Unit four blog
Species richness: Number of species that are present in a sample, community, or taxonomic group

Species evenness: How close in numbers each species in an environment are


Mircoevolution: Evolutionary change within species or small group of organisms over a short period of time

Macroevolution: Major evolutionary change of whole taxonomic groups over long periods of time

Evolution of Natural Selection: A characteristic of an individual that allows it to survive to produce based on its traits

Evolution by Artificial Selection: Genotype and phenotype of parent organisms in the hope of producing a hybrid that possesses many of the desirable characteristics found in their parents

Allopatric Speciation: Prevents two or more groups from mating with each other regularly

Sympatric Speciation: When new species evolve from ancestral species while having the same geographic region

Genetically Modified Organisms: An organism whose genetic material has been altered using engineering techniques

Fundamental Niche: Range of environmental conditions and resources an organism can possibly occupy and use

Exponential Growth Model: Estimation of the future size of a population
 

Logistic Growth Model: Occurs when the growth rate decreases as the population reaches carrying capacity

Carrying Capacity: The number of organisms that can be supported by the resources

Keystone Species: A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend


Current Event:
Hotspots:
Biodiversity hotspots are a method to identify those regions of the world where attention is needed to address biodiversity loss and to guide investments in conservation.It is essential because it is the variety of all life forms

My hotspot is generally located in Asia-Pacific but specifically located in New Zealand-a mountainous archipelago once dominated by temperate rainforests. New Zealand harbors extraordinary levels of endemic species, including its most famous representative, the kiwi. None of its mammals, amphibians, or reptiles are found anywhere else in the world.

An endemic species is one whose habitat is restricted to a particular area. For example, the endemic Pingao golden sand sedge is a coastal plant used by the Maori people in traditional building construction. The hotspot also has 17 endemic bird genera and three endemic bird families, Acanthisittidae, Apterygidae, and Callaeidae. Moreover, it is the only hotspot to have an endemic bird Order, represented by the endearing, flightless kiwis  also the national bird of New Zealand.

Although people came to New Zealand relatively late, human impact on the land and natural ecosystems has been extensive. The first great impact was from hunting, fishing, and gathering, which caused the extinction of native bird species such as the giant moas and eagles.Today, invasive species remain an important threat to New Zealand's biodiversity, but large-scale habitat destruction, through deforestation, wetland drainage and ecosystem degradation, represents as serious an issue

New Zealand has a strong history of conservation legislation.. Most conservation laws are administered by the Department of Conservation, the main government agency responsible for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity. Yet, the true conservation successes in New Zealand have resulted from the hard work of exceptionally talented individuals who have made the conservation of threatened species successful at the ground level. Richard Henry, back in the 1880s, started this trend by trying to save the kakapo by translocation to islands. The practical, experimental and field-based focus of conservation, which grew out of the old Wildlife Service in the 1960s and 1970s, has been a major factor in achieving conservation in this hotspot.

Pick a side:
There are many factors that lead to species extinction. Currently, we are experiencing a sixth global mass extinction. These wide-ranging causes include habitat destruction, overharvesting, introduction of invasive species, climate change and emerging diseases. Environmental changes can also play a part in species extinction. If environmental conditions change, species that cannot adapt to the changes will eventually go extinct. Another cause for species extinction can be through geographic isolation; where species are separated from exchanging genetic material with other organisms of the same species. When this occurs, the genotypes of these species are altered because of random processes or because of natural selection. Natural selection favors different phenotypes in each of the habitats. If individuals cannot move between the populations, then over time, they will not be able to survive and will soon become extinct. Also, if species are experiencing a geographic isolation and the physical barrier is removed, then they will not be able to produce viable offspring. This is known as reproductive isolation. Additionally, mutations can be detrimental enough to species to lead to their extinction. Many mutations cause the offspring that carry them to die before they are born. If they keep dying off, then it will be hard to reproduce other species. 

Big Picture Reflection:


Human impact: Humans have had an impact on biodiversity both negatively and positively. For example, overfishing and hunting, the destruction of habitats through agriculture and urban sprawl, the use of pesticides and herbicides, and the release of other toxic compounds into the environment have negatively impacted species. On the other hand, humans have also positively impacted species through construction. In fact, construction can even enhance biodiversity and encourage species to colonize urban areas by creating ecological corridors and networks to circumvent obstacles, thereby providing access to favourable habitats. Small mammals, for example, can cross major roads and railways by using dedicated pathways that are constructed within existing tunnels or bridges. 


