#mixed-species environments

[informationatlas]

Scientists believe that the remarkable intelligence of beluga whales is demonstrated by their ability to learn and communicate using the complex language of whistles and clicks. This has been observed in a specific case where a beluga whale, living in captivity alongside a pod of bottlenose dolphins, has successfully acquired and adopted their unique language.

(via Beluga whale learns to 'talk' to pod of bottlenose dolphins )

[reasonsforhope]

"Inspired by an innovative Chilean forest restoration effort, the English town of Lewes is enlisting the help of dog walkers to rewild a local nature reserve.

Heavily degraded by foot traffic, the project co-opts dogs’ tendency to run about in the woods to spread wildflower seed from saddlebags strapped to a harness around the dog’s abdomen.

The idea mimics the function that wolves once played in that part of England, roaming over vast distances getting grass and flower seeds stuck in their coat, only to fall off and germinate somewhere else.

This helter-skelter seed-spreading is actually how many plants evolved to reproduce, and it’s key to maintaining a biodiverse and native ecosystem.

“We’re really interested in rewilding processes, but they often involve reintroducing big herbivores like bison or wild horses,” said manager Dylan Walker from the Railway Land Wildlife Trust who organized the project back in 2019.

“In a smaller urban nature reserve it’s really hard to do those things. So, to replicate the effect that those animals have on the ecosystem we aimed to utilize the vast number of dog walkers that are visiting the nature reserve daily.”

The saddlebags are filled with a variety of perennial plant seeds mixed together with sand. This allows the seed to be spread for longer across larger distances, while also providing a helpful tracking sign to inform the Trust’s employees where dogs are walking.

THE REWILDING MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND…

Salmon Return to the Heart of UK for First Time in 100 Years After Dam Removal: ‘It’s very rewarding’

‘Give Nature Space and it Will Come Back’: Rewilding Returns Endangered Species to UK Coast

Farmer Combats Flooding by Returning Creeks to Nature: ‘Wildlife That Has Come is Phenomenal’

Finally Rid of Invasive Shrubs, Scientists Use Lichen to Regrow the Celtic Rainforest in Loch Lomond, Scotland

2 Beavers Named Hazel and Chompy Reintroduced to English County–the First Ones to Live Here in 400 Years

“I signed up because it sounded like such a good fit. I was asked to place a harness on my chocolate cocker spaniel called Bertie and he ran around spreading seeds like wolves used to do many years ago,” Cressida Murray, a dog walker who regularly uses the nature reserve, told The Guardian. 

Wolves were persecuted to extinction in England as early as the reign of Henry VII, who reigned during the latter third of the 15th century.

“A community-based project like this not only helps engage and teach people about the ecological impacts of wildlife but also allows us to make our wildlife and environments richer in the process,” said Walker."

-via Good News Network, July 30, 2024

[shirecorn]

What we call "ponies" are actually 3 different species that have managed to intertwine with each other through centuries of love and friendship.

Earth ponies are unique in their strength and solid, powerful hooves built for running and moving heavy objects. Ancient ponies only displayed earth tones in their fur and hair, but even one pegasus ancestor many generations ago can imbue colorful hues to all their descendents.

Pegasus are completely covered in feathers, with long feathers forming crests much like horses' mane and tails. They are usually the smallest species, but some exceptions do appear. Hooves are usually small and cloven, with prehensile dewclaws for gripping branches and perching in trees.

Unicorns are much closer to deer than horses, and their horns are actually a set of two antlers that wind around each other from a single base. The coiled structure pulls magic from the world around them and concentrates it at the tip, allowing the unicorn to cast whatever spells it wishes, while the other species can only use magic for flight and affecting the environment.

That is, until new alicorns began to ascend and through their power, grant magical properties to intangible concepts like friendship and love

Alicorns are mysterious, ethereal giants who fill the entire sky as they pass by. They are not a mix of unicorns, pegasus, and earth ponies, but a creature beyond any of the species; an ascended form that could supposedly happen to anyone... But but that's just an old foals' tale. Right?

[powdermelonkeg]

Trying to figure out TP Link's diet based on his environment.

Livestock-wise, we've got cuccos and goats. That means

Eggs

Milk

Butter

Cheese

Potentially meat, but I don't think they get eaten unless they're old. Too valuable otherwise | EDIT: Oh yeah you need to breed goats every couple years to get milk. Add in cabrito veal!

And we know for a fact that Ordon Goat Cheese specifically is a thing. Stamped wheel and everything.

There's also fish

And bees/hornets(? It's called bee larva, but the enemy is a Hylian Hornet)

Useful for bait, but Link can eat them.

Did some more research, and apparently in Japan they eat wasp larvae? Specifically in Kushihara. So I'm counting it.

Then plants-wise we have pumpkins

And...corn. Somehow. I've never seen corn growing, but Link has some hanging in his house, so it exists.

I'm choosing to believe it comes from these plants that grow in patches around Ordon.

That gives us a lot. We've got

Cornstarch

Cornmeal

Corn oil

Corn shoots

Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seed oil

Pumpkin flour

Pumpkin blossoms

No source of sugar, but depending on how the pumpkins in Ordon taste, they could be naturally sweet. Like pie pumpkins. Also corn syrup is a thing if it's a sweet corn. So corn syrup needs cream of tartar which comes from grapes and apples and such. It's a byproduct of wine. No corn syrup.

Edit: Malt sugar, though!

Now for hypothetical foods.

Ordon is surrounded by pine trees, so that adds pine needle tea and pine nuts to the mix. I was a little worried about species, but apparently there are a lot of pine trees that make edible seeds, so on the list it goes.

Then there are frogs near Rusl and Uli's house, wild songbirds on cliffs, and a squirrel that talks to Link directly, so those are huntable sources of meat.

Is horse grass a cattail? Maybe? Initially, I thought it was—the ends look like cattail seedpuffs, but the leaves are completely different.

I want to treat them like cattails. Cattails that also are probably the main food source for Epona and the goats.

If we do that, that means, on top of all the other uses cattails have like stuffing and tinder and antiseptic, we get

Roots

Shoots

Ground seeds

Can't find a good match for hawk grass though. Concluding that that's not edible. Equivalent exchange and all.

Side note, how do you think horse grass spreads? It's almost always in groups of two or more plants, so that suggests rhizomes, but the image of Link picking one up to blow and stuffing flying out the end of the horseshoe is hilarious to me.

Up next, there are ferns, primarily near trees. After very careful and way-too-deep analysis of a pixelated fern's leaves, I think it's bracken fern.

Which is mildly poisonous.

And also edible.

On the list it goes!

Then finally, Sera has some kind of herb hanging in her shop.

I don't know what it is. I'm calling it Ordon Spice. Congratulations, Ordon Pumpkin Spice is now a thing.

[serenadeformice]

spiders get a lot of credit for making huge complex webs, but y'know who never gets enough credit for their work? the humble WEBSPINNER! an insect of the order Embioptera, they're one of the very few animals on our earth that produce SILK!

images of insects (no spiders!) and fun facts under the cut!

their closest well-known relatives are the phasmids, which might be apparent from their long body plan. Take a look at that cutie. See those big dumb front hands? those enlarged tarsomeres have their silk-producing glands, and to see one in action is really fun. they tap tap tap, move their hands over, tap tap tap, and string their silk along to make their webbing. they live in colonies are called Galleries, which are dark warrens of tunnels so narrow that their inhabitants often can't turn around in them, so they have extremely well-adaptive senses for walking backward and figuring out their environments through touch! this link here is a beautiful demonstration of their unique movement and weaving techniques:

"The Curious Webspinner Insect Knits a Cozy Home", by Deep Look, PBS Digital Studios https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_JP3RbJ8zk

that video also covers how sensitive their front legs are to going off at unexpected times. most insects use their forelegs to grab their antennae for cleaning, but because of their silk glands' aforementioned sensitivity, webspinners don't use their front legs to clean their antennae! they fold their antennae down under them, using their mouthparts and the ground to keep them in place for cleaning.

in the grooves of this stone wall they've webbed it up to make their beautiful moist, dark little homes.

They're also dedicated moms! Females live gregariously, in large colonies caring for their eggs. males wake up, reproduce, then die. one species, Rhagadochir virgo, wraps their eggs in a mix of silk and lichen to ensure their babies have a little meal when they wake up! isn't that swell?

Webspinners are strange and underappreciated hard workers. i adore them so much, and i hope this has made you adore them maybe a little bit more too!

[thelightfluxtastic]

Dungeon Meshi is like...the polar opposite of Same Face Syndrome.

Characters stay recognizable in different outfits, different haircuts, different environments, even different races/species.

It's an amazing showcase of Ryoko Kui's character design work, but it also makes things easier for the reader! I don't end up confusing "character at an older age" with "character's father". When half a dozen elves were introduced all at the same time, it took a while to learn their names, but I never got them mixed up. Action scenes are easier to follow. Designs foreshadow plot and character backstory. As the plot expands to include bunches and bunches of characters, it's easier not to lose track of everyone.

[iguanodont]

Way back when you first posted your cool weird DnD dragons, I think you mentioned something about them maybe being eusocial with kobolds and maybe dragonborn acting as different biological casts and I honestly think about that idea a lot. When you wrote that, were you imagining these kobolds being just as anatomically weird as the dragons whose colony they were a part of?

I’ve actually drawn kobolds before, but I’ve changed some things about their designs and lore since then.

They have a few different castes, not all of which are present in every dragon, and certain castes can change into others. For example, most kobolds are born as quadrupedal Carriers, which act as couriers and assistants to Manuals, which are the bipedal worker caste and second phase of development. A favorite kobold may also be metamorphosed by its parent into a winged drone, which grows significantly taller and acts as scout, messenger, and lover to other dragons. The appearance and unusual sociality of drones has led many layfolk to mistake them for half-dragons, which are almost unheard of in chromatic lineages. Metallics, which are more prone to interacting directly with nondragons are far more likely to produce hybrid offspring. Some species also develop larger “warrior” caste kobolds (swolbolds)

The illustration depicts blue dragon kobolds, which possess a hornlike antenna for locating conspecifics, calling for help, and finding their way home. Brass dragons, which wander the same habitats, will occasionally steal blue kobolds for service by mimicking their Queen’s psychic signal.

Honorable mention to fairy kobolds, which are the mixed bag of smallfolk varmints that metallics commonly press into service. These creatures readily find their ways into dragon lairs through the same liminal byways used to slip between material space and the faewild. Like the faewild, dragon lairs are high magic environments, and often conveniently close to human dwellings to forage from. But it comes at a cost: fairies are a magic rich snack for a dragon, so they have to adapt fast. Using their innate knack for glamouring to blend into a lair’s unique aesthetic, a fairy will begin working to protect and furnish its home as they would in any other dwelling which ultimately serves the interests of the dragon. If the dragon notices them at that point, it usually tolerates them bumming in its house.

[botaniqueer]

27 new, exciting, and blobby species discovered in the Peruvian rainforest

BY LAURA BAISAS

POSTED ON DEC 20, 2024

A rainfrog, an amphibious mouse, and a “blob-headed” fish are only some of the 27 new species discovered deep Peru’s Amazon rainforest. During a survey in 2022, a team from Conservation International recorded 2,046 total species living in this lush and heavily forested landscape, many of whom are endangered.

The creatures were all found in the Alto Mayo Landscape which spans the Andes mountains to the Amazon River and includes the Alto Mayo Protected Forest. Instead of being one static environment, the Alto Mayo Landscape is a complex mix of different ecosystems and communities, including Indigenous territories, cities, and towns. (Continue reading)

[yellydany]

VAMPIRE KILLER FROG 🐸 🩸 (Nosferas Venari) Also known as Eztlicueyatl (Blood frog) or Tzinacamiztli (Bat death)

"A voracious amphibian-like species that adapted to hunt vampires. Its origins are vague and shrouded in mystery but an hypothesis suggests it could have been the result of selective breeding or nature’s “way” of dealing with the ecological imbalance vampires caused through centuries. Whichever the reason, one thing is clear: these hunters evolved in such fashion they became the night creatures’ bane.

Every bodily function feels almost engineered in eerie accuracy to strike at their very weaknesses- such as the tip of the tail (bone) they sharpen to resemble a stake, the muscle reflexes and athletic composition to catch up with their supernatural agility and a blackened coat which absorbs the bouncing light of nocturnal eyes paired with drastically lowering their body temperature (essentially becoming ‘invisible’ in the dark). Although they may prefer a stealthy approach they show no fear if they must engage in direct confrontation. There’s no sexual dimorphism albeit females are more common in nature compared to the rare male sights and not much is known about the behavior with others of their kind as they are solitary. But such is their intelligence that it would be safe to assume they study- and learn from both their prey’s movement and environments given the observations on this beast.

Worse yet- for vampires- they have more cunning ways of hunting for a meal.

The Nosferas frog is able to produce a unique secretion mix of blood, mucus and gastric fluids which is all over their bodies- from the inside and out. More interestingly they have a way to regulate its acidic components to either use as a melting gag weapon, dissolving and trapping pathogens or simply increasing its PH. Essentially, the body is extremely moldable thanks to this odd slimy substance that makes it almost feel like liquid and comes in handy in various situations such as protecting their brood eggs by swallowing them. It is also the most crucial function in the capturing of their vampiric prey as the scent of this bloody secretion lures them and other carnivores in. Once they come in sight they eject their multiple stomachs through gastric eversion to latch onto the victim and begin the digestion early. The vampire skulls are then proudly kept and displayed given the very transparent look of the lower side of the body.

Despite it being a terrifying organism by all means, they have shown vague signs of affection toward humans- some of whom have tamed and kept them as exotic guardian pets against the supernatural plague. In most areas of the land however they underwent a ban given their dangerous and unsettling nature."

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Some Entomology Vocabulary

for your next poem/story

Entomology - The scientific study of insects.

Alary - 'Relating to wings'. It is often used when discussing the muscles used to operate the wings of an insect, these commonly being known as the alary muscles.

Aposematism - The use of bright colouration to advertise that an organism is dangerous or unpalatable.

Apterous - Insects without wings.

Batesian mimicry - A type of mimicry where a harmless organism mimics a poisonous or unpalatable one. Predators learn to avoid the unpleasant organism and, because predators are unable to distinguish the mimic from the poisonous/unpalatable organism, the mimics are also avoided.

Cerumen - A substance created by many species of social bee used to construct their nests. It is a mixture of tree resin (often in the form of propolis) that is mixed with beeswax. The consistency and colour is often determined by the trees close to the bee nest since this is where the resin is collected from.

Chorion - The outer shell of an insect's egg. It can consist of several layers including a waxy layer to prevent water loss.

Crypsis - The ability for a organism to blend in with its environment. This is often achieved through projections in the exoskeleton of the insect which makes it look like something else.

Eclosion - The emergence of an adult insect from a pupa or a larvae (or nymph) from an egg.

Endoparasitoid - A parasite that lives inside another animal and ultimately kills it. Endoparasitoids, such as some solitary wasps, are commonly used as biological control agents.

Frass - Insect excrement.

Gallery - A small tunnel or passageway made by an insect or animal.

Instars - Time periods between molts.

Iridescent - Displaying shining or glittering colors like those of a rainbow.

Mullerian mimicry - A type of mimicry whereby one or or more species develop a similar appearance. Each of the species is either poisonous, dangerous or unpalatable to predators. Predators may only encounter one specific species but protection is conferred to the other others due to their similar appearance.

Nuptial flight - The mating flight of some insects, most notably social bees and ants.

Oviparity - When insects reproduce by laying eggs.

Pectinate - Comblike

Plumose - Feathery

Pterygota - Refers to the Subclass of insects that possess wings.

Xylophagous - Describes animals that feed almost exclusively on wood.

Sources: 1 2 3 ⚜ More: Word Lists

[prof-peach]

Ok. Weird ask. But I think you all would be best to ask.

My two oldest Mons are my Venusaur Turnip and my Butterfree Keet both’re male and this will be relevant later. I’m older now and retired from adventuring, and I noticed that Turnip has started blowing off pollen, and Keet would flap around him doing an elaborate dance.

Bow I know my mons well, and I know these’re the mating rituals for both of their species but…. They’re from different egg groups! I know mons can be gay, hell I am. But is it normal for some Pokémon to mate outside of their egg group?

I mean, if theyre into each other, not like anything can come of it? Each butterfree will have a unique mating dance, so maybe that is the case, and if they seem to be trying to reproduce, perhaps its a good opportunity to take in some abandoned eggs, every single daycare I can think of will have some just in incubators, left by trainers and the pokemon. Maybe discuss with them taking on an egg? They might want to, or not. You know your pokemon, if you think this is whats going on, then encourage, support, yadda-yadda, you know, the whole thing we do for loved ones. Doesnt exactly hurt anyone, in fact its kind of sweet and could help some random left over egg.

Attraction is attraction, but this behaviour is also quite normal even without that subject in the mix. The two species do tend to work in tandem wild to encourage each other. That theyre old friends may be an attraction, or in nature this is how these two species help each other.

A butterfree wafting around that pollen will spread it further, and that pollen can mix with some actual plants and encourage certain species to seed, spread, and bloom. More blooms, more food for butterfree. They are a vital part of the ecosystem, and pollinators, though they are usually too big for most flowers, so they use their wings and spread the pollen that way. Now im not saying they both aint a little fruity, hell, arent we all? But the behaviour is from what I can gather from how youre talking about it, normal even in nature with regards to encouraging healthy foodchains. We see it often enough.

Sexuality aside, pokemon often help each other outside of species and egg groups, because a healthy group of one pokemon will encourage other things to move along at the right rate in the environment. To be 100% sure i'd have to see it, but sounds like nothing you need to worry about. Crossing egg groups can't result in anything typically, without heavy engineering, or some weird random stroke of dumb luck. I'd not stress yourself over it, and simply see if thats what theyre doing, and if you can help them live their life now youre all retired from the adventures. Maybe its time for their next chapter and some young blood running around causing chaos for you all.

[lingrimmart]

We're excited to announce that we've completed the base for our adopt species, Bulochki aka Bao! With this base, you can create adopts or personal characters—or maybe both! :>

Price for this base: $7

Comment or DM to buy it!

What you can do:

Create/sell adopts

Make personal characters

Modify/add details

Guidelines:

Credit us

Don’t claim as your own

Don’t mix with other species

Don’t resell the base

P.S. We've included examples of designs we've made using the base. Remember, these are not for sale; they're custom designs purchased by others. Feel free to get inspired, but please don't copy ;>

Bulochki are a yokai clan from a world called Fukuide. So, quite literally, they are ghosts or spiritual beings. While some of these spirits are kind to humans and other creatures, others can be quite evil. However, most of the time, they remain neutral.

Bulochki can also absorb human spiritual remains, known as Echos. By doing this, they can change their appearance or even their character.

It's also known that Bulochki are very sensitive to their environment. Though they love to travel, when they stay in one place for a long time, the atmosphere affects them significantly. In pure and peaceful places like temples, they become rounder in shape and calmer in nature. Conversely, in "evil" places, their appearance and demeanor change accordingly.

Some of them can occasionally form friendships with mortals, such as humans. When this happens, they become stronger and more dragon-like, drawing power from the mortal's willpower and emotions.

However, some Bulochki become corrupted by negative places or after killing a human (or any other mortal). As a result, they transform into evil, haunting versions of themselves.

These corrupted Bulochki often fixate on negative ideas, causing people to suffer. This behavior gives rise to "urban legends" and dark stories about haunted places. Such Bao may repeatedly act out specific scenarios, like killing anyone who can't answer three questions or targeting people wearing red outfits, etc.

[bethanythebogwitch]

Welcome to a topsy-turvy Wet Beast Wednesday where I'm discussing one of my favorite cnidarians, the upside-down jellyfish. These are 8 species of jellyfish in the genus Cassiopea, which is the only member of the family Cassiopeidae. What makes these jellies notable is the fact that they spend most of their time lying upside-down on the seafloor.

(image: an upside-down jellyfish swimming. It has a light brown and white striped bell and multiple tentacles that are tuck and white. The tentacles branch and are lined with feathery, light brown structures)

While the majority of jellyfish are predators who drift through the water at the mercy of the currents, upside-down jellyfish have essentially become farmers. Their eight branched oral arms that contain symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae. These algae are photosynthetic and live in a mutualistic relationship with the jellyfish. The jellyfish gets food from the zooxanthellae and they get protection from predators and a place to live. Upside-down jellyfish can survive entirely on the nutrients produced by the zooxanthellae, but they will still feed on zooplankton and other small prey. Upside-down jellies are not the only jellyfish to utilize zooxanthellae, many other species also survive primarily on their symbiotic algae, but they are the only ones to have adapted the benthic lifestyle. They can reach a bell diameter of up to 25 cm (10 inches), or as one source for this stated: about the size of a pie pan.

(image: multiple upside-down jellyfish lying on sand. They are ov various sizes and mostly light brown, but have thicker, green tentacles sticking op)

Upside-down jellyfish are found in warm coastal waters in Florida and the Caribbean and in Micronesia, Melanesia, and parts of Polynesia. They require shallow waters to allow enough light to reach their zooxanthellae and are usually found on shady or muddy bottoms. They are highly associated with mangroves and may play an important role in the mangrove habitats by mixing the water to recirculate oxygen and nutrients. They are rarely found alone, instead congregating in large groups that can cover portions of the seafloor. They attach by using their bells as suction cups and rhythmically pulse using the edges of the bell. This pulsing forces water over the gills and can force zooplankton into the stinging cells to become food. Stung prey will fall on the oral tentacles, where it is broken down into fragments that are then intaken through the numerous tiny oral openings on the tentacles. Interestingly, some species have cycles of reduced movement, which is believed to be the first known example of sleep in an animal without a central nervous system. While upside-down jellies can swim, they will usually only do so to escape predators or if their environment becomes unsuitable.

(image: an upside-down jellyfish swimming. The majority of its body is light brown, but it has many tentacles that are dark blue and outlined in white)

While a very neat thing to see underwater, many snorkelers avoid upside-down jellyfish due to a phenomenon called stinging water. This is when people will receive the symptoms of a sting by the jellyfish without actually touching it. While the cause of this was a mystery for a long time, it was solved when a 2020 paper was published in Communications Biology by Ames et al. The scientists discovered that upside-down jellies release clumps of mucus into the water. This mucus is filled with zooxanthellae and stinging cells and many of these clumps also have ciliated cells that allow for limited swimming. These clumps, named cassiosomes, are the source of the stinging water. The paper, titled "cassiosomes are stinging-cell structures in the mucus of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana" speculated that the cassiosomes are used for defense and feeding. The cassiosomes could be released to sting a potential predator from a distance, discouraging it from approaching the jellyfish. Presumably snorkelers trigger this defense when they swim over the jellies, resulting in stinging water. They could also be used to catch prey as zooplankton killed by the stinging cells would have a high likelihood of falling onto the jelly that released them. Because the cassiosomes have zooanthellae in them, they could survive for likely up to several days after release.

(image: a microscope image of three cassiosomes. They are irregularly-shaped blobs somewhat similar to popcorn. They are a dark color with grey outlines. Spots of green algae and white stinging cells dot their surface)

Upside-down jellyfish are threatened by habitat loss as many mangrove forests are torn down for development. They are also threatened by pollution. They are not considered dangerous to humans. The sting of an upside-down jellyfish can result in mild to severe rashes and itching, but is not lethal.

(gif: a lone, light brown upside-down jellyfish on black sediment. The edge of its flat, circular bell regularly pulse upward to move air over its gills and tentacles. This one's pulsing has slowed, which is speculated to be the result of it going through its sleep cycle)

[markscherz]

A friend of mine sent me a yt video of a guy who was relocating frog eggs (prolly a vernal pool) and showed 1000s of baby frogs coming out of the water in his backyard. she asked me how I felt about it as a ecologist. I felt like it was irresponsible to do, especially to post videos on it, but probably not "ecological terrorism" like people in the comments were saying, because I see baby frogs in nature come out of water in hoards sometimes too. Kind of a mixed bag.

But I wanted to ask you, since you're a herpetologist and waaay more experienced than me: how do you feel about the yt channel "frog army YouTube"?

Many frogs and toads are classical R-strategists. Some toads can lay 20+ THOUSAND eggs in a single clutch. The whole point of that strategy is that not all of the offspring survive. In fact, it would be really rather bad if all of the offspring were to survive, because (1) they wouldn't be feeding the predators and decomposers that live off of their noble sacrifice, and (2) they will require massively more resources than they otherwise would. It can have all kinds of detrimental down-stream effects.

This is the reason we often see swarms of tadpoles darkening some small pools (especially ones where there are no fish!), and later hoards of froglets (that's the technical term) emerging from pools at once. It's an evolutionary strategy, that only few individuals survive to achieve reproductive age.

Point 1: it is *fine* if not all the tadpoles survive to adulthood. That's how the system is supposed to work. You are not doing the system favours if you are changing tadpole survivorship to 100%.

Now, humans really are fucking things up in a lot of environments. Environmental pollutants, like heavy metals, can cause major issues for wildlife, and especially frogs, which (1) are not as vagile as e.g. birds and medium- to large-sized mammals and thus cannot escape the problem zone effectively, and (2) are EXTRA sensitive to the environment because of their permeable skin.

Point 2: we do have some responsibility to do something if we notice that there is a major problem emerging, which could dramatically alter the population dynamics for one or more generations of frogs.

However, *moving* clutches of eggs that are found in polluted pools is not the right move, especially for your average person. There are many reasons that it is not the right move, but chief among them are

(1) A lot of frogs that lay eggs in vernal pools have tadpoles that cannot survive being in larger ponds, and certainly cannot survive in streams or other bodies of flowing water.

(2) A lot of frogs that lay their eggs in vernal pools are already adapted to less than ideal conditions, and have excellent strategies to overcome those conditions, such as incredibly quick metamorphosis (sometimes just a few days!)

(3) By moving clutches of eggs, you could easily be moving the pathogens or pollutants that are causing the problem in the first place.

