Tagging penguins limits survival chances, study shows

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　Tagging the flippers of penguins for long-term scientific studies significantly limits their chances of survival and ability to raise chicks, according to a decade-long study in the Antarctic.
　The researchers found that the survival rates for king penguins with flipper bands dropped by 16% and the birds produced 39% fewer chicks. The finding raises serious questions about the ethics of banding penguins for research and casts doubt on years of data produced by tagging the birds in this way.
　Flipper banding, a technique that involves placing a band usually made of stainless steel under penguins' flippers to identify them, is used by some researchers to identify them and gather long-term information about their behaviour and ecology.
　The latest available figures, from a study published in 2000, show that between 1988 and 1996, 36,000 penguins were flipper banded by scientists.
　The study, published today by French researchers in Nature, followed 100 penguins over 10 years, half of them with the bands and half without.
　"At the end of the study we had much higher numbers of non-banded than banded birds," said Claire Saraux, at the University of Strasbourg who co-authored the study.
　Bands also heavily impacted the birds' breeding success. "Banded birds would arrive later at the colony to breed and so they would begin breeding later. Our idea is because of the drag effect, they spend more time at sea and it takes them longer to swim back to the colony, so they are at a disadvantage," said Saraux.
　The drag effect of the bands means the penguins swim slower and expend more energy than they otherwise would. In 1994, Prof Rory Wilson of Swansea University conducted a study which found that penguins with flipper bands used 24% more energy to swim.
　The authors of the report say that while tracking penguins is essential to understanding changes in their population and the effects of various factors including rises in sea temperatures, flipper banding is problematic because it may distort the results.
　"As we show in our paper there is a drop in breeding success and it is known in sea birds that when this fails it induces immigration to other colonies so then there is a problem if you use flipper banding to study immigration. It will skew the numbers," said Yvon Le Maho, the report's lead author.
　To track the non-banded birds in their study, Le Maho and Saraux used tiny electronic chips with radio transmissions. Le Maho says this is a possible alternative to flipper bands but that it presents other challenges.
　"The only difficulty is that once a bird is only with an electronic tag you need an antenna for identification – so to study immigration you need antennas in different colonies – you cannot do it simply by observation as you do with flipper bands but again [flipper bands] skew the data," he said.
　Wilson, who has been studying penguins for three decades, said: "The big question is does what you get from the study justify the cost – and the costs are increased mortality without a shadow of a doubt and decreased reproductive success."
　"It is going to be very difficult as a scientist to come back and defend flipper banding and the hope is that if people don't stop flipper banding they're at least cognisant of what it implicates," he said.
　Wilson says although the practice has been in decline in recent years, there is no comprehensive ban or policy against it internationally.

Summary
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　南極での10年間の調査によると、ヒナを育てることに対するペンギンの残存と活動の変化のためにペンギンの翼にタグを取り付けて行っている科学的調査が限られてきたことが分かった。
　研究者によると、翼にバンドをつけた王様ペンギンの残存率が16%減少し、出産率も39%減少している。調査のためにペンギンにバンドをつけることへの倫理的問題と非難の声があがっている。
　タグバンドによって長期間に渡るペンギンの行動と生体についての情報を得ることができるため、1988年から1996年の間に、36,000羽のペンギンにタグバンドが取り付けられていた。
　フランスの研究者は、100羽のペンギンのうち50羽にバンドを取り付け、残りの50羽にはバンドを取り付けずに10年以上調査をしてきた。その結果、バンドを取り付けられていたペンギンよりもバンドを取り付けられていなかったペンギンの方がはるかに多く生き残っていたことが明らかになった。
　また、バンドはペンギンの出産の成功率にも大きく影響を与えていた。ペンギンは出産するとき、海を泳いで自分たちの集落へ行きそこで出産をする。しかし、バンドを取り付けられたペンギンは泳ぐ際に不利になってしまう。バンドはペンギンの泳ぎの速度に影響を与えるため、より多くのエネルギーが必要とされてしまう。ペンギンの減少を理解し、タグバンドが問題になっている様々な要因を考えることが絶対に必要だ。
　そのため、バンドではなく無線通信機能のついた小さなチップ使った調査に代えなければならない。しかし、その方法で行う調査は、コストと比較したときに正当であるのか、という大きな問題がある。そして、そのコストは疑いの影なしに増加し、ペンギンの数が再び増加するという成功を減らすかもしれない。
　しかし、タグバンドの復活は難しく、人々はタグバンドでの調査を止めてほしいと願っている。だが一方で、ここ最近ではチップによる調査への試みが衰えている。タグバンドの包括的な禁止と国際的な方針に反対することは難しいだろう。

Words
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flipper/翼
Antarctic/南極
skew/ゆがめる
identification/身元確認、鑑識
implicates/含意する
comprehensive/包括的な

Comment
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　科学的調査をすることも大切だろうが、それ以上にペンギンを守ることの方が大切だと思った。今までも多くの動物が人間のせいで絶滅あるいはその危機にさらされてきた。これ以上人間の手で生態系を壊すことは許されないことだ。

2011

◆Post your message in your blog. e.g. ‘New year’s Resolutions’
　― I will try to study more harder than 2010 because I was able to study too in 2010. I will take the examination of the national government employee on autum in 2012. The examination is very hard. I have to study hard from 2011. Especially, I will try to study law, math and English.
　　 Next, I will try to diet. I will aim to reduce 10kg in 2011. I have worked part time job at an apparel shop. The work is looked by many people. I don't want to be insult for my build. I will try to diet!

2010

◆Choose your 'word of the year 2010' and explain.
　― Word of the year 2010 is 'turning point' because I experienced many new and fresh things in this year.

◆Choose your 'Person of the Year 2010' and explain.
　― I think 'Person of the Year 2010' is Lady Gaga, because her fashon and songs are remarkable and fantastic! Her song is famous for all around the world as well as Japan.

◆Choose your ' Event of the Year 2010' and tell a story about it.
　― There were many new things in 2010. For example, I started to live by myself in Tokyo, started campus life and started to work new part time job. I had many new friends and new boyfriend in University and workplace. I felt year 2010 passed in a flash because various new things occerd in this year.

SPEEDSKATING/ Teen titan Takagi grows up

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　CHANGCHUN, China--At the tender age of 15, speedskater Miho Takagi found herself in the national spotlight when she competed in February's Vancouver Olympics.
　The Hokkaido native competed in the women's 1,000- and 1,500-meter races as well serving as a reservist for the women's pursuit team.
　Although she didn't make the medals podium, Takagi became the first junior high school student in Japanese speedskating history to compete in the Winter Games.
　Since the Olympics ended, Takagi celebrated her 16th birthday in May and earlier this month she competed in a speedskating World Cup event for the first time.
　At the World Cup in Changchun in early December, Takagi skated in the 500m and 1,000m races. She finished 10th place finish in the 1,000 and a 19th in the 500 meters.
　"I was trying to do better in the 1,000-meter race ... but in the 500 meter race I was just running in circles," Takagi said.
　Although she didn't impressive results, Takagi she finds new challenges for herself after every race and trains everyday to overcome those challenges.
　"I am gaining a variety of new experiences," she said.
　A versatile athlete who can do many things well, Takagi played soccer in the summertime, but since graduating from junior high school, she said she will devote her summers exclusively to training for speedskating from now on.
　She is also a diligent student. She brought her textbooks and notebooks to the World Cup event so she could study for final exams awaiting her back in Japan.
　Takagi was only able to attend classes for a few days after her midterm exams in October, so she has been spending her studying.
　 "I'm being productive," she said with a smile on her face.
　Takagi's skating has definitely improved since the World Cup event in China, and Toshiaki Imamura, a director at the Japan Skating Federation, has high expectations of her.
　"(Takagi) is gaining strength in the final lap of her 1,000 meter sprint," Imamura said. "She can now carry a race like an adult.
　"Last season, she may have had a lot of difficulties competing at her first Olympic Games, but she has gotten used to her senior rivals through these overseas competitions.
　"In the near future, she will definitely be able to compete well in international races."

Summary
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　2月のバンクーバーオリンピックに参加した15歳のスピードスケーター高木美帆が国際的な注目を浴びている。
　北海道大会で、女子1000メートル、女子1500メートル、女子パシュートテー無の補欠として参加した。
　彼女は表彰台に上ることはできなかったが、日本のスピードスケートの歴史の中で冬の大会に出場した始めての中学生となった。
　オリンピックが終わって、高木は5月に16歳の誕生日を迎え、5月の初頭に、初めてスピードスケートのワールドかっぴに出場した。
　12月の初頭に、長春で開かれたワールドカップで、高木は500メートルと1000メートル競技に出場し、1000メートルで10位、500メートルで19位に輝いた。
　高木は「100メートルではよい競技ができたが、500メートルではただ円を走っていただけだった」とコメントした。堂々とした結果ではなかったが、高木は今後の競技や毎日の練習のための新しい挑戦を見つけ出した。彼女は、「いろいろな新しい経験ができた」とコメントした。
　彼女は、夏にはサッカーをするなど多面的な才能のある選手だ。しかし、中学校を卒業したら、夏の時間もスピードスケートに捧げると言った。
　彼女はまた、勤勉な生徒でもある。期末試験のためにワールドカップにも教科書やノートを持っていった。
　高木のスケートは中国でのオリンピック以来、改良されてきた。日本スケート連盟の今村俊明は、彼女に強い期待を持っている。「彼女は今、大人のようなレースをしている。初めてのオリンピックで多くの困難なことを経験したが、これらの国際大会を通して大人のライバルを得た。近い将来、彼女は必ず国際大会で優秀な成績を収めるだろう。」とコメントした。

