Why Does Taro Make Your Throat Itch?

Why Does Taro Make Your Throat Itch?

I don't know about anyone else, but I love the show Top Chef on Bravo. I don't really like reality television, but I love to watch people cook. Last week the show took place at the Hilton Waikoloha. Their challenge was to cook a traditional Hawaiian Luau with their own twist. They were warned to cook the taro for a long time so that it would not cause itching or burning in the back of the throat. I had heard this before and wonder why...

There is not a whole lot of information on taro out there but here is some information that I found about cooking with Taro:

Some varieties of raw or uncooked taro contain tiny crystals of a substance called calcium oxalate, a natural pesticide. Chewing raw or half-cooked taro can set free these needle-like crystals and cause an uncomfortable itching in the mouth and throat. Cooking the taro thoroughly will prevent this. When preparing recipes that include grated taro, it is a good idea to cook the root before grating. Here, in the Hawaiian Islands, taro plants are eaten after thoroughly boiled to destroy the toxins; the leaf must be boiled at least 45 minutes over low heat, whereas corms are boiled in a deep pot with salted water for at least an hour or until soft. This information came from http://www.molokaihealthguide.com/healthtalk/display.htm?id=34. This website also offers a whole bunch of great taro recipies!

Taro root found at http://www.vegiworks.com/taro.jpg

I was also able to find information on a Dangerous Plants website for pet owners:

There are 2,000+ species of plants in the Aroid family are poisonous. Only a few, such as Taro, can be eaten and only after the toxins have been cooked out. The plant cells contain needle-like crystal of insoluble calcium oxalate which penetrate the skin and mouth causing discomfort. In addition, the plants contain proteolytic enzymes which release histamine and kinins, causing swelling and an itching or burning sensation. Affected animals will shake their head, paw or rub the face and mouth, may salivate or foam at the mouth, may seek water, or may have visible swelling. Very severely affected animals may experience oral swelling to the point that swallowing and breathing become impaired. Typically, animals are not severely affected, since a few bites of the plants are often a sufficient deterrent to further consumption. Occasional reports of these plants causing kidney failure in cats have not been verified. Effects in cats appear to be limited to the signs described above. Some of these plants have been used with humans to prevent individuals from talking by causing excessive tongue swelling, hence the name "dumbcane".

So if you have taro growing, keep your pets away!

Endangered Species

Endangered Species

Polar bear and cub found at http://www.atmosphere.mpg.de/media/archive/4656.jpg

I am an Animal Planet junkie and there are constantly shows on about Endangered animals. So my question for this weeks blog is: Who is endangered, why are they endangered, and how can we help?

While looking on the internet, I have found that there are thousands of endangered species out there. There is no possible way I could list them all in this blog. In Hawaii alone, there are 44 endangered or threatened animal species and 273 endangered or threatened plant species. So instead of filling up this blog with a list, you can go to http://www.endangeredspecie.com/map.htm if you would like to see a state-by-state list of endangered species. For a list of endangered animal species from around the world please visit http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/map.html.

So now that I know who is endangered, I want to ask how they got that way. Obviously, the cause of distruction vary for each species, but here are just a few of the causes:

• Habitat destruction - Our planet is continually changing, causing habitats to be altered and modified. Natural changes tend to occur at a gradual pace, usually causing only a slight impact on individual species. However, when changes occur at a fast pace, there is little or no time for individual species to react and adjust to new circumstances. This can create disastrous results, and for this reason, rapid habitat loss is the primary cause of species endangerment. The strongest forces in rapid habitat loss are of course, human beings. Nearly every region of the earth has been affected by human activity, particularly during this past century. The loss of microbes in soils that formerly supported tropical forests, the extinction of fish and various aquatic species in polluted habitats, and changes in global climate brought about by the release of greenhouse gases are all results of human activity.
  

Rainforst Platypus found at http://rainforest-australia.com/platypus_good.jpg

• Introduction of Exotic Species - Native species are those plants and animals that are part of a specific geographic area, and have ordinarily been a part of that particular biological landscape for a lengthy period of time. They are well adapted to their local environment and are accustomed to the presence of other native species within the same general habitat. Exotic species, however, are interlopers. These species are introduced into new environments by way of human activities, either intentionally or accidentally. These interlopers are viewed by the native species as foreign elements. They may cause no obvious problems and may eventually be considered as natural as any native species in the habitat. However, exotic species may also seriously disrupt delicate ecological balances and may produce a plethora of unintended yet harmful consequences.
  The worst of these unintended yet harmful consequences arise when introduced exotic species put native species in jeopardy by preying on them. This can alter the natural habitat and can cause a greater competition for food. Species have been biologically introduced to environments all over the world, and the most destructive effects have occurred on islands, which we are very aware of here in Hawaii. Introduced insects, rats, pigs, cats, and other foreign species have actually caused the endangerment and extinction of hundreds of species during the past five centuries. Exotic species are certainly a factor leading to endangerment.