(4) If there is Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis fungus around, you are spreading chytrid, and that is VERY bad. Chytridiomycosis has already driven several frog species to extinction, and caused massive population collapse in several others.

(5) If you do not know the species, attempts to rescue them might be aiding the advance of an invasive species.

(6) It's often illegal to intervene! Many species are protected by law, and you are not allowed to remove them from the wild. Consult your local laws.

Point 3: the responsibility to do something does not include removing the frogs and raising a frog army.

So what should we do if we find a clutch of eggs in an oily pool? Or in a nearly dried out puddle?

First assess the nature of the problem. Is the pool just about to dry out? Then leave it alone. The tadpoles will probably be fine (and if they're not, they'll provide rich nutrients to predators and decomposers). But are there signs of pollution? Then assess: is the pollution covering a larger area? Or is it localised? If you find dead frogs or other amphibians is a major warning sign, and it needs to be brought to the relevant authorities. Contact your local environmental agency/department, and notify them of the precise location of the problem, and its extent. Document everything with photos and videos.

Point 4: there are organisations and agencies specifically tasked with intervening in cases of environmental damage. It is *your* job to bring it to their attention, but unless instructed by them, you need not take any further action. It is their job to know what to do, and to take appropriate action.

TL;DR: 'Raising a frog army' is for the likes, not the frogs, and is not environmentally responsible or ethically defensible. Build a home for the frogs, and they will come.

[astraanti]

The Autobots' B*tch

One Shot/2544 words

Optimus Prime x Fem human x Autobots

⚠️ NSFW

The text includes interspecies relationships, s. innuendos, submission and domination. Infidelity.

Note 1: This chapter was originally written in spanish, if there is a mistake, don't forget to tell me. Thanks.

Note 2: The Autobots use their normal-sized bipedal mode and mass displacement.

The rumor had begun to spread.

From ear to ear, from mouth to mouth, and from receiver to receiver in the NEST hangar.

Humans and Cybertronians were stunned when they heard your name linked to that rumor that, until that moment, seemed impossible.

When they heard that secret, they could not believe it. It never occurred to them that you would be capable of committing such acts, especially in the company of another species. No one would have ever imagined that of you, not with your cheerful and reserved behavior.

You were the human representative assigned to work closely with Optimus Prime, someone who imposed intelligence and tranquility, which made the content of the rumors even more shocking due to your relationship with him. Some denied it, claiming that it was false and improbable; others, however, spoke with pride of having been with you above the sheets of the bed where you shared the nights with the Autobots, as proof of your escapades.

You were unaware that the rumor had reached Optimus's receivers, who had just returned from a mission on Cybertron. You had trusted in your lovers' discretion, asking that nothing of what had happened be mentioned. But, you underestimated the power of gossip in such a closed environment.

Terrible mistake.

Bumblebee, still without his fully functional voice, was the first to try to warn Optimus. He had the rumor hot in the voice box. Using a mix of gestures and recorded audio snippets, he tried to explain to him what had happened three days ago between you and Sideswipe. Although his attempts were not entirely clear, Optimus understood the point: something was wrong. Something that involved betrayal.

The Autobot leader, known for his patience and kindness, felt overcome with anger. The idea that someone he deeply trusted had violated not only his trust, but also his respect, was unbearable.

You had betrayed the affection Optimus had for you and the relationship they had built.

He decided not to act excessively and sought to confront Sideswipe.

"Sideswipe," Optimus called, his voice deep and firm. "There's a rumor going around the hangar... about something that happened between you and her. I want to hear the truth."

Sideswipe, normally relaxed, tensed upon hearing his leader's tone. And he chose to evade the truth.

"I don't know who could have said something, but it was nothing more than a misunderstanding, Prime," he replied, avoiding his gaze.

But Crosshairs, who had been listening to the conversation, could not contain himself and decided to intervene.

"A misunderstanding? Drift told me something else... Is it true that we have a human prostitute among us?"

Optimus became so angry with that nickname that Crosshairs had given you, his hands turned into fists contained in anger.

"Don't ever use that word to refer to her again" he growled.

Crosshairs stepped back, aware that he had crossed a very dangerous line. Optimus gave the Autobot a murderous look and quickly went in search of Drift. Both were stunned by the Prime's behavior. But Sideswipe hit him on the back of the head, interrupting his fearful trance.

"Well done, Cross. He almost found us out." Sideswipe shook his head, he was scared too.

They knew that Optimus would not stop until he found the answers.

•••

In one of the inner rooms, Drift and Dino were talking quietly, but enough so that Optimus, hidden behind a wall, could hear them.

"And how was it?" Drift asked, with a mix of curiosity and discomfort.

"It was... different" Dino answered with a nervous laugh "I never thought that humans could... teach us so much. But believe me, in the missionary position it was... surprising. "

Drift shook his head, trying to remain impassive.

“I don’t know how you can take this so lightly. Sensei will find out sooner or later, and when he does, we’ll all burn.”

Dino stopped laughing. He knew Drift was right. Optimus was not someone who would tolerate such acts, much less from someone in whom he had placed his personal trust and affection.

Hidden behind the wall, Optimus was in a total rage. Every word he heard was like a dagger digging deeper into his spark. Betrayal was something he could never forgive, and the fury he felt was beginning to overwhelm any intention of control.

He had to confront you, but also all those who had contributed to destroying what he believed was a relationship beyond what he ever had.

