Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumScientists Find Chernobyl Full of Thriving Animals
The word Chernobyl likely conjures up eerie images of buildings long abandoned by residents who fled the nuclear fallout. But the area is far from deserted, as evidenced by a study showing how animals from eagles to mink and otters live there.
After the Chernobyl power plant exploded in 1986, causing the worst-ever civil nuclear disaster, humans abandoned an area spanning 1,000 square miles known as the Exclusion Zone. Since then, scientists have been fascinated by the animals that might inhabit this desolate pocket of Ukraine bordering Belarus.
To study the presence of scavengers specifically, scientists from the University of Georgia tied fish to debris like tree branches in 83 locations along the Pripyat River, and in irrigation canals built by farmers in the early 20th century. The positioning was intended to mirror how fish are naturally transported to the fringes of land by the river. Bait was positioned a minimum of 1,100 yards apart so scavengers didnt become used to visiting the trial sites. The researchers set up cameras to document the critters that might be lured by the fishy treats.
After a week, 98 percent of the carcacsses had been taken. The footage showed 10 species of mammal and five birds gorged on the fish: Mice, the least weasel, American mink, Eurasian otter, pine marten, racoon dog, red fox, wolf, Eurasian Jay, common magpie, raven, tawny owl and the white-tailed eagle. Across the various experiments, mesocarnivoresanimals such as foxes whose diet consists of between 30 to 70 percent meatwere the biggest eaters.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/scientists-find-chernobyl-full-of-thriving-animals/ar-BBThFn7?li=BBnb7Kz
Article doesn't say whether they glow in the dark or not.
ffr
(22,670 posts)We could be witnessing a pivotal moment in evolution.
NNadir
(33,525 posts)Quoth Google Scholar queried with "Chernobyl DNA:"
"About 23,500 results (0.33 sec)"
Google scholar is your friend.
Evolution is agnostic, neither positive or negative without a change in the environment, but it is almost certain that radiation and chemical insult have always been a participatory mechanistic driver of it.
Evolution does not take place in the absence of genetic or epigenetic changes.
I remain unconvinced that Chernobyl is a "pivotal moment in evolution." Climate change yes, including extreme events such as meteors, massive volcanic outgassing and the evolution of a species with inflated opinions of its own wisdom and its "need" for cars, Chernobyl, probably not.
Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)Ohiogal
(32,006 posts)Jeremy Wade did a show a couple years ago where he went to the lake in Chernobyl to catch fish. It was really interesting.
Among other things, he had to wear a monitor that detected radiation, and if it started beeping he was in a high radiation area and had to get out.
And, if I remember correctly, the lake did have fish in it that looked pretty normal. Nothing glowed in the dark, anyway.
Tanuki
(14,918 posts)which has become a haven for wildlife including many endangered species due to its undeveloped "no man's land'" status for more than 60 years.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/wildlife-thrives-dmz-korea-risk-location-180967842/
..."Before the Korean War, much of the DMZ, particularly the low wetland areas, was cultivated farmland. But where people are unable to go, nature has a tendency to take over, and the DMZ, which varies dramatically in landscape from mountains to marshes, has morphed into an unexpected haven for rare wildlife. According to the Republic of Korea Ministry of Environment, 5,097 animal and plant species have been identified in the area, including 106 that are labeled as endangered or protected."....(more)
Vogon_Glory
(9,118 posts)Ive read earlier reports, so Im not surprised.
Another nuclear-inspired wildlife refuge is the Bikini Atoll. Lots of marine life, but you dont want to tarry there.
hatrack
(59,587 posts)The site of the world's worst nuclear accident and it's still way better for other species than continued normal human activity.
Not that I'd choose to live there, but striking, nonetheless.
NNadir
(33,525 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,693 posts)It shouldn't take a nuclear disaster to get them the habitat, however. We have a lot to learn from animals.
Thanks for the post, Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin.