http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/11/photogalleries/101117-mr-burns-toad-new-species-frogs-science-animal-pictures/
Not too long around November, three new species were discovered. One of them being a small inch-long toadthat resembles a character in the Simpsons. The person being Mr. Burns, having a snout-like nose that also resembles the new beaked toad species.Also, this new species has the ability to lay eggs on the forest floor to hatch toadletts making the tadpool stage no longer needed. I thought this was interesting mostly because it is named (so far) after a cartoon character. I also thought it was cool how the toad skips and entire stage of metamorphosis.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/11/photogalleries/101117-exotic-rare-plant-blooms-flower-pictures/
This plant, Queen of the Andes, blooms only once in its century year old life. When it does bloom, it can go as far as 40 feet! It is considered an endangered plant by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.due to its habitat loss and declining genetic diversity. I thought this was interesting because I found it was quite a coincidence to catch this plant blooming. When it does bloom, it grows ridiculously tall. I also found it interesting that this plant lives in very harsh environments and I find this weird because its an endangered species. Since it's an endangered species, one would think this plant could fend for itself better.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Stoves and the effect on our environment
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/earth/21stove.html?_r=1
The article above states the importance of outdoor stoves and their impact in human lives. According to the article, 1.9 million people are killed from these outdoor stoves which are mostly found in developing countries in those whom are experiencing poverty. The smoke released from the stoves causes lung and heart diseases for woman and children as well as being a contributing factor to global warming. Hilary Clinton plans on working with a group to provide these developing countries 100 million clean-burning stoves by 2020. This project is known as the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. Primitive stoves are one of the environmental causes of death and disease and also the second biggest contributor to global warming so this organization may play a significant role in restoring our environment. The need to obtain fuel for these stoves also play a role in keeping millions of children's home from school as well as providing the children with danger upon gathering fuel. I found this article interesting because I did not expect something ordinary like a stove to have a huge impact on the environment. I also was impressed by the numbers of those whom were killed by the outdoor stove's toxic gas. By contributing efficient stoves to the undeveloped areas, those whom are experiencing poverty are able to cook with ease and have no need to destroy the forest for fuel. Also, by replacing outdoor stoves, one is able to reduce toxic gas floating in the atmosphere hence reducing global warming effects. Without the need for fuel, children will no longer need to obtain wood by chopping down healthy trees which allows more trees to grow and reduce deforestation.
The article above states the importance of outdoor stoves and their impact in human lives. According to the article, 1.9 million people are killed from these outdoor stoves which are mostly found in developing countries in those whom are experiencing poverty. The smoke released from the stoves causes lung and heart diseases for woman and children as well as being a contributing factor to global warming. Hilary Clinton plans on working with a group to provide these developing countries 100 million clean-burning stoves by 2020. This project is known as the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. Primitive stoves are one of the environmental causes of death and disease and also the second biggest contributor to global warming so this organization may play a significant role in restoring our environment. The need to obtain fuel for these stoves also play a role in keeping millions of children's home from school as well as providing the children with danger upon gathering fuel. I found this article interesting because I did not expect something ordinary like a stove to have a huge impact on the environment. I also was impressed by the numbers of those whom were killed by the outdoor stove's toxic gas. By contributing efficient stoves to the undeveloped areas, those whom are experiencing poverty are able to cook with ease and have no need to destroy the forest for fuel. Also, by replacing outdoor stoves, one is able to reduce toxic gas floating in the atmosphere hence reducing global warming effects. Without the need for fuel, children will no longer need to obtain wood by chopping down healthy trees which allows more trees to grow and reduce deforestation.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Where have the Bees gone?
Over the last two decades, pollination levels have dropped by 50%. Why is this significant? Pollination from bees results in feeding 1/3 mouthfuls as well as being a large contribution to the economy. Bees are known as a "keystone species." Keystone species are especially important because they "hold up" the rest of the ecosystem. If bees were to become extinct, a chain of economic events will occur which may result in more species becoming extinct. The extinction of bees may even lead to the end of humans. It is possible to increase bee population through economic projects. Maybe if factories would be replaced with parks instead of the opposite, the bees may have a chance in living. In conclusion, the bees are only a warning sign for us. We may not appreciate bees now, but in the future, we may regret our past attitudes toward the bees.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Food and Trophic Levels Comparison
Food I have eaten for the last five days (with Trophic Levels):
Friday
-French Toast-level 1
-Orange Juice-level 1
-Grilled Cheese Sandwich-level 2
- Steak-level 3
- Iced Tea-level 1
-Cereal with Milk-level 2
Saturday
-Waffles-level 1
-Milk-level 2
-Granola bar-level 1
-Pasta-level 1
-Bread-level 1
-cookies (with milk)-level 1
-popcorn-level 1
Sunday
-cereal with milk-level 1 and 2
-ham and cheese sandwich-level 2 and 3
-Chinese food (fried rice, soup, beef)-level 1,2, and 3
-juice-level 1
Monday
-Milk-level 2
-Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwich-level 1
-Pizza w/mushroom, sausage-level 2
Tuesday
-PB&J-level 1
-Gatorade-level 1
First and Second trophic level percentage: ≈ 90%
percent of diet from higher trophic levels: ≈10%
Friday
-French Toast-level 1
-Orange Juice-level 1
-Grilled Cheese Sandwich-level 2
- Steak-level 3
- Iced Tea-level 1
-Cereal with Milk-level 2
Saturday
-Waffles-level 1
-Milk-level 2
-Granola bar-level 1
-Pasta-level 1
-Bread-level 1
-cookies (with milk)-level 1
-popcorn-level 1
Sunday
-cereal with milk-level 1 and 2
-ham and cheese sandwich-level 2 and 3
-Chinese food (fried rice, soup, beef)-level 1,2, and 3
-juice-level 1
Monday
-Milk-level 2
-Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwich-level 1
-Pizza w/mushroom, sausage-level 2
Tuesday
-PB&J-level 1
-Gatorade-level 1
First and Second trophic level percentage: ≈ 90%
percent of diet from higher trophic levels: ≈10%
Eating at a Lower Trophic Level
1. Would it be ideal to for humans to eat at a lower trophic level? A trophic level can best be described as an organism occupying a position in the food chain. Generally, this includes producers (plants) and small animals.
