like a bird, it's a mammal. A platypus mother feeds her babies with milk from her body. The platypus spends much of its time in the water. It paddles with its front feet and steers with its back feet. The platypus scoops through the sand with its bill in search of worms and small water animals that it eats. The male platypus has sharp spurs and venom sacs on its back feet. It can scratch its enemies and poison them with its venom.
Marine conservation: net benefits
Marine conservation: net benefits A survey carried out by America's National Cente
for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis has discovered the benefits
and most effective management of 'no-take' reserves - areas around
the world when fishing is completely banned. These reserves show
tremendous success in increasing threatened species within two
years. The reserves showed "average increases of 91% in number of
fish, 31% in size of fish, and 23% in number of fish species
present." Not only do the fish in the reserve increase, but the
numbers of fish also increase on the edges of the reserves, where
fishing is permitted. The study also shows that a network of
smaller reserves protects more habitat diversity and more fish
species, as well as providing more perimeter area for fishermen.
The reserves are proven to benefit both the fish and the fishermen,
says Dr. Roberts of the University of York, but the challenge is to
convince fishermen and politicians that giving up 20-40% of their
fishing grounds will be a huge benefit for the industry and the
future of the ecosystems. FEBRUARY 14, 2001
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