Wild Tobago

Dr Anjani Ganase reflects on the ocean as a source of life; and the possibility that where there is water in the universe, there might be life. Breathe in and out, look around, see life all around us. Life as we know it is the culmination of evolution that started over three billion years ago on this planet in our ocean. We have evolved enough to be able to trace our origins but also to seek out other origin stories in our solar system and beyond. Life requires the presence of energy, organic molecules to be organised and structures and water as the medium for chemical reactions and transport of elements and nutrients. Our planet is home to a large body of waters, the ocean occupies 70 % of planet earth. It is the keeper of climates and maintains life. Our planet received deposits of frozen water from space over billions of years from comets and asteroids colliding with the surface of the planet. As the planet warmed, the water collected to form the ocean.   Wh...

Dr Anjani Ganase, coral reef ecologist, brings the latest scientific research on an extinct giant shark, how tonka bean trees make space in the Panamanian forests and how our ears are like fish gills. Our evolutionary origins are fishy The outer ear of a mammal is oddly shaped and weird looking. The ear folds seem unnecessary in contrast to the smooth conical disc devices, like the satellite dish, that we’ve invented to collect sound signals. The path of evolution is meandering and mysterious. All land animals evolved from the ocean, a place that really has no use for an ear. However, on land, the growth of ears provided clear benefits for mammals. Researchers from the School of Medicine, University of Southern California found that the outer ear of mammals can be linked evolutionarily to the gills of ancient fish. Both organs share a unique tissue called elastic collagen that make the outer ear (and gills) flexible but durable. In present day, the tissue is predominantly found ...

Do we know all of Trinidad and Tobago’s Environmentally Sensitive Species? Dr Anjani Ganase suggests wider research and inquiry to expand the list, and to expose all citizens to what needs to be protected. TT’s list of Environmentally Sensitive Species Under the legislation, the Environmental Management Act (2000), species listed under the Environmentally Sensitive Species Rule are afforded full protection in Trinidad and Tobago. Under this Rule, the species can be animal or plant, may be endemic to Trinidad and Tobago or spend only part of its life cycle in our territory. Furthermore, any plant or animal listed for risk of extinction and overexploitation by any international convention that the government of Trinidad and Tobago is party to is eligible for becoming an ESS. The Rule limits the cutting, picking or uprooting of plants; and prohibits hunting and disturbing protected animals, especially during sensitive periods such as breeding season or during migrat...