Aggressive males = specie extinction ?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110516081139.htm

From this article I have read at 12:00 midnight (because I love reading about environmental science this late up at night), I learned that aggressive males can lead to the extinction of a species. Seed beetles are known to be sexually sucessful if they are more aggressive, but by being more aggressive during their mating, the female is hurt in the process and dies. Thus, a scarcity of females and non aggressive males. Without any females, the beetles can no longer reproduce with no females thus causing an extinction. I thought this article was interesting because I would have never believed that the aggressive sex could bring so much distruction on its own species. I also think beetles are pests so I thought it was cool learning that a species went expect

Waste = Food; A really really cool documentary from a really cool class

This video was pretty interesting. Overall, people do not think too much about waste. Usually one throws something in the garbage and does not wonder where it goes. If considered, this can be a major problem since families throw things away so frequently, 5 lbs a day it is estimated. A solution to this is quite simple, as the video implies: use and recycle waste. If something cannot be recycled, it should be biodegradable, allowing the product to consequentially dissolve into the soil, which may end up on agricultural product thus leaving us with the phrase: "Waste = Food." This system seems like a good idea, but it does seem hard to adopt since it may be more expensive to make such a product. If the government enforces more product like these, more people would afford to buy these products and thus giving us a better environment.

Michael Lynch's View on Peak Oil

Peak Oil is a theory that claims that the global petroleum production will eventually collapse due to unsustainable mining and incorrect use of the resource later creating an economic disaster. Michael Lynch takes us through his view on the Peak Oil theory and why he disagrees with it. Lynch believes that Faith Birol is the first to blame, being a top economist at the International Energy Agency whom scared the public, insisting that we will reach our peak moment in 10 years. In Lynch's argument, Lynch believes that the peak oil theory has been promoted by scientists who have based their conclusions on poor analyses. He also blames media and important figures like James Schlesinger and T. Boone Pickens whom he said to have "understandably alarm" the public. The study of the Oil Peak declared that by 1989, the peak would have been reached. Clearly, it has not. This kind of information is considered anecdotal information, vague references about the oil industry and how oil is obtained. Paul Roberts is one whom claimed the world's largest deposit is 35% water and rising, but Lynch claims that the buildup is caused by seawater being pumped in to make extractions easier. Lynch also stated that the estimated average for water was as high at 75%. Matthew Simmons, an investor, claimed engineers were using fuzzy logic to estimate oil holdings. Lynch says differently and retaliates by stating that fuzzy logic is outdated and technology is being used to find oil. Lynch also believes that petroleum geologists don't report recoverable oil as "newly discovered" so recoverable oil is often ignored and taken unknowingly in use of data. Lynch also argues that there are plenty of "easy oil" fields today that were used to be thought of as unreachable a few years back. Lynch makes a decent argument, declaring the opposing side and dismissing it quickly with his own facts. Lynch makes an interesting argument and although I may slightly side with him, he can be quite persuasive.

National Geographic Articles

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.

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.

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.

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1.03.01

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%