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reservist/補欠
podium/表彰台
versatile/多面的な才能がある
Federation/連盟
rival/競争相手

Comment
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まだ中学生なのに芯がしっかりしたすごい子だと思いました。彼女の今後の活躍が楽しみです。

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201012150254.html

TV's 'Mr. Fish' finds 'extinct' salmon in Yamanashi lake

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　A fish believed to be extinct for 70 years has been found in a lake in Yamanashi Prefecture by an eccentric TV personality who calls himself "Mr. Fish."
　The "kunimasu" salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka kawamurae) was thought to have fallen victim to Japan's hydro-electric power development program in 1940.
　It was only found in Lake Tazawako in Akita Prefecture and, when acidic water was drawn into the lake to drive the hydro-electric turbines, the kunimasu disappeared. It has been listed as extinct by the Environment Ministry.
　The freshwater fish, which grows to about 30 centimeters, seems, however, to have found a hideaway in Lake Saiko in Yamanashi Prefecture, far to the south of its previous stronghold.
　A group of Kyoto University researchers led by fisheries science professor Tetsuji Nakabo found that what local fishermen have been calling "kuromasu," or black salmon, was in fact kunimasu.
　The group caught nine kuromasu between March and April. DNA analysis found that they were different from "himemasu," a landlocked form of sockeye salmon abundant in Lake Saiko.
　Records show that 100,000 kunimasu eggs were sent from Tazawako to Saiko in 1935 to stock the Yamanashi lake. Nakabo believes Saiko's kuromasu are descendants of kunimasu released at that time.
　"Saiko's water temperature is comparatively low, good for kunimasu's survival," Nakabo said.
　The discovery is thanks to TV personality and illustrator Sakana-kun (Mr. Fish), known for his trademark fish-shaped hat.
　A self-taught fish expert, he now serves as a visiting associate professor at the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.
　In March, Sakana-kun showed Nakabo, a long-time collaborator and adviser, chilled fish identified by Saiko fishermen as himemasu. The fish had been sent to him to help him draw illustrations of kunimasu for Nakabo.
　Only formaldehyde-preserved specimens of kunimasu were available to him, and he felt that recently caught specimens of other landlocked salmon would help his work.
　When the fish arrived, however, he began to suspect he might actually be looking at kunimasu from beyond the grave.
　Nakabo was flabbergasted. One was carrying eggs, a sure sign that it was not a himemasu because that fish lays its eggs in autumn. He shouted: "These are kunimasu!"

Summary
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　さかなくんによって、山梨県の湖で70年間絶滅したと思われていた魚が発見された。
　国鱒は、1940年の日本の水力発電の発展の犠牲になったと思われていた。
　国鱒は水力発電によって湖に酸性の水が流れ込んだとき、秋田県の田沢湖にだけ生息していたがその数は減少し、絶滅したとされた。
　京都大学の研究者グループは、地元の漁師によって発見された魚を「黒鱒」あるいは黒鮭と呼んでいたが、実際は国鱒であった。
　そのグループは、3月から4月の間に9匹の黒鱒を捕まえた。DNA分析でその中の西湖で捕られた中に「姫鱒」が発見された。
　1935年に国鱒の10万個の卵が西湖に放流された。
　その発見は魚の帽子で知られているさかなくんによるものだ。彼は、東京大学の海洋科学技術の準教授として勤めている。
　3月に、さかなくんは西湖の漁師によって姫鱒だとされていた稚魚をもとに、国鱒の絵を描こうとした。その魚を入手したとき、彼はその魚を国鱒ではないかと思い始めた。
　その魚は卵を持っていた。姫鱒は秋に卵を産むので、その魚が姫鱒ではなく国鱒であるというサインだった。

Words
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eccentric/一風変わった
hydro-electric/水力発電
self-taught/独学の
associate professor/準教授
flabbergasted/びっくり仰天する

Comment
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さかなくんの大手柄に驚きました(¨)

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201012150305.html