Finally, he decided it was time to confront them. He stepped forward, and his imposing figure emerged from the shadows. Drift and Dino froze at the sight.

"So it's true?" he asked, his voice deadly.

Drift bowed quickly.

"Sensei..."

"Silence!" Optimus roared, making both Autobots tense "This is not only a betrayal of me, but of everything we stand for. "

Dino tried to speak, but a simple gesture from Optimus' hand silenced him.

"This won't end here. I'll gather everyone. No one will leave this base until I confront the one responsible for all this."

His gaze darkened, and without further ado, he turned around, leaving the two Autobots with guilt in their processor.

•••

That night, Optimus called a meeting in the main hall with you. Everyone knew why they were there and they were scared to death at the sight of Optimus' presence about to lead the talk, his optics revealing his terrible anger and disappointment.

You could feel his piercing gaze on you as he looked at you with those deep blue tinted optics. They were like watching a contained fire, a bomb that was about to explode.

“Is this what you do in my absence?” His voice roared like thunder and echoed throughout the room. The tension intensified.

Both you and he are aware that you had sought comfort in the arms of others when he was gone and that made you feel terribly guilty.

He looked at Dino, at Sideswipe. Those involved couldn’t maintain eye contact with his authority.

“Dino, Sideswipe… Is this how you respect me? Is this how you repay me for the countless times I put your lives above mine?”

Optimus looked at everyone with accusatory optics. Dino tried to apologize but he interrupted him in a sharp tone.

“There are no excuses or enough apologies to justify everyone’s actions. You have dishonored the trust I placed in you" The leader's face denoted hatred and resentment "I thought I could trust... all of you. Not only as my soldiers, but also as my comrades. My absence was not an invitation for you to sully what is mine" He raised his voice. " You knew what she meant to me. "

Finally, he walked towards you. His figure and presence made you step back and bow your head in sorrow. Optimus was filled with heartbreaking pain.

"And you... How could you? You swore loyalty, trust... and love to me. Am I worth so little to you that you sought comfort in the arms of my soldiers?" His voice lowered, becoming deeper and full of anger. " Did you think I wouldn't come back? That I had abandoned what I treasured most in life?"

He took a step towards you, bending down to your height to look directly at you, he put a finger on your chin so you would face him.

"Look at me. You are mine. From the first moment you were. Not because of some kind of obligation, but because our destinies were intertwined in a way that the universe cannot even separate" he exhaled loudly " But it seems that I will have to remind you and... all of you."

He straightened up, observing the Autobots sternly.

"You are no longer worthy of my trust. From this moment on, everyone involved is out of the main team. I do not want to see you near her, I do not even want to see you near this base until you have learned the true meaning of loyalty. "

That night, Optimus expelled the Autobots involved out of the base temporarily, sending them on missions away from the main group. He did not do it out of cruelty, he did it to process the rage that flooded his entire being. The others bowed their heads, visibly defeated and humiliated. No one dared to question his decision.

As everyone began to leave the room, Optimus held onto your arm.

“You, stay.”

Your heart stopped for a moment. You couldn’t move a muscle. His grip wasn’t enough to hurt you, but enough to let you know you couldn’t escape.

And he began,

“You knew what you meant to me… what we had built.” His tone was firm, sharp, and laden with repressed pain. “You knew my absence wasn’t an abandonment, but a sacrifice to protect you. To protect everyone. But you still betrayed me.”

You tried to formulate a response, but your voice barely came out.

“You were never there for me, Optimus.” You finally managed to say, your voice cracking. “You always put your duties above me. I felt alone… forgotten.”

He stared at you, his optics intense, but something in them changed. A mix of confusion and pain joined his anger.

“Are you justifying your betrayal with my responsibilities?” he said, his tone lower, but just as intimidating. “Was it my absence? My inability to prove to you that you were the most important thing to me? Or was it something else?”

He leaned toward you again, letting the gravity of his words fall like a sentence.

“Tell me. Be brave and face me.”

You bit your lip, tears threatening to spill out, there was no escape now.

“I needed you, Optimus. I needed to feel you. I needed you to prove to me that I wasn’t alone.” Your voice came out cracked and broken. “I know there is no excuse for what I did, and I know my apologies will never be enough.”

Optimus closed his eyes for a moment, as if your words were a direct blow to his spark. When he opened them again, a flash of something else shone in them: disappointment, but also a love that was torn between giving in or holding on to you and forgiving you.

Suddenly, he grabbed you by the neck, not to hurt you, but to make you feel his dominance and submit to him.

“You don’t understand what you’ve done.” His voice was a whisper filled with suppressed rage. “But I will remind you. You and everyone else who thought they could mock me like this.”

He advanced on you, his size pushing you back until your back hit the living room table and he locked you in with his arms without the possibility of escape as the strength of his hand on your neck increased its pressure.

You had never seen him like this, but it was clear that it was something you deserved.

"To me you no longer have any value, your dignity and honor were trampled, and I will treat you as you deserve" His voice was threatening and also full of desire "You are mine, you always have been. I can forgive you many things, but not this. You have humiliated me and you You thought I would be stupid. I cannot allow the bond between us to be questioned by you, or by anyone else. And if I must remind you who I am to you... I will."

You accepted his terms without objection. His gaze was not only furious; there was a mix of pain, love and a completely instinctive desire to reaffirm his dominance and place in your life. You knew what was going to happen.