Environmental impact: A limiting resource is a resource that a population cannot live without. It occurs in quantities lower than the population would require to increase in size. If a limiting resource decreases, then so does the size of the population that depends on it. When the species population of an area is low, then there are only a few individuals sharing the limiting resource so each individual has access to sufficient quantities. As a result, individuals in the population survive and reproduce well. On the other hand, when species population of an area is high, then each individual receives a smaller share of the resource. As a result, they are less likely to survive. The ability to survive and reproduce are dependent on limiting resources which are provided by the environment. 

Economic impact: There are many economic impacts that biodiversity has. For example, processes such as pollination, pest control, nutrient provision, genetic diversity, and disease prevention control have enabled the agricultural and forest industry to prosper. Also, by cutting down trees, humans can make things such as houses and boats which benefit the economy. The cutting down of trees can also affect the species. Not only are humans able to make houses for themselves to live in but they can also build habitats for species.


Government legislation:The  Threatened Species Conservation Act provides for the conservation of threatened species, populations and ecological communities of animals and plants (although the Act does not generally apply to fish). The Act sets out a number of specific objects relating to the conservation of biological diversity and the promotion of ecologically sustainable development.

Apes unit 3 blog

Vocabulary:

Ecosystem: Location on the earth that is characterized by the biotic and abiotic factors that interact within it 

Gross primary productivity: How fast or slow energy is captured during the process of photosynthesis 

Net primary productivity: How fast or slow organic matter is fused into plant tissues for growth 

Biomass: All the mass of living matter in a particular area 

Standing crop: At a particular time, the amount of biomass present in an ecosystem

Ecological Efficiency: The percentage of usable energy that is transferred as biomass from one level of the trophic level to the next (10%)

Trophic pyramid: Distribution of biomass in the trophic levels 

Biogeochemical Cycles: Movement of matter within and between ecosystems. (It involves biological, geologic, and chemical processes)

Macronutrients: Consists nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur 

Limiting Nutrient: The lack of a nutrient, such as nitrogen, can affect the growth of an organism negatively 

Leaching: Removal of dissolved material from the soil

Disturbance: Not necessarily bad, consists of events caused by physical, chemical or biological agents resulting from changes in population, size or community 

Resistance: How much an ecosystem can resist change from a disturbance 

Resilience: How fast or slow an ecosystem returns to what it originally was after a disturbance 

Instrumental value: Usefulness of economic and ecological services to people 

Current Event: 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140930171526.htm

Summary: Invasive species are plants or animals that are not native to a specific location. There have been various invasive species discovered and severe consequences that they can cause. They can have a negative affect on food webs and ecosystems. These species have been discovered through human activities. In the past, the composition of marine communities have solely depended on factors such as the climate, environment and oceanic barriers but now they are dependent upon human activities. Because of aquaculture, over 60 species have been accidentally discovered especially algae. They continually are being discovered at an exponential rate and their rate of arrival is increasing due to factors such as global warming. The invasions will continue to haunt biodiversity in the mediterranean and more research is needed to understand the effects and changes that these species can have. 

Environmental Quote: 

I agree with this because bees make honey, and I need honey to survive because I get sick a lot and honey in water is the only substance that can cure me! BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, bees pollinate plants. If bees don't pollinate the plants then the plants don't produce seeds. If the plants don't produce seeds, then many plant species will simply die out. If plant species die out then we don't get foods such as fruits and vegetables and if we don't get those then I won't be very happy! Many trees will also die out. If many trees die out, then we don't have enough oxygen in the air because plants create oxygen for us. If bees die then we have no food, no oxygen and soon enough no life to live. 

Reflection:

Human Impact: Humans impact ecosystems greatly and some of the effects can be detrimental. For example, harvesting trees from a forest can reduce evapotranspiration by reducing plant biomass. By doing this, there are more chances of erosion and flooding that affect many people negatively. Humans can also cause alterations in the hydrologic cycle. Tree harvesting can also affect the carbon cycle. Trees have a lot of carbon stored in them and cutting them and burning them down will cause an excessive amount of carbon to be released in the air. Additionally, humans can alter the nitrogen cycle by putting excess inputs of nitrogen into the soil. This nitrogen can then be transported through the atmosphere leading to the disturbance of species in specific ecosystems. Increase in phosphorus can cause alterations in plant communities. We affect plant communities and add excess phosphorus by doing our laundry because laundry detergents contain phosphorus to make clothes cleaner. 