Pros to practicing this method (Eating at lower trohpic levels):
1. More people would be supported on Earth if adopted.
2. The organisms at the top of the food chain will have a sharp decrease in extinction rate.
3. Lower level groups of the food chain usually have less energy in them so therefore less calories and a healthier lifestyle.
Disadvantages:
1. The sharp increase in other organism may bring a surplus of organisms which can provide problems (lack of space for a mass amount of large animals, accidents, etc.)
2. Eating at a lower trophic level can bring an unbalanced diet since lower level groups such as producers lack protein.
3. There may be a great increase in farming and the mass amount of farming may eventually exhaust the soil.
People in less-developed countries tend to eat from lower trophic levels because their country is not fully functioned to produce higher quality energy (food). Those who live in less-developed areas tend to eat soy since it is easier to harvest and it also produces 200 kg of protein per acre per year. Those who live in developed countries tend to eat to their liking. Cows usually provide Americans the essentials for creating an American meal. Although cows only produce 19 kg of protein per acre per year, since America is a developed country, cows are a resource that is easier to renew. Compared to a least developed country, cows are most likely more expensive to breed and raise. Since money is a huge factor on developing a country, it would be efficient to choose a cheaper resource to use rather than an expensive resource with better quality.
Pros to practicing this method (Eating at lower trohpic levels):
1. More people would be supported on Earth if adopted.
2. The organisms at the top of the food chain will have a sharp decrease in extinction rate.
3. Lower level groups of the food chain usually have less energy in them so therefore less calories and a healthier lifestyle.
Disadvantages:
1. The sharp increase in other organism may bring a surplus of organisms which can provide problems (lack of space for a mass amount of large animals, accidents, etc.)
2. Eating at a lower trophic level can bring an unbalanced diet since lower level groups such as producers lack protein.
3. There may be a great increase in farming and the mass amount of farming may eventually exhaust the soil.
People in less-developed countries tend to eat from lower trophic levels because their country is not fully functioned to produce higher quality energy (food). Those who live in less-developed areas tend to eat soy since it is easier to harvest and it also produces 200 kg of protein per acre per year. Those who live in developed countries tend to eat to their liking. Cows usually provide Americans the essentials for creating an American meal. Although cows only produce 19 kg of protein per acre per year, since America is a developed country, cows are a resource that is easier to renew. Compared to a least developed country, cows are most likely more expensive to breed and raise. Since money is a huge factor on developing a country, it would be efficient to choose a cheaper resource to use rather than an expensive resource with better quality.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
My Ecological Footprint
1. My results seem to have impacted the forest footprint the most. The marine fisheries were the least impacted by my lifestyle. For the most part, my footprint in global acres were less than the average excluding the food footprint which meets the average country consumption. In the end, it would require 4.18 earths to have everyone successfully adapt to my lifestyle.
2. My largest footprint category was the forestland footprint. The reason why it was my highest footprint was because of the materials my house is made out of. To improve, it would be best to use ecological friendly materials to construct a house.
3. The Ecological Footprint Quiz is not completely perfect because:
1. The quiz does not account for all possible lifestyles and circumstances.
2. There is no mention of pollution and unsustainable resource management.
3. The results only compare you to the national average.
4. A country's total ecological footprint compares human demand with the Earth. If the Earth was able to regenerate ecologically, the result of human consumption would be measured in the number of Earths it would take to satisfy demand.The country's per capita ecological footprint relates to the individual population consumption. It is a good idea to look at both of these methods to be able to self improve. I = PAT can be translated to: Human Impact (in the environment) = Population + Affluence + Technology. The Population can be obtained through the United States Census. Affluence is measured in consumption per capita, which proves why it is important to know the nation's per capita statistic. Technology is used by organizations such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment to be able to investigate and inform citizens on how to improve their lifestyles.
2. My largest footprint category was the forestland footprint. The reason why it was my highest footprint was because of the materials my house is made out of. To improve, it would be best to use ecological friendly materials to construct a house.
3. The Ecological Footprint Quiz is not completely perfect because:
1. The quiz does not account for all possible lifestyles and circumstances.
2. There is no mention of pollution and unsustainable resource management.
3. The results only compare you to the national average.
4. A country's total ecological footprint compares human demand with the Earth. If the Earth was able to regenerate ecologically, the result of human consumption would be measured in the number of Earths it would take to satisfy demand.The country's per capita ecological footprint relates to the individual population consumption. It is a good idea to look at both of these methods to be able to self improve. I = PAT can be translated to: Human Impact (in the environment) = Population + Affluence + Technology. The Population can be obtained through the United States Census. Affluence is measured in consumption per capita, which proves why it is important to know the nation's per capita statistic. Technology is used by organizations such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment to be able to investigate and inform citizens on how to improve their lifestyles.
An Example of Tragedy of the Commons
Tragedy of the Commons is a term that can best defined as a shared or unowned resource taken advantage upon. An example of this may include an over fished lake or coal mines.Since there is no supervision or authority, resources are not used at a sustainable level. Parks may also relate due to littering. Tragedies like this can be solved by switching public resources to a private ownership. This way, activity can be minimal.
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