That night you were going to be his in a way you will never forget.

"I'm sorry" It came out of your lips in a weak and vulnerable whisper.

"You are sorry..." His voice was low and disappointed " Do you know how much you meant to me? Do you know how many times I've put my life on the line for what I love and what I swore to protect? And you were the one thing I never thought I could lose."

He brought a hand up to your face. His servo touched your skin, his touch firm but careful. He slowly moved closer to your face and his gaze softened slightly.

You could feel a slight tremor in the hand holding your neck, he struggled between the need to claim you, let you go or hurt you. With a gentleness, his fingers brushed your lips, as if he was protecting what he had feared losing forever.

"This time there are no barriers, no more words or empty promises."

Optimus needed you, he needed your body, your moans. He wanted to claim your soul, your essence, everything you were and what you were.

He slammed you on the table, you sighed as your back hit the cold surface hard. He began to kiss your mouth with ferocity and vigor. You accepted each of his caresses without fighting for the little dignity you had left.

His movements were possessive and full of hunger; he tore your shirt with his strength and ripped your pants in less time than you expected. He did the same with your underwear until you were naked.

"Tonight you will remember who you are and what you are from now on until it is enough for me to be able to bear your lack of respect."

He subdued you. He turned your body and pulled your hair. Without wasting time, you heard how his panel opened and he entered you roughly.

You moaned.

"I'm sorry..." came out of your mouth in a murmur.

He rammed you against the table over and over again without mercy or rest. He used the hand that was in your hair to manipulate you as if you were a doll.

  The sound of his pelvis hitting yours caused a constant echo in the room.

With all the fury he held, he took you.

But you could feel the doubt between his movements. It was as if his use of common sense and forgiveness were affected by you despite your actions.

Even though you had betrayed him, you were everything to him. You were.

And it hurt him terribly to know the truth.

He overstimulated your union and your genitals to show you his pain.

Your legs trembled, cascades of fluids from both of them dripped from them and reached the floor.

There were countless positions that he forced you into that night while he subjected you in his hands. You lamented. You asked for his forgiveness between moans. You cried and sobbed with pleasure. He stole your right to orgasm several times.

After several thrusts, you gave in.

" I-I can't anymore... please" You begged. You had tears in your eyes, your cheeks were tinted a soft reddish color, with your forehead and body full of sweat; you were an exquisite mess in his sight. You were overstimulated and any movement Optimus made affected you more than it should.

He forced you to look at him, squeezing your cheeks with one hand.

"I hope this is enough for you to understand the limits of my patience. It won't be the only time" he threatened you.

And he finally let you go. Your body ached and burned.

You saw him walk out of there through the door without expressing any emotion and without looking back. Your entrance throbbed and expelled Optimus' transfluid. Only he had the right to leave his evidence, since no other Autobot did.

But one thing was clear, you were no longer the Autobots' bitch, you were now Optimus Prime's bitch.

And that was just the beginning, you would be paying for what you had caused.

Can you really earn Optimus' forgiveness?

[heavenlyraindrops]

Fantasy World Building: Species/ Countries,Nations, Tribes

I said in my world building checklist post I would make a separate post for this so here u go besties 😄👊

things to consider when writing a fantasy book with different species and nationalities in it ‼️

Appearance

What defines their species looks wise?

features such as nose shape, hair texture (if they even have hair), skin tones should be considered

what environment/ climate/ habitat they come from will affect their physical traits

which features are more common in them?

maybe species A are known for having super pale skin and really long, pale-almost-translucent-hair- while species B are known for tanned skin, pale slitted eyes and wild curly hair

what about other FANTASY physical features such as

wings, webbed feet and hands, slitted eyes, pointed ears, tails, clawed fingers

differenr types of THOSE features

As in different types of wings, different shapes of pointy ears, different types of tails blah blah blah

differences between their features in diff stages of life

differences between the genders

also sizes, average heights and all that jazz

Abilities

Physical and magical

lets start with physical

maybe species A are known for being quick and agile

and species B are slow and lumbering

maybe species A are super flexible

and species B are very strong

consider these points:

agility

strength

intelligence

their physical traits as well, such as allergies, resistance to certain things ect.

like how maybe some species are allergic to a certain metal

maybe some are resistant to certain diseases

maybe some don’t burn and are resistant to heat

alr now magical!

do these species have magic at all?

if so, what kind of magic? (Gonna make a separate post for magic)

is this magic woven into their physical being?

are they born with it?

Or do they learn it?

does it come to them naturally? Or do they use incantations, books, artifacts, ect? (Again, separate post for this shit)

is there certain magic they can’t do?)

Culture

Traditions

superstitions

festivals

religion

clothing styles

architecture

famous figures in their community

mythology

places of importance to them, religious or in other ways idk, for example we have Makkah for Islam

accessories

things they believe to be sacred

prejudiced beliefs

Reputation / other stuff idk

Stereotypes

are they persecuted in certain countries?

other rival religions, countries or nations

who are they looked down upon by?

what are they known for?

e.g., being kind, being bloodthirsty, being miserly, being isolated/ secretive/ elusive

how are they treated? Are they seen as a superior species/race?

Do they mix with other races when it comes to marraige, relationships, friendships, business? there’s loads more so I might make a part two if people ask me to, hope this helped 👊 😄