Environmental Impact: Climate is a vital environmental influence on ecosystems. They can affect and impact ecosystems in a variety of ways. For example, warming of the earth could force species to migrate to areas where the weather is more suitable to their survival. Similarly, as sea level rises, the intrusion of saltwater into freshwater can force species to relocate and if they are unable to relocate then they will die. Removing species from the food chain or web can affect the ecosystem as a whole because the element of balance is not present within the community.  

Economic Impact: The United States has been spending countless amounts of money due to invasive species, about $138 billion. Many of these animals not only affect the economy but they also affect humans. For example, the pigeon is the most serious pest bird in the United states, and about $1.1 billion dollars have been spent on them. This money has been used to help property and agricultural crops. These viscous creatures also spread over fifty human and livestock diseases. Also, there has been an additional payment of $22 million from the Bureau of Land Management to manage these animals.    

Government Legislation: There have been many acts passed to help maintain the balance within environments but one of the most significant of these acts is the NEPA which stands for National Environmental Policy Act. It is part of the Executive Office of the President and does not include specific regulations. It requires all federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of any major action such as building a dam or making significant changed to a fishery management plan. 

APES Unit 2 Assignment

Vocabulary:
Climate: Weather in a specific area over a long period of time

Troposphere: This is the lowest layer of the atmosphere. The temperature drops at a constant rate as the altitude increases. The weather conditions occur in this part of the atmosphere

Stratosphere: This layer is between the Troposphere and the Mesosphere. The temperature increases as the altitude increases. It contains the Ozone layer. 

Albedo: It is the ratio between reflected and incoming radiation within the short wave portion of the solar spectrum. 

Hadley Cells: It is a big, 3D pattern of atmospheric circulation in each hemisphere. Air is uplifted at the equator. 

Polar Cells: It is the 3D atmospheric circulation cell. Air rises at the polar front and descends at the polar vortex 

Corolis Effect: It is the deflections of an object's path which is affected by the rotation of the earth 

Gyres: It is a pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Upwelling: It is the movement of water up to the surface 

Thermohaline Circulation: It is a very slow and extremely deep movement of water in the oceans around the world.

ENSO: El Nino-Southern Oscillation. It is the changes in winds and and ocean currents from time to time. It causes some regions to be cooler and wetter and other regions to be dry. 

Rain Shadow: This region has dry conditions resulting from humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation.

Current Event: 

http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/20591/New_observations_and_climate_model_data_confirm_recent_warming_of_the_tropical_atmosphere.html

Summary: 

Scientific evidence has shown that human-caused increases in greenhouse gases have been the result of climate changes but recent findings from satellites rebut these findings. There is a temperature change in the Troposphere. From the use of only a single satellite, climate modelers have seen a cooling in the tropical Troposphere and suggest that it is about to become warm. They did more studies and research findings to go into depth about this matter. They found out that temperatures in the Troposphere has been getting warmer since 1979. Also, they found out that in the deep tropics, temperature changes in the Troposphere are larger than at the surface.

Reflection:

Human Impact: Humans impact the biomes greatly by hunting and developing open areas for farming and urban development. When areas are being converted to croplands, it reduces the food source for many animals. This can lead to the animals migrating or starving. Hunting is one of the main reasons animals are becoming endangered. For example, the American bison population was hurt because the European settlers  hunted them for their fur and meat. Likewise, poachers are killing rhinoceroses for their tusks and elephants for their ivory in Africa. 

Environmental Impact: Climate affects the distribution of species around the globe. Certain species have characterized adaptations according to where they live. Since the climate is changing and becoming warmer due to global warming, some of these species might be unable to survive in their respective environments. Some species might even go extinct because there has been a lost of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and longer and more intense heat waves. The climate is also affecting agricultural production. For example, because of the lack of water in Africa, agricultural production has dropped by 50%.

Economic Impact: Rainfall patterns are driven by global processes and because Kenya is located at the equator, there is heavy rainfall during Spring. But in April of 2003, there was a devastating drought in northeastern Kenya and severe flooding in western Kenya. This was due to the fact that  the rain clouds did not move northward from the equator. Since northeastern Kenya experienced a drought. Many of the people's crops died and they had to travel many miles just for water. The Kenyan government affirmed that 2.5 million people were at risk of starvation. Many children started developing chronic diarrhea and dehydration. The government had to spend a lot of money to recover the damage done on these people

Government Legislation: S. 2345 was signed by the Governor, and this will help increase the penalties associated with animal cruelty so people will think twice before hurting these poor animals!! In addition to the S. 2345 to increase penalties for animal abuse, S. 1172 was signed to protect pets in disasters.