Mongoose and current eradication methods found at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/nwrc/gfx/33A%20mongoose_wr.JPG

• Overexploitation - A species that faces overexploitation is one that may become severely endangered or even extinct due to the rate in which the species is being used. Unrestricted whaling during the 20th century is an example of overexploitation, and the whaling industry brought many species of whales to extremely low population sizes. When several whale species were nearly extinct, a number of nations (including the United States) agreed to abide by an international moratorium on whaling. Due to this moratorium, some whale species, such as the grey whale, have made remarkable comebacks, while others remain threatened or endangered.
  Due to the trade in animal parts, many species continue to suffer high rates of exploitation. Even today, there are demands for items such as rhino horns and tiger bones in several areas of Asia. It is here that there exists a strong market for traditional medicines made from these animal parts.

Rhino and baby found at http://www.hedweb.com/animimag/rhinobab.jpg

What can we do to help?

• Conserve habitats


• Make space for our wildlife


• Recycle, reduce, and reuse


• Plant native plants that are local to the area


• Control introduced plants and animals


• Join an organization


• Make your voice heard

For more details on ways that we can help, and a list of ways that children can help please visit http://www.endangeredspecie.com/Ways_To_Help.htm.

Hawaiian Monk Seals

There are a million cute pictures of monk seals on the interenet. I got this particular pic from the Hawaii Wildlife Fund.

Well, I graduated last year with a degree in Marine Science, but I really never learned anything about the Hawaiian Monk Seal. Last summer there was a monk seal that had a pup at a local beach I go to and as of this weekend, I was at the same beach and the pup was back! I was super excited about this and it made me wonder a little bit about Hawaiian Monk Seals and also made me feel kind of silly for not knowing a whole lot about them even though I studied Marine Science.

Here are some of the basics that I found out:

There a many websites about monk seals out there I found a website called Monachus Profiles, which talks about a bunch of various speices of seals, to be most helpful.

Taxonomy
Order: Carnivora
Family: Phocidae
Subfamily: Monachinae

Distribution and Habitat

The Hawaiian monk seal is found on the sandy beaches and in the surrounding waters of the northwestern Hawaiian Archipelago: Kure Atoll, Midway Atoll, Pearl and Hermes Reef, Lisianski Island, Laysan Island and French Frigate Shoals. Small populations also occur at Necker and Nihoa Islands. However, little is known of their offshore habits or distribution.

Threats to the Species

The Hawaiian monk seal was easily exploited by hunters, whalers and fishers in the 1800s. Today, anthropogenic threats (threats created by humans) include: incidental capture in fishing gear, ingestion of fisheries debris or toxic substances, intentional kills and a decrease in food availability for some subpopulations (e.g. French Frigate Shoals). The Hawaiian monk seal, like the other monk seal species, is sensitive to human disturbance and habitat loss. These factors, along with shark attacks, mobbing (a behaviour where females and immatures of both sexes are wounded, sometimes fatally, by the aggressive sexual behaviour of some males), and an inherently slow reproductive rate continue to threaten the remaining Hawaiian monk seal population. Conservation strategies include: the protection of critical habitat, identification of main reproductive habitats, research on the survival of various age and sex classes, rehabilitation and release of undersized pups, removal of marine debris and the mitigation of human disturbance. A captive breeding program is also advocated by some scientists.

Natural History

Hawaiian monk seal females reach a length of 2.3 m and weigh up to 273 kg; males are slightly smaller, measuring up to 2.1 m and weighing about 230 kg. Adults are silvery-grey on the back, fading to cream on the throat, chest and belly. Additional light patches may also be found on the body. Over time, the coat looks brown above and yellow below. Males, and some females, turn a dark brown or black with age. Some Hawaiian monk seals have a red or green tinge from algal growth. Monk seals tend to be solitary, both on land and in the water. The breeding season occurs between December and mid-August although most pups are born from March to June. Pups, weighing approximately 16-18 kg and measuring 1 m, are born with a long, woolly, black coat which is shed at about six weeks of age. At about this time, the pups are weaned. Females reach sexual maturity at 5 or 6 years of age, and may live to be 20-25 years old. Monk seals, like most monachines seals, walruses, fur seals and sea lions, have four mammae. Monk seals feed on a variety of fish, cephalopods and crustaceans.

Status

In 1976, the Hawaiian monk seal was listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. They are also listed as endangered in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Hawaiian monk seals are also listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Between 1958 and 1996, mean beach counts of the main reproductive populations declined by 60%. Current population estimates range from 1300-1400 animals and the population continues to decline; from 1985 to 1996 the rate of decline was about 4% per year. While different island subpopulations exist, they are all managed as a single stock by the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).