2 million fish found dead in Maryland

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http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/0 ... ish.kill/index.html
(CNN) -- Authorities in Maryland are investigating the deaths of about 2 million fish in Chesapeake Bay.

"Natural causes appear to be the reason," the Maryland Department of the Environment said in a news release. "Cold water stress exacerbated by a large population of the affected species (juvenile spot fish) appears to be the cause of the kill."

The investigation comes days after the deaths of an estimated 100,000 fish in northwest Arkansas. Authorities suspect disease was to blame there, a state spokesman said.

In Maryland, preliminary tests showed water quality to be acceptable, officials said.


"The affected fish are almost exclusively juvenile spot fish, 3 to 6 inches in length," the Maryland department said. A recent survey "showed a very strong population of spot in the bay this year. An increased juvenile population and limited deep water habitat would likely compound the effects of cold water stress."

Large winter kills of spot fish have occurred at least twice before in the state, in 1976 and 1980, the department said.

StephenW

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Did you read that thousands of birds are dropping dead from the sky in America recently?
Scary...end of the world....

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URL, Please!

StephenW

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Even more scary:

Massive fish kills by the thousands in Brazil, New Zealand, the Arkansas River and the Chesapeake; more bird deaths in Louisiana, Kentucky and Sweden; and tens of thousands of dead crabs (aptly named dead devil crabs) washing ashore in the U.K.

http://www.alternet.org/story/149440/%27aflockalypse%27%3A_here%27s_why_we_should_really_be_concerned_about_the_huge_bird_and_fish_die-off

StephenW

But experts come to the rescue!

Mass bird deaths rare, not apocalyptic: experts                     
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• More mystery bird deaths reported in LouisianaTue, Jan 4 2011
• More mystery bird deaths reported, this time in LouisianaTue, Jan 4 2011
• Arkansas birds fell from sky after "massive trauma"Mon, Jan 3 2011
• Analysis: Climate talks: 18 years, too little action?Sun, Dec 12 2010
  

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                                                                                             One of thousands of blackbirds that fell out of the sky on New Year's Eve lies on the ground in Beebe, Arkansas, January 1, 2011.
                        

Credit: Reuters/Arkansas Game and Fish Commission/Handout

  

By Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent

OSLO |         Thu Jan 6, 2011 1:15pm EST        

OSLO (Reuters) - Birds falling out of the sky in the United States and Sweden are freak examples of the kind of mass animal deaths, from beached whales to deluges of frogs, that have unusual but not apocalyptic causes, experts say.

Storms, hail or lightning can kill birds while tornadoes or waterspouts may suck up small fish or frogs and drop them far away. Human causes, such as fireworks, power lines or a collision with a truck, may explain avian deaths.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70534T20110